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This study uncovers how household investors intensify the effect of the 52-week high (52WH): increased volume and momentum-like returns at the 52WH price. Using daily household and institutional trading data, we find that households sharply increase their selling, particularly with limit orders at the 52WH price. This behavior is indicative of anchoring, as it is robust to past returns and intensified by proximity, market uncertainty, and salience of the 52WH. This uninformed limit order selling at and prior to the 52WH leads to a doubling of unconditional 52WH anomaly returns. Post-event returns benefit institutions, which act as counterparties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fully grouted rock bolts are widely used in mining, tunneling, and pit support, and thus the study of their anchorage performance is beneficial for optimizing the anchorage system design. In this study, an FDM‐DEM coupled numerical model is established to simulate the whole process of rock bolt pullout test and to investigate the failure mechanism of fully grouted rock bolts. The accuracy of the model is verified by comparison with existing laboratory test results. Virtual experiments are conducted on different models by eliminating the anchor plate, changing the layered rock strata condition, and adding bolts. The results show that the presence of an anchor plate will reduce tensile stress to restrain the rupture of surrounding rock and thus improve the strengthening effect. Due to the different bond strength and tensile strength of the soft and hard rock mediums, the layer sequence of the rock strata affects the maximum pullout force. The upper‐soft and lower‐hard composite rock strata (S‐HCR) exhibits single‐cone damage while the upper‐hard and lower‐soft composite rock strata (H‐SCR) exhibits double‐cone damage. The superposition effect of the anchor group on the stresses and displacements is the reason leading to the reduction of the maximum load‐bearing capacity of the rock bolts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The installation of drag-in plate anchors is investigated using advanced large-deformation finite-element (LDFE) analysis. A new modelling technique that can realise the continuously evolving loading angle on the anchor line is described. The entire anchor trajectory is simulated until the anchor reaches an ultimate state after dragging for a very large distance, typically in the range of 40–70 times the anchor width. An installation in simple uniform and non-sensitive soil is first presented with agreement against well-established plasticity analysis and an analytical solution offering verification of the techniques developed. The effects of anchor padeye position, seabed soil conditions, anchor line properties and the anchor–soil interface on the installation response are then discussed. The findings highlight that plasticity and analytical approaches are not necessarily conservative when the yield surface derived from deep embedded anchors is applied in shallow conditions. The LDFE results also demonstrate the importance of accounting for soil remoulding around both the anchor and anchor installation line. The results of this study provide insights for offshore engineers to consider and incorporate when estimating a drag anchor installation trajectory and holding capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we evaluate the bonding characteristics and interfacial electron transfer dynamics of three heteroleptic ruthenium photosensitizers featuring different terpyridine (tpy) acceptor end configurations through quantum-chemical calculations. These photosensitizers feature tpy ligands with a mono/tricarboxylic acid or a phenyl-carboxylic acid anchor and a trans-disposed –NCS and N-heterocyclic carbene ligand in a C^N donor set. Adiabatic transitions reveal significant overlap between higher-excited and ground-state orbitals and correlate with the experimentally observed anti-Kasha fluorescence. In all complexes, two carboxylate-O atoms of the central anchor effectively bind with TiO2 by bridging two titanium sites. However, appending an additional anchor on each peripheral pyridine of tpy renders binding through only one anchor's –C＝O atom to TiO2. Contrary to the complex bearing three anchors, those featuring monocarboxylate-functionalized tpy exhibit faster electron injection within 100 fs. In all, this study provides insights into the photosensitization attributes of the ruthenium complexes for dye-sensitized solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How functional relationships between policies influence policy design and policy change has received relatively limited attention within public policy scholarship despite the importance of policy coordination. This article contributes to addressing this gap by introducing the Anchoring Policies Perspective (APP), a framework for analysing interactions between policies in functional policy hierarchies. The APP examines how formal links between anchoring policies (AP) and functionally subordinate policies (SP) generate anchoring effects, whereby the provisions codified in APs generate alignment pressures that channel the design of SPs towards the norms and goals of the AP. In the article, we examine the analytical contribution of the APP by analysing the distinguishing characteristics of APs, the mechanisms through which APs influence SP introduction and design, and political strategies for managing situations where resistance occurs to the alignment of SPs with their APs. Examples from environmental and energy policy are used to illustrate key features of the AP-SP relationship, following which the APP’s contribution to public policy scholarship is discussed. We conclude by arguing that the APP has the potential to bring important new insights to the analysis of policy change while building connections with established theories of policy change to develop the APP framework further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Fully covered self-expandable metal stents (FCSEMSs) are commonly placed in patients with biliary stricture during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). However, up to 40% of migration has been reported, resulting in treatment failure or the requirement for further intervention. Here, we aimed to investigate the effects of metal clip anchoring on preventing the migration of FCSEMS. METHODS: Consecutive patients requiring placement of FCSEMS were included in this multicenter randomized trial. The enrolled patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive clip anchoring (clip group) or not (control group). The primary outcome was the migration rate at 6 months after stent insertion. The secondary outcomes were the rates of proximal and distal migration and stent-related adverse events. The analysis followed the intention-to-treat principle. RESULTS: From February 2020 to November 2022, 180 patients with biliary stricture were enrolled, with 90 in each group. The baseline characteristics were comparable between the 2 groups. The overall rate of stent migration at 6 months was significantly lower in the clip group compared with the control group (16.7% vs 30.0%, P 5 0.030). The proximal and distal migration rates were similar in the 2 groups (2.2% vs 5.6%, P 5 0.205; 14.4% vs 22.2%, P 5 0.070). Notably, none of the patients (0/8) who received 2 or more clips experienced stent migration. There were no significant differences in stentrelated adverse events between the 2 groups. DISCUSSION: Our data suggest that clip-assisted anchoring is an effective and safe method for preventing migration of FCSEMS without increasing the adverse events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• School children with and without dyslexia listened to syllable pairs in repeating anchor and variable no-anchor conditions. • Neural correlates show earlier adaptation effects from syllable repetition for control than dyslexia group. • Neural correlates suggest less facilitated speech processing from contextual repetitions in children with dyslexia than controls. Individuals with dyslexia perceive and utilize statistical features in the auditory input deficiently. The present study investigates whether affected children also benefit less from repeating context tones as perceptual anchors for subsequent speech processing. In an event-related potential study, eleven-year-old children with dyslexia (n = 21) and without dyslexia (n = 20) heard syllable pairs, with the first syllable either receiving a constant pitch (anchor) or variable pitch (no-anchor), while second syllables were identical across conditions. Children with and without dyslexia showed smaller auditory P2 responses to constant-pitch versus variable-pitch first syllables, while only control children additionally showed smaller N1 and faster P1 responses. This suggests less automatic processing of anchor repetitions in dyslexia. For the second syllables, both groups showed faster P2 responses following anchor than no-anchor first syllables, but only controls additionally showed smaller P2 responses. Children with and without dyslexia show differences in anchor effects. While both groups seem to allocate less attention to speech stimuli after contextual repetitions, children with dyslexia display less facilitation in speech processing from acoustic anchors. Altered anchoring in the linguistic domain may contribute to the difficulties of individuals with dyslexia in establishing long-term representations of speech. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In actual underground rock engineering, to prevent the deformation and damage of the rock mass, rock bolt reinforcement technology is commonly employed to maintain the stability of the surrounding rock. Therefore, studying the anchoring and crack-stopping effect of rock bolts on fractured granite rock mass is essential. It can provide significant reference and support for the design of underground engineering, engineering safety assessment, the theory of rock mechanics, and resource development. In this study, indoor experiments are combined with numerical simulations to explore the impact of fracture dip angles on the mechanical behavior of unanchored and anchored granite samples from both macroscopic and microscopic perspectives. It also investigates the evolution of the anchoring and crack-stopping effect of rock bolts on granite containing fractures with different dip angles. The results show that the load-displacement trends, displacement fields, and debris fields from indoor experiments and numerical simulations are highly similar. Additionally, it was discovered that, in comparison to the unanchored samples, the anchored samples with fractures at various angles all exhibited a higher degree of tensile failure rather than shear failure that propagates diagonally across the samples from the regions around the fracture tips. This finding verifies the effectiveness of the numerical model parameter calibration. At the same time, it was observed that the internal force chain value level in the anchored samples is higher than in the unanchored samples, indicating that the anchored samples possess greater load-bearing capacity. Furthermore, as the angle αs increases, the reinforcing and crack-stopping effects of the rock bolts become increasingly less pronounced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid metal (LM) micro‐nano droplets show the superiority in reducing the high surface tension applicable in conductive inks for flexible electronics. However, the dynamic surface makes LM droplets susceptible to be oxidized, facing challenges in storage and applications. Herein, a bifunctional groups cross‐linking strategy is adopted to encapsulate LM droplets into a robust shell. During sonicating LM in carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) solution with bifunctional groups (i.e., carboxyl and amino groups), a robust interface shell is constructed by anchoring effect, thereby providing high chemical stability (>7d). When directionally freezing‐drying LM dispersions, aerogel with Janus architecture is produced driven by the gravity of LM droplets. Due to the unique heterogeneous structure, the resultant aerogel exhibits a selective multifunctional response toward directional bending. In addition, owing to the gradient distribution of CMCS within aerogel, moisture electricity generator can be built with a high output voltage of 460 mV. Thus, this bifunctional groups cross‐linking strategy not only improves the chemical stability of LM micro‐nano droplets, but also renders a new method for producing multifunctional aerogel with energy harvesting and selective directional recognition, and applicable in smart sensors and power supplying devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stepwise photopolymerization is a miraculous strategy modulating the polymer skeleton and electro-optical properties of light modulators based on liquid crystal/polymer composites. However, owing to the indistinct polymerization mechanism and curing condition discrepancy, the required polymer structures and electro-optical properties are hard to be controlled precisely. Herein, a novel polymer-stabilized liquid crystal film based on acrylate/epoxy resin is proposed, fabricated and the relationships between preparation process, polymer content, polymer morphology and electro-optical properties are studied. The in-situ photopolymerization of acrylate/epoxy resin liquid crystalline polymer is fulfilled using cation photo-initiator UV 6976. The distinct photopolymerization speed between acrylate and epoxy resin benefits the polymer morphology control, and with accurate containment of the polymerization process and polymer composition, the superior electro-optical properties at a higher polymer content are acquired. The polymer morphology and electro-optical properties are influenced by the polymer content and mass ratio between acrylate and epoxy resin. The best electro-optical properties among samples are attained by controlling the mass ratio between acrylate and epoxy resin to 1:1, integrating higher densities of scattering centers and lower anchoring effect. With higher polymer content, the strategy of increasing the mass ratio of E6M benefits the improvement of E-O properties for alleviating polymer density. This work provides insights to stepwise polymerization of liquid crystalline monomers and offers a fancy strategy for the preparation of novel liquid crystal dimming films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Emotion artificial intelligence (AI) is shown to vary systematically in its ability to accurately identify emotions, and this variation creates potential biases. In this paper, we conduct an experiment involving three commercially available emotion AI systems and a group of human labelers tasked with identifying emotions from two image data sets. The study focuses on the alignment between facial expressions and the emotion labels assigned by both the AI and humans. Importantly, human labelers are given the AI's scores and informed about its algorithmic fairness measures. This paper presents several key findings. First, the labelers' scores are affected by the emotion AI scores, consistent with the anchoring effect. Second, information transparency about the AI's fairness does not uniformly affect human labeling across different emotions. Moreover, information transparency can even increase human inconsistencies. Plus, significant inconsistencies in the scoring among different emotion AI models cast doubt on their reliability. Overall, the study highlights the limitations of individual decision making and information transparency regarding algorithmic fairness measures in addressing algorithmic fairness. These findings underscore the complexity of integrating emotion AI into practice and emphasize the need for careful policies on emotion AI. Emotion artificial intelligence (AI) or emotion recognition AI may systematically vary in its recognition of facial expressions and emotions across demographic groups, creating inconsistencies and disparities in its scoring. This paper explores the extent to which individuals can compensate for these disparities and inconsistencies in emotion AI considering two opposing factors; although humans evolved to recognize emotions, particularly happiness, they are also subject to cognitive biases, such as the anchoring effect. To help understand these dynamics, this study tasks three commercially available emotion AIs and a group of human labelers to identify emotions from faces in two image data sets. The scores generated by emotion AI and human labelers are examined for inference inconsistencies (i.e., misalignment between facial expression and emotion label). The human labelers are also provided with the emotion AI's scores and with measures of its scoring fairness (or lack thereof). We observe that even when human labelers are operating in this context of information transparency, they may still rely on the emotion AI's scores, perpetuating its inconsistencies. Several findings emerge from this study. First, the anchoring effect appears to be moderated by the type of inference inconsistency and is weaker for easier emotion recognition tasks. Second, when human labelers are provided with information transparency regarding the emotion AI's fairness, the effect is not uniform across emotions. Also, there is no evidence that information transparency leads to the selective anchoring necessary to offset emotion AI disparities; in fact, some evidence suggests that information transparency increases human inference inconsistencies. Lastly, the different models of emotion AI are highly inconsistent in their scores, raising doubts about emotion AI more generally. Collectively, these findings provide evidence of the potential limitations of addressing algorithmic bias through individual decisions, even when those individuals are supported with information transparency. History: Alessandro Acquisti, Senior Editor; Monideepa Tarafdar, Associate Editor. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.2019.0493. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental research in behavioral economics focuses on consumer behaviors. Similar experimental research on profit-maximizing producers is rare. In three field experiments involving commercial agricultural producers in the United States, we detect evidence of anchoring in competitive auctions for conservation contracts related to nutrient and pest management that were worth, on average, nearly $9,000. In these auctions, the value of the starting cost-share bid was randomized to be either 0% or 100%. When the starting value was 100%, final bids were 46% higher, on average. We find weak evidence that experience with conservation contracts may modestly attenuate the anchoring effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online product pricing is an important research field in the platform economy, and a two‐stage mixed presale is a mainstream mode of online sales. In the process of online consumption, the payment method and presale mode have an important impact on consumer behaviour and product pricing. Based on the two‐stage mixed presale mode, this study considers the impact of anchoring and the payment pain reduction effect on consumer behaviour, establishes the corresponding product pricing model and obtains the optimal presale price, sales and profit. It sheds light on the influence mechanism of anchoring and the payment pain reduction effect on consumer behaviour and online product pricing. Theoretical and numerical analyses reveal that the payment pain reduction effect can help to raise the product price, stimulate market vitality and bring higher profits for online retailers, and the anchoring effect and consumers' loss aversion psychology can enhance the profits and sales of online retailers, but they will discourage setting high prices for products. The research results will further enrich the relevant research on customer behaviour and product pricing in the platform economy and will provide decision bases for platform enterprises and online retailers to participate in presale activities and formulate product pricing strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights Nonflammable gel polymer electrolyte (SGPE) is developed by in situ polymerizing trifluoroethyl methacrylate (TFMA) monomers with flame-retardant triethyl phosphate (TEP) solvents and LiTFSI–LiDFOB dual lithium salts. Molecular polarity interaction between TEP and PTFMA mitigates interfacial reactions and changes the solvation of Li+. SGPE forms stable inorganic-rich solid electrolyte interface/cathode electrolyte interface layer, exhibiting well compatibility with Li anode and LiCoO2-type high-voltage cathode.

A supramolecular zwitterionic hydrogel based on polyacrylamide/carboxylated cellulose nanofibers/betaine citrate is constructed. The non-covalent interactions within the supramolecular zwitterionic hydrogels results in the formation of inter-crosslinked polymer networks. The strong coordination between betaine citrate with negative loading groups and zinc ions leads to rapid transfer of zinc ions by molecular slippage inside the polymer, which improved the transfer kinetics of zinc ions. Meanwhile, anchoring of various polar groups in the supramolecular zwitterionic hydrogel on the surface of the zinc anode provides active sites for the rapid and uniform deposition of zinc ions. [Display omitted] • Molecular slip mechanisms enhance the diffusion kinetics of Zn2+. • Zwitterionic coordination effect improves deposition kinetics. • Polar group anchoring effects protect zinc anodes. • Zn mental battery exhibits outstanding cycle performance. The severe hydrogen evolution reaction and parasitic side reaction on Zn anode are the key issues which hinder the development of aqueous Zn-based energy storage devices. Herein, a polyacrylamide/carboxylated cellulose nanofibers/betaine citrate supramolecular zwitterionic hydrogels with molecular slip effects are proposed for enhancing Zn2+ diffusion and protecting Zn anodes. Non-covalent interactions within supramolecular hydrogels forms the skeleton for molecular slip and the strong coordination of carboxyl and amino groups with Zn2+ further facilitates the rapid Zn2+ transfer. Additionally, anchoring carboxyl and amino groups at the anode promotes the uniform deposition of Zn2+and protects Zn anode. On the basis of molecular slip mechanism and anchoring effect in the supramolecular zwitterionic hydrogels, Zn||Zn symmetric batteries undergo 800 h of stable electroplating stripping at a depth of discharge of 80 %. Zn||Cu asymmetric batteries exhibit an impressive average coulombic efficiency of 99.4 % over a remarkable span of 900 cycles at a current density of 15 mA cm−2. Furthermore, Zn||NH 4 V 4 O 10 batteries successfully undergo over 1,000 cycles at a current density of 0.5 A g−1. Intrinsic ion diffusion mechanism of supramolecular hydrogel electrolytes provides an original strategy for the application of high-performance Zn-based energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designed an OD–2D bimetallic heterostructure based on MXene substrate (FeCo@Ti 3 C 2). The advantage of 2D structure is that it enhances the rapid diffusion and electronic conduction of lithium ions, enabling effective storage of sulfur substances and achieving the re reaction of polysulfides; The bimetallic 0D structure exhibits an efficient anchoring effect on polysulfides, effectively alleviating shuttle effects. And use it as a diaphragm coating to improve the stability of lithium sulfur batteries at high rates (703 mAh g−1 at 4 C at room temperature and 555 mAh g−1 at 2 C at 0 °C) and excellent capacity performance under high loads (5.5 mAh cm−2 after 100 cycles at a high sulfur content of 8.2 mg cm−2). [Display omitted] Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries have attracted much attention due to their high specific capacity. However, at high loads and rates, the polysulfides conversion rate and ion transport of batteries are slow, limiting their commercialization. This work reports zero-dimensional (0D) bimetallic MOF derivatives grown in situ on two-dimensional (2D) MXene by electrostatic adsorption (FeCo@Ti 3 C 2). The 0D bimetallic structure effectively avoids the stacking of MXene while providing a dual catalytic site for polysulfides. The 2D structure of MXene also provides a large number of pathways for the rapid diffusion of lithium ions. This 0D–2D heterostructured heterogeneous catalyst with bimetallic synergistic active sites efficiently immobilizes and catalyzes polysulfides, providing a fast charge transfer pathway for the electrochemical reaction of lithium polysulfides. The Li-S battery with this multifunctional 0D–2D heterojunction structure catalyst has outstanding high rate capacity (703 mAh g−1 at 4 C at room temperature and 555 mAh g−1 at 2 C at 0 °C), fascinating capacity at high load (5.5 mAh cm−2 after 100 cycles at a high sulfur content of 8.2 mg cm−2). The study provides new ideas for the commercialization of high-efficiency Li-S batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a technical measure to enhance the support effect of bolts (cable bolts) on weak surrounding rock roadway in coal mine, the borehole reaming has played an important role in improving the quality and safety of active support for weak surrounding rock of coal mine roadway. However, the reaming construction also significantly increases the size of the boreholes at the reaming location. This leads to problems such as the curing and filling effect of the resin in the borehole area reamed is not ideal when the construction is carried out in accordance with the conventional resin anchoring construction method of the bolt, which is obviously not conducive to the full play of the anchoring performance of the borehole reaming. In order to clarify the anchoring problem and its influence in the reaming area of the borehole and find an effective solution to ensure the anchoring performance of the bolts (cable bolts) under the reaming condition of the borehole, a systematic study was carried out by combining numerical simulation and laboratory experiments. The results show that the bending (curving) of the resin cartridges into the reaming area during construction process, which makes it impossible for the cable bolt to effectively mix and break resin cartridges, and the increase of the volume of the borehole at the reaming position makes the resin unable to fill effectively, they are the main reasons for the anchoring problems in the reaming area. The simulation results of cable bolt pull-out show that the anchoring defects in the reaming area have a great impact on the anchoring performance of the cable bolt and the failure mode of the anchoring system. In order to improve the anchoring effect of the reaming area, this paper proposes a method to guarantee the anchoring effect of the reaming area at the borehole bottom, and the effectiveness of the method is verified by experiments. The experimental results show that this method can effectively ensure the anchoring effect of the reaming area at the bottom of the borehole in weak surrounding rock, and enhance anchoring performance of the cable bolt. This study effectively solves the anchoring problem in the reaming area of the borehole, which is helpful to give full play to the high strength support ability of the cable bolt under the condition of weak surrounding rock in the coal mine, and provides a technical way to ensure the support effect of the cable bolt in weak surrounding rock.

Carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) materials can be used as structural reinforcement in engineering projects, but its effectiveness is jeopardised by debonding of the CFRP. Anchoring of the CFRP is thus crucial for efficient shear strengthening. The effect of anchoring on the shear resistance of nine CFRP U-wrapped concrete beams with varying shear span-to-depth (SSD) ratios (1.0, 1.5 and 2.0) and depths of 300–900 mm was investigated in this work. Nine unanchored beams and nine plain (without CFRP wrapping) concrete beams were also included in the comparison, considering the influence of the beam effective depth and the SSD ratio, with reference to prior research. An evaluation of the shear contribution of the CFRP wrapping was conducted, particularly for cases involving large dimensions and diverse SSD ratios. The anchoring effect was found to be most pronounced in small-scale beams with a large SSD ratio, demonstrating an improvement of over 60% compared with the CFRP shear-strengthened beam without anchoring. In contrast to beams without CFRP wrapping, the shear performance was enhanced by approximately 90%. Additionally, formulas for calculating the shear capacity from different national specifications were analysed and compared. A new calculation method for CFRP shear resistance was established and its accuracy was verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NPR anchor cable is a new type of support material with negative Poisson's ratio effect, which is widely used in mine support because of its superb compensating mechanical effect. In order to study more deeply the support effect of NPR anchor cable in soft rock large deformation tunnel, indoor test, numerical simulation and field monitoring were used to study the strong weathering carbonaceous slate tunnel in Min County. The study shows that NPR anchor cable has extraordinary compensating mechanical behavior for soft rock large deformation tunnel, which can control the deformation of tunnel surrounding rock below 300 mm and keep the constant resistance value around 350 kN, which has obvious effect on the control of broken rock. To provide a basis for other research on support for large deformation tunnels in soft rock. Highlights: The large deformation tunnel in soft rock was studied by laboratory experiment, numerical simulation and field monitoring. The NPR anchor cable with negative Poisson's ratio effect is used to support the soft rock tunnel with large deformation in the western transverse mountain area, and the compensating mechanical properties of the NPR anchor cable are verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black phosphorus (BP) has been recognized as an ideal anode material for fast‐charging lithium (Li)‐ion capacitors (LICs) due to its high theoretical capacity (2596 mAh g−1), appropriate lithiation potential (0.7 V vs Li+/Li) and fast ion diffusion capability. However, large volume change and soluble polyphosphides (LixPs)‐based intermediates during charging‐discharging process seriously deteriorate cycling performance. To address the aforementioned issues, an elaborated design is reported on the binder for BP electrode. The ‐NH2 polar functional group in grafted chitosan (GCS) binder presents strong chemical anchoring effect for both BP and soluble LixPs, achieving superior adhesion force and LixPs constraining capability for enhanced structure integrity of BP electrode. In addition, GCS exhibits strong Li‐ion binding energy that promotes the Li‐ion adsorption at electrode level, leading to a boosted cycle life for BP. As a result, the graphene (G) incorporated BP electrode using GCS binder shows specific capacity of 997.6 mAh g−1 after 400 cycles at 1 A g−1. This study unravels the crucial role of functional groups for binder in high‐performance BP electrode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve reactivity and achieve a higher material efficiency, catalysts are often used in the form of clusters with nanometer dimensions, down to single atoms. Since the corresponding properties are highly structure‐dependent, a suitable support is thus required to ensure cluster stability during operating conditions. Herein, an efficient method to stabilize cobalt nanoclusters on graphene grown on nickel substrates, exploiting the anchoring effect of nickel atoms incorporated in the carbon network is presented. The anchored nanoclusters are studied by in situ variable temperature scanning tunneling microscopy at different temperatures and upon gas exposure. Cluster stability upon annealing up to 200 °C and upon CO exposure at least up to 1 × 10−6 mbar CO partial pressure is demonstrated. Moreover, the dimensions of the cobalt nanoclusters remain surprisingly small (<3 nm diameter) with a narrow size distribution. Density functional theory calculations demonstrate that the interplay between the low diffusion barrier on graphene on nickel and the strong anchoring effect of the nickel atoms leads to the increased stability and size selectivity of these clusters. This anchoring technique is expected to be applicable also to other cases, with clear advantages for transition metals that are usually difficult to stabilize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The soil–anchor interface mechanical behavior is of practical importance for the bearing performance of ground anchors. Element-scale pullout test is a simple, reliable, and economical technique to investigate the interface shear stress–displacement response of anchors. However, the influence range of boundary effect for the anchoring element-scale pullout specimens is poorly understood, particularly under the actual stress and construction conditions. In addition, there is still a lack of study on the mechanical behavior of soil–anchor interface subjected to ground pressure via element-scale pullout test. In this paper, an element-scale pullout test setup that can simulate ground pressure and construction method of ground anchors was specially developed, with details introduced carefully. A response surface function-based soil dry density prediction model was proposed for the test design. Comparison with the soil consolidation test results indicates that this model equipped with high fitting and prediction accuracy. Twenty groups of element-scale pullout tests with different ground pressures and anchor diameters were conducted. Based on the test design of the proposed model, the soil density and moisture content were almost the same for all specimens after consolidation. The shrinkage of anchor hole, interface shear stress–displacement response, and interface shear strength were discussed adequately. It is shown that the soil–anchor interface shear strength is hardly dependent on ground pressure under the actual construction method of anchors. The influence of boundary effect for the element-scale pullout test can almost be eliminated when diameter ratio of specimen to anchor exceeds 5.0 ~ 6.7. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rock slope landslides and underground construction destabilization are frequently attributed to shear impairment by intermittent joints, and the support by bolts represents an indispensable technique for reinforcing jointed rocks. Therefore, we conducted laboratory experiments on intermittently jointed rock-like materials that were anchored, employing various anchoring inclination angles and methods, to investigate the influence of bolt anchoring on the shear properties and acoustic emission characteristics of intermittently jointed rock-like materials. Experimental results revealed that the peak shear strength of the anchored intermittently jointed rock-like materials is proportional to the bolt inclination angle. The strain on the joint is inversely related to the peak shear strength and the bolt inclination angle. The full-length anchorage and end anchorage can drastically enhance the mechanical traits of intermittently jointed rock-like materials, effectively impeding the proliferation of shear cracks after reaching the peak shear strength. The anchorage inclination exhibits a positive correlation with the accumulative acoustic emission (AE) energy and, conversely, a negative correlation with the peak AE count. In geotechnical engineering, the anchoring effect of anchor bolts can enhance the integrity of fractured rock masses and improve overall stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: The recommendations for splinting are well established for the injuries of permanent dentition; however, ambiguity still exists for the injuries in primary dentition. Hence, this study aimed to determine the most appropriate dimensions of stainless steel wire and its extent, for achieving the physiologic mobility in primary dentition. Material and Methods: This study was designed as an in vitro experiment by using a typodont model of primary dentition. The baseline mobility of primary maxillary incisors was calibrated to the physiologic mobility of natural primary incisors by using a Teflon tape wrapped around the roots of resin teeth. Splinting was done using a stainless steel wire of 0.2 mm (Group I), 0.3 mm (Group II), and 0.4 mm (Group III). These groups were subdivided (a, b, and c) on the basis of the extent of the splint, and pre splint mobility (Pre‐PV) and post‐splint mobility (Post‐PV) were tested by Periotest M. The splint effect was calculated by subtracting Post‐PVs and Pre‐PVs. Results: The normal values of mobility in healthy human volunteers ranged from 10.5 to 13. The overall splint effect was higher in Group III irrespective of the extent of the splint, whereas it was found to be the lowest in Group I (b and c). The splint effect increased with the extent of the splint in all the groups. Among all the groups, the splint effect on the anchor teeth was observed to increase with the extent of the splint and the diameter of the wire. Conclusion: The mobility of the injured and anchor teeth splinted with 0.2‐mm stainless steel wire was similar to the pre‐splint and physiologic mobility. The most favorable extension was one tooth adjacent to the injured tooth on each side for both 0.2‐ and 0.3‐mm wires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the promising candidacy of perovskite nanocrystals for light-emitting diodes, their pure red electroluminescence is hindered by low saturated luminance, severe external quantum efficiency roll-off, and inferior operational stability. Here, we report ultra-bright and stable pure red light-emitting diodes by manipulating Joule heat generation in the nanocrystal emissive layer and thermal management within the device. Diphenylphosphoryl azide-mediated regulation of the nanocrystal surface synergistically enhances the optical properties and carrier transport of the emissive layer, enabling reduced Joule heat generation and thus lowering the working temperature. These merits inhibit ion migration of the CsPb(Br/I)3 nanocrystal film, promising excellent spectra stability. Combined with the highly thermal-conductive sapphire substrates and implementation of pulse-driving mode, the pure red light-emitting diodes exhibit an ultra-bright luminance of 390,000 cd m−2, a peak external quantum efficiency of 25%, suppressed efficiency roll-off, an operational half-life of 20 hours, and superior spectral stability within 15 A cm−2. For achieving ultra-bright and stable pure red perovskite nanocrystal-based LEDs, the authors report a synergistic strategy by reducing Joule heating generation via surface ligand anchoring effect and improving thermal dissipation via using sapphire substrates and implementing pulse-driving mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular iron phthalocyanine (FePc) bearing a single‐atom Fe–N4 moiety is a high‐profile non‐platinum catalyst toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), but its unsatisfactory activity and inadequate stability hinder the practical application. Herein, a novel strategy by hybridizing FePc with fullerene‐derived intrinsic defect‐rich carbon to improve its ORR activity and stability is reported. Via alkali‐assisted thermal pyrolysis, C60 molecules are disintegrated into tiny fragments that then restructure into pentagon‐ and edge‐rich carbon (FC). Utilizing FC as a support of FePc leads to a significantly improved ORR activity compared to other supports including reduced graphene oxide and carbon nanotube that hold distinct structural features. The optimized FePc/FC with a Fe loading of 3 wt% presents a half‐wave potential of 0.917 V, far beyond that of Pt/C (0.846 V), via selective four‐electron ORR pathway and excellent stability under accelerated stress test. The practical applicability of FePc/FC is also demonstrated as a high‐performing cathode catalyst of aqueous zinc–air batteries. It is, for the first time, explicitly disclosed that strong interactions between FePc molecules and intrinsic carbon defects (e.g., pentagons and edges) not only strengthen the anchoring effect of supported FePc but also enhance the intrinsic ORR activity of single‐atom Fe–N4 sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Round-number focal points are important to determine the outcome of negotiations, and the anchoring effect may matter disproportionately whether a listing price reached a round-number threshold. By applying regression discontinuity design method, we find that listing prices under a round-number focal point sell less than the houses list above the threshold. The effect is more pronounced in houses with greater uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the issue of weak laser connection strength between 304 stainless steel and the carbon fiber-reinforced polymer PCCF30, this study proposes the addition of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) intermediate layer between 304 stainless steel and PCCF30, along with surface texture pretreatment of the stainless steel surface, to enhance the joint connection strength. First, three types of surface textures (vertical, wavy, and vertical plus wave) were investigated for their effect on joint quality. Once the optimal texture type was determined, the effect of texture scanning repetition on the surface morphology and groove cross-sectional geometry of 304 stainless steel was examined. The joint strengths achieved by adding intermediate layers and employing different surface texture treatment methods were compared, followed by a comparison of the joint strengths obtained from different pretreatment methods. Finally, the connection mechanism of the joint was analyzed. The results indicated that the maximum joint strength achieved through the vertical and wavy texture design was 4.39 MPa, which is 3.3 times greater than that achieved without reinforcement. Moreover, the maximum joint strength achieved with the addition of a PET intermediate layer and surface texture composite treatment was 11.85 MPa, which is approximately nine times greater than that achieved via direct connection. The inclusion of a PET intermediate layer enhances the fluidity of the molten polymer at the joint, facilitating better filling of the grooves with surface texture. This strengthens the mechanical anchoring effect of the joint and contributes to the improvement in the joint's connection strength. An XPS analysis revealed that after multiple etchings of the joint interface with an added intermediate layer, the Cr in the stainless steel chemically bonded with the PET, resulting in the formation of Cr–O–C chemical bonds, which is advantageous for enhancing joint quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to investigate the effect of pre-tension on the anchoring and crack-arresting effect of rockbolts, a theoretical model of stress intensity factor at the crack tip in anchored surrounding rock was established using fracture mechanics theory. An expression for the difference in stress intensity factor due to axial force on the rockbolt was derived, exploring the influence of pre-tension on the stress intensity factor of cracks. A numerical model of anchored crack specimens was developed using UDEC (V6.0) software to simulate and analyze the mechanical performance and damage characteristics of specimens anchored with different pre-tension. The results indicate that the difference in stress intensity factor of cracks is positively correlated with pre-tension. High-pre-tensioned rockbolts can effectively reduce the stress intensity factor of cracks. Prestressed rockbolts can alter the failure mode of rock masses from shear failure along pre-existing cracks to tensile splitting failure. The application of high pre-tension significantly enhances the strength of the rock mass, reducing both the damage degree and the number of internal cracks. After anchoring with high-pre-tensioned rockbolts, the peak strength and elastic modulus of the crack specimens increased by 22.5% and 31.9%, respectively, while damage degree decreased by 17.4%, the number of shear cracks decreased by 22.6%, and the number of tensile cracks decreased by 42.9%. The pre-tensioned rockbolt method proposed in this study was applied to the support of roadway widening. Field monitoring data indicated that the axial force of the rockbolts in the test section generally exceeded 60 kN, effectively controlling the deformation of the roadway surrounding the rock. The convergence of the two sides decreased by 22%, and borehole inspections showed a significant reduction in internal cracks. The research results provide a theoretical basis for controlling the discontinuous deformation of deep broken surrounding rock roadways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the steep terrain of southwestern China, there are numerous complex strata characterized by thin overburden layers and well-behaved underlying bedrock, yet excavation poses significant challenges. This situation is unfavorable for the construction of transmission towers' foundations. To address this issue, inclined anchor short-pile foundations have been proposed as foundations for transmission towers. These foundations not only reduce the depth and construction difficulty of excavation but also make full use of the load-bearing capacity of the bedrock. To investigate the influence of the anchor rods' layout on the uplift resistance characteristics of inclined anchor short-pile foundations, numerical models were established using FLAC3D. The effects of the anchor rods' position and the length of the free segment on the uplift resistance characteristics of inclined anchor short-pile foundations were explored. The results indicated that variations in the anchor rods' position and the length of the free segment had minimal impact on the uplift resistance characteristics of inclined anchor short-pile foundations. The pile head displacements of short piles with different anchor rod positions were similar under both loading conditions. Under pure uplift loads, the maximum displacement before failure was approximately 13 mm, while under combined uplift and horizontal loads, the maximum displacement before failure was around 15 mm. Placing the anchor rod too low increased the difficulty of construction, while positioning it too high resulted in a shorter embedment length of the anchor rod in the pile's body, leading to potential failure at the pile–anchor node. Therefore, it is recommended to position the anchor rod near the center of the short pile's body. As the length of the free segment of the anchor rod decreased, there was a slight reduction in the displacement under the same uplift loading conditions, with an overall difference of less than 5%. However, if full-length anchoring was adopted, the anchor rod was prone to tensile shear failure. Compared with short-pile foundations of the same size, inclined anchor short-pile foundations demonstrated enhanced ultimate bearing capacity under uplift and combined uplift and horizontal loading. The improvement was more significant when horizontal loads were present. Under horizontal loading, the ultimate uplift bearing capacity of inclined anchor short-pile foundations decreased by only 14%, whereas that of single-pile foundations decreased by 24%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To compare the efficacy of triangular anchor reduction forceps and towel forceps in the treatment of long oblique or spiral distal tibial fractures. Methods The data of 58 patients admitted to the Department of Traumatic Orthopaedics in Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from June 2019 to March 2021 were analyzed prospectively. According to the reduction methods during operation, they were divided into point reduction forceps group (n = 26) and triangle anchor reduction forceps group (n = 32) . The operation time, intraoperative fluoroscopy times, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative fracture reduction quality, hospital stay, fracture healing time, American orthopedic foot and ankle society (AOFAS) score, curative effect and complications at the last follow-up were compared between the two groups. Results All patients participated in the follow-up for more than one year. There was no significant difference in age, sex, basic diseases and injury mechanism between the two groups. The operation time and fluoroscopy times of patients in triangle anchor reduction group were significantly lower than those in point reduction forceps group (P < 0.05), while the quality of fracture reduction was higher than that in point reduction forceps group (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference in other perioperative indexes. The fracture healing time of patients in triangle anchor reduction group was shorter, and the ankle joint function was better than that in point reduction forceps group (P < 0.05) . There was no significant difference in the incidence of various complications between the two groups, but the overall incidence of complications in the triangle anchor reduction group was significantly lower (P < 0.05) . Conclusion Triangular anchor reduction forceps can improve the quality of fracture reduction, shorten the healing time of fracture, reduce the occurrence of complications, reduce the operation time and the number of fluoroscopy during operation, and there is no obvious increase in local infection. It is an effective and reliable reduction method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to enhance the sluggish kinetics and suppress the polysulfide shuttle effect in high‐loading lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries, it is crucial to design and synthesize catalysts exhibiting both high conversion rate and strong anchoring effect toward polysulfide species. Herein, based on theoretical predictions, spent cathode materials (LiCoO2 and LiMn2O4) from spent lithium‐ion batteries are converted into a bifunctional catalyst (Co─MnO) for Li–S batteries through the high‐temperature shock method. Owing to the synergistic catalytic and anchoring effect of polysulfide species exhibit by Co─MnO, superior electrochemical performance, including excellent rate performance (707 mAh g−1 at 4C) and high stability (capacity fading of 0.058% per cycle over 400 cycles at 1C) can be delivered under a low areal catalyst loading (<0.5 wt%). This work not only offers a new design strategy for Li–S catalysts, but also proposes a promising approach to transform spent LIBs into highly efficient catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to explore the effects of herding and anchoring effects, two behavioural economics concepts, on perceived source credibility, which is commonly utilized in marketing research. These cognitive shortcuts that shape consumers' decisions reduce their perceived risk or help them make decisions under uncertainty. The literature contains a limited amount of research on the topic that addresses source credibility in terms of behavioural economics. Within this framework, the study is anticipated to enhance the body of literature through its chosen topic and methodology. When reviewing research undertaken within the marketing domain, the experimental design method has been used in very few studies. In this context, in the experimental designs created within the scope of the study, various scenarios were designed on the basis of follower number (high/low) to evaluate the impact of herd behaviour on the credibility of the source and on the substance of news about the influencer (positive/negative) to measure the anchoring effect. After the participants were shown one of the scenarios, they were given questionnaires with statements about source credibility to answer, and how the perception of source credibility differs according to herd behaviour and the anchoring effect was investigated. Instagram influencers were used in the experimental designs created in the study because Instagram application is increasingly preferred over other social media platforms, is more effective in terms of marketing communication, is increasingly included in the marketing strategies of businesses and is preferred by the young population. Within the framework of this research, data were gathered via an online survey administered to a total of 727 students enrolled in various departments across universities in Turkey. These data were subjected to one-way ANOVA via the SPSS program. Research findings indicate that herding behaviour significantly affects the perceptions of the source credibility, expertise, and attractiveness of social media influencers. Furthermore, anchoring significantly affects the source credibility perceptions and expertise, trustworthiness, and attractiveness subdimensions. However, in scenarios where the number of followers and anchors are identical, a statistically significant difference was not found in the perception of source credibility in relation to the gender of the influencer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Processing fluency of stimuli has been shown to impact consumers' decision-making. We investigate whether inhibiting the processing fluency of an anchor results in a more pronounced anchoring effect, as is proposed in the existing literature. We use a point-of-purchase field experiment to test the hypothesis that a disfluent anchor in a product name influences consumers' willingness to pay for this product more than a fluent anchor. The results provide strong support against the fluency—willingness to pay relationship. Contrary to theoretical predictions, our study cautions marketing practitioners against the use of low-fluency anchors in product names. Plain language summary: This study focuses on whether a numerical anchor presented in words produces a larger anchoring effect (i.e., overly relying on initial numeric information when making a decision) than a numerical anchor presented in digits. We conducted a field experiment that measured how much money are consumers willing to pay for a product when various names of the product were presented. Different customers bought craft beer that either had a number in the name written in words (99 golden piglets), numbers (99 golden piglets), or did not contain a number in its name (Golden piglet). Contrary to the previous research, we found that the number in the product name written in words does not affect consumers' willingness to pay more than the one written in digits. Our study cautions marketing practitioners against the use of low-fluency anchors in product names. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing popularity of multiple-choice assessment implies the need for accurate evaluation. The available literature shows a positional effect of response options on items' psychometric properties (item difficulty and discrimination), albeit evidence is scarce and often conflicting. Historically, correct answer position was firstly explored, followed by distractor position, which is a novel line of research focusing on distractor plausibility or attractiveness. In this study, response-option positional effects on item difficulty and discrimination were assessed, using three, four and five-response-option items, regarding the position of the correct answer, and the most and least chosen distractors. Distractor position affected item difficulty, coinciding the "anchoring effect" in response option distribution: when the most attractive distractor was placed at the last positions, items became more difficult, and the opposite effect was found for the least chosen one. Distractor position had no effect on item discrimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How to allocate study time is an important decision-making problem learners face. Research on this problem can help improve the learning performance of learners and provide guidance for teaching activities. This research aimed to explore the potential of anchors (prior information that may influence individual decision-making and judgment under uncertainty) as clues for study time allocation and examine the effectiveness of study time allocation under the influence of anchors. Sixty-two Chinese university students (Mage = 21.21, SD = 1.74; 44 females) studied 20 word pairs under self-paced learning instructions. These instructions either set a high anchor (i.e., the typical participant spent 15 s learning each pair) or a low anchor (i.e., the typical participant spent 5 s learning each pair) for study time. After a brief distraction phase, participants took a cued recall test. The results showed that the higher the anchor value, the longer the corresponding study time, and the longer the study time, the better the memory performance. These results reveal that there is both an anchoring effect and a labor-and-gain effect in self-paced study time allocation. This study extends the range of observable anchoring effects and provides important information on allocating study time effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming to optimize the product distribution of the Cu–Al catalytic system in the oxalate hydrogenation reaction as a way to optimize and improve the product structure of the coal-to-ethylene glycol process (Coal-Oxalate-EG), the researchers have investigated the two anchoring sites for anchoring the Cu component that is available in the Al2O3 support. The results show that the catalyst xSB synthesized from Al2O3 enriched with surface –OH functional groups is superior to the catalyst xSol synthesized from Al2O3 enriched with Al3+Penta sites for oxalate conversion, whereas xSol outperforms the xSB catalyst for the formation of alcohol-ether ester chemicals. Using diethyl oxalate (DEO) as feedstock, the reaction temperature of the 1Sol catalyst (235 °C) was higher than that of the 1SB catalyst (205 °C) for the conversion of the same amount of DEO at the same Cu loading. Meanwhile, the chemical selectivity of alcohol ether esters was higher for the 1Sol catalyst (~ 35%) than for the 1SB (~ 20%). Detailed characterization (XRD, NH3-TPD, XPS, in-situ FTIR, TEM, etc.) shows that the Al3+Penta sites are mainly present in the bulk phase of Al2O3, and the number of Al3+Penta sites present on the surface of the carriers is only sufficient to maintain the low content of Cu species in a highly dispersed state. A certain number of Al–OH is still required for the anchoring of the Cu species to the Al2O3 support surface. Therefore, hydroxyl-rich SB carriers are more favorable for the high dispersion of Cu species. Meanwhile, the stronger LAS distributed on the surface of the hydroxyl-rich SB carrier will lead to the decomposition or dehydration of the raw materials and intermediates during the reaction process, resulting in the formation of lower molecular weight products, which is unfavorable to the formation of the alcohol-ether ester products. Based on the detailed reaction data and characterization, a more complete product formation pathway of oxalate in the Cu–Al catalytic system is given, which provides a certain theoretical basis for the development of new coal-based chemical pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of heuristics is common within the valuation profession in Kenya, mainly because of the country's valuation environment characterised by limited information. Although heuristics can be useful when assessing market value in imperfect markets, their inappropriate use can contribute to valuation inaccuracies. There is limited research on the effects of heuristics on the valuation industry in developing countries, with no comprehensive study in Kenya. The study's main objective is to establish the positive and negative effects of anchoring and adjustment heuristic on the valuation profession in Kenya while identifying the significant types of heuristics within the industry. The study used a quantitative research design involving a survey of registered and practicing valuers in Kenya. Findings indicate the presence of anchoring and adjustment heuristic and that valuers adopt this type of heuristic to solve information problems while improving valuation accuracy. Further, the study found that inappropriate use of anchoring and adjustment heuristic contributes to valuation inaccuracies; it is the second most prevalent after positivity heuristic. The study contributes to knowledge as it builds on the existing literature by providing additional empirical support on the effects of heuristics on the valuation profession while recommending appropriate measures to improve the profession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Developing a suitable catalyst for ammonia borane (AB, NH 3 BH 3) hydrolysis and clarifying the catalytic mechanism are essential and challenging at present. In this work, RuNi nanoalloys are supported on an N/O co-coped glucose-derived carbon (g-C) with the adsorption-NaBH 4 reduction method. Attributed to the particular geometric and anchoring effects, as well as the improved hydrophilicity of the multi-level porous support, the RuNi alloys are highly and firmly confined in the framework of g-C. Specifically, the optimal Ru 0.25 Ni 0.75 @g-C with an average alloy particle size of 1.4 nm exhibits pleasurable specific hydrogen evolution rate (437,990 mL min−1 g Ru −1) and turnover frequency (1612.37 min−1) in NaOH aqueous solution (1.5 M) at 303 K, superior to the corresponding monometallic counterparts (i.e., Ni@g-C and Ru@g-C) and many previous results. In addition, apart from satisfactory durability, the optimal alloy catalyst delivers an encouraging apparent activation energy (28.1 kJ mol−1). Our work not only explains the geometric and electronic effects on the catalytic performance but also offers a promising catalyst for hydrogen release from liquid-phase AB. [Display omitted] • Coupling geometric and electronic engineering over RuNi nanoalloy catalysts • RuNi ultrafine alloys are highly and firmly decorated in the framework of g-C • Ru 0.25 Ni 0.75 @g-C shows exceptional catalytic performance in AB hydrolysis • Further verifying the dominant role of an O–H cleavage in H 2 O [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of lithium–sulfur battery is hindered by various challenges, including the "shuttle effect", limited sulfur utilization, and the sluggish conversion kinetics of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs). In the present work, a theoretical design for the viability of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and phosphorus-doping graphitic carbon nitride substrates (P-g-C3N4) as promising host materials in a Li-S battery was conducted utilizing first-principles calculations. The PDOS shows that when the P atom is introduced, the 2p of the N atom is affected by the 2p orbital of the P atom, which increases the energy band of phosphorus-doping substrates. The energy bands of PC and Pi are 0.12 eV and 0.20 eV, respectively. When the lithium polysulfides are adsorbed on four substrates, the overall adsorption energy of PC is 48–77% higher than that of graphitic carbon nitride, in which the charge transfer of long-chain lithium polysulfides increase by more than 1.5-fold. It is found that there are powerful Li-N bonds between lithium polysulfides and P-g-C3N4 substrates. Compared with the graphitic carbon nitride monolayer, the anchoring effect of the LiPSs@P-g-C3N4 substrate is enhanced, which is beneficial for inhibiting the shuttle of high-order lithium polysulfides. Furthermore, the catalytic performance of the P-g-C3N4 substrate is assessed in terms of the S8 reduction pathway and the decomposition of Li2S; the decomposition energy barrier of the P-g-C3N4 substrate decrease by 10% to 18%. The calculated results show that P-g-C3N4 can promote the reduction of S8 molecules and Li-S bond cleavage within Li2S, thus improving the utilization of sulfur-active substances and the ability of rapid reaction kinetics. Therefore, the P-g-C3N4 substrates are a promising high-performance lithium-sulfur battery anchoring material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using ZIF-67 as precursor, a bimetallic oxide heterostructure of CoO/MoO 3 @NC was synthesized, and the potential of its application as a modified separator material for lithium-sulfur batteries was explored. Furthermore, the CoO/MoO 3 @NC heterostructure exhibits advanced performance in lithium-sulfur batteries, thus paving the way for the design of novel lithium-sulfur battery separator materials. [Display omitted] • Hollow bimetallic oxide heterostructures CoO/MoO 3 @NC obtained by simple hydrothermal synthesis and calcination. • CoO/MoO 3 @NC consists of a bimetallic oxide heterostructure with an outer layer of capped carbon. The bimetallic oxide heterostructure provides more active sites for adsorption of polysulfides and the carbon coating significantly improves the electrical conductivity of the bimetallic oxide heterostructure. • The Li-S battery equipped with a CoO/MoO 3 @NC modified separator exhibits a high discharge capacity of 613 mAh g−1 at 1C and a capacity decay rate of 0.092% after 500 cycles at 0.5C. • The in-situ impedance test also reveals the remarkable role of CoO/MoO 3 @NC in adsorbing polysulfides and facilitating ion transport. Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) have emerged as a promising energy storage system, but their practical application is hindered by the polysulfide shuttle effect and sluggish redox kinetics. To address these challenges, we have developed CoO/MoO 3 @nitrogen-doped carbon (CoO/MoO 3 @NC) hollow heterostructures based on porous ZIF-67 as separators in LSBs. CoO has a strong anchoring effect on polysulfides. The heterostructure formed after the introduction of MoO 3 increases the adsorption of polysulfides. The carbon coating outside the heterostructure improves the ion transmission efficiency of the battery, leading to enhanced electrochemical performance. The modified LSB demonstrates a low-capacity decay rate of 0.092% over 500 cycles at 0.5C, with a high discharge capacity of 613 mAh g−1 at 1C. This work presents a novel approach for the preparation of hollow heterostructure materials, aiming for high-performance LSBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large deformation of soft rock tunnel is an important problem to be solved urgently with the development of engineering technology. In order to improve the application effect of prestressed anchor cable adaptive active support system, this paper puts forward an optimization method based on adaptive genetic algorithm, reviews the research status of prestressed anchor support in soft rock tunnel, and analyzes and evaluates the existing methods. This paper introduces the construction process of AGA model, establishes the problem description model and genetic optimization algorithm selection model, and constructs the adaptive active support model of prestressed anchor cable. The model adopts an optimization algorithm with a total of 100 iterations. The Simple Genetic Algorithm and Parallel Genetic Algorithm are selected to evaluate the anchoring force, the control effect of surrounding rock displacement, the erosion of supporting structure and the construction time by comparative test. The test results show that AGA has a good effect on the anchoring force, the minimum anchoring force is 457 kN, and the displacement of surrounding rock is controlled within 1.21-1.59mm, which has a good influence on the quality of supporting structure and the construction completion time. Finally, the application of AGA model in parameter optimization of prestressed anchor cable in soft rock tunnel is summarized, and the future research direction is put forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Housing is a heterogeneous good, which makes choosing a house a complex process. An unexplained variability of the housing prices led to growing interest in studying prices and price expectations from a behavioural perspective. We conduct an experiment to study house price anchoring. In this research we use empirical data, examining the strength of the anchoring effect in terms of the external paradigm. We check whether and how respondents revise their valuations and expectations after receiving additional external information. It turns out that anchors impact households' decisions regarding the housing price valuation and dynamics forecasts, which could suggest households' autoregressive way of thinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public policy is often about numbers that affect people's lives in fundamental ways. Given the central importance of numbers, we examine anchoring, a heuristic in which people are influenced by an initial number in expressing a preference. Across a series of experiments and three unique surveys, we find evidence of anchoring effects, but not uniformly so. In contrast to experiments in psychology and behavioral economics, we find no evidence that irrelevant or arbitrary anchors shape policy preferences. Yet, when provided politically relevant anchors that clearly correspond to the policy proposal, we find evidence of strong effects, even in the face of party cues or in the absence of a status quo policy point. Taken together, our results demonstrate that there is a psychological explanation for why the status quo occupies a powerful position in policy debates as well as why agenda setting is so influential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Berberine (Ber) as a natural isoquinoline alkaloid, with a wide range of biological activities, mainly suffers from low bioavailability, decreasing its therapeutic efficacy. In this study, two novel conjugates of Ber with self-assembly property, Ber–polyethylene glycol (B–PEG) and Ber–diethylene glycol monomethyl ether (B–DG), were synthesized to investigate the effect of the anchoring part on the CMC, morphology as well as antioxidant and neuroprotective properties of the nanomicelles. The CMC increased from 1.2 μmol in B–DG to 3.0 μmol in B–PEG, measured by pendant drop. The anchored part affected greatly the shape and CMC of the self-assembled nanomicelles. A mixture of semi-spherical and cubic nanomicelles in the average hydrodynamic size of 93 nm was achieved for B–PEG, while B–DG nanomicelles were just in semispherical morphology with the hydrodynamic size of 64 nm. The antioxidant property of the nanomicelles was studied by DPPH scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power assays, exhibiting improved antioxidant activity of B–PEG and B–DG conjugates compared to free Ber. The neuroprotection potency of Ber was improved significantly after conjugation compared to free Ber against H2O2-induced cell death and B–PEG showed activity as level as that of the standard drug, Quercetin. Owing to the self-assembly property and interesting biological activities of the introduced amphiphilic Ber–PEG conjugate, we propose application of this nanomicelle alone, or as a promising bioactive carrier of the poorly water-soluble drugs, against neurodegenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As ground anchors are widely used to stabilize various structures, load distributive compression anchor (LDCA) is gaining popularity owing to their high load-bearing capacity and ease of removing strands. Unlike conventional anchors, an LDCA consists of multiple anchor bodies, thus allowing the distribution of the load among them. In addition, interference effects that differentiate the behavior of LDCA from that of single compression anchor are induced. These effects must be considered when designing an LDCA; however, the lack of research on its supporting mechanism has led to LCDA design being based on conventional criteria and experience. Furthermore, existing studies have not focused on the behavior of LDCA in soil, which is more vulnerable than in rock. This study proposes a physical model test that evaluates the load transfer mechanism of an LDCA. A series of pull-out tests is performed on an LDCA installed in residual soil to investigate the behavior of the LDCA under various conditions, by varying parameters such as the total anchor length, number and spacing of anchor bodies, and loading conditions. The test results show that the movement of the upper anchor body causes a tensile load on the grout and additional grout–soil shear stress on the lower anchor body, which reduces the ultimate bearing capacity of the LDCA. Moreover, the test results reveal that the interference effect between anchor bodies increases as the spacing decreases, thus resulting in a greater reduction in the ultimate bearing capacity. The findings of this study are anticipated to develop the basis for the design and application of LDCA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]