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A good soil environment helps to ensure the healthy growth of flue-cured tobacco plants, and the nutrients therein profoundly affect the sustainable development of planted tobacco resources. In exploring the spatial variability characteristics of soil nutrients, visualization methods and the construction of a comprehensive soil fertility evaluation system can provide a scientific reference for determining the nutrient content of tobacco planting soil. Using a bibliometric approach, we collected 90 published papers from 2008 to 2022 from the Web of Science and CNKI databases on the spatial variation in soil nutrient characteristics of flue-cured tobacco planting soil, with a focus on the conditions found in China. The current situation and potential issues were analyzed according to the indicator selection frequency, spatial variation visualization method, and influencing factors. There were 20 indicators reflecting the soil nutrients of flue-cured tobacco planting soil. The frequency of available zinc was the highest at 42.86%, followed by phosphorus, organic matter, pH, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, and available potassium. Among the visualization methods, Kriging interpolation was the most widely used, with an application frequency of 68.80%. The influencing factors were divided into natural and human ones. Principal component analysis was commonly used to screen indicators and determine weights, and the soil fertility suitability index was used to evaluate the spatially integrated fertility of soil nutrients for flue-cured tobacco planting. Available zinc, available phosphorus, soil organic matter, soil pH, soil alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, and available potassium are important evaluation indices for determining the spatial variability of soil nutrients in flue-cured tobacco planting soil. The selection of indicators, the determination of their weights, and method selection all significantly affect the accuracy of soil nutrient evaluation; thus, future work should focus on the development of a comprehensive evaluation system for tobacco planting soil that also considers trends associated with natural and human factors and their effects on spatial variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silica cycling in the world's oceans is not straightforward to evaluate on a geological time scale. With the rise of radiolarians and sponges from the early Cambrian onward, silica can have two depositional origins, continental weathering, and biogenic silica. It is critical to have a reliable method of differentiating amorphous silica and crystalline silica to truly understand biogeochemical and inorganic silica cycling. In this study, opal-A is mapped across the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin in the Late Devonian Duvernay Formation shales using longwave hyperspectral imaging alongside geochemical proxies that differentiate between crystalline and amorphous SiO2, during the expansion of the world's early forests. Signaled by several carbon isotope excursions in the Frasnian, the punctata Event corresponds to the expansion of forests when vascular land plants develop seeds and deeper root networks, likely resulting in increased pedogenesis. Nutrients from thicker soil horizons entering the marine realm are linked to higher levels of primary productivity in oceans and subsequent oxygen starvation in deeper waters at this time. The results of this study reveal, for the first time, the spatial distribution of amorphous SiO2 across a sedimentary basin during this major shift in the terrestrial realm when forests expand and develop deeper root networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy storage ceramics are important materials used in dielectric energy storage capacitors, which have a large dielectric constant, low dielectric loss, and good temperature stability. It has a promising application in high temperature-resistant dielectric pulse power systems. This study uses the sol–gel method to prepare Ba0.85Ca0.15Zr0.1Ti0.9O3 (abbreviated as BCZT) precursor powder, and then uses the solid phase method to prepare Ba0.85Ca0.15Zr0.1Ti0.9O3-8%BiFe1-x(Mg0.5Ti0.5)xO3 (abbreviated as BCZT-BFMT, x = 0, 15, 50 and 100%). The effects of different doping amounts of Mg ions and Ti ions on the energy storage performance of BCZT-BFMT ceramics were systematically investigated. The results show that all samples with different compositions show pure phase and dense microstructures, and the sample with x = 50% has better dielectric properties. When the doping content is 50%, the energy storage density of the sample is 0.73 J/cm3 under the breakdown electric field of 108 kV/cm, which is significantly improved compared with the pure BCZT-BF sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent research evaluated the effects of growth stimulant seed treatment on the morphological traits of Amaranthus hypochondriacus L. cv. =Krepysh' grown under optimal and low positive temperature conditions. The seeds were continuously soaked for 4 h in five different solutions of growth stimulants, i.e., salicylic acid (SAA - 138 mg/L), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2 - 10 and 50 mmol/L), calcium chloride (CaCl2 - 3000 mg/L), succinic acid (SUA - 500 mg/L), and control (distilled water). The stimulant-primed seeds were germinated at optimal temperature (23°C) and continued to germinate at low temperatures of 10°C (T10) and 23°C (T23). The results showed that seed germination rates viz., germination potential (GP), germination rate (GR), germination index (GI), viability index (VI), and seed vigor index (SVI), were significantly improved with seed quality potential compared with the control. Under low positive temperature, seeds treated with succinic acid, H2O2, and CaCl2 had the most significant effects on improving seed quality and induced cold resistance in the seeds. The morphological indicators of amaranth seedlings, i.e., biomass, hypocotyl, and root length, were also significantly improved with seed treatment by growth stimulants. Priming of amaranth seeds with hydrogen peroxide and succinic acid showed a greater increase in seedlings' biomass at room (23°C) and low (10°C) temperatures. The seed treatment with SUA and SAA significantly contributed to enhancing the hypocotyl length. The amaranth roots achieved maximum length after seed treatment with SUA and CaCl2. In general, the seed treatment effects on seedling's biomass under chilling stress were associated with the potential of inducing cold tolerance in seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the impact of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) on survival in olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) patients with different tumor staging. Patients with ONB were selected in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database from 2004–2016. Survival analyses were performed using Kaplan–Meier (K-M) method, Cox regression analysis, and competing risk model. A total of 513 patients were included in the study. Univariate and multivariate analysis results demonstrated that PORT was not an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) of modified Kadish stage A and B patients (P = 0.699 and P = 0.248, respectively). Kadish stage C and D patients who underwent PORT had significantly better OS than those who did not undergo PORT (P = 0.03 and P < 0.0001). K-M curves revealed that the 5- and 10-year OS rates of patients who underwent PORT vs. non-PORT were 85.3% vs. 70.4% and 68.2% vs. 56.8% in stage C patients, respectively. For stage D patients, the 5-year OS rates were 70.7% and 42.6%, and 10-year OS rates were 53.4% and 29.5% in the PORT and non-PORT groups, respectively. The competitive risk model revealed that the 5-year cancer-specific cumulative mortality incidence decreased by 26.6% while the 10-year mortality incidence decreased by 41.4% in Kadish stage C patients who were treated using PORT; meanwhile, for Kadish stage D patients who were treated with PORT, the 5- and 10-year mortality incidences were reduced by 35.3% and 42.6%, respectively. Furthermore, we found that chemotherapy was not related to the prognosis of ONB patients (all P > 0.05). Our results indicate that PORT improved survival outcomes of modified Kadish stage C and D ONB patients. However, PORT may not affect survival for modified Kadish stage A and B individuals. Chemotherapy was not recommended for ONB; therefore, further studies are warranted to determine its therapeutic significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metals play an essential role in biochemistry, and the use of metals for antimicrobial applications has been well studied. Biomaterials incorporating copper and silver demonstrated high antimicrobial activity while maintaining good cytocompatibility. In this overview, nanostructure processing is underscored as a method to overcome the shortcomings of conventional bioceramics. Restructuring crystalline structures at the nanoscale make it less susceptible to brittle fracture. Furthermore, the bioactivity of the material is significantly improved through nanoscale surface modifications such as coatings. The effectiveness of nanostructured biomaterials featuring copper and silver in combatting bacterial attachment and proliferation is described. Nanoscale copper-containing stainless steel achieved antimicrobial activity by disrupting bacterial metabolism and damaging bacterial membranes while providing a conducive environment for cellular proliferation. Copper-containing stainless steels can be used to prevent marine corrosion, food preservation and combat implant-related infections. It is envisaged that future antimicrobial strategies will continue to feature copper and silver nanostructured biomaterials prominently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The North China Craton (NCC) is renowned for cratonic reactivation and dramatic destruction. Detailed lithospheric structure is crucial for understanding the geological evolution and seismogenesis of the NCC. We imaged the lithospheric structure of the central and eastern NCC with ambient noise and teleseismic surface wave tomography. Our new model unveils remarkable N‐S variation in the lithospheric structure. An E‐W elongated lithospheric weak zone, coinciding with contemporary left‐lateral shearing revealed by geodetic observation, occupies the northern central and eastern NCC. Our model suggests that radical destruction of the eastern NCC in the late Mesozoic facilitated the late‐Cenozoic shearing induced by the continuous India‐Eurasia convergence. The late‐Cenozoic shearing progressively altered the pre‐thinned lithosphere accompanied by asthenospheric upwelling and strong seismic activity. Our results suggest a transition from the Pacific subduction dominating tectonic regime to the India‐Asia collision dominating lithospheric deformation framework in the Cenozoic and ongoing lithospheric alteration of the NCC. Plain Language Summary: The NCC is one of the oldest cratons in China and a typical example of cratonic reactivation. The NCC experienced significant destruction since the Mesozoic with conspicuous internal deformation and seismic activity within the central and eastern NCC. The fine lithospheric structure is essential for our understanding of the geological evolution of the ancient craton. We imaged the lithospheric structure of the central and eastern NCC with ambient noise and teleseismic surface wave tomography. Our results reveal complicated lithospheric structure due to the superposition of multi‐stage lithospheric modification. In addition to the predominant Mesozoic‐Cenozoic cratonic destruction, Cenozoic shearing of the lithosphere, induced by the far‐field effect of the India‐Asia collision, also has a profound influence on the present lithospheric structure and regional seismicity. These new results benefit our understanding of the evolution of the NCC in the Cenozoic and the genetic mechanism of regional seismic hazards. Key Points: High‐resolution lithospheric structure of the central and eastern North China Craton (NCC)Significant N‐S variations in lithospheric strength and seismicity within the NCCTransition of the deformation style and ongoing lithospheric destruction of the NCC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Progress in earlier detection and clinical management has increased life expectancy and quality of life in people with Down syndrome (DS). However, no drug has been approved to help individuals with DS live independently and fully. Although rat models could support more robust physiological, behavioral, and toxicology analysis than mouse models during preclinical validation, no DS rat model is available as a result of technical challenges. We developed a transchromosomic rat model of DS, TcHSA21rat, which contains a freely segregating, EGFP-inserted, human chromosome 21 (HSA21) with >93% of its protein-coding genes. RNA-seq of neonatal forebrains demonstrates that TcHSA21rat expresses HSA21 genes and has an imbalance in global gene expression. Using EGFP as a marker for trisomic cells, flow cytometry analyses of peripheral blood cells from 361 adult TcHSA21rat animals show that 81% of animals retain HSA21 in >80% of cells, the criterion for a "Down syndrome karyotype" in people. TcHSA21rat exhibits learning and memory deficits and shows increased anxiety and hyperactivity. TcHSA21rat recapitulates well-characterized DS brain morphology, including smaller brain volume and reduced cerebellar size. In addition, the rat model shows reduced cerebellar foliation, which is not observed in DS mouse models. Moreover, TcHSA21rat exhibits anomalies in craniofacial morphology, heart development, husbandry, and stature. TcHSA21rat is a robust DS animal model that can facilitate DS basic research and provide a unique tool for preclinical validation to accelerate DS drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The relation between sodium intake and cardiovascular disease remains controversial, owing in part to inaccurate assessment of sodium intake. Assessing 24-hour urinary excretion over a period of multiple days is considered to be an accurate method.Methods: We included individual-participant data from six prospective cohorts of generally healthy adults; sodium and potassium excretion was assessed with the use of at least two 24-hour urine samples per participant. The primary outcome was a cardiovascular event (coronary revascularization or fatal or nonfatal myocardial infarction or stroke). We analyzed each cohort using consistent methods and combined the results using a random-effects meta-analysis.Results: Among 10,709 participants, who had a mean (±SD) age of 51.5±12.6 years and of whom 54.2% were women, 571 cardiovascular events were ascertained during a median study follow-up of 8.8 years (incidence rate, 5.9 per 1000 person-years). The median 24-hour urinary sodium excretion was 3270 mg (10th to 90th percentile, 2099 to 4899). Higher sodium excretion, lower potassium excretion, and a higher sodium-to-potassium ratio were all associated with a higher cardiovascular risk in analyses that were controlled for confounding factors (P≤0.005 for all comparisons). In analyses that compared quartile 4 of the urinary biomarker (highest) with quartile 1 (lowest), the hazard ratios were 1.60 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19 to 2.14) for sodium excretion, 0.69 (95% CI, 0.51 to 0.91) for potassium excretion, and 1.62 (95% CI, 1.25 to 2.10) for the sodium-to-potassium ratio. Each daily increment of 1000 mg in sodium excretion was associated with an 18% increase in cardiovascular risk (hazard ratio, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.29), and each daily increment of 1000 mg in potassium excretion was associated with an 18% decrease in risk (hazard ratio, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.72 to 0.94).Conclusions: Higher sodium and lower potassium intakes, as measured in multiple 24-hour urine samples, were associated in a dose-response manner with a higher cardiovascular risk. These findings may support reducing sodium intake and increasing potassium intake from current levels. (Funded by the American Heart Association and the National Institutes of Health.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new writing scheme with a unidirectional pulse current is proposed for spin transfer torque (STT) based magnetic random-access memory (MRAM). To investigate the feasibility of the writing scheme, bilayered nano-pillars composed of a soft layer with small in-plane shape anisotropy and a hard layer with either large perpendicular anisotropy (PMA) or in-plane anisotropy (IMA) are designed and their switching behaviors are studied. It is found that in either type of bilayered nano-pillars, with the aid of the attached hard layer, the magnetization of the soft layer can be switched back and forth under a unidirectional pulse current. In an IMA/IMA nano-pillar, the magnetization of the free layer (FL) can achieve excellent alignment, which is in contrast to the IMA/PMA nano-pillar. By optimizing the dimensions and magnetic parameters of the IMA/IMA nano-pillar, a decently low switching current density (4.3 × 1011 A mâˆ'2) and ultrashort switching time (<1 ns) can be reached. Based on these results, the unidirectional writing scheme is practical if an IMA/IMA bilayer is used to replace the FL in a magnetic tunnel junction. Considering that a unidirectional writing scheme can enable the application of materials with high spin polarization such as half metals, and avoid the injection of writing current into junction using a special design, it may be very promising for STT-MRAM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a rendezvous space mission to a small body, the gravity field is usually modeled with large uncertainty in the preliminary mission design. Consequently, the orbital motion in the vicinity of the body cannot be predicted accurately. In this research, the automatic domain splitting (ADS) method is applied as an indicator to characterize the dynamical structure and nonlinearity of the orbital motion from a new perspective, which is instrumental in robust mission design. The uncertainties of the C 20 and C 22 terms in the gravitational potential are considered as these harmonic terms are usually dominant. Asteroid Steins is taken as an example. The relation among the required accuracy, the expansion order and the integration time by applying ADS is firstly investigated. Then the effects of the uncertainties of both the gravity and the solar radiation pressure (SRP) perturbation on orbits with different geometries are studied. The orbital motion is found to be more sensitive to the uncertainty of the C 22 term than that of the C 20 term. SRP has a significant effect on the high-altitude motion. Moreover, the bounds of the state flow over the uncertainties are also evaluated along with the propagation. The results are validated against numerical integrations and Monte Carlo simulations. • Automatic domain splitting (ADS) could detect dynamical structures. • ADS could provide fast estimation of the state bounds. • The motion is more sensitive to the uncertainty of the C 22 term in the gravitational potential. • Retrograde motion is more stable and more robust for low- and middle-altitude orbits. • High-altitude retrograde motion is highly affected by solar radiation pressure and its uncertainties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Down syndrome (DS) is the leading genetic cause of intellectual disability and causes early-onset dementia and cerebellar hypoplasia. The prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is elevated in children with DS. The aneuploid DS mouse model "Ts65Dn" shows prominent brain phenotypes, including learning and memory deficits, cerebellar hypoplasia, and locomotor hyperactivity. Previous studies indicate that impaired Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling contributes to neurological phenotypes associated with DS and neurodegenerative diseases. However, because of a lack of working inducible Shh knock-in mice, brain region-specific Shh overexpression and its effects on cognitive function have not been studied in vivo. Here, with Gli1-LacZ reporter mice, we demonstrated that Ts65Dn had reduced levels of Gli1, a sensitive readout of Shh signaling, in both hippocampus and cerebellum at postnatal day 6. Through site-specific transgenesis, we generated an inducible human Shh knock-in mouse, TRE-bi-hShh-Zsgreen1 (TRE-hShh), simultaneously expressing dually-lipidated Shh-Np and Zsgreen1 marker in the presence of transactivator (tTA). Double transgenic mice "Camk2a-tTA;TRE-hShh" and "Pcp2-tTA;TRE-hShh" induced Shh overexpression and activated Shh signaling in a forebrain and cerebellum, respectively, specific manner from the perinatal period. Camk2a-tTA;TRE-hShh normalized locomotor hyperactivity and improved learning and memory in 3-month-old Ts65Dn, mitigated early-onset severe cognitive impairment in 7-month-old Ts65Dn, and enhanced spatial cognition in euploid mice. Camk2a-tTA;TRE-hShh cohort maintained until 600days old showed that chronic overexpression of Shh in forebrain from the perinatal period had no effect on longevity of euploid or Ts65Dn. Pcp2-tTA;TRE-hShh did not affect cognition but mitigated the phenotype of cerebellar hypoplasia in Ts65Dn. Our study provides the first in vivo evidence that Shh overexpression from the perinatal period protects DS brain integrity and enhances learning and memory in normal mice, indicating the broad therapeutic potential of Shh ligand for other neurological conditions. Moreover, the first inducible hShh site-specific knock-in mouse could be widely used for spatiotemporal Shh signaling regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recognising that excessive dietary salt intake is associated with high blood pressure and adverse cardiovascular health, the Ministry of Health Malaysia conducted the Malaysian Community Salt Survey (MyCoSS) among Malaysian adults. This paper introduced MyCoSS projects and presented findings on the salt intake of the Malaysian adult population.Methods: MyCoSS was a nationally representative survey, designed to provide valuable data on dietary salt intake, sources of salt in the diet, and knowledge, perception, and practice about salt among Malaysian adults. It was a cross-sectional household survey, covering Malaysian citizens of 18 years old and above. Multi-stage-stratified sampling was used to warrant national representativeness. Sample size was calculated on all objectives studied, and the biggest sample size was derived from the knowledge on the effect of high salt on health (1300 participants). Salt intake was estimated using a single 24-h urine collection and its sources from a food frequency questionnaire. Knowledge, attitude, and practice were determined from a pre-tested questionnaire. All questionnaires were fully administered by trained interviewers using mobile devices. Anthropometric indices (weight, height, and waist circumference) and blood pressure were measured using a standardised protocol. Ethical approvals were obtained from the Medical Research Ethics Committee, Ministry of Health Malaysia, and Queen Mary University of London prior to conducting the survey.Results: Findings showed that the average sodium intake of Malaysian adults (3167 mg/day) was higher than the WHO recommendation of 2000 mg/day. Daily intake was significantly higher among males and individuals with higher BMI and higher waist circumference.Conclusion: Salt intake in the Malaysian population was higher than the WHO recommendation. MyCoSS's findings will be used for the development and implementation of national salt reduction policy. A successful implementation of a national salt reduction programme in Malaysia will benefit the whole population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compounds with chain structures have received great attention due to their unique quasi-one-dimensional charge transport channel which usually leads to striking physical phenomena. Here, we report the synthesis and detailed physical properties of Ba7Fe6S14 single crystals whose crystalline structure is featured by one-dimensional chains constituted by units of FeS4 tetrahedra. Susceptibility measurements reveal three magnetic phase transitions located at T = 10.5 K, 38 K, and 121 K. Further heat capacity measurements suggest a second-order phase transition for the transition at 121 K. At ambient pressure, the compound is an insulator with a large thermal activation energy around 0.19 eV. Application of pressure can gradually suppress the insulating behavior, and pressure-induced insulator-metal transitions can be achieved for P ≥ 21.3 GPa. No superconductivity was observed with pressure up to 47 GPa. Nevertheless, the unique chain-like structure of Ba7Fe6S14 provides chances for comparative studies with the quasi-one-dimensional spin-ladder iron-based superconductor BaFe2S3 for exploring the relation among crystalline dimensionality, magnetism, and superconductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the notion of magnetically driven nematicity, we study the phase transitions in a frustrated classical Heisenberg model with biquadratic and anisotropic exchange interactions on square lattice by means of Monte Carlo simulations, in order to understand the uniaxial strain effect in BaFe2As2. The variation of both structural and antiferromagnetic transition temperatures with uniaxial stress reported in experiments can be qualitatively reproduced by including the exchange anisotropy, suggesting that the anisotropy may be responsible for the strain effect on the phase transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The in-plane magnetization behaviors in TbB4 are theoretically studied using the frustrated classical XY model, including the exchange and biquadratic interactions, and the anisotropy energy. The magnetization curves at various temperatures are simulated, and the magnetic orders are uncovered by the tracking of the spin configurations. In addition, the effects of the in-plane anisotropy and biquadratic interaction on the magnetization curves are investigated in detail. The simulated results suggest that the magnetic anisotropy within the (001) plane owes to the complex interplay between these couplings, and the anisotropy term plays an important role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of total ionizing dose (TID) radiation from 60Co gamma-rays on an 8-transistor global shutter exposure complementary metal-oxide semiconductor image sensor (CIS) within a star sensor is presented to analyze the sources of star sensor performance degradation and the decrease of attitude measurement accuracy. The dark current, dark signal non-uniformity, and photon response non-uniformity versus the TID are investigated. The signal-to-noise ratio, star diagonal distance accuracy, and star point centroid positioning accuracy of the star sensor versus the TID are also analyzed. By establishing the correlation between space radiation, CIS noise, and star sensor performance parameters, the transfer mechanism of CIS parameter degradation to star sensor parameter degradation is revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The composite catalysts were prepared by two-step photothermal synthesis, and the morphology, structure and catalytic performance of the Ag/graphene/TiO2 composite were characterized by SEM, FT-IR, XRD, etc. The results showed that the composites were prepared successfully by Ag depositing on TiO2 compounded with graphene, and solid UV diffuse reflection test showed that Ag/Graphene/TiO2 composites had the greatest enhancement in the absorption of visible light. The results showed that among four kinds materials, the methyl orange's degradation rate of Ag/Graphene/TiO2 in simulated visible light reached best, whose degradion was 4.25 times that of pure TiO2. The number of photocatalytic experiments showed that Ag/Graphene/TiO2 photogenerated electrons and the corresponding generated O2· dominated the catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenomenon of poor cycle stability can be effectively solved by using metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) as precursor to obtain oxides. In this work, a layered NiO@NiCo2O4 nanocomposite electrodes were designed from bimetallic (Ni/Co) based bimetallic metal–organic framework (Ni/Co-MOF) by simple hydrothermal method followed by subsequent controlled calcination under air atmosphere at various temperatures for the transition process. XRD and FE-SEM studies were substantiating the formation of MOF derived NiO@NiCo2O4 nanocomposite with layered structure. Interestingly, electrochemical studies shows that MOF derived NiO@NiCo2O4 nanocomposite achieved at the calcination temperature at 300 °C and 400 °C demonstrates high specific capacitance of 2461 F/g and 2180 F/g at the current density of 1 A/g, which keeps the precursor Ni/Co-MOF with high specific capacitance peculiarity of 2250 F/g at 2 A/g. In terms of cycle retention rate, the NiO@NiCo2O4 nanocomposite obtained at 400 °C still has a high retention rate of 78% under the current density of 15 A/g for 4500 cycles. It significantly improved the precursor Ni/Co-MOF low cycle retention rate of only 56% after 1000 cycles. The results show that the metal oxide nanocomposites calcined with MOFs as sacrificial template not only retain the high specific capacitance characteristics of MOFs, but also improve its low cycle stability, which has great potential in electrochemical supercapacitor electrode materials and provides a certain useful reference for the direction of global energy demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamic conductance dI/dV and inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy (IETS) d2I/dV2 have been measured at different temperatures for double barrier magnetic tunnel junctions with a thin top MgO layer. The resistance in the antiparallel state exhibits a normal tunnel-like behavior, while the resistance in the parallel state shows metallic-like transport, indicating the presence of pinholes in the thin top MgO layer. Three IETS peaks are the zero-bias anomaly, interface magnons, and barrier phonons in both the parallel and antiparallel states. The zero-bias anomaly is the strongest peak in the parallel state and its intensity decreases with temperature. The magnon has the largest intensity in the antiparallel state and its intensity also decreases with temperature. The origins of the dips and peaks in the dI/dV-V curve are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of Cu-SSZ-13@CeO2 catalysts with surface modification with CeO2 was prepared by the modified self-resemble method based on the one-pot synthesized Cu-SSZ-13 catalyst and applied for the selective catalytic reduction of NO by NH3. The low-temperature catalytic activity and the tolerance to SO2 + H2O of Cu-SSZ-13@CeO2 were found to enhance markedly compared with Cu-SSZ-13. In parallel, the XRD, N2-BET, H2-TPR, SEM, XPS, and in situ DRIFTS were performed to characterize the catalysts. XRD and SEM results proved that the surface of Cu-SSZ-13 was covered by nanoparticles of CeO2. XPS results further confirmed that Ce species were in the outer of the catalysts. N2-BET indicated that the physical structure parameters of the Cu-SSZ-13@CeO2 were changed obviously due to the coverage of CeO2. H2-TPR suggested that the redox properties of the Cu-SSZ-13@CeO2 catalysts were improved compared to the unmodified Cu-SSZ-13. In situ DRIFTS results demonstrated that the intensities of the bands attributed to NH3 and NOx species on the surface of Cu-SSZ-13@CeO2-2 enhanced due to the CeO2 modification, which played an important role for the NH3-SCR performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, two Co(II)-based coordination polymers with the chemical formulae [CoCl(cptpy)·2H2O]n (1) and [Co2Cl2(cptpy)2(ma)H2O]n (2, Hcptpy = 4′-(4-carboxyphenyl)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine, ma = melamine) are hydrothermally synthesized without or with employment of the template melamine. The as-prepared two complexes are studied via single crystal X-ray diffraction along with the elemental analysis. Furthermore, the protective ability of the compounds on the osteoblast differentiation is evaluated and the related detailed mechanism is explored. Firstly, the Western blot is used to detect the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway after treatment with the compounds. Next, the RT-PCR assay is used to measure the relative expression of indicators of vegf and vwf angiogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By using the LSDA and LSDA + U method, the electronic and magnetic properties of Ln2SrAl2O7 (Ln = La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, and Dy) compounds have been investigated in this paper. While comparing the density of states calculated by two methods, the main difference between LSDA and LSDA + U calculations is only obvious for 4f states. The Ln2SrAl2O7 compounds are more like the charge transfer type insulators. The ferromagnetic and possible anti-ferromagnetic states of these compounds are calculated and discussed by Rudeman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida (RKKY) model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low frequency 1/f barrier noise has been investigated in sputtered MgO magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) with a tunneling magnetoresistance ratio of up to 330% at room temperature. The lowest normalized noise parameter α of the tunnel barrier reaches 2.5 × 10-12-2.1 × 10-11 μm2, which is comparable to that found in MTJs with the MgO barrier grown by MBE or electron-beam evaporation. This normalized barrier noise is almost bias independent in the voltage range of up to ±1.2 V. The low noise level and high voltage stability may reflect the high quality of the sputtered MgO with a uniform distribution of defects in the MgO layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we investigated the nanoscale conduction and charge transport characteristics of epitaxial VO2 thin films around the metal-insulator transition (MIT) using the Hall transport measurement and conduction atomic force microscopy. Unlike the conventional oxides, the VO2 thin films show unique transport characteristics. First, the dominant carrier type shows a critical change from electron to hole during the MIT sequence (cooling sequence) or from hole to electron during the reverse MIT sequence (heating sequence). Second, the carrier density measured during the MIT sequence is higher than that measured during the reverse MIT sequence, evidenced with a clear thermal hysteresis. Third, the volume fraction (area percentage) of the nanoscale high-conduction phase also shows a thermal hysteresis, evidenced with a larger volume fraction of the high-conduction region in the MIT sequence than the reverse MIT sequence. The first-principles calculations indicate that the dominant carrier is the hole in the monoclinic phase, while it is the electron in the rutile phase, suggesting that the unique charge transport characteristics are attributed to the structural phase transition. Our work provides a deep insight into the nanoscale conduction and charge transports in VO2 thin films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is strong evidence for a causal relationship between salt intake and blood pressure. Randomized trials demonstrate that salt reduction lowers blood pressure in both individuals who are hypertensive and those who are normotensive, additively to antihypertensive treatments. Methodologically robust studies with accurate salt intake assessment have shown that a lower salt intake is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, all-cause mortality, and other conditions, such as kidney disease, stomach cancer, and osteoporosis. Multiple complex and interconnected physiological mechanisms are implicated, including fluid homeostasis, hormonal and inflammatory mechanisms, as well as more novel pathways such as the immune response and the gut microbiome. High salt intake is a top dietary risk factor. Salt reduction programs are cost-effective and should be implemented or accelerated in all countries. This review provides an update on the evidence relating salt to health, with a particular focus on blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, as well as the potential mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate the changes in sugar and energy labelling of carbonated sugar-sweetened soft drinks after the implementation of a tax on sugar-sweetened drinks in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Methods We visited nine main supermarkets before (May 2014) and after (April 2018) the tax came into effect and obtained data from product packaging and nutrition information panels of carbonated sugar-sweetened soft drinks. We used the paired t-test to assess differences in sugar and energy content of the same products between 2014 and 2018. Findings We obtained data from 166 products in 2014 and 464 products in 2018, of which 83 products were the same in both years. Large variations in stated sugar content were found between the different carbonated sugar-sweetened soft drinks in both 2014 and 2018 for all products and for the 83 products. The mean sugar content of the 83 products decreased by 42% between 2014 and 2018, from 9.1 g/100 mL (standard deviation, SD: 3.3) to 5.3 g/100 mL (SD: 3.5; P < 0.001). The mean energy content decreased by 40%, from 38 kcal/100 mL (SD: 13) in 2014 to 23 kcal/100 mL (SD: 15) in 2018 (P < 0.001). Conclusion The significant decreases in the labelling of sugar and energy content of carbonated sugar-sweetened soft drinks after the levy came into effect suggest this tax has been effective. The sugar content of drinks still varied considerably in 2018, suggesting further reductions in sugar content of these drinks is possible. The levy thresholds should be reduced and the tax increased to drive further reformulation of soft drinks to reduce their sugar content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first principles calculations based on density functional theory are performed to investigate the mechanical properties and chemical bonding features of several Cr7C3 type multicomponent carbides (Fe16Cr12C12, Fe12Cr12W4C12, Fe12Cr12Mo4C12, Fe12Cr12W4C8B4, and Fe12Cr12Mo4C8B4). The full set elastic constants are calculated using stress-strain method. The Voigt-Reuss-Hill approximation is used to evaluate the mechanical moduli. The mechanical anisotropy is characterized by calculating several different anisotropic indexes and factors, such as universal anisotropic index (AU), shear anisotropic factors (A1, A2, and A3), and percent anisotropy (AB and AG). The surface constructions of bulk and Young's moduli are illustrated to indicate the mechanical anisotropy. The obtained results indicate that the presence of B could deteriorate the mechanical moduli of (Fe,Cr)7C3 phase in Cr cast iron slightly. On the other hand, the chemical stability of (Fe,Cr)7C3 carbides is improved due to chemical bonding modifications through doping with B. These conclusions are in agreement with experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aging behaviors of Cu–Cr alloys in the early stage at different temperatures are investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. First principles potentials are used for the interactions between Cu and Cr atoms. The initial behavior of precipitation is characterized by transmission electron microscope and electron energy disperse spectroscopy. The results showed that Cu–Cr supersaturated solid solution is thermodynamically unstable. The mean-square displacements of the atoms are used to describe the diffusivity. At room temperature, the atoms only show harmonic vibrations near the equilibrium positions. The mutual diffusion at 873 K is different from the unidirectional diffusion in low temperatures. The calculation shows that aging process is accelerated with increasing temperature, which is not only due to the lower diffusion activation energy of Cr at higher temperature, but also because Cu atoms are also participated in the aging process. When “aging” at 1073 K, the precipitation of Cr element is dissolved again into Cu matrix, which is an “over-aging” state of Cu–Cr alloy at high temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crystallization process and amorphous state stability of Si-Sb-Te films with different Si concentration (10, 20 at. %) and Sb/Te ratio (2:3 and 1:1) have been studied and compared with Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST) film by in situ film resistance measurements. The effects of Si concentration and Sb content on crystalline resistivity, crystallization temperature, activation energy of crystallization, and amorphous state stability of films have been studied. The activation energy Ea of crystallization of GST film was confirmed to be 2.34 eV, while the activation energy Ea of Si10Sb36Te54 film increased to 2.99 eV and further reached to 3.65 eV for Si20Sb32Te48 film when the Si content increased to 20 at. %. Si addition increased the crystallization temperature and crystalline resistivity of Si-Sb-Te films largely, and enhanced the amorphous state stability of the films, while Sb revealed contrary effects to Si. The microstructures of Si-Sb-Te films were analyzed through x-ray diffraction and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. Phase separation has been observed in annealed Si-Sb-Te films, and Si-Sb-Te films crystallized into rhombohedral Sb2Te3 phase surrounded by amorphous Si-rich grain boundaries with high resistance, which would be helpful to reduce the writing current of phase change memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal stability of NiSi films in Ni/Pt/(111)Si and Ni/Pt/(100)Si bilayered systems was investigated. In the Ni/Pt/(111)Si system, the NiSi films formed at 640 °C have an epitaxial relationship of (100)NiSi||(111)Si and [01¯0]NiSi||[011¯]Si with the substrates. On the other hand, those formed on (100)Si substrates were polycrystalline although the experimental parameters are the same as those in Ni/Pt/(111)Si samples. In both cases, NiSi and PtSi formed a solid solution Ni[sub 1-x]Pt[sub x]Si following Vegard’s law. While the thermal stability of NiSi films is improved in both cases compared with the Ni/Si system, the thermal stability of the textured NiSi films formed on (111)Si substrates is higher than their polycrystalline counterparts formed on (100)Si substrates. This is attributed to the reduced interfacial energy and consequently increased activation energy for the nucleation of NiSi[sub 2] due to the formation of textured NiSi films on (111)Si substrates. At 900 °C, the Ni(Pt)Si film formed in Ni/Pt/(100)Si system decomposed into separate phases of NiSi and PtSi with noticeable lattice deformation. Differences between the texture evolution of NiSi films in Ni/Pt/Si and Ni(Pt) alloy/Si systems were also reported and explained from both kinetic and thermodynamic aspects. © 2001 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The International Consortium for Quality Research on Dietary Sodium/Salt (TRUE) is a coalition of intentional and national health and scientific organizations formed because of concerns low-quality research methods were creating controversy regarding dietary salt reduction. One of the main sources of controversy is believed related to errors in estimating sodium intake with urine studies. The recommendations and positions in this manuscript were generated following a series of systematic reviews and analyses by experts in hypertension, nutrition, statistics, and dietary sodium. To assess the population's current 24-hour dietary sodium ingestion, single complete 24-hour urine samples, collected over a series of days from a representative population sample, were recommended. To accurately estimate usual dietary sodium at the individual level, at least 3 non-consecutive complete 24-hour urine collections obtained over a series of days that reflect the usual short-term variations in dietary pattern were recommended. Multiple 24-hour urine collections over several years were recommended to estimate an individual's usual long-term sodium intake. The role of single spot or short duration timed urine collections in assessing population average sodium intake requires more research. Single or multiple spot or short duration timed urine collections are not recommended for assessing an individual's sodium intake especially in relationship to health outcomes. The recommendations should be applied by scientific review committees, granting agencies, editors and journal reviewers, investigators, policymakers, and those developing and creating dietary sodium recommendations. Low-quality research on dietary sodium/salt should not be funded, conducted, or published. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we report on the development of a time-of-flight based electron energy analyzer capable of measuring the 3-D momentum and energy distributions of very low energy (millielectronvolt-scale) photoemitted electrons. This analyzer is capable for measuring energy and 3-D momentum distributions of electrons with energies down to 1 meV with a sub-millielectronvolt energy resolution. This analyzer is an ideal tool for studying photoemission processes very close to the photoemission threshold and also for studying the physics of photoemission based electron sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context Obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dental caries are all major public health problems in the United Kingdom and contribute substantially to healthcare costs. Objective A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to determine the effect of product reformulation measures on sugar intake and health outcomes. Data sources Using a combination of terms, the following databases were searched—The Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE (Ovid), and Scopus. Additionally, multiple gray literature searches were undertaken. Data extraction A total of 16 studies met the inclusion criteria. There were 4 randomized controlled trials, 6 studies that modeled reformulation in a country, 5 studies that modeled a different approach of reformulation, and 1 study was both a modelling study of a different approach to reformulation and a retrospective observational study. The studies were assessed for risk of bias and overall quality of evidence was rated using the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation Working Group (GRADE) framework. Results Results from randomized controlled trials suggest that consumption of reformulated products can reduce sugar intake and body weight. The pooled estimates were −11.18% (95% confidence interval [CI], −19.95 to −2.41; P < 0.00001) for changes in percentage of sugar intake, −91.00 g/day (95%CI, −148.72 to −33.28; P< 0.00001) for changes in sugar intake in grams per day, and −1.04 kg (95%CI, −2.16 to −0.08; P= 0.0002) for changes in body weight. However, the quality of the evidence was very low. Results from the other studies suggested that reformulation can reduce sugar intake and improve health. Much of the evidence draws on modeling studies. Conclusions This systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that product reformulation to reduce sugar content could reduce sugar intake in individuals and thus improve population health. These findings provide an important starting point for ongoing work on sugar reformulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Sensory panellists tasted apples with different levels of postharvest water loss. • Texture was measured using puncture, acoustic impulse and tissue impact responses. • Acoustic impulse and tissue impact responses indicate a decline in firmness. • Sensory assessments and puncture tests indicated no change in texture. • Humans do not perceive changes in texture detected by some non-destructive tests. Abstract 'Cripps Pink'/Pink Lady® and 'Sciros'/Pacific Rose™ apples were stored at 0.5 °C in containers through which dry or humidified air was passed for up to 19 weeks. Sensory analysis by trained panellists was undertaken on apples that were removed from storage at a single point in time (15 or 19 weeks, respectively) so that cultivars and treatments could be directly compared. Weight loss during storage was 1.8 to 2.4 % for humidified air treatments and 5.0 to 5.7% for dry air treatments. The trained panel perceived differences between cultivars, but within cultivars there was no significant sensory difference between apples from higher and lower water loss treatments, except for juiciness which was lower for dehydrated apples. Measurements of puncture firmness were in accordance with the sensory results, suggesting that there was no effect of water loss on mechanical properties. However, non-destructive measurements (based on acoustic impulse and tissue impact responses) declined with water loss. These sensory-instrumental data along with monitoring during storage suggested that non-destructive measurements, particularly those based on acoustic impulse responses, are detecting changes in water status rather than mechanical properties of the fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new Eu(II)-based complex [H2N(Me)2][Eu3(L)2(HCOO)2(DMF)2(H2O)](I) (H4L = 3,5'-di(3',5'-dicarboxylphenyl)pyridine) has been synthesized and structurally characterized. Single-crystal X-ray analysis (CIF file CCDC no. 1559225) reveals that compound I has 3D (4.62)(4.62)(42.67.86) topology. The emission spectra of I is dominated by four characteristic bands and shows strong luminescent feature. Furthermore, the photocatalytic properties of I for degradation of the methyl violet and Rhodamine B have been explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several cohort studies with inaccurate estimates of sodium reported a J-shaped relationship with mortality. We compared various estimated sodium intakes with that measured by the gold-standard method of multiple non-consecutive 24-h urine collections and assessed their relationship with mortality.Methods: We analysed the Trials of Hypertension Prevention follow-up data. Sodium intake was assessed in four ways: (i) average measured (gold standard): mean of three to seven 24-h urinary sodium measurements during the trial periods; (ii) average estimated: mean of three to seven estimated 24-h urinary sodium excretions from sodium concentration of 24-h urine using the Kawasaki formula; (iii) first measured: 24-h urinary sodium measured at the beginning of each trial; (iv) first estimated: 24-h urinary sodium estimated from sodium concentration of the first 24-h urine using the Kawasaki formula. We included 2974 individuals aged 30-54 years with pre-hypertension, not assigned to sodium intervention.Results: During a median follow-up of 24 years, 272 deaths occurred. The average sodium intake measured by the gold-standard method was 3769 ± 1282 mg/d. The average estimated sodium over-estimated the intake by 1297 mg/d (95% confidence interval: 1267-1326). The average estimated value was systematically biased with over-estimation at lower levels and under-estimation at higher levels. The average measured sodium showed a linear relationship with mortality. The average estimated sodium appeared to show a J-shaped relationship with mortality. The first measured and the first estimated sodium both flattened the relationship.Conclusions: Accurately measured sodium intake showed a linear relationship with mortality. Inaccurately estimated sodium changed the relationship and could explain much of the paradoxical J-shaped findings reported in some cohort studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The split ratio, i.e., the ratio of rotor outer diameter to stator outer diameter, is one of the most vital design parameters for permanent-magnet (PM) machines due to its significant impact on the machine torque or power density. However, it has been optimized analytically in the existing papers with due account only for the stator copper loss, which is reasonable for low-to-medium speed PM machines. For high-speed PM machines (HSPMMs), the negligence of stator iron loss and the mechanical stress on the rotor will lead to a deviation of optimal split ratio and actual torque capability. In this paper, the optimal split ratio of HSPMM is investigated analytically with the consideration of stator iron loss as well as the mechanical stress on the rotor. The influence of air-gap length and rotor pole pairs on the optimal split ratio is elaborated. Both the analytical and finite-element analysis reveal that the optimal split ratio for HSPMM will be significantly reduced, when stator iron loss and mechanical constraints are taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article aimed to study intestinal absorption and pharmacokinetic characterization of three atractylenolides from low polar component of Atractylodes (LPA). LC-MS method was used to find absorbed components combined with pharmacochemistry and to determine plasma concentration combined with DAS 3.0 to calculate the PK parameters. Moreover, the everted gut sac model was used to investigate rat small intestinal absorption and transport characterization of atractylenolide I, II, III. In total, eight components were identified from the absorbed components, including two lactones (6, 7), three volatile oil (2, 3, 8), acids (1), prenylated dihydrobenzofuran derivative (4) and luteolin (5), respectively. The three atractylenolides are rapidly absorbed with Tmax as 1 h and more compatible with the two-compartment model in rats, and good linearity between Cmax and concentration. The cumulative absorption per unit area Q (ug·cm−2) of three atractylenolides were no significant difference and all linearly absorbed with different time, concentration in different intestinal segments, which indicated its absorption process was passive transport. In addition, the atractylenolides III showed most high absorption rate in all intestinal segments, and the absorption site of atractylenolides II was mainly duodenum segments. LC-MS is a systematically applicable approach for rapid screening, identification and quanlitation of absorbed components derived from atractylodes in vivo. Three atractylenolides showed similar PK characterization and passive transport through all intestinal segments. It looks more safe with less drug interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, four rotor shaping methods, i.e., eccentric circular, inverse cosine, inverse cosine with third harmonic, and multi-step shaping methods, are developed and compared for torque ripple mitigation in variable flux reluctance machines (VFRMs). By using a 6-stator-pole/7-rotor-pole (6/7) VFRM as an example, the design criterions and capabilities of these four methods are illustrated. It is found that all the rotor shaping methods are capable of torque ripple mitigation and applicable to all the VFRMs except those with 6k/(6i ± 2) k (k, i = 1, 2, 3…) stator/rotor pole combinations. Moreover, the inverse cosine with third harmonic and multi-step shaping methods are found to have the best performance. They are able to reduce the torque ripple by 90% at a cost of only 3% torque density reduction. A 6/7 VFRM with both conventional and shaped rotors is prototyped and tested for verification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroponic-grown seedlings of aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) were used to investigate how low root temperatures (5°C) affect stomatal conductance and water relations. An isohydric manner of the stomatal behaviour was found with the seedlings when their roots were subjected to the low temperature. Stomatal conductance rapidly and dramatically reduced in response to the low root temperature, while the xylem water potential did not significantly alter. Under the low root temperature, pH value of the xylem sap increased from 6.15 to 6.72 within the initial 4 h, while abscisic acid (ABA) concentration increased by the eighth hour of treatment. K+ concentration of the xylem sap significantly decreased within the 8th h and then reversed by the 24th h. The ion change was accompanied by a decrease and then an increase in the electrical conductivity, and an increase and then a decrease in the osmotic potential. The tempo of physiological responses to the low root temperature suggests that the rapid pH change of the xylem sap was the initial factor which triggered stomatal closure in low temperature-treated seedlings, and that the role of the more slowly accumulating ABA was likely to reinforce the stomatal closure. Xylem sap from the seedlings subjected low root temperature affected stomatal aperture on leaf discs when they were floated on the sap solution. The stomatal aperture correlated (P = 0.006) with the changed pattern of [K+] in the sap while the range of pH or ABA found in the xylem sap did not influence stomatal aperture of leaf discs in solution. The effect of xylem sap on stomatal aperture on leaf discs was different from on stomatal conductance in the intact seedlings. Comparison was made with previous study with the soil-grown seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a study which investigated the in-plane uniaxial anisotropy and perpendicular anisotropy of sputtered Co/Ag(111) multilayers. Theoretical considerations on ferromagnetic resonance; Experimental details; Results and discussion.

Studies the tunneling mechanism in zero- and one-dimensional quantum structures. Development of a generalized transfer matrix method; Analysis of the subband mixing process; Evaluation of the coupling coefficients between the subbands.

Mn60+xGa40-x (x=0, 5, 10, and 15) ribbons were prepared by the melt-spinning technique and subsequently by a heat treatment at 673K for 1 h. The magnetic phases Mn8Ga5, Mn1.86Ga, D019-Mn3Ga, and D022-Mn3Ga are found to appear in these annealed melt-spun ribbons. The Curie temperature TC of the ribbons varies from 125K to 185K as x changes from 0 to 5. For x=10, the hexagonal structure of the D019-Mn3Ga phase is distorted to an orthorhombic one below the phase transition temperature Td=185K. The optimized values for coercivity at room temperature are 0.13, 4.4, 8.1, and 7.7 kOe for the ribbons with x=0, 5, 10, and 15, respectively. The resistance measurements indicate that the ribbons show a typical metallic behavior for x=5-15. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • VO 2 has a non-relativistic splitting of 8.2 meV and its spins are polarized along the (2 1 0) direction. • The splitting is affected by the interfacial materials and the interfacial types. • In VO 2 /TiO 2 composite layer, the splitting of VO 2 increases to 164 meV (245 meV) induced by dual interfaces (interface and surface). In spintronic devices, one of the concerned focuses is spin splitting, which is existing in heavy metal with strong spin–orbit coupling (SOC) and some materials with broken symmetry. Recently, non-relativistic spin splitting originated from symmetric breaking has been proved in materials with low atomic numbers. Herein, based on inherent asymmetric octahedrons in vanadium dioxide (VO 2) and the adjustable charge-spin conversion efficiency, we mainly survey non-relativistic spin splitting in VO 2 from a symmetric perspective of bulk, interface, and surface, and hybridization of the molecular orbital. The results demonstrate that there is a tiny spin splitting (8.2 meV) in the rutile-like monoclinic (RM) VO 2 bulk. Nevertheless, a huge splitting can be realized by modulating the hybridization of molecular orbital by fabricating the interface with different materials. Moreover, when we give priority to VO 2 (RM)/TiO 2 composite layer (164 meV), the results suggest that the splitting can be also manipulated by different interfacial types and increased the number of layers of VO 2 (RM). This manner of manipulating symmetries of interface and surface and changing the hybridization of molecular orbital sheds light on understanding the electronic structure and acquiring an enhanced splitting of VO 2 , which provides the possibility of the application of VO 2 in spintronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]