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The article proposes a dual-time dual-population multi-objective evolutionary algorithm, DTDP-EAMO, to address the challenges faced by multi-objective differential evolution algorithms in solving complex optimization problems, such as weakened late-stage search capability, susceptibility to local optima, and insufficient diversity. Firstly, DTDP-EAMO divides the population into three sub-populations using fast nondominated sorting. Then, it introduces a dual-stage and multi-population adaptive mutation strategy to maintain the convergence and diversity of each sub-population. Meanwhile, a dual external archive mechanism is introduced to enable the population to escape local optima and facilitate information exchange between sub-populations through archiving high-quality solutions from both stages. Finally, the individuals in the external archive are sorted, and high-quality solutions are selected and recombined to generate a new population. To demonstrate the effectiveness of DTDP-EAMO, fourteen test functions and a portfolio optimization problem are selected. Experimental results show that the algorithm's overall performance is superior to three comparative algorithms. Furthermore, practical application results demonstrate DTDP-EAMO's ability to reduce risk and increase returns in portfolio optimization problems, further confirming its effectiveness and feasibility. DTDP-EAMO outperforms comparative algorithms in convergence and distribution, indicating higher accuracy and superiority in solving portfolio models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lamprey, one of the most basal jawless vertebrate, is an excellent model for studying vertebrate evolution, embryo development, and the origin of adaptive immunity. This study investigated the differentially expressed proteins in lamprey leukocytes in response to the co-stimulation of intestinal Aeromonas and Shewanella by using quantitative proteomics techniques. Significant differentially expressed proteins were identified. Gene Ontology annotation and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway based on the significant differentially expressed proteins were analyzed. Most of the differentially expressed proteins were predicted to be involved in important signaling pathways. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to verify the expression of differentially expressed proteins at the mRNA level. The expression of some differentially expressed proteins was not consistent at the mRNA and protein levels. Differentially expressed proteins that are essential for lamprey–intestinal bacteria interaction should be identified to understand the lamprey adaptive immune response induced by gut microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The selection of the mutation strategy for differential evolution (DE) algorithm plays an important role in the optimization performance, such as exploration ability, convergence accuracy and convergence speed. To improve these performances, an improved differential evolution algorithm with neighborhood mutation operators and opposition-based learning, namely NBOLDE, is developed in this paper. In the proposed NBOLDE, the new evaluation parameters and weight factors are introduced into the neighborhood model to propose a new neighborhood strategy. On this basis, a new neighborhood mutation strategy based on DE/current-to-best/1, namely DE/neighbor-to-neighbor/1, is designed in order to replace large-scale global mutation by local neighborhood mutation with high search efficiency. Then, a generalized opposition-based learning is employed to optimize the initial population and select the better solution between the current solution and reverse solution in order to approximate global optimal solution, which can amend the convergence direction, accelerate convergence, improve efficiency, enhance the stability and avoid premature convergence. Finally, the proposed NBOLDE is compared with four state-of-the-art DE variants by 12 benchmark functions with low-dimension and high-dimension. The experiment results indicate that the proposed NBOLDE has a faster convergence speed, higher convergence accuracy, and better optimization capabilities in solving high-dimensional complex functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In this paper, the newly prepared gas diffusion layer (GDL) is investigated and characterized. The GDL mainly includes the carbon paper layer and microporous layer (MPL). By the analysis of physical and electrochemical test results, it is found that the performance of GDL prepared by composite carbon black is obviously improved compared with conventional GDL prepared by single carbon black. This new GDL combines the characteristics of two original carbon materials and has a more reasonable pore structure, which can meet the good transmission of reaction gas and liquid water. Furthermore, the research shows that the pore size distribution of GDL can be effectively adjusted by changing the proportion of composite carbon black. The GDL with composite carbon black consisting of 70 wt.% Acetylene Black carbon and 30 wt.% Vulcan XC‐72 is finally confirmed to have the best fuel cell performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slope failure occurring could generate enormous loss to both human lives and properties, and stabilizing piles are broadly used for slope reinforcement as a significant anti-slip retaining structure. The performance of the stabilizing piles is strongly affected by different locations. Presently, most literature focuses on the location selection of single-row stabilizing piles. This paper introduces a classic slope and makes further stability analysis of the slope reinforced by single- and double-row stabilizing piles in different locations. According to the potential sliding surface, the distribution of the bending moment and the thrust, the results show that the failure modes of the slopes reinforced by single- and double-row stabilizing piles are different. As the single-row piles move towards the top of the slope, the failure mode of the piled slope takes on a "shallow-deep-shallow" trend. Moreover, as the pile location and spacing change, the failure modes stabilized by double-row piles can be divided into five categories which could be classified as shallow and deep sliding, and the thrust ratio increases with the increasing pile spacing. Regarding the safety factor, it can be concluded that the optimal location for single-row stabilizing piles within a slope is the lower-middle part of the slope, and the optimal locations for double-row stabilizing piles are proposed at the lower and lower-middle parts of the slope, respectively. The presented analysis could provide significant insight into the design of slopes stabilized by stabilizing piles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Type II toxin‐antitoxin (TA) systems modulate many essential cellular processes in prokaryotic organisms. Recent studies indicate certain type II antitoxins also transcriptionally regulate other genes, besides neutralizing toxin activity. Herein, we investigated the diverse transcriptional repression properties of type II TA antitoxin PaHigA from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Biochemical and functional analyses showed that PaHigA recognized variable pseudopalindromic DNA sequences and repressed expression of multiple genes. Furthermore, we presented high resolution structures of apo‐PaHigA, PaHigA‐PhigBA and PaHigA‐Ppa2440 complex, describing how the rearrangements of the HTH domain accounted for the different DNA‐binding patterns among HigA homologues. Moreover, we demonstrated that the N‐terminal loop motion of PaHigA was associated with its apo and DNA‐bound states, reflecting a switch mechanism regulating HigA antitoxin function. Collectively, this work extends our understanding of how the PaHigB/HigA system regulates multiple metabolic pathways to balance the growth and stress response in P. aeruginosa and could guide further development of anti‐TA oriented strategies for pathogen treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly efficient and low‐cost electrodes have a key role in the development of advanced energy devices such as fuel cells and metal–air batteries. However, electrode performance is typically limited by low utilization of active sites, which causes a considerable drop in energy density. To overcome this issue, a single‐atom‐containing integrated electrode is developed through a confinement synthesis strategy by using organic molecule‐intercalated layered double hydroxides (LDHs) as precursors. The as‐prepared integrated electrode has a well‐defined nanosheet array structure with a homogeneous anchored single atomic Co catalyst and many exposed hierarchical pores. Moreover, the coordination environment of single atoms (CoN or CoS) is precisely controlled by regulating the type of interlayer molecules in the LDHs. Consequently, the optimized electrode exhibits high bifunctional activity toward both the oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reactions. This electrode is directly assembled into an all‐solid‐state zinc–air battery that showed outstanding flexibility and long‐term charge/discharge stability. Because of the versatility of LDH materials, it is expected that the proposed strategy can be extended to the construction of other integrated electrodes for high‐performance energy storage and conversion devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The failure of construction solid waste (CSW) landfill slopes caused by overload conditions often results in extensive losses to urban construction. Based on a strength reduction technique and geotechnical plastic limit analysis theory, the upper bound solutions of the overall and local stability of the double-step muck slope of a CSW landfill with overloads acting on the top and step are deduced. An optimisation programme is designed in MATLAB to solve for the safety factor and the potential slip surface. Through the introduced theoretical analysis method and the finite difference shear strength reduction method, the stability and critical slip surface trends of the studied slope are obtained for different overload positions and intensities. Furthermore, the influences of different overload ranges acting on the slope top are investigated. The results show that slope stability commonly decreases linearly with increasing overload intensity. When the overload acts on both the top and step of the slope, the overall stability is mainly affected by the overload on the slope top. Moreover, as the overload intensity increases, overall failure occurs first; then, the local failure of the case slope occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel ceramic coating-like (CCL) structure was proposed for preparing a potential ceramic cutting tool material. The influence of critical factors, including the material composition, composition content and surface layer thickness, on the residual stress was analyzed by the finite element method (FEM). Under the condition of the optimized parameters, the compressive stress generated on the surface layer of the CCL tool material ranged from −163 MPa to −248 MPa. Based on the obtained results, a (Ti,W)C/Al 2 O 3 +SiC CCL tool material was prepared by vacuum hot-pressing sintering, indicating the residual compressive stress (−122.3 MPa) of the surface layer. Compared with the performance of homogeneous cermet materials, the surface hardness and flexural strength of the CCL tool materials were increased by 46.58% and 37.76%, respectively. Moreover, the SEM imaging results of the sample surface and fracture morphology and the energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis results showed that the dense ceramic surface and phase interfacial transition layer were formed with a uniform gradient distribution and without defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Handicraft is a traditional cultural form which can improve children's hands-on ability and spatial imagination ability. In addition, storytelling is another beneficial activity that can improve children's language skill and creative power in their growing process. By combining handicraft elements and storytelling via mixed reality technology, this paper presents a new storytelling genre, which supports children and parents learning how to make handicraft and then use them as tangible interaction tools to design, create, tell and share stories, together with gesture interaction. Taking origami as an example, we design and implement a system and conduct a user study. Findings illustrate that our system has good usability and can motivate users' interest in handicraft and storytelling and even promote parent–child interaction effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to further improve fractional-pel interpolation image quality of video sequence with different resolutions and reduce algorithm complexity, the fractional-pel interpolation algorithm based on adaptive filter (AF_FIA) is proposed. This algorithm adaptively selects the interpolation filters with different orders according to the three video sequence regions with different resolutions; in the three video sequence regions with different resolutions, the high-order interpolation filter is replaced by low-order interpolation filter according to the correlation between pixels to realize the adaptive selection of filter. The complexity analysis results show that compared with other algorithms, this algorithm reduces space complexity and computation complexity, thus reducing the storage access and coding time. The simulation results indicate that compared with other algorithms, this algorithm has good coding performance and robustness for video sequences with different resolutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cultivation of Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum Gaertn.) has a long history in Liangshan, China. Tartary buckwheat serves as a staple food for Yi people. Various ethnic culture, traditional knowledge and local seed systems contribute to maintaining the diversity of Tartary buckwheat landraces. Thirty-five villages in two counties were investigated, and one of the villages was selected for this case study. The landraces and local names, field management, associated rituals on festivals associated, and seed systems were investigated. Market surveys were also conducted. Thirteen Tartary buckwheat landraces were recorded with vernacular names. Folk nomenclature and taxonomy were mainly based on the seed shape, size, color and maturation period. Depending on their indigenous knowledge and experiences, the Yi people select multiple landraces for cultivation to cope with climate changes and different altitudes. Planting different Tartary buckwheat landraces also staggers the harvest, and meets different taste preferences. The Yi use various seed sources and traditional seed systems. In addition, Tartary buckwheat plays an important role in many Yi rituals in the study area. All landraces of Tartary buckwheat were made into the same simple product for the marketplaces due to inadequate understanding of their characteristics. This homogenization of Tartary buckwheat is not beneficial for the conservation of Tartary buckwheat landraces. Overall, local Yi people conserve Tartary buckwheat landraces and cultivate multiple landraces to maintain their diversity. The traditional knowledge, folk seed system and sociocultural norms contributed great influence on the diversity and on-farm conservation of Tartary buckwheat landraces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Valuable data is often distributed across multiple data centers (DCs). Deep learning (DL) tasks, constrained by privacy regulations, utilize local training and model averaging to facilitate collaborative training across multiple DCs. However, the hierarchical bandwidth within and between DCs diminishes the training efficiency for decentralized data. Therefore, it is imperative to prioritize research efforts aimed at reducing communication overhead while preserving convergence performance for geographically distributed DL tasks. To address this challenge, we propose a H igh- C onvergence and E fficient- C ommunication (HCEC) training strategy for geographically distributed data. In this paper, we adopt two approaches: (1) to ensure high convergence, we utilize dynamic learning rates and local epochs to avoid local optima; (2) to ensure efficient communication, we introduce the A daptive L ayerwise C ommunication (ALC) method to minimize inter-DC communication costs. The ALC method decides whether to communicate all L -layer model parameters at once or perform L -times communication based on the available bandwidth and computational training overhead. Experimental results show that compared to the model averaging method, HCEC ensures convergence and improves training efficiency by at most 37.9%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • AIE light-converting films convert blue-green light to red light (630–680 nm). • The biomass of three microalgae was increased by 13.00 %, 28.00% and 26.00%. • The total content of lipid was also enhanced with 34.60 %, 17.74 % and 22.63 %. • AIE films boosted microalgae carbon sequestration by 17.18%, 38.89%, 35.71%. Microalgae are a kind of promising raw material for bioenergy production and carbon sequestration. To enhance cell growth and production efficiency, great efforts were made for exploring the appropriate intensity and quality of light to improve the synthesis of the value-added products. The aggregation-induced emission (AIE) material (Astrazon Brilliant Red 4G), active for converting blue-green light to red light (630–680 nm), was for the first time applied in the research to achieve high fatty acid yield with considerable carbon–neutral ability. After 10 days-incubation, it revealed that AIE light-converting films boosted the biomass of microalgae Scenedesmus obliquus , Phaeodactylum tricornutum , and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii by 13.00 %, 28.00 %, and 26.00 %, and the total lipid contents increased by 34.60 %, 17.74 %, and 22.63 %, with the carbon sequestration capacity raised by 17.18 %, 38.89 %, and 35.71 %. Furthermore, AIE light-converting films promoted the accumulation of unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) in all three microalgae. Our study demonstrated the potential application of AIE light-converting films for cultivating microalgae to capture high carbon dioxide for photosynthesize carbon–neutral energy and high-valued active compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]