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The rechargeable aqueous Zn||MnO2 chemistry has been extensively explored, but its electrochemical reaction mechanisms, especially in the context of MnO2/Mn2+ conversion and Zn2+/H+ intercalation chemistry, remain not fully understood. Here, we designed an amphiphilic hydrogel electrolyte, which distinguished the MnO2/Mn2+ conversion, Zn2+ intercalation, and H+ intercalation and conversion processes at three distinct discharge plateaus of an aqueous Zn||MnO2 battery. The amphiphilic hydrogel electrolyte is featured with an extended electrochemical stability window up to 3.0 V, high ionic conductivity, Zn2+‐selective ion tunnels, and hydrophobic associations with cathode materials. This specifically designed electrolyte allows the MnO2/Mn2+ conversion reaction at a discharge plateau of 1.75 V. More interesting, the discharge plateaus of ~1.33 V, previously assigned as the co‐intercalation of Zn2+ and H+ ions in the MnO2 cathode, are specified as the exclusive intercalation of Zn2+ ions, leading to an ultra‐flat voltage plateau. Furthermore, with a distinct three‐step electrochemical energy storage process, a high areal capacity of 1.8 mAh cm−2 and high specific energy of 0.858 Wh cm−2, even at a low MnO2 loading mass of 0.5 mg cm−2 are achieved. To our knowledge, this is the first report to fully distinguish different mechanisms at different potentials in aqueous Zn||MnO2 batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rechargeable aqueous Zn||MnO2 chemistry has been extensively explored, but its electrochemical reaction mechanisms, especially in the context of MnO2/Mn2+ conversion and Zn2+/H+ intercalation chemistry, remain not fully understood. Here, we designed an amphiphilic hydrogel electrolyte, which distinguished the MnO2/Mn2+ conversion, Zn2+ intercalation, and H+ intercalation and conversion processes at three distinct discharge plateaus of an aqueous Zn||MnO2 battery. The amphiphilic hydrogel electrolyte is featured with an extended electrochemical stability window up to 3.0 V, high ionic conductivity, Zn2+‐selective ion tunnels, and hydrophobic associations with cathode materials. This specifically designed electrolyte allows the MnO2/Mn2+ conversion reaction at a discharge plateau of 1.75 V. More interesting, the discharge plateaus of ~1.33 V, previously assigned as the co‐intercalation of Zn2+ and H+ ions in the MnO2 cathode, are specified as the exclusive intercalation of Zn2+ ions, leading to an ultra‐flat voltage plateau. Furthermore, with a distinct three‐step electrochemical energy storage process, a high areal capacity of 1.8 mAh cm−2 and high specific energy of 0.858 Wh cm−2, even at a low MnO2 loading mass of 0.5 mg cm−2 are achieved. To our knowledge, this is the first report to fully distinguish different mechanisms at different potentials in aqueous Zn||MnO2 batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new Schiff‐base bismuth (III) complexes were prepared by an equivalent reaction between Schiff‐base ligand and Bi (NO3)3•5H2O with the assistance of Mannitol. The chemical structures of the two complexes were characterized by spectroscopic studies (FT‐IR, NMR, and MS), elemental analysis, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The ligand‐to‐metal ion ratio was found to be 1:1 in the complexes. During the formation of the complexes, Schiff bases changed from the amidic forms to the iminol forms, and the resulting tautomers could coordinate with bismuth (III) ions to produce dinuclear BiIII complexes(1a and 2a). Structural analyses showed that each Bi (III) ion held a distorted capped octahedron geometry with a seven‐coordinate mode in two complexes. Screening in vitro biological activities revealed that two bismuth (III) complexes exhibited much higher antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity than their parent ligands. The cytotoxic activity of the complex(1a) was close to that of the known anticancer drug (Doxorubicin) by evaluating against SGC7901 cells, with the IC50 value 0.59 μM. The complex(1a) could effectively induce SGC7901 cell apoptosis and its oral acute toxicity for LD50 value was found to be 576 mg kg−1. The content of bismuth (III) in mitochondria was higher than that in the nucleus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stroke is an acute cerebrovascular disease in which brain tissue is damaged due to sudden obstruction of blood flow to the brain or the rupture of blood vessels in the brain, which can prompt ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. After stroke onset, ischemia, hypoxia, infiltration of blood components into the brain parenchyma, and lysed cell fragments, among other factors, invariably increase blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability, the inflammatory response, and brain edema. These changes lead to neuronal cell death and synaptic dysfunction, the latter of which poses a significant challenge to stroke treatment. Results: Synaptic dysfunction occurs in various ways after stroke and includes the following: damage to neuronal structures, accumulation of pathologic proteins in the cell body, decreased fluidity and release of synaptic vesicles, disruption of mitochondrial transport in synapses, activation of synaptic phagocytosis by microglia/macrophages and astrocytes, and a reduction in synapse formation. Conclusions: This review summarizes the cellular and molecular mechanisms related to synapses and the protective effects of drugs or compounds and rehabilitation therapy on synapses in stroke according to recent research. Such an exploration will help to elucidate the relationship between stroke and synaptic damage and provide new insights into protecting synapses and restoring neurologic function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Emerging observational studies showed an association between dyslipidemia and aging. However, it remains unclear whether this association is causal, particularly in the case of Asians, which are aging more rapidly than other continents. Given the visible manifestations of aging often include changes in facial appearance, the objective of this study is to assess the causal relationship between dyslipidemia and facial aging in East Asian populations. Methods: SNPs related to dyslipidemia in East Asian people such as Total cholesterol (TC), High‐density‐lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), Low‐density‐lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), and Triglyceride (TG) along with outcomes data on facial aging, were extracted from public genome‐wide association studies (GWAS). A two‐sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was then performed using publicly available GWAS data to investigate the potential causal relationship. The effect estimates were primarily calculated using the fixed‐effects inverse variance weighted (IVW) method. Results: Totally, 88 SNPs related to HDL among 70657 East Asian participants in GWAS. Based on the primary causal effects model using MR analyses with the IVW method, high HDL level was demonstrated as significantly related to the risk of facial aging (OR, 1.060; 95% CI, 1.005–1.119, p = 0.034), while high TC level (OR, 0.995; 95% CI, 0.920–1.076, p = 0.903), high LDL level (OR, 0.980, 95% CI, 0.924–1.041, p = 0.515), as well as high TG level (OR, 0.999, 95% CI, 0.932–1.071, p = 0.974), showed no significant correlation with facial aging. Conclusions: The two‐sample MR analysis conducted in this study revealed a positive causal relationship between high HDL levels and facial aging. In contrast, facial aging demonstrated no significant correlation with high levels of TC, LDL, or TG. Further large‐sample prospective studies are needed to validate these findings and to provide appropriate recommendations regarding nutrition management to delay the aging process among old patients in East Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new Mg-4Zn X Ti-6Al-4V (TC4, of 0, 1, and 3 wt.%) alloy was successfully fabricated by a simple and low-cost gravity casting method and heat treatment at 150 °C for 24 h. The composite was examined by XRD, uniaxial tests, FESEM/EDS, potentiostat/EIS, and immersion tests for the material's microstructures, mechanical properties, electrochemical characteristics, and corrosion resistance. Experimental results indicate that heat treatment enables the precipitation of Zn along the Mg grain boundaries and drives the co-precipitation of Al around the TC4 particles and nearby grain boundaries. Uniaxial tensile tests reveal that TC4 reinforces the Mg-Zn matrix material with higher elastic modulus, ultimate tensile stress, and toughness. The heat treatment further enhanced these mechanical properties. Electrochemical tests show that 1 wt.% TC4 composite exhibits the highest open circuit potential among all tested samples, which implies the 1 wt.% TC4-added Mg-Zn is better resistant to the oxidation of the essential metals Mg, Zn, and Al. The immersion tests in the HBSS solution further show that the 1 wt.% TC4 composite has the lowest rise of pH values after 14 days, and EDS for the corroded surface signifies that Mg is the main element vulnerable to oxidation by corrosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease, manifests with symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and mucopurulent feces. The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) ANRIL exhibits significantly reduced expression in UC, yet its specific mechanism is unknown. This study revealed that ANRIL is involved in the progression of UC by inhibiting IL-6 and TNF-α via miR-191-5P/SATB1 axis. We found that in patients with UC, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were significantly overexpressed in inflamed colon sites, whereas ANRIL was significantly under-expressed and associated with disease severity. The downregulation of ANRIL resulted in the increased expression of IL-6 and TNF-α in LPS-treated FHCs. ANRIL directly targeted miR-191-5p, thereby inhibiting its expression and augmenting SATB1 expression. Moreover, overexpression of miR-191-5p abolished ANRIL-mediated inhibition of IL-6 and TNF-α production. Dual luciferase reporter assays revealed the specific binding of miR-191-5p to ANRIL and SATB1. Furthermore, the downregulation of ANRIL promoted DSS-induced colitis in mice. Together, we provide evidence that ANRIL plays a critical role in regulating IL-6 and TNF-α expression in UC by modulating the miR-191-5p/SATB1 axis. Our study provides novel insights into progression and molecular therapeutic strategies in UC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Panonychus citri McGregor (Acari: Tetranychidae), a destructive citrus pest, causes considerable annual economic losses due to its short lifespan and rapid resistance development. MicroRNA (miRNA)‐induced RNA interference is a promising approach for pest control because of endogenous regulation of pest growth and development. To search for miRNAs with potential insecticidal activity in P. citri, genome‐wide analysis of miRNAs at different developmental stages was conducted, resulting in the identification of 136 miRNAs, including 73 known and 63 novel miRNAs. A total of 17 isomiRNAs and 12 duplicated miRNAs were characterized. MiR‐1 and miR‐252‐5p were identified as reference miRNAs for P. citri and Tetranychus urticae. Based on differential expression analysis, treatments with miR‐let‐7a and miR‐315 mimics and the miR‐let‐7a antagomir significantly reduced the egg hatch rate and resulted in abnormal egg development. Overexpression or downregulation of miR‐34‐5p and miR‐305‐5p through feeding significantly decreased the adult eclosion rate and caused molting defects. The 4 miRNAs, miR‐let‐7a, miR‐315, miR‐34‐5p, and miR‐305‐5p, had important regulatory functions and insecticidal properties in egg hatching and adult eclosion. In general, these data advance our understanding of miRNAs in mite biology, which can assist future studies on insect‐specific miRNA‐based green pest control technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emotional labor is common in nursing but may be affected by the mental state of nurses. This study explored the effect of compassion fatigue on emotional labor and whether self-compassion moderates this effect of compassion fatigue. Methods: A two-stage survey design with a convenience sample. Participants were female nursing staff recruited from emergency departments, intensive care units, ward nursing units, and outpatient departments of medical centers, regional hospitals, and district hospitals in Taiwan. A total of 300 questionnaire copies in each of the first and second stages were distributed, and 272 pairs of responses were retrieved (valid response rate = 91%). The reliability and validity of the questionnaire were tested, and confirmatory factor analysis was conducted with AMOS 21. The proposed hypotheses were verified using hierarchical regression conducted with SPSS version 25.0. Results: This study revealed that compassion fatigue positively predicted surface acting (β = 0.12, p < 0.05) and negatively predicted deep acting (β = −0.18, p < 0.01) and expression of genuine emotions (β = −0.31, p < 0.01). In addition, self-compassion negatively moderates the relationships between compassion fatigue and surface acting (β = −0.12, p < 0.05), and positively moderates the relationships between compassion fatigue and expression of genuine emotions (β = 0.15, p < 0.01). Conclusions: To avoid excessive consumption of emotional resources, nurses with high compassion fatigue may employ surface acting by engaging in emotional labor without making an effort to adjust their feelings. Nurses need also be sympathized with, and such sympathy can come from hospitals, supervisors, colleagues, and, most crucially, the nurses themselves. Hospital executives should propose improvement strategies that can prevent the compassion fatigue on nurses, such as improving nurses' self-compassion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tunnel excavation induces the stress redistribution of surrounding rock. In this excavation process, the elastic strain in the rock is quickly released. When the maximum stress on the tunnel lining exceeds the concrete's load-bearing capacity, it causes cracking of the lining. Comprehensive geophysical exploration methods, including seismic computerized tomography, the high-density electrical method, and the ultrasonic single-plane test, indicated the presence of incomplete distribution of broken rock along the tunnel axis. Based on the geophysical exploration results, a carbon-fiber-strengthened tunnel simulation model was established to analyze the mechanical characteristics of the structure and provide a theoretical basis for sensor deployment. Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) strain sensors were used to measure the stress and strain changes in the second lining concrete after carbon reinforcement. Meanwhile, one temperature sensor was installed in each section to enable temperature compensation. The monitoring results demonstrated that the stress–strain of the second lining fluctuated within a small range, and the lining did not show any crack expansion behavior, which indicated that carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) played an effective role in controlling the structural deformation. Therefore, the combined detection of physical exploration and FBG sensors for the structure provided an effective monitoring method for evaluating tunnel stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This research delves into the intricate mechanisms that regulate the development of goose liver, with a particular emphasis on circular RNAs (circRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs). This study employed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to examine circRNAs and miRNAs in the liver of Sichuan white geese at three distinct stages of development. The findings revealed 11,079 circRNAs and 994 miRNAs, with notable enrichment in pathways associated with fatty acid biosynthesis and the FoxO signaling pathway among the differentially expressed circRNAs and miRNAs. Furthermore, regulatory networks involving circRNA–miRNA–mRNA interactions were constructed, and key regulatory elements such as circRNA3953 (CCNY) and circRNA1112 (TMEM106B), along with the miRNAs gga-miR-27b-3p, gga-miR-29a-3p, and gga-miR-16c-5p, were identified. These discoveries offer valuable insights into the complex interplay of circRNA–miRNA–mRNA interactions during goose liver development. The liver, a crucial metabolic organ in animals, is responsible for the synthesis, breakdown, and transport of lipids. However, the regulatory mechanisms involving both coding and noncoding RNAs that oversee the development of the goose liver remain elusive. This study aimed to fill this knowledge gap by conducting RNA-seq to profile the expression of circular RNAs (circRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) during goose liver development. We analyzed circRNAs in liver samples from Sichuan white geese at three developmental stages: posthatching day 0, 10 weeks (fast growth stage), and 30 weeks (sexual maturation stage). Our findings revealed 11,079 circRNAs and 994 miRNAs, among which the differentially expressed circRNAs and miRNAs were significantly enriched in pathways such as fatty acid biosynthesis, degradation, and metabolism. Further analysis of the target genes of the differentially expressed miRNAs revealed enrichment in pathways related to fatty acid biosynthesis, metabolism, PPAR signaling, DNA replication, and the cell cycle. We also established circRNA–miRNA–mRNA regulatory networks, identifying key regulatory factors and miRNAs. In conclusion, our study offers valuable insights into the complex interplay of circRNA–miRNA–mRNA interactions during goose liver development, and illuminates the molecular pathways that regulate this vital life function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mixed traffic flow of various types of vehicles at bus station is severe, which has an impact on the overall safety of traffic. Especially upstream of bus station, since buses need to change lane in order to stop at the bus station, it interacts with social vehicles. Thus, in this paper, a two-lane CA model considering the mixed traffic flow composing of buses, cars and nonmotorized vehicles upstream of a bus station is proposed. Through several field surveys, the movement characteristics of the vehicles are obtained and the basic parameters are calibrated. For comparison, five cases about bus stops are studied. Several indexes (i.e. parallel time, blind area dwell time, time to collision, potential collision energy) are analyzed to assess the safety upstream of the bus station. Four safety indices are used to examine, based on simulation findings, the impact of bus station on vehicle safety and the significance of establishing exclusive nonmotorized vehicle lanes and exclusive bus lanes. Finally, several safety-related recommendations for drivers and management are provided. These findings offer a theoretical basis for driver management and optimal design of bus stations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water scarcity is a global challenge that hinders human development. In recent years, electrostatic fog collection technology has emerged as a promising technology to alleviate this issue. Although electrostatic fog collectors based on a variety of electrode structures have been developed previously, there has been less research into other factors affecting the efficiency of electrostatic fog collection (e.g. electrical factors, environmental factors, etc), which has delayed the commercial application of the technology. In this paper, we experimentally investigate the effects of power supply polarity, voltage, airflow direction, airflow velocity, fog concentration and temperature on collection efficiency using a typical wire-mesh electrode fog collector as an example. The results show that both electrical and environmental factors influence the collection efficiency by changing the charge and the electric field force of the droplets. Negative polarity corona and high voltage are more favorable for fog collection. High velocity airflow and high fog concentration increase the amount of water collected due to the ability to bring more droplets into the electric field. However, the collection efficiency is reduced by the weakening of the corona discharge. High temperature accelerates the evaporation of fog droplets, which is not favorable for fog collection. In conclusion, this work will not only contribute to revealing the underlying mechanisms of the electrostatic fog collection but also will guide the development of highly efficient fog collectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-omics data integration is a complex and challenging task in biomedical research. Consensus clustering, also known as meta-clustering or cluster ensembles, has become an increasingly popular downstream tool for phenotyping and endotyping using multiple omics and clinical data. However, current consensus clustering methods typically rely on ensembling clustering outputs with similar sample coverages (mathematical replicates), which may not reflect real-world data with varying sample coverages (biological replicates). To address this issue, we propose a new consensus clustering with missing labels (ccml) strategy termed ccml, an R protocol for two-step consensus clustering that can handle unequal missing labels (i.e. multiple predictive labels with different sample coverages). Initially, the regular consensus weights are adjusted (normalized) by sample coverage, then a regular consensus clustering is performed to predict the optimal final cluster. We applied the ccml method to predict molecularly distinct groups based on 9-omics integration in the Karolinska COSMIC cohort, which investigates chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and 24-omics handprint integrative subgrouping of adult asthma patients of the U-BIOPRED cohort. We propose ccml as a downstream toolkit for multi-omics integration analysis algorithms such as Similarity Network Fusion and robust clustering of clinical data to overcome the limitations posed by missing data, which is inevitable in human cohorts consisting of multiple data modalities. The ccml tool is available in the R language (https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=ccml , https://github.com/pulmonomics-lab/ccml , or https://github.com/ZhoulabCPH/ccml). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1), also known as osteopontin (OPN), is located on chromosome 4q22.1. This multifunctional secreted acidic glycoprotein is expressed intracellularly and extracellularly in various tissues, where it interacts with regulatory proteins and pro-inflammatory immune chemokines, contributing to the pathogenesis of multiple diseases. Nevertheless, the intricate genetic connections between SPP1 and ovarian aging remain largely unexplored. This study aims to bridge this knowledge gap by delving into ovarian aging and its associations with SPP1 using multi-omics data analysis. Our findings indicate that SPP1 is a potential gene related to ovarian aging. To comprehend the role of SPP1, we conducted spatial transcriptomic analyses on young and aged female mouse ovaries, revealing a significant decline in SPP1 expression in the aging group compared to the young group. Similarly, a significantly low level of SPP1 was found in the 73-year-old sample. Additionally, in-depth single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis identified associations between SPP1 and ITGAV, ITGB1, CD44, MMP3, and FN1. Notably, co-expression analysis highlighted a strong correlation between SPP1 and ITGB1. In summary, this study pioneers the identification of SPP1 as a gene implicated in ovarian aging. Further research into the role of SPP1 has the potential to advance precision medicine and improve treatment strategies for ovarian aging-related conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Partial eruptions of solar filaments are the typical representatives of solar eruptive behavior diversity. Here we investigate a typical filament partial eruption event and present integrated evidence for the configuration of the pre-eruption filament and its formation. The Chinese H α Solar Explorer H α observations reveal a structured Doppler velocity distribution within the pre-eruption filament, where distinct redshift only appeared in the eastern narrow part of the southern filament region and then disappeared after the partial eruption, while the northern part dominated by blueshift remained. Combining the Solar Dynamics Observatory and Advanced Space-based Solar Observatory observations, together with nonlinear-force-free-field modeling results, we verify that there were two independent material flow systems within the preflare filament, whose magnetic topology is a special double-decker configuration consisting of two magnetic flux ropes (MFRs) with opposite magnetic twist. During the formation of this filament system, continuous magnetic flux cancellation and footpoint motion were observed around its northern end. Therefore, we propose a new double-decker formation scenario: that the two MFRs composing such a double-decker configuration originated from two magnetic systems with different initial connections and opposite magnetic twist. Subsequent magnetic reconnection with the surrounding newly emerging fields resulted in the motion of the footpoint of the upper MFR to the region around the footpoint of the lower MFR, thus leading to the eventual formation of the double-decker configuration consisting of two MFRs with similar footpoints but opposite signs of magnetic twist. These results provide a potential way to determine unambiguously the progenitor configuration of a partially eruptive filament and reveal a special type of double-decker MFR configuration and a new double-decker formation scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ulva prolifera (U. prolifera), a global eco-environmental issue, has been recurring annually in the Yellow Sea of China since 2007, leading to significant impacts on the coastal ecosystem and the economies of coastal cities. To enhance the frequency of daily monitoring for U. prolifera and to advance the multi-source remote sensing monitoring system, a combination of the Sentinel-1 SAR remote sensing satellite and the Sentinel-3 OLCI and NPP VIIRS optical remote sensing satellites was employed. This comprehensive analysis encompassed the examination of Sentinel-1 C band characteristics, the range of influence of U. prolifera, and the migration trajectory of its enrichment zones. On 6 June 2021, three satellite images depicted the northwest drift of U. prolifera, followed by a southward movement after making contact with the coast of Qingdao, China, on 12 June. The most extensive impact area caused by U. prolifera was observed on 18 June. Subsequently, the images revealed a contraction and enrichment of U. prolifera in an eas–-west direction. The amalgamation of radar and optical remote sensing satellites in a multi-frequency monitoring approach allows for a continuous all-weather surveillance mechanism for U. prolifera. This mechanism serves to provide timely alerts for the prevention and management of U. prolifera outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water content of maize kernels during harvest is a critical factor influencing grain harvest practices globally. Abscisic acid (ABA) plays a pivotal role in grain development during the grain-filling process. Yet, there has been limited reporting on the regulatory mechanism of grain dehydration induced by exogenous ABA using proteomic techniques. In this study, two maize genotypes with distinct dehydration rates, DK517 (fast dehydration) and ZD1002 (slow dehydration), were treated with ABA after the heading stage. Results revealed a 20% lower yield in DK517 compared to ZD1002 following ABA application. Sixty days after pollination, the grain water content decreased to 23.55% in DK517 and 30.42% in ZD1002 due to ABA treatment. Through proteomic analysis, 861 and 118 differentially expressed proteins (DAPs) were identified in DK517 and ZD1002, respectively, as a result of ABA treatment. GO analysis indicated that the primary metabolic process, nitrogen compound metabolic process, and hormone metabolic process were significantly enriched among the DAPs in DK517 induced by ABA, while these pathways were absent in ZD1002. Twenty-four and fifteen overlapping DAPs showed contrasting responses in the two maize genotypes after ABA treatment. Notably, the expression levels of six known ABA signaling genes, including SnRK2 and DRE-like proteins, were downregulated in DK517 but remained unaltered in ZD1002 following ABA application. These findings underscore the distinct effects of exogenous ABA on the grain-filling characteristics of different maize genotypes, emphasizing the importance of the hormone metabolic process in regulating kernel water content induced by exogenous abscisic acid in maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate observational signatures of explosive chromospheric evaporation during a white-light flare (WLF) that occurred on 2022 August 27. Using the moment analysis, bisector techniques, and the Gaussian fitting method, redshifted velocities of less than 20 km s−1 are detected in low-temperature spectral lines of H α, C i, and Si iv at the conjugated flare kernels, which could be regarded as downflows caused by chromospheric condensation. Blueshifted velocities of ∼30−40 km s−1 are found in the high-temperature line of Fe xxi, which can be interpreted as upflows driven by chromospheric evaporation. A nonthermal hard X-ray (HXR) source is cospatial with one of the flare kernels, and the Doppler velocities are temporally correlated with the HXR fluxes. The nonthermal energy flux is estimated to be at least (1.3 ± 0.2) × 1010 erg s−1 cm−2. The radiation enhancement at Fe i 6569.2 Å and 6173 Å suggests that the flare is a WLF. Moreover, the while-light emission at Fe i 6569.2 Å is temporally and spatially correlated with the blueshift of the Fe xxi line, suggesting that both the white-light enhancement and the chromospheric evaporation are triggered and driven by nonthermal electrons. All of our observations support the scenario of an electron-driven explosive chromospheric evaporation in the WLF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Illumina high-throughput sequencing was used to explore the diversity and composition of the soil and root endosphere bacterial communities in three replanted konjac sites in 1-, 3-, and 5-year cropping systems. Continuous cropping of konjac caused a substantial decrease in soil pH and the activities of soil sucrase, urease, catalase, and alkaline phosphatase, and led to a remarkable and persistent decrease in the soil and root endosphere bacterial species abundance and alpha-diversity. Among the nine dominant bacterial phyla, Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria had the highest relative abundance, with averages of 61.3% and 11.2%, respectively. Several potentially beneficial genera, including Acinetobacter, Arthrobacter, and Pseudomonas, were less abundant in soil (84.6%, 82.7%, and 83.3%) and root (98.6%, 71.4%, and 98.1%) samples under 5 years of continuous cropping compared with those under 1-year cropping. Conversely, the potentially harmful genus Haliangium exhibited higher relative abundance in 5-year soil and root samples than in 1-year samples. Continuous cropping altered the bacterial community composition in the soil and root endosphere of konjac by influencing soil variables, leading to a reduction in the alpha-diversity of bacteria and the relative abundance of potentially beneficial bacteria, which in turn resulted in konjac poor growth in the continuous cropping system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A shaped hole inserts were designed to solve the problem of poor seed filling performance for a centrifugal maize high-speed precision seed metering device where seeds became stuck in the hole of the seed metering device. Maize seeds were graded to study the effects of different seeds on the structural parameters of the shaped hole insert. The high-speed filling posture of maize seeds was analysed using discrete element simulation software to design and optimise the structural parameters of the shaped hole inserts. Through bench testing, it was determined that the seed will not be stuck when the acute angle on the bottom surface of the hole is 70 °. The effects of different materials shaped hole inserts on the high-speed filling posture and seeding performance were studied, and it was determined that ABS resin was the best material. The simulation results show that the graded seed sowing has an influence on seeding performance. When various types of seeds were sown at speeds of 12.6 km h − 1 and 16.2 km h − 1 , the missing rate for seeds was less than 5% and 4%, the multiple rate was less than 10% and 8%, and the qualified rate is greater than 86% and 88%, respectively. This met the seeding performance requirements for the seed metering device. Equipment tests results show that the deviation between the simulation test results and the equipment test results was within 1.4%, validating that the optimal structural parameters of the shaped hole insert were effective and reliable. [Display omitted] • The seeding performance of maize seeds grading sowing was studied. • The high-speed seed filling posture of maize seed particles was studied. • A centrifugal high-speed precision seed metering device for maize was designed. • A shaped hole insert was designed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schiff base {(E)‐4‐((2‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxybenzylidene)amino)‐1,5‐dimethyl‐2‐phenyl‐1,2‐dihydro‐3H‐pyrazol‐3‐one} was prepared by the condensation reaction between 2‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxybenzaldehyde and 4‐aminoantipyrine. In the process of forming the title complex, Schiff base was first coordinated with CuII ions to form the mononuclear CuII complex (abbreviated as the complex (I)). Next, Schiff base in the complex (I) removed a phenyl group and then changed from the amide to the iminol. The tautomer further formed the complex through the iminol oxygen, and the phenolic oxygen coordinated with metal ions (CuII and BiIII). The structure of the polynuclear CuIIBiIII complex (abbreviated as the complex (II)) was identified as [Bi2Cu6 L6O3] (L = C13H13N3O3) by elemental analysis, FT‐IR spectra, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. The antibacterial effect of Schiff base and its complex (II) were assessed on four bacterial strains involving gram‐positive strains (S. aureus and B. subtilis) and gram‐negative strains (E. coli and P. aeruginosa). The complex (II) exhibited stronger antibacterial activity than Schiff base. Assessment of cytotoxic activity against SNU‐16 cells (Human gastric cancer) has demonstrated that the complex (II) was more active than Schiff base, and their IC50 values were 0.29 and 1.83 μM, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we construct a symplectic bigraded Toda hierarchy which contains an symplectic deformation of the original Toda lattice hierarchy. In particular, we give the rational solutions which are expressed by the products of the symplectic Schur polynomials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hinge of bivalve shells can sustain hundreds of thousands of repeating opening-and-closing valve motions throughout their lifetime. We studied the hierarchical design of the mineralized tissue in the hinge of the bivalve Cristaria plicata, which endows the tissue with deformability and fatigue resistance and consequently underlies the repeating motion capability. This folding fan-shaped tissue consists of radially aligned, brittle aragonite nanowires embedded in a resilient matrix and can translate external radial loads to circumferential deformation. The hard-soft complex microstructure can suppress stress concentration within the tissue. Coherent nanotwin boundaries along the longitudinal direction of the nanowires increase their resistance to bending fracture. The unusual biomineral, which exploits the inherent properties of each component through multiscale structural design, provides insights into the evolution of antifatigue structural materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate measurement of the permittivity and loss tangent of low-loss materials is essential due to their special applications in the field of ultra large scale integrated circuits and microwave devices. In this study, we developed a novel strategy that can accurately detect the permittivity and loss tangent of low-loss materials based on a cylindrical resonant cavity supporting the TE111 mode in X band (8–12 GHz). Based on an electromagnetic field simulation calculation of the cylindrical resonator, permittivity is precisely retrieved by exploring and analyzing the perturbation of the coupling hole and sample size on the cutoff wavenumber. A more precise approach to measuring the loss tangent of samples with various thicknesses has been proposed. The test results of the standard samples verify that this method can accurately measure the dielectric properties of samples that have smaller sizes than the high Q cylindrical cavity method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simultaneously improving the wear resistance and toughness can extend the service life of steel. In this study, nano-TiC-H13 steel was successfully fabricated by pre-dispersion nano-TiC/Al master alloy in conventional casting to simultaneously improve the wear resistance and toughness. The influence of nano-TiC ceramic particles on the microstructure, tensile properties, impact toughness, and wear behavior under the synergistic effect of high load and temperature was explored. Results indicated that nano-TiC ceramic particles can effectively refine the microstructure and promote the precipitation of the finer carbides, which significantly improved the properties of steel. The no-notch impact toughness (380.2 J/cm2), U-shaped notch impact toughness (36.6 J/cm2), and yield strength (1440 MPa) of nano-TiC-H13 increased by 12.7%, 31.2%, and 8.2%, respectively, compared with that of H13. Furthermore, the volumetric wear rate (8.2 × 10−10 m3/m) of nano-TiC-H13 under 450 °C and 30 N is decreased by 28.6% in contrast with H13. The high strength and plasticity in nano-TiC-H13 can resist the intrusion of debris and reduce plastic deformation. This work provides an innovative approach for the simultaneous improvement of the wear resistance and toughness of steel. • Nano-TiC refines the microstructure and promotes the finer precipitates distributed. • Finer microstructure inhibits stress concentration and improves strength and toughness. • Higher strength resists debris intrusion, resulting in wear resistance improvement. • Excellent toughness retards crack extension and delays failure of steel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The nonlinear postbuckling behaviors of magneto-electro-thermo-elastic laminated microbeams are investigated. • Multi-field coupling loads are considered. • The nonlinear governing equations are solved by an analytical method. • Numerical examples are exhibited to reveal the effects of some factors on the postbuckling behaviors. In this article, the nonlinear postbuckling behavior of the magneto-electro-thermo-elastic (METE) laminated microbeams is presented. According to the modified couple stress theory (MCST) and Reddy's three-order shear deformation theory (RTSDT), in conjunctions with the von Karman geometric nonlinearity, the nonlinear static model of METE laminated microbeam is established. The nonlinear governing equations and the corresponding boundary conditions are derived by using the principle of virtual work principle. Afterwards, using an analytical method, the nonlinear postbuckling behavior of METE laminated microbeam with simple supported and clamped boundary conditions at the both ends is described. Moreover, numerical examples are exhibited to reveal the effects of the material length scale parameter, slenderness ratio, temperature rise, magneto-electric potential on the critical buckling load and the nonlinear postbuckling response. Also the distribution law of magneto-electric potential through the thickness direction of the microbeam with various lay-up modes is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunofluorescence patterns of anti-nuclear antibodies (ANAs) on human epithelial cell (HEp-2) substrates are important biomarkers for the diagnosis of autoimmune diseases. There are growing clinical requirements for an automatic readout and classification of ANA immunofluorescence patterns for HEp-2 images following the taxonomy recommended by the International Consensus on Antinuclear Antibody Patterns (ICAP). In this study, a comprehensive collection of HEp-2 specimen images covering a broad range of ANA patterns was established and manually annotated by experienced laboratory experts. By utilizing a supervised learning methodology, an automatic immunofluorescence pattern classification framework for HEp-2 specimen images was developed. The framework consists of a module for HEp-2 cell detection and cell-level feature extraction, followed by an image-level classifier that is capable of recognizing all 14 classes of ANA immunofluorescence patterns as recommended by ICAP. Performance analysis indicated an accuracy of 92.05% on the validation dataset and 87% on an independent test dataset, which has surpassed the performance of human examiners on the same test dataset. The proposed framework is expected to contribute to the automatic ANA pattern recognition in clinical laboratories to facilitate efficient and precise diagnosis of autoimmune diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the enhancement of melting behaviour in a shell and tube thermal energy storage (TES) device containing various structured fins is numerically investigated. Five innovative enhancement structures involving topology optimized fin, tree-shaped fin, snowflake fin, spiderweb fin, and a combined conventional fin and composite phase change material (CPCM) are quantitatively compared and evaluated. Two groups of experiments are carried out to validate the simulation codes for the devices containing topology optimized fin and CPCM, while the numerical models for the devices with longitudinal fin and pure PCM are verified by two sets of literature data. A comprehensive comparison is performed for these five enhanced configurations from multiple perspectives with the emphasis of investigation being placed on assessment of the economic efficiency of these structures through introducing a parameter of TES rate per unit cost. The results show that the use of enhanced structures achieves remarkable enhancement on the melting rate in a shell and tube device. Compared to the device containing no enhancement structure, the complete melting process can be accelerated respectively by 97.2%, 93.6%, 93%, 88% and 83.6% for the devices containing tree-shaped fin, spiderweb fin, snowflake fin, topology optimization fin, and joint longitudinal fin and CPCM. The implementation of tree-shaped fin provides the optimal economical solution to acquire the best utilization efficiency among the five structures, but the enhancement degree on the economic efficiency is intimately tied to the cost ratio of fin to PCM. In order to highlight the advantage of using tree-shaped fin on the improvement of heat transfer rate and economic efficiency, the cost ratio of fin to PCM in such enhanced structure is suggested to be controlled to less than 6.5. Moreover, fin material also presents a significant influence on the selection of performance enhanced structure since it affects not only the melting rate but also the material utilization efficiency within the device. Substituting aluminium alloy with cheaper steel as the fin manufacturing material makes the economic efficiency a whole declined. This indicates for achieving a combined improvement of melting performance and economic efficiency, the enhanced structure should be selected to have a high thermal conductivity and controllable cost that easy to manufacture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Normally, hydrogel electrolytes widely used in flexible energy storage devices have limited tolerance to different pHs. Most gel electrolytes will lose their compressible capability when the adaptable pH is changed. Herein, a poly(acrylamide3‐co‐(sulfobetaine methacrylate)1)@polyacrylamide (P(A3‐co‐S1)@PAM) hydrogel electrolyte equipped with a dual crosslinking network (DN) is successfully fabricated, which exhibits excellent tolerance to any pHs, endowing various energy storage devices including batteries and supercapacitors with superior mechanical durability. The batteries with mild and alkaline P(A3‐co‐S1)@PAM electrolytes display superior stability (over 3000 cycles). Additionally, a Zn||MnO2 battery based on the P(A3‐co‐S1)@PAM hydrogel electrolyte (mild) under 50% compression strain also shows excellent charge–discharge stability and high capacity at 152.4 mAh g−1 after 600 cycles. The strong reversible hydrogen bonds and electrostatic forces originating from zwitterionic structures of poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) play an important role in dissipating and dispersing energy imposed abruptly. Meanwhile, the zwitterionic structure and intermolecular NH⋯OC hydrogen bonds of the hydrogel lead to the property of acid resistance and alkali resistance. The tough and robust covalent crosslinking bonds and the tight arrangement of DN polymer chains enable the hydrogel electrolytes to recover their initial shape fast once unloading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Settlements along the coastlines of oceans and lakes, which are among the world's most densely populated areas, are in immediate danger due to stressors brought on by climate change and dangers posed by human activities. This study investigates the water changes of Chao Lake during the last 30 years by using Landsat 5, 7 and 8 time-series images and water indices, including Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), Normalized Difference Turbidity Index (NDTI), Green Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (GNDVI) and Normalized Sea Surface Temperature (SST). The gathered data demonstrates that each estimated indicator's value has increased with time. Thus, over the course of the 30-year research period, the NDWI, NDTI, GNDVI and SST annual average values show increases of 112.10%, 242.42%, 112.82% and 119.42%, respectively. The NDWI index underwent these fluctuations, evidenced with the biggest amount (681.8%) in the winter and the lowest amount (28.13%) in the fall. The most NDTI changes (480%) and the least (only 50%) occurred in summer and fall, respectively. The largest increases in GNDVI (180%) and SST values (537.86%) were observed in winter; the smallest changes in GNDVI (43.48%) and GNDVI (68.76%) in fall. The outcomes also demonstrated a strong link between all four estimated factors. In the majority of the analyzed months, the correlation between the 2 measures, GNDVI and NDTI, was considerably greater and near to 1. The findings of this study may be utilized by managers, decision-makers and local planners for the purpose of environmental planning and reducing water pollution in Chao Lake (and other water regions), as well as reducing the risk of environmental hazards due to water pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: There is little information regarding the overall survival (OS) predictive ability of the combination of tumor burden score (TBS), α-fetoprotein (AFP), and albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we aimed to develop a model including TBS, AFP, and ALBI grade to predict HCC patient OS following liver resection. Methods: Patients (N = 1556) from six centers were randomly divided 1:1 into training and validation sets. The X-Tile software was used to determine the optimal cutoff values. The time-dependent area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was calculated to assess the prognostic ability of the different models. Results: In the training set, tumor differentiation, TBS, AFP, ALBI grade, and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage were independently related to OS. According to the coefficient values of TBS, AFP, and ALBI grade, we developed the TBS-AFP-ALBI (TAA) score using a simplified point system (0, 2 for low/high TBS, 0, 1 for low/high AFP and 0,1 for ALBI grade 1/2). Patients were further divided into low TAA (TAA ≤ 1), medium TAA (TAA = 2–3), and high TAA (TAA= 4) groups. TAA scores (low: referent; medium, HR = 1.994, 95% CI = 1.492–2.666; high, HR = 2.413, 95% CI = 1.630–3.573) were independently associated with patient survival in the validation set. The TAA scores showed higher AUROCs than BCLC stage for the prediction of 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS in both the training and validation sets. Conclusion: TAA is a simple score that has better OS prediction performance than the BCLC stage in predicting OS for HCC patients after liver resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(silylene arylacetylene) resins have good mechanical properties and excellent heat resistance. In this paper, bis(ethynylphenoxy) diphenylsulfone (BEPS) was synthesized by Williamson and Sonogashira reactions. Furthermore, a series of poly(silylene ethynylenephenoxy diphenylsulfone) (PSEF) resins were synthesized from BEPS and various silanes with different substituents (-H, -CH3, -C6H5, -CH=CH2) through Grignard reagent method. The structures and properties of synthesized resins were characterized. The properties of carbon fiber-reinforced PSEF (T300/PSEF) composites were measured. The results indicate that the PSEF resins demonstrate high mechanical properties with excellent heat resistance and the substituents on the main chain of PSEF resin would slightly affect the thermal properties of the resin, but greatly affect the processing and mechanical properties. The PSEF with phenyl substituent (P-PSEF) shows the best processability and mechanical performance with a Td5 of 437 °C. The T300/P-PSEF composite has a flexural strength of 620.9 MPa at room temperature and no glass transition in the range of rt ~ 450 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study additional non-isospectral symmetries of multicomponent constrained N = 2 supersymmetric Kadomtsev—Petviashvili (KP) hierarchies. These symmetries are shown to form an infinite-dimensional non-Abelian superloop superalgebra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additional strain increments occur in concrete subject to stress constraints during cold shrinkage, resulting in irregular deformation and reducing the concrete structure's stability. When an annular concrete structure is subjected to radial pressure, two tensile stress concentration zones will appear at the intersection of the inner wall and the diameter along the pressure direction. When exposed to low temperatures, the total strain in the tensile stress concentration zones is caused by the combined effect of applied stress strain and thermal strain. Then, the thermal strain of the structure can be obtained from the difference between the total strain and the applied stress strain. Gradient cooling was performed after applying radial pressure to the annular concrete using a counterforce device. The applied stress strain and total strain of the tensile stress concentration zones are measured by fiber Bragg grating (FBG) strain sensors fixed along the stress direction. According to the measurement results, the thermal strains of the concrete structure under the stress constraint are extracted to analyze the influence of the tensile stress constraint on the thermal strain of the concrete structure. In the temperature range of − 40 ∘ C ∼ 20 ∘ C , the thermal strains of the structure under radial pressures of 1500 N, 2000 N, and 3000 N are extracted, respectively. The thermal expansion coefficients are calculated based on the thermal strain of the structure. The free thermal expansion coefficient of concrete structures fluctuates around 11 × 10 − 6 / ∘ C . When the temperature is reduced to 10 ∘ C , the difference between the thermal expansion coefficient under the stress constraint and the free thermal expansion coefficient is the largest. When the temperature is reduced to − 20 ∘ C , the thermal expansion coefficients under each stress condition are close to the same. The results show that the stress confinement significantly inhibits the cold shrinkage of the concrete structure, and the inhibitory effect is gradually weakened when the temperature decreases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new bismuth(III) Schiff‐base complex [Bi2(HL)2(NO3)4(CH3OH)]•2CH3OH was prepared by reaction of the equivalent molar of Schiff‐base ligand [H2L = (E)‐N′‐(2‐hydroxy‐4‐methoxybenzylidene)isonicotinohydrazide] and Bi (NO3)3•5H2O with the assistance of mannitol. The complex was structurally characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopic methods (FT‐IR, MS, 1HNMR, and 13CNMR) and single crystal X‐ray diffraction. The molecular structure of the complex reveals that the ligand forms a 1:1 complex with bismuth(III) ion. It is composed of two 7‐coordinated bismuth(III) ions, two tetradentate O2N‐donor ligands, four nitrate ions, and three methanol molecules. The complex and its free ligand were evaluated against gram‐positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis) and gram‐negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The complex was more active than the ligand against all bacterial strains. Their cytotoxic activity was also investigated against SNU‐16 cell. The complex is approximately three times more potent than the ligand, with the IC50 values 0.35 and 1.18 μM for the complex and its ligand, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scaphoid fracture is the most common carpal fracture, accounting for 50%-80% of all carpal fractures in the Youngers and manual workers. The nonunion rate of scaphoid fractures was approximately 10-15%. Scaphoid nonunion can lead to wrist deformity, wrist collapse, ischemic necrosis, and traumatic osteoarthritis resulting in the loss of wrist function and seriously influence the patients' lives. Achieving bony union is essential for the treatment of scaphoid nonunion. Although many surgical procedures including various forms of bone grafting have been developed to improve bony union, there is no conclusion about which method is the most effective and optimal. In this review, we provide an overview of the diagnostic, classification and progress in the treatments of scaphoid nonunion fractures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new dihydroflavone, 2(S)-isookanin-4′-methoxy-8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), and a new polyacetylene glucoside, (10S)-tridecane-2E-ene-4,6,8-triyne-1-ol-10-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), along with seven known compounds (3–9), were isolated from the herb of Bidens parviflora Willd. The structures of all the extracted compounds were elucidated by HR-ESI-MS, 1 D and 2 D NMR spectra, as well as circular dichroism (CD). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rational design hybrid nanostructure photocatalysts with efficient charge separation and transfer, and good solar light harvesting ability have critical significance for achieving high solar‐to‐chemical conversion efficiency. Here a highly active and stable composite photocatalyst is reported by integrating ultrathin ZnIn2S4 nanosheets on surface of hollow CdS cube to form the cube‐in‐cube structure. Experimental results combined with density functional theory calculations confirm that the Z‐scheme ZnIn2S4/CdS heterojunction is formed, which highly boosts the charge separation and transfer under the local‐electric‐field at semiconductor/semiconductor interface, and thus prolongs their lifetimes. Moreover, such a structure affords the highly enhanced light‐harvesting property. The optimized ZnIn2S4/CdS nanohybrids exhibit superior H2 generation rate under visible‐light irradiation (λ ≥ 420 nm) with excellent photochemical stability during 20 h continuous operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Generalized AChR-MG is an archetype of B cell-mediated autoimmune disorders, and use of biologic agent rituximab (RTX) for B cell depletion is generally limited to immunosuppressive therapy-refractory cases. However, benefit of RTX monotherapy and individualized regimen with optimal dosage in early stage of new-onset generalized AChR-MG still remains to be elucidated. In this retrospective study, we explore the efficacy and safety of personalized regimen of 100 mg low-dose rituximab monotherapy in treating new-onset generalized AChR-MG. Methods: Thirteen new-onset generalized AChR-MG patients were enrolled for the study, initiating RTX treatment from November 2017 to August 2020. The individualized low-dose RTX monotherapy protocol consisted of 100 mg induction treatment weekly with no more than three circles, followed by reinfusion (100 mg once) sequentially according to whether achieving primary endpoint and peripheral CD19 + B-cell repopulation ≥ 1% of total lymphocytes at each visit (every 3 months). Outcome measures included MGFA-PIS Minimal Manifestation (MM) or better status (primary endpoint), changes in QMG, MMT, MG-ADL and MGQOL-15 scores (secondary endpoint), as well as cholinesterase inhibitors dosage. Results: All 13 patients achieved the primary endpoint in parallel with significant improvement of QMG, MMT, MG-ADL MGQOL-15 scores, and reduction of cholinesterase inhibitors dose. A total of 52 visits were performed during follow-up, and only 10 assessments presenting peripheral CD19 + B-cell repopulation (≥ 1%) without "MM or better status" were followed by RTX reinfusions (100 mg once) for clinical remission. The total dosage of RTX was only 346.15 ± 96.74 mg (including 269.23 ± 63.04 mg for induction and 76.92 ± 59.91 mg for reinfusion), which seemed to be much lower than those dosages used in new-onset generalized AChR-MG as described previously. Moreover, compared with patients without thymoma, thymectomy markedly delayed initiation of RTX for patients with thymoma (log-rank test, p = 0.0002), but the delaying treatments showed no influence on the time for achieving primary outcome (log-rank test, p = 0.2517). Conclusion: Our study firstly showed that individualized regimen of low-dose RTX monotherapy is effective and safe for early treatment of new-onset generalized AChR-MG, and practicable for directing RTX reinfusion and withdrawal. Moreover, the monotherapy protocol was also indicated to be extensively applicable in both new-onset AChR-MG with thymoma (thymectomy) and without thymoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of the present study is to determine the impact on survival using adjuvant chemotherapy on patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer. Materials and Methods: From 2007 to 2016, we enrolled 127 locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with combined neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) and surgery. For patients with the pathological residual primary disease (pT+) and/or residual node disease (pN+) after nCRT, adjuvant chemotherapy was also given after consideration of the toxicity of nCRT, patient performance, and/or comorbidity. The regimen of adjuvant chemotherapy was cisplatin 20 mg/m2/day and 5-fluorouracil 800 mg/m2/day on days 1 through 4 and 22 through 25. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Results: From a total of 127 patients, 26 of them (20.5%) received adjuvant chemotherapy. In the multivariate analysis, pN+ diseases were independently associated with poor OS (hazard ratio (HR): 4.117, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.366–12.404; p = 0.012). For those with pN+ diseases, their 5-year OS was 36.4% in the follow-up arm compared with 45.8% in the adjuvant chemotherapy arm (p = 0.094). Conclusions: Pathologic node-positive disease is associated with poor OS in locally advanced esophagus cancer patients after combined treatments with nCRT and surgery. Adjuvant chemotherapy appeared to have improved OS in pathologic node-positive diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of marking ground glass nodules (GGNs) with pulmonary nodules localization needle (PNLN) prior to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Materials and methods: From June 2020 to February 2021, all patients with GGNs who received CT-guided localization using PNLN before VATS were enrolled. Clinical and imaging data were retrospectively analyzed. Results: A total of 352 consecutive patients with 395 GGNs were included in the study. The mean diameter of GGNs was 0.95 ± 0.48 cm, and the shortest distance from nodules to the pleura was 1.73 ± 0.96 cm. All 395 GGNs were marked using PNLNs. The time required for marking was 7.8 ± 2.2 min. The marking success rate was 99.0% (391/395). The marking failure of four nodules was all due to the unsatisfactory position of PNLNs. No marker dislocation occurred. Marking-related complications included pneumothorax in 63 cases (17.9%), hemorrhage in 34 cases (9.7%), and hemoptysis in 6 cases (1.7%). All the complications were minor and did not need special treatment. Localization and VATS were performed on the same day in 95 cases and on different days in 257 cases. All GGNs were successfully removed by VATS. No patient converted to thoracotomy. Histopathological examination revealed 74 (18.7%) benign nodules and 321 (81.3%) malignant nodules. Conclusions: It is safe and reliable to perform preoperative localization of GGNs using PNLNs, which can effectively guide VATS to remove GGNs. Key Points: • Preoperative localization of GGNs could effectively guide VATS to remove GGNs. • PNLN was based on the marking principle of hook-wire, through the improvement of its material, specially designed to mark pulmonary nodules. • The application of PNLN to mark GGNs had high success rate, good patient tolerance, and no dislocation. Meanwhile, VATS could be performed 2 to 3 days after marking GGNs with PNLN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ti/Mn 2 O 3 -Co 3 O 4 coating anodes synthesized via thermal decomposition, and their phase and morphology were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). Electrochemical tests, including cyclic voltammetry (CV), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), were conducted in a MnSO 4 solution. Results indicated that the Ti/Mn 2 O 3 -Co 3 O 4 anode with 10 mol% Co showed the best performance with a significantly higher voltammetric charge and a lower overpotential for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) compared to Ti/Mn 2 O 3 coating anode. The Co-Mn synergy enhanced oxygen adsorption on the anode surface, thereby improving OER electrochemical performance of Ti/Mn 2 O 3 -Co 3 O 4 coating anodes. In addition, the Ti/Mn 2 O 3 -Co 3 O 4 coating anode had a voltammetric charge 21 times higher than Pb-Ag alloy anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Financial sentiment analysis attempts to identify the sentiment of a sentence using dimensional or categorical approaches. The dimensional approach represents affective states as continuous numerical values and can provide more fine-grained (real-valued) sentiment analysis than the categorical approach, which represents affective states as several discrete classes (e.g., positive and negative). Although categorical approaches have been studied extensively over the past decade, the lack of domain-specific data makes it challenging to use dimensional approaches in financial domains. To solve this problem, we propose a lexicon-based prompt method for domains with no labeled data by introducing domain-specific lexicons to correct mispredicted words. As this method does not apply domain-adaptation techniques, it can be combined with domain-adaptation methods to improve the generalizability of domain-specific sentiment analysis further. Experiments on various pre-training language modes in the finance domain show that the proposed lexicon-based prompt method outperforms common domain adaptation methods, and the best performance is achieved by combining multi-task fine-tuning and domain adaptation methods. [Display omitted] • We analyze existing domain migration methods and point out their shortcomings. • We propose a lexicon-based prompt method that can incorporate dictionary information into a language model to improve model accuracy. • The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method yields better accuracy and can be applied to various neural network architectures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the hydrodynamic performance of a proposed side-by-side box-membrane breakwater is experimentally studied in regular waves. The proposed breakwater consists of two identical breakwaters placed away from each other with an empty gap e , and each component breakwater is a combination of a rectangle rigid box and double layered flexible membranes which hanged freely below the box. For comparison, a side-by-side breakwater consisted of two boxes without flexible membrane is chosen, as well as e = 0. A series of preliminary experiments are carried out in a 2D wave flume, and the hydrodynamic performance under different parameters, including relative width 2 B/λ (box width B , wave length λ), length of flexible membrane, gap e between the two boxes, and box draft d are investigated. The results indicate that, both the narrow and wide gaps of the side-by-side box-membrane breakwater can achieve a well wave attenuation performance in relatively long waves. Specifically, the proposed side-by-side breakwater with the wide gap could reach a transmission coefficient less than 0.5 at B/λ = 0.0633 when the Bragg reflection occurs at about 2 S/λ = 1.0 (S = e + B). It is also found that attaching flexible membrane and increasing box draft could enhance the wave attenuation performance, which concur with those seen in other studies. • A side-by-side box-membrane breakwater is proposed for eliminating relatively long waves. • The effects of flexible membrane, box draft, Bragg reflection, dimensionless gap are experimentally studied. • The gaps can visibly decline transmission coefficients due to wave energy dissipation and Bragg reflection. • Adding flexible membranes can improve wave attenuation performance by dissipating wave energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The co-hydroprocessing of lignite and heavy residue generates a substantial amount of tail oil, compromising the technical efficiency and posing significant environmental hazards. We proposed a cascade utilization scheme via the combination of tail-oil cycling and tail-oil co-hydrocracking, to maximize the utilization of catalytic components and enhance the conversion of heavy feedstock. At a cycling ratio of 50 wt %, the conversion efficiency of carbonaceous solids increased from 88 % to over 95 % after 5 cycles. The effluent tail oil also represented a favorable hydrocracking performance when mixed with Merey atmospheric residue. The spent catalysts and iron-containing minerals gradually accumulated in solid residues, which provided additional catalytic components for hydrogenation and coke inhibition in the co-hydroprocessing and co-hydrocracking systems. Moreover, the cycling process improved the colloidal stability and enhanced the hydrogenolysis of heavy components, effectively curbing the degradation tendency within the reaction system and producing more light oils. [Display omitted] • Tail-oil circulation promoted the conversion of heavy feedstock. • Co-hydrocracking of effluent tail oil and MRAR produced less cokes. • Enriched metal sulfides in solid residues provided sufficient catalytic components. • Improved oil property was found during the cycling process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal fatigue failure is one of the main factors affecting the service life of hot work die steel. Achieving excellent thermal fatigue resistance for hot working die steels can benefit the industry economically. In this work, (TiC + TiB 2)/Al master alloys were used to add TiC–TiB 2 nanoparticles into high-Cr die steels, which achieves microstructure manipulation and obtains excellent thermal fatigue resistance and strength-plastic combination. The results showed that after being manipulated by 0.02 wt% TiC–TiB 2 nanoparticles, the surface oxidation zone of the high-Cr die steel after different thermal fatigue cycles is reduced than high-Cr die steel without manipulation. TiC–TiB 2 nanoparticles effectively refined the heat-treated microstructure of high-Cr die steel, promoting the Cr element and alloy carbides being more uniformly distributed in the matrix, which prevents the occurrence of oxidative pitting and conducive to the formation of a dense and uniform Cr 2 O 3 oxide layer, and further preventing the initiation of thermal fatigue cracks. Moreover, these finer and more uniformly distributed precipitates in TiC–TiB 2 nanoparticles manipulated high-Cr die steels will promote stress dispersion and hinder thermal fatigue crack propagation. This work provides a promising avenue for the design of low-cost, high-performance, and long-life die steels for industrial applications. • The microstructure has been manipulated with traces TiC–TiB 2. • Thermal fatigue cracks initiation are closely correlated to surface oxidative erosion. • Nanoparticle-reinforced steels have better thermal fatigue resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-power permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) has great application potential in the field of traction or propulsion. Since the compact structure and high heat load density of PMSM, heat dissipation conditions introduce new challenges and opportunities for further improvement of its power, efficiency and reliability. In this paper, a new gas–liquid two-phase jet cooling system (GLCS) for PMSM is proposed. The flow and heat transfer characteristics of GLCS are studied numerically. The effects of different factors on heat and mass transfer characteristics were studied. It lays a foundation for the development of thermal analysis and thermal design of high power density permanent magnet synchronous motors with wide application prospects in high-speed rail, urban rail and electric vehicle traction systems. The results show that the surface temperature of stator and rotor can be below 350 K, which proves the heat dissipation capacity of the cooling system. The closer the jet area is to the surface of the rotor, the smaller the velocity is. The surface temperature of stator and rotor is distributed in a W-shape. The effect of liquid volume fraction on different surfaces is different. On the rotor surface, with the increase of liquid volume fraction, the cooling effect is enhanced, while on the stator surface, the cooling effect is weakened. When the rotating speed is 4200 r min−1, the jet cone angle is less than 60°, which can ensure the heat dissipation capacity of the cooling system. The axial influence distance of jet velocity on the surface temperature of rotor is 40 mm. The number of circumferential nozzles is 3 and the number of axial nozzles is 6, which can ensure the best heat dissipation capacity of GLCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ultra-high definition (UHD) displays in the market require organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) to meet the Rec.2020 color gamut standard, while it is still challenging to exploit ultra-deep-blue emitters that satisfy such blue standard. Herein, by substituting tCz (3,6-di(tert -butyl)carbazole) donor unit on the robust BOC (8,8,12,12-tetramethyl-8,12-dihydro-4-oxa-3a2-boradibenzo[ cd , mn ]pyrene) acceptor unit with high structural rigidity and appropriate energy levels, a novel boron-based D–A type thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) ultra-deep-blue emitter, namely, tCz-BOC , was readily designed and synthesized. Inheriting from its rigid organoboron core, the emitter presents ultra-deep-blue emission with narrow spectral full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 54 nm and high photoluminescence quantum yield up to 73.7%. Additionally, tCz-BOC can effectively harvest T 1 excitons through high-lying T 2 mediated reverse intersystem crossing process. As a consequence, the fabricated OLED based on tCz-BOC exhibits a satisfactory ultra-deep-blue emission with λ EL of 424 nm, narrow emission bandwidth with FWHM of 47 nm, excellent maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE max) of 13.9%, as well as the CIE y coordinate of 0.047, which is fairly close to the Rec.2020 blue color gamut. A novel deep-blue thermally activated delayed fluorescence molecule. [Display omitted] • A robust TADF emitter tCz-BOC with ultra-deep-blue emission peaked at 428 nm and a narrow FWHM of 47 nm was obtained. • An excellent CIE y coordinate of 0.047 which is close to the Rec.2020 blue color gamut was achieved in its OLED. • The EQE max of the OLED was as high as 13.9%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bisphenol F epoxy resin (DGEBF) reacted with 10-(2,5-Dihydroxyphenyl)-10H-9-oxa-10-phospha-phenantbrene-10-oxide (ODOPB) and phenyltrimethoxysilane (PTMS) to obtain a novel epoxy resin containing both phosphorus and silicon (EP-P/Si). EP-P/Si exhibited evidently improved flame retardancy, with a limited oxygen index value of 33.4% and UL-94 V-1 rating acquired. In cone calorimeter test, its peak heat release rate (PHRR), total heat release (THR), average effective heat of combustion (av-EHC), and total smoke production (TSP) were reduced by 36.0%, 19.5%,11.5%, and 7.2% compared with neat epoxy resin (EP), respectively, indicating that the P/Si synergistic effect not only improved the flame retardancy but also inhibited the smoke release. The flame retardancy mechanism was studied by analysis of char residue and pyrolysis behavior in gas phase. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results exhibited that EP-P/Si formed a dense and compact carbon layer acting as a barrier to inhibit further combustion. And the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, laser Raman spectroscopy (LRS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results indicated that it had good thermal stability. In addition, the pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) results suggested that the phosphorus-containing radicals (·PO2) that had quenching effect existed in the gas phase. While the flame retardancy got improved, EP-P/Si also exhibited excellent mechanical properties, with an improvement of 31.8%, 6.2%, and 369.7% in tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact strength compared with EP, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]