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This study presents an innovative method for the highly sensitive detection of apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1), a crucial biomarker and target for cancer diagnosis and treatment. The method is predicated on our discovery that the apurinic or apyrimidinic site (AP site) can inhibit the activity of Taq DNA polymerase. Subsequent experiments further led to the development of a new amplification method based on the digestion activity of Lambda exonuclease. This approach showed potential to detect trace amounts of APE1 in biological samples with high sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the prevalence of viral infection in body, human T‐cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV‐1) is receiving increasing attention. Research on the corresponding virus models is of great significance to tackle the challenges of understanding HTLV‐1 development and treatment. This paper focuses on the dynamic analysis for a stochastic model with nonlinear cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response, which is driven by Ornstein–Uhlenbeck (OU) process to model the progression of HTLV‐1 in vivo. Rich dynamic behaviors such as the extinction of infected CD4+ T cells (ITCs), stationary distribution (SD), probability density, and finite‐time stability (FTS) of the model are established to reveal the interaction of cell populations. The optimal therapeutic strategy based on the cost‐benefit viewpoint is further obtained. Finally, illustrative numerical simulations are represented to corroborate the effectiveness of treatment and the ambient perturbation's impact that strengthening the noise strength can lead to rapid virus clearance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is beyond dispute that cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs) exert a vital function in the host's antiviral defense mechanism. With the idea of the above factor and the logistic proliferation of CD4 + T-cells, we establish a HTLV-I (human T-cell leukemia virus type-I) mathematical model. First, two threshold parameters ℛ 0 and ℛ c (the basic reproduction numbers for viral infection and CTL immune response, respectively) are obtained. Second, sufficient criteria for local and global asymptotic stabilities of the feasible equilibria of the model are deduced, respectively. Third, the sensitivity analyses of ℛ 0 and ℛ c are performed to better understand the effective strategies for HTLV-I infection. Finally, not only numerical simulations are given to illustrate the stability conclusions, but also the biological significance is stated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Atmosphere and Ocean non-tidal De-aliasing Level-1B (AOD1B) product is widely used in precise orbit determination and satellite gravimetry to correct for transient effects of atmosphere–ocean mass variability that would otherwise alias into monthly mean global gravity fields. The most recent release is based on the global ERA5 reanalysis and ECMWF operational data together with simulations from the general ocean circulation model MPIOM consistently forced with fields from the corresponding atmospheric dataset. As background models are inevitably imperfect, residual errors will consequently propagate into the resulting geodetic products. Accounting for uncertainties of the background model data in a statistical sense, however, has been shown before to be a useful approach to mitigate the impact of residual errors leading to temporal aliasing artefacts. In light of the changes made in the new release RL07 of AOD1B, previous uncertainty assessments are deemed too pessimistic and thus need to be revisited. We here present an analysis of the residual errors in AOD1B RL07 based on ensemble statistics derived from different atmospheric reanalyses, including ERA5, MERRA2 and JRA55. For the oceans, we investigate the impact of both the forced and intrinsic variability through differences in MPIOM simulation experiments. The atmospheric and oceanic information is then combined to produce a new time-series of true errors, called AOe07, which is applicable in combination with AOD1B RL07. AOe07 is further complemented by a new spatial error variance–covariance matrix. Results from gravity field recovery simulation experiments for the planned Mass-Change and Geosciences International Constellation (MAGIC) based on GFZ’s EPOS software demonstrate improvements that can be expected from rigorously implementing the newly available stochastic information from AOD1B RL07 into the gravity field estimation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines a collaborative framework that utilizes an intelligent deep Q-network to regulate the formation of leader–follower Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The aim is to tackle the challenges posed by the highly dynamic and uncertain flight environment of UAVs. In the context of UAVs, we have developed a dynamic model that captures the collective state of the system. This model encompasses variables like as the relative positions, heading angle, rolling angle, and velocity of different nodes in the formation. In the subsequent section, we elucidate the operational procedure of UAVs in a collaborative manner, employing the conceptual framework of Markov Decision Process (MDP). Furthermore, we employ the Reinforcement Learning (RL) to facilitate this process. In light of this premise, a fundamental framework is presented for addressing the control problem of UAVs utilizing the DQN scheme. This framework encompasses a technique for action selection known as ε -imitation, as well as algorithmic specifics. Finally, the efficacy and portability of the DQN-based approach are substantiated by numerical simulation validation. The average reward curve demonstrates a satisfactory level of convergence, and kinematic link between the nodes inside the formation satisfies the essential requirements for the creation of a controller. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outbreak of a disease can lead to behavioral changes in the healthy to avert infection. We first establish a nonlinear SEIR epidemic model that incorporates the impact of individuals' behavioral response owe to information of the disease prevalence. Both the existence of equilibria and sharp sufficient conditions on stable equilibria are verified. Whereafter, the local and global sensitivity analyses are carried out to assess the relative effects of parameters on the basic reproduction number. Therewith the optimal control problem is considered to provide a theoretical basis for disease prevention and control, and the existence and uniqueness consequences for optimal control paths are demonstrated. Some numerical examples and discussions are given to support and visualize our analytical results, which can be derived that the combined use of three control measures is more effective than any single adopted control strategy to curb the spread of diseases. We also find that the information plays a crucial role in controlling infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the performance of solid oxide fuel cells is improved by physically mixing Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95 (GDC) in La0.6Sr0.4CoO3–δ (LSC) cathode. The grain size and chemical compatibility of the powder were analyzed using X‐ray diffraction. Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the microstructure of powder and cells. The thermal expansion coefficients (TECs) of LSC–GDC powder with different mass ratios were tested (LSC:GDC = 10:0, 9:1, 8:2, 7:3, 6:4, and 5:5) and LSC–GDC (5:5) showed the minimal TEC (1.34 × 10−5 K−1 at 650°C). The cathodes with different mass ratios are prepared by screen printing. The symmetrical cell with LSC–GDC (5:5) had the smallest cathode polarization resistance (0.0801 Ω cm2 at 650°C) and the lowest activation energy (1.12 eV). The button cell with LSC–GDC (5:5) exhibited the maximum power density (513 mW cm−2 at 650°C) and could be discharged for 550 h without significant degradation. The LSC–GDC (5:5) cathode was applied to a flat‐tube solid oxide fuel cell and achieved a high power density of 552 mW cm−2 at 0.8 V. The results show that the LSC–GDC (5:5) has a bright future in commercialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adopting a mixed methods approach, this study examined the relationships between undergraduate students' motivation, engagement and learning outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. An online questionnaire survey was administered to collect quantitative and qualitative data. A sample of 10,060 undergraduates from 23 universities in China participated in the survey. The results of quantitative analyses largely confirmed the hypothesised relationships between students' motivation, engagement and the two learning outcome indicators (i.e. mastery of generic skills and overall satisfaction). The qualitative analyses not only supported the quantitative findings, but also identified four types of learning outcomes of online learning emerging from the data. The results indicated that emergent online learning had a favourable influence on students' learning strategies, but had mixed or negative effects on their learning effectiveness, attitudes and emotions. The qualitative results revealed eight major factors that facilitated or hindered students' engagement in online learning during the pandemic. These findings contribute to the conceptualisation and measurement of student engagement in online learning, and emphasise the need to conduct mixed methods research in different learning contexts. The implications for improving online learning and teaching in higher education are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, a novel copper p-aminophenol metal–organic framework (Cu(PAP)2) is first reported. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), infrared spectra (FTIR), Raman spectra, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), in combination with a structure simulation, indicated that Cu(PAP)2 is a two-dimensional (2D) material with a staggered structure analogous to that of graphite. Based on its 2D graphite-like layer structure, Cu(PAP)2 was expected to exhibit preferable tribological behaviors as an additive in liquid lubricants, and the tribological properties of Cu(PAP)2 as a lubricating additive in hydrogenated polydecene (PAO6) or deionized water were investigated. Compared to PAO6 or deionized water, the results indicated that deionized water-based Cu(PAP)2 showed much better friction reduction and anti-wear behavior than PAO6-based Cu(PAP)2 did, which was due to Cu(PAP)2 penetrating the interface between friction pairs in deionized water, but not in PAO6, thus producing lower friction and wear resistance values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This contribution probes into ergodic stationary distribution for two stochastic SVELIT (susceptible-vaccinated-early latent-late latent-infective-treated) tuberculosis (TB) models to observe the impact of white noises and color noises on TB control in random environments. We first investigate the existence and uniqueness of ergodic stationary distribution (EUESD) for the autonomous SVELIT model subject to white noises via the proper Lyapunov functions, and sufficient conditions on the extinction of disease are acquired. Next, sufficient conditions for the EUESD and the extinction of disease for the SVELIT model with Markov switching are also established. Eventually, some numerical examples validate the theoretical findings. What's more, it has been observed that higher amplitude noises may lead to the eradication of TB, which is conducive to TB control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, 145 tea soils were analyzed and exploredthe relationship between soil pH and soil nitrogen forms and tea yield, which is helpful for more accurate fertilization management, so as to improve tea yield and restore acidified soil. The results showed that 82.1% of the soil samples had a pH < 4.50. Tea yield was positively and significantly (p < 0.01) correlated with soil pH. The dominant N form in tea soils was N(NO3−) in pH 3.00–4.00 and was N(NH4+) in pH 4.50–5.50. With the pH gradient of 3.50–4.50, tea yield was positively significantly (p < 0.01) correlated with soil N(NH4+) content, and was negatively significantly (p < 0.01) correlated with soil N(NO3−) content. These results revealed that soil pH is the determinant factor for soil N forms and tea yield. Soil acidification reduced soil N(NH4+) supply, resulting in the decline of tea yield. We suggested that increasing the soil pH cooperated with input of N(NH4+) fertilizer is primary and foremost for soil pH < 4.5. Increasing N(NH4+) fertilizer thus regulates the ratio of N(NO3–)/N(NH4+) to 1:1 or less is a practical proposal for the soil pH gradient of 4.5–5.5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Screening those individuals who are latent but at higher risk of rapidly developing active tuberculosis (TB) is one of the intervention measures to control the spread of TB. This work proposes a TB SVELIT (S‐Susceptible, V‐Vaccinated, E‐Early latent, L‐Late latent, I‐Infected, T‐Treated) transmission model with relapse. In particular, a complete threshold dynamical analysis for the model is performed and the existence of optimal control is obtained. Meanwhile, the validity of the model is shown by comparing the real data with the fitted curve and the future trend in the incidence of TB in China is predicted. More importantly, the effects of four strategies, including vaccination, media propaganda, screening latent individuals, and receiving treatment, are evaluated numerically. The results suggest that the above four strategies can effectively control TB and shorten the duration of the epidemic. Interestingly, treatment is more effective than vaccination in controlling TB, but media propaganda and latent screening are cheaper and easier to implement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Encouragement Character Strength Scale (ECSS) is a self-report measure of encouragement, which refers to a tendency to enjoy and perceive oneself as being accomplished in communicating affirmations to motivate others. Although it is theoretically assumed as an overarching construct consisting of two domain-specific factors (i.e., perceived ability and enjoyment), there is inconclusive evidence regarding the most optimal factor structure of the encouragement construct. This study evaluated the factor structure, measurement invariance, and criterion-related validity of the Chinese version of the ECSS among teachers and undergraduate students in mainland China. Results showed that the bifactor model of encouragement demonstrated the best fit among undergraduate students and teachers. There was evidence supporting the measurement invariance of this factor structure across type of samples (i.e., teachers and undergraduate students) and gender. Ancillary bifactor indices indicate the superiority of using the ECSS's overall or general factor over subscale scores. The ECSS total score also showed internal consistency and temporal stability. A review of correlations between encouragement and criterion variables (i.e., kindness, hope, agreeableness, and extraversion) indicates that effect sizes ranged from moderate to large. Furthermore, the encouragement general factor was positively correlated with both psychological well-being and work engagement after controlling for the aforementioned criterion variables and demographic covariates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chest wall sinus with infection is a refractory disease caused by a variety of susceptible factors, and the treatment is still challenging. For clinically complex cases, although there are various surgical methods to choose from, it is still very difficult to achieve clinical cure, especially for patients with older age and many underlying diseases. Complete resection of chest wall sinus and application of repair and reconstruction technology may bring hope to refractory cases. Case presentation: Herein, we report a case of a 67 year-old woman who had undergone breast cancer surgery and a history of multiple cycles of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. One year ago, she had a fistula in the left chest wall with yellow purulent fluid. After admission to our hospital, chest computed tomography (CT) showed the formation of the left chest wall sinus, accompanied by high-density images of the left clavicle, part of the ribs and part of the sternu. According to the patient's symptoms, signs and imaging examination, we preliminarily diagnosed the patient as chest wall sinus with infection and chronic osteomyelitis. Therefore, in the first-stage operation, the patient underwent left chest wall sinus resection, left partial rib resection, left partial clavicular resection and left partial sternal resection, After surgery, the wound surface was changed with gauze dressing with sensitive antibiotic solution every day until the wound surface was clean and new granulation was formed. In the second-stage operation, the wound surface was appropriately expanded, and the pedicled latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap was transferred to the chest wall defect. Finally, the skin paddle was sutured without tension to the normal skin around the chest, and two drainage tubes were placed. Anti-infection, anti-spasm, anti-coagulation and other treatments were given after operation, and the survival of myocutaneous flap, wound healing and sinus disappearance were observed. Conclusion: The application of pedicled latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap in the treatment of intractable chronic chest wall sinus is an effective method. It does not change the shape of the thorax. The clinical effect is satisfactory in the near and medium term, which is worthy of clinical promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two novel deterministic and stochastic nonlinear hepatitis C virus (HCV) models with nonlinear incidence rates as βSpE,βSpI$$ \beta {S}^pE,\beta {S}^pI $$, and βSpCq$$ \beta {S}^p{C}^q $$, containing acute and chronic infections, are developed, and an endeavor to understand their dynamics has been accomplished. For the former model, both the existence of unique equilibria and the sharp sufficient conditions of globally stable equilibria under different cases are established. Whereafter, the efforts taken to detect the asymptotic behaviors around equilibria, the existence of ergodic stationary distribution, and stochastic extinction of the latter model have been supplemented with meticulous theoretical proofs. At last, several numerical examples and discussions are illustrated to sustain and visualize our theoretical results. Compared and analyzed the numerical and theoretical results, we can find that the noise can influence the dynamics of disease and turn the disease from persistence to extinction. Moreover, several control measures are suggested based on our study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To investigate the relationship between cyclin D2 (CCND2) and miR-206 expression in fine-needle aspiration cytology of thyroid carcinoma. Methods: A total of 65 patients with thyroid carcinoma were selected as the subjects and 65 patients with benign thyroid nodules were in control group. The fine-needle aspiration cytology of thyroid nodules was performed. CCND2 and miR-206 levels were detected by PCR. Results: Compared with the patients with benign thyroid nodules, the expression level of miR-206 in fine-needle aspiration cytology of thyroid cancer patients decreased significantly and the expression level of CCND2 increased significantly. CCND2 and miR-206 expression was negatively correlated in thyroid cancer tissues. Area under curve (AUC) of miR-206 level in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer was 0.889, and the sensitivity and specificity were 92.3% and 81.5%, respectively. AUC of CCND2 level in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer was 0.837, and the sensitivity and specificity were 67.7% and 89.2%, respectively. The AUC of combined detection of CCND2 and miR-206 in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer was 0.959, and the sensitivity and specificity were 93.8% and 87.7%, respectively. The levels of miR-206 and CCND2 were significantly correlated with TNM staging and lymph node metastasis. Conclusions: miR-206 and CCND2 may become new biomarkers for clinical diagnosis of thyroid cancer based on the fine-needle aspiration cytology of thyroid nodules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of nanomedicine has provided a promising strategy to greatly enhance the therapeutic efficacy of O2‐dependent photodynamic therapy (PDT). However, plasma‐derived protein corona and/or discontinuous O2 supply substantially limit their tumor delivery efficiency and therapeutic outcomes. Herein, protein corona cloaking‐based cascade nanozymes are developed using genetically engineered human ferritin heavy chain nanocages (FTn) as unique pre‐coated protein corona and cascade nanozymes as steady O2 suppliers. Specifically, FTn is coated onto mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) to form FTn‐based protein corona, providing active targeting of tumor cells by binding with its receptor. In situ synthesis of ultra‐small Au nanoparticles in MSNs, and biomimetic incorporation of Ru nanoclusters into FTn inner cavity showed glucose oxidase‐like activity and catalase‐like activity, respectively. The two nanozymes are incorporated into MSNs nanoplatform to induce cascade and circular catalytic reactions by consuming glucose and H2O2 within the tumor microenvironment. Compared to MSNs alone, the FTn‐based protein corona is capable of efficiently diminishing plasma‐derived protein corona formation to prolong blood circulation time and improving in vitro tumor cell uptake and in vivo tumor accumulation, thereby providing significantly enhanced therapeutic benefits of PDT by combining with the continuously produced O2 of cascade nanozymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper formulates a diffusive tuberculosis (TB) model with early and late latent infections, vaccination and treatment that may more properly describe the slow and fast dynamics of TB transmission. We develop a new concise approach to determine the combination coefficients in the Lyapunov function candidate for the model and its time derivative in the case that both are the linear combinations of several Volterra-type functions, which highly simplifies the computations in global dynamical analysis for the nonlinear high-dimensional model. Based on the TB case data reported in China, the parameter values of the model are estimated. We further predict the TB prevalence trend in China. Sensitivity analysis for the control reproduction number and endemic equilibrium is conducted to seek some effective interventions that can significantly reduce initial TB transmission and lower TB prevalence levels in China. In the end, numerical simulations show that the bigger diffusive rates pick up the speeds of convergence to the equilibria of the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) using BaZr0.8−xCexY0.2O3−δ (BZCY) as electrolyte materials have attracted widespread attention because of their high performance at reduced temperature. However, there are few systematic studies on both the performance and stability of BZCY materials. In this paper, we report our work on the electrochemical performance and chemical stability of BaZr0.8−xCexY0.2O3−δ (x = 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7) series. The results show that electronic hole conductivity decreases with increasing Ce4+ content, especially at high temperature. In addition, H2 atmosphere reduces the conductive activation energy of BZCY. On the contrary, air atmosphere causes serious electronic leakage. These effects are also reflected in the operation of PCFCs, that is, the higher the Ce4+ content, the higher the open‐circuit voltage and output power density. However, low Ce4+ content may stabilize the materials in CO2 atmosphere. At 700°C, an anode‐supported PCFC based on BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.2O3−δ electrolyte, using humid H2 fuel, gives a peak power density of 1.0 W cm−2. At 600°C, BaZr0.8Y0.2O3−δ and BaZr0.7Ce0.1Y0.2O3−δ show a good stability in CO2‐containing atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous asphalt concrete (PAC) has attracted significant attention in the road industry due to its excellent noise reduction capabilities. However, clogging in PAC decreases its sound absorption performance, as mesoscopic pore parameters play a crucial role in influencing PAC's sound absorption abilities. To further investigate the influence of mesoscopic pore parameters on the sound absorption performance of PAC, CT scanning and digital image processing technology were employed. The principal component analysis method was employed to determine the weighting of the influence of mesoscopic pore parameters on the sound absorption coefficient. The correlation between different pore parameters and the sound absorption coefficient of PAC specimens was analyzed. The results showed that the minimum Feret diameter has the most significant effect on the sound absorption performance of PAC, while the concavity and the length-short axis ratio have the least impact. The correlation between mesoscopic pore parameters and sound absorption coefficients was found to be inconsistent before and after clogging. Mesoscopic pore parameters that were positively correlated with sound absorption coefficients before clogging turned negatively correlated after clogging. Connected large pores and smooth regular pore structure enhance the sound absorption performance of PAC, but clogging disrupts this structure, resulting in a decrease in sound absorption performance. • The mesoscopic pore parameters were screened by principal component analysis. • The minimum Feret diameter has the greatest effect on the sound absorption performance of PAC. • Clogging disrupts PAC's smooth, interconnected pores, causing decline in its sound absorption performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the pyrolysis characteristics of oil shale, an important strategic resource, is of great significance for oil shale refining and in situ underground mining. In this study, using the oil shale from Jimsar region of Xinjiang, in combination with thermogravimetric analyzer (TG), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and mass spectrometry (MS) techniques, the pyrolysis characteristics and mechanism of the oil shale are analyzed according to the experimental results and explored the effect of its pyrolysis on the development of the pore. The results, the pyrolysis with three stages, show the following: (1) The first stage is 23-390°C. The precipitation of adsorbed water within the oil shale and the dehydration of gypsum are mainly at 100°C or so, appearing some microcapillary pores and other temperature sections change little. (2) The second stage is 390-527°C. The organic matter pyrolysis of Jimsar oil shale accounts for 71.1% of the total weight loss of oil shale. This stage has the greatest impact on the evolution of pore structure, and there are two weight loss peaks at 458°C and 506°C, respectively, in the thermogravimetric curve. Combined with FTIR-MS, the main products of its pyrolysis gas are H2, H2O, CO2, CH4, and CnHm and will change the original pore surface of oil shale, create new pore volume, and produce complex and irregular pore structure. (3) In third stage (527-800°C), the formation of H2, CO2, and hydrocarbon gases suggests that this stage includes not only the decomposition of major inorganic components like carbonate and clay but also the degradation process of some organic matter. At this stage, the CO2 generated in the precipitation process will lead to a large number of pores in oil shale. Crack grids will appear, due to the melting and recrystallization of some clay minerals. Once the interaction between the two is particularly intense, the mineral skeleton may rupture and collapse. The pyrolysis characteristics above provide a basis for the analysis of the pore structure evolution of oil shale and are of implications and practical application value to the exploitation of shale oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming to lower the operating temperature of solid oxide fuel cells down to 500–700 °C, a Co-containing composite cathode La 0.6 Sr 0.4 CoO 3-δ -Ce 0.85 Sm 0.075 Nd 0.075 O 2-δ (LSC-SNDC) is prepared by the solid-liquid method. The crystallinity, grain size and microstructure of LSC powders are analyzed by X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The LSC-SNDC cathodes with different mass ratios (LSC: SNDC = 100:0, 90:10, 70:30, 60:40 and 50:50) are implemented into symmetrical cells and full cells using screen printing. The effect of cathode sintering temperatures (900, 950, 1000, 1050 °C) is investigated at the symmetrical cell level. The lowest cathode polarization resistance (R p) is obtained with the 50:50 sample sintered at 950 °C, demonstrating a R p (symmetrical cell) of 0.0248, 0.0319, 0.0597, 0.1107 and 0.2304 Ω cm2 and a maximum power density (full cell) of 1963, 1535, 1013, 585, and 302 mW cm−2 at 800, 750, 700, 650 and 600 °C, respectively. The LSC-SNDC (50:50) cathode exhibits a low thermal expansion coefficient of 12.3 × 10−6 K−1 and good compatibility with other cell components, as confirmed from SEM observations. The current work demonstrates that LSC-SNDC is a promising cathode material for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the recycling of waste original cement-stabilized macadam (OCSM) base has important environmental and economic significance, the addition of emulsified asphalt to OCSM to form emulsified recycled OCSM (ER-OCSM) can improve the flexibility of recycled mixtures. However, the influence of emulsified asphalt on the mechanical performance of such mixtures remains to be investigated. This study presents a gradation design and ER-OCSM established using the step-by-step filling method and investigated the mechanical properties of the ER-OCSM mixture. The apparent characteristics, crushing value and needle-like particle content of the OCSM milling material were tested. Based on step-by-step filling theory, the appropriate test method to achieve a uniform and dense state according to the characteristics of different aggregates was selected, and the dense skeleton gradation design method for recycled cement macadam was obtained. The mechanical properties of the ER-OCSM were analyzed by performing indoor physical laboratory tests. The natural gradation of the OCSM milling material exceeded the gradation range recommended in the Technical Guide for the Promotion of Science and Technology of the Construction Project of the Main Highway in Jiangsu Province (Trial), but the designed gradations were basically within the range. At the same age and temperature, the flexural strength and dynamic elastic modulus of the ER-OCSM decreased gradually with an increase in the emulsified asphalt content. Because ER-OCSM had temperature-sensitive characteristics, the adhesiveness of the asphalt between particles in the mixture decreased with increasing temperature, which was manifested as the unconfined compressive strength, flexural tensile strength and dynamic elastic modulus decreasing with an increase in temperature (the decrease was slight within 5–25°C but noticeable within 25–60°C). Furthermore, a higher emulsified asphalt content caused a more noticeable decrease. The flexural strength of the tested ER-OCSM showed noticeable correlations with the splitting strength, unconfined compressive strength and dynamic elastic modulus. The proper addition of emulsified asphalt can reduce the rigidity of ER-OCSM. However, the emulsified asphalt content should be strictly controlled; otherwise, the mechanical properties of the material will decrease greatly, adversely impacting the comprehensive road use performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we conducted a cage‐culture trial to evaluate the gonadal development and nutritional quality of adult female Chinese mitten crabs (Eriocheir sinensis) fed a formulated diet (FD), traditional diet (TD) or trash fish (TF) during wintering. The results revealed a marked reduction in the hepatopancreatic index (HSI) during 90 days of wintering, and that crabs fed the TF diet had a significantly higher HSI and total edible yield than those fed the TD diet after wintering (p < 0.05). In terms of proximate composition, protein and lipid contents in the ovaries showed significant increases over the wintering period, whereas there was a significant reduction in hepatosomatic protein levels. Among the three overwintering treatments, the contents of ovarian proteins and hepatosomatic lipids were significantly higher in TF crabs. Although the redness (a*) of the carapace and ovaries was found to have increased significantly during wintering, there was a significant reduction in hepatosomatic redness, which was consistent with the total carotenoid contents detected in these tissues. Moreover, among the three treatments, hepatosomatic redness was significantly higher in TF treatment after the overwintering period. In addition, nutritional quality index assessments revealed that crabs in the TF and TD groups were characterized by the highest and lowest values respectively. In conclusion, we found that the nutritional quality of adult female E. sinensis undergoes a marked decline during the wintering period. However, the provision of a TF diet can contribute to protecting against a deterioration in the nutritional quality of crabs maintained over winter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) reduction and linearization techniques are both effective methods to improve the efficiency of the transmitter in digital video broadcasting (DVB) systems. Traditional methods deploy the PAPR reduction model and the linearization model, respectively, without considering their mutual influence. Therefore, the joint optimizations of PAPR reduction and linearization techniques are proposed. However, these methods train the PAPR reduction model and the linearization model based on the time-division training method. It is difficult to meet the requirements of multiple objectives. To address this issue, this paper proposes a joint PAPR reduction and digital predistortion (DPD) method using the real-valued neural network (RVNN) for Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) systems. The proposed method jointly trains the PAPR reduction function and the DPD function with multi-objective optimization, to achieve PAPR reduction and linearization simultaneously. Especially, this method unifies the PAPR reduction function and the DPD function into one model based on RVNN, and no extra processing is required at the receiver. Compared with the traditional methods, the experimental results show that the proposed method has superior performance in PAPR, adjacent channel power ratio (ACPR) and bit error rate (BER), while having lower computational complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The corrosion resistance mechanism of h-BN/IBTS hybrid latex in acidic environment is elucidated as follows: The addition of h-BN improves shrinkage cracking during silane drying and enhances the densification of the composite coating. h-BN/IBTS hybrid latex reduces the leaching of hydration products from the concrete by blocking the entry of harmful ions and minimizes the formation of gypsum. [Display omitted] • A hybrid latex of hydroxylated h-BN and silane was synthesized via sol–gel method. • Incorporating h-BN reduces silane drying shrinkage and enhances coating densification. • After coating, h-BN adheres to the surface of hydration products, displaying excellent dispersion. • Hybrid latex reduces the dissolution of hydration products and blocking corrosive ion infiltration. Concrete, as the most common building material, is susceptible to erosion in acidic environments, leading to issues such as surface cracking and aggregate exposure. This study employs iso -butyltrimethoxysilane (IBTS) as the coating matrix and incorporates h-BN as a filler material to prepare h-BN/IBTS hybrid latex for addressing the problem of acid corrosion in concrete. By characterizing the binding state between h-BN and IBTS, tracking changes in mortar specimen composition during the corrosion process, this study analyzes the acid corrosion protection mechanism provided by h-BN/IBTS hybrid latex on the surface of mortar specimens. The experimental results demonstrate that hydroxylation-modified h-BN can effectively disperse within IBTS, thus alleviating the agglomeration phenomenon caused by silane volatilization. This enhancement improves the film quality of silane and increases coating tightness. The h-BN/IBTS hybrid latex significantly reduces the corrosion rate of cement mortar specimens in a sulfuric acid environment. This reduction is attributed to the introduction of h-BN, which substantially prolongs the erosion pathway for H+ and S O 4 2 - in sulfuric acid, reduces the formation of gypsum within the concrete's internal structure, and effectively preserves the microscale pore structure within the concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanical properties of the asphalt mixture largely depend on its internal structure. Studies in mixture mesostructure are of great significance for perfecting relevant theoretical systems and improving mixture design methods. However, efficient segmentation of mesostructure is an important precondition for mesoscale research about asphalt mixtures. Therefore, this article proposes a new method for mesostructure information acquisition that mainly improves the function of image preprocessing and separation of touching objects. A visual and quantitative comparison between the proposed and common methods is adopted. The result shows that the proposed method performs better in identifying small particles and retaining the fidelity of the boundary. Besides, the mesostructure of four types of asphalt mixtures are compared based on the proposed method. The result shows that the optimum sample size, which makes the measured 2D information efficiently close to the actual 3D information, is around 20–30. Compared to SUP25, the coordination number of AC20 is about 0.15–0.23 higher. Compared with the samples compacted by Marshall, the samples compacted by gyratory have a larger coordination number, about 0.12–0.21 higher, a larger fractal dimension, about 0.059–0.062 higher, a smaller uniformity of major axis orientation, about 1.53–1.28 lower, and a smaller uniformity of area distribution, about 0.063–0.12 lower. • Proposes and verifies a new method for mesostructure information acquisition. • Multiple samples can remedy the information loss caused by dimension reduction. • The optimum sample size is determined to be around 20–30. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors proposed a character recognition algorithm to improve the recognition efficiency and recognition accuracy in character recognition. The algorithm is based on a deep belief network classifier. In the character recognition, a comprehensive feature model is established firstly by combining the histogram Gabor feature, grid level feature and gray level co-occurrence matrix. Subsequently, the deep belief network trains the feature model. Finally, the probability model is used to judge the recognition symbols. The algorithm is tested with 74 k data set and is compared and analyzed from three indexes: false acceptance rate, false rejection rate and accuracy. The data set simulation and comparison with other algorithms indicate that the recognition system based on the probability model and depth learning has higher accuracy and better performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNA-93 (miR-93) is an oncogene that promotes tumor growth and angiogenesis. However, its role in Parkinson's disease (PD) remains unknown. This study aimed at investigating the role of miR-93 in PD and the molecular mechanisms involved. 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD mouse model and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-exposed BV2 cells were constructed. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of miR-93, iNOS, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and TGF-β1. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assay were used to predict and confirm the interaction between miR-93 and STAT3. Flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression of STAT3. Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze the Iba1-positive and TH positive cells. It was found that the expression of miR-93 was down-regulated in LPS-exposed BV2 cells. Overexpression of miR-93 inhibited the expression of iNOS, IL-6 and TNF-α, while enhanced the expression of TGF-β1 and IL-10. The expression of transcriptional activator 3 (STAT3) was found to be up-regulated in LPS-exposed BV2 cells. Knockdown of STAT3 inhibited the expression of iNOS, IL-6 and TNF-α, while enhanced the expression of TGF-β1 and IL-10. Moreover, STAT3 was found to be a direct target of miR-93, and miR-93 overexpression inhibited the expression of STAT3. Furthermore, both miR-93 overexpression and STAT3 knockdown reduced LPS-induced BV2 cell apoptosis, whereas STAT3 overexpression eliminated the inhibitory effect of miR-93 on LPS-induced BV2 cell apoptosis. In addition, miR-93 overexpression inhibited MPTP-induced STAT3 expression, microglial activation and inflammatory reaction and reduced the loss of tyrosine hydroxylase in the substantia nigra of mice. In conclusion, we demonstrate that miR-93 may be involved in PD by regulating the expression of STAT3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explored the indirect effect of family socioeconomic status on career adaptability within the framework of career capital theory, by investigating the mediating role of human capital. We distributed the Family Socioeconomic Status Scale, Tacit Knowledge Inventory for College Students, and Career Adapt-Abilities Scale to 1,692 college students in China. SPSS 21.0 and Mplus 7.0 were used for data analysis. Results show that family socioeconomic status had a direct predictive effect on participants' career adaptability. Mediation model results show that this direct effect was fully mediated by tacit knowledge. Critically, the mediation model results differed between urban and rural college student participants, such that the tacit knowledge of urban (vs. rural) participants had a more positive predictive effect on their career adaptability. Results are discussed within the framework of career capital theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the nonclassical transient heat propagation process in a cracked strip is investigated by Guyer–Krumhansl (G–K) model, which incorporates both the time lagging behavior and the spatially nonlocal effect. The impulsive thermal loading as well as cyclic loading exerted on the top bounding surface are examined to explore the non-Fourier thermal characteristics. By means of the Laplace transform and Fourier transform, the governing partial differential equations subjected to mixed boundary conditions are converted to a group of singular integral equations. With the aid of numerical Laplace inversion, the transient temperatures are calculated to make comparisons of thermal responses determined by Fourier's law, Cattaneo–Vernotte (C–V) equation, and G–K model. The numerical results display the specific thermal behaviors of G–K model in the cracked medium and demonstrate the G–K model's capabilities in eliminating the unrealistic phenomena accompanied by C–V equation. Our research would contribute to achieving a better understanding of the transient heat conduction in small-sized systems or composites at the macroscopic scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposed a single-stage AC-DC converter based on boost circuit and CLCL-T resonant converter for improving the performance of the LED driver. In practice, the two-stage LED driver is not suitable for low-power lighting applications. To overcome the problems, by integrating the boost power factor correction (PFC) circuit and CLCL-T resonant DC–DC converter, the proposed LED driver exhibits high efficiency and high reliability. The CLCL-T resonant converter can achieve soft-switching on the power switch and rectifier diode and reduce the switch losses at high frequencies. Operation principle, performance analysis and design considerations for the proposed LED driver are analyzed and discussed. The results indicate that the proposed single-stage LED driver is superior in terms of efficiency, volume and number of components. Finally, a 100-W experimental prototype is implemented, and the experimental results verify the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed LED driver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The significant influence of family emotional expressiveness (FEE) on adolescents' face-to-face social interactions is well-established. However, there has been limited investigation into potential links between FEE and adolescents' online social behaviors, especially cyberbullying bystander behaviors, which are pivotal in cyberbullying incidents. This study aimed to assess the relative importance of different aspects of FEE (positive FEE vs. negative FEE vs. the Positive-to-Negative ratio) in predicting adolescents' cyberbullying bystander behaviors, and the mediating roles of affective and cognitive empathy in these relationships. Methods: A sample of 1,952 adolescents (Mage = 14.18, SD = 1.33) completed questionnaires, including the Family Emotional Expressiveness Questionnaire, Basic Empathy Scale, and Cyberbullying Bystander Behavior Scale. SPSS 26.0 and Mplus 8.3 were used for analysis. Results: (1) Positive FEE exhibited a positive association with protective behavior and a negative association with indifferent behavior. Conversely, negative FEE showed positive associations with reinforcing and indifferent behaviors. However, the Positive-to-Negative ratio did not exhibit significant associations with any of the three bystander behaviors. (2) Negative FEE emerged as relatively more significant than both positive FEE and the Positive-to-Negative ratio in predicting reinforcing and indifferent behaviors. (3) Affective empathy mediated the relationship between positive FEE and reinforcing behavior, while cognitive empathy mediated the relationship between positive FEE and protective and indifferent behaviors. Moreover, cognitive empathy exerted a more influential role than affective empathy in this mediation process. Conclusion: Various aspects of FEE demonstrated distinct relationships with three cyberbullying bystander behaviors, with affective and cognitive empathy playing an important mediating role in the association. This finding holds substantial implications for the development of cyberbullying prevention strategies. Such strategies could target the reduction of negative emotional expression within adolescent families and the cultivation of both cognitive and affective empathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A system of impulsive stochastic differential equations is proposed as a two-species facultative mutualism model subject to impulsive and two coupling noise source perturbations, in which the saturation effect is taken into account. A set of sufficient criteria for extinction (exponential extinction and extinction) and permanence (permanence in time average and stochastic permanence) of the system are established. Extensive simulation figures are demonstrated to support the theoretical findings. Meanwhile, we look at the effects of coupling white noises, impulses, intrinsic growth rates, intra-specific competition rates and inter-specific mutualism rates on the survival of populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has resulted in a significantly large number of psychological consequences, including sleep health. The present study evaluated sleep patterns, sleep disturbances, and associated factors in Chinese preschoolers confined at home during the COVID‐19 outbreak. Caregivers of 1619 preschoolers (aged 4–6 years) recruited from 11 preschools in Zunyi, Guizhou province completed the Children's Sleep Habit Questionnaire (CSHQ) between 17th and 19th February 2020. Data were compared to a sociodemographically similar sample of preschoolers (included in the 11 preschools) in 2018. Compared to the 2018 sample, the confined preschoolers demonstrated changes in sleep patterns characterized by later bedtimes and wake times, longer nocturnal and shorter nap sleep durations, comparable 24‐hr sleep duration, and fewer caregiver‐reported sleep disturbances. Moreover, behavioural practices (sleeping arrangement, reduced electronic device use, regular diet) and parenting practices (harmonious family atmosphere and increased parent‐child communication) were associated with less sleep disturbances in the confined sample. The present study provides the first description of the impact of prolonged home confinement during the COVID‐19 outbreak on sleep patterns and sleep disturbances in preschoolers, as well as highlighting the importance of the link between sleep health and family factors. Given that disrupted and insufficient sleep has been linked to immune system dysfunction, our findings also have potential implications for resilience to infection in young children during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Future studies should further explore deficient sleep as a risk factor for coronavirus infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a challenge to develop polyurethane pressure-sensitive adhesive (PU-PSA) simultaneously with good cohesion and adhesion properties. Inspired by the structure of multiple hydrogen bonds in spider silk, we introduced Acylsemicarbazide (ASCZ) moiety that can form multiple hydrogen bonds in the polymer network into PU-PSA. The characteristic absorption peaks of ester groups at 1600–1780 cm−1 were analyzed in FTIR testing, and the results showed that ASCZ formed multiple hydrogen bonds in PU-PSA, and the hydrogen bond content increased with the increase of ASCZ content. In particular, PUA-AD20% with 24.3 % hydrogen bond content showed higher shear strength (0.51 MPa) and debonding energy (3.3 KJ m−2). Rheological tests showed that PU-PSA storage modulus and loss modulus increased with increasing frequency, which was highly frequency dependent. Therefore, as dynamic and reversible sacrificial bonds, hydrogen bonds can dissipate energy efficiently and resist external forces. In addition, the ASCZ component also provided PU-PSA with the polar groups required for adhesion. Therefore, PUA-AD20% had excellent adhesion properties. Compared to PUA, PUA-AD20% tack and peel strength increased by 36.1 % and 146.8 %, with values of 4.9 N and 11.6 N, respectively. In summary, this work offered a simple and versatile approach to designing PU-PSA with outstanding overall performance. [Display omitted] • Inspired by the structure of spider silk, we designed a simple and fine molecular structure for PU-PSA. • Multiple hydrogen bonds can improve the cohesion strength and adhesion properties of PU-PSA. • PU-PSA has a high cohesive strength of 0.52 MPa and good adhesion strength. • PU-PSA uses ultraviolet curing method, the production process is more rapid and environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Azvudine (FNC) is a new drug conditionally approved in 2022 for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in China. However, the exposure level of FNC in COVID-19 patients in clinical practice is still obscure, and there is no liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) or LC method reported for quantifying the FNC. In this study, a simple, fast, and reliable LC-MS/MS method using L -phenylalanine-D5 (Phe-D5) as the internal standard (IS) was developed for the quantification of FNC in plasma from COVID-19 patients. After simple protein precipitation with methanol, the analyte in the supernatant was separated on Waters Atlantis® T3 (2.1 ×100 mm, 3.0 µm) column with the mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile (ACN) - aqueous solution (containing 0.03% heptafluorobutyric acid and 0.2% formic acid). The mobile phase was delivered at 0.3 mL/min in an isocratic elution program (15:85, V: V). The linear relationship of FNC was good within the calibration range of 2.0 – 2000.0 ng/mL, with the recovery of FNC ranging from 81.37% to 103.31% and the matrix effect was 94.77%− 109.83%. The short-term, long-term, and freeze-thaw stability of the FNC assessed in method was acceptable, and all other items met the requirements of validation of the biological analytical method. Finally, the method was applied to detect the exposure level of FNC in plasma samples from patients diagnosed with COVID-19, and the results, which are within the linear range of the method, showed huge inter-individual variation, supporting the significance of therapeutic drug monitoring of FNC. • First reported a LC-MSMS method for quantifying of FNC. • A simple protein precipitation method was utilized for FNC extraction. • Application to determine concentration of FNC in plasma from COVID-19 patients. • Provided a reference for investigating the efficacy-exposure relationship of FNC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The optimum reaction conditions were obtained by comparing the modification effects of hydrothermal method on h-BN. • h-BN was dispersed in silane coating by means of covalent bonding. • The binding mechanism between h-BN and silane was investigated. • The enhancement effect of h-BN on waterproofing performance of silane coating under different dosage was studied. In this study, to improve the waterproofing of cement, hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) underwent hydroxylation modification, and h-BN/isobutyltriethoxysilane (IBTS) hybrid latex was prepared by sol–gel method. The hydroxylation and structure of h-BN were investigated under different preparation and modification conditions. The optimal hydroxylation was obtained in the h-BN prepared at 140℃ for a heating time of 18 h with 8 mol/L NaOH. The bonding and interaction mechanisms of hydroxylated h-BN and silane were analyzed. Modified h-BN exhibited good dispersion in silane, thereby filling defects. Applying h-BN/IBTS on cement, the water absorption coefficient and average surface energy decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Receptor Interacting Protein Kinase 1 (RIPK1) and RIPK3 are key adaptors that play critical roles in inflammatory and cell death signaling. Work in recent years have shown that their activities are tightly regulated by ubiquitination, phosphorylation and proteolysis. In addition to these post-translational modifications, the expression and activities of these kinases can further be tuned by environmental changes in pH and oxygen content. Proper control of these regulatory processes is crucial for the RIP kinases to execute their functions in immune responses and tissue homeostasis. In this review, we discuss recent advance in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate the activities of the RIP kinases. We will also discuss how the different regulatory mechanisms contribute to the functions of RIPK1 and RIPK3 in different pathophysiological settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiwavelength pyrometry (MWP) is one of the most powerful tools for the precise measurement of high temperatures on the surfaces of non-gray materials. However, the unknown spectral emissivity of target materials is the most difficult obstacle to overcome in processing temperature inversion data using MWP. A direct and fast generalized inverse matrix normalization (GIM-NOR) data processing algorithm based on GIM theory for underdetermined equations is proposed in order to minimize the effects arising from unknown emissivity. The shape of the emissivity distribution is obtained so that the channel with the greatest emissivity can be selected in order to obtain a value close to the real temperature. The final inversion accuracy is then further improved using a NOR compensation method. Six kinds of materials with a distribution of emissivities at 1800 K were used to simulate and verify the proposed algorithm. The results show that the average relative error of temperature inversion was 0.63%, obtained within 8 ms computation time using a standard desktop computer, and the accuracy and efficiency were largely unaffected when 5% random noise was inserted into the simulation data. A set of experimental data for rocket nozzle temperature measurements with MWP were also processed based on the proposed novel algorithm. The results show that the relative error on the temperature was less than 0.50%, for a design temperature of 2490 K, and that the processing efficiency was very high, that is, within 9 ms. Simulation and experiment both proved that the proposed efficient data processing algorithm for MWP based on GIM theory was unaffected by emissivity and achieved good inversion precision and fast data processing. Therefore, the proposed new data processing algorithm for MWP data for measuring transient high temperatures has very broad potential applications, and it also provides a theoretical basis for measuring high-temperature fields using MWP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For much of the past three decades, China has witnessed a dramatic and steady increase in internal migration and thus has a huge population of left-behind children. The impact of childhood left-behind experiences has been carefully studied, but research on the long-term effects of these experiences is generally lacking. Capitalizing on a study of migrant workers conducted in Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta regions, we extend this line of research by examining how childhood experiences of being left behind by migrant parents affect the behaviors of adults. Our study shows that people with left-behind experiences (1) are more likely to work overtime, which could result from avoidance of close interpersonal interaction after work; (2) spend a larger part of their income on surfing the Internet, indicating that they prefer activities not involving direct contact with other people; and (3) occurring at different stages of life can have varied long-term impacts. This study not only echoes earlier studies on the relationship between family structure and children's behavioral outcomes, but also provides substantial evidence of the long-term negative effect of childhood left-behind experiences on adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) show great potential in terms of lowering the operation temperature and overall cost of solid oxide fuel cells based on the high ionic conductivity and low activation energy of proton-conducting electrolytes in intermediate or low temperature environments. However, a significant reduction in anode activity with decreasing temperature hinders the broad application of PCFCs. In this study, a novel anode material Ni–Ba 0.96 (Ce 0.66 Zr 0.1 Y 0.2 Ni 0.04)O 3-δ (Ni-BCZNY) with in-situ exsolved Ni nanoparticles is developed. This material exhibits extremely high activity in PCFCs in intermediate and low temperatures. A cell fabricated with this anode material achieves a power density of 912 mW cm−2 and polarization resistance of 0.04 Ω cm2 in wet H 2 /air at 700 °C. Additionally, the microstructure, electrochemical performance, electrochemical impedance, and electrode processes of a Ni-BCZNY cell are analyzed in detail. The results indicate that performance enhancements can be attributed to the Ni nanoparticle exsolution promoting charge transfer and hydrogen dissociative adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of transabdominal color Doppler ultrasound after oral administration of an oral cellulose-based contrast agent (TUS-OCCA) in depicting varices at the cardia and fundus was explored. Both gastroscopy and transabdominal color Doppler ultrasound (TUS) were performed for this purpose, with gastroscopy serving as the gold standard. Patients were assigned by TUS protocol to one of three groups: TUS + empty stomach (TUS-ES); TUS + oral water intake (TUS-OW); and TUS-OCCA. TUS-based grading of varices reflected venous diameters and blood flow velocities, designated as follows: Ux = difficulty discerning gastric fundus and cardia or delineating varices; U0 = no detectable varices; U1 = diameter <5 mm, flow rate <10 cm/s; U2 = diameter <5 mm, flow rate ≥10 cm/s; U3 = diameter 5-10 mm, flow rate <10 cm/s; U4 = diameter 5-10 mm, flow rate ≥10 cm/s; and U5 = diameter >10 mm, any flow rate. Between August 2016 and August 2019, 239 patients with cirrhosis were enrolled prospectively, including bleeding (n = 71) and non-bleeding (n = 168) groups. Varices were directly observed in 10.5% (25/239) of TUS-ES group members, compared with 59.2% (58/98) of the TUS-OW group and 89.6% (104/116) of the TUS-OCCA group; all detection rates differed significantly (TUS-OCCA > TUS-OW > TUS-ES, p < 0.05). TUS-based grading (as defined) revealed the following patient distribution: Ux, n = 34; U0, n = 18; U1, n = 50; U2, n = 41; U3, n = 16; U4, n = 46; U5, n = 34. In grading by variceal diameter, overall correspondence between TUS and gastroscopy was 93% (174/187). TUS-OCCA greatly improved rates of detection of varices at the cardia and fundus, offering a new method by which diagnosis and quantitative grading may be achieved and affording an excellent, non-invasive approach to dynamic follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a low-feedback-sampling-rate digital predistortion (DPD) method is proposed for wideband wireless transmitters and radio-frequency power amplifiers (PAs). This DPD method inserts a non-ideal real band-pass filter into the feedback loop to limit the feedback bandwidth. Meanwhile, to recover the band-limited feedback signal, it introduces a signal-recovery module that is based on the deep neural network (DNN). A data-preprocessing technique is proposed to reduce the amount of input data for the DNN and thereby significantly reducing its structural complexity. Also, the use of DNN makes it feasible to implement off-line training. Both the simplicity of the proposed DNN and the availability of off-line training reduce the system complexity in DPD. Experimental validation was performed on a PA driven by wideband orthogonal-frequency-division-multiplexing (OFDM) signals. The results demonstrated the superiority of the proposed method in under-sampling applications. The proposed DPD method achieved the same linearization performance as the state-of-art DPD methods while requiring a sampling rate that was approximately 5% less. Meanwhile, the proposed DPD method has been validated to have stronger anti-noise and generalization capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel stochastic two-species competitive system with saturation effect is formulated, in which there exist two noise resources and their coupling mode is relatively complex and every noise source has effect on the intrinsic growth rates of both species. With the help of some suitable Lyapunov functions, sufficient conditions for stochastic permanence are established as exponential extinction, extinction, permanence in time average and asymptotic pathwise estimation of system. The effect of coupling noise on the asymptotic behaviors of the populations is shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]