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AbstractIt is of importance to investigate the significance of a subset of covariates W for the response Y given covariates Z in regression modeling. To this end, we propose a significance test for the partial mean independence problem based on machine learning methods and data splitting. The test statistic converges to the standard chi-squared distribution under the null hypothesis while it converges to a normal distribution under the fixed alternative hypothesis. Power enhancement and algorithm stability are also discussed. If the null hypothesis is rejected, we propose a partial Generalized Measure of Correlation (pGMC) to measure the partial mean dependence of Y given W after controlling for the nonlinear effect of Z. We present the appealing theoretical properties of the pGMC and establish the asymptotic normality of its estimator with the optimal root-N convergence rate. Furthermore, the valid confidence interval for the pGMC is also derived. As an important special case when there are no conditional covariates Z, we introduce a new test of overall significance of covariates for the response in a model-free setting. Numerical studies and real data analysis are also conducted to compare with existing approaches and to demonstrate the validity and flexibility of our proposed procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Methods Results Conclusions We aimed to investigate the prevalence of vascular complications in acute pancreatitis (AP), to compare patient outcomes using various treatments, and to explore the related risk factors.Consecutive AP patients admitted from January 2010 to July 2017 were retrospectively included. Demographics, vascular complications, laboratory indices, and imaging findings were collected. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to explore potential risk factors of vascular complications.Of 3048 AP patients, 808 (26.5%) had vascular complications, including visceral vein thrombosis, sinistral portal hypertension, and arterial complications. And 38 (4.7%) patients received anticoagulant therapy and had a higher rate of recanalization (P < 0.001). Bleeding occurred in 95 (11.8%) patients, who received further treatment. Multivariate analysis identified male gender (odds ratio [OR] 1.650, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.101–2.472), hyperlipidemia (OR 1.714, 95% CI 1.356–2.165), disease recurrence (OR 3.727, 95% CI 2.713–5.118), smoking (OR 1.519, 95% CI 1.011–2.283), hemoglobin level (OR 0.987, 95% CI 0.981–0.993), white blood cell (WBC) count (OR 1.094, 95% CI 1.068–1.122), non‐vascular local complications (OR 3.018, 95% CI 1.992–4.573), computed tomography severity index (CTSI) (OR 1.425, 95% CI 1.273–1.596), and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II score (OR 1.057, 95% CI 1.025–1.090) were related to vascular complications.Vascular complications in AP is prevalent and their treatment is challenging. Further investigations are warranted to determine the optimal treatment strategy. Independent risk factors included male gender, hyperlipidemia, disease recurrence, smoking, WBC count, non‐vascular local complications, CTSI, and APACHE II score. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A discrete-continuous (PFC–FLAC) coupling method was used in this study to simulate laboratory triaxial tests with soybean granular material. The mesoscopic mechanical parameters of the soybean granular material were calibrated by comparing them with actual laboratory test results, and the validity of the modeling method was verified. Subsequently, the particle motion law and mechanical mechanism of the soybean granular materials were analyzed based on the particle displacement field, velocity field, and force chain network. The results showed that the coupled PFC–FLAC method could better describe the macroscopic stress–strain relationship, deformation damage characteristics, and shear strength mechanical indexes of soybean granular materials. With increasing confining pressure (50–200 kPa), the bulging deformation of the specimens changed from uniform to concentrated but uneven. The particle contact number and maximum particle contact stress increased by 19.3 and 48%, respectively. Additionally, variations of the macroscopic properties of the specimens with microscopic parameters were revealed. Under the same conditions, the change in the peak stress of the specimen was proportional to the interparticle friction coefficient. Moreover, the slope of the stress–strain curve increased gradually with an increase in the effective modulus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high-capacity and quality ceramic materials have the potential of miniaturization and convenience for electronic components. In this work, CaMnO 3 (CMO) and La 0.5 Sr 0.5 CrO 3 (LSCO) powders are prepared by the traditional solid phase method and the laminated LSCO/CMO/LSCO samples are made via the rolling process. It can be found that the CMO and LSCO layers are clearly kept flat in co-sintered samples by SEM analysis. The capacity value of >0.1 μF/cm2(<100 Hz), the obviously reduced dielectric loss and the increased insulation resistivity are achieved in LSCO/CMO/LSCO samples at room temperature. Through the characterization of complex impedance spectroscopy, XRD and XPS, the ameliorative dielectric performance mainly depends on the interface between CMO and LSCO layers, which produces the high resistance value and blocks the long-range transition of the carriers. This phenomenon has an important significance for the development and application of large-capacity and co-sintered ceramic capacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study experimentally investigates the interaction of an array of bubbles near a rigid wall. Three bubbles are simultaneously generated using underwater electric discharges, forming a linear alignment with approximately equal sizes. A high-speed camera was used to record the evolution of the bubbles, with the pressure sensors placed on the surface of the rigid wall to measure the pressure resulting from both the jet and collapse of the bubbles. The results demonstrate that the behavior of the array bubbles, including collapse, jetting, and coalescence, is significantly influenced by the dimensionless distances Ra = da/Rm and Rh = dh/Rm (where Rm is the maximum bubble radius, and da and dh represent the inter-bubble distance and bubble-wall distance, respectively). A series of experiments, designed with various Ra and Rh, were conducted to systematically investigate the behaviors of the bubbles and their resulting pressure characteristics on the central of the wall. This research aims to offer a practical reference for understanding interacting array bubbles and the potential pressure threats to nearby structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detection of tomato leaf diseases is crucial for agricultural sustainability, impacting crop health, yield optimization, and global food supply. Despite the advancements in deep learning methods, a pressing challenge persists— achieving consistently high accuracy rates, particularly in the context of rigorous agricultural requirements. This study addresses this problem directly, introducing a novel approach by employing the Yolov8 architecture in a deep learning model for tomato leaf disease detection. The identified research challenge is precisely targeted, and the model is developed using a meticulously curated custom dataset. Through comprehensive training, validation, and testing phases, the study ensures the robust performance of the Yolov8 model. The novelty of this research lies in its focused solution to the specific accuracy challenge within deep learning-based tomato leaf disease detection. The proposed methodology is rigorously evaluated through extensive experimentation, showcasing its ability to surpass existing benchmarks and offering a highly effective solution. This innovative approach not only contributes a unique solution to the identified problem but also advances the field by providing a more accurate and reliable method for detecting tomato leaf diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the self-healing performance of multi-walled carbon nanotube-modified asphalt and its influencing mechanism, the asphalt molecular self-healing models were established by the molecular dynamics method. The results were analyzed based on molecular diffusion theory and surface energy repair theory. Based on the Arrhenius model, two theories were combined, and a new index healing factor was proposed to evaluate the self-healing performance by considering the diffusion characteristics and energy changes of asphalt molecules. The results show that multi-walled carbon nanotubes can accelerate the diffusion behavior of molecules in the temperature of 278--318 K to improve the self-healing properties of asphalt. Based on the proposed surface free energy equation, the self-healing properties are reasonably evaluated; the enthalpy change can be used as an index for judging the self-healing performance. The transformation model of the diffusion coefficient and cohesive work and the new index can reflect the self-healing performance more comprehensively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weak adsorption of gas reactants and strong binding of intermediates present a significant challenge for most transition metal oxides, particularly in the realm of CO2 photoreduction. Herein, we demonstrate that the adsorption can be fine‐tuned by phase engineering of oxide catalysts. An oxygen vacancy mediated topological phase transition in Ni‐Co oxide nanowires, supported on a hierarchical graphene aerogel (GA), is observed from a spinel phase to a rock‐salt phase. Such in situ phase transition empowers the Ni‐Co oxide catalyst with a strong internal electric field and the attainment of abundant oxygen vacancies. Among a series of catalysts, the in situ transformed spinel/rock‐salt heterojunction supported on GA stands out for an exceptional photocatalytic CO2 reduction activity and selectivity, yielding an impressive CO production rate of 12.5 mmol g−1 h−1 and high selectivity of 96.5 %. This remarkable performance is a result of the robust interfacial coupling between two topological phases that optimizes the electronic structures through directional charge transfer across interfaces. The phase transition process induces more Co2+ in octahedral site, which can effectively enhance the Co‐O covalency. This synergistic effect balances the surface activation of CO2 molecules and desorption of reaction intermediates, thereby lowering the energetic barrier of the rate‐limiting step. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weak adsorption of gas reactants and strong binding of intermediates present a significant challenge for most transition metal oxides, particularly in the realm of CO2 photoreduction. Herein, we demonstrate that the adsorption can be fine‐tuned by phase engineering of oxide catalysts. An oxygen vacancy mediated topological phase transition in Ni‐Co oxide nanowires, supported on a hierarchical graphene aerogel (GA), is observed from a spinel phase to a rock‐salt phase. Such in situ phase transition empowers the Ni‐Co oxide catalyst with a strong internal electric field and the attainment of abundant oxygen vacancies. Among a series of catalysts, the in situ transformed spinel/rock‐salt heterojunction supported on GA stands out for an exceptional photocatalytic CO2 reduction activity and selectivity, yielding an impressive CO production rate of 12.5 mmol g−1 h−1 and high selectivity of 96.5 %. This remarkable performance is a result of the robust interfacial coupling between two topological phases that optimizes the electronic structures through directional charge transfer across interfaces. The phase transition process induces more Co2+ in octahedral site, which can effectively enhance the Co‐O covalency. This synergistic effect balances the surface activation of CO2 molecules and desorption of reaction intermediates, thereby lowering the energetic barrier of the rate‐limiting step. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new beam named adjustable anomalous hollow vortex beam (AAHVB) is proposed, and the expressions of an AAHVB in uniaxial crystal are derived. The evolutions of intensity distributions of an AAHVB in free space and uniaxial crystal are investigated. The relationships between intensity distributions with beam parameters, uniaxial crystal, and distance are analyzed in detail. It is found that intensity distributions of an AAHVB in uniaxial crystal can be manipulated by setting source parameters a $a$, cx ${c}_{x}$, cy ${c}_{y}$, M $M$, and ne/no ${n}_{e}/{n}_{o}$. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis article aims to develop an effective model-free inference procedure for high-dimensional data. We first reformulate the hypothesis testing problem via sufficient dimension reduction framework. With the aid of new reformulation, we propose a new test statistic and show that its asymptotic distribution is χ2 distribution whose degree of freedom does not depend on the unknown population distribution. We further conduct power analysis under local alternative hypotheses. In addition, we study how to control the false discovery rate of the proposed χ2 tests, which are correlated, to identify important predictors under a model-free framework. To this end, we propose a multiple testing procedure and establish its theoretical guarantees. Monte Carlo simulation studies are conducted to assess the performance of the proposed tests and an empirical analysis of a real-world dataset is used to illustrate the proposed methodology. Supplementary materials for this article are available online including a standardized description of the materials available for reproducing the work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the past quite a long time, intraoperative cholangiography(IOC)was necessary during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Now magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is the main method for diagnosing common bile duct stones (CBDS). Whether MRCP can replace IOC as routine examination before LC is still inconclusive. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical data of patients undergoing LC for cholecystolithiasis, and to explore the necessity and feasibility of preoperative routine MRCP in patients with cholecystolithiasis. Methods: According to whether MRCP was performed before operation, 184 patients undergoing LC for cholecystolithiasis in the Department of General Surgery, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2018 were divided into non-MRCP group and MRCP group for this retrospective study. The results of preoperative laboratory test, abdominal ultrasound and MRCP, biliary related comorbidities, surgical complications, hospital stay and hospitalization expenses were compared between the two groups. Results: Among the 184 patients, there were 83 patients in non-MRCP group and 101 patients in MRCP group. In MRCP group, the detection rates of cholecystolithiasis combined with CBDS and common bile duct dilatation by MRCP were higher than those by abdominal ultrasound (P < 0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications in non-MRCP group (8.43%) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that in MRCP group (0%). There was no significant difference in hospital stay (P > 0.05), but there was significant difference in hospitalization expenses (P < 0.05) between the two groups. According to the stratification of gallbladder stone patients with CBDS, hospital stay and hospitalization expenses were compared, and there was no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The preoperative MRCP can detect CBDS, cystic duct stones and anatomical variants of biliary tract that cannot be diagnosed by abdominal ultrasound, which is helpful to plan the surgical methods and reduce the surgical complications. From the perspective of health economics, routine MRCP in patients with cholecystolithiasis before LC does not increase hospitalization costs, and is necessary and feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flour is an essential ingredient in human daily diet, thus it is crucial to measure its moisture content. However, current detection methods are time‐consuming and labor‐intensive, hindering quick measurement. Here we demonstrate the measurement of moisture content in flour via gas in the scattering media absorption spectroscopy (GASMAS) technique. A compact sensor that includes distributed feedback laser driver, cuvette, photodetector, analog lock‐in amplifier, and analysis processing module is developed. We measure the equivalent mean path length of various flour samples, and verify the measurement sensitivity of GASMAS by studying its dependence on moisture content. A linear relationship between path length and moisture content is established by least‐squares curve fitting, corresponding to a correlation coefficient of 0.996. Compared to the drying method, our method shows a maximum error range of 6.1% for all samples, providing a highly accurate and reliable measurement of water content in flour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIMS Allergy & Immunology is an international Open Access journal that focuses on publishing high-quality, peer-reviewed papers in the field of immunology and allergy. In 2023, the journal received 26 manuscripts and published 20 papers, including review articles, research articles, mini reviews, letters, case reports, commentaries, and editorials. The authors of these papers came from over 10 countries, indicating an increase in international collaborations. The journal also received its first impact factor of 0.7 in 2023. The editorial board currently consists of 71 members from 19 countries, and efforts will be made to renew the board in 2024. The journal aims to continue publishing high-quality papers and increase its impact and citations in the field. [Extracted from the article]

The Fe-modulated Co x Fe 1−x P@NPC exhibits excellent electrooxidation performance. [Display omitted] • The N content of NPC is increased via WLSH as precursor to increase its catalytic site density. • Co x Fe 1−x P@NPC exhibits excellent electrooxidation performance for TCH removal. • Radical generation capacity of Co x Fe 1−x P@NPC can be modulated with Fe modulation. • The mechanism for electrooxidation activity of Co x Fe 1−x P@NPC is reasonably revealed. Developing low-cost, green, high-performing electrode materials to address environmental pollutants and the energy crisis is significant but challenging. Herein, the bimetallic iron cobalt phosphide coated in waste biomass-derived N, P co-doping carbon (Co x Fe 1−x P@NPC) is constructed. Furthermore, the active site density and the water decomposition energy barrier of surface-coated NPC are modulated by optimizing the electronic structure of Co x Fe 1−x P via doping engineering. The Fe-modulated Co x Fe 1−x P@NPC exhibits a hierarchical porous self-supporting structure and excellent physical & chemical properties with excellent electrooxidation performance, achieving over 95% removal of TCH within 60 min. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations further confirms that N carries more positive charge and P carries more negative charge in the NPC of Co x Fe 1−x P@NPC with Fe modulation, which can promote the adsorption and dissociation of water molecules. Of note, Co 0.75 Fe 025 P@NPC displays a low water dissociation energy barrier to produce ·OH and a high energy barrier to produce O 2 than its counterparts. This study offers new insight into controllable modulation of biomass carbon-based composite electrode catalytic activity for high-efficiency degradation of contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a study that explores the potential use of 3′t‐2′Ome miRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study analyzed 149 NSCLC patients and 146 control subjects to evaluate the diagnostic value of these miRNAs in plasma. The analysis found significant differences in underlying diseases between the cancer patients and control subjects, suggesting that 3′t‐2′Ome miRNAs may be useful in diagnosing NSCLC. The article also discusses the use of deep sequencing technology to study small RNA species and the identification of three methylated miRNAs that could serve as biomarkers for early detection of NSCLC. Further research is needed to explore the clinical value and functions of these methylated miRNAs. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Astragalus mongolicus Bunge is used in traditional Chinese medicine and is thus cultivated in bulk. The cultivation of A. mongolicus requires a large amount of nitrogen fertilizer, increasing the planting cost of medicinal materials and polluting the environment. Isolation and screening of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and exploring the nitrogen fixation potential of A. mongolicus rhizosphere microorganisms would effectively reduce the production cost of A. mongolicus. Results: This study used A. mongolicus roots and rhizosphere soil samples from Longxi County of Gansu Province, Jingle County, and Hunyuan County of Shanxi Province, China, to isolate and identify nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Through nitrogen fixation efficiency test, single strain inoculation test, and plant growth-promoting characteristics, three strains, Bacillus sp. J1, Arthrobacter sp. J2, and Bacillus sp. G4 were selected from 86 strains of potential nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which were the most effective in promoting the A. mongolicus growth and increasing the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content in plants. The antagonistic test showed that these bacteria could grow smoothly under the co-culture conditions. The J1, J2, and G4 strains were used in a mixed inoculum and found to enhance the biomass of A. mongolicus plants and the accumulation of the main medicinal components in the field experiment. Mixed bacterial agent inoculation also increased bacterial diversity and changed the structure of the bacterial community in rhizosphere soil. Meanwhile, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria increased significantly after inoculation, suggesting that Proteobacteria play an important role in plant growth promotion. Conclusions: These findings indicate that specific and efficient PGPRs have a significant promoting effect on the growth of A. mongolicus, while also having a positive impact on the structure of the host rhizosphere bacteria community. This study provides a basis for developing a nitrogen-fixing bacterial fertilizer and improving the ecological planting efficiency of A. mongolicus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single‐index model is a very popular and powerful semiparametric model. As an improvement of the maximum rank correlation estimator, Shen et al. proposed the linearized maximum rank correlation estimator. We show that this estimator has some interesting connections with the distribution‐transformed least‐squares estimator for single‐index models. We also propose a rescaled distribution‐transformed least‐squares estimator, which is mathematically equivalent to the linearized maximum rank correlation estimator when the distribution of the response is absolutely continuous. Despite some nontrivial connections, the two estimation procedures are different in terms of motivations, interpretations, and applications. We discuss some of the differences between the two estimation procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A process-simplified hard template approach was established to synthesize the monodisperse macroporous silica microspheres with homogeneous structures by twice alkali-thermal treatment and calcination routes. Porous vinyl-functionalized polysesquioxane microspheres (V-PMSQ) were synthesized through a hydrolyzation–polycondensation method and used as templates. The template particles with large aperture and high pore volume were obtained by adjusting the pH value and reaction time of the twice alkali-thermal reaction. After calcination, monodisperse silica microspheres with an average pore size of 30 nm, homogeneous pore structures, and narrow particle size distribution were fabricated, which can be directly used as chromatographic matrices without classification. After that, a new reversed-phase/strong anion-exchange (RP/SAX) mixed-mode stationary phase Sil-S-VOIM was prepared by bonding the 1-vinyl-3-octyl-imidazole ligands to the above silica microspheres through a "thiol-ene" click reaction. The performance of the Sil-S-VOIM column was evaluated by one acidic protein (transferrin) and two basic proteins (lysozyme, α-chymotrypsin) and compared to a single imidazole-modified Sil-S-VIM column and an octyl-modified Sil-C8 column, respectively. Due to the synergistic effect of electrostatic repulsion and hydrophobic interactions, baseline separations of the above proteins were observed only on the Sil-S-VOIM column, with resolutions of 2.55 and 2.01 between lysozyme and transferrin, and between transferrin and α-chymotrypsin, respectively, indicating good selectivity and separation ability compared with single-mode stationary phases. It was applied to the isolation of egg white samples with peaks identified by SDS-PAGE and MALDI-TOF–MS. The results showed that the selective retention and isolation of ovomucoid and ovotransferrin were successfully achieved, with yields of 78.8% and 67.2%, respectively. The protocol described in this work is simpler, faster, and has higher protein recovery. Overall, this new mixed-mode stationary phase provided a promising potential for the separation and determination of intact proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, Fast space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) and a switching structure based on sliding mode control (SMC) and active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) are proposed to improve the dynamic performance and restrain the disturbance of the offshore permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) wind power system. According to the known or unknown system states and the types of disturbance, the control systems switch to the different controller to overcome the unknown states and disturbances effects. Compared to the traditional SVPWM algorithm, the fast SVPWM algorithm has more strong function of pulse modulation and harmonic wave restraints, and shortens the data processing time. The simulation results show that the SMC and ADRC control based on the switching structure restrain the different types of disturbances in complicated offshore environment, and improve the response speed and energy conversion rate of the PMSG wind power system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measurements derived from damaged conditions are difficult to acquire in actual structures, which limits the applicability of supervised damage detection methods. In this study, an unsupervised damage detection method that leverages an improved generative adversarial network (IGAN) and cloud model (CM) is proposed. This method only needs the data in the healthy state of the structure for model training, which can solve the above problems. Firstly, an IGAN model is established, which uses the encoder-decoder-encoder generative network to encode, reconstruct and re-encode the structural response in healthy state. The essential features hidden in complex data are learned by minimizing the distance between the real response and the reconstructed response, and the distance between the latent vectors obtained after two different encodings. During the test phase, when unknown state data is input into the model, the differences of the latent features of the two different codes can be used to preliminarily judge whether the structure is damaged. In addition, CM theory is used to further quantify structural damage and solve the problem of damage misjudgment caused by measurement noise, model parameters, feature selection, and other uncertain factors. The effectiveness of the proposed damage detection method is verified by Phase I IASC-ASCE benchmark structure and a bridge health monitoring benchmark model. The results prove that the proposed method can accurately detect the damage that has occurred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hard thresholding rule is commonly adopted in feature screening procedures to screen out unimportant predictors for ultrahigh-dimensional data. However, different thresholds are required to adapt to different contexts of screening problems and an appropriate thresholding magnitude usually varies from the model and error distribution. With an ad-hoc choice, it is unclear whether all of the important predictors are selected or not, and it is very likely that the procedures would include many unimportant features. We introduce a data-adaptive threshold selection procedure with error rate control, which is applicable to most kinds of popular screening methods. The key idea is to apply the sample-splitting strategy to construct a series of statistics with marginal symmetry property and then to utilize the symmetry for obtaining an approximation to the number of false discoveries. We show that the proposed method is able to asymptotically control the false discovery rate and per family error rate under certain conditions and still retains all of the important predictors. Three important examples are presented to illustrate the merits of the new proposed procedures. Numerical experiments indicate that the proposed methodology works well for many existing screening methods. for this article are available online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Chaphamaparvovirus, a significant genus of the Hamaparvovirinae subfamily of the Parvoviridae family, can infect both dogs and cats. Given the evidence of cross-species transmission observed in canine and feline parvoviruses, it is pertinent to investigate the potential for similar cross-species transmission with Chaphamaparvovirus. This study aimed to investigate the basis for the ability of FeChPV and CaChPV to undergo cross-species transmission by evaluating phylogenetic analysis and codon usage analysis. The phylogenetic analysis revealed a close relationship between canine and feline chaphamaparvoviruses, and their strong adaptation to dogs and high similarity in codon usage patterns suggests the possibility of unidirectional or bidirectional cross-species transmission between dogs and cats. These findings underscore the importance of monitoring and examining the risks associated with cross-species transmission of canine and feline chaphamaparvoviruses. Chaphamaparvoviruses (ChPVs) are ancient viruses that have been detected in a variety of hosts. In this study, through a phylogenetic analysis and the adaptability of ChPV to multiple hosts, we evaluated the basis for the ability of feline (FeChPV) and canine ChPV (CaChPV) for cross-species transmission. Phylogenetic analysis showed that FeChPV and CaChPV were closely related. Notably, two strains of ChPVs isolated from domestic cats and two from dogs clustered together with CaChPVs and FeChPVs, respectively, suggesting that the stringent boundaries between canine and feline ChPV may be broken. Further analysis revealed that CaChPV and FeChPV were more adapted to dogs than to cats. Mutation analysis identified several shared mutations in cross-species-transmissible strains. Furthermore, the VP structures of FeChPV and CaChPV exhibited a high degree of similarity across both cross-species-transmissible and non-cross-species-transmissible strains. However, it is crucial to note that these results are largely computational, and limitations exist in terms of the number and diversity of samples analyzed; the capacity for cross-species transmission should be approached with caution and elucidated in further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gliomas are the most common primary malignant tumors in the central nervous system. However, conventional treatments, such as surgical resection and postoperative combined chemo‐ and radio‐therapy, are ineffective in improving patients' long‐term survival. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of stromal cells, tumor components, and innate and acquired immune cells, and these cells, along with the extracellular matrix, regulate and communicate intercellularly to promote TME formation. The immune microenvironment plays a vital role in the development of glioma. Exosomes, which are extracellular vesicles (EVs), facilitate intercellular communication and regulation within the TME. Tumor cells can release exosomes to transmit messages, induce macrophage polarization, and inhibit immune cell activity, ultimately promoting metastasis and immune evasion. Moreover, immune cells can regulate tumorigenesis and progression through exosomes. This review summarized the biological properties of exosomes and their effects on the tumor microenvironment and provides an overview of the interactions between glioma cells and immune cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covering array generation (CAG) is the key research problem in combinatorial testing and is an NP‐complete problem. With the increasing complexity of software under test and the need for higher interaction covering strength t, the techniques for constructing high‐strength covering arrays are expected. This paper presents a hybrid heuristic memetic algorithm named QSSMA for high‐strength CAG problem. The sub‐optimal solution acceptance rate is introduced to generate multiple test cases after each iteration to improve the efficiency of constructing high‐covering strength test suites. The QSSMA method could successfully build high‐strength test suites for some instances where t up to 15 within one day cutoff time and report five new best test suite size records. Extensive experiments demonstrate that QSSMA is a competitive method compared to state‐of‐the‐art methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a candidate for colossal permittivity (CP, >104) materials, NiO has been widely concerned and studied. Regrettably, high dielectric losses hinder its continued development and the CP origin is controversial. For this work, the design of single-doped donor ions is used to reduce the dielectric loss of the Ni 1-δ O CP ceramic. Besides, the triggered defect chemistry is discussed. The results show that the grain size gradually decreases with the doping of Ti ions increases. Additionally, the dielectric loss decreases by two orders of magnitude and the resistivity is improved while a CP is maintained when 0.01 ≤ x ≤ 0.03. Based on the structural characterization and simulate computation, it is proposed that the appearance of secondary phase increases the resistance of the grain boundary and forms the interfacial barrier layer, and the charge compensation effect effectively reduces the hole concentration and improves the grain boundary and grain resistances due to partial Ti ions dissolving in the Ni 1-δ O lattice, which is thought to be responsible for the reduced dielectric loss. This work shows the optimized dielectric properties and mechanism of single-doped Ni 1-δ O ceramics, and some problems and ideas of Ni 1-δ O CP ceramics are summarized, which can give researchers some inspiration and promote the development of CP ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Glioma is the most common primary intracranial malignancy in clinical practice, and in particular, IDH‐wildtype glioblastoma has the worst prognosis. In recent years, surgical resection combined with simultaneous radiotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors has made some progress, but the efficacy is still not satisfactory, which may be related to the low immunogenicity of glioma cells and the tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment. Methods: A comprehensive review of relevant literature was conducted to explore the mechanisms by which tumors suppress antitumor immune responses and produce escape, with a focus on the immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Results: The mechanisms involved in immune evasion of glioma cells are complex and involve with immune cell differentiation and function. Conclusion: Our review emphasizes the need for a more profound comprehension of the mechanisms involved in immune response and immune evasion in glioma, to formulate more efficacious treatment modalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SQUAMOSA promoter-binding protein (SBP) genes are important transcription factors involved in plant growth and development. However, the information about mungbean VrSBP genes is limited. In this study, we identified and characterized 22 VrSBP genes in the mungbean genome. Many characteristics of VrSBP genes were analyzed, and most VrSBP genes were considered to be expressed only in the nucleus. VrSBP genes were grouped into 9 subfamilies, with the exception of the g7 and ms subfamilies which are distinctive to Poaceae species. The g3 subfamily was the largest one with 6 VrSBP members. Eight segmental events were found among VrSBP genes, and all VrSBP duplicated genes were evolved via purification selection. The gene structure of VrSBP genes in the same subfamily was similar, and the conserved motifs are different among different subfamilies of VrSBP genes. Additionally, 12 VrSBP genes were considered to be the target genes of vra-miR156a. The types and numbers of cis-acting elements in VrSBP promoters were varied and VrSBP genes showed different expression patterns in different tissues. In addition, the protein interaction network revealed that VrSBP genes were involved in many development processes. Our study has provided important information which will allow the further functional characterization of VrSBP genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 074 study demonstrated a positive effect of an integrated systems navigation and psychosocial counseling intervention on HIV treatment initiation, viral suppression, medication assisted treatment (MAT) enrollment, and risk of death among people who inject drugs (PWID). In this sub-study, we analyzed the incidence, causes, and predictors of death among HIV-infected and uninfected participants. Methods: The HPTN 074 randomized clinical trial was conducted in Indonesia, Ukraine, and Vietnam. HIV-infected PWID with unsuppressed viral load (indexes) were recruited together with at least one of their HIV-negative injection partners. Indexes were randomized in a 1:3 ratio to the intervention or standard of care. Results: The trial enrolled 502 index and 806 partner participants. Overall, 13% (66/502) of indexes and 3% (19/806) of partners died during follow-up (crude mortality rates 10.4 [95% CI 8.1–13.3] and 2.1 [1.3–3.3], respectively). These mortality rates were for indexes nearly 30 times and for partners 6 times higher than expected in a population of the same country, age, and gender (standardized mortality ratios 30.7 [23.7–39.0] and 5.8 [3.5–9.1], respectively). HIV-related causes, including a recent CD4 < 200 cells/μL, accounted for 50% of deaths among indexes. Among partners, medical conditions were the most common cause of death (47%). In the multivariable Cox model, the mortality among indexes was associated with sex (male versus female aHR = 4.2 [1.5–17.9]), CD4 count (≥ 200 versus < 200 cells/μL aHR = 0.3 [0.2–0.5]), depression (moderate-to-severe versus no/mild aHR = 2.6 [1.2–5.0]) and study arm (intervention versus control aHR = 0.4 [0.2–0.9]). Among partners, the study arm of the index remained the only significant predictor (intervention versus control aHR = 0.2 [0.0–0.9]) while controlling for the effect of MAT (never versus ever receiving MAT aHR = 2.4 [0.9–7.4]). Conclusions: The results confirm that both HIV-infected and uninfected PWID remain at a starkly elevated risk of death compared to general population. Mortality related to HIV and other causes can be significantly reduced by scaling-up ART and MAT. Access to these life-saving treatments can be effectively improved by flexible integrated interventions, such as the one developed and tested in HPTN 074. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colossal permittivity ceramic materials (CP, >103) have the potential of miniaturization and convenience for electric components. Unfortunately, they are often accompanied by high dielectric loss (>0.5), which limits their application. In this work, Ti 1- x (Tm 0.5 Nb 0.5) x O 2 (TTNO x) ceramics are prepared via the solid state method. The results show that the main phase of doped samples maintains the rutile TiO 2 phase and the average grain size decreases with increasing additive amounts. Gradually, the Tm 2 Ti 2 O 7 phase appears and subsequently it is converted to the TmNbTiO 6 phase. Furthermore, the low dielectric loss and colossal permittivity are synchronously achieved in doped ceramic samples by defect regulation. Especially, high permittivity of ∼1.61 × 105, low dielectric loss of ∼0.078 (1 kHz) and the AC resistivity of ∼10−9 s/cm are achieved in x = 0.01 samples at room temperature with good frequency and temperature stability. The true origin is deeply discussed by some analyses of XRD, XPS, SEM, Raman spectra and the complex impedance. The results show that enhanced dielectric performance originates from this fact that the addition of Nb and Tm ions triggers defective dipoles formation in grains, such as T i T i ′ / T m T i ′ − V O ‥ − T i T i ′ / T m T i ′ , T i T i ′ / T m T i ′ − N b T i ∙ , pinning the electron and limiting its long-range transition. Furthermore, the grain boundary resistivity is crucial to the ceramic conductivity. This study has driving implications for the application of colossal permittivity ceramic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dyslipidaemia is key in the development of coronary heart disease (CHD) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Accumulated evidence supports that diabetic nephropathy increases the mortality risk of patients with CHD, while the influence of diabetic dyslipidaemia on renal damage in patients with DM and CHD remains unknown. Moreover, recent data indicate that postprandial dyslipidaemia has predictive value in terms of CHD prognosis, especially in patients with DM. The study aimed to determine the relationship of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRLs) after daily Chinese breakfast on systemic inflammation and early renal damage in Chinese patients with DM and SCAD. Methods: Patients with DM diagnosed with SCAD while in the Department of Cardiology of Shengjing Hospital from September 2016 to February 2017 were enrolled in this study. Fasting and 4-h postprandial blood lipids, fasting blood glucose, glycated haemoglobin, urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) concentrations, and other parameters were measured. Fasting and postprandial blood lipid profiles and inflammatory cytokines were analysed using a paired t-test. The association between variables was analysed using Pearson or Spearman bivariate analysis. P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: The study enrolled 44 patients in total. Compared with fasting state, postprandial total cholesterol high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C),low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and non-high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (non-HDL-C) all showed no significant change. Postprandial serum triglyceride (TG) concentration increased significantly compared with that at fasting (1.40 ± 0.40 vs. 2.10 ± 0.94 mmol/L, P < 0.001), as did serum remnant lipoprotein-cholesterol (RLP-C) (0.54 ± 0.18 mmol/L vs. 0.64 ± 0.25 mmol/L). Pearson analysis revealed that serum TG and RLP-C positively correlated before and after breakfast. Moreover, during fasting, positive correlations were observed between TG and serum IL-6, TNF-α, and UACR. Positive correlations were observed between RLP-C and IL-6, UACR under fasting condition, while both TG and RLP-C were positively correlated with postprandial serum IL-6, TNF-α, and UACR concentrations. Finally, positive correlations were observed between UACR and IL-6 and TNF-α concentration under both fasting and postprandial conditions. Conclusions: An increase in postprandial TRLs was observed in Chinese patients with DM and SCAD after daily breakfast, and this increase may be related to early renal injury via the induction of systemic inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although a linear vibration absorber (LVA) or nonlinear energy sink (NES) can effectively mitigate the vibration of a primary system in harmonic excitation, the amplitude of the absorber can be very large. Using the differential evolution algorithm, this paper pioneers the global control of the primary system and absorber to achieve decent vibration mitigation and decrease the global response. The results show that the maximum amplitude of the primary system and absorber can be controlled at the same level, and the global control strategy does not change the resonance frequency of the primary system. Compared with the LVA, the NES has similar vibration mitigation effects, mass ratio, and damping values. However, different from the LVA, the NES can achieve optimal mitigation effects in multiple optimal combinations of spring stiffness and geometry parameter and have smaller frequency responses in large excitation. Therefore, this paper proves the superiority of the NES in global vibration control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• NAS and HIOC are neuroprotective agents. • NAS and HIOC are anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory. • NAS and HIOC counteract autophagy dysfunction and apoptosis. • NAS and HIOC may show usefulness in clinical trials. N-acetylserotonin (NAS) is a chemical intermediate in melatonin biosynthesis. NAS and its derivative N-(2-(5-hydroxy-1H-indol-3-yl) ethyl)-2-oxopiperidine-3-carboxamide (HIOC) are potential therapeutic agents for traumatic brain injury, autoimmune encephalomyelitis, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, and other diseases. Evidence shows that NAS and its derivative HIOC have neuroprotective properties, and can exert neuroprotective effects by inhibiting oxidative stress, anti-apoptosis, regulating autophagy dysfunction, and anti-inflammatory. In this review, we discussed the neuroprotective effects and related mechanisms of NAS and its derivative HIOC to provide a reference for follow-up research and applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the elderly, depression is one of the most common mental disorders, which seriously affects their physical and mental health and quality of life, and their suicide rate is particularly high. Depression in the elderly is strongly associated with surgery. In this study, we aimed to explore the risk factors and establish a predictive model of depressive symptoms 1 month after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in elderly patients. The study participants included 272 elderly patients (age > 65 years) undergoing VATS from April 2020 to May 2021 at 1 of 18 medical centers in China. The patients were divided into a depression group and a nondepression group according to the Chinese version of the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The patients' pre- and postoperative characteristics and questionnaires were collected and compared. Then, binary logistic regression was used to determine the risk factors that affect postoperative depressive symptoms, and the predictive model was constructed. The prediction efficiency of the model was evaluated by drawing the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluate the value of the predictive model. Among all of the included patients, 16.54% (45/272) suffered from depressive symptoms after VATS. The results of the univariate analysis showed that body mass index (BMI), chronic pain, leukocyte count, fibrinogen levels, prothrombin time, ASA physical status, infusion volume, anxiety, sleep quality, and postoperative pain were related to postoperative depressive symptoms (all p < 0.05). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a high fibrinogen level (OR = 2.42), postoperative anxiety (OR = 12.05), poor sleep quality (OR = 0.61), and pain (OR = 2.85) were risk factors of postoperative depressive symptoms. A predictive model was constructed according to the regression coefficient of each variable, the ROC curve was drawn, and the AUC value was calculated to be 0.889. The prediction model may help medical personnel identify older patients at risk of developing depressive disorders associated with VATS and may be useful for clinical purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the solution regularity of a variable-order time-fractional diffusion equation with Mittag-Leffler kernel is analyzed and the uniqueness of determining the variable fractional order based on the observations of the solutions over a small time-space interval is proved. The main difficulty we overcome lies in the technical analysis of the variable-order Mittag-Leffler kernel and its derivatives via special functions, and the proved results provide theoretical supports for the applications of the proposed model in both the direct and inverse manner. Furthermore, the derived methods could be applied to analyze the analogous direct and inverse problems involving the variable-order Caputo–Fabrizio fractional operators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigating the extension of aftershocks and the rupture mechanism can effectively constrain the geometric structure of a seismogenic fault and provide a scientific explanation for the earthquake rupture model and the seismogenic structure. On January 8, 2022, an MS6.9 earthquake occurred in Menyuan County, Qinghai Province. The epicenter was located at the intersection of the Tuolaishan and Lenglongling faults in the Qilian-Haiyuan fault zone. The precise relocation of the earthquake sequence shows that the mainshock appeared to be an asymmetric bilateral rupture. The fault plane had a steep dip angle and was inclined toward the SW. The Menyuan earthquake sequence was characterized by two obvious belts with NWW and SSE orientations, exhibiting clear segmentation and non-uniform spatial characteristics. The focal mechanism solutions of the mainshock and partially mediated aftershocks with MS ≥ 4.0 indicate that the source type of the four early aftershocks was consistent with that of the mainshock, predominantly strike-slip faulting, while the two large later aftershocks located at the eastern tip of the aftershock belt were mainly thrust-type. This reveals that the terminus of the mainshock rupture was arrested by the bifurcation fault of the Lenglongling fault. The release of energy from recent accumulated compressional tectonic stress led to the variation in the types of earthquakes. The regional stress inversion indicates that the focal region is undergoing compression in the NE direction, consistent with the northeast convergence of the characteristics of the stress field of the northeast margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Integrated with the regional geotectonic environment, we infer that the seismogenic fault of the mainshock was associated with the Tuolaishan fault. The earthquake rupture propagated simultaneously toward the connected Tuolaishan and Lenglongling faults, generating a typical strike-slip cascading rupture event, and the energy release of the mainshock was concentrated at the intersecting fault. The Menyuan earthquake revealed the complexity and heterogeneity of the fracture at the intersection of the faults under a strike-slip regime. In addition, it also revealed that the occurrence of large-scale strike-slip earthquakes in the Qilian-Haiyuan fault zone accommodates the compressive force from the northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transformation of CO2 and CO2-derived chemicals into high value-added chemicals is an important method for reducing CO2 emissions and achieving carbon neutrality. Methyl formate (MF) is a critical C1 building block in synthesizing a wide range of important chemicals, such as formic acid, ethylene glycol, and formamide methyl propionate. Here, we report a green route for the sustainable synthesis of MF from CO2-derived formamides via the alcoholysis reaction catalyzed by supported CaO solid bases. The CaO/MgO catalyst with 13.5 wt.% CaO exhibited higher alcoholysis reaction efficiency and achieved 94.5% conversion of N-formylmorpholine and 100% selectivity of MF in methanol at 120 °C. Based on the kinetic studies, characterization results of structural and basic properties (XRD, and TEM, CO2-TPD, etc.), we found that the density of strong basic sites is linearly related to the activity of alcoholysis reaction, and the higher the base density on these catalysts, the greater the reaction rate. This study presents a sustainable route for the synthesis of MF by using CO2-derived formamides and green methanol, and a promising strategy for producing more efficient solid alcoholysis catalysts of amides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop a new class of distribution-free multiple testing rules for false discovery rate (FDR) control under general dependence. A key element in our proposal is a symmetrized data aggregation (SDA) approach to incorporating the dependence structure via sample splitting, data screening, and information pooling. The proposed SDA filter first constructs a sequence of ranking statistics that fulfill global symmetry properties, and then chooses a data-driven threshold along the ranking to control the FDR. The SDA filter substantially outperforms the Knockoff method in power under moderate to strong dependence, and is more robust than existing methods based on asymptotic p-values. We first develop finite-sample theories to provide an upper bound for the actual FDR under general dependence, and then establish the asymptotic validity of SDA for both the FDR and false discovery proportion control under mild regularity conditions. The procedure is implemented in the R package sdafilter. Numerical results confirm the effectiveness and robustness of SDA in FDR control and show that it achieves substantial power gain over existing methods in many settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new trinuclear zinc(II) complexes, [Zn3I2L2(H2O)2] (1) and [Zn3(CH3OH)(DMF)L2(NCS)2] (2), where L is the dianionic form of N,N'-bis(5-bromosalicylidene)-1,2-cyclohexanediamine (H2L), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR and UV spectra. Structures of the complexes were further confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Both complexes are trinuclear zinc compounds. Both compounds are solvated, with water ligand for 1 and methanol ligand for 2. The outer two Zn atoms are in square pyramidal coordination, while the inner one is in octahedral coordination. The effect of the complexes on the antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans were evaluated, and gave interesting results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the terrestrial base stations (TBSs) in the fifth‐generation (5G) network provide high throughput for the conventional terrestrial users (TUs), it is still challenging for the network to support massive TUs and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) simultaneously due to the complicated air–ground channel and severe interference. In this paper, the deployment of a high‐altitude platform (HAP) as a supplement for the terrestrial networks, in which the HAP and TBSs serve TUs and UAVs simultaneously in a joint manner, is studied. The novel network has two challenges. First, the deployment of the HAP, which is a new degree of freedom, should be optimized considering the terrestrial network. Second, the channel of the joint HAP and TBS network that serves multiple TUs and UAVs concurrently is complicated, and the resource allocation of the network should be designed. To tackle the above two challenges, a joint resource allocation and HAP deployment problem are formulated, and a gradient‐and‐matching‐based algorithm is proposed to solve it efficiently. Simulation results show that the HAP and the proposed algorithm enhance the sum‐rate of the network by over 30%, and the average data rate of both the TUs and the UAVs can be effectively improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study makes a significant contribution to the field of groundwater potential mapping (GWPM) by exploring the application of ensemble learning models (ELMs), specifically boosting ensemble models (BEMs), which have not been fully utilized in GWPM. By employing six ELMs (random forest, AdaBoost, XGBoost, CatBoost, GBDT and LightGBM), along with Tree-structured Parzen Estimator in Luoning County, China, this study identifies key indicators (topographic position index, distance to rivers and topographic wetness index) and demonstrates the superior model performance of XGBoost compared to other ELMs. Additionally, correlation analysis confirms the accuracy of XGBoost in predicting relationships between important indicators and groundwater potentials. Finally, the findings provide valuable insights for sustainable groundwater management strategies in Luoning County and emphasize the need for further exploration of ELMs, development of comprehensive performance evaluation and indicator systems, reduction of the inconsistencies between indicators and predication results and practical research to support future sustainable groundwater management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar‐driven water splitting to produce clean and renewable hydrogen offers a green strategy to address the energy crisis and environmental pollution. Heterostructure catalysts are receiving increasing attention for photocatalytic hydrogen generation. ZnO/ZnS/CdS and ZnO/CdS heterostructures have been successfully designed and prepared according to two different strategies. By introducing a heterointerface layer of ZnS between ZnO and CdS, a Z scheme charge‐transfer channel was promoted and achieved superior photocatalytic performance. A highest hydrogen generation rate of 156.7 μmol g−1 h−1 was achieved by precise control of the thickness of the heterointerface layer and of the CdS shell. These findings demonstrated that heterostructures are promising catalysts for solar‐driven water splitting, and that heterointerface engineering is an effective way to improve the photocatalytic properties of heterostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Design and fabrication of efficient and stable photocatalysts are critically required for practical applications of solar water splitting. Herein, a series of WSe2/TiO2 nanocomposites were constructed through a facile mechanical grinding method, and all of the nanocomposites exhibited boosted photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. It was discovered that the enhanced photocatalytic performance was attributed to the efficient electron transfer from TiO2 to WSe2 and the abundant active sites provided by WSe2 nanosheets. Moreover, the intimate heterojunction between WSe2 nanosheets and TiO2 favors the interfacial charge separation. As a result, a highest hydrogen evolution rate of 2.28 mmol/g·h, 114 times higher than pristine TiO2, was obtained when the weight ratio of WSe2/(WSe2 + TiO2) was adjusted to be 20%. The designed WSe2/TiO2 heterojunctions can be regarded as a promising photocatalysts for high-throughput hydrogen production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, four viologen derivatives, namely, 1,1′-bis(4-(bis(4-bromophenyl)amino)phenyl)-[4,4′-bipyridine]dihexafluorophosphate (DBrPV), 1-benzyl-1′-(4-(bis(4-bromophenyl)amino)phenyl)-[4,4′-bipyridine]dihexafluorophosphate (Bn-BrPV), 1,1′-bis(4-(3,6-dibromo-9H-carbazol-9-yl)phenyl)-[4,4′-bipyridine]dihexafluorophosphate (DBrCV), and 1-benzyl-1′-(4-(3,6-dibromo-9H-carbazol-9-yl)phenyl)-[4,4′-bipyridine]dihexafluorophosphate (Bn-BrCV), were synthesized. Electrochromic devices (ECDs) were fabricated using the four viologen derivatives as active materials. The structures of the ECDs were ITO–PET (or ITO–glass)/electrochromic active material/ITO–PET (or ITO–glass). Both flexible and rigid ECDs exhibited reversible color changes under an applied voltage. In particular, the ECDs (flexible and rigid) based on Bn-BrCV can vary from golden to grass green. Furthermore, flexible ECDs can maintain excellent performance after 1000 bending cycles. In addition, electrochromic smart windows and electronic tags, which can display information dynamically, were assembled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cervical cancer (CC) is a common cancer in female, which is associated with problems like poor prognosis. Circular RNA (circRNA) is a kind of competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) that has an important role in regulating microRNA (miRNA) in many cancers. The regulatory mechanisms of CC immune microenvironment and the transcriptome level remain to be fully explored. Methods: In this study, we constructed the ceRNA network through the interaction data and expression matrix of circRNA, miRNA and mRNA. Meanwhile, based on the gene expression matrix, CIBERSORT algorithm was used to reveal contents of tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs). Then, we screened prognostic markers based on ceRNA network and immune infiltration and constructed two nomograms. In order to find immunological differences between the high- and low-risk CC samples, we examined multiple immune checkpoints and predicted the effect of PD-L1 ICI immunotherapy. In addition, the sensitive therapeutics for high-risk patients were screened, and the potential agents with anti-CC activity were predicted by Connective Map (CMap). Results: We mapped a ceRNA network including 5 circRNAs, 17 miRNAs and 129 mRNAs. From the mRNA nodes of the network six genes and two kind of cells were identified as prognostic makers for CC. Among them, there was a significant positive correlation between CD8+ T cells and SNX10 gene. The results of TIDE and single sample GSEA (ssGSEA) showed that T cells CD8 do play a key role in inhibiting tumor progression. Further, our study screened 24 drugs that were more sensitive to high-risk CC patients and several potential therapeutic agents for reference. Conclusions: Our study identified several circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory axes and six prognostic genes based on the ceRNA network. In addition, through TIIC, survival analysis and a series of immunological analyses, T cells were proved to be good prognostic markers, besides play an important role in the immune process. Finally, we screened 24 potentially more effective drugs and multiple potential drug compounds for high- and low-risk patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of a low density area is beneficial to the facilitation of the underwater pulsed spark discharge, which can be achieved by artificially injecting gas bubble in between the inter-electrode gap. The generation of intensive acoustic waves by such gas-bubble-guided spark discharges makes them promising underwater acoustic sources in multiple practical applications. This paper is aimed at comprehensive investigation of the guiding effect of the injected bubble on the pre-breakdown process of underwater pulsed spark discharges and potential correlations between their subsequent electrical and acoustic parameters with the purpose of optimizing the acoustic emission. The breakdown probability and the pre-breakdown delay were used to evaluate the general facilitation effect brought by the injected bubble. Experimental and numerical works have been conducted and allow observation on the dynamics of the injected bubble under the influence of the applied voltage. Different guiding modes of the injected bubble for plasma streamers' propagation have been observed regarding its relative position. The characteristics of the electrical properties of gas-bubble-guided spark discharges, including the plasma resistance and the plasma energy density, were analyzed by relating them with the breakdown voltage. The dependency of the acoustic wave amplitude and the acoustic efficiency on these electrical parameters was verified, which provides solid regulation principles for the optimization of the plasma-acoustic system for target practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fiber optic pressure sensor that can survive 2200 psi and 140 °C was developed. The sensor's pressure sensitivity was measured to be 14 times higher than bare FBG when tested inside stacks of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) composite fabric. The sensitivity can be further improved 6-fold through the Vernier effect. Its tiny sensing length (hundreds of microns) and uniform outer diameter (125 µm) make it a suitable candidate for real-time point pressure monitoring under harsh environments with limited space, such as in composite-forming procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Richtmyer–Meshkov instability of a heavy fluid layer with reshock is investigated experimentally and theoretically, to reveal the mechanisms of the interfacial instabilities and motions of waves and interfaces under reshock conditions. Three kinds of heavy fluid layers with different thicknesses in unperturbed and perturbed cases are considered, highlighting the effects of initial layer thickness on the interface evolution. A general one-dimensional theory for describing the interaction between unperturbed interfaces and waves under reshock conditions is constructed, which supports the instability analysis and theoretical modeling in the perturbed cases. The perturbed fluid-layer results indicate that as the fluid-layer thickness decreases, the inhibition of squeezing effects on perturbation growth is gradually stronger than the promotion of rarefaction-wave effects on perturbation growth. The whole mixing width of fluid layers after reshock acceleration exhibits an approximately linear growth feature, and the reshocked mixing width growth rate is weakly dependent on the initial layer thickness, which is different from the finding before reshock. The linear amplitude growth of the right interface after reshock is promoted by the interface coupling effects but is still smaller than the prediction of the empirical linear model. When the squeezing effects are weak, the nonlinear model, which considers the modification of rarefaction-wave effects, can well predict the perturbation growth during and after the acceleration stage of rarefaction waves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the correlation between calcium intake and the risk of brain tumors (especially glioma). The PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases were searched for relevant papers on the association between calcium intake and glioma as of August 22, 2021. The odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated using a random-effects model. Egger's test was conducted to assess publication bias. The meta-analysis includes four studies. The meta-analysis showed that calcium intake and the risk of brain tumors have a significant negative relationship (OR = 0.28; 95% CI: 0.11 to 0.72; P = 0.008). Dose-response analysis showed that for every 100 mg/day increase in calcium intake, the risk of glioma decreased by 7% (OR = 0.93; 95% CI: 0.88 to 0.98). In addition, compared with humans without calcium intake, when calcium intake is 455 mg/day, 800 mg/day and 1000 mg/day, the risk of glioma is 0.65 (95% CI 0.43, 0.97), 0.55 (95% CI 0.37, 0.82) and 0.37 (95% CI 0.15, 0.86). There is a significant negative association between calcium intake and brain tumors (especially gliomas), but more high-quality studies are needed to verify these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advent of the Industry 4.0 era, the manufacturing industry realizes the importance of developing information and communications technology (ICT). Based on organizational information processing theory and resource-based view, this study constructs the conceptual model with the framework of "information-integration-performance," uses survey data from Chinese manufacturing enterprises, and investigates the impact of ICT alignment on supply chain performance using a structural equation model with supply chain integration as the mediation variable. The study found that ICT alignment has no direct effect on supply chain performance, but its indirect effect is significant under the mediation effect of supply chain integration. In the relationship between supply chain integration and financial performance, operational performance plays a good mediation effect. These findings help companies to implement Industry 4.0 and ICT strategies that apply ICT alignment rationally and innovatively to ensure good organizational operations and improve supply chain performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]