Search

Alternating current (AC) loss measurement is crucial for the theoretical evaluation and optimization in the fabrication of superconducting AC devices. Lock-in amplifier based on the lock-in phase is commonly adopted and inevitably involves with phase error. In this work, a novel approach for measuring transport AC loss by determining the minimum compensated voltage (MCV) was developed, in which the lock-in amplifier was removed. Since it just uses the voltage signal from an AC voltmeter, it is phase-error immune. Experimental results demonstrated that when using the lock-in amplifier, there existed a system error as the initial phase difference between the sampled (reference) and real current phases, which required careful compensation. In contrast, the phase error no longer needed to be considered by the MCV method, and the AC loss results were obtained much more conveniently with the relative error between the theoretical and the experimental of less than 5%. Finally, the AC loss of a coated conductor spiral wound on an epoxy bar was obtained using the presented approach, demonstrating its low cost, ease of operation, and high accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the dynamic marine atmospheric corrosion behavior of AZ91 Mg alloy sailing from Yellow Sea to Western Pacific Ocean was studied. The corrosion rates were measured using the weight loss method. The microstructure, phase, and chemical composition of corroded samples were investigated by SEM, EDS, XRD, and XPS. The results show that the evolution of corrosion rates of AZ91 Mg alloy was divided into three stages: rapidly increasing during the first 3 months, then remaining stable for the next three months, and finally decreasing after 6 months. The annual corrosion rate of Mg alloy reached 32.50 μm/y after exposure for 12 months in a dynamic marine atmospheric environment, which was several times higher than that of the static field exposure tests. AZ91 magnesium alloy was mainly subjected to localized corrosion with more destructiveness to Mg parts, which is mainly due to the synergistic effect of high relative humidity, the high deposition rate of chloride ion, sulfur dioxide acidic gas produced by fuel combustion, and rapid temperature changes caused by the alternating changes in longitude and latitude during navigation. As the exposure time increased, the corrosion pits gradually increased and deepened. The maximum depth of the corrosion pit was 197 μm after 12 months of exposure, which is almost 6 times the average corrosion depth. This study provides scientific data support for the application of magnesium alloys in shipborne aircraft and electronic equipment. The results could provide guidance for the design of new magnesium alloys and development of anti-corrosion technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different PMI foam materials of 52, 110, and 200 kg/m3 were used to design stepwise gradient cores to improve the impact resistance of the sandwich beam. The stepwise gradient core consists of three layers arranged in positive gradient, negative gradient, and sandwich-core (e.g., 200/52/200). These sandwich beams were subjected to the impact of a steel projectile under impact momentum of 10 to 20 kg·m/s, corresponding to impact energy in the range of 12.5 to 50 J. During the test, the impact force was recorded by an accelerometer, and the different failure modes were also obtained. Subsequently, the influence of the layer arrangement on the energy absorption and load transfer mechanism between the different layers was analyzed. The results showed that the top layer with a large density can improve the impact force, but the middle/bottom layer with a low density promoted specific energy absorption. Thus, based on these two points, the negative gradient core (200/110/52) had an excellent specific energy absorption because it can transfer and expand the area to bear the load layer by layer, which improved the energy absorption in each layer. Combined with the failure modes, the load transfer and deformation mechanisms between the layers were also discussed. The present work provided a valuable method to design an efficient lightweight sandwich structure in the protection field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid advancements in energy storage technology, driven by a growing demand for energy storage devices, underscore the crucial need to comprehend ionic conduction behavior. Consequently, intensive research on high‐performance ionic conductors becomes imperative. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have emerged as invaluable materials in the realm of solid‐state or quasi‐solid‐state ion‐conduction, leveraging their unique properties such as significant porosity, tunability, and robust physicochemical durability. These distinctive attributes position COFs as promising candidates for the development of electrodes, electrolytes, and separator materials characterized by high capacities, rapid ion transport, and electrochemical stability. This review provides insights into COFs as ionic conductors, discusses recent advancements in COF‐based energy storage devices, and explores the influence of structural functionalization, pore size engineering, and dimensional regulation on ionic conduction. Moreover, the review aims to deepen understanding and pave the way for future advancements in the utilization of COFs within energy storage technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined how bilinguals process language switches between their first (L1) and second language (L2). Language switching costs (slower responses to language switch than nonswitch trials) appear to arise more systematically in production than in comprehension, possibly because the latter context might sometimes elicit less language coactivation (Declerck et al., 2019). This might reduce language competition and in turn the need for bilinguals to apply language control when processing language switches. Yet even in comprehension, language coactivation may vary depending on variables such as the accent of the speaker (e.g., whether the L2 words are pronounced with an L1 or L2 accent) and input modality (spoken or written). In three experiments conducted during 2021–2022, we tested how unbalanced Mandarin–English bilinguals processed language switches during comprehension and the potential influence of a speaker's accent and input modality. Overall, across settings, participants experienced significant language switching costs. In some conditions, switching costs were larger to L1-Mandarin than to L2-English, an asymmetry consistent with the participants' dominance in L1-Mandarin and the application of language control. However, manipulating accent and input modality did not influence language switches, suggesting they did not impact language coactivation sufficiently to modulate language control. Public Significance Statement: This study investigates how bilinguals process language switches between their first and their second language. The results suggest that, across a variety of experimental settings, Mandarin–English bilinguals experience language switching costs when comprehending words. That is, being exposed to language switches induces a processing cost and increases the time needed to process incoming language input. However, processing of language switches did not seem to be modulated by variation in speaker accent (i.e., whether the words the bilinguals heard were pronounced by a native or nonnative speaker of the target language) and input modality (i.e., whether the bilinguals heard or read the words). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Being ostracized by one's supervisor (i.e., supervisor ostracism) indicates a strained supervisor-employee relationship. Due to the hierarchical difference between employees and their supervisors and the fundamental need to belong, supervisor ostracism could profoundly impact employees' emotions and work behaviors. Although plenty of studies have found that ostracism leads to negative emotions, little research focuses on ostracized employees' strategies to regulate emotions. This study investigated employees' emotional labor (i.e., surface acting and deep acting) as interpersonal interaction strategies to deal with supervisor ostracism. According to the regulatory focus theory and the dualistic model of interpersonal harmony, we also postulate that employee harmony value (i.e., harmony enhancement versus disintegration avoidance) can affect what specific form of emotional labor they use. Based on daily data collected from 122 full-time employees in two consecutive weeks (i.e., 10 workdays), we found that supervisor ostracism was positively related to employees' surface and deep acting. Additionally, disintegration avoidance strengthened the relationship between supervisor ostracism and surface acting, whereas harmony enhancement strengthened the relationship between supervisor ostracism and deep acting. Further, we found that surface acting mediated the positive relationship between supervisor ostracism and dysfunctional resistance toward the supervisor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) is one of the most promising technologies to remove Cr(VI) pollution because of its environmental friendliness, cost‐effective and energy saving. In this experiment, two‐dimensional Bi2MoO6(BMO) nanosheets and cerium‐based MOFs UiO‐66(Ce) were synthesized by solvent thermal method, and in the presence of BMO, the UiO/BMO‐x heterojunction composites were constructed in situ to explore its photocatalytic reduction properties of Cr(VI). The experiment showed that 4 mM of Cr (VI) solution could be reduced 100 % to Cr (VI) by 15 mg catalyst under optimal reaction conditions. The composite photocatalyst prepared in this experiment can realize the green treatment of Cr(VI) in the environment under photocatalytic conditions, and has potential application value in the remediation of heavy metal pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes a unified power flow controller with energy (E-UPFC) installed at the renewable energy grid connection node of the transmission network. Compared with other unified power flow controllers (UPFCs), the proposed E-UPFC can not only regulate the power flow on its connected transmission lines, but also suppress the power fluctuations of grid-connected nodes injected with large-scale renewable energy. At the same time, with the installation position of E-UPFC transferred from the transmission line to the node, the original stiff node can be transformed into a flexible node that can regulate the injected power flexibly. First, the PV grid-connected system with E-UPFC is introduced, and its principle of power flow regulation is detailed. In addition, the topology, mathematical modeling, and control strategies of E-UPFC are discussed. Finally, the E-UPFC is applied to the IEEE 3-generator 9-bus system with large-scale renewable energy integration in Matlab/Simulink in order to verify the correctness and feasibility of E-UPFC and its control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stimulus‐responsive large‐scale cell culture microcarriers are promising biological materials for large‐scale cell production. Herein, multifunctional thermal and magnetic microcarriers (TMMs) made of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), polylysines (PLLs), gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA), poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA), N,N‐methylenebis(acrylamide) (MBA), Fe3O4 and SiO2 are prepared to achieve large‐scale enzyme‐free cell harvesting and also can be used as cells stereogrowth scaffold to mimic cells suspension state to develop novel application, such as recombinant proteins produced. In TMMs, NIPAM and other materials are mixed and then underwent in situ radical polymerization by UV irradition with 2‐hydroxy‐2‐methylpropiophenone as initiator, in which GelMA provides cell adhesion sites and PLLs enable a positive microenvironment with SiO2 as filler. As enzyme‐free cell microcarriers, cell harvesting from TMMs by PNIPAM are achieved at 25 °C through vortex oscillation within 15 min and TMMs can be recycled at least for four times by magnetic recovery. Moreover, TMMs can be used as stereoculture scaffold to let cells in suspension as adherent state to improve gene transfection efficiency. Combined with magnetothermal effect, TMMs can further improve gene transfer to obtain industrialization of proteins expression. Therefore, TMMs are potential for the development of cell manufacturing and the expansion of cell stereogrowth application for recombinant proteins production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preschoolers’ prosocial behaviours support healthy interpersonal relationships as a component of their social adjustment process. Although several studies have found links between parental marital characteristics and preschoolers’ prosocial behaviours, these conclusions were divisive. Therefore, a meta-analysis was conducted to clarify the inconsistencies in the research on these relationships and to examine the moderating effects underlying these discrepancies. A total of 37 effect sizes were extracted from the 31 included articles, with 14,374 sample sizes. The meta-analysis revealed a low positive link between parental positive marital quality and prosocial behaviours of preschool children, as well as a low negative correlation between negative marital quality and such behaviours. Additionally, the study explores the moderating effects of factors such as children’s age, gender, cultural background, informant type, study design, and publication year. Finally, the study limitations were discussed, along with the aspirations for theoretical contributions, future research, and implications for parenting practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) secretes effector proteins that enter plant cells and manipulate host processes. In a previous study, we identified a glycine‐serine‐rich effector PstGSRE4, which was proven to regulate the reactive oxygen species (ROS) pathway by interacting with TaCZSOD2. In this study, we further demonstrated that PstGSRE4 interacts with wheat glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase TaGAPDH2, which is related to ROS signalling. In wheat, silencing of TaGAPDH2 by virus‐induced gene silencing increased the accumulation of ROS induced by the Pst virulent race CYR31. Overexpression of TaGAPDH2 decreased the accumulation of ROS induced by the avirulent Pst race CYR23. In addition, TaGAPDH2 suppressed Pst candidate elicitor Pst322‐triggered cell death by decreasing ROS accumulation in Nicotiana benthamiana. Knocking down TaGAPDH2 expression attenuated Pst infection, whereas overexpression of TaGAPDH2 promoted Pst infection, indicating that TaGAPDH2 is a negative regulator of plant defence. In N. benthamiana, PstGSRE4 stabilized TaGAPDH2 through inhibition of the 26S proteasome‐mediated destabilization. Overall, these results suggest that TaGAPDH2 is hijacked by the Pst effector as a negative regulator of plant immunity to promote Pst infection in wheat. Summary statement: TaGAPDH2 is hijacked by the Pst effector PstGSRE4 as a negative regulator of plant immunity to promote Pst infection in wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The titanium-stabilized austenitic stainless steel Fe-15Cr-15Ni, which shows enhanced resistance to irradiation swelling compared with more traditional 316Ti, has been selected as a core material for fast reactors. Data on the evolution of irradiation swelling in 15-15Ti steels at very high doses, which cannot be easily achieved by neutron irradiation, are still lacking. In this paper, the swelling behavior of the titanium-modified austenitic stainless steel 15-15Ti was investigated by pre-implantation of He at room temperature followed by Ni-ion irradiation at 580 °C to peak doses of 120, 240 and 400 dpa. Relatively small cavities were observed in the zone of helium implantation, while large cavities appeared in the region near the damage peak. A correction formula for the dpa curve was proposed and applied to samples with large swelling. It was found that the steady-state swelling rate of 15-15Ti remains at ~1%/dpa even at high doses. By comparing the swelling data of the helium-implanted and helium-free regions at same doses, 70 dpa and 122 dpa, the suppression of swelling by excessive helium can be deduced at such doses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tubulointerstitial fibrosis plays an important role in the progression of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Sacubitril/valsartan (Sac/Val) exerts a robust beneficial effect in DKD. However, the potential functional effect of Sac/Val on tubulointerstitial fibrosis in DKD is still largely unclear. Methods: Streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice were given Sac/Val or Val by intragastric administration once a day for 12 weeks. The renal function, the pathological changes of tubule injury and tubulointerstitial fibrosis, as well as mitochondrial morphology of renal tubules in mice, were evaluated. Genome-wide gene expression analysis was performed to identify the potential mechanisms. Meanwhile, human tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) were cultured in high glucose condition containing LBQ657/valsartan (LBQ/Val). Further, mitochondrial functions and Sirt1/PGC1α pathway of tubular epithelial cells were assessed by Western blot, Real-time-PCR, JC-1, MitoSOX or MitoTracker. Finally, the Sirt1 specific inhibitor, EX527, was used to explore the potential effects of Sirt1 signaling in vivo and in vitro. Results: We found that Sac/Val significantly ameliorated the decline of renal function and tubulointerstitial fibrosis in DKD mice. The enrichment analysis of gene expression indicated metabolism as an important modulator in DKD mice with Sac/Val administration, in which mitochondrial homeostasis plays a pivotal role. Then, the decreased expression of Tfam and Cox IV;, as well as changes of mitochondrial function and morphology, demonstrated the disruption of mitochondrial homeostasis under DKD conditions. Interestingly, Sac/Val administration was found to restore mitochondrial homeostasis in DKD mice and in vitro model of HK-2 cells. Further, we demonstrated that Sirt1/PGC1α, a crucial pathway in mitochondrial homeostasis, was activated by Sac/Val both in vivo and in vitro. Finally, the beneficial effects of Sac/Val on mitochondrial homeostasis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis was partially abolished in the presence of Sirt1 specific inhibitor. Conclusions: Taken together, we demonstrate that Sac/Val ameliorates tubulointerstitial fibrosis by restoring Sirt1/PGC1α pathway-mediated mitochondrial homeostasis in DKD, providing a theoretical basis for delaying the progression of DKD in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep-dependent consolidation is important for novel word learning, but previous studies have neglected the potential modulating role of learning environments. The present study examines sleep-dependent consolidation effects by comparing learning in a virtual reality (VR) environment and in a traditional picture-word (PW) environment. Two groups of Chinese–English bilinguals were randomly assigned to a VR or PW environment. In both learning environments, they learned novel words in Korean, a language with which they had no prior experience. All participants learned one set of novel words on Day 1 and another set on Day 2. An explicit recognition task and an implicit primed lexical-decision task were employed to measure sleep-dependent consolidation effects from the two environments. Results revealed sleep-dependent consolidation effects in both explicit and implicit measures, but only the primed lexical-decision task showed an influence of learning environment, suggesting that novel words learned via VR had better consolidation. Taken together, our findings suggest that a VR environment that fosters a rich sensory experience facilitates sleep-dependent consolidation effects. We argue that these results provide new evidence and implications for the complementary learning system (CLS) model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Screen time may have a significant association with children's development, yet limited research has examined the specific moderating role of family and child characteristics in this relationship. In this study, we investigated the relationship between screen time exposure and children's development and moderating effects of the family environment (e.g. parental involvement, parenting, and marital adjustment) and child characteristics (e.g. gender, only-child status, urban-rural areas, and left behind) on this relationship. A total of 825 Chinese child–parent dyads participated in the study. The results showed a negative relationship between screen time and children's language and cognitive skills, self-regulation, and self-efficacy and a positive relationship with problem behaviour. Regarding child characteristics, gender moderated the association between screen time and children's self-regulation; sibling status and urban-rural areas moderated the association between screen time and children's problem behaviour. Specifically, screen time had more negative associations with the outcomes of boys, children living in urban areas, and those from only-child households. However, the aspect of the family environment did not facilitate or buffer the relationship. The research verifies and extends the association between screen time and preschoolers' pre-academic and behavioural competence to parental and children's factors and holds substantive theoretical and practical implications for policymakers and family education research in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature distribution is an important index that reflects the safe operation ability of power transformers. In this paper, finite element simulation is used to study the magnetic field, loss, and temperature distribution of an ultra-high voltage converter transformer. Firstly, the magnetic reluctance equivalent method was proposed to establish a 2D axisymmetric model, and the frequency domain solution was achieved based on the magnetic energy equivalent method. The results demonstrate that this method reduces solving time by 10 times compared to traditional method, and the simulation results are consistent with measured short-circuit impedance, indicating the effectiveness and efficiency of this method. Secondly, the magnetic flux, loss, and temperature distribution of the winding were studied. It was found that eddy currents have a significant impact on the losses at the end and outer diameter of the winding, leading to uneven winding temperature distribution. The hot spot temperature with eddy current loss is 14.3 K higher than that without eddy current loss, and the hot spot temperature is 27.8 K higher than the average temperature, which is significantly different from AC transformers. This study has positive significance for the safe and reliable operation of converter transformers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The temperature distribution of ultrahigh voltage (UHV) converter transformer is the key to its service life, allowable load and safe operation. The influence of a high‐proportion and large‐value harmonic current on the magnetic field, loss and temperature distribution of a UHV converter transformer is studied. A new calculation method is proposed to determine the winding temperature under the combined actions of multiple key factors. First, the skin effect of UHV converter transformer winding under high proportion and high current harmonics is analysed extensively. It is found that the increase of harmonic current frequency leads to exponential increase of winding loss and temperature by changing skin depth. Second, based on the superposition principle, a calculation method for winding loss considering harmonic current and different load rates is developed. The temperature distribution under different harmonic current frequencies and contents is obtained. The winding losses and temperature under different harmonic currents are quantified. Finally, a new calculation method is proposed for the converter transformer winding temperature, considering the combined actions of factors such as load rate, cooling oil inlet rate and temperature, harmonic current frequency and content. Experimental verification showed an error of only 0.58 K in the actual transformer hotspot temperature, confirming the effectiveness of this method. This method is of great significance for temperature control and safe operation of UHV converter transformers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation is considered the third circulation of the human body. Recently, some scholars have proposed the myodural bridge (MDB) as a novel power source for CSF flow. Moreover, the suboccipital muscles can exert a driving force on the CSF via the MDB. This hypothesis is directly supported by head rotation and nodding movements, which can affect CSF circulation. The MDB has been validated as a normal structure in humans and mammals. In addition, the fusion of MDB fibers of different origins that act in concert with each other forms the MDB complex (MDBC). The MDBC may be associated with several CSF disorder-related neurological disorders in clinical practice. Therefore, the morphology of the MDBC and its influencing factors must be determined. In this study, T2-weighted imaging sagittal images of the cervical region were analyzed retrospectively in 1085 patients, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) typing of the MDBC was performed according to the imaging features of the MDBC in the posterior atlanto-occipital interspace (PAOiS) and posterior atlanto-axial interspace (PAAiS). The effects of age and age-related degenerative changes in the cervical spine on MRI staging of the MDBC were also determined. The results revealed four MRI types of the MDBC: type A (no MDBC hyposignal shadow connected to the dura mater in either the PAOiS or PAAiS), type B (MDBC hyposignal shadow connected to the dura mater in the PAOiS only), type C (MDBC hyposignal shadow connected to the dura mater in the PAAiS only), and type D (MDBC hyposignal shadow connected to the dura mater in both the PAOiS and PAAiS). The influencing factors for the MDBC typing were age (group), degree of intervertebral space stenosis, dorsal osteophytosis, and degenerative changes in the cervical spine (P < 0.05). With increasing age (10-year interval), the incidence of type B MDBC markedly decreased, whereas that of type A MDBC increased considerably. With the deepening of the degree of intervertebral space stenosis, the incidence of type C MDBC increased significantly, whereas that of type A MDBC decreased. In the presence of dorsal osteophytosis, the incidence of type C and D MDBCs significantly decreased, whereas that of type A increased. In the presence of protrusion of the intervertebral disc, the incidence of type B, C, and D MDBCs increased markedly, whereas that of type A MDBC decreased considerably, with cervical degenerative changes combined with spinal canal stenosis. Moreover, the incidence of both type C and D MDBCs increased, whereas that of type A MDBC decreased. Based on the MRI signal characteristics of the dural side of the MDBC, four types of the MDBC were identified. MDBC typing varies dynamically according to population distribution, depending on age and cervical degeneration (degree of intervertebral space stenosis, vertebral dorsal osteophytosis formation, simple protrusion of intervertebral disc, and cervical degeneration changes combined with spinal canal stenosis, except for the degree of protrusion of the intervertebral disc and the degree of spinal canal stenosis); however, it is not influenced by sex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the effects of ball–material ratio on the properties of mixed powders and Cu-Bi self-lubricating alloy materials. Design/methodology/approach: Cu-Bi mixed powder was ball milled at different ball–material ratios, and the preparation of Cu-Bi alloy materials was achieved through powder metallurgy technology. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy were conducted to study the microstructure and phase composition of the mixed powder. The apparent density and flow characteristics of mixed powders were investigated using a Hall flowmeter. Tests on the crushing strength, impact toughness and tribological properties of self-lubricating alloy materials were conducted using a universal electronic testing machine, 300 J pendulum impact testing machine and M200 ring-block tribometer, respectively. Findings: With the increase in ball–material ratio, the spherical copper matrix particles in the mixed powder became lamellar, the mechanical properties of the material gradually reduced, the friction coefficient of the material first decreased and then stabilized and the wear rate decreased initially and then increased. The increase in the ball–material ratio resulted in the fine network distribution of the Bi phase in the copper alloy matrix, which benefitted its enrichment on the worn surface for the formation a lubricating film and improvement of the material's tribological performance. However, a large ball–material ratio can excessively weaken the mechanical properties of the material and reduce its wear resistance. Originality/value: The effects of ball–material ratio on Cu-Bi mixed powder and material properties were clarified. This work provides a reference for the mechanical alloying process and its engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measurement of transport current density is significant for investigations on improving the properties of RE Ba2Cu3O7− x (RE BCO, where RE refers to rare-earth elements)-coated conductors (CCs). In this work, a protocol for mapping the transport current density of CC by magneto-optical imaging (MOI) is presented. A calibration method is developed based on the non-linear physical governing function for the MOI indicator, in which only two parameters are determined, i.e. the anisotropic magnetic field BA, and cMs, which is the multiplication of the constant c related to the thickness of the MOI indicator and the spontaneous magnetization Ms. The experimental results also showed that they were independent of the optical measure condition but dependent on temperature, making this calibration method comparative among different utilizers. The numerical results clearly manifested that the selected window size of the magnetic field around a long superconducting tape is closely related to the error of the reconstructed current density. A large window size of the magnetic field is needed to precisely reconstruct the transport current density. For actual MOI testing, a practical approach to extend the magnetic field data outside the MOI window was realized by fitting with a power function according to Ampere's law, through which the false current density outside the sample is automatically suppressed to a large extent. On this basis, the mapping of the transport current density in the CC sample was achieved. It is believed that this work will improve MOI for a more precise measurement of the transport current density for long superconducting strips. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Background Method Results Conclusions Implications This study examined associations between marital adjustment and children's learning behaviors, as well as the potential mediation effects of maternal involvement and parenting on these associations in Chinese contexts.The family is a vital setting for children's early learning behaviors, encompassing self‐efficacy in learning and approaches to learning. Marital adjustment, as well as maternal involvement and maternal parenting, are crucial factors in the family setting. However, there is a paucity of research on the pathway mechanism between these three family factors and children's early learning behaviors.There were 750 mothers of Chinese preschoolers (48.24% girls, Mage = 5.94 years, SD = 1.43) in three provinces—Fujian, Sichuan, and Xinjiang—who participated in the study. Mothers completed questionnaires related to marital adjustment, maternal involvement, maternal parenting, and children's learning behaviors. Structural equation models were estimated to test the hypothesized paths.The results revealed a positive association between higher marital adjustment and improved children's self‐efficacy in learning (β = .10, p = .004) and approaches to learning (β = .15, p < .001), with maternal involvement (for self‐efficacy, β = .25, p < .001; for approaches to learning, β = .23, p < .001) and parenting (for self‐efficacy, β = .25, p < .001; for approaches to learning, β = .31, p < .001) recognized as significant mediators in this relationship.The study indicated that marital adjustment, maternal involvement, and parenting have significant direct and indirect effects on children's early learning behaviors.Given the research findings, marital adjustment is worth considering when recognizing children's early learning. Furthermore, parents may be encouraged to understand proper involvement and parenting practices with their children. Briefly, these findings contribute to the existing body of knowledge on how family variables are related to children's learning behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Some studies have assessed the predictive role of the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) for macrovascular diseases. This prospective investigation aimed to elucidate whether AIP is associated with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) incidence. Methods: The data were extracted from 4831 participants, of whom 2943 and 3360 participants with type 2 diabetes (T2D) were included in the DKD and DR follow-up analyses, respectively. Cox regression models were performed to test the relationships of AIP value at baseline with the risk of incident DKD and DR. Group-based trajectory modelling was utilized to discern AIP trajectories during the follow-up period. Subsequently, logistic regressions were applied to ascertain the influence of AIP trajectories on the incidence of DKD and DR. Results: During the follow-up period, 709 (24.1%) and 193 (5.7%) participants developed DKD and DR, respectively. The median (interquartile range) follow-up time was 24.2 (26.3) months for DKD and 25.7 (27.0) months for DR. According to the multivariate Cox regression models, baseline AIP was positively and linearly related to the occurrence of DKD, with a hazard ratio of 1.75 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.36–2.26). Three distinct trajectories of AIP were identified throughout the follow-up time: Low (31.4%), Median (50.2%), and High (18.3%). Compared to participants with the Low AIP trajectory, those with High and Median AIP trajectories presented 117% (95% CI: 1.62–2.91) and 84% (95% CI 1.46–2.32) greater odds of developing DKD, respectively. However, neither baseline levels nor trajectories of AIP were shown to be related to DR after adjusting for confounding factors. Conclusions: Baseline levels and trajectories of AIP were independently related to elevated DKD risk, indicating that AIP could be used as a predictor for identifying T2D participants at higher risk of DKD. No association between AIP and DR was detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Defect detection in mobile phone cameras constitutes a critical aspect of the manufacturing process. Nonetheless, this task remains challenging due to the complexities introduced by intricate backgrounds and low-contrast defects, such as minor scratches and subtle dust particles. To address these issues, a Bilateral Feature Fusion Network (BFFN) has been proposed. This network incorporates a bilateral feature fusion module, engineered to enrich feature representation by fusing feature maps from multiple scales. Such fusion allows the capture of both fine and coarse-grained details inherent in the images. Additionally, a Self-Attention Mechanism is deployed to garner more comprehensive contextual information, thereby enhancing feature discriminability. The proposed Bilateral Feature Fusion Network has been rigorously evaluated on a dataset of 12,018 mobile camera images. Our network surpasses existing state-of-the-art methods, such as U-Net and Deeplab V3+, particularly in mitigating false positive detection caused by complex backgrounds and false negative detection caused by slight defects. It achieves an F1-score of 97.59%, which is 1.16% better than Deeplab V3+ and 0.99% better than U-Net. This high level of accuracy is evidenced by an outstanding precision of 96.93% and recall of 98.26%. Furthermore, our approach realizes a detection speed of 63.8 frames per second (FPS), notably faster than Deeplab V3+ at 57.1 FPS and U-Net at 50.3 FPS. This enhanced computational efficiency makes our network particularly well-suited for real-time defect detection applications within the realm of mobile camera manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The hypolipidemic effects of wheat bran have been widely documented; however, limited research has concurrently revealed the hypolipidemic and antioxidant properties of wheat bran protein (WBP). Objective. This study investigates the impact of WBP (5% daily dietary intake) on antioxidant activity, cholesterol metabolism, and serum/hepatic lipids in high-fat diet-fed rats. Methodology. In our animal experiment, we used 12 male Wistar rats that were 4 weeks old. Biochemical indicators of fecal, serum, intestinal, and liver were tested by kits or chemical techniques. The experiment on cholesterol micellar solubility was also carried out in vitro. Results. After 28 days of feeding, the results revealed that WBP significantly reduced the levels of total cholesterol (P < 0.05) in serum and liver, the levels of triglycerides (P < 0.05), the levels of MDA (P < 0.05), and the levels of very low-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein (P < 0.05), and significantly increased the levels of high-density lipoprotein (P < 0.05), the levels of glutathione peroxidase, and the level of total antioxidant capability. By downregulating the level of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-2 (P < 0.05), WBP also reduced the content of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (P < 0.05). Conclusion. In vivo, WBP demonstrated a substantial hypolipidemic and antioxidant impact (P < 0.05), while in vitro, it significantly decreased the micellar solubility of cholesterol (P < 0.001). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintaining a reasonable balance between computational accuracy and overhead is important for neutron transport simulations of engineering problems. This paper presents a goal-oriented mesh adaptive algorithm applied to the multigroup discrete ordinates equation for fixed source and criticality problems. The dual-weighted residual (DWR) approach estimates numerical solution errors and drives local mesh refinement for specific targets, such as detector response, integral flux, and multiplication factor. We employ a reconstruction method to evaluate the spatial residuals of the fluxes obtained by the weighted difference scheme. To improve the performance of adaptive algorithms, new estimation models are proposed for adjoint fluxes needed by the DWR theory, including a regional goal model for fixed source problems and an inconsistent fission source model for k-eigenvalue problems. Additionally, we analyze the impact of the truncation of flux reconstruction and isotropic approximation of adjoint fluxes on grid error indicators and adaptive calculations. Numerical results demonstrate that for the quantities of interest, our adaptive approach saves more than 70% of computational effort and run time when obtaining a level of high accuracy comparable to that of uniform fine grids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we for the first time introduce ethoxylation chemistry to develop a new octupolar cyano‐vinylene‐linked 2D polymer framework (Cyano‐OCF‐EO) capable of acting as efficient mixed electron/ion conductors and metal‐free sulfur evolution catalysts for dual‐promoted Li and S electrochemistry. Our strategy creates a unique interconnected network of strongly‐coupled donor 3‐(acceptor‐core) octupoles in Cyano‐OCF‐EO, affording enhanced intramolecular charge transfer, substantial active sites and crowded open channels. This enables Cyano‐OCF‐EO as a new versatile separator modifier, which endows the modified separator with superior catalytic activity for sulfur conversion and rapid Li ion conduction with the high Li+ transference number up to 0.94. Thus, the incorporation of Cyano‐OCF‐EO can concurrently regulate sulfur redox reactions and Li‐ion flux in Li−S cells, attaining boosted bidirectional redox kinetics, inhibited polysulfide shuttle and dendrite‐free Li anodes. The Cyano‐OCF‐EO‐involved Li−S cell is endowed with excellent overall electrochemical performance especially large areal capacity of 7.5 mAh cm−2 at high sulfur loading of 8.7 mg cm−2. Mechanistic studies unveil the dominant multi‐promoting effect of the triethoxylation on electron and ion conduction, polysulfide adsorption and catalytic conversion as well as previously‐unexplored −CN/C−O dual‐site synergistic effect for enhanced polysulfide adsorption and reduced energy barrier toward Li2S conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we for the first time introduce ethoxylation chemistry to develop a new octupolar cyano‐vinylene‐linked 2D polymer framework (Cyano‐OCF‐EO) capable of acting as efficient mixed electron/ion conductors and metal‐free sulfur evolution catalysts for dual‐promoted Li and S electrochemistry. Our strategy creates a unique interconnected network of strongly‐coupled donor 3‐(acceptor‐core) octupoles in Cyano‐OCF‐EO, affording enhanced intramolecular charge transfer, substantial active sites and crowded open channels. This enables Cyano‐OCF‐EO as a new versatile separator modifier, which endows the modified separator with superior catalytic activity for sulfur conversion and rapid Li ion conduction with the high Li+ transference number up to 0.94. Thus, the incorporation of Cyano‐OCF‐EO can concurrently regulate sulfur redox reactions and Li‐ion flux in Li−S cells, attaining boosted bidirectional redox kinetics, inhibited polysulfide shuttle and dendrite‐free Li anodes. The Cyano‐OCF‐EO‐involved Li−S cell is endowed with excellent overall electrochemical performance especially large areal capacity of 7.5 mAh cm−2 at high sulfur loading of 8.7 mg cm−2. Mechanistic studies unveil the dominant multi‐promoting effect of the triethoxylation on electron and ion conduction, polysulfide adsorption and catalytic conversion as well as previously‐unexplored −CN/C−O dual‐site synergistic effect for enhanced polysulfide adsorption and reduced energy barrier toward Li2S conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How to remove various kinds of noises of hyperspectral images (HSIs) simultaneously is an important issue that we face, which will directly affect the subsequent application of HSIs. Many HSI denoising techniques have been proposed for this purpose and deep convolutional neural network (CNN) is the most effective approach in recent years. However, existing HSI denoising methods are usually unsatisfactory in removing mixed noises and preserving more details. In this paper, we propose a novel noise intensity estimation guided progressive network (NIEG-PNet) to address these problems. To be specific, we design three core modules to improve the HSI denoising accuracy. First, we propose a noise intensity estimation module (NIEM) to capture multiscale noises and structural characteristics of HSI, which can also be a noise prior to guide the network learning. Second, we propose a recurrent feedback grouped denoising module (RFGDM) to fully capture the spectral correlation. Moreover, we design a dual self-attention module including a position self-attention module and a channel self-attention module to exploit the local and global spatial and spectral correlations and alleviate the problem of small available training HSIs. Last, we propose a global spatial-spectral consistency module (GSSCM), which designs a new parallel structure to combine the two-dimensional and the three-dimensional convolutions more effectively. Moreover, it can explore the relationship between the spectral and the horizontal or vertical direction of the spaces. The experimental results on both synthetic and real-data experiments show the superiority of the proposed NIEG-PNet compared to other traditional and advanced HSI denoising methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BaSr2(PO4)2: 4 %Eu3+, 4 %A (A = Li+, Na+, K+) phosphors were prepared by high-temperature solid-phase method. The crystal structure, photoluminescence properties, thermal stability, chromaticity coordinates, and fluorescence lifetime of the samples were investigated. The excitation and emission spectra of the samples are broadbands and the maximum peak of the emission spectrum is located at 619 nm. Among three charge compensators, the luminescence intensity is optimal for Li+ co-doping case, and the quenching temperature of the typical sample is about 500 K. the fluorescence lifetime τ is 1469.6 ns, and the chromaticity coordinates exhibit a strong red emission. The present phosphor has a potential application for white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) under the near-ultra violet (n-UV) light excitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How the locus-specificity of epigenetic modifications is regulated remains an unanswered question. A contributing mechanism is that epigenetic enzymes are recruited to specific loci by DNA binding factors recognizing particular sequence motifs (referred to as epi-motifs). Using these motifs to predict biological outputs depending on local epigenetic state such as somatic mutation rates would confirm their functionality. Here, we used DNA motifs including known TF motifs and epi-motifs as a surrogate of epigenetic signals to predict somatic mutation rates in 13 cancers at an average 23kbp resolution. We implemented an interpretable neural network model, called contextual regression, to successfully learn the universal relationship between mutations and DNA motifs, and uncovered motifs that are most impactful on the regional mutation rates such as TP53 and epi-motifs associated with H3K9me3. Furthermore, we identified genomic regions with significantly higher mutation rates than the expected values in each individual tumor and demonstrated that such cancer-related regions can accurately predict cancer types. Interestingly, we found that the same mutation signatures often have different contributions to cancer-related and cancer-independent regions, and we also identified the motifs with the most contribution to each mutation signature. Author summary: Locus-specific epigenetic modifications play critical roles in various biological processes. However, it remains elusive how proteins and their binding motifs regulate such locus-specific epigenetic patterns. A contributing mechanism is that epigenetic enzymes are recruited to specific loci by DNA binding factors recognizing particular sequence motifs (referred to as epi-motifs). Using these motifs to predict biological outputs depending on local epigenetic state such as somatic mutation rates would confirm their functionality. Here, we developed an interpretable neural network model using contextual regression (CR) to predict somatic mutation rates at kilobase resolution using DNA motifs in 13 diverse cancers and identified the most informative motifs particularly epi-motifs. Furthermore, we showed that the genomic regions with significantly higher mutation rates than the predicted values can be used for cancer classification, thus facilitating discovery of the underlying mechanisms. Importantly, this study provides candidate motifs and TFs for the investigation of new mechanisms and the trained CR model is readily applicable to new cancers and identifying cancer-related regions. The CR model can also be applied to other biological questions, such as predicting histone modification using DNA sequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microglia are the primary source of transglutaminase 2 (TGM2) in the brain; however, the roles of microglial TGM2 in neural development and disease are still not well known. The aim of this study is to elucidate the role and mechanisms of microglial TGM2 in the brain. A mouse line with a specific knockout of Tgm2 in microglia was generated. Immunohistochemistry, Western blot and qRT‐PCR assays were performed to evaluate the expression levels of TGM2, PSD‐95 and CD68. Confocal imaging, immunofluorescence staining and behavioural analyses were conducted to identify phenotypes of microglial TGM2 deficiency. Finally, RNA sequencing, qRT‐PCR and co‐culture of neurons and microglia were used to explore the potential mechanisms. Deletion of microglial Tgm2 causes impaired synaptic pruning, reduced anxiety and increased cognitive deficits in mice. At the molecular level, the phagocytic genes, such as Cq1a, C1qb and Tim4, are significantly down‐regulated in TGM2‐deficient microglia. This study elucidates a novel role of microglial TGM2 in regulating synaptic remodelling and cognitive function, indicating that microglia Tgm2 is essential for proper neural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalase (CAT) is often phosphorylated and activated by protein kinases to maintain hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) homeostasis and protect cells against stresses, but whether and how CAT is switched off by protein phosphatases remains inconclusive. Here, we identified a manganese (Mn2+)–dependent protein phosphatase, which we named PHOSPHATASE OF CATALASE 1 (PC1), from rice (Oryza sativa L.) that negatively regulates salt and oxidative stress tolerance. PC1 specifically dephosphorylates CatC at Ser-9 to inhibit its tetramerization and thus activity in the peroxisome. PC1 overexpressing lines exhibited hypersensitivity to salt and oxidative stresses with a lower phospho-serine level of CATs. Phosphatase activity and seminal root growth assays indicated that PC1 promotes growth and plays a vital role during the transition from salt stress to normal growth conditions. Our findings demonstrate that PC1 acts as a molecular switch to dephosphorylate and deactivate CatC and negatively regulate H2O2 homeostasis and salt tolerance in rice. Moreover, knockout of PC1 not only improved H2O2-scavenging capacity and salt tolerance but also limited rice grain yield loss under salt stress conditions. Together, these results shed light on the mechanisms that switch off CAT and provide a strategy for breeding highly salt-tolerant rice. A protein phosphatase, PC1, specifically dephosphorylates Catalase C at Ser-9 to accelerate the disassociation of its tetramer to negatively regulate H2O2 homeostasis in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is listed as a definite carcinogen and clinical triple therapy is less satisfactory because H. pylori colonizes beneath the gastric mucous layer and easily forms biofilm. More importantly, the frequent and excessive use of antibiotics causes a disorder of gut microbiota due to the lack of targeting to H. pylori. Here, a kind of protonated charge reversal metal based nanodrugs (MNDs)—ZnO‐Ag‐mercaptoacetamide@chitosan for H. pylori eradication treatment without affecting beneficial gut microbiota is prepared. In H. pylori infected mouse model, the MNDs actively target submucosa colonized H. pylori owing to mucous penetrability and protonation effect, and further eradicate H. pylori and its biofilm by producing metal ions and reactive oxygen species. Transcriptomic analysis shows that there are no obvious side effects to intestinal microorganisms during the treatment. Besides, it is found that the MNDs are great potential to remove gastric inflammation along with the blocking of inflammatory pathways and the reduction of virulence factors, which is related to the infiltration of CD4+ T cells to clear H. pylori. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to integrate positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) metrics and genetic mutations to optimize the risk stratification for diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients. Methods: The data of 94 primary DLBCL patients with baseline PET/CT examination completed in the Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute (Jinan, China) were analyzed to establish a training cohort. An independent cohort of 45 DLBCL patients with baseline PET/CT examination from other hospitals was established for external validation. The baseline total metabolic tumor volume (TMTV) and the largest distance between two lesions (Dmax) standardized by patient body surface area (SDmax) were calculated. The pretreatment pathological tissues of all patients were sequenced by a lymphopanel including 43 genes. Results: The optimal TMTV cutoff was 285.3 cm3 and the optimal SDmax cutoff was 0.135 m−1. TP53 status was found as an independent predictive factor significantly affecting complete remission (p = 0.001). TMTV, SDmax, and TP53 status were the main factors of the nomogram and could stratify the patients into four distinct subgroups based on their predicted progression‐free survival (PFS). The calibration curve demonstrated satisfactory agreement between the predicted and actual 1‐year PFS of the patients. The receiver operating characteristic curves showed this nomogram based on PET/CT metrics and TP53 mutations had a better predictive ability than the clinic risk scores. Similar results were identified upon external validation. Conclusions: The nomogram based on imaging factors and TP53 mutations could lead to a more accurate selection of DLBCL patients with rapid progression, to increase tailor therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite advancements in medical research, androgenetic alopecia (AGA) remains a humankind problem that still needs to be overcome. To date, clinical practice lacks an ideal treatment for AGA. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is evidenced to play a key role in hair regrowth, hence, modulating this signaling pathway for AGA therapy appears to be rational. One of the major inhibitors of the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK1). In this report, we have selected a small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting DKK1 in vitro via qPCR and then tested its efficacy in vivo on the depilated dorsal skin of the mice. The changes in hair growth in different groups were observed over time. Moreover, the visual observation of the hair growth and hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining showed that DKK1-targeting siRNA reveals non-inferior results compared with the mice treated with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved, commercially available minoxidil (5%) topical solution that was used as a positive control. Both– positive control and DKK1-targeting siRNA groups demonstrated significantly superior results compared with the control group that received negative control siRNA. Consequently, siRNAs targeting DKK1 may promote hair growth regulation in the AGA population via potentially activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. • Wnt/β-catenin is a crucial signaling pathway in hair growth regulation. • The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is deactivated by DKK1. • siRNAs target a specific protein by knocking down the genes. • DKK1-targeting siRNA showed a promising potential for hair regeneration in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the relationship among supervisor–employee task conflict, supervisor ostracism, and employee depression and job performance, as well as the moderating effect of supervisors' and employees' interpersonal harmony values. Data were collected from supervisors and employees at three timewaves. We found that supervisor–employee task conflict positively predicted supervisor ostracism, which in turn predicted higher employee depression and poorer job performance. The dualistic model of interpersonal harmony proposes that people show two motives in responding to conflicts while trying to maintain interpersonal harmony: an approach motive to promote high‐quality relationships (i.e. harmony enhancement) or an avoidance motive to prevent relationship disintegration (i.e. disintegration avoidance). From the supervisors' perspective, we found that supervisors' harmony enhancement values buffered the positive relationship between supervisor–employee task conflict and supervisor ostracism. From the employees' perspective, we found that employees' harmony enhancement values buffered whereas employees' disintegration avoidance value exacerbated the detrimental effect of supervisor ostracism on employee depression and job performance. Practical suggestions were offered to help both supervisors and employees manage workplace ostracism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although past research has found that professional isolation can affect discernible work‐related outcomes (e.g. job performance and turnover) and important job attitudes, researchers have not examined its impact on those less discernible but still costly work behaviours. Drawing on self‐regulation theories, this study examined the effect of professional isolation on employees' cyberloafing and time theft through self‐control capacity impairment. With longitudinal data collected from 343 U.S. employees across five consecutive weeks at the early stage of the pandemic (i.e. from mid‐March to late April 2020), our results of latent change score modelling analyses found that professional isolation change was positively related with changes in cyberloafing and time theft via change in self‐control capacity impairment. The results increase our understanding of the hidden performance cost of professional isolation. This research also shifts the research focus from a static, between‐person perspective to dynamic, within‐person changes in professional isolation and related outcomes. The findings shed light on the self‐regulation perspective in understanding the harmful consequences of professional isolation. Implications for future research are discussed along with practical implications for organisations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) has been widely used for pulp capping procedures and obtains outstanding clinical outcomes, too long setting time and poor anti-washout property of MTA still constrain its widespread applications. This study was aimed to develop a novel rapid-setting and washout resistance bioactive glass cements (BGC) via combining appropriate bioactive glass (BG) and brushite (DCPD) powders. Various ratios of BG and DCPD cement from 10B (10% BG in cement) to 70B (seven groups) had been prepared. The setting mechanism, setting time, compressive strength, degradability, pH, anti-washout and apatite-formation ability of the BGC were evaluated. The results showed that shorter setting time about 5 min and least degradability were achieved for 40–50B cements, and 30–40B cements held superior anti-washout performance. Moreover, the compressive strength varied form 1.48 ± 0.18 MPa (60B) to 12.04 ± 1.32 MPa (20B). Furthermore, all 10–70B BGC exhibited excellent apatite-formation ability and the surface of 30–50B preserved dense structure after immersion in simulated body fluids (SBF). What's more, the 40B cement also possessed good formability, and the extracts of 40B could effectively stimulate the proliferation and odontogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (DPSC). Overall, the properties of novel BGC could be adjusted effectively by the component and 40B bioactive glass cements possessed comprehensively superb performance, especially for rapid-setting and anti-washout properties, which had great potential as a new class pulp capping material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum image encryption can take full advantage of superposition and entanglement properties of the qubit to improve efficiency and security. To further enhance the security of image encryption, a novel quantum scheme based on proposed independent bit-plane permutation is presented in this paper. Firstly, the gray-scale image is represented with a bit-plane representation of quantum images model to facilitate subsequent processing. Then, the quantum Baker map (QBM) is applied to each bit-plane to permutate bit positions, which will not only change the corresponding pixel positions but also change pixel values. As the partition parameters and iteration parameters of QBM can be different for different bit-planes, the key space is enlarged. Finally, the permutated image is diffused to obtain encrypted image by quantum controlled XOR operations and recently proposed sine chaotification model. Experimental results and security analysis verify that the proposed quantum image encryption algorithm has good performance in terms of statistical characteristics, key sensitivity, robustness, and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we develop a surface-reinforced self-supporting fiber electrode via the simple-yet-reliable ink-extrusion technology to introduce a thin polymer layer at the electrode surface, which endows the fiber architecture with sufficient rigidity for the subsequent fiber cell assembly. Such fiber LiFePO4//Li4Ti5O12 full cells exhibit high linear capacity output (0.144 mA h cm−1) and energy density (0.267 mW h cm−1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone loss occurs in astronauts during long-term space flight, and hardly recover to the normal level after back to the earth. This is because the mechanism of microgravity-induced osteoporosis is still unclear. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are formed between reducing sugars and long-lived proteins and are verified to be the pathogenic mechanism for diabetic and aging osteoporosis. These non-enzymatic glycation products are considered to have adverse effects on bone metabolism and bone quality which consist of bone microstructure and bone organic matrix. However, whether AGEs accumulation happened under microgravity is not clear yet. AGEs accumulation can be induced by hyperglycemia in diabetic patients and senior people. Hyperglycemia was also found to occur in astronauts during spaceflight or under simulated microgravity, however, whether it also can cause bone matrix AGEs accumulation remains unrevealed, and whether AGEs involve in the disuse osteoporosis is as well not clear yet. Therefore, in this study, we explored the AGEs changes and genesis, together with its potential relationship with disuse osteoporosis under simulated microgravity by using a rat tail-suspended model. Sixteen 8-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly distributed into control (CON) and tail-suspension (TS) groups. After 21-days of an experiment, fluorescent total AGEs and pentosidine in bone matrix were separately detected by fluorescence microscope and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC); soluble AGEs and glucose-related biomarkers in serum were detected by ELISA; bone microstructure was evaluated by Micro-CT, and mRNA expression of bone metabolism biomarkers (OCN, ALP, RANKL/OPG) in bone was determined by QPCR. Results showed that after tail-suspension AGEs fluorescent intensity and PEN content increased in trabecular bone while no significant changes in cortical bone; serum glucose increased and was positively correlated with bone matrix AGEs; trabecular bone microstructure was deteriorated, ALP and OCN mRNA expression decreased while RANKL/OPG mRNA expression increased, and all of them showed correlations with bone matrix AGEs. The results suggested under simulated microgravity, bone matrix AGEs accumulation may be attributed to the elevated serum glucose, and preferred to occur in trabecular bone first. AGEs accumulation in bone matrix accompanied negative effects on trabecular bone microstructure and bone metabolism activities under simulated microgravity, suggesting AGEs accumulation may be a culprit in disused bone loss. • Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) accumulation in tail-suspended rats was correlated with the elevated serum glucose. • Bone matrix AGEs preferentially accumulated in trabecular bone in tail-suspended rats. • AGEs accumulation in bone accompanied negative effects on trabecular bone microstructure and bone metabolism activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimal project portfolio planning is a typical nonconvex, multiobjective, highly constrained, multitemporal coupling, and combinatorial optimization problem. This paper proposes a novel multistep iterative ranking learning method (MIRL) to solve this complex combinatorial optimization problem from massive infrastructure projects of smart grid. The optimal project portfolio planning problem of power grid is formulated as the optimization process of massive project priority sorting with an improved knapsack model. The proposed method dynamically optimizes the best infrastructure project combination for each round to maximize the economic, social, and security benefits without exceeding the annual investment limit. A pairwise-based ranking learning algorithm is used to mine the priority sorting law from massive historical combination data of power grid to initialize candidate project portfolio. In order to approach the optimal portfolio planning solution with the constraint satisfactions of project construction duration and electric load supplies, a heuristic greedy strategy is designed to search the solution dynamically for selecting the project having highest construction benefits iteratively. The effectiveness of the proposed method is proved by experiments with real-world project data of Hunan power grid in China, and experimental results show that the proposed MIRL can outperform other methods on investment efficiency, calculation time, and rationality of project construction period schedule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique optoelectronic properties of I–III–VI2 nanocrystals (NCs) have attracted extensive attention. Herein, element Se in oleylamine reduced by alkythiol, which has been demonstrated to generate highly reactive alkylammonium selenide, was selected as the Se precursor by us to successfully synthesize high-quality tetragonal AgGaSe2 NCs via a facile colloidal method in just 2 minutes. Further, the photoluminescence (PL) properties of the as-synthesized AgGaSe2 NCs were systematically optimized through utilizing one Zn precursor to integrate shell coating and anionic/cationic alloying strategies into our reactive system, resulting in not only the obvious improvement of PL intensity but also tunable PL color from blue to red. Furthermore, the ligand exchange approach was adopted for the aqueous phase transfer of the oleophilic AgGaSe2/ZnSe NCs. Our data suggest that either metalated mercaptopropionic acid (Zn–MPA) short- or 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid long-chain ligand exchanged NCs all could maintain the original high crystallinity, present good water solubility, and retain up to nearly 95% and 70% of the initial PL intensity, respectively. Benefiting from the low cytotoxicity, the water-soluble AgGaSe2/ZnSe NCs can be applied as a fluorescent probe in cell imaging and signal labels for the fluoroimmunoassay of prostate-specific antigen, implying their potential in biological application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is an important cause of death and long-term disability worldwide. As a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent deacetylase, silent information regulator 1 (Sirt1) is a multipotent molecule involved in many pathophysiological processes. A growing number of studies have demonstrated that Sirt1 activation may exert positive effects on SAHs by regulating inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, autophagy, and ferroptosis. Thus, Sirt1 agonists may serve as potential therapeutic drugs for SAHs. In this review, we summarized the current state of our knowledge on the relationship between Sirt1 and SAHs and provided an updated overview of the downstream molecules of Sirt1 in SAHs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon carbide fiber-reinforced silicon carbide matrix composites have attracted attention due to superior properties, such as low density, high strength, and high-temperature resistance. However, it often faces severe tool wear during cutting, with the fibers and matrix material being of high hardness and brittleness, which has an inevitable effect on the engineering application of this kind of material. In this paper, wear volume VW is used to evaluate the tool wear through solid modeling and parameter measurement based on the tool wear topography in turning of SiCf/SiC ceramic matrix composites. Conventional turning (CT), ultrasonic vibration-assisted turning (UVAT), and ultrasonic vibration-assisted turning with water cooling (W-UVAT) experiments are carried out using CBN, PCD, and PDC tools to investigate and analyze the cutting performance. In the meantime, the tool wear mechanism and form are studied based on the analysis of ultrasonic vibration on tool wear, the geometric position of wear, accumulation of cutting workpiece powders, and tool wear curve. Experimental results found that the PDC tool obtains the best cutting performance, which is more suitable for turning silicon carbide fiber-reinforced silicon carbide matrix composites. Within the experimental parameters, with the increased ultrasonic amplitude A, VW decreases first and then increases, reaching a minimum at A which is 3 µm. The main wear mechanism of the PDC tool is abrasive wear, and the primary wear form is the spalling of polycrystalline diamond abrasive grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To effectively control CaCO3 scaling in oilfield-produced water, terpolymer scale inhibitor P(IA-AA-SHP) was synthesized by aqueous solution polymerization using itaconic acid (IA), acrylic acid (AA) and sodium hypophosphite (SHP) as raw materials and ammonium persulfate as an initiator. The optimal monomer ratio, initiator dosage, reaction temperature, and time for copolymer synthesis were determined by the controlled variable method. According to the static scale inhibition performance test method in the oilfield, the copolymer dose reached 95.8% inhibition efficiency of CaCO3 at 30 mg L−1. A study of the inhibitory efficiency of copolymer on the CaCO3 scale at different Ca2+ concentrations, CO32− concentrations, and temperatures was also carried out, and the excellent scale inhibition efficiency was maintained despite a change in the water quality conditions. The structure of copolymer P(IA-AA-SHP) was characterized by FTIR, UV, 1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR. Since the molecular weight (Mw) has a great influence on the scale inhibition performance, the relationship between the molecular weight of the polymer and the scale inhibition performance was discussed using gel permeation chromatography (GPC) to detect the molecular weight of the product. The copolymers were shown to have excellent thermal stability using thermogravimetric (TGA) analysis. The effect of copolymers on the morphological structure of CaCO3 crystals was analyzed by SEM and XRD, and the mechanism of scale inhibition was discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strong flux pinning in high temperature superconducting (HTS) film has significantly boosted its capability of carrying high currents; however, it, in turn, induces huge electromagnetic force in the HTS film, and hence film stress evaluation under electromagnetic force is indispensable for assessing their reliability. In this work, first, an analytical model is presented for evaluating the electromagnetic-force-induced stresses in the thin HTS film that is placed in a vertical magnetic field. In this model, we relate curvatures to film stresses through electromagnetic body force, whose mechanism is very different from common film stress sources like misfit strain or thermo mismatch. The new model shows that the film stresses depend not only on the "local" curvatures at a same point of the substrate but also on the "nonlocal" curvatures of other points. Next, a coherent gradient sensor system for cryogenic measurement is implemented to monitor the stress states of the HTS film during the processes of magnetization and demagnetization. Finally, full fields of hoop stress, radial stress of the YBa2Cu3O7 − x film, and shear stress at interface between the film and the (00l) SrTiO3 substrate subjected to various magnetic fields are obtained, and all the stresses manifest irreversible behavior, which are first experimentally found in the thin HTS film-substrate system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effective protection and utilization of poultry resources depend on an accurate understanding of the genetic diversity and population structure. The breeding of the specialized poultry lineage "Yufen 1", with its defined characteristics, was approved by the China Poultry Genetic Resource Committee in 2015. Thus, to investigate the relationship between the progenitor H line and other poultry breeds, the genetic diversity and population structure of "Yufen 1" H line (YF) were investigated and compared with those of 2 commercial chicken breeds, the ancestor breed Red Jungle Fowls, and 11 Chinese indigenous chicken breeds based on a whole-genome resequencing approach using 8,112,424 SNPs. The genetic diversity of YF was low, and the rate of linkage disequilibrium decay was significantly slower than that of the other Chinese indigenous breeds. In addition, it was shown that the YF population was strongly selected during intensive breeding and that genetic resources have been seriously threatened, which highlights the need to establish a systematic conservation strategy as well as utilization techniques to maintain genetic diversity within YF. Moreover, a principal component analysis, a neighbor-joining tree analysis, a structure analysis, and genetic differentiation indices indicated that YF harbors a distinctive genetic resource with a unique genetic structure separate from that of Chinese indigenous breeds at the genome level. The findings provide a valuable resource and the theoretical basis for the further conservation and utilization of YF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone loss occurs in astronauts during long-term space flight, but the mechanisms are still unclear. We previously showed that advanced glycation end products (AGEs) were involved in microgravity-induced osteoporosis. Here, we investigated the improvement effects of blocking AGEs formation on microgravity-induced bone loss by using the AGEs formation inhibitor, irbesartan. To achieve this objective, we used a tail-suspended (TS) rat model to simulate microgravity and treated the TS rats with 50 mg/kg/day irbesartan, as well as the fluorochrome biomarkers injected into rats to label dynamic bone formation. To assess the accumulation of AGEs, pentosidine (PEN), non-enzymatic cross-links (NE−xLR), and fluorescent AGEs (fAGEs) were identified in the bone; 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) was analyzed for the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in the bone. Meanwhile, bone mechanical properties, bone microstructure, and dynamic bone histomorphometry were tested for bone quality assessment, and Osterix and TRAP were immunofluorescences stained for the activities of osteoblastic and osteoclastic cells. Results showed AGEs increased significantly and 8-OHdG expression in bone showed an upward trend in TS rat hindlimbs. The bone quality (bone microstructure and mechanical properties) and bone formation process (dynamic bone formation and osteoblastic cells activities) were inhibited after tail-suspension, and showed a correlation with AGEs, suggesting the elevated AGEs contributed to the disused bone loss. After being treated with irbesartan, the increased AGEs and 8-OHdG expression were significantly inhibited, suggesting irbesartan may reduce ROS to inhibit dicarbonyl compounds, thus suppressing AGEs production after tail-suspension. The inhibition of AGEs can partially alter the bone remodeling process and improve bone quality. Both AGEs accumulation and bone alterations almost occurred in trabecular bone but not in cortical bone, suggesting AGEs effects on bone remodeling under microgravity are dependent on the biological milieu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium (Cd) is a high-risk pathogenic toxin for hepatic diseases. Excessive mitophagy is a hallmark in Cd-induced hepatotoxicity. However, the underlying mechanism remains obscure. Mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) is a key regulator for mitochondrial and cellular homeostasis. Here, Cd exposure upregulated MCU expression and increased mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake are found. MCU inhibition through siRNA or by Ru360 significantly attenuates Cd-induced excessive mitophagy, thereby rescues mitochondrial dysfunction and increases hepatocyte viability. Heterozygous MCU knockout mice exhibit improved liver function, ameliorated pathological damage, less mitochondrial fragmentation, and mitophagy after Cd exposure. Mechanistically, Cd upregulates MCU expression through phosphorylation activation of cAMP-response element binding protein at Ser133(CREBS133) and subsequent binding of MCU promoter at the TGAGGTCT, ACGTCA, and CTCCGTGATGTA regions, leading to increased MCU gene transcription. The upregulated MCU intensively interacts with voltage-dependent anion-selective channel protein 1 (VDAC1), enhances its dimerization and ubiquitination, resulting in excessive mitophagy. This study reveals a novel mechanism, through which Cd upregulates MCU to enhance mitophagy and hepatotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]