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[Display omitted] • The floatable TiO 2 /Bi/CC exhibited higher ammonia activity than powder TiO 2 /Bi. • The newly relay photocatalysis mechanism (N 2 → NO 3 − → NH 3) took place on TiO 2 /Bi/CC. • The Bi component in TiO 2 /Bi/CC promoted the NO 3 − → NO 2 − step occurring spontaneously. • The photocatalytic N 2 fixation product solution was successfully applied in lettuce cultivation. The floatable photocatalyst at N 2 -water interface allows the adequate supply of N 2 reactant and the utilization of photothermal energy for photocatalytic N 2 fixation, however, the presence of non-volatile NO 3 − product poses a challenge to the stability as it easily covers the catalytic active sites. Herein, a floatable TiO 2 /Bi/CC (Carbon cloth) photocatalyst was designed, in which the non-volatile NO 3 − can be transformed to the volatile NH 3 via the newly synergistic relay photocatalysis pathway (N 2 → NO 3 − → NH 3) between TiO 2 (N 2 → NO 3 −) and Bi (NO 3 − → NH 3). Attractively, the spontaneous NO 3 − → NO 2 − step occurs on Bi component to promote the relay pathway performing. Therefore, TiO 2 /Bi/CC system displays better long-term stability than TiO 2 /CC, and moreover, it achieves a higher NH 3 yield of 8.28 mmol L−1 h−1 g−1 (i.e. 4.14 mmol h−1 m−2) than that 1.46 mmol L−1 h−1 g−1 for TiO 2 /Bi powder. Importantly, the N 2 fixation products by TiO 2 /Bi/CC effectively promote lettuce growth and enhance lettuce nutrient contents, which further validates the feasibility of this system in large-scale application of crop cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies on the association between vegetarian diets and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are limited and have inconsistent results. This study aims to explore the association between vegetarian diets and NAFLD and compare the stage of fibrosis between vegetarians and nonvegetarians in a US representative sample. Methods: Cross‐sectional data from 23,130 participants aged ≥20 years were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005–2018. Vegetarian status was classified based on two 24‐h dietary recalls. We examined the association between vegetarian diets and the risk of NAFLD using the propensity score weighting method. Results: Vegetarian diets were significantly associated with decreases in hepatic steatosis index (HSI), US fatty liver index and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score with mean differences of −2.70 (95% confidence interval [CI]: −3.69, −1.70), −3.03 (95% CI: −7.15, −0.91) and −0.12 (95% CI: −0.26, −0.01), respectively. While modelling the risk of NAFLD, we estimated that vegetarians were 53% less likely to have NAFLD assessed by HSI (odds ratios [OR]: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.34, 0.65). The effect of vegetarian diets was higher among individuals with lower waist circumferences (OR: 0.20) than among those with higher waist circumferences (OR: 0.53, pinteraction ${p}_{\text{interaction}}\,$= 0.004). However, the association was largely attenuated after adjusting for body mass index and diabetes status. No significant association was identified between vegetarian diets and advanced fibrosis. Conclusions: Vegetarian diets were associated with a lower prevalence of NAFLD among US adults, and the association appeared to be stronger in people with lower waist circumferences. Further studies are warranted to replicate our findings. Key points: Vegetarians had low risks of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) development.A stronger association was observed among people with lower waist circumferences.Vegetarians were observed to have lower degrees of fibrosis among people with NAFLD.Future nutritional interventions may prioritise a low‐inflammatory dietary plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While game‐based language learning (GBLL) in K‐12 education has received considerable attention, little is still known about its state‐of‐the‐art research trends over the last decade, necessitating a systematic review on its theoretical frameworks, instructional activities and research findings. Objectives: To fill the gap, drawing on the revised technology‐based learning model, this study aims to conduct a systematic review on the trends of GBLL for K‐12 education in terms of theoretical frameworks, participants, methodology, game genres, instructional activities and application effectiveness. Methods: Based on the proposed criteria, 83 Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) articles pertaining to GBLL in K‐12 education published during 2009–2022 were finalised for data analysis. Results and conclusions: The results showed that (1) most GBLL studies adopted cognitive and social frameworks, including flow theory, situated learning and socio‐cultural theory; (2) the most common participants were primary school students, and the most common languages were English as a foreign language (EFL) learning; (3) quantitative methods were frequently adopted, with a particular eye on tests, questionnaires and experimental design; (4) the most common game genre was tutorial games; (5) pre‐game instructional activities, such as gameplay training and lecture, were mostly implemented in K‐12 contexts; (6) benefits such as enhancing four language skills and communicative competence and improving learners' attitudes were reported. However, according to the results, technical issues, unhelpful partners, difficult learning tasks and high cognitive load were the most frequently reported drawbacks. Implications: Pedagogical implications for teachers, designers and researchers in GBLL were referred from the results of the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we use the weighted discontinuous Galerkin finite element method to solve the dual-porosity-Brinkman coupling model. The dual-porosity model describes fluid flow in a dual-porosity medium composed of matrix and microfractures, while the Brinkman equation describes fluid flow in hydraulic fractures or conduits containing "debris filling" or "proppant filling". The two models are coupled by the four physically effective interface conditions, which are constructed based on the fundamental properties of the dual-porosity model and the Brinkman-Darcy model. We provide a weighted discontinuous discrete scheme for the model and derive the optimal error estimates. Through numerical experiments, we verify the properties of the model and the advantages of the numerical method, such as the optimal convergence rate of the numerical solution and the simulation of the flow characteristics around hydraulic fractures and conduits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronaviruses have been identified as pathogens of gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases in humans and various animal species. In recent years, the global spread of new coronaviruses has had profound influences for global public health and economies worldwide. As highly pathogenic zoonotic viruses, coronaviruses have become the focus of current research. Porcine Deltacoronavirus (PDCoV), an enterovirus belonging to the family of coronaviruses, has emerged on a global scale in the past decade and significantly influenced the swine industry. Moreover, PDCoV infects not only pigs but also other species, including humans, chickens and cattles, exhibiting a broad host tropism. This emphasizes the need for in-depth studies on coronaviruses to mitigate their potential threats. In this review, we provided a comprehensive summary of the current studies on PDCoV. We first reviewed the epidemiological investigations on the global prevalence and distribution of PDCoV. Then, we delved into the studies on the pathogenesis of PDCoV to understand the mechanisms how the virus impacts its hosts. Furthermore, we also presented some exploration studies on the immune evasion mechanisms of the virus to enhance the understanding of host-virus interactions. Despite current limitations in vaccine development for PDCoV, we highlighted the inhibitory effects observed with certain substances, which offers a potential direction for future research endeavors. In conclusion, this review summarized the scientific findings in epidemiology, pathogenesis, immune evasion mechanisms and vaccine development of PDCoV. The ongoing exploration of potential vaccine candidates and the insights gained from inhibitory substances have provided a solid foundation for future vaccine development to prevent and control diseases associated with PDCoV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Martin Luther's theory takes “justification by faith” as its main feature. Ancient Chinese Emotionalism is characterized by “justification by Sincerity.” Both of them emphasize the sincere spirit of the individual, but have different emphasis on the attitude of faith and emotion. Luther's theory and Ancient Chinese Emotionalism both have the characteristics of “returning to the individual” and respecting individual freedom, and show a certain spirit of resistance and innovation against the social establishment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Muscle dysfunction caused by repetitive work or strain in the neck region can interfere muscle responses. Muscle dysfunction can be an important factor in causing cervical spondylosis. However, there has been no research on how the biomechanical properties of the upper cervical spine change when the suboccipital muscle group experiences dysfunction. The objective of this study was to investigate the biomechanical evidence for cervical spondylosis by utilizing the finite element (FE) approach, thus and to provide guidance for clinicians performing acupoint therapy. Methods: By varying the elastic modulus of the suboccipital muscle, the four FE models of C0-C3 motion segments were reconstructed under the conditions of normal muscle function and muscle dysfunction. For the two normal condition FE models, the elastic modulus for suboccipital muscles on both sides of the C0-C3 motion segments was equal and within the normal range In one muscle dysfunction FE model, the elastic modulus on both sides was equal and greater than 37 kPa, which represented muscle hypertonia; in the other, the elastic modulus of the left and right suboccipital muscles was different, indicating muscle imbalance. The biomechanical behavior of the lateral atlantoaxial joint (LAAJ), atlanto-odontoid joint (ADJ), and intervertebral disc (IVD) was analyzed by simulations, which were carried out under the six loadings of flexion, extension, left and right lateral bending, left and right axial rotation. Results: Under flexion, the maximum stress in LAAJ with muscle imbalance was higher than that with normal muscle and hypertonia, while the maximum stress in IVD in the hypertonic model was higher than that in the normal and imbalance models. The maximum stress in ADJ was the largest under extension among all loadings for all models. Muscle imbalance and hypertonia did not cause overstress and stress distribution abnormalities in ADJ. Conclusion: Muscle dysfunction increases the stress in LAAJ and in IVD, but it does not affect ADJ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of neural networks in wheat ear detection and counting in smart agriculture holds significant value, showcasing how artificial intelligence technology brings innovation and improvement to the agricultural sector. However, due to the high density, variety, and complex growth cycles of wheat ears, as well as the influence of complex backgrounds during detection, issues such as false positives, false negatives, and low detection rates may arise. Addressing these challenges, this paper proposes a wheat ear detection solution based on the FasterCANet-YOLOv8s algorithm. Firstly, the FasterCANet Block is introduced to enhance the speed of wheat detection. Secondly, an efficient network structure, the QAFPN model, is proposed to strengthen the Neck network, achieving a balance between speed and accuracy in wheat detection. Finally, to better capture the features of small targets, the RFB Block is introduced to improve the SPPF layer. The improved algorithm achieves an mAP@0.5 of 94.4%, surpassing existing technologies. Our model can accurately and quickly locate targets, holding tremendous potential in the wheat cultivation domain and providing efficient and precise support for agricultural production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micron-scale zero-valent iron (ZVI)-based material has been applied for hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) decontamination in wastewater treatment and groundwater remediation, but the passivation problem has limited its field application. In this study, we combined aluminum chloride solution with ZVI (pcZVI-AlCl3) to enhance Cr(VI) removal behavior under aerobic conditions. The optimal pre-corrosion conditions were found to be 2.5 g/L ZVI, 0.5 mM AlCl3, and a 4 h preconditioning period. Different kinds of techniques were applied to detect the properties of preconditioned ZVI and corrosion products. The 57Fe Mössbauer spectra showed that proportions of ZVI, Fe3O4, and FeOOH in pcZVI-AlCl3 were 49.22%, 34.03%, and 16.76%, respectively. The formation of Al(OH)3 in the corrosion products improved its pHpzc (point of zero charge) for Cr(VI) adsorption. Continuous-flow experiments showed its great potential for Cr(VI) removal in field applications. The ZVI and corrosion products showed a synergistic effect in enhancing electron transfer for Cr(VI) removal. The mechanisms underlying Cr(VI) removal by pcZVI-AlCl3 included adsorption, reduction, and precipitation, and the contribution of adsorption was less. This work provides a new strategy for ZVI pre-corrosion to improve its longevity and enhance Cr(VI) removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existence of lead-zinc tailings threatens the social and ecological environment. The recycling of lead–zinc tailings is important for the all-round green transformation of economic society. In this study, the possibility of fabricating sintered ordinary bricks with lead–zinc tailings was studied based on orthogonal experimentation, and the phase composition and micromorphology of sintered products were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). With lead–zinc tailings as the main material, and clay and fly ash as additives, the effect of clay content, forming pressure, sintering temperature, and holding time on physical properties of sintered bricks was analyzed. The results show that clay content and sintering temperature have a major effect on compressive strength, while sintering temperature and holding time play an important role in water absorption. During sintering, mica, chlorite, and other components in lead–zinc tailings are decomposed to form albite, hematite, maghemite, and anhydrite, which play a role in the strength of bricks. The optimal process parameters were found to be a ratio of lead–zinc tailings:clay:fly ash = 6:3:1, forming pressure of 20 MPa, firing temperature of 1080 °C, and holding time of 60 min. The corresponding compressive strength and water absorption were 34.94 MPa and 16.02%, which meets the Chinese sintered ordinary bricks standard (GB/T 5101-2017). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2) is a Cu2+-dependent amine oxidase, and it catalyzes the oxidative deamination of the ε-amino group of Lys residues on elastin and collagen, which is critical for extracellular matrix modeling. Stability is an important property for protein and it directly affects the dynamics and function of protein, which strongly relates to the human health and disease. However, the stability of LOXL2 is not well defined, i.e., which residues are important for its stability is unclear. In this paper, protein stability of LOXL2 was calculated by four methods, viz. mCSM, PremPS, DeepDDG and FoldX. Our results indicate that 95 residues (key residues) are important for the stability of LOXL2, with the amount of 14, 13, 8, 11, 26 in domain 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, respectively, while 23 in the linker between domains. Among these key residues, the types (numbers) are Leu (24), Val (20), Ile (12), Trp (11), Phe (11), Tyr (6), Cys (6), Met (4) and Arg (1). Most of the key residues are hydrophobic (88 in 95), which is consistent with the fact that hydrophobic interaction is the main force in protein folding. Cys residues are paired to constitute disulfide bonds, which play an important role in the structure and function of LOXL2. In the discussion, we compare the results with experimental data, and use the free energy perturbation for verification, which prove the reliability of this work. Thus, this study provides important insight for the research of disease treatment targeting LOXL2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac diffusion tensor imaging (cDTI) is a promising and noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique for assessing myocardial fiber microstructure. However, its clinical application is hampered by lengthy scanning and susceptibility to motion artifacts. This study proposes a cDTI reconstruction model (OSDTI), which leverages octave convolution (OctConv) and Swin Transformer to reconstruct diffusion‐weighted (DW) images from undersampled k‐space data. Our model capitalizes on the strengths of both OctConv and Swin Transformers. Specifically, the OctConv module excels at capturing intricate details and texture information within DW images, while the residual‐connected Swin Transformer module facilitates information retention across various feature extraction stages, thereby enhancing overall image comprehension and reconstruction accuracy. The evaluation of OSDTI using a human ex vivo heart dataset robustly validated the generalization ability of the model. Comparative analyze against existing deep‐learning methods demonstrated OSDTI's superior performance in both DW image quality and diffusion tensor metrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In situ assembly of ZnIn 2 S 4 nanosheets on the surface of nickel-based Hofmann-type coordination polymer (Ni-Ni HCP) nanoplates and Mo-ion doping was first reported. The hydrogen production rate of the prepared Ni–Ni HCP/Mo–ZIS sample under visible-light irradiation was 10 times that of pure ZIS. [Display omitted] Solar energy-assisted hydrogen production technology is an essential tool for exploring hydrogen energy. To date, semiconductors have been used as the primary photocatalyst to generate hydrogen via photocatalytic water splitting. However, the high photogenerated electron–hole recombination rate of semiconductor photocatalysts results in a low hydrogen production rate. Herein, the synergistic effect of Mo-ion doping and the incorporation of Ni-based Hofmann-type coordination polymer (Ni–Ni HCP) on the photocatalytic performance of ZnIn 2 S 4 (ZIS) is investigated. The hydrogen production rate of the prepared in-situ Mo doped ZnIn 2 S 4 wrapped Ni-Ni HCP (Ni–Ni HCP/Mo–ZIS) sample under visible-light irradiation is 26.7 mmol g−1h−1, which is 10 times that of pure ZIS. Hydrogen production rate test, microscopic characterization, and density functional theory calculation confirm that the proposed dual modulation approach (combined ion doping and heterogeneous structure construction) could effectively increase the photocatalytic efficiency of ZIS. The stability of prepared samples is also examined by four-cycle photocatalytic hydrogen production tests. The proposed integrated method opens a new route for advancing renewable energy technology towards a sustainable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adhesives play a crucial role in modern everyday applications, prompting a growing environmental consciousness regarding their source, composition, utilization, and disposal. Sustainability concerns are frequently generated due to the complex or energy‐intensive manufacturing processes in the production of conventional water‐based adhesives. Here, a coacervate‐based snail‐inspired solvent‐free adhesive (SFA) is engineered by strategically modulating electrostatic interactions and molecular entanglement of two polypeptides under environmentally friendly conditions. The SFA has a record‐breaking adhesion strength of 28 MPa on ceramics, setting a new standard for bio‐based adhesives. The SFA demonstrates robust adhesion performance across a wide temperature ranging from −150 to 300 °C and allows for reusability without compromising adhesion properties. Moreover, it can be easily removed using a non‐toxic alkaline solution. The study presents a promising opportunity for developing high‐performance, reusable adhesives made from renewable materials suitable for industrial applications, relics repair, and even spacecraft processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the problem of phase retrieval with short-time linear canonical transform (STLCT). The relation between signal, window and their STLCT is provided through Fourier transform. Based on this theorem, a uniqueness result is established for all square integrable functions. For nonseparable real continuous signal, we prove the uniqueness theorems under some weaker conditions. In complex bandlimited and cardinal B-spline spaces, uniqueness results are provided with magnitude-only STLCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapier loom works in a complex environment and operates at high speeds. It is inevitable that its performance will deteriorate during the production process, which in turn will cause faults. The development of maintenance has undergone the transition from "regular maintenance" and "post-event maintenance" to "predictive maintenance". In order to achieve the synergistic optimization goal of ensuring operational safety and reducing operational costs, a predictive maintenance method driven by the fusion of digital twin and deep learning is proposed based on the idea of "combining the real with the virtual and controlling the real". Firstly, a digital twin system structure model of rapier weaving machine is constructed, and the overall architecture of digital twin is proposed according to the full operation cycle of rapier weaving machine. Then, the digital twin-driven process parameter evaluation and prediction and health state evaluation and prediction are investigated separately. In order to achieve the evaluation and prediction of process parameters to ensure the efficiency of weaving machine operation, the prediction method of IWOA optimized BP neural network driven by twin data is proposed and the model is updated and optimized based on the martingale distance approach. In order to achieve health state assessment and prediction, we use health index as an evaluation index to characterize the health condition of spindles, and use BiLSTM network to achieve prediction of remaining spindle life and then make maintenance decisions. The results show that there are greater advantages to combining deep learning and digital twin technology for intelligent predictive maintenance of rapier loom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new type of UHPC‐NC (normal concrete) structure in the negative moment zone was proposed to improve the bearing capacity of the connection structure in the negative moment zone of prefabricated prestressed concrete (PC) beam bridges. First, the distribution characteristics of the crack, cracking load, ultimate moment, and ductility coefficient of the new structure were obtained by the 1:4 scale model tests. The feasibility of the connection structure is verified. Then, the value ranges of critical structural parameters affecting the bearing capacity of the connection structure based on the plane section assumption analysis, including the reasonable thickness of the UHPC layer, the reinforcement ratio of the longitudinal tensile reinforcement, and the diameter of the reinforcement, are obtained. At the same time, based on the verification of the finite element model, the influence of crucial research parameters on the bending capacity of the connection structure is obtained by using the finite element method. Finally, a theoretical method for the bending moment capacity of the connection structure of the UHPC‐NC structure is proposed, considering the high ductility characteristics of UHPC materials. The average relative error between the calculation results and the finite element method is within 7.2%, which verifies the reliability of the calculation method in this paper and provides a reference for its design and engineering application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China Health-Related Outcomes Measures (CHROME) was an initiative aimed at developing a system of preference-based health-related quality of life instruments for China. CHROME-cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a CVD-specific instrument with 14 items developed under this initiative. This study aimed to test the psychometric properties of CHROME-CVD. This validation study was conducted using cross-sectional questionnaire survey in China. Eligible patients with CVD were recruited and asked to complete the CHROME-CVD, the EQ-5D-5L, and a CVD-specific nonpreference-based health-related quality of life instrument selected according to the confirmed diagnosis of the patients. Item evaluation, internal consistency, measurement invariance, test-retest reliability, structural validity, and construct validity were tested using classic test theory. Item response theory was used to evaluate item-level performance. A total of 444 patients with CVD (coronary artery disease, n = 276, heart failure, n = 104, angina, n = 33, and atrial fibrillation, n = 16) from 6 provinces in China were enrolled for the validation. Exploratory factor analysis identified 4 factors: chest pain, other symptoms, physical health, and mental and social health. Cronbach's alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient were >0.8. A total of 20 of 26 (76.9%), and 90 of 95 (94.7%) predefined hypotheses were met for convergent and discriminant validities, respectively. No important difference was identified between subgroups of gender and residency. Response options of 10 items were found overlapped based on categorical response curves, which led to modification to 4-level response options. Wording of 3 items were modified by referring wordings of reference instruments. The validation of the CHROME-CVD demonstrated generally good psychometric properties. Further validation on the modified CHROME-CVD is needed. • A validation study on China Health-Related Outcomes Measures-Cardiovascular Disease (CHROME-CVD), a cardiovascular-disease-specific instrument developed under the initiative of CHROME, was conducted using both classic test theory and item response theory. • The descriptive system of CHROME-CVD has demonstrated good psychometric properties in terms of internal consistency, measurement invariance, test-retest reliability, structural validity, and construct validity. • Based on the item response theory test, 4-level response options are adopted for CHROME-CVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of using a 0.454% stannous fluoride-containing dentifrice twice daily in relieving dentinal hypersensitivity (DH) in a Chinese population. Materials and methods: This was a single-centre, randomized, controlled, examiner-blind, three-treatment-arm, parallel-group study in participants with clinically diagnosed DH. Subjects who met inclusion criteria (n = 197) were randomly allocated into 3 groups: test group (n = 66)—using a 0.454% stannous fluoride-containing dentifrice twice daily; positive control group (n = 64)—using a 5.0% calcium sodium phosphosilicate-containing dentifrice twice daily; negative control group (n = 67)—using a 1150 ppm of NaF dentifrice twice daily. Status of DH was assessed at week 4 and week 8 by the same independent examiner. Changes from baseline in Schiff sensitivity score, tactile threshold and Dentine Hypersensitivity Experience Questionnaire (DHEQ) score were analysed using analysis of covariance models. The DHEQ evaluated subject-perceived oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Results: Statistically significant improvements in mean Schiff scores (p < 0.0001 for all products at Weeks 4 and 8), tactile threshold (p < 0.0001 for test and negative control at Weeks 4 and 8: Week 4 p = 0.0040 and Week 8 p < 0.0001 for positive control) and all DHEQ scores (p < 0.01 for all groups) were observed. No statistically significant differences were observed in the adjusted mean between all dentifrices at both timepoints, potentially driven by a placebo effect. Forty-two treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were reported (n = 32 subjects), with 2 serious AEs (n = 1) in the test group. TEAEs were not considered treatment-related. Conclusions: All groups demonstrated statistically significant improvements in Schiff score, tactile threshold and OHRQoL. However, due to a possible placebo effect in the negative control, there were no statistically significant differences between the dentifrices. Clinical relevance: This study adds to the growing research exploring why the placebo effect is a common phenomenon in DH studies. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04950465. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we develop a polygonal mesh adaptation algorithm for a fully implicit scheme based on discontinuous Galerkin (DG) finite element methods in space and backward Euler method in time to solve the Allen-Cahn equation. The mathematical framework and a procedure for solving this nonlinear equation are given. We extend the DG discretization with a polygonal mesh adaptation method to save computation time and capture the thin interfaces more accurately. A criterion based on the local value of the phase field function gradient is used to select the target element for refinement and coarsening, and then a 4-node polygonal mesh refinement strategy is adopted by connecting the midpoint of each edge to the barycenter of the target element. Using numerical tests, including motion by the mean curvature, curvature-driven flow, the Allen-Cahn equation with a logarithmic free energy, the Allen-Cahn equation with advection, and the application for image segmentation, we verify the accuracy, efficiency, and capabilities of the adaptive DG on polygonal meshes and confirm the decreasing property of the discrete energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edge structures, thiophene adsorption and hydrodesulfurization (HDS) mechanisms are investigated on the S-edge of triangular MoS2 nanoclusters using density functional theory. The calculated formation energies for different S coverages on the S-edge suggest that the formation of coordinative unsaturated site at the vertex and edge-I (close to the vertex) sites is preferred over the edge-II (away from the vertex) sites. The adsorption of thiophene on the top site of Mo atom mainly occurs at the edge-I, whereas bridge adsorption occurs at the edge-II. The 92% and 50% S-edge coverages involve relatively larger adsorption energies (− 0.68 and − 0.79 eV) among all the possible adsorption configurations. On the S edge with 92% S coverage, the hydrogenation route is more favorable, producing 1-butene. On the S edge with 50% S coverage, the direct desulfurization route is preferred, yielding butadiene. These findings deepen the understanding of edge structures of MoS2 nanoclusters and the corresponding HDS mechanisms for MoS2-based HDS catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interface bonding between different asphalt pavement layers is crucial in maintaining the integrity of the pavement structure. To improve the interface bonding, bitumen emulsion is commonly used as the tack coat material. However, the bonding performance of conventional bitumen emulsion is limited. This study investigated the possibility of using waterborne epoxy resin modified bitumen emulsion as a novel tack coat material. The resistance to moisture damage of waterborne epoxy resin modified bitumen emulsion was evaluated using the boiling water test, followed by the characterization of the interface adhesion between waterborne epoxy resin modified bitumen emulsion and aggregate using the binder bond strength test. To further determine the interface bonding between different asphalt layers bonded by waterborne epoxy resin modified bitumen emulsion, a two-layer asphalt mixture structure was fabricated, and the shear strength was measured. The results indicated that the incorporation of waterborne epoxy resin can increase the interface bonding between the two asphalt mixture layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human pose estimation is a crucial area of study in computer vision. Transformer-based pose estimation algorithms have gained popularity for their excellent performance and relatively compact parameterization. However, these algorithms often face challenges including high computational demands and insensitivity to local details. To address these problems, the Twin attention module was introduced in TransPose to improve model efficiency and reduce resource consumption. Additionally, to address issues related to insufficient joint feature representation and poor network recognition performance, the enhanced TransPose model, named VTTransPose, replaced the basic block in the third subnet with the intra-level feature fusion module V block. The performance of the proposed VTTransPose model was validated on the public datasets COCO val2017 and COCO test-dev2017. The experimental results on COCO val2017 and COCO test-dev2017 indicate that the AP evaluation index scores of the VTTransPose network proposed are 76.5 and 73.6 respectively, marking improvements of 0.4 and 0.2 over the original TransPose network. Additionally, VTTransPose exhibited a reduction of 4.8G FLOPs, 2M parameters, and approximately 40% lower memory usage during training compared to the original TransPose model. All the experimental results demonstrate that the proposed VTTransPose is more accurate, efficient, and lightweight compared to the original TransPose model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SznF, a member of the emerging family of heme‐oxygenase‐like (HO‐like) di‐iron oxidases and oxygenases, employs two distinct domains to catalyze the conversion of Nω‐methyl‐L‐arginine (L‐NMA) into N‐nitroso‐containing product, which can subsequently be transformed into streptozotocin. Using unrestricted density functional theory (UDFT) with the hybrid functional B3LYP, we have mechanistically investigated the two sequential hydroxylations of L‐NMA catalyzed by SznF's binuclear iron central domain. Mechanism B primarily involves the O−O bond dissociation, forming Fe(IV)=O, induced by the H+/e− introduction to the FeA side of μ‐1,2‐peroxo‐Fe2(III/III), the substrate hydrogen abstraction by Fe(IV)=O, and the hydroxyl rebound to the substrate N radical. The stochastic addition of H+/e− to the FeB side (mechanism C) can transition to mechanism B, thereby preventing enzyme deactivation. Two other competing mechanisms, involving the direct O−O bond dissociation (mechanism A) and the addition of H2O as a co‐substrate (mechanism D), have been ruled out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The communication between the gut and brain is crucial for regulating various essential physiological functions, such as energy balance, fluid homeostasis, immune response, and emotion. The vagal sensory pathway plays an indispensable role in connecting the gut to the brain. Recently, our knowledge of the vagal gut-brain axis has significantly advanced through molecular genetic studies, revealing a diverse range of vagal sensory cell types with distinct peripheral innervations, response profiles, and physiological functions. Here, we review the current understanding of how vagal sensory neurons contribute to gut-brain communication. First, we highlight recent transcriptomic and genetic approaches that have characterized different vagal sensory cell types. Then, we focus on discussing how different subtypes encode numerous gut-derived signals and how their activities are translated into physiological and behavioral regulations. The emerging insights into the diverse cell types and functional properties of vagal sensory neurons have paved the way for exciting future directions, which may provide valuable insights into potential therapeutic targets for disorders involving gut-brain communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leisure agriculture in suburban towns provides important space for citizens to carry out leisure activities. This paper takes Xinkou town in Tianjin city as an example to analyze the development efficiency of leisure agriculture in suburban towns. On the premise of establishing the indicators for evaluating the development efficiency of leisure agriculture in Xinkou town, this paper first uses the data envelopment analysis (DEA) to measure the input and output indicators of leisure agriculture in 18 natural villages in Xinkou town, and calculates the comprehensive technical efficiency, target values, redundancy and returns to scale of leisure agriculture, and then evaluates the development efficiency of leisure agriculture in Xinkou town. Furthermore, by using the high/low clustering tool under the ArcGIS spatial statistics module, this paper conducts a high/low clustering analysis of the development efficiency of leisure agriculture in 18 natural villages of Xinkou town, and figures out the reasons for the high/low clustering of natural villages in Xinkou town spatially. After the research and analysis, the following conclusions are drawn: From the input–output perspective, except for Zhengzhuangzi village, Diliubu village, Yuejiakai village, and Dangcheng village, the development efficiency of leisure agriculture in other villages is relatively low due to their poor resource foundations, or deficiencies in management experience and transportation location. The development of leisure agriculture in Xinkou town is unbalanced, showing a pattern of polarized clusters: Diliubu village and Shuigaozhuang village form the most obvious high-value cluster, while Xiaoshawo village, Bijia village and Xuanjiayuan village form the most obvious low-value cluster, where the southeast corner of Xinkou town registers the lowest development efficiency value of leisure agriculture because it is far away from the town center and the main transportation arteries, and falls short of high-quality pastoral scenery. For the future development of leisure agriculture in Xinkou town, it is supposed to optimize the land use policy, provide active support to the competitive industrial and commercial capital, non-governmental capital, rural collective economic organizations, farmers’ cooperatives, and family farms, strengthen the in-depth integration of industries, improve the support system for new-type leisure agriculture, and build leisure agriculture brands with local features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Home phototherapy (HPT) remains a contentious alternative to inpatient phototherapy (IPT) for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. To guide evidence-based clinical decision-making, we conducted a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and cohort studies and assessed the comparative risks and benefits of HPT and IPT. Methods: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, Wanfang Database, Chinese Science and Technique Journals Database, ClinicalTrials.gov, and International Clinical Trial Registry Platform trial were searched from inception until June 2, 2023. We included RCTs and cohort studies and adhered to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Study quality was assessed with the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias tool and the Newcastle–Ottawa scale. The outcome measures were phototherapy duration, daily bilirubin level reduction, exchange transfusion, hospital readmission, parental stress scale, and complications. We used fixed- or random-effects meta-analysis models, assessed heterogeneity (I2), conducted subgroup analyses, evaluated publication bias, and graded evidence quality. Results: Nine studies (998 patients) were included (four RCTs, five cohort studies). HPT was associated with longer phototherapy duration (SMD = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.06–1.04, P = 0.03). Cohort study subgroup analysis yielded consistent results (SMD = 0.90; 95% CI: 0.69 to 1.11, P < 0.001, I2 = 39%); the RCTs were not significantly different (SMD = -0.04; 95% CI: -0.15 to 0.08, P = 0.54, I2 = 0%). Hospital readmission was higher with HPT (RR = 4.61; 95% CI: 1.43–14.86, P = 0.01). Daily bilirubin reduction (WMD = -0.12, 95% CI: -0.68 to 0.44, P = 0.68) or complications were not significantly different (RR = 2.29; 95% CI: 0.31–16.60, P = 0.41). The evidence quality was very low. HPT was associated with lower parental stress (SMD = -0.44, 95% CI: -0.71 to -0.16, P = 0.002). None of three included studies reported exchange transfusion. Conclusions: The current evidence does not strongly support HPT efficacy for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, as high-quality data on long-term outcomes are scarce. Future research should prioritize well-designed, large-scale, high-quality RCTs to comprehensively assess HPT risks and benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and satisfaction of using a multi-angle laser device (MLD) for C-arm fluoroscopy to assist novice learners during lumbar spine surgery. Methods: Forty novice learners were randomly assigned to Group A using an MLD-equipped C-arm or Group B using a traditional C-arm. Both groups performed X-ray fluoroscopy on a lumbar spine model in supine and rotated positions. Time, number of shots, and deviation from the target were compared. A questionnaire was used to assess the learning experience. Results: Group A required less time (13.66 vs. 25.63 min), and fewer shots (15.05 vs. 32.50), and had a smaller deviation (22.9% vs. 61.5%) than Group B (all p<0.05). The questionnaire revealed higher scores in Group A for comfort, efficiency, and knowledge mastery (all p<0.05). Conclusion: The MLD significantly improves novice learning of C-arm fluoroscopy during lumbar spine surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Home phototherapy (HPT) remains a contentious alternative to inpatient phototherapy (IPT) for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. To guide evidence-based clinical decision-making, we conducted a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and cohort studies and assessed the comparative risks and benefits of HPT and IPT. Methods: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, Wanfang Database, Chinese Science and Technique Journals Database, ClinicalTrials.gov, and International Clinical Trial Registry Platform trial were searched from inception until June 2, 2023. We included RCTs and cohort studies and adhered to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Study quality was assessed with the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias tool and the Newcastle–Ottawa scale. The outcome measures were phototherapy duration, daily bilirubin level reduction, exchange transfusion, hospital readmission, parental stress scale, and complications. We used fixed- or random-effects meta-analysis models, assessed heterogeneity (I2), conducted subgroup analyses, evaluated publication bias, and graded evidence quality. Results: Nine studies (998 patients) were included (four RCTs, five cohort studies). HPT was associated with longer phototherapy duration (SMD = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.06–1.04, P = 0.03). Cohort study subgroup analysis yielded consistent results (SMD = 0.90; 95% CI: 0.69 to 1.11, P < 0.001, I2 = 39%); the RCTs were not significantly different (SMD = -0.04; 95% CI: -0.15 to 0.08, P = 0.54, I2 = 0%). Hospital readmission was higher with HPT (RR = 4.61; 95% CI: 1.43–14.86, P = 0.01). Daily bilirubin reduction (WMD = -0.12, 95% CI: -0.68 to 0.44, P = 0.68) or complications were not significantly different (RR = 2.29; 95% CI: 0.31–16.60, P = 0.41). The evidence quality was very low. HPT was associated with lower parental stress (SMD = -0.44, 95% CI: -0.71 to -0.16, P = 0.002). None of three included studies reported exchange transfusion. Conclusions: The current evidence does not strongly support HPT efficacy for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, as high-quality data on long-term outcomes are scarce. Future research should prioritize well-designed, large-scale, high-quality RCTs to comprehensively assess HPT risks and benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solubility of aerosol trace elements, which determines their bioavailability and reactivity, is operationally defined and strongly depends on the leaching protocol used. Ultrapure water batch leaching is one of the most widely used leaching protocols, while the specific leaching protocols used in different labs can still differ in agitation methods, contact time, and filter pore size. It is yet unclear to which extent the difference in these experimental parameters would affect the aerosol trace element solubility reported. This work examined the effects of agitation methods, filter pore size and contact time on the solubility of nine aerosol trace elements, and found that the difference in agitation methods (shaking vs. sonication), filter pore size (0.22 vs. 0.45 μm), and contact time (1 vs. 2 h) only led to small and sometimes insignificant difference in the reported solubility. We further compared aerosol trace element solubility determined using four ultrapure water leaching protocols which are adopted by four different labs and vary in agitation methods, filter pore size and/or contact time, and observed good agreement in the reported solubility. Therefore, our work suggests that although ultrapure water batch leaching protocols used by different labs vary in specific experimental parameters, the determined aerosol trace element solubility is comparable. We recommend ultrapure water batch leaching to be one of the reference leaching schemes, and emphasize that additional consensus in the community on agitation methods, contact time and filter pore size is needed to formulate a standard operating procedure for ultrapure water batch leaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetically-actuated microrobots (MARs) exhibit great potential in biomedicine owing to their precise navigation, wireless actuation and remote operation in confined space. However, most previously explored MARs unfold the drawback of hypodynamic magnetic torque due to low magnetic content, leading to their limited applications in controlled locomotion in fast-flowing fluid and massive cargo carrying to the target position. Here, we report a high-performance pure-nickel magnetically-actuated microrobot (Ni-MAR), prepared by a femtosecond laser polymerization followed by sintering method. Our Ni-MAR possesses a high magnetic content (∼90 wt%), thus resulting in enhanced magnetic torque under low-strength rotating magnetic fields, which enables the microrobot to exhibit high-speed swimming and superior cargo carrying. The maximum velocity of our Ni-MAR, 12.5 body lengths per second, outperforms the velocity of traditional helical MARs. The high-speed Ni-MAR is capable of maintaining controlled locomotion in fast-flowing fluid. Moreover, the Ni-MAR with massive cargo carrying capability can push a 200-times heavier microcube with translation and rotation motion. A single cell and multiple cells can be transported facilely by a single Ni-MAR to the target position. This work provides a scheme for fabricating high-performance magnetic microrobots, which holds great promise for targeted therapy and drug delivery in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An N‐phenylcarbazole/triazine hybrid of 2,4,6‐tris(9‐phenyl‐9H‐carbazol‐3‐yl)‐1,3,5‐triazine (TPhCz‐Trz) is successfully synthesized using cheap raw materials via facile synthesis method with a high yield of 60.9%. Good thermal (Td, 284 °C) and morphological stability are realized due to its rigid structure and three‐dimensional steric hindrance. The high triplet energy level of 2.88 eV for the host is very important to inhibit the energy reverse from guest to host. Surprisingly, orange thermally‐activated delayed fluorescent (TADF) organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) are achieved by using excellent green emitter 9,10‐bis(4‐(3,6‐ditertbutyl‐9H‐carbazol‐9‐yl)‐2,6‐dimethyl‐phenyl)‐9,10‐diboraanth‐racene (tBuCzDBA) with the maximum external quantum efficiency of 14.0%. The large bathochromic‐shift is probably induced by the polarity of the host compared to the emission peak of 542 nm of tBuCzDBA‐based green TADF device. This indicates high performance of devices with different colors would be achieved through optimizing molecular structure of the host and device framework using tBuCzDBA as emitter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Relevant reports on the surgical resection and prognosis of recurrent presacral tumors are limited. The objective of this study was to explore the outcomes associated with surgical resection of recurrent presacral tumors. Methods: The data of patients with recurrent presacral tumors who received surgical resection in our hospital between June 2009 and November 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Thirty-one patients, comprising 22 females and 9 males, with recurrent presacral lesions were included in our study. A posterior approach was utilized in 27 patients, an anterior approach in 1 patient, and a combined approach in 3 patients. Intraoperative complications occurred in 13 patients (41.9%), while postoperative complications occurred in 6 patients (19.4%). The length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in patients who underwent the posterior approach compared to those who underwent the anterior and combined approaches (P = 0.002). The operative time for the posterior approach was significantly shorter compared to both the anterior and combined approaches (P = 0.006). Temporary tamponade was performed for hemostasis in 4 patients, while staged resection was performed in 2 patients during the surgical treatment process. After a median follow-up period of 115.5 months, 5 patients with recurrent malignant presacral tumors succumbed to tumor recurrence after reoperation in our hospital. Conclusions: Surgical resection remains the mainstream treatment for recurrent presacral tumors. The outcomes for recurrent benign presacral tumors after surgery demonstrate favorable results, whereas further enhancements are required to improve the outcomes for recurrent malignant presacral tumors after surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical catalysts based on polyaniline derived covalent organic framework-carbon nanotube composite (PANI@COF-CNT) was successfully fabricated by chemical oxidation polymerization method. Rougher surface morphologies of PANI@COF-CNT was obtained attributing to PANI loading with the porous framework, forming a unique well-distributed network structure. The specific surface area and pore diameter of PANI@COF-CNT were 99.533 m2/g and 24.916 nm, which were 13.220 and 1.913 times of that of PANI@COF. The output voltage of PANI@COF-CNT MFC could be stably sustained at about 0.390 V with no significant change after 120 h. The maximum power density of PANI@COF-CNT MFC was 194.480 mW/m2, which was 8.655 folds higher than that of the pristine COF cathode MFC. The coral bone-like structure of COF and the porous structure of CNT provided abundant electroactive sites, and the high conductivity of PANI significantly enhanced the electron transfer rate and effectively reduced the transport resistance, which in turn effectively strengthened the electrochemical performance and cycling stability of MFC. • In-situ synthesis of conductive PANI on COF-CNT surface by chemical oxidation polymerization method. • High conductivity and abundant active sites improved the electrochemical performance of PANI@COF-CNT. • Maximum power density produced by PANI@COF-CNT MFC was 194.480 mW/m2. • The possible way of electron transfer of PANI@COF-CNT in electrode was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe train operates in special environments such as large bridges and elevated viaducts. The fluctuations of the aerodynamic loads of the high-speed train (HST) are more intense and the possibility of the train derailment and overturning will increase when the train is running on the bridge under the crosswind. Thus, it is of utmost importance to study both the aerodynamic characteristics and the running safety of the train in this situation. This study uses the IDDES method to investigate the aerodynamic characteristics of the train running on the double track bridge in both up and down train directions at different speeds. The differences in the impact of aerodynamic loads on the train’s dynamic response indicators are discussed using the wind-vehicle coupling dynamic response calculation method. Based on these researches, the operational safety of the train under different operating conditions is evaluated from both flow field and dynamic perspectives. The results show that large-scale vortices fall off from the nose of the train and form a larger vortex structure on the leeward side and when the train is running under the crosswind. Its aerodynamic loads fluctuate intensely with time due to the complex wake flow of the train. The dominant frequencies of the unsteady aerodynamic loads are mostly concentrated in the range of 0–5Hz, which is close to the natural modal frequencies of the train. This will lead to the overturning of the train due to vehicle resonance. The derailment coefficient and wheel load reduction rate of the train increase with the speed. Their peak values exceed the limit of 0.8 while the peak duration of the derailment coefficient is less than 0.05s, which means the state of the leeward wheel will recover from a short derailment. However, the duration of derailment increases with speed. Therefore, appropriate measures should be taken to prevent accidents when the train is running at higher speed on the bridge to guarantee the operational safety of the HST. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the important technology-assisted language learning (TALL)-empowered affordances, a comprehensive understanding of how these TALL tools facilitate learning across different language components, e.g., phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics, could not only present the panoramic scenery of the subject matter but also inform pedagogy for applied linguistics researchers and practitioners. Despite the increasing attention being paid to the affordances of a particular TALL platform, there is still a lack of more holistic research practice to the affordances for the five language components. To bridge the gap, this study aims to systematically and quantitively revisit the TALL-empowered affordances with respect to these language components. To this end, a total of valid 201 articles published from 2010 to 2023 were selected and coded based on the proposed inclusion/exclusion criteria. Results revealed that different TALL platforms (viz. computer, mobile, tablet, virtual reality, and robot) help improve students’ language learning performance and efficacy among the five language components. The implications of the study, in perfect tune with the distance language learning experiences in the post COVID-19 pandemic era, justify the need to take full advantage of the TALL affordances and accelerate the move toward a more technology-friendly field of study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we reported an efficient indium catalyzed dithianyl–alkyne metathesis (DAM) reaction. This strategy allows for the formation of a new C–C double bond and valuable C–S bonds during the metathesis event, and was successfully applied to the synthesis of diverse vinyl dithianyl substituted organic molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The perceptions and attitudes of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients towards pregnancy may affect their fertility plan and disease progression. We performed a nationwide multicenter survey of pregnancy‐related knowledge among gastroenterologists and IBD patients in China to investigate whether specific educational interventions could improve their understanding and broadly influence fertility plan. Methods: A cross‐sectional questionnaire regarding pregnancy‐specific knowledge was carried out among 63 IBD centers in China. Questionnaires were collected from 185 physicians and 609 patients. The patients then received education regarding pregnancy during IBD and filled in the same questionnaire again. Their knowledge regarding pregnancy during IBD was compared before and after education. Results: Compared to physicians, patients' knowledge regarding fertility (39.1% vs 70.8%), imaging examinations (22.8% vs 72.4%), endoscopy performed during pregnancy (19.9% vs 71.4%), and vaccination for infants (16.6% vs 46.5%) was significantly more limited (all P < 0.001). There was a lack of knowledge among gastroenterologists regarding the delivery mode (36.8%), medications (36.8%), and emergency surgery (26.5%) during pregnancy in patients with IBD. After education, the patients showed significant improvement in knowledge regarding medications (26.7% vs 51.7%), fertility (45.0% vs 63.3%), heritability (40.0% vs 58.3%), indications for emergency surgery (15.0% vs 53.3%), imaging examinations during pregnancy (20.0% vs 40.0%), and vaccinations for infants (26.7% vs 45.0%) (all P < 0.05). Conclusions: Pregnancy‐specific IBD knowledge needs to be improved among certain gastroenterologists and patients in China. Educational interventions can partially improve the knowledge levels of the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is still challenging to generate high-quality inflow turbulence for the direct numerical and large-eddy simulations of compressible turbulent boundary layers (CTBL). Recently, Wang et al. ["Inflow turbulence generation using an equivalent boundary layer model," Phys. Fluids 35, 075110 (2023)] proposed a new inflow turbulence generation method based on an equivalent boundary layer model for incompressible turbulent boundary layers. In the present study, the compressible equivalent boundary layer (CEBL) model is proposed and applied to the direct numerical simulation of supersonic turbulent boundary layers. The streamwise equilibrious CEBL approximates the streamwise developing CTBL by adding source terms to the governing equations to recover the mean mass, momentum, and energy balances at a given Reynolds number. Direct numerical simulation is performed to CEBL at free-stream Mach number 5.86 and friction Reynolds number 380. Comparison with the CTBL statistics at the same parameters validates the fidelity and reliability of the CEBL model. Turbulence generated by CEBL as well as the digital filtering and recycling-rescaling methods is used, respectively, to construct the inflow conditions for the direct numerical simulation of supersonic turbulent boundary layers. Results show that the CEBL method has great superiority in reducing the adjustment length compared with the other two methods. In addition, a correction method designed for the high inflow Reynolds number is also introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the effects of the working medium and external conditions, centrifugal pumps often produce complex gas–liquid two-phase flows during operation. The entrainment of gas can lead to a significant decrease in the pressure head of the centrifugal pump and a serious reduction in conveyance efficiency. Therefore, in the absence of visualization or noninvasive techniques, the question of how to predict and model the flow status inside the pump is a key issue that needs to be urgently addressed. Using experimental data for gas–liquid two-phase flows in centrifugal pumps, this paper proposes a flow pattern identification model based on one-dimensional pressure increment signals. This deep learning model consists of convolutional neural networks and bidirectional gated recurrent units. Bayesian optimization is used for automatic hyperparameter tuning, and under the premise of balanced data distribution, the model achieves an identification rate of 0.98 on the test set. Subsequently, addressing the issue of the uneven sample distribution in centrifugal pumps due to their poor gas-carrying capacity, a data augmentation model based on the conditional Wasserstein generative adversarial network with gradient penalty approach is proposed based on the predictive model. Finally, to establish a flow pattern identification method with good extrapolation capability, a transfer learning strategy that accounts for the domain adaptation problem is introduced to the dataset with variable speeds based on the previous two studies. This method achieves knowledge transfer from the source domain to the target domain with a recognition rate of over 0.988 without hyperparameter optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic cancer remains the common cancer with the worst prognosis because of its late diagnosis and extensive metastasis. This study aimed to investigate the effects of GABRP on pancreatic cancer metastasis and the molecular mechanism. The expression of GABRP was measured using the quantitative real-time PCR and western blot. The biological behaviors of cancer cells were assessed using the cell counting kit-8, Transwell assay, and western blot. The regulation of GABRP on the MEK/ERK pathway was detected by western blot. The results indicated that GABRP was overexpressed in pancreatic cancer tissues and cells. Knockdown of GABRP suppressed cell viability, invasion, migration, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), whereas GABRP overexpression facilitated these biological behaviors. Inactivation of the MEK/ERK pathway reversed the effects on cellular processes induced by GABRP. Moreover, silencing of GABRP inhibited tumor growth. In conclusion, GABRP promoted the progression of pancreatic cancer by facilitating cell metastasis and tumor growth via activating the MEK/ERK pathway. The findings suggest that GABRP has the potential to be a therapeutic target for the metastatic pancreatic cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Watersheds, as carriers of biodiversity with distinct boundaries, can provide the basic conditions for the distribution and dispersal of species. This study found that frequent and complex land-use type changes caused by human activities can alter river conditions, thus affecting aquatic biodiversity as well as dispersal and distribution. The disturbed streams had lower aquatic biodiversity than those in their natural state, a decrease in disturbance-sensitive aquatic insect taxa and a more similar community structure. In natural woodland areas, species distributions may be constrained by watershed segmentation and may present more complex community characteristics. This study explores the impact of anthropogenic land use changes on the macroinvertebrate community structure in the streams of the Cangshan Mountains. Through field collections of macroinvertebrates, measurement of water environments, and delineation of riparian zone land use in eight streams, we analyzed the relationship between land use types, stream water environments, and macroinvertebrate diversities. The results demonstrate urban land use type and water temperature are the key environmental factors driving the differences in macroinvertebrate communities up-, mid-, and downstream. The disturbed streams had lower aquatic biodiversity than those in their natural state, showing a decrease in disturbance-sensitive aquatic insect taxa and a more similar community structure. In the natural woodland area, species distributions may be constrained by watershed segmentation and present more complex community characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: At present, dysfunctional CD8+ T-cells in the nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) have caused unsatisfactory immunotherapeutic effects, such as a low response rate of anti-PD-L1 therapy. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify reliable markers capable of accurately predicting immunotherapy efficacy. Methods: Utilizing various algorithms for immune-infiltration evaluation, we explored the role of EIF3C in the TIME. We next found the influence of EIF3C expression on NPC based on functional analyses and RNA sequencing. By performing correlation and univariate Cox analyses of CD8+ Tcell markers from scRNA-seq data, we identified four signatures, which were then used in conjunction with the lasso algorithm to determine corresponding coefficients in the resulting EIF3C-related CD8+ T-cell signature (ETS). We subsequently evaluated the prognostic value of ETS using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, Kaplan–Meier curves, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). Results: Our results demonstrate a significant relationship between low expression of EIF3C and high levels of CD8+ T-cell infiltration in the TIME, as well as a correlation between EIF3C expression and progression of NPC. Based on the expression levels of four EIF3C-related CD8+ T-cell marker genes, we constructed the ETS predictive model for NPC prognosis, which demonstrated success in validation. Notably, our model can also serve as an accurate indicator for detecting immunotherapy response. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that EIF3C plays a significant role in NPC progression and immune modulation, particularly in CD8+ T-cell infiltration. Furthermore, the ETS model holds promise as both a prognostic predictor for NPC patients and a tool for adjusting individualized immunotherapy strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cardiac autonomic nervous system (CANS) is intimately connected to the regulation of electrophysiology and arrhythmogenesis in cardiac systems. This work aimed at investigating whether interleukin-10 (IL-10) could effectively modulate CANS and suppress ischemia-induced ventricular arrhythmia (VA) through chronically acting on the cardiac sympathetic ganglion (CSG). Using an adeno-associated virus (AAV), we achieved local chronic overproduction of IL-10 in the CSG, left stellate ganglion (LSG). As a result, in the IL-10 group, we observed a decreased number of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive (TH+) cells in the LSG. IL-10 markedly downregulated the nerve growth factor, synaptophysin, as well as growth-associated protein 43 expression. In vivo, results from ambulatory electrocardiography showed that IL-10 overexpression significantly inhibited the cardiac sympathetic nervous system activity and improved heart rate variability. Meanwhile, we observed decreased LSG function as well as prolonged ventricular effective refractory period and suppressed VA after myocardial infarction (MI) in the IL-10 group. In addition, IL-10 overexpression attenuated inflammation and decreased norepinephrine levels in the myocardium after acute MI. In conclusion, our data suggest that chronic IL-10 overexpression modulates cardiac sympathetic nerve remodeling and suppresses VA induced by MI. Neuromodulation through AAV-mediated IL-10 overexpression may have the characteristics of and advantages as a potential neuroimmunotherapy for preventing MI-induced VAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Displaced aggression refers to pernicious acts against innocent people. To date, little is known about mechanisms underlying dynamic changes in displaced aggression. The present study constructed a cross‐lagged model to examine the dynamic effects of relative deprivation on displaced aggression and the mediation mechanisms underlying these effects. A total of 1130 undergraduate students participated in this three‐wave longitudinal study. The results showed that relative deprivation predicted changes in displaced aggression through concurrent changes in levels of hostile attribution bias and moral disengagement. Hostile attribution bias and moral disengagement could predict each other longitudinally. The relationships between relative deprivation and displaced aggression, and relative deprivation and hostile attribution bias were mutual. This multiple mediation model with two mutually predicting mediators was explained from the aggressive motivation perspective. The findings help inform aggression theories and have implications for the prevention of and interventions against displaced aggression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accuracy of material extrusion-based 3D printers is greatly affected by the high temperature in the chamber due to the thermal-induced deformation of components. However, most existing measurement equipment cannot be applied to high-temperature environments, which hinders the corresponding error measurement. To address this issue, a geometric error detection system and identification algorithm based on binocular vision are proposed. Firstly, a corner detection algorithm and a ray-intersection binocular model are used to identify the three-dimensional displacement of the target. Secondly, an error separation and identification algorithm is proposed to identify 21 position-dependent geometric errors. Error measurement experiments are conducted on a 3D printer at room temperature and high temperature, respectively. The experimental results at room temperature are verified using a double-ball bar. Finally, an error compensation experiment is conducted to verify the effectiveness of error identification, which also shows the contribution of error motions of linear axes on the printing accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a kind of thermal control device, fluid loop systems must operate with the demands of high safety, high reliability, and long life. In order to accurately assess the health status of fluid loop systems, a hierarchical multi-information fusion (HMIF) method is proposed in this paper. Considering that fluid loop systems generally have distinct structural hierarchies, the health evaluation process in this method is divided into three levels, which are the indicator level, the component level, and the system level. In the evaluation process, the health indices are, respectively, constructed to quantify the health status at the three levels. At the indicator level, One-Class support vector machine algorithm is used to obtain the distribution space of each state monitoring indicator under a normal state. The indicator-level health indices are evaluated by calculating the ratio of the data located in the distribution space to the overall data. At the component level, a fuzzy theory is used to calculate the health indices of the component level. Health indices at the indicator level are first converted to membership degree by membership degree function. Then, the evaluation fusion strategy is used to deduce the membership degree of the component level. The health indices at the component level are obtained from the mapping relationship between the membership degree and the health index. At the system level, an adaptive weight adjustment strategy is proposed to fuze all component-level health indices. Taking a practical fluid loop system as an example, health indices at the three levels evaluated by the HMIF method are compared with the actual status. The results indicate that the proposed method can correctly judge the health state of the system and provide a reference for the maintenance and fault diagnosis of fluid loop systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the problem that low-rank coal is unsuitable for making CWS (coal-water slurry) and lacks an accurate particle size gradation prediction model. This paper expounds on the effects of ball milling time and speed on the concentration and rheology of CWS under different grinding conditions. After size grading, the slurry’s bimodal parameters and particle size distribution are studied. Based on the BP neural network, a particle size distribution model more suitable for low-rank coal is established in this paper. The results show that the slurry concentration in the graded coal sample increases by 4% higher than that of the ungraded coal sample. The BP neural network model accurately predicts the relationship between bimodal parameters and slurry concentration based on bimodal parameters. In the context of grain size gradation, the optimized particle size cumulative distribution model, denoted as${\rm{y}} = {{{{\rm{x}}^{\rm{n}}} - {\rm{x}}_{\rm{K}}^{\rm{n}}} \over {{\rm{x}}_{{\rm{100}}}^{\rm{n}} - {\rm{x}}_{\rm{K}}^{\rm{n}}}} + {\rm{K\ \ }}\{ {\rm{(K}} + {\rm{10\%\ }} \gt {\rm{x}} \gt {\rm{K\%\ }}\} $y=xn−xKnx100n−xKn+K  {(K+10% >x>K% }, demonstrates enhanced alignment with the attributes of low-rank coal. This underscores the paper’s contribution in providing a more fitting particle size distribution model for low-rank coal in the context of CWS production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite oxides are considered promising efficient and cost-effective water splitting electrocatalysts under alkaline conditions because of their excellent hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity. However, due to their poor electron transfer and lack of exposed active sites, their HER activity is still much lower than that of precious metal catalysts. Besides, to date, few studies have been reported on the HER in complex water systems. In this study, a new composite electrocatalyst, SrCo0.7Fe0.3O3−δ@CdS, with a core–shell structure (denoted as SCF@CdS) was successfully prepared using an in situ coprecipitation method, which exhibited efficient HER activity in an alkaline environment and oilfield wastewater. The better electrocatalytic performance of SCF@CdS than pure SCF can be attributed to the larger specific surface area and more exposed active sites in this core–shell structure, and the lone pair electrons from S in CdS can also form coordination bonds with the vacant orbital of Co in the perovskite by sharing electron pairs, thus increasing the concentration of oxygen vacancies. This study provides a strategy to improve the HER performance of perovskite catalysts in complex water systems via the construction of a core–shell structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public health concerns have been raised by numerous reports of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its variations infecting a range of animals. Wildlife reservoirs may facilitate the evolution of viral types capable of causing human infection in the future. Therefore, epidemiological monitoring of animals in close contact with humans is necessary. Yet, infection symptoms are not obvious in most animals, which leads to a short nucleic acid test-detection period and limits the application of this method in animals. The use of virus- and pseudovirus-based neutralizing antibody detection techniques is restricted to establishments with elevated biosafety standards. Traditional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) do not offer multispecies detection and are time-consuming and labor-intensive. This work developed a polyethyleneimine-gold nanoparticle meta-surface plasmon resonance biosensor system-based multispecies SARS-CoV-2 antibody detection platform that is fast, sensitive, has a high throughput, and is fully automated. The test can be done in 30 min and specificity is up to 100% for detection in cats, dogs, and minks. Moreover, the coincidence rate was up to 99.36% (313/315) for the detection of pseudovirus in clinical and immune sera. Additionally, this method's detection sensitivity in cat, dog, and mink serum is 2,048, 1,024, and 4,096 times, which is much better than indirect ELISA and comparable to indirect immunofluorescence assays. An efficient method for COVID-19 epidemiology screening in animal serum will be made available by this platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]