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Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) are energetic phenomena that have significant implications for understanding fundamental physics and the Universe. Recent observations of FRB 121102, FRB 20220912A, and FRB 20201124A by the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope showed high-burst rates and distinctive energy distribution and temporal properties. In this study, we examine these observations to investigate the scale invariance of the waiting times between bursts for intervals longer than approximately 1 s. Our analysis revealed a unified scaling law for these longer intervals, which is similar to the behaviour of solar flares. This discovery inspires us to suggest a dual analogy of the FRB scenario across the entire time intervals: with earthquake dynamics at subsecond scales and with solar flare dynamics beyond the one-second threshold. This threshold potentially aligns with the dynamic time-scale of neutron star crusts, offering insight of the occurrence of FRBs into the internal processes of neutron stars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe the risk of women who have survived borderline ovarian tumors (BOT) developing second primary malignancies (SPM). Methods: This work employed the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program to conduct a retrospective study of patients diagnosed with BOT. The SEER stat software was used to calculate the standardized incidence ratio (SIR). Cases with pathologic diagnosis and for which information on prognostic factors were available were obtained and analyzed using the Fine and Gray model, with non‐SPM death as a competing event. Results: The risk of developing SPM among BOT survivors was not elevated compared with that expected in the general population (SIR 0.88, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.80–0.96) between 1975 and 2017. Of 3661 patients with BOT diagnosed between 1977 and 2000, 477 patients (13.03%) experienced the development of SPM during the median follow up of 19.43 years and the cumulative incidence of SPM over a span of 25 years was 15.52%. Patients with mucinous BOT (P = 0.028), age older than 50 years (P < 0.001), or no lymph node dissection (P = 0.042), had a higher cumulative incidence of SPM in univariate analysis. In the multivariable competing risk analysis, performing lymphadenectomy (subdistribution hazard ratios [sdHR] 0.79, 95% CI 0.64–0.98), age (sdHR 1.03, 95% CI 1.02–1.03) could strongly predict the risk of SPM. Conclusion: In contrast to ovarian cancer, women with BOT were not more prone to develop SPM. Synopsis: Women with borderline ovarian tumors do not exhibit heightened susceptibility to secondary primary malignancies, in contrast to previous findings for invasive epithelial ovarian cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detection and evaluation of internal corrosion of concrete bridge decks is of critical importance for bridge structure safety. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is a nondestructive testing technique that has been used widely for corrosion assessment of RC bridge decks. However, the recognition accuracy of traditional automatic data processing methods for blurred hyperbolic features is insufficient, which leads to a decrease in the accuracy of bridge deck corrosion assessment. To address this problem, this paper proposes an automatic rebar picking algorithm based on gradient information and a migration method for bridge deck corrosion assessment with GPR data. This method can be divided into three steps: thresholding processing based on B-scan gradient information, a limited hyperbolic summation-based recognition (LHSR) algorithm, and rebar localization. First, the GPR B-scan is transformed into its gradient image and thresholded to enhance hyperbolic features. The LHSR algorithm then is applied to the binarized gradient B-scan to identify the hyperbolas, locate the rebar, and extract the rebar reflection amplitude. Finally, the corrosion map of the bridge deck is generated based on the rebar position and the rebar reflection amplitude after depth-correction. A case study with GPR data from two tested bridges was employed to validate the feasibility of the proposed method. The results show that the precision and recall of automatic rebar picking by this method for poor-quality GPR data were 91.27% and 93.56%, which are significantly higher than those of the traditional methods. Moreover, the accuracy of the bridge deck corrosion map obtained by the proposed method also is significantly better than that of the traditional methods. It can be concluded that the proposed method can be used for rebar picking and corrosion assessment of RC bridge decks with GPR data. Ground penetrating radar is a nondestructive testing technology that has been used widely for corrosion assessment of concrete bridge decks. However, the traditional automatic processing method of GPR data has insufficient recognition accuracy for blurred features of rebars, resulting in a decrease in the accuracy of bridge deck corrosion assessment. To address this problem, this paper proposes an automatic method that can be used for feature identification and location of rebars. The corrosion map generated by the position and reflection amplitude of rebars could help engineers to conduct corrosion assessment and repair of concrete bridge decks. The feasibility of the proposed method was validated through a case study with GPR data form two actual bridges. Especially for poor-quality GPR data, the accuracy of rebar picking and corrosion maps of this method is significantly higher than that of traditional methods. It can be concluded that the proposed method can be used for rebar positioning and corrosion assessment of concrete bridge decks based on GPR inspection data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric Rivers (ARs), corridors of intensive water vapor transport, have received much attention recently due to their potentially large economic and societal impacts. However, a comprehensive understanding of the interannual variability of ARs over East Asia is still lacking. This study examines the frequency of AR occurrence over East Asia based on the EAR5 reanalysis. It is shown that the frequency of AR occurrence over East Asia displays obvious seasonality, with its peak in early boreal summer. ARs contribute to up to 50% of total precipitation and largely modulate the interannual variability of precipitation in East Asia during early boreal summer. The interannual variability of ARs over East Asia during early boreal summer is largely controlled by the Indo-western Pacific Ocean Capacitor (IPOC) effect, which is mainly triggered by El Niño-Southern Oscillation and sometimes by Indian Ocean dipole. During early boreal summer, a higher frequency of AR occurrence over East Asia is associated with anomalous anticyclonic circulation (AAC) over the Indo-western Pacific region. The AAC, the atmospheric signal of the IPOC mode, indicates an enhanced East Asian summer monsoon and a northwestward shift of the western North Pacific subtropical high, favoring the AR occurrence over East Asia. This study illustrates that a strong positive Indian Ocean dipole event could impact AR activity over East Asia in the following summer by triggering the IPOC effect. The IPOC-related signals 2–4 months ahead could be useful to predict the AR occurrence over East Asia during early boreal summer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Immunotherapy brings new hope to patients with advanced gastric cancer. However, liver metastases can reduce the efficacy of immunotherapy in patients. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) may be the cause of this reduction in efficacy. SPP1 + TAMs are considered to have immunosuppressive properties. We aimed to investigate the involvement of SPP1 + TAMs in the metastasis of gastric cancer. Methods: The single-cell transcriptome was combined with batched BULK datasets for analysis. Animal models were used to verify the analysis results. Results: We reveal the interaction of SPP1 + TAMs with CD8 + exhausted T cells in metastatic cancer. Among these interactions, GDF15-TGFBR2 may play a key immunosuppressive role. We constructed an LR score to quantify interactions based on ligands and receptors. The LR score is highly correlated with various immune features and clinical molecular subtypes. The LR score may also guide the prediction of the efficacy of immunotherapy and prognosis. Conclusions: The crosstalk between SPP1 + TAMs and CD8 + exhausted T cells plays a key immunosuppressive role in the gastric metastatic cancer microenvironment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to develop and validate a cuproptosis-related gene signature for the prognosis of gastric cancer. The data in TCGA GC TPM format from UCSC were extracted for analysis, and GC samples were randomly divided into training and validation groups. Pearson correlation analysis was used to obtain cuproptosis-related genes co-expressed with 19 Cuproptosis genes. Univariate Cox and Lasso regression analyses were used to obtain cuproptosis-related prognostic genes. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to construct the final prognostic risk model. The risk score curve, Kaplan–Meier survival curves, and ROC curve were used to evaluate the predictive ability of Cox risk model. Finally, the functional annotation of the risk model was obtained through enrichment analysis. Then, a six-gene signature was identified in the training cohort and verified among all cohorts using Cox regression analyses and Kaplan–Meier plots, demonstrating its independent prognostic significance for gastric cancer. In addition, ROC analysis confirmed the significant predictive potential of this signature for the prognosis of gastric cancer. Functional enrichment analysis was mainly related to cell–matrix function. Therefore, a new cuproptosis-related six-gene signature (ACLY, FGD6, SERPINE1, SPATA13, RANGAP1, and ADGRE5) was constructed for the prognosis of gastric cancer, allowing for tailored prediction of outcome and the formulation of novel therapeutics for gastric cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grid-connected inverter (GCI)-based online grid impedance estimation (GIE) can be used in the fields of grid state monitoring, fault diagnosis, and the stability control of grid-connected equipment, which can collectively improve the intelligence of GCI. However, the available frequency range of GCI-based GIE is limited by the bandwidth of the controller because a perturbation signal is injected into the reference current. To broaden the bandwidth of grid impedance estimation, an online GIE technology based on multi-objective optimized random pulse width modulation (MOO-RPWM) is proposed in this paper. Besides taking advantage of the harmonic dispersion characteristic of RPWM, the distribution of the switching frequency is further optimized by the constraints on the measurement accuracy and the total harmonic distortion (THD) of the grid current. Moreover, the frequency boundary is constrained by the frequency range of GIE, the stability of the system, and power loss. A genetic algorithm (GA) is applied to obtain the switching frequency sequence that satisfies the optimization targets. A single-phase grid-connected inverter system is built on a StarSim hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) platform to verify that MOO-RPWM-based GIE has the advantages of a broad GIE range, high accuracy, and low disturbance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Physical activity (PA) is associated with various health benefits, especially in improving chronic health conditions. However, the metabolic changes in host metabolism in response to PA remain unclear, especially in racially/ethnically diverse populations. Objective: This study is to assess the metabolic profiles associated with the frequency of PA in White and African American (AA) men. Methods: Using the untargeted metabolomics data collected from 698 White and AA participants (mean age: 38.0±8.0, age range: 20–50) from the Louisiana Osteoporosis Study (LOS), we conducted linear regression models to examine metabolites that are associated with PA levels (assessed by self-reported regular exercise frequency levels: 0, 1–2, and ≥3 times per week) in White and AA men, respectively, as well as in the pooled sample. Covariates considered for statistical adjustments included race (only for the pooled sample), age, BMI, waist circumstance, smoking status, and alcohol drinking. Results: Of the 1133 untargeted compounds, we identified 7 metabolites associated with PA levels in the pooled sample after covariate adjustment with a false discovery rate of 0.15. Specifically, compared to participants who did not exercise, those who exercised at a frequency ≥3 times/week showed higher abundances in uracil, orotate, 1-(1-enyl-palmitoyl)-2-oleoyl-GPE (P-16:0/18:1) (GPE), threonate, and glycerate, but lower abundances in salicyluric glucuronide and adenine in the pooled sample. However, in Whites, salicyluric glucuronide and orotate were not significant. Adenine, GPE, and threonate were not significant in AAs. In addition, the seven metabolites were not significantly different between participants who exercised ≥3 times/week and 1–2 times/week, nor significantly different between participants with 1–2 times/week and 0/week in the pooled sample and respective White and AA groups. Conclusions: Metabolite responses to PA are dose sensitive and may differ between White and AA populations. The identified metabolites may help advance our knowledge of guiding precision PA interventions. Studies with rigorous study designs are warranted to elucidate the relationship between PA and metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: The proposed method solves the difficulty of unstable sliding rock (USR) adjustment. The study provides a judgment criterion for the quantitative identification of USR. The improved method can provide a practical reference for engineers engaged in rapidly identifying USR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a syndrome with high 28- and 90-day mortality rates. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been widely used to diagnose and evaluate liver disease. Our purpose is to determine the value of the imaging features derived from Gd-DTPA-enhanced MRI for predicting the poor outcome of patients with ACLF and develop a clinically practical radiological score. Methods: This retrospective study comprised 175 ACLF patients who underwent Gd-DTPA-enhanced abdominal MRI from January 2017 to December 2021. The primary end-point was 90-day mortality. Imaging parameters, such as diffuse hyperintense of the liver on T2WI, patchy enhancement of the liver at the arterial phase, uneven enhancement of the liver at the portal vein phase, gallbladder wall edema, periportal edema, ascites, esophageal and gastric varix, umbilical vein patefac, portal vein thrombosis, and splenomegaly were screened. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to evaluate prognostic factors and develop a prediction model. The accuracy of the model was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: During the follow-up period, 31 of the 175 ACLF patients died within 90 days. In the multivariate analysis, three imaging parameters were independently associated with survival: diffuse hyperintense on T2WI (p = 0.007; HR = 3.53 [1.40–8.89]), patchy enhancement at the arterial phase (p = 0.037; HR = 2.45 [1.06–5.69]), moderate ascites (vs. mild) (p = 0.006; HR = 4.12 [1.49–11.36]), and severe ascites (vs. mild) (p = 0.005; HR = 4.29 [1.57–11.71]). A practical radiological score was proposed, based on the presence of diffuse hyperintense (7 points), patchy enhancement (5 points), and ascites (6, 8, and 8 points for mild, moderate, and severe, respectively). Further analysis showed that a cut-off at 14 points was optimum to distinguish high-risk (score > 14) from the low-risk group (score ≤ 14) for 90-day survival and demonstrated a mean area under the ROC curve of 0.774 in ACLF patients. Conclusions: Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging features can predict poor outcomes in patients with ACLF, based on which we proposed a clinically practical radiological score allowing stratification of the 90-day survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor-associated macrophages M2 (TAM2), which are highly prevalent infiltrating immune cells in the stroma of pancreatic cancer (PC), have been found to induce an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, thus enhancing tumor initiation and progression. However, the immune therapy response and prognostic significance of regulatory genes associated with TAM2 in PC are currently unknown. Based on TCGA transcriptomic data and single-cell sequencing data from the GEO database, we identified TAM2-driven genes using the WGCNA algorithm. Molecular subtypes based on TAM2-driven genes were clustered using the ConsensusClusterPlus algorithm. The study constructed a prognostic model based on TAM2-driven genes through Lasso-COX regression analysis. A total of 178 samples obtained by accessing TCGA were accurately categorized into two molecular subtypes, including the high-TAM2 infiltration (HMI) cluster and the low-TAM2 infiltration (LMI) cluster. The HMI cluster exhibits a poor prognosis, a malignant tumor phenotype, immune-suppressive immune cell infiltration, resistance to immunotherapy, and a high number of genetic mutations, while the LMI cluster is the opposite. The prognostic model composed of six hub genes from TAM2-driven genes exhibits a high degree of accuracy in predicting the prognosis of patients with PC and serves as an independent risk factor. The induction of TAM2 was employed as a means of verifying these six gene expressions, revealing the significant up-regulation of BCAT1, BST2, and MERTK in TAM2 cells. In summary, the immunophenotype and prognostic model based on TAM2-driven genes offers a foundation for the clinical management of PC. The core TAM2-driven genes, including BCAT1, BST2, and MERTK, are involved in regulating tumor progression and TAM2 polarization, which are potential targets for PC therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the sea level (SL) changes on the interdecadal timescale in the tropical Indian Ocean (TIO) in response to the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) in 20 Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) models. The analysis suggests that the interdecadal sea level pattern variation in the Thermocline Ridge of the Indian Ocean (TRIO) area coincides with the IPO phases and is mainly caused by fluctuations of surface forcing over the TIO. Changes in tropical wind stress curl (WSC) mainly induce the SL variability on the interdecadal timescale associated with IPO in the TRIO region in both observations and models. The stochastic wind forcing and its interaction with the ocean's internal variability produce significant interdecadal SL fluctuation in the southeast Indian Ocean. We evaluated the ability of 20 CMIP6 models to capture interdecadal variations in sea level teleconnections. We found that about 75% of models reproduce decadal fluctuations related to IPO pretty well. The interdecadal variations of the SL in the western TIO emerge primarily in response to westward propagating downwelling Rossby waves induced by the WSC in the central‐south TIO in MMM, and models as in observations. Pacific IPO‐related anomalies primarily spread through the oceanic pathways of the Maritime Continent in the eastern Indian Ocean. Further, the IPO induces changes in the western Indian Ocean WSC through atmospheric pathways, which in turn causes Rossby waves to move westward, affecting the southwest Indian SL. Almost all the models and MMM show interdecadal SL variations in TIO associated with IPO. This study is beneficial as interdecadal prediction research on SL has a significant societal need. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrode and MoS2@Ti electrochemical system were successfully optimized. However, there are problems such as easy flaking of catalytic layer and short electrode life. The use of electrode modifiers such as Nafion, Sodium dodecyl sulfate, or tin-antimony oxide interlayers attempts to optimize the bonding between the electrode substrate and the active layer. Moreover, we have successfully used foam titanium to replace the titanium plate substrate to improve the electrode stability. The adsorption reduction performance of MoS2@Ti electrodes and MoS2 powders was investigated to further clarify the mechanism of MoS2@Ti electrochemical system. The optimization of the MoS2@Ti electrode reaction system was attempted by designing the combined system as well as the diaphragm system, and the fact that the reduced mercury ions were re-oxidized in the original MoS2@Ti system was determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the sea level (SL) changes on the interdecadal timescale in the tropical Indian Ocean (TIO) in response to the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) in 20 Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) models. The analysis suggests that the interdecadal sea level pattern variation in the Thermocline Ridge of the Indian Ocean (TRIO) area coincides with the IPO phases and is mainly caused by fluctuations of surface forcing over the TIO. Changes in tropical wind stress curl (WSC) mainly induce the SL variability on the interdecadal timescale associated with IPO in the TRIO region in both observations and models. The stochastic wind forcing and its interaction with the ocean's internal variability produce significant interdecadal SL fluctuation in the southeast Indian Ocean. We evaluated the ability of 20 CMIP6 models to capture interdecadal variations in sea level teleconnections. We found that about 75% of models reproduce decadal fluctuations related to IPO pretty well. The interdecadal variations of the SL in the western TIO emerge primarily in response to westward propagating downwelling Rossby waves induced by the WSC in the central‐south TIO in MMM, and models as in observations. Pacific IPO‐related anomalies primarily spread through the oceanic pathways of the Maritime Continent in the eastern Indian Ocean. Further, the IPO induces changes in the western Indian Ocean WSC through atmospheric pathways, which in turn causes Rossby waves to move westward, affecting the southwest Indian SL. Almost all the models and MMM show interdecadal SL variations in TIO associated with IPO. This study is beneficial as interdecadal prediction research on SL has a significant societal need. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrocatalytic hydrogenation of aromatic rings in benzoic acid derivatives has arisen as a notionally engaging substitute for thermal catalysis under mild conditions. However, the utilization of organic solvents and low faradaic efficiency are incompatible with the principles of green chemistry and energy conservation. Herein, bimetallic PtRu supported on carbon paper developed by co-electrodeposition with optimized atomic ratios maintains an inspiring high conversion of 92.9%, high selectivity of 100% and a high faradaic efficiency of 62.2% for the hydrogenation of benzoic acid to cyclohexanecarboxylic acid in an acidic aqueous electrolyte without external H2, which is the best result to date. The optimized electrocatalyst also exhibits outstanding stability and universality for the electrocatalytic hydrogenation of benzoic acid derivatives. In situ Raman results and theoretical calculations prove that the synergistic effect generated by Ru modifying the electronic structure of Pt simultaneously enhances the capture of benzoic acid molecules and interfacial active hydrogen species and lowers the reaction energy barrier. After adsorbing benzoic acid, more accumulation of electrons around the Ru atom reduces the electron density of phenyl, thereby activating the reaction. Meanwhile, the uniform alloy nanoclusters anchored to the carbon paper surface ensure highly efficient electronic transmission and high dispersion of active components, reducing excessive agglomeration. A proton-exchange membrane reactor is also used to certify the potential of the electrocatalytic hydrogenation of benzoic acid derivatives for large-scale application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic structures and magnetotransport properties of topological Dirac semimetal (TDSM) nanoribbons are studied by adopting the tight-binding lattice model and the Landauer–Büttiker formula based on the non-equilibrium Green's function. For concreteness, the TDSM material Cd3As2 grown along the experimentally accessible [110] crystallographic direction is taken as an example. We found that the electronic structures of the TDSM nanoribbon depend on both the strength and direction of the magnetic field (MF). The transversal local charge density (LCD) distribution of the electronic states in the TDSM nanoribbon is moved gradually from the center toward the hinge of each surface as a [010] direction MF strength is increased, forming the two-sided hinge states. However, one-sided surface states are generated in the TDSM nanoribbon when a [001] direction MF is applied. As a result, one-sided hinge states can be achieved once a tilted MF is placed to the TDSM nanoribbon. The underlying physical mechanism of the desired one-sided hinge states is attributed to both the orbital and Zeeman effects of the MF, which is given by analytical analyses. In addition, typical Aharonov–Bohm interference patterns are observed in the charge conductance of the two-terminal TDSM nanoribbon with a tilted MF. This conductance behaviour originates from the unique interfering loop shaped by the one-sided hinge states. These findings may not only further our understanding on the external-field-induced higher-order (HO) topological phases but also provide an alternative method to probe the HO boundary states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taraxacum kok-saghyz Rodin (TKS) has great potential as an alternative natural-rubber (NR)-producing crop. The germplasm innovation of TKS still faces great challenges due to its self-incompatibility. Carbon-ion beam (CIB) irradiation is a powerful and non-species-specific physical method for mutation creation. Thus far, the CIB has not been utilized in TKS. To better inform future mutation breeding for TKS by the CIB and provide a basis for dose-selection, adventitious buds, which not only can avoid high levels of heterozygosity, but also further improve breeding efficiency, were irradiated here, and the dynamic changes of the growth and physiologic parameters, as well as gene expression pattern were profiled, comprehensively. The results showed that the CIB (5–40 Gy) caused significant biological effects on TKS, exhibiting inhibitory effects on the fresh weight and the number of regenerated buds and roots. Then,15 Gy was chosen for further study after comprehensive consideration. CIB-15 Gy resulted in significant oxidative damages (hydroxyl radical (OH•) generation activity, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content) and activated the antioxidant system (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX)) of TKS. Based on RNA-seq analysis, the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) peaked at 2 h after CIB irradiation. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed that DNA-replication-/repair- (mainly up-regulated), cell-death- (mainly up-regulated), plant-hormone- (auxin and cytokinin, which are related to plant morphogenesis, were mainly down-regulated), and photosynthesis- (mainly down-regulated) related pathways were involved in the response to the CIB. Furthermore, CIB irradiation can also up-regulate the genes involved in NR metabolism, which provides an alternative strategy to elevate the NR production in TKS in the future. These findings are helpful to understand the radiation response mechanism and further guide the future mutation breeding for TKS by the CIB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of water-entry cavities gives rise to interesting dynamic phenomena that occur in nature and engineering fields. The evolution and seal types of the cavities remain unsettled at Bo less than 10−2 since it is difficult to propel a small sphere to impact a water surface at high speed. In the present study, an experiment based on the laserdriven principle is conducted to accelerate a small sphere to hundreds m/s. The types of cavity seal are classified as quasi-static, shallow seal, deep seal, and surface seal within a Bo range of 1–7.57×10−2. The transition mechanism from a shallow seal to a deep seal is investigated by analyzing the cross-sectional characteristics of cavity necks. With a further decrease in Bo (5.69×10−2–8.41×10−3), the shallow seal is changed directly to a surface seal since the pinch-off time of the cross section at the cavity neck decreases with Bo, and hence, the deep seal disappears. Finally, a parameter study is conducted by varying We and Bo in the air cavity. Two boundaries are obtained: We ≈ 64 for the transition between quasi-static and shallow seals and We ≈ 326 for the transition between shallow seals and surface seals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is a nutritious crop that can provide both oil and protein. A variety of mutagenesis methods have been proposed to obtain better soybean germplasm resources. Among the different types of physical mutagens, carbon-ion beams are considered to be highly efficient with high linear energy transfer (LET), and gamma rays have also been widely used for mutation breeding. However, systematic knowledge of the mutagenic effects of these two mutagens during development and on phenotypic and genomic mutations has not yet been elucidated in soybean. To this end, dry seeds of Williams 82 soybean were irradiated with a carbon-ion beam and gamma rays. The biological effects of the M1 generation included changes in survival rate, yield and fertility. Compared with gamma rays, the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of the carbon-ion beams was between 2.5 and 3.0. Furthermore, the optimal dose for soybean was determined to be 101 Gy to 115 Gy when using the carbon-ion beam, and it was 263 Gy to 343 Gy when using gamma rays. A total of 325 screened mutant families were detected from out of 2000 M2 families using the carbon-ion beam, and 336 screened mutant families were found using gamma rays. Regarding the screened phenotypic M2 mutations, the proportion of low-frequency phenotypic mutations was 23.4% when using a carbon ion beam, and the proportion was 9.8% when using gamma rays. Low-frequency phenotypic mutations were easily obtained with the carbon-ion beam. After screening the mutations from the M2 generation, their stability was verified, and the genome mutation spectrum of M3 was systemically profiled. A variety of mutations, including single-base substitutions (SBSs), insertion–deletion mutations (INDELs), multinucleotide variants (MNVs) and structural variants (SVs) were detected with both carbon-ion beam irradiation and gamma-ray irradiation. Overall, 1988 homozygous mutations and 9695 homozygous + heterozygous genotype mutations were detected when using the carbon-ion beam. Additionally, 5279 homozygous mutations and 14,243 homozygous + heterozygous genotype mutations were detected when using gamma rays. The carbon-ion beam, which resulted in low levels of background mutations, has the potential to alleviate the problems caused by linkage drag in soybean mutation breeding. Regarding the genomic mutations, when using the carbon-ion beam, the proportion of homozygous-genotype SVs was 0.45%, and that of homozygous + heterozygous-genotype SVs was 6.27%; meanwhile, the proportions were 0.04% and 4.04% when using gamma rays. A higher proportion of SVs were detected when using the carbon ion beam. The gene effects of missense mutations were greater under carbon-ion beam irradiation, and the gene effects of nonsense mutations were greater under gamma-ray irradiation, which meant that the changes in the amino acid sequences were different between the carbon-ion beam and gamma rays. Taken together, our results demonstrate that both carbon-ion beam and gamma rays are effective techniques for rapid mutation breeding in soybean. If one would like to obtain mutations with a low-frequency phenotype, low levels of background genomic mutations and mutations with a higher proportion of SVs, carbon-ion beams are the best choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the influence of historical geological and climatic events on the evolution of flora and fauna in the Tibetan Plateau has been a hot research topic. The Qilian Mountain region is one of the most important sources of biodiversity on the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau. Many species existed in the region during the Pleistocene glacial oscillation, and the complex geographical environment provided suitable conditions for the survival of local species. The shrinkage, expansion, and transfer of the distribution range and population size of species have significant effects on genetic diversity and intraspecific differentiation. To reveal the effects of geological uplift and climate oscillation on the evolution of fish populations in the Qilian Mountains, we investigated the genetic structure, phylogenetic relationship, and phylogeographical characteristics of genus Triplophysa species in the Qilian Mountains using the mitochondrial DNA gene (COI), three nuclear genes (RAG1, sRH, and Myh6) and 11 pairs of nuclear microsatellite markers. We collected 11 species of genus Triplophysa living in the Qilian Mountains, among which Triplophysa hsutschouensis and Triplophysa papillosolabiata are widely distributed in the rivers on the northern slope of the Qilian Mountains. There was a high degree of lineage differentiation among species, and the genetic diversity of endemic species was low. The different geographical groups of T. papillosolabiata presented some allogeneic adaptation and differentiation, which was closely related to the changes in the river system. Except for the population expansion event of T. hsutschouensis during the last glacial period of the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau (0.025 MYA), the population sizes of other plateau loach species remained stable without significant population expansion. Starting from the east and west sides of the Qilian Mountains, T. hsutschouensis, and T. papillosolabiata showed two species colonization routes in opposite directions. The geological events of the uplift of the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau and the climatic oscillation of the Quaternary glaciation had a great influence on the genetic structure of the plateau loach in the Qilian Mountains, which promoted the genetic differentiation of the plateau loach and formed some unique new species. The results of this study have important guiding significance for fish habitat protection in the Qilian Mountains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the latest Coupled Model Intercomparison Projects phase 6 abrupt-4xCO2 scenario, this study investigates the sea surface salinity (SSS) and hydrological cycle changes in response to global warming in the tropical Atlantic and tropical eastern Pacific. The analysis results reveal the enhancement of the global water cycle and the effect of El Niño-like sea surface temperature (SST) warming. Under global warming, inter-basin water vapor transports increase by about 0.11 Sv (19%) from the tropical Atlantic to the Pacific in response to the rise of the freshwater flux gradient between the two basins. The increase of specific humidity dominates the enhancement of moisture transport (contribution of about 85%), resulting in an SSS decrease in the tropical Pacific and an increase in the tropical Atlantic. On seasonal scales, the increase of the trans-basin SST gradient leads to the enhancement and westward shift of the Walker Circulation in summer and autumn (contribution of 31% in August to 47% in November), further resulting in the precipitation increase and the salinity decrease in the tropical Pacific. Furthermore, the El Niño-like SST warming induces a wind-evaporation-SST feedback in the tropical eastern Pacific. The reduced SST meridional gradient weakens the atmospheric circulation, redistributing the trans-basin water vapor transport. Correspondingly, precipitation (salinity) decreases (increases) in the northeastern Pacific and increases (decreases) in the southeastern Pacific, following the "warmer-get-wetter" mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of sea surface temperature (SST) variability in the pre-monsoonal (April to July) intraseasonal oscillation (ISO) over the South China Sea (SCS) is investigated using the Community Earth System Model Version 2 (CESM2). An Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project (AMIP) simulation forced by daily sea surface temperatures (SSTs) derived from a parallel coupled general circulation model (CGCM) run was compared with observations and the mother coupled simulation. In the coupled model, the SST warming leads the peak convection about 1/4 period as in observations. The paralell uncoupled model fails to simulate this phase relationship, implying the importance of air-sea coupling in reproducing realistic ISO. Due to the near-quadrature phase relationship between SST and precipitation ISOs during the ISO events, it is difficult to distinguish the active/passive role of SST from observations alone. Significant correlation in intraseasonal precipitation between the daily SST-forced AMIP and mother CGCM runs indicates that SST plays a role in driving the atmospheric ISO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Luzon Strait is the main channel connecting the South China Sea (SCS) and the western Pacific, with complex atmospheric and oceanic dynamic processes. Based on 44 days of glider measurements and satellite observations, we investigated the temporal and vertical variations of chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration in the Luzon Strait from July 25 to September 6, 2019. The Chl a was mainly distributed above 200 m and concentrated in the subsurface chlorophyll maximum (SCM) layer. The depth of SCM ranged between 50 m and 110 m, and the magnitude of SCM varied from 0.42 mg/m3 to 1.12 mg/m3. The variation of Chl a was identified with three stages responding to different dynamic processes. Under the influence of Kuroshio intrusion, the SCM depth sharply deepened, and its magnitude decreased in Stage 1. Afterward, a prominent Chl-a bloom was observed in the SCM layer from August 6 to August 16. The Chl-a bloom in Stage 2 was related to the influence of a cyclonic eddy, which uplifted of the thermocline and thus the deep nutrients. During Stage 3, prolonged heavy rainfall in the northeastern SCS resulted in a significant salinity decrease in the upper ocean. The convergence of upper water deepened the thermocline and the mixed layer. Thus, the Chl a decreased in the SCM layer but increased in the surface layer. In particular, a typhoon passed through the Luzon Strait on August 24, which induced the Chl a increase in the upper 50 m. However, there was little change in the depth-integrated Chl a (0–200 m), indicating that the Chl a increase in the surface layer was likely associated with physical entrainment of SCM caused by strong mixing, rather than the phytoplankton bloom in the upper water column. Underwater gliders provide frequent autonomous observations that help us understand the regional ocean's complex dynamic processes and biological responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subsurface eddies are a special type of oceanic eddy that display the maximum velocity in the subsurface layer. Based on field observations, a lens-shaped subsurface anticyclonic eddy (SAE) was detected in the northern South China Sea (SCS) in May 2021. The SAE was located between 20 and 200 m, with a shoaling of the seasonal thermocline and deepening of the main thermocline. Satellite images showed that the SAE exhibited positive sea level anomaly (SLA) and negative sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly. Eddy track indicated that this SAE originated from the Luzon Strait and was generated in the Kuroshio Loop Current (KLC) last winter. The evolution of the SAE was related to the anomalous water properties inside the eddy and the seasonal change of sea surface heat flux. In winter, the continuous surface cooling and Kuroshio intrusion led to a cold, salty core in the upper part of the anticyclonic eddy, which resulted in a subsurface-intensified structure through geostrophic adjustment. As the season changed from winter to spring, sea surface temperature increased. The lens-shaped structure was formed when the seasonal thermocline appeared near the surface that capped the winter well-mixed water inside the eddy. From 1993 to 2021, nearly half of the winter KLC shedding eddies (12/25) survived to late spring and evolved into subsurface lens-shaped structures. This result indicates that the transition of KLC shedding eddy to SAE is a common phenomenon in the northern SCS, which is potentially important for local air–sea interaction, heat–salt balance, and biogeochemical processes. Significance Statement: Subsurface eddies are lens-shaped eddies with anomalous water properties in the subsurface layer. While such eddies have been reported in many regions of the World Ocean, they are poorly investigated in the SCS, especially the periodic subsurface eddies that appear in a fixed time frame with similar patterns and trajectories. This study reported a subsurface anticyclonic eddy (SAE) in the northern SCS and elucidated its generation and evolution processes. Statistical results confirm that this is a periodic SAE, which occurs nearly annually in late spring and evolves from the Kuroshio shedding eddy with seasonal changes. This study provides a new perspective on the evolution of subsurface eddies in the SCS and will benefit targeted observations in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ena-VASP-like (EVL), a member of the Enabled/vasodilator stimulated phosphoprotein family, is functionally expressed in various cancers. This study explored the prognostic value and potential mechanism of EVL in pancreatic cancer (PC). RNA-seq obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases were used to evaluate EVL expression differences, and clinical samples were collected for validation. The prognostic value of EVL was evaluated by survival data obtained from TCGA and clinical samples. The biological pathways involved in EVL were evaluated by functional enrichment analysis such as GO, KEGG, and GSEA. We used immune infiltration analysis to estimate the correlation between EVL and tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TICs). The expression of EVL is down-regulated in PC tissues, which is an independent factor affecting survival time. Survival analysis suggested EVL-high expression was associated with good prognosis in PC patients. The results of the enrichment analysis suggested that the biological function of EVL was closely related to the immune mechanism. Tumor immune infiltration analysis showed that high expression of EVL was accompanied by high levels of immune infiltration. Furthermore, EVL was strongly correlated with the content of immune cells such as CD8+ T cells, B cells, regulatory T cells, CD4+ Tem cells, and follicular Th cells. EVL is a potential independent prognostic marker and immunotherapy target for PC. Mechanistically, EVL may affect the prognosis by extensively promoting immune cell infiltration, including strengthening the anti-tumor immune response of CD8+ T cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accumulation of organic dyes in water and their consequent detrimental effect to ecological environment have attracted worldwide extensive attention. It is urgent to develop rapid and efficient method to degrade organic dyes. In this paper, an efficient CdZnS/SnS2/SnO2 heterojunction is successfully prepared by sequential template approach and hydrothermal method. Comparison with CdZnS and SnS2/SnO2, the heterogeneous structure of CdZnS/SnS2/SnO2 greatly enhances the photocatalytic degradation ability of Rhodamine B (RhB). The apparent reaction rate of CdZnS/SnS2/SnO2 heterostructure is around 12.71 and 16.69 times higher than those of SnS2/SnO2 and CdZnS, respectively, reaching 0.0267 min−1. After CdZnS/SnS2/SnO2 photocatalysis of RhB solution, the BOD/COD ratio increases from 0.168 to 0.725, indicating that the biodegradability is greatly improved. It has been proved that ⋅OH, ⋅O2−, h+ and e− are the main active species involved in the degradation process. In addition, the CdZnS/SnS2/SnO2 exhibits good stability and reusability, with little change in the photocatalytic activity after five cycles. Its superior removal activity is mainly due to the formation of heterojunction improved light harvesting and enhanced separation efficiency. This work provides a new insight for photocatalytic degradation of organic dye wastewater by solar light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that Kawasaki disease is a medium-sized vessel vasculitis primarily which affect young children. Topics include examines patients with KD present with recurrent fever and the hallmark constellation of polymorphous skin rash, mucositis, limbal-sparing conjunctivitis, extremity changes and unilateral cervical lymphadenopathy.

Background. Pancreatic cancer (PAAD) is a malignant tumor with a poor prognosis and lacks sensitive biomarkers for diagnosis and targeted therapy. Cuproptosis, a recently proposed form of cell death based on cellular copper ion concentration, plays a key role in cancer biology. This study is aimed at constructing a risk model for predicting the prognosis of PAAD patients based on cuproptosis-related genes. Methods. Pancreatic-related data from UCSC-TCGA and UCSC-GTEx databases were extracted for analysis, and TCGA-PAAD samples were randomly divided into the training and validation groups. Pearson correlation analysis was used to obtain cuproptosis-related genes coexpressed with 19 copper death genes. Univariate Cox and Lasso regression analyses were used to obtain cuproptosis-related prognostic genes. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to construct the final prognostic risk model. The risk score curve, Kaplan-Meier survival curves, and ROC curve were used to evaluate the predictive ability of the Cox risk model. Finally, the functional annotation of the risk model was obtained through enrichment analysis. Results. The Cox risk model has an eight prognostic cuproptosis-related gene signature. Kaplan-Meier survival curves demonstrated that the high-risk group had a shorter survival time. The ROC curve of the risk score was well created to predict one-, three-, and five-year survival rates, and AUC of the risk score was higher than other clinical characteristics. Cox regression analysis revealed that the risk score has an independent prognostic value for PAAD. GSEA reveals specific tumor pathways associated with the risk model (Myc targets v1, mTORC1 signaling, and E2F targets). Conclusions. We constructed a prognostic model containing eight cuproptosis-related genes (AKR1B10, KLHL29, PROM2, PIP5K1C, KIF18B, AMIGO2, MRPL3, and PI4KB) that can accurately predict the prognosis of PAAD patients. The results will provide new perspectives for individualized outcome prediction and new therapy development for PAAD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The boundary conditions of the main girder are complicated for suspension bridges. And they have a significant impact on the static and dynamic response of the structure. This study proposes a model updating method based on influence lines considering boundary conditions. First, rotational and translational spring elements are used to simulate the boundary conditions of the main girder. Then, rotational spring stiffness is estimated by constructing a sensitive objective function based on the influence lines. Translational spring stiffness is estimated by constructing a sensitive objective function based on the temperature-induced displacements at both ends of the girder. To improve calculation efficiency, a Gaussian process model is used instead of the finite element model (FEM). The estimation of boundary conditions is expressed as an optimization whose main goal is to iteratively estimate the boundary conditions to minimize the objective functions. After the boundary conditions are determined, the influence lines-based model updating is carried out by using the adaptive metamodel global optimization method. To validate the proposed method, a long-span suspension bridge is taken as a case study. The results show that the boundary conditions of the main girder have been successfully estimated. The accuracy of the model updating is improved after the boundary conditions are considered. The updated FEM with accurate boundary conditions can be a benchmark model for bridge damage identification or condition assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice blast, caused by Pyricularia oryzae, is one of the most destructive rice diseases worldwide. Using resistant rice varieties is the most cost-effective way to control the disease, and it is crucial to analyze the resistance level and the resistance genes distribution of the main varieties. In this study, we collected 119 rice main varieties in Jiangsu province and evaluated the resistance to leaf and panicle blast and found that indica rice was more resistant to rice blast than japonica rice. Moreover, we detected the distribution of 14 resistance genes (R genes) in the 119 varieties. The distribution frequencies of three R genes, Pish, Pit, and Pia, were higher than 80%, and the Pigm had the lowest distribution frequency (1.68%), followed by Pi2 (15.18%) and Pi5, Piz-t (24.37%). Combined with the multiple stepwise regression and the resistance contribution rate, eight major R genes Pita, Pi5, Pi9, Pib, Pb1, Pikm, Piz-t, and Pi2 significantly affected the resistance of rice, and we also found that six gene combinations with 100% resistance contribution rate could effectively increase the resistance of rice varieties. In summary, monitoring the resistance level of rice varieties and analyzing their resistance genes were beneficial for rice resistance breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multifunctional anionic Zn-MOF, formulated as {[NH2(CH3)2][Zn7(μ3-OH)3(L)6(H2O)]·24H2O·6DMA}n (1) (where H2L = 6-methoxy-2,2′-sulfone-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid and DMA = dimethylacetamide) has been solvothermally synthesized, which is based on rare heptanuclear [Zn7(μ3-OH)3(COO)12] clusters possessing large 3D intersecting channels. Through a cation-exchange process, 1 can selectively adsorb cationic organic dyes, and the adsorption capacities for methylene blue (MB), rhodamine B (RhB) and crystal violet (CV) are 219.9, 114.6 and 197.6 mg g−1, respectively. Moreover, the obtained RhB@1 composite features dual-emissive characteristics and can serve as a dual-channel sensor for selective sensing of traces of NF antibiotics (NFT and NFZ), with detection limits of 0.89 μM and 0.95 μM, respectively. The mechanism study shows that the quenching process is mainly ascribed to the synthetic effect of IFE and FRET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of image segmentation in industrial production. When using depth neural network to extract features from image information. Deep neural network can not effectively use the feature information between different levels. The accuracy of image semantic segmentation is damaged. To solve this problem, we present an image semantic segmentation with hierarchical feature fusion based on deep neural network (ISHF). It can be widely used in image perception and recognition of various living and industrial backgrounds. This algorithm uses convolution structure to extract the shallow low-level features with pixel level and the deep semantic features with image level, fully obtaining the hidden feature information in the shallow low-level features and deep semantic features. Then, after thinning the shallow low-level feature information by up-sampling operation, all feature information is merged and fused. Finally, the image semantic segmentation of hierarchical feature fusion is realised. Experimental results shows that our proposed method not only get better performance of image semantic segmentation, but also achieve faster running speed than SegNet, PSPNet, and DeepLabV3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy, has become a promising environment energy harvesting technology. However, traditional TENG, based on the coupling of contact electrification and electrostatic induction, generates alternating current (AC) directly, which requires a rectifier to obtain direct current (DC) before being used to drive electronics. There are a few methods to obtain DC output including mechanical rectifier, phase coupling, air breakdown, and Schottky contact. But to achieve high output and high durability of DC‐TENG, new exploration is desired. In this study, a novel DC‐TENG is proposed, which greatly improves the output performance by designing a mechanical time‐delay switch and an alternative blank‐tribo‐area. The working mechanism of the DC‐TENG is analyzed theoretically and verified by experiments. It is found that the blank‐tribo‐area promotes charge accumulation, while the mechanical time‐delay switch realizes DC output. This DC‐TENG can light up 1888 LEDs in series at 60 rpm and drive 24 hygro‐thermographs in parallel with 120 rpm. The ultra‐high average power density of 4.2 W m−2 is achieved, much higher than previous works. The DC‐TENG displays high durability and retains 92% initial output after 120 000 cycles. This st provides a feasible strategy to boost the output performance of DC‐TENG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose an unsupervised anomaly detection method based on the Autoencoder with Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM-Autoencoder) network and Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) to detect anomalies in industrial control system (ICS) using cyber–physical fusion features. This method improves the recall of anomaly detection and overcomes the challenges of unbalanced datasets and insufficient labeled samples in ICS. As a first step, additional network features are extracted and fused with physical features to create a cyber–physical dataset. Following this, the model is trained using normal data to ensure that it can properly reconstruct the normal data. In the testing phase, samples with unknown labels are used as inputs to the model. The model will output an anomaly score for each sample, and whether a sample is anomalous depends on whether the anomaly score exceeds the threshold. Whether using supervised or unsupervised algorithms, experimentation has shown that (1) cyber–physical fusion features can significantly improve the performance of anomaly detection algorithms; (2) the proposed method outperforms several other unsupervised anomaly detection methods in terms of accuracy, recall, and F1 score; (3) the proposed method can detect the majority of anomalous events with a low false negative rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the upper-ocean absolute geostrophic currents in the southern Indian Ocean are constructed using Argo temperature and salinity data from the middepth (1000 m) zonal velocity derived from the Argo float trajectory. The results reveal alternating quasi-zonal striation-like structures of middepth zonal velocity in the equatorial and southern tropical Indian Ocean. Specifically, the eastward time-mean flows are located at the equator and 2°, 5°, 8°, 13°, 16°, 18°–19°, and 21°–22°S, with a meridional scale of ∼300 km. The generation mechanisms of the striation-like zonal velocity structure differ between the near-equatorial and off-equatorial regions. The triad of baroclinic Rossby wave instability plays a significant role in near-equatorial striations. In the south, the high potential vorticity (PV) of Antarctic intermediate water and low PV of southern Indian Ocean Subantarctic Mode Water lead to strong baroclinic instability, which increases the eddy kinetic energy in the middepth layer, thus contributing to a turbulent PV gradient. The convergence/divergence of the eddy PV flux generates the quasi-zonal striations. The meridional scale of the striations is controlled by the most unstable wavelength of baroclinic instability, which explains the observations. Significance Statement: The middepth zonal velocity resembles a system of eastward/westward jets with a considerably smaller width than the larger-scale ocean surface circulation. Such a phenomenon always occurs in a turbulent ocean that presents eddy or eddy–mean flow interactions. This study used float observations to reveal a robust middepth zonal velocity in the southern tropical Indian Ocean, where the width of the eastward time-mean flows is approximately 300 km. Smaller eddies drive the zonal currents with a smaller width, and the energy of the eddies is released from the unstable vertical structure at middepths. This study provides new insights into the generation mechanism of small-width zonal current structures in the deep ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current ecological study aims to explore the association between dietary factors and hydatidiform mole (HM) incidence in Japan and China. HM incidence in Japan gradually declined from 1970s to 1990s, while the dietary structure also changed during the same period, mainly characterized by a decrease in the consumption of cereals and an increase in the consumption of meat, eggs, and dairy products. In China, HM incidence varied by regions, and it positively correlated with the per capita intake of rice, fish and shrimp, and animal fat, as well as the proportion of GDP of primary industry; and negatively correlated with the per capita intake of wheat flour, starch and sugar, protein, and iron, and the proportion of protein in the caloric nutrients and the proportion of nonagricultural population. In partial analysis, the correlations of HM incidence with rice, fish and shrimp, iron, and the proportion of protein in caloric nutrients remained significant. Meanwhile, alcoholic beverage consumption and the proportion of empty calories in caloric food were also found to be positively correlated with HM incidence, while phosphorus consumption was negatively correlated. Our results suggested that HM incidence could be influenced by dietary factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the abrupt-4XCO2 scenario in phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6), this study investigates the response of the rainfall changes to El Niño–like SST warming and the role of ocean dynamical processes in the salinity changes in the tropical Pacific. The results show that the Walker circulation weakening and eastward shift, related to El Niño–like SST warming, dominates the zonal precipitation change. Precipitation decreases (increases) in the Maritime Continent (the equatorial Pacific), partly offsetting the effect of specific humidity. At the same time, the El Niño–like warming triggers convergence of meridional winds, which leads to a precipitation increase in the equatorial Pacific and a decrease in the intertropical convergence zone and the South Pacific convergence zone, following the "warmer-get-wetter" mechanism. Unlike the spatial pattern of precipitation changes, the sea surface salinity changes become fresher in the tropical western Pacific, related to the precipitation and the mean horizontal advection. The precipitation increase leads to negative salinity anomalies in the equatorial central Pacific. The westward climatological zonal currents transport the negative salinity anomalies westward. The meridional currents advect the salinity anomalies to both sides of the equator, partly offsetting the contribution of the freshwater flux on the salinity change. In addition, shallower mixed layer depth and weakening upwelling bring less high-salinity water to the surface and impact salinity redistribution through the vertical process in the equatorial regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, daily outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) product is used to detect the atmospheric intraseasonal oscillation (ISO) in the eastern tropical Indian Ocean (TIO). A 50–80-day ISO is identified south of the equator, peaking in boreal winter and propagating eastward. The mechanisms underneath are investigated using observational data and reanalysis products. The results suggest that the 50–80-day atmospheric ISO is enhanced by ocean dynamic processes during December–January. Monsoon transition in October–November causes large wind variability along the equator. Equatorial sea surface height/thermocline anomalies appear off Sumatra due to the accumulative effects of the wind variability, leading the atmospheric 50–80-day ISO by ~ 5–6 weeks. The wind-driven ocean equatorial dynamics are reflected from the Sumatra coast as downwelling oceanic Rossby waves, which deepen the thermocline and contribute to the SST warming in the southeastern TIO, affecting local atmospheric conditions. It offers insights into the role of ocean dynamics in the intensification of 50–80-day atmospheric ISOs over the eastern TIO and explains the seasonal peak of the eastward-propagating ISO during boreal winter. These results have implications for intraseasonal predictability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work we propose a novel data-driven, real-time power system voltage control method based on the physics-informed guided meta evolutionary strategy (ES). The main objective is to quickly provide an adaptive control strategy to mitigate the fault-induced delayed voltage recovery (FIDVR) problem. Reinforcement learning methods have been developed for the same or similar challenging control problems, but they suffer from training inefficiency and lack of robustness for “corner or unseen” scenarios. On the other hand, extensive physical knowledge has been developed in power systems but little has been leveraged in learning-based approaches. To address these challenges, we introduce the trainable action mask technique for flexibly embedding physical knowledge into RL models to rule out unnecessary or unfavorable actions, and achieve notable improvements in sample efficiency, control performance and robustness. Furthermore, our method leverages past learning experience to derive surrogate gradient to guide and accelerate the exploration process in training. Case studies on the IEEE 300-bus system and comparisons with other state-of-the-art benchmark methods demonstrate effectiveness and advantages of our method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel Co@CM catalytic membrane was fabricated by loading Co on the polydopamine modified multi-channel ceramic membrane and pyrolyzing under Ar atmosphere. Fine regulation of the dopamine concentration, cobalt nitrate concentration and pyrolysis temperature is in favor of achieving the Co@CM catalytic membrane with abundant Co nanoparticles, high surface Co content, and rich graphitic N, thereby intensifying the continuous reduction of p -nitrophenol to p -aminophenol in a flow-through catalytic membrane reactor. [Display omitted] • A Co@CM multi-channel ceramic catalytic membrane was designed and constructed. • The modification with dopamine can capture, reduce and protect Co via a CN layer. • The dopamine and Co concentrations obviously affect the microstructures of Co@CM. • The pyrolysis temperature significantly affects the microstructures of Co@CM. • Co@CM-3.0–0.1–700 can continuously, stably and fully convert 4-NP to 4-AP. The hydrogenation of p -nitrophenol (4-NP) to p -aminophenol (4-AP) transforms a detrimental pollutant into a valuable chemical, while conventional powder catalysts face challenges in continuous operation due to the limitations in separation and recovery processes. Here, we developed a catalytic membrane by loading Co onto a polydopamine (PDA)-modified multi-channel ceramic membrane (CM) with subsequent pyrolysis. PDA plays a crucial role in capturing Co ions, facilitating the reduction of Co ions, and preventing the leaching of Co nanoparticles (NPs) from the membrane. Fine-tuning the DA and cobalt nitrate concentrations, along with the pyrolysis temperature, results in the catalytic membrane with abundant Co NPs, enriched surface Co content, and sufficient graphitic N, which significantly enhances the reduction of 4-NP to 4-AP in a flow-through catalytic membrane reactor. The Co@CM-3.0–0.1–700 demonstrates a remarkable activity of converting 4-NP at a rate of 67.4 h−1, maintaining stability for a continuous operation of 300 min. This study pioneers highly efficient catalytic membrane for the transformation of detrimental pollutant 4-NP to a valuable chemical 4-AP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatial patterns of pollutants produced by industrial parks are affected by many factors, but the interactions among polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), metals, and soil microorganisms in the valley landforms of the Tibetan Plateau are poorly understood. Thus, this study systematically investigated the distribution and pollution of metals and PAHs in soil around an industrial park in the typical valley landform of the Tibetan Plateau and analyzed and clarified the interaction among metals, PAHs, and microorganisms. The results were as follows: metal and PAH concentrations were affected by wind direction, especially WN-ES and S-N winds; Cd (2.86–54.64 mg·kg−1) had the highest soil concentrations of the metals screened, followed by variable concentrations of Cu, Pb, and Zn; the pollution levels of metals and PAHs in the S-N wind direction were lower than those in the WN-ES wind direction; the Cd content of Avena sativa in the agricultural soil around the factory exceeded its enrichment ability and food safety standards; the closer to the center of the park, the higher the ecological risk of PAHs; and the TEQ and MEQ values of the PAHs were consistent with their concentration distributions. The results of the soil microbial diversity and co-occurrence network in the dominant wind direction showed that metal and PAH pollution weakened the robustness of soil microbial communities. Additionally, the diversity and robustness of soil microbial communities at the S wind site were higher than those at the ES wind site, which might be attributed to the lower metal content of the former than the latter, which plays a negative role in the biodegradation of PAHs. The results of this study provide insights into the site selection, pollutant supervision, and environmental remediation of industrial parks in typical landforms. [Display omitted] • The spatial pattern of metals and PAHs in valley landform industrial park was affected by dominant wind direction. • Residents near the factory center face higher ecological risks. • PAHs and metals reduced the diversity and robustness of soil microbial communities. • Metals may inhibit the biodegradation of PAHs in soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the long time high temperature thermal action, pearlite heat-resistant steel 15CrMo is prone to pearlite spheroidization, which reduces its strength and makes it difficult to meet the actual service requirements. Therefore, quantifying the effect of pearlite spheroidization is an important factor in evaluating the high temperature performance of 15CrMo steel. In this study, the mechanical properties of 15CrMo steel were tested by uniaxial tension (UT), small punch tensile (SPT) test; the microstructure of 15CrMo steel after spheroidization heat treatment (SHT) was obtained by image processing technique to obtain the geometric characteristic parameters of pearlite spheroidization phase (PSP); the influence of spheroidization characteristics and properties were analyzed by mathematical and statistical analysis, and the results showed that the PSP size had the greatest influence on the properties; based on this, the linear relationship models between the spheroidization parameters and the mechanical properties of UT and SPT results were established with high accuracy of prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaerobic fermentation based hydrogen production technology has a good market investment prospect for its advantages of abundant raw material sources, low cost and low energy consumption. The industry is in the early stage of development and will face many risks. The corresponding risk assessment has not yet attracted attention. Therefore, this paper constructs a risk assessment framework. Firstly, 17 critical risk factors affecting the anaerobic fermentation based hydrogen production project is identified and grouped into five categories. The linguistic Z-number is then used to describe the uncertainty. Later, a regret linguistic Z-number averaging Choquet integral operator is put forward to deal with interrelationships between criteria and simulate the decision-makers' regret avoidance attitudes. In addition, a novel relative entropy measure is determined, wherein the expert weight model is established by combining the reliability measure. Subsequently, a case study is conducted and the result demonstrates the risk level of the project located in Hubei, China is between "Medium" and "Slightly high". Finally, some measures are proposed to deal with these risks. This work can provide a theoretical basis for the risk prevention and investment decision of anaerobic fermentation based hydrogen production projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A rate of the change of DC voltage and AC frequency (RoCoX) controller for an interlinking converter (ILC) is proposed to equalize the dynamic deviation of an HMG and reduce the power oscillation. • The relationship between the RoCoX droop coefficient and the dynamic performance of the HMG is revealed by the eigenvalue analysis of a small-signal model of an HMG. • Considering both the dynamics and equalization of RoCoX, a guideline for adaptively adjusting the droop coefficient is presented. With the increasing application of virtual inertia in microgrid design, AC and DC subgrids in hybrid microgrids (HMG) present diverse inertia characteristics. However, an HMG cannot achieve an optimal dynamic response by interconnecting multiple AC and DC virtual inertia scenarios. Therefore, a droop controller with a normalized rate of the change of DC voltage and AC frequency (RoCoX) is proposed to minimize the HMG's steady and dynamic deviations and reduce the power oscillation of the interlinking converter (ILC). The effect of the proposed controller on dynamic performance and equalization of RoCoX is analyzed using a small-signal model of an HMG with various inertias applied at both subgrids. The coefficient of the RoCoX controller is adaptively adjusted with the constraint of equalization of RoCoX and dynamic performance. The proposed method is verified using a Starsim hardware-in-the-loop experimental platform under various working conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recurrence and metastasis of gastric cancer is a major therapeutic challenge for treatment. The presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) is a major obstacle to the success of current cancer therapy, often leading to treatment resistance and tumor recurrence and metastasis. Therefore, it is important to develop effective strategies to eradicate CSCs. In this study, we developed a combined therapeutic strategy of photothermal therapy (PTT) and gastric cancer stem cells (GCSCs) inhibition by successfully synthesizing nanoliposomes loaded with IR780 (photosensitizer) and EN4 (c-Myc inhibitor). The nanocomposites are biocompatible and exhibit superior photoacoustic (PA) imaging properties. Under laser irradiation, IR780-mediated PTT effectively and rapidly killed tumor cells, while EN4 synergistically inhibited the self-renewal and stemness of GCSCs by suppressing the expression and activity of the pluripotent transcription factor c-Myc, preventing the tumor progression of gastric cancer. This Nano-EN-IR@Lip is expected to be a novel clinical nanomedicine for the integration of gastric cancer diagnosis, treatment and prevention. [Display omitted] • A combined therapeutic strategy of PTT and GCSC inhibition. • Nano-EN-IR@Lip loaded with IR780 (photosensitizer) and EN4 (c-Myc inhibitor). • IR780-mediated PTT; EN4 synergistically inhibited the self-renewal and stemness of GCSCs. • Nano-EN-IR@Lip is biocompatible and exhibit superior PA imaging properties. • A novel clinical nanomedicine for the integration of GC diagnosis, treatment and prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaf is a well-known herbal medicine and has been used to treat diabetes in China for thousands of years. Our previous studies have proven mulberry leaf water extract (MLWE) could improve type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). However, it is still unclear whether MLWE could mitigate T2D by regulating gut microbiota dysbiosis and thereof improve intestinal permeability and metabolic dysfunction through modulation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and endocannabinoid system (eCBs). This study aims to explore the potential mechanism of MLWE on the regulation of metabolic function disorder of T2D mice from the aspects of gut microbiota, LPS and eCBs. Gut microbiota was analyzed by high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing. LPS, N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA) and 2-ararchidonylglycerol (2-AG) contents in blood were determined by kits or liquid phase chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry, respectively. The receptors, enzymes or tight junction protein related to eCBs or gut barrier were detected by RT-PCR or Western blot, respectively. MLWE reduced the serum levels of AEA, 2-AG and LPS, decreased the expressions of N-acylphophatidylethanolamine phospholipase D, diacylglycerol lipase-α and cyclooxygenase 2, and increased the expressions of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), N-acylethanolamine-hydrolyzing acid amidase (NAAA), alpha/beta hydrolases domain 6/12 in the liver and ileum and occludin, monoacylglycerol lipase and cannabinoid receptor 1 in the ileum of T2D mice. Furthermore, MLWE could change the abundances of the genera including Acetatifactor , Anaerovorax , Bilophila, Colidextribacter , Dubosiella , Gastranaerophilales, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group , Oscillibacter and Rikenella related to LPS, AEA and/or 2-AG. Moreover, obvious improvement of MLWE treatment on serum AEA level, ileum occludin expression, and liver FAAH and NAAA expression could be observed in germ-free-mimic T2D mice. MLWE could ameliorate intestinal permeability, inflammation, and glucose and lipid metabolism imbalance of T2D by regulating gut microbiota, LPS and eCBs. [Display omitted] • MLWE intervention decreased FBG, inflammation and IR in T2D mice. • MLWE ameliorated HFHS diet/STZ-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis. • MLWE decreased serum LPS, AEA and 2-AG levels in T2D mice. • MLWE changed the abundances of bacteria related to LPS, AEA and 2-AG. • MLWE improved the expression of eCBs enzymes in T2D mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A Co@CM multi-channel ceramic catalytic membrane was designed and prepared. • The pyrolysis temperature, Co2+ concentration and solution cycle number are key. • Unstable Co@CN particles can be easily removed through forced flow flushing. • Co@CM-550–0.06–2 exhibits good activity and stability in p -nitrophenol reduction. • The p -nitrophenol reduction to p -aminophenol can be continuously performed. Multi-channel ceramic catalytic membrane microreactors are highly efficient reactors, combining reaction and separation in a single unit. However, the synthesis of multi-channel ceramic catalytic membranes with well-distributed active components keeps a great challenge. Here, we report a flow-induced layer-by-layer assembly of zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (ZIF-67) followed by pyrolysis that generates highly active and well-distributed Co@N-doped carbon (Co@CN) catalytic materials inside the ceramic membrane (CM) pores, which creates abundant microreactors with enhanced mass transfer efficiency. The pyrolysis temperature, concentration of Co2+, and number of solution cycles are determined as pivotal factors on the microstructures and catalytic performance of the catalytic membranes. The catalytic membrane, Co@CM-550-0.06-2, exhibits outstanding performance in the reduction of p -nitrophenol to p -aminophenol, achieving full conversion within 25 min and maintaining stability over 5 h of continuous operation. The developed multi-channel ceramic catalytic membrane microreactors can be readily scaled up, and have great application potentials in heterogeneous catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The myelin and lymphocyte protein (MAL) family is a novel gene family first identified and characterized in 2002. This family is comprised of seven members, including MAL, MAL2, plasmolipin, MALL, myeloid differentiation-associated marker (MYADM), MYADML2 and CMTM8, which are located on different chromosomes. In addition to exhibiting extensive activity during transcytosis, the MAL family plays a vital role in the neurological, digestive, respiratory, genitourinary and other physiological systems. Furthermore, the intimate association between MAL and the pathogenesis, progression and metastasis of malignancies, attributable to several mechanisms such as DNA methylation has also been elucidated. In the present review, an overview of the structural and functional properties of the MAL family and the latest research findings regarding the relationship between several MAL members and various cancers is provided. Furthermore, the potential clinical and scientific significance of MAL is discussed and directions for future research are summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzed the downwelling Rossby waves in the south Indian Ocean (IO)-induced spring asymmetric mode and the relationship with the Indian Ocean dipole (IOD) event based on observations and reanalysis datasets. The westward downwelling Rossby waves favor significant sea surface temperature (SST) warming in the Seychelles thermocline dome that triggers atmosphere response and the asymmetric mode in spring. The zonal sea level pressure gradient causes anomalous easterly winds in the central and eastern equatorial IO, cooling the SST off Sumatra–Java. Meanwhile, the remainder of the downwelling Rossby waves reach the west coast, transform to northward coastal-trapped waves, and then reflect as eastward downwelling Kelvin waves along the equator. The downwelling Kelvin waves reach the Sumatra–Java coast during late spring to early summer, favoring SST warming in the southeastern tropical Indian Ocean. Thus, there are two types of ocean–atmosphere response almost at the same time along the equator. The final SST status depends on which process is stronger and, as a consequence, triggers a negative or a positive phase of the IOD event in the fall season. The results show four positive and three negative IOD events related to the above processes from 1960 to 2019. The strong downwelling Rossby waves are easier to induce an intense asymmetric mode and negative IOD event, usually associated with preceding strong El Niño in the Pacific. In contrast, the weak downwelling Rossby waves tend to induce a weak asymmetric mode and positive IOD event, usually associated with preceding weak El Niño or anomalous anticyclonic atmospheric circulation in the southeastern IO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Yikunyin is an empirical prescription that exhibits good efficacy in the clinical treatment of menopausal syndrome; however, its underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study investigates the mechanism implicated in the therapeutic effect of Yikunyin by identifying its hub genes, central pathways, and key active ingredients. Method. The active ingredients and targets of Yikunyin were obtained from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database, whereas the targets related to menopausal syndrome were obtained from GeneCards, PharmGKB, Therapeutic Target Database (TTD), and Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD). To reveal the pharmacological mechanism, the component-target and the intersecting protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed, and Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed. Finally, molecular docking was carried out to assess the strength of binding between the key active ingredients and key targets. Results. A total of 418 targets and 121 active ingredients were identified in Yikunyin. The intersection of Yikunyin's 418 targets with the 2822 targets related to menopausal syndrome shows that there are 247 common targets that can be considered potential targets of Yikunyin in the treatment of menopausal syndrome. The topology analysis of the constructed PPI network conducted using the Cytoscape software shows that there are 15 hub genes implicated in the therapeutic effect of Yikunyin: AKT1, PRKCA, TLR9, CXCL10, PRKCD, PARP1, ABCB1, TP53, CAV1, MAPK8, PPARA, GRB2, EGFR, IL-6, and JAK2. Moreover, the key active components acting on these genes are paeoniflorin, luteolin, quercetin, beta-sitosterol, and kaempferol. GO and KEGG analyses indicate that Yikunyin can treat menopausal syndrome by regulating cellular response to chemical stress (GO:0062197), cellular response to oxidative stress (GO:0034599), phosphatase binding (GO:0019902), cytokine receptor binding (GO:0005126), PI3K-Akt signaling (hsa04151), lipid and atherosclerosis (hsa05417), and hepatitis B (hsa05161). Finally, the results of molecular docking suggest that the key active ingredients and key targets can bind well, with binding energies of less than −5 kJ/mol. Conclusion. The research conducted herein reveals that Yikunyin treats menopausal syndrome by targeting AKT1 and IL-6 and by regulating the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Moreover, it provides a new idea for understanding the therapeutic effects of traditional Chinese medicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]