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A new model was first proposed to estimate the ultimate bearing capacity of strip foundations under transient flows on the basis of the kinematic approach of limit analysis. To describe the collapse process, a symmetrical collapse mechanism was generated by discretization technique following the associated flow rule. A layer-wise summation method was developed to calculate the internal dissipation rate. The theoretical results of this paper are given in terms of some assumptions: (1) both soils and fluids considered in this study were regarded to be noncompressible; (2) the hydraulic conductivity in an unsaturated state was equal to that in a saturated state; and (3) the slope of the soil–water characteristic curve was assumed to be constant through the whole transient infiltration process. A series of comparisons with the theoretical results and experimental data were established to verify the reliability of the new approach proposed by this paper. Based on the numerical results and discussions, the key conclusion can be drawn as follows: the ultimate bearing capacities saw a relatively large decrease under transient flows, especially for strip foundations embedded in silt soil, however, the bearing loads for foundations in sandy soil tended to be steady throughout the whole infiltration process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous development of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology and the relative concentration of power load and power, the HVDC parallel hybrid system will inevitably appear again. Because conventional DC transmission (LCC HVDC) and flexible DC transmission (VSC HVDC) in existing hybrid multi-infeed HVDC systems operate independently and are not coordinated with each other, and there is a gap in the research on the protection coordination relationship between VSC/LCC parallel hybrid systems and their near-area AC systems, it is necessary to study them systematically. This paper studies the protection coordination relationship between the VSC/LCC DC parallel hybrid system and its near area AC system, simulates and analyzes the typical faults of the hybrid multi-feed DC system, and puts forward a protection optimization scheme suitable for the VSC/LCC DC parallel hybrid system, which improves the safe and stable operation ability of the power grid, eliminates the hidden dangers of subsequent operation and maintenance, and provides a reference basis for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant microbial fuel cell (PMFC) newly emerges as a sustainable technology in green infrastructures such as green roofs, reactive barriers, and environmental biosensors. PMFCs generate bioelectricity driven by microbial redox reactions in the rhizosphere. However, the interactions between the bioelectricity and soil–water characteristics remain unknown, and PMFCs are vulnerable to drought stress. Therefore, this study aims to reveal the coupled bio-hydrological behaviors of PMFCs and propose biochar amendment on PMFCs for improving bioelectricity generation under drought conditions. Biochar-aided PMFCs were prepared by growing green-roof vegetation, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, on sandy lean clay with biochar at a mass ratio of 0, 5, and 10%. Bioelectricity (i.e., electrical potential and current) and unsaturated soil properties (i.e., suction and water content) were monitored simultaneously. Results showed that biochar increased the electrical power output of PMFCs by up to 30 times in unsaturated conditions. This may be because biochar-enhanced catalytic activities in redox reactions decreased soil electrical resistance and improved water retention. The bioelectricity was highly correlated with the suction, as the bioelectrical potential and current decreased by 90% with increasing suction. It was also found that the bioelectrical potential dropped rapidly by 67.6–87.2% when suctions were larger than the air entry values. This might be because air invasion led to the discontinuity of the liquid phase, hindering the ion transport of microbial redox reactions. The study implies that bioelectricity could be applied for field monitoring of soil–water characteristics, and biochar addition would enhance the drought resistance of PMFCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyamines play an important role in the plant resistance to drought and osmotic stress (OS). However, the precise function of putrescine conversion to spermidine and spermine is not clear in wheat seedling leaves under OS. Changes in the levels of three major free polyamines, putrescine, spermidine and spermine, were investigated in the seedlings of two wheat cultivars Triticum aestivum L. Jinmai 98 (drought-resistant) and Wenmai 6 (drought-sensitive) under PEG 6000 OS. Furthermore, the activity of arginine decarboxylase and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase was determined. In addition, experiments with exogenous polyamines and the polyamine biosynthesis inhibitors were also implemented to supply more evidence. Under OS, spermidine and spermine levels increased more markedly (P < 0.05) in drought-resistant Jinmai 98 than in drought-sensitive Wenmai 6, suggesting that free spermidine and spermine, which were converted from free putrescine, were possibly involved in the resistance of seedlings to OS. Treatment with exogenous spermidine treatment enhanced the OS-induced increase in endogenous spermidine and spermine content in drought-sensitive Wenmai 6, accompanied with an increase in resistance, as judged by a decrease in the relative permeability of plasma membrane of seedling leaf and an increase in the relative water content of seedling leaves. The suggestion was further testified by treatment with methylglyoxal-bis guanylhydrazone and o-phenanthrolin. In sum, it could be inferred that spermidine and spermine converted from free putrescine in leaves functioned in an increase in resistance of wheat seedlings to OS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The association of advanced digital image correlation (DIC) and numerical simulation has been widely used for inverse parameter identification. Objective: It is attractive to develop an accurate DIC method sharing the common features with numerical simulation, which can lead to better synergy between experiments and simulations. Methods: A new meshfree digital image correlation (MF-DIC) using element free Galerkin method (EFGM) is proposed for deformation measurement. The EFGM is a classical meshfree method in numerical studies, and it is directly used to construct the shape function in MF-DIC from a set of scattered nodes for image matching. The MF-DIC is principally different from the classical local DIC and global DIC since it does not rely on the concept of a subset or an element. Results: In MF-DIC, the C 1 -continuous displacement for every point is constructed based on a group of scattered nodes in a small support domain surrounding it. The continuous strain map can then be directly derived from the displacement, instead of using an additional smoothing technique as required in classical local DIC or post-processing used in global DIC. A performance assessment based on the Metrological Efficiency Indicator (MEI), as defined in DIC Challenge 2.0, shows that the proposed MF-DIC yields an excellent balance between spatial resolution and measurement resolution for both displacement and strain measurements. Conclusions: Given that the proposed MF-DIC shares common features with the classical meshfree method in computational mechanics, it paves the way for an enhanced synergy between experiments and simulations required for robust inverse parameter identification methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic led to disproportionate mental health responses in younger adults and parents. The aim of the study was to investigate how Millennial parents' experiences were associated with psychological distress over the first year of the pandemic. Methods: We examined data in September 2020 (n men = 994; n women = 1824) and February 2021 (n men = 1054; n women = 1845) from the Next Steps cohort study (started ages 13–14 in 2003–04). In each wave, we examined differences in GHQ-12 scores between parent groups defined by the age and number of children, adjusting for background characteristics at ages 13–14, psychological distress at ages 25–26, and other circumstances during the pandemic. We also examined if differences varied by work status, financial situation before the outbreak and relationship status. Results: Whereas mothers with one or two children and children aged 0–2 reported less distress than non-mothers in September 2020, there were no such differences in February 2021. Fathers with three or more children reported more distress in February 2021. Compared with non-fathers who worked, fathers were also disproportionally distressed if they were working with one child or with children aged 2 or less in September 2020. Conclusion: The distribution of psychological distress among Millennial parents and non-parents has varied by age, sex, parenting stage, work status and the timing of the pandemic. Generous family policies are needed, with special attention dedicated to parents combining work and family responsibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Suitable planting density has an important influence on the high yield and quality of medicinal plants. How to minimize the development of its rhizome while improving the yield and quality of its taproots is one of the scientific issues that are urgent to be solved in the development of the cultivated licorice at present. Methods: In the present study, G. uralensis was used as the experimental material, in an effort to find a reasonable cultivation management measure that may limit the development of rhizomes of licorice but increase the yield and quality of taproots, three planting density treatments were set to explore the effects of density on the growth of the licorice and the taproots yield and quality of its taproot and rhizomes. Result: The results showed that with the increase in cultivation density, rhizome development and growth of G. uralensis were significantly suppressed and their clonal spreading potential was significantly reduced. The development of the rhizome was significantly inhibited with the increasing of cultivation density. It was observed that using the medium-density treatment gave the maximum mean value of the total yield and the total amount of medicinally active components (glycyrrhizic acid, glycyrrhizin and flavonoids) of licorice taproots every square kilometre among the three treatments. In summary, the best planting treatment for G. uralensis was medium-density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the detection accuracy and collision avoidance success rate of driverless vehicle moving obstacles, this paper proposes a new method for detection and collision avoidance of driverless vehicle moving obstacles. Firstly, the HDL-64E 3D laser radar is used to collect the obstacle data, calculate the similarity of the moving obstacle, obtain the coordinates of the moving obstacle, and construct the detection function of the moving obstacle; Secondly, the force balance model of the abacus is established by using the road abacus model; Finally, under the constraint of the force balance model, the optimal steering wheel angle of the driverless vehicle is calculated to complete the collision avoidance of the driverless vehicle. The experimental results show that this method can improve the detection accuracy and anti-collision accuracy of moving obstacles, and the average anti-collision accuracy reaches 99 .5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many published studies on seismic conditions have focused on a pseudostatic method with a linear Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion. However, the pseudostatic method ignores the influence of time and spatial variables on seismic accelerations, and almost all soils have nonlinear strength properties rather than linear properties. Herein, a new approach was established for calculating the seismic bearing capacity that considers a linear distribution of the seismic coefficients. A nonsymmetrical failure mechanism and the nonlinear Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion were used to describe the collapse process and soil properties. A layerwise summation method was developed to calculate the work rates because the pseudodynamic method depicts the variation in seismic acceleration as well as the time and spatial variables. In this work, a first application for calculating the seismic bearing capacity of soil foundations with nonlinear strength properties was conducted using the kinematic approach of limit analysis. Based on the numerical results and discussions, the key conclusions were as follows: (1) the reliability of this approach was verified by making exact comparisons with theoretical results and lab data; (2) in general, nonlinear solutions were more conservative than linear solutions; and (3) a high value of initial cohesion c0 resulted in an increase in the seismic bearing capacity qlim, and qlim decreased when the ratio of tensile strength σt to initial cohesion c0 or the value of nonlinear parameter m increased for a given value of initial cohesion c0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

M dwarfs are the dominating type of stars in the solar neighbourhood. They serve as excellent tracers for the study of the distribution and properties of the nearby interstellar dust. In this work, we aim to obtain high accuracy reddening values of M dwarf stars from the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fibre Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST) Data Release 8 (DR8). Combining the LAMOST spectra with the high-quality optical photometry from the Gaia Early Data Release 3 (EDR3), we have estimated the reddening values E (G BP − G RP) of 641 426 M dwarfs with the machine learning algorithm random forest regression. The typical reddening uncertainty is only 0.03 mag in E (G BP − G RP). We have obtained the reddening coefficient |$R_{(G_{\rm BP}-G_{\rm RP})}$|⁠ , which is a function of the stellar intrinsic colour (G BP − G RP)0 and reddening value E (B − V). The values of E (B − V) are also provided for the individual stars in our catalogue. Our resultant high accuracy reddening values of M dwarfs, combined with the Gaia parallaxes, will be very powerful to map the fine structures of the dust in the solar neighbourhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the feasibility of not using antibiotics before and after hemorrhoid surgery is the main objective of the study. A total of 68 patients with hemorrhoids who were admitted to Ningbo Anorectal Hospital from December 2019 to May 2021 were selected, including 36 males and 32 females. They were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group, 34 patients in each group. The patients in the experimental group were not given antibiotics, while the patients in the control group were given cefazolin sodium 1-2 g and 100 ml of sodium chloride intravenously 30 min before surgery and the same dose of antibiotics was given intravenously after surgery (1 time/12 h), the postoperative administration time is 24 h, not more than 48 h. The intraoperative conditions, postoperative wound infection rate, hospital stay, postoperative recurrence rate and other aspects of the two groups of patients were observed and compared. There was no significant difference in postoperative body temperature, white blood cell count, postoperative wound infection and average hospital stay and recovery time between the two groups. The adverse drug reaction rate in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group. It is safe and feasible not to use antibiotics in the perioperative period of hemorrhoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In NAND flash storage devices, the random access memory (RAM) is composed of a data buffer and mapping cache that play critical roles in storage performance. Furthermore, as the capacity growth rate of RAM chips lags far behind that of flash memory chips, determining how to take advantage of precious RAM is still a crucial issue. However, most existing buffer management studies on storage devices report performance degradation since these devices cannot refine reference regularities such as sequential, hot, or looping data patterns. In addition, most of these studies focus only on separately managing the data buffer or mapping cache. Compared with the existing buffer/cache management schemes (BMSs), we propose a unified RAM management (URM) scheme for not only the mapping cache but also the data buffer in NAND flash storage devices. URM compresses the mapping table to save memory space, and the remaining dynamic RAM space is used for the data buffer. For the data buffer part, we utilize the program counter-technique in the host layer that provides automatic pattern recognition for different applications, in contrast to existing BMSs. The program counter-technique in our design is able to distinguish four patterns. According to these patterns, the data buffer is divided into four size-adjustable zones. Therefore, our approach is linked to multimodal data and used in a data-intensive system. In particular, in URM, we use a multivariate classification to predict prefetching length in mapping buffer management. Our multivariate classification is transformed into multiple binary classifications (logistic regressions). Finally, we extensively evaluate URM using various realistic workloads, and the experimental results show that, compared with three data buffer management schemes, CFLRU, BPLRU, and VBBMS, URM can improve the hit ratio of data buffer and save response time by an average to 32% and 18%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relatively low strength of aluminum (Al) alloys and Al matrix composites at high temperatures has greatly limited their applications in aerospace and automobile areas. In this study, high-performance carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/Al composites with high room-temperature tensile strength over 500 MPa were tested at elevated temperatures up to 400 °C. Results showed that the strength of CNTs/Al composites increased with increasing CNT content up to 5 vol%. CNTs/Al composites showed improved reinforcing effects at elevated temperatures compared with those at room temperature. Consequently, the 5 vol%CNTs/Al composite achieved high tensile strength of 205 MPa when tested at 400 °C, which was superior to those values (less than 100 MPa) of most available Al matrix composites. The underlying mechanism was thoroughly discussed from the grain sizes, phase compositions, interface reaction and strengthening mechanisms at different testing temperatures. The results have revealed the excellent high-temperature properties of CNTs/Al composites and their potential use at elevated temperatures. [Display omitted] • CNTs could mitigate the strength deterioration in composites at high temperatures. • The thermal stability of CNTs/Al composite was higher than Raw Al and BM Al. • The ultimate tensile strength of CNTs/Al composite achieved 205 MPa at temperature 400 °C. • CNTs reinforcing effect at high temperatures was superior to other reinforcement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a large catalogue of molecular clouds with accurate distance estimates in the Southern sky. Based on the three-dimensional dust extinction map and the best-fitting extinction and distance information of over 17 million stars presented in Guo et al. (2021, ApJ, 906, 47), we have identified 250 dust/molecular clouds in the Southern sky using a hierarchical structure identification algorithm. Amongst these are 71 clouds located at high Galactic latitudes (b < −10°). We have estimated the distances to the clouds by fitting the extinction versus distance profiles of the lines of sight overlapping with the clouds, using a simple Gaussian dust distribution model. The typical uncertainties of the distances are less than 7 per cent. We also provide the physical properties of the individual clouds, including the linear radius, mass and surface mass density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present high-resolution maps of the dust reddening in the Magellanic Clouds (MCs). The maps cover the Large and Small Magellanic Cloud (LMC and SMC) area and have a spatial angular resolution between ∼26 arcsec and 55 arcmin. Based on the data from the optical and near-infrared (IR) photometric surveys, including the Gaia Survey, the SkyMapper Southern Survey (SMSS), the Survey of the Magellanic Stellar History (SMASH), the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS), and the near-IR YJK S VISTA survey of the Magellanic Clouds system (VMC), we have obtained multiband photometric stellar samples containing over 6 million stars in the LMC and SMC area. Based on the measurements of the proper motions and parallaxes of the individual stars from Gaia Early Data Release 3 (Gaia EDR3), we have built clean samples that contain stars from the LMC, SMC, and Milky Way (MW), respectively. We apply the spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting to the individual sample stars to estimate their reddening values. As a result, we have derived the best-fitting reddening values of ∼1.9 million stars in the LMC, 1.5 million stars in the SMC, and 0.6 million stars in the MW, which are used to construct dust reddening maps in the MCs. Our maps are consistent with those from the literature. The resultant high-resolution dust maps in the MCs are not only important tools for reddening correction of sources in the MCs, but also fundamental for the studies of the distribution and properties of dust in the two galaxies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Bird feathers are the product of interactions between natural and artificial selection. Feather‐related traits are important for chicken selection and breeding. Frizzle feather is characterized by the abnormally development of feathers in chickens. In the current study, frizzle feather characteristics were observed in a local breed called Xiushui Yellow Chicken in Jiangxi, China. To determine the molecular mechanisms that underlie frizzle feather in Xiushui Yellow Chicken, four populations of three breeds (Xiushui Yellow Chicken with frizzle feathers, Xiushui Yellow Chicken with normal feathers, Guangfeng White‐Ear Yellow Chicken, and Ningdu Yellow Chicken) were selected for whole‐genome resequencing. Using a comparative genome strategy and genome‐wide association study, a missense mutation (g.5281494A>G) and a 15‐bp deletion (g.5285437‐5285451delGATGCCGGCAGGACG) in KRT75L4 were identified as candidate mutations associated with frizzle feather in Xiushui Yellow Chicken. Based on genotyping performed in a large Xiushui Yellow Chicken population, the g.5285437‐5285451delGATGCCGGCAGGACG mutation in KRT75L4 was confirmed as the putative causative mutation of frizzle feather. These results deepen the understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for frizzle feather, as well as facilitating the molecular detection and selection of the feather phenotype in Xiushui Yellow Chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Northeastern Eurasia is one of the least explored regions in the world. Very little geophysical data is available for this inaccessible area. Even the exact location of the plate boundary between Eurasia and North America remains a subject of ongoing debate. The effective elastic thickness (EET) of the lithosphere is a proxy for lithospheric strength and can provide insight into the thermal regime and tectonic processes. We have computed a high-resolution map of the EET for northeastern Eurasia using the fan wavelet coherence technique applied to the Bouguer gravity anomalies and topography/bathymetry data, appropriately adjusted to account for the influence of density variations within sediments. The results obtained provide insights into different tectonic regimes within this predominantly understudied region. In particular, we identify the boundary between the Eurasian and North American plates in Siberia as a rheologically weak diffusive zone extending from the Verkhoyansk and Sette-Daban Ranges to the eastern boundary of the Chersky Range. Unlike the Sette-Daban and Verkhoyansk Ranges, which were formed by plate collision and have an EET of 30–50 km, other mountainous regions have much lower EET values, usually less than 15 km. These areas have recently experienced tectonic activity that has weakened the lithosphere. • A high-resolution map of the effective elastic thickness of the lithosphere is calculated for Northeastern Eurasia. • The boundary between the North American and Eurasian plates in Siberia represents a wide transition zone of weak lithosphere. • The origin and tectonics of various mountain belts are reflected in large variations of the effective elastic thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1-x)Pb(Mg1/2W1/2)O3-xPb(Yb2/3W1/3)O3 ceramics have been prepared by a conventional ceramic process. Their crystal structures, phase transitions and dielectric properties have been investigated in this paper. Limited solid solutions (x ≤ 6 mol%) could be formed. The x = 0.02 composition demonstrates mixture of orthorhombic (Pmcn) and cubic (Fm-3m) phases, while apparent single-phase solid solution with B-site 1:1 ordering (space group: Fm-3m) could be observed for the 0.02 < x ≤ 0.06 compositions at room temperature. The solid solution demonstrates a first-order phase transition. Local orthorhombic distortion in the cubic matrix above transition temperature, manifested in the large temperature factors of Pb2+ and O2− observed in the structure refinements, could be further confirmed by Raman analysis. The doping of (Yb2/3W1/3)4+ leads to the decrease in orthorhombic-cubic phase transition temperature. The microscopic nature affecting the driving force of the phase transition was discussed from the point of stereochemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This is the first report on the fragility of results from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for the treatment of osteoporosis. The results of aforementioned RCTs appear to depend on a small number of events and are generally statistically fragile. Introduction: Osteoporosis remains a health concern worldwide. Evidence-based guideline recommendations that are mainly based on results of clinical trials are important to clinical decision-making. The fragility index (FI) is a novel statistical metric to measure the fragility of results from an RCT. Our study aimed to analyze the fragility of the clinical trials referenced in the guidelines for the treatment of osteoporosis. Methods: Trials were included if they investigated primary osteoporosis, randomized patients to treatment or control in a 1:1 design, and reported fracture outcome as the primary endpoint. The FI and fragility quotient (FQ) were calculated for assessing the robustness of results from the eligible RCTs. An FI was defined as the minimum number of events in the intervention group that needs to change from a non-event to an event in order to render a significant result non-significant (or vice versa). The FQ was calculated by dividing the FI by the sample size of the trial. Results: Of the 372 RCTs identified from the guidelines, 42 were eligible for analyses. Their median FI was 10 (25th–75th percentile [Q1-Q3]: 4–18), with a median FQ of 0.007 (Q1-Q3: 0.0017–0.019). Approximately one third of the RCTs had a FI of less than or equal to 5. There were 17 (40.5%) trials where the number of patients lost to follow-up was greater than the FI. The FI was significantly associated with sample size, journal impact factor, and the percent of patients lost to follow-up. Conclusion: Results from some RCTs supporting guideline recommendations for the treatment of osteoporosis depend on a small number of events. The FI and FQ may provide additional, intuitive metrics to help interpret the robustness of trial results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the cooling–heating phase transition of the Euler–Heisenberg-AdS black hole. First, the black hole thermodynamic quantities and the state equation are reviewed. Then, we research cooling–heating phase transition and further plot the inversion and isenthalpic curves in the T–P plane. Meanwhile, we find that the inversion temperature gradually decreases with the increase of Euler–Heisenberg parameter a for the inversion curves, while this parameter has no effect in the cooling region, and the isenthalpic curves gradually move to the positive direction of X-axis with the increase of Euler–Heisenberg parameter a in the heating region. In particular, the inversion temperature and pressure of this black hole are negative, we deem that this case is caused by the vacuum polarization and the quantum electrodynamics corrections, which makes the electromagnetic energy (repulsion force) produced by the black hole shield the gravity produced by the black hole mass. In addition, this explanation has been mentioned in previous studies [M. Daniela and B. Nora, Phys. Rev. D 102, 084011 (2020); R. Ruffini, Y. B. Wu and S. S. Xue, Phys. Rev. D 88, 085004 (2013)]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the dielectric film with charges from corona discharge of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) overhead lines, the electric field near the greenhouses covered by the dielectric film can be distorted. The electric field at some position on the ground level can be measured under the dielectric film. However, the distribution characteristics of the electric field cannot be obtained. In this article, based on the measurement results of some defined points, an algorithm to calculate the ion flow field with the presence of a dielectric film is proposed. Poisson’s equation and the current continuity equation are iteratively solved by the finite-element method (FEM) and the divergence theorem, respectively. The experiment validates the validity of the hybrid method. The research is helpful to understand the influence of charged dielectric film fully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we report the successful synthesis of a spin- and charge-decoupled diluted magnetic semiconductor (DMS) (Ca,Na)(Zn,Mn)2As2, crystallizing into the hexagonal CaAl2Si2 structure. The compound shows a ferromagnetic transition with a Curie temperature up to 33K with 10% Na doping, which gives rise to carrier density of np∼1020cm-3. The new DMS is a soft magnetic material with HC<400 Oe. The anomalous Hall effect is observed below the ferromagnetic ordering temperature. With increasing Mn doping, ferromagnetic order is accompanied by an interaction between the local spin and mobile charge, giving rise to a minimum in resistivity at low temperatures and localizing the conduction electrons. The system provides an ideal platform for studying the interaction of the local spins and conduction electrons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poor chemical stability of graphene in titanium (Ti) is one critical problem to make use of the extraordinary properties of graphene for obtaining high-performance graphene/Ti composites. To overcome this problem, the selective laser melting (SLM) process with rapid heating and cooling characteristics was exploited to fabricate graphene nanosheet (GNS)-reinforced Ti–6Al–4V matrix composite in this study. Results showed that the SLMed composite registered super-high tensile strength (1526 MPa) and high Young's modulus (145 GPa), which were 73% and 26% lager than those of spark plasma sintered composites fabricated from the same powder mixture, respectively. It was found that the locally reacted GNSs and in-situ formed ultrafine TiC particles mainly contributed to the outstanding mechanical properties of SLMed GNSs/Ti composites. The underlying mechanism was thoroughly discussed based on microstructures and strengthening models. The results pave up the way towards the fabrication of super-strong Ti matrix composites. Image 1 • GNSs/Ti composites were fabricated by combination of facile mixing and SLM. • Nano-reinforcements and laser scanning strategy impacted on orientation of α-Ti laths. • Ti–TiC-GNSs interface in SLM GNSs/Ti composites were examined by HRTEM. • SLM GNSs/Ti composite possessed super high strength and high modulus. • Load transfer and CET were major strengthening mechanisms of SLM GNSs/Ti composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: To estimate health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with untreated cavernous malformation of the CNS [cavernous cerebral malformations (CCMs)]. Methods: We performed a cross‐sectional observational study on patients with CCMs admitted to our department from 1 November 2017 to 10 January 2020 using standardized interviews [short‐form‐36 questionnaire, hospital anxiety and depression score (HADS‐A/D), CCM perception questionnaire]. Included criteria were diagnosis of an untreated CCM and information about the diagnosis in a specialized CCM consultation. Health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) data were analyzed and compared to the German normal population. Uni‐ and multivariate analyses were carried out to identify variables with impact on outcome. Results: Two hundred nineteen (93%) of 229 eligible patients were included. Mean age was 46.3 ± 14.7 (18–86) years; 136 (62%) were female. Ninety‐eight (45%) patients presented with symptomatic hemorrhage (SH), and 17 (8%) with repetitive SH. Ninety‐two (42%) patients were asymptomatic. Thirty‐seven patients (17%) suffered from cavernoma‐related epilepsy. Twenty‐eight patients (13%) suffered from familial CCMs. Patients showed significantly decreased component scores and subdomain scores compared to the normal population, with effects ranging from small to large. This accounted largely also for asymptomatic patients (except for physical component score and main physical subdomains). Multivariate regression analysis confirmed impact of functional impairment on physical component score. HADS‐A was significantly increased. HADS‐A/D strongly correlated with mental component score and individual perception of the CCM. Conclusions: Patients with the diagnosis of a CCM showed decreased HRQOL compared to the normal population even when not suffering functional impairment or neurological symptoms. Our data may function as benchmarks in evaluation of different (future) management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this systematic review was to assess the impact of time to surgery on patient mortality, peri-operative complication rates and length of stay following a hip fracture using level one data. Data Sources: Multiple databases (PubMed, Embase, Medline (Ovid), and Cochrane Library) were searched using terms for "hip fracture" and the intervention "early surgery". Results were filtered to only included randomised controlled trials in the English language published from the year 2000. Study Selection: All results were imported into Covidence and screened by two separate reviewers with conflicts resolved by a third reviewer. Studies were included if they reported data on the relationship between time to theatre and at least one of the outcome measures (mortality, peri-operative complications, and length of stay in hospital). Three papers were finalised to include in this review. Data Extraction: Once selected, each paper had a bias assessment completed by two separate reviewers using the Cochrane RoB2 tool. Any conflicts were resolved by a third reviewer. Data Synthesis: Data from each paper were inputted into RevMan5 for analysis. Approximated sample mean and standard deviation were collected from each paper and included for analysis. RevMan5 was then used to generate forest plots and report data on relative risk and mean difference. Conclusions: This review has shown that accelerated care of patients with hip fractures was associated with lower risks of delirium and infection, and a shorter length of hospital stay. However, the effect of time to surgery on patient mortality is not clear, as the standard care group had a lower mortality than expected for the population at risk and had surgery on average within 24-h of presentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The temporal evolution of microstructural features in metals and ceramics has been the subject of intense investigation over many years because deviations from normal grain growth behavior are ubiquitous and strongly dictate observed mechanical and magnetic properties. To distinguish among different grain growth scenarios, we examine the time evolution of the information content of both synthetic and experimental coarsening microstructures as quantified by both a computable information density (CID) and a spectral entropy along with selected metrics and measures of shared information and interaction strength. In these approaches, microstructural evolution is described in terms of two time series representations, namely: (1) strings and their compressed counterparts that reflect the information contained in the configuration of a system over time, and (2) the spectra of graph Laplacians that embody the information contained in a coarsening grain network. These approaches permit one to characterize dynamically evolving microstructures and to identify correlation times associated with different coarsening scenarios. Moreover, as the information content of a system is a proxy for the entropy, a thermodynamic description of grain growth is also described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, the distortion modes and ferroelectric properties of Sr3(Sn1−xZrx)2O7 (x = 0.0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0) ceramics with double-layered Ruddlesden–Popper structures were investigated. The amplitudes of three distortion modes for the ferroelectric phase deviated from the aristotype one were quantified using the symmetry-mode approach adopted in Rietveld refinement against x-ray diffraction patterns. The remanent polarization and the coercive field decreased with increasing the content of Zr4+ cations. The decline of polarization should attribute to the nonpolar secondary phase, while the suppression of a coercive field may connect with the decreased amplitude of the rotation mode. The Curie temperatures increased linearly with increasing x value in Sr3(Sn1−xZrx)2O7 ceramics, inducing from the decline of a tolerance factor. A typical first-order improper ferroelectric phase transition was determined using a differential scanning calorimetry measurement and dielectric characterization. From the present work, a straightforward way to quantify the amplitude of a distortion mode for the ferroelectric phase was given, and the ferroelectric properties could be effectively tuned by substituting the cations at the B site in the Sr-based hybrid improper ferroelectrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a three-dimensional (3D) extinction map of the southern sky. The map covers the SkyMapper Southern Survey (SMSS) area of ∼14,000 deg2 and has spatial resolutions between 6.′9 and 27′. Based on the multi-band photometry of SMSS, the Two Micron All Sky Survey, the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer Survey, and the Gaia mission, we have estimated values of the r-band extinction for ∼19 million stars with the spectral energy distribution analysis. Together with the distances calculated from the Gaia data release 2 (DR2) parallaxes, we have constructed a 3D extinction map of the southern sky. By combining our 3D extinction map with those from the literature, we present an all-sky 3D extinction map, and use it to explore the 3D distribution of the Galactic dust grains. We use two different models, one consisting of a single disk and another of two disks, to fit the 3D distribution of the Galactic dust grains. The data is better fitted by a two-disk model, yielding smaller values of the Bayesian Information Criterion. The best-fit model has scale heights of 73 and 225 pc for the "thin" and "thick" dust disks, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the barrier imperfection and interfacial scattering effects on resistance-area product (RA) and tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) of magnesium oxide (MgO) based magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ). We assume that barrier imperfection reduces the band gap of MgO; thus, it affects both TMR and RA values. The lattice mismatch between MgO and magnetic electrodes leads to interface scattering which reduces TMR. As an application, the MTJ two-state resistance variations due to the process variations are also discussed in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electronic paramagnetic resonance (EPR) parameters (g factor gi, and hyperfine structure constants Ai, with i = || and ⊥) and tetragonal distortion of the Cu2+ center in Al2O3 are unified interpreted from the perturbation formulas for a 3d9 ion in tetragonally elongated octahedral. In the calculations, the impurity Cu2+ is found to occupy the host trigonally-distorted octahedral Al3+ site with the tetragonal elongation distortion due to the Jahn–Teller effect, despite the original trigonal distortion of the host cation site. The contributions to EPR parameters from both the spin–orbit coupling of the central ion and that of the ligands are taken into account. The defect structure of the Cu2+ center (characterized by the relative tetragonal elongation ratio η ≈ 4.3% along the C4 axis) was determined from the calculation. Furthermore, the calculated results agree well with the experimental data and need fewer adjustable parameters than the previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multichannel transition visible and near-infrared (NIR) fluorescences have been captured in Dy3+-doped fiber-adaptive Na2O-ZnO-PbO-GeO2-TeO2 glasses. The maximum stimulated emission cross-sections σem-max were derived to be 0.33 × 10-21, 3.66 × 10-21, and 0.67 × 10-21 cm2 for conventional visible emissions assigned to 4F9/2→6HJ (J = 15/2, 13/2, and 11/2) transitions, respectively. Infrequent multi-peak NIR emissions were recorded in the spectral range of 900-1500 nm, among which the values of σem-max were solved to be 1.05 × 10-22 and 1.56 × 10-22 cm2 for ∼1.02 and ∼1.18 μm emission bands. Internal quantum efficiency for the 4F9/2 level and external quantum yield for visible emissions of Dy3+ were determined to be 88.44% and 12.38%, severally. Effective multichannel radiative emissions reveal a potential in developing fiber-lighting sources, tunable lasers, and NIR optical amplifiers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a large, homogeneous catalogue of molecular clouds within 4 kpc from the Sun at low Galactic latitudes (| b | < 10°) with unprecedented accurate distance determinations. Based on the 3D dust reddening map and estimates of colour excesses and distances of over 32 million stars presented in Chen et al., we have identified 567 dust/molecular clouds with a hierarchical structure identification method and obtained their distance estimates by a dust model fitting algorithm. The typical distance uncertainty is less than 5 per cent. As far as we know, this is the first large catalogue of molecular clouds in the Galactic plane with distances derived in a direct manner. The clouds are seen to lie along the Sagittarius, Local and Perseus Arms. In addition to the known structures, we propose the existence of a possible spur , with a pitch angle of about 34°, connecting the Local and the Sagittarius Arms in the fourth quadrant. We have also derived the physical properties of those molecular clouds. The distribution of cloud properties in different parameter spaces agrees grossly with the previous results. Our cloud sample is an ideal starting point to study the concentration of dust and gas in the solar vicinity and their star formation activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate measurements of panoramic/dual-surface kinematic fields are essential to elastoplastic mechanics for the determination of true stress-strain curves, through-thickness strain and the identification of 3D anisotropic parameters. Recently, a novel mirror-assisted multi-view digital image correlation (DIC) method that uses only a two-camera stereo-DIC system and two auxiliary planar mirrors was proposed. It has been convincingly demonstrated to be a cost-efficient and effective technique for measuring 360-deg panoramic/dual-surface kinematic fields. Nevertheless, in this method, the mirrors need to be partly decorated with speckle patterns and the latter clearly captured by the cameras to estimate the reflection transformation of both mirrors. Capturing the speckle patterns on the two mirrors occupies a part of the precious spatial resolution of the cameras, considerably reducing the effective spatial resolution left for the DIC measurement. In this work, an alternative method for estimating the reflection transformation is proposed to improve the spatial resolution of the mirror-assisted multi-view DIC. This method estimates the reflection transformation of the two mirrors by adjusting the mirrors to three or more diverse poses, thus eliminating the need of speckling the mirrors. A set of real tests were carried out, and the results well demonstrated the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Forced vibrations of the multi-cracked Timoshenko beams are studied analytically. • Closed-form solutions of the dynamic problems are derived. • Two types of springs are utilized to model the mechanical properties of cracked section. • The present solutions can be reduced to Rayleigh and Euler-Bernoulli cases. • Shearing effects to the solutions are significantly discussed. This paper concentrates on obtaining the closed-formed analytical solutions of the steady-state forced vibration of the multi-cracked Timoshenko beams with damping effects. Varying from the Euler-Bernoulli beam, the mechanical properties of a cracked section of the Timoshenko beam are described as a rotational spring and a transversal spring models. Initially, the Green's function of a one-cracked simple supported Timoshenko beam is derived. With the assistant of the solution of the one-cracked situation and the transfer matrix method, the Green's functions of the multi-cracked Timoshenko beams for various boundary conditions are also obtained. The present Green's functions can be degenerate to the Rayleigh and Euler-Bernoulli cases, and the multiple cracked-models can be reduced to the single-cracked cases when the depths of some cracks are specified to be zero. In the numerical section, the FEM results and the solutions in some references are used to validate the present solutions. Some numerical examples in this research are to reveal the influences of the shearing effect on the vibration performances of the one-cracked Timoshenko model as well as the multiple cracks cases. Additionally, the effects of some significant physical parameters, like the crack depth and crack locations, are also discussed in some numerical examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Four social capital groups are defined based on the result of life cycle assessment. • The members of each social group are determined using data envelopment models. • Strong ties are provided in each group between inefficient and efficient farmers. • It is expected that social capital groups reduce energy use and environmental impacts. Agricultural production inevitably poses adverse impacts on local environment, while the collective action of farmers can also contribute positively to sustainable resources management. The structural component of economic actors' integration is often related to social capital. This study analyses the impacts of farmers' socio-economic conditions on energy use and life cycle environmental impacts of Iranian rice production. Based on the local socio-economic status and life cycle assessment, some types of social capital groups are suggested to achieve cooperative rice production with lower burden on the environment. Four social capital groups, namely "water, fertilizer and pesticide users", "consolidated farming", "new technology users" and "micro-finance", are suggested according to the life cycle assessment. The members of each social capital group were determined by data envelopment analysis to guarantee that each social capital group moves toward better rice production methods with lower burden on the environment. Technical efficiency of farmers was determined by data envelopment analysis models which in turn help us identify core and target members of each social capital group. The results show that the lowest energy input for rice production is 28,000 MJ/ha, which appeared in groups with medium aged farmers who have medium farming experiences. The sample farmers with higher net income, larger farms and participating in extensional classes contribute to mitigate total energy consumption of rice production. The life cycle assessment confirms that those socio-economic groups consuming lower energy also impose lower burden on the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present three-dimensional (3D) dust mapping of 12 supernova remnants (SNRs) in the Galactic anticentre (Galactic longitude l between 150○ and 210○) based on a recent 3D interstellar extinction map. The dust distribution of the regions, which cover the full extents in the radio continuum for the individual SNRs, is discussed. Four SNRs show significant spatial coincidences between molecular clouds (MCs) revealed from the 3D extinction mapping and the corresponding radio features. The results confirm the interactions between these SNRs and their surrounding MCs. Based on these correlations, we provide new distance estimates of the four SNRs, G189.1+3.0 (IC443, |$d=1729^{+116}_{-94} \rm \, pc$|⁠), G190.9–2.2 (⁠|$d=1036^{+17}_{-81} \rm \, pc$|⁠), G205.5+0.5 (⁠|$d=941^{+96}_{-94}$| or |$1257^{+92}_{-101} \rm \, pc$|⁠), and G213.0–0.6 (⁠|$d=1146^{+79}_{-80} \rm \, pc$|⁠). In addition, we find indirect evidences of potential interactions between SNRs and MCs for three other SNRs. New distance constraints are also given for these three SNRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pb(Mg1/2W1/2)1−xMxO3 (M = Zr,Sn,Ti) ceramics have been prepared by the conventional ceramic process. Their crystallographic, phase transition and dielectric properties have been investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and impedance analyzer in this paper. The solubility of the tetra-valent cation in Pb(Mg1/2W1/2)1−xMxO3 decreases in the sequence of Ti4+ > Zr4+ > Sn4+. The doping led to the phase transition from orthorhombic antiferroelectric to cubic paraelectric phase, the microscopic nature of which could be attributed to the contraction of Pb-O12 dodecahedron. A definition of the ordering parameter of the cubic phase was deduced to quantitatively evaluate the B-site ordering degree which decreased with the increase in doping concentration. Anti-site disordering of Mg2+ and W6+ occurred in the high-level doping compositions, which led to the relaxor behavior observed in Ti4+-doped series with x = 0.01 composition. Both of the maximum dielectric permittivity and loss in the paraelectric phase increased with the increasing doping concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cyclic deformation behaviour and microstructural stability of severe plastic deformation processed bulk nanostructured (ultrafine-grained, UFG) commercially pure cp-Ti were investigated by using in situ neutron diffraction combined with R = −1 high-cycle-fatigue (HCF) loading at room and cryogenic temperatures. The UFG microstructure was created by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) and multi-direction forging (MDF). A considerable continuous grain growth was revealed by neutron diffraction for MDF cp-Ti fatigued at 25 °C, as opposed to that at −200 °C. The same HCF fatigue loading at 25 °C only caused very limited grain growth for ECAP cp-Ti. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the grain growth. Further confirmation of the room-temperature HCF fatigue-induced grain growth was obtained by transmission Kikuchi diffraction based analysis. Novel insights into fatigue induced grain growth mechanism in UFG cp-Ti are thus provided: (i) the thermally activated process plays an important role in grain growth during the room-temperature HCF fatigue; (ii) Continuous dynamic recrystallisation is responsible for the grain growth and dislocation slip or twinning is not essential to trigger such a grain growth; (iii) the anisotropic grain growth behaviour in {0002} grain family can be reconciled by accepting that these grains accumulated highly stored energy during initial severe plastic deformation and the subsequent recrystallisation nucleation occurred at these highly deformed regions. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Muscular inflexibility may cause pain and affect a golfer's swing mechanics.Neck muscle inflexibility would hinder the 'head still' ability.'Head still' position during swinging may enhance balance and eye-line of the golfer.Improving muscle flexibility may allow proper head position during the golf swing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The amorphous chalcogenide glass Sn1As20S79 is demonstrated to undergo permanent changes in refractive index on irradiation with ultraviolet light. The refractive properties of this material and the effect of annealing at temperatures below the glass transition temperature are investigated in detail. An Sn1As20S79 strip waveguide is fabricated using this photoinduced refractive index change, and the device is shown to function as expected with good propagation characteristics for the 632.8 nm guided mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in the refractive index and thickness of amorphous As2S8 semiconductor film are observed under illumination, annealing–illumination, and annealing-illumination cycles. Properties of the As2S8 film are measured using techniques of prism coupler, x-ray diffraction spectra and Raman spectra. After light illumination the refractive index change in an as-deposited As2S8 film is one order of magnitude greater than that of an annealed As2S8 film, corresponding to ∼0.06 and ∼0.0057, respectively. Photoexpansions with a change in the relative film thickness of the as-deposited and annealed As2S8 film are nearly -3.5% and -2.1%, respectively, which exhibit the photodensification. The full reversibility of the photoinduced refractive index change is claimed on an annealed As2S8 film sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To explore the effectiveness of the mixed decoction of Inula cappa and Serissa japonica (IS) on acute liver injury model. Materials and Methods: Sixty carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced mice models were divided into bifendate group (0.2 g/kg) and IS (2, 1and 0.5 g/kg) groups, model group, and control group randomly. Liver function biomarkers aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine amiotransferase (ALT), and oxidative stress biomarkers superoxide dismutase (SOD), malonic dialdehyde (MDA) were measured in each group. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was used to detect the liver tissues. Results: The necrosis degree and scope, and the structural damage of hepatocyte were significantly ameliorated in the bifendate, IS (2 g/kg) and IS (1 g/kg), compare to model group. IS and bifendate could significantly inhibit the liver index, reduce liver function biomarkers levels and the content of MDA in the liver of acute liver injury mice, and improve the activity of SOD. The serum level of AST was 147.162 (Control), 736.023 (Model), 370.285 (Bifendate), 325.589 (High-dose IS), 407.205 (Middle-dose IS), and 438.631 U/L (Low-dose IS) while the level of ALT was 44.804 (Control), 474.825 (Model), 156.812 (Bifendate), 157.02 (High-dose IS), 217.399 (Middle-dose IS), and 255.649 U/L (Low-dose IS). The content of MDA increased in model and treatment groups compared to control, while the activity of SOD was 69.362 (Control), 53.208 (Model), 64.77 (Bifendate), 73.389 (High-dose IS), 65.173 (Middle-dose IS), and 61.755 (Low-dose IS). Compared to the model group, high-dose IS group exerted significant hepatoprotective effect (p<0.05). Conclusion: The mixed decoction of Inula cappa and Serissa japonica was able to protect acute liver injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optical band gap of ZnO thin films deposited on fused quartz by metal-organic chemical-vapor deposition was studied. The optical band gap of as-grown ZnO blueshifted from 3.13 to 4.06 eV as the growth temperature decreased from 500 to 200 °C. After annealing, the optical band gap shifted back to the single-crystal value. All the ZnO thin films studied show strong band-edge photoluminescence. X-ray diffraction measurements showed that samples deposited at low temperatures (<450 °C) consisted of amorphous and crystalline phases. The redshift of the optical band gap back to the original position after annealing was strong evidence that the blueshift was due to an amorphous phase. The unshifted photoluminescence spectra indicated that the luminescence was due to the crystalline phase of ZnO, which was in the form of nanocrystals embedded in the amorphous phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leakage current of Pt/(Ba0.7Sr0.3)TiO3 (BST)/YBa2Cu3O7-δ capacitors on a (001) SrTiO3 substrate was studied. By modeling a low-dielectric constant layer, a so-called dead layer, between the Pt/BST interface as a parasitic capacitor in series with the bulk layer capacitor, the leakage current of Pt/BST interface was well analyzed based on the modified Schottky emission equation. Furthermore, a two-step schematic energy band diagram is proposed to explain the carrier transport through the Pt/BST interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver cancer is the seventh most common malignancy and second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Hepatic vein and/or inferior vena cava (IVC) tumor thrombus are less common. Improvement in techniques allowed the increasing use of radiotherapy in treating tumor thrombus in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hence, the present study evaluated the treatment response and survival outcomes of HCC with hepatic vein tumor thrombus (HVTT) and/or IVC involvement receiving radiotherapy in modern RT technique combined with other multimodality therapies. HCC patients with HVTT and/or IVC tumor thrombus receiving radiotherapy were identified at our institution. All patients were treated with VMAT or IMRT technique and 4D-CT was used in simulation. All thrombus and primary tumor in liver were included in the GTV unless they were far from gross primary tumor. The prescription dose to 95% of the PTV was planned at 50-65Gy in 22-28 fractions over 5-6 weeks. After the completion of RT, chest-abdominal CT and liver MRI were performed at 1, 3, 6, 12 months and then 3 to 6 months thereafter. Treatment response was defined as the best response evaluation in 3 months after RT. Overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS) and in-field PFS were recorded during follow-up. Between April 2010 and September 2021, 30 men and 4 women with a median age of 53.5 years (range 30-71 years) were retrospectively included in the cohort. 7 (20.6%) patients had lymph node metastasis and 10 (29.4%) patients had distant metastasis before radiotherapy (RT). In addition to hepatic vein/inferior vena cava (IVC) tumor thrombus, portal vein and right atrium involvement were present in 17 (50.0%) and 6 (17.6%) patients. Half of the patients received TACE and 14 (41.2%) patients received systemic treatment including target therapy and immune therapy before radiotherapy. Most patients received target therapy concurrent with (70.6%) and/or post RT (79.4%). During follow-up (median 13.0 months), the median PFS and median in-field PFS were 4.2 months and not reached, respectively. The PFS and in-field PFS rate were 24.6% and 79.2% at 1 year, 19.7% and 72.0% at 2 years. The OS rate was 77.6% at 1 year and 36.3% at 2 years with a median OS of 15.8 months. PFS and OS were not associated with portal vein involvement, IVC involvement and distant metastasis before RT. The most common first failure site was lung (13/34 patients, 38.2%), followed by liver (7/34 patients, 20.6%). Only 5 (14.7%) patients had progression in the RT field of liver during follow-up. No patients had radiation-induced liver disease or pulmonary embolism during follow-up. Our study proved that HCC lesions and tumor thrombus were sensitive to RT even after other local therapies. Combination of RT and systemic therapy in treating HCC patients with HVTT and IVC tumor thrombus was safe and effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The coda wave is very sensitive for detection. • The technology is rather new in the application of fouling detection. • This method of detection is non-invasive, so it can be applied on-line in the industry. • The cost of the detection by coda waves is low. Fouling in heat exchangers is the buildup of deposits on the solid surfaces. These deposits reduce the eco-efficiency of the processing equipment and increase the risk of subsequent surface contamination with the formation of biofilms. In the agro-food and water supplier sectors, which are our main concern, fouling on the hot walls of processing heat exchangers is a common occurrence and requires frequent cleaning cycles to ensure hygiene requirements are met. This results in a considerable ecological footprint. Sensors and diagnostic tools for monitoring fouling are thus of utmost importance to ensure the rational validation of the cleaning end-point and to decrease the environmental impact of the cleaning cycles. In this paper, a non-destructive ultrasonic monitoring technique using coda waves and the associated signal processing was tested to monitor the evolution over time of a deposit layer on a solid wall during cleaning. To ascertain the feasibility of the method, a piece of wax of controlled thickness was deposited to simulate the initial fouling state and a cleaning cycle was launched. The decorrelation coefficient was used as an indicator to monitor fouling. This article presents the principle of this unprecedented technique for measuring the degree of fouling. The results of the experiments show that this non-destructive monitoring technology is sensitive to changes in fouling and that the decorrelation coefficient curves are in agreement with the cleaning kinetics captured using a video camera, thus ascertaining the pertinence of the diagnostic tool proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Mercury emission flows in the global supply chains have evolved into an ever-increasing complex network. However, the underlying structural features remain unknown. Therefore, the global embodied mercury flow network was constructed to reveal the characteristics of energy-induced mercury emissions embodied in international trade at both national and sectoral scales. The small-world nature of the global mercury flows network was identified at both scales. Results showed that the global mercury flow network can be divided into 4 national communities, within which the spillover effects of the interventions in one region spread more easily. Detecting the mercury-intensive supply-chain clusters highlights the importance of monitoring these clusters that dominate mercury emissions in global supply chains, which could offer insights on where policy can be implemented effectively. Moreover, vital regions (e.g., mainland China, the USA, and Germany) and sectors (e.g., Petroleum, Chemical and Non-Metallic Mineral Products , Metal Products and Electrical and Machinery in mainland China) for global mercury control have been unveiled by using an integrated centrality measurement system. Our results highlight that, for the overall mercury reduction, regional and even global collaboration should be enhanced along with efforts in individual regions, and enterprises in these important sectors should invest more to green their cluster-wise supply chains. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Understanding the global mercury flow network is important for policymakers. • Interactions between mercury pollution and economic activities were demonstrated. • A method combining MRIO and complex network analysis was used. • The mercury flow network was divided into 4 national and 106 sectoral clusters. • Critical economies and sectors were identified by a set of centrality indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dissatisfactory load transfer has been a critical issue in carbon nanotube (CNT)- and graphene-reinforced metal matrix composites (MMCs) mainly because of the intrinsically unpleasant carbon-metal interfaces. Here we show by introducing in-situ Al 2 O 3 nanoparticles at aluminum (Al)-CNTs interface, the load transfer efficiency can be noticeably enhanced in powder metallurgy CNTs/Al composites. From in-situ tensile tests, the nanoparticle-modified Al-CNTs interfaces result in CNT fracture, a sign of high load transfer efficiency; while clean interfaces without nanoparticles lead to CNT pulling-out. The nanoparticle-induced enhancement of interface strength can be explained by the increased sliding resistance of CNTs in MMCs at the wake of cracks under tensile loading. Our study provides a new strategy for designing strong carbon-metal interfaces to fabricate high-performance nanocarbon-reinforced MMCs. Image 1 • A type of strong Al-CNT interface was studied by TEM and in-situ tensile tests. • Clean Al-CNT interfaces led to CNT pulling-out. • Al-CNT interfaces with in-situ alumina nanoparticles resulted in CNT fracture. • Alumina nanoparticles increased interfacial strength without damaging CNT structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]