Search

The structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of a novel two-dimensional monolayer material, TaF4, are investigated using first-principles calculations. The dynamical and thermal stabilities of two-dimensional monolayer TaF4 were confirmed using its phonon dispersion spectrum and molecular dynamics calculations. The band structure obtained via the high-accuracy HSE06 (Heyd–Scuseria–Ernzerhof 2006) functional theory revealed that monolayer two-dimensional TaF4 is an indirect bandgap semiconductor with a bandgap width of 2.58 eV. By extracting the exchange interaction intensities and magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy in a J1-J2-J3-K Heisenberg model, it was found that two-dimensional monolayer TaF4 possesses a Néel-type antiferromagnetic ground state and has a relatively high Néel temperature (208 K) and strong magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy (2.06 meV). These results are verified via the magnon spectrum.

Plastic products are a significant component of the manufacturing industry and the plastic industry is closely related to economic and social development. As constraints from resources and environment tighten, rational disposal and utilization of waste plastics becomes crucial for the sustainable economic and environmental development. Currently, the variety of plastic products becomes abundant, and disposal technologies and application challenges are constantly updated. Considering the demand for highquality development of the industry and increasingly strict environmental protection requirements, a systematic analysis of the research progress of waste plastic disposal and utilization becomes urgent. In this study, the waste plastic disposal and utilization technologies are categorized into mechanical disposal of waste plastics, energy and resource conversion, regeneration recycling, and new technologies for disposal and utilization. These four types of technologies are expounded from the aspects of technical features, applicable conditions, and research progress. On the basis, facing the technical challenges and referring to the existing experience of developed countries, suggestions are proposed from the aspects of source reduction, sorted recycling of waste plastics, and technological innovation and transformation, hoping to provide a reference for the clean disposal and recycling of waste plastics in China.

Thermal fluctuations in two-dimensional (2D) isotropy systems at non-zero finite temperatures can destroy the long-range (LR) magnetic order due to the mechanisms addressed in the Mermin-Wanger theory. However, the magnetic anisotropy related to spin–orbit coupling (SOC) may stabilize magnetic order in 2D systems. Very recently, 2D FexGeTe2 (3 ≤ x ≤ 7) with a high Curie temperature (TC) has not only undergone significant developments in terms of synthetic methods and the control of ferromagnetism (FM), but is also being actively explored for applications in various devices. In this review, we introduce six experimental methods, ten ferromagnetic modulation strategies, and four spintronic devices for 2D FexGeTe2 materials. In summary, we outline the challenges and potential research directions in this field.

Ticks can carry multiple pathogens, and Inner Mongolia’s animal husbandry provides excellent environmental conditions for ticks. This study characterized the microbiome of ticks from different geographical locations in Inner Mongolia; 905 Dermacentor nuttalli and 36 Ixodes persulcatus were collected from sheep in three main pasture areas and from bushes within the forested area. Mixed DNA samples were prepared from three specimens from each region and tick species. Microbial diversity was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing, and α and β diversity were determined. The predominant bacterial genera were Rickettsia (54.60%), including Rickettsiales bacterium Ac37b (19.33%) and other Rickettsia (35.27%), Arsenophonus (11.21%), Candidatus Lariskella (10.84%), and Acinetobacter (7.17%). Rickettsia bellii was identified in I. persulcatus, while Rickettsiales bacterium Ac37b was found in D. nuttalli from Ordos and Chifeng. Potential Rickettsia and Anaplasma coinfections were observed in the Ordos region. Tick microbial diversity analysis in Inner Mongolia suggests that sheep at the sampling sites were exposed to multiple pathogens.

Summary:. Patients presenting with complications regarding breast cancer surgery require individualized surgical protocol for correction and reconstruction. This clinical case summarizes our clinical experience in the application of the free greater omentum flap for treatment of upper extremity lymphedema and breast reconstruction. This method combines aesthetic reconstruction of the breast with functional correction. The presented clinical vignette features a patient with post-biquadrantectomy upper extremity lymphedema. A free greater omentum flap was chosen for the purpose of breast reconstruction and vascularized lymph node transfer to treat upper extremity lymphedema. Upper extremity circumferences were monitored before and after surgical correction. The revascularized flap survived well after the operation and the reconstructed breast had a natural appearance. Six months after the operation, the patient’s upper extremity circumferences decreased significantly, and the pain and swelling were also alleviated. The patient was satisfied with the results. The use of the free greater omentum flap for breast reconstruction and treatment of upper extremity lymphedema provides both aesthetic and functional patient rehabilitation. The application of this technique requires proper patient selection and thorough surgical planning.

A recent study demonstrated a positive effect of apple polyphenol (APP) intake on muscle endurance of young-adult animals. While an enhancement of lipid metabolism may be responsible, in part, for the improvement, the contributing mechanisms still need clarification. Here we show that an 8-week intake of 5% (w/w) APP in the diet, up-regulates two features related to fiber type: the ratio of myosin heavy chain (MyHC) type IIx/IIb and myoglobin protein expression in plantaris muscle of 9-week-old male Fischer F344 rats compared to pair-fed controls (P < 0.05). Results were demonstrated by our SDS-PAGE system specialized for MyHC isoform separation and western blotting of whole muscles. Animal-growth profiles (food intake, body-weight gain, and internal-organ weights) did not differ between the control and 5% APP-fed animals (n = 9/group). Findings may account for the increase in fatigue resistance of lower hind limb muscles, as evidenced by a slower decline in the maximum isometric planter-flexion torque generated by a 100-s train of electrical stimulation of the tibial nerve. Additionally, the fatigue resistance was lower after 8 weeks of a 0.5% APP diet than after 5% APP, supporting an APP-dose dependency of the shift in fiber-type composition. Therefore, the present study highlights a promising contribution of dietary APP intake to increasing endurance based on fiber-type composition in rat muscle. Results may help in developing a novel strategy for application in animal sciences, and human sports and age-related health sciences.

In recent years, online learning methods have gradually been accepted by more and more people. A large number of online teaching courses and other resources (MOOCs) have also followed. To attract students' interest in learning, many scholars have built recommendation systems for MOOCs. However, students need a variety of different learning resources, such as courses, videos, concepts, etc., and it is difficult to find suitable resources by themselves. So we propose a resource recommendation method called Multi-path Embedding and User-centric Reasoning (MEUR), which embeds multiple paths and searches with users as the center, innovatively combining the advantages of graph convolution network and reinforcement learning, ultimately shows the path of the knowledge graph. First, we put forward the problem to solve, which is to recommend multiple types of learning resources for users at the same time and show the corresponding reasoning path as the reason for the recommendation. Second, we propose an embedding model that integrates multi-path and graph convolution network, embedding entities in the knowledge graph into vectors. Third, we use reinforcement learning and combine user-centric reasoning to make recommendations for users. Finally, we use datasets from a real MOOC platform to evaluate our model through experiments and compare it with other methods.

Byline: Jing-Yun. Xu, Tian-Xiang. Yu, Xiao-Ming. Guan, Bo. Ding, Mu-Lan. Ren, Yang. Shen Introduction: Laparoendoscopic single-site inguinal lymphadenectomy (LESS-IL), a minimally invasive technique, has been reported in patients with vulvar [...]