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When it comes to simulate or calculate an optoelectronic tweezer (OET) response for a microparticle suspended in a given medium, a precise electrical conductivity (later referred to as conductivity) value for the microparticle is critical. However, there are not well-established measurements or well-referenced values for microparticle conductivities in the OET realm. Thus, we report a method based on measuring the escape velocity of a microparticle with a standard OET system to calculate its conductivity. A widely used 6 μm polystyrene bead (PSB) is used for the study. The conductivity values are found to be invariant around 2×10-3 S/m across multiple different aqueous media, which helps clarify the ambiguity in the usage of PSB conductivity. Our convenient approach could principally be applied for the measurement of multiple unknown OET-relevant material properties of microparticle-medium systems with various OET responses, which can be beneficial to carry out more accurate characterization in relevant fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main pathological features noted in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the presence of plagues of aggregated β-amyloid (Aβ1–42)-peptides. Excess deposition of amyloid-β oligomers (AβO) are known to promote neuroinflammation. Sequentially, following neuroinflammation astrocytes become activated with cellular characteristics to initiate activated astrocytes. The purpose of this study was to determine whether total flavonoids derived from Dracocephalum moldavica L. (TFDM) inhibited Aβ1–42-induced damage attributed to activated C8-D1A astrocytes. Western blotting and ELISA were used to determine the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and complement C3 to establish the activation status of astrocytes following induction from exposure to Aβ1–42. Data demonstrated that stimulation of C8-D1A astrocytes by treatment with 40 μM Aβ1–42 for 24 hr produced significant elevation in protein expression and protein levels of acidic protein (GFAP) and complement C3 accompanied by increased expression and levels of inflammatory cytokines. Treatment with TFDM or the clinically employed drug donepezil in AD therapy reduced production of inflammatory cytokines, and toxicity initiated following activation of C8-D1A astrocytes following exposure to Aβ1–42. Therefore, TFDM similar to donepezil inhibited inflammatory secretion in reactive astrocytes, suggesting that TFDM may be considered as a potential compound to be utilized in AD therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mn–Co–Ni–O ceramics are promising negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor materials. However, the high sintering temperatures and long sintering time of Mn–Co–Ni–O ceramics are not favorable to grain size control which is closely related to the electric properties of the ceramics. In this work, Mn 1.5 Co 1.2 Ni 0.3 O 4 (MCN) ceramics were prepared via reactive flash sintering (RFS) of a mixture of Mn 3 O 4 , Co 2 O 3 and NiO powders at the current density of 0.2–1.6 A mm−2, sintering time of 30–120 s and sintering temperature of 300 °C (far below the conventional sintering temperature of 1450 °C). The average grain size of the fabricated ceramics was 1.71–3.77 μm, being much smaller than that achieved via conventional sintering (10–12 μm). As a result, the room-temperature resistivity of the ceramics (3.6–25.5 kΩ cm) exceeded that reported in other study (1.7 kΩ cm), and B values (2958–4075 K) were in comparable to that reported in literature (3676 K). Moreover, the enhanced grain boundary diffusion was considered as the predominant mechanism for the RFSing of MCN ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sharing experience via social media communication has been examined in psychology, sociology, communication and linguistic studies. While this research has mostly examined consumption experience and health issues, how people make meanings and develop interactions while sharing mundane matters needs more investigation. This paper reports on a pragmatic investigation into individuals sharing their exam experiences in social media groups. Data were collected from two support groups on Douban , a Chinese social networking site that encourages users to share their thoughts, interests and experiences. A total of 400 original posts, 200 each from a group sharing experiences of failure in examinations and a group sharing their success in examinations, were collected and analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The findings showed that the two groups were significantly different in the ways they voluntarily disclosed their identities and in the types of expressions they employed to refer to different participants. In addition, they differed significantly in how they sought or offered support in interactions. Similarities and differences between the two groups' sharing are discussed in relation to the instructions of the two groups, their identity construction, the affordances of social media, and the importance of politeness and face in Chinese culture. • This paper reports on a pragmatic investigation into individuals sharing their exam experiences in social media groups. • The failure and the success groups were significantly different in the ways they voluntarily disclosed their identities. • They were also significantly different in the types of expressions used to refer to different participants. • They differed significantly in how they sought or offered support in interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Osteoporosis is a major global health problem with substantial economic and psychosocial repercussions. Underdiagnosis of osteoporosis is prevalent. The dual-energy absorptiometry (DEXA) scan is the gold standard for bone mineral density (BMD) measurement but its accessibility is limited. Radiographs are ubiquitous in healthcare and represent a promising avenue for opportunistic osteoporosis screening. Historically, this has been associated with high labor and time costs but several recent studies have demonstrated that BMD can be estimated from radiographs in a cost-effective manner utilizing deep learning techniques. This review aims to summarize the existing evidence supporting the utility of artificial intelligence (AI) methods for osteoporosis classification using radiographs. Osteoporosis is a complex endocrine disease characterized by a decline in bone mass and microstructural integrity. It constitutes a major global health problem. Recent progress in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) has opened new avenues for the effective diagnosis of osteoporosis via radiographs. This review investigates the application of AI classification of osteoporosis in radiographs. A comprehensive exploration of electronic repositories (ClinicalTrials.gov, Web of Science, PubMed, MEDLINE) was carried out in adherence to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 statement (PRISMA). A collection of 31 articles was extracted from these repositories and their significant outcomes were consolidated and outlined. This encompassed insights into anatomical regions, the specific machine learning methods employed, the effectiveness in predicting BMD, and categorizing osteoporosis. Through analyzing the respective studies, we evaluated the effectiveness and limitations of AI osteoporosis classification in radiographs. The pooled reported accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of osteoporosis classification ranges from 66.1% to 97.9%, 67.4% to 100.0%, and 60.0% to 97.5% respectively. This review underscores the potential of AI osteoporosis classification and offers valuable insights for future research endeavors, which should focus on addressing the challenges in technical and clinical integration to facilitate practical implementation of this technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study investigates the impact of DNA methylation on collagen deposition in the skin of Dezhou donkeys, a breed valued for its thick, flexible skin with medicinal properties. Utilizing whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), the research analyzes the epigenetic landscape and gene expression profiles across three developmental stages of Dezhou donkeys. The study identifies numerous differentially methylated genes related to collagen deposition, such as COL1A1, COL1A2, and MMPs, highlighting an inverse relationship between gene expression and DNA methylation near transcription start sites. The findings of our study reveal the significant regulatory role of DNA methylation in skin collagen deposition, offering insights for genetic improvement and selective breeding to enhance skin quality in Dezhou donkeys. Our current research adds to the foundational knowledge of collagen deposition mechanisms, contributing to the fields of molecular biology and animal husbandry. DNA methylation represents a predominant epigenetic modification with broad implications in various biological functions. Its role is particularly significant in the process of collagen deposition, a fundamental aspect of dermal development in donkeys. Despite its critical involvement, the mechanistic insights into how DNA methylation influences collagen deposition in donkey skin remain limited. In this study, we employed whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to investigate the epigenetic landscape and gene expression profiles in the dorsal skin tissues of Dezhou donkeys across three developmental stages: embryonic (YD), juvenile (2-year-old, MD), and mature (8-year-old, OD). Our analysis identified numerous differentially methylated genes that play pivotal roles in skin collagen deposition and overall skin maturation, including but not limited to COL1A1, COL1A2, COL3A1, COL4A1, COL4A2, GLUL, SFRP2, FOSL1, SERPINE1, MMP1, MMP2, MMP9, and MMP13. Notably, we observed an inverse relationship between gene expression and DNA methylation proximal to transcription start sites (TSSs), whereas a direct correlation was detected in regions close to transcription termination sites (TTSs). Detailed bisulfite sequencing analyses of the COL1A1 promoter region revealed a low methylation status during the embryonic stage, correlating with elevated transcriptional activity and gene expression levels. Collectively, our findings elucidate key genetic markers associated with collagen deposition in the skin of Dezhou donkeys, underscoring the significant regulatory role of DNA methylation. This research work contributes to the foundational knowledge necessary for the genetic improvement and selective breeding of Dezhou donkeys, aiming to enhance skin quality attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEi) reflects the trade‐off between photosynthetic carbon gain and water loss through stomatal conductance and is key for understanding dryland plant responses to climate change. Stipa tenacissima is a perennial tussock C3 grass with an opportunistic, drought‐avoiding water use strategy that dominates arid and semiarid steppes across the western Mediterranean region. However, its ecophysiological responses to aridification and woody shrub encroachment, a major land‐use change in drylands worldwide, are not well‐understood.We investigated the variations in leaf stable isotopes (δ18O, δ13C, δ15N), nutrient concentrations (N, P, K), and culm water content and isotopic composition (δ18O, δ2H) of paired pure‐grass and shrub‐encroached S. tenacissima steppes along a 350 km aridity gradient in Spain (10 sites, 160 individuals).Culm water isotopes revealed that S. tenacissima is a shallow‐rooted grass that depends heavily on recent rainwater for water uptake, which may render it vulnerable to increasingly irregular rainfall combined with faster topsoil drying under climate warming and aridification. With increasing aridity, S. tenacissima enhanced leaf‐level WUEi through more stringent stomatal regulation of plant water flux and carbon assimilation (higher δ13C and δ18O), reaching exceptionally high δ13C values (−23‰ to −21‰) at the most arid steppes. Foliar N concentration was remarkably low across sites regardless of woody shrub encroachment, evidencing severe water and N co‐limitation of photosynthesis and productivity. Shrub encroachment decreased leaf P and K but did not affect S. tenacissima water status. Perennial grass cover decreased markedly with both declining winter rainfall and shrub encroachment suggesting population‐level rather than individual‐level responses of S. tenacissima to these changes.The fundamental physiological constraints of photosynthetic C3 metabolism combined with low foliar N content may hamper the ability of S. tenacissima and other drought‐avoider species with shallow roots to achieve further adaptive improvements in WUEi under increasing climatic stress. A drought‐avoiding water use strategy based on early stomatal closure and photosynthesis suppression during prolonged rainless periods may thus compromise the capacity of semiarid S. tenacissima steppes to maintain perennial grass cover, sustain productivity and cope with ongoing climate aridification at the drier parts of their current distribution. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared with conventional displacement modal analysis, the strain modal analysis has remarkable advantages in structural damage detection. Identifying the operational strain modal parameters directly from only dynamic strain time–history response measurements of a structure under operational conditions is a challenging issue. In this paper, the strain power spectrum density transmissibility (SPSDT)-based approach is presented to identify the operational strain modal parameters. The SPSDT is first defined by selecting a strain response measurement point as a reference. It is then theoretically proved that the defined SPSDT converges to the ratio of strain mode amplitudes at the system poles. Based on this unique property, the SPSDT matrix is constructed by selecting different strain response measurement points as the references. Singular value decomposition (SVD) is implemented in the matrix at the system pole. The first left singular vector is used to estimate strain mode shape. A simulated three-span continuous beam, a simply supported beam model tested in the laboratory and a full-size arch bridge tested in field are employed to verify the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed SPSDT-based operational strain modal identification method. The obtained results are compared with those of other available methods. It is found that a good agreement is achieved. It is demonstrated that the proposed SPSDT-based method is capable of identifying the operational strain modal parameters of a structure where only the dynamic strain time–history responses are measured. The proposed SPSDT-based method does not need white noise assumption under a single load condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mandarin Chinese, as the national lingua franca in China, has gained increasing importance in bilingual education in ethnic minority areas in the country. However, little research has explored ethnic minority children’s pragmatic competence. Therefore, this study investigates ethnic Uyghur children’s written pragmatic performance of advice-giving through a brief note in Mandarin and the possible effects of proficiency and gender on their advice-giving. Data were collected from 300 ethnic Uyghur children across three proficiency levels with a balanced gender split. In addition, 100 Han children were also recruited as a comparison group. The advice produced by the children was coded in terms of speech act strategies and supportive moves. The findings showed that the Uyghur children with higher proficiency provided more reasons and fewer affective expressions when giving advice than the two lower proficiency groups, reflecting the performance of the Han children. On the other hand, the results also revealed gender differences in certain advice-giving strategies and supportive moves. The study discusses the findings in relation to national lingua franca and second language pragmatics. Some pedagogical implications for multilingual education in ethnic minority areas are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehension of implicature may be challenging for L2 learners, which may be further influenced for by learners' L2 grit and emotions. However, few studies have endeavored to determine the predictive impact of L2 grit, along with its closely associated emotional factors, such as enjoyment and anxiety, and investigate how these psychological factors jointly influence pragmatic comprehension. Therefore, this study attempts to investigate the relationship between L2 grit and pragmatic comprehension, along with the mediating roles of enjoyment and anxiety in their interactions. The data were collected from 171 Chinese non‐English major postgraduate learners, a population that has been less pronounced in L2 pragmatics. The findings revealed that the perseverance of effort (PE) of L2 grit predicted pragmatic comprehension instead of the consistency of interest of L2 grit. Pragmatic comprehension was positively but weakly linked to enjoyment and shared negative and moderate associations with anxiety. Only anxiety mediated the interaction between PE and pragmatic comprehension. Implications for pragmatic instruction and suggestions for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Furfuryl alcohol as reactant, NaBr as electrolyte and methanol as solvent, 2,5-dimethoxy-2,5-dihydrofuranmethanol, the intermediate of pyromellic acid, was synthesized by electrochemical method. The influence of reaction time, NaBr addition and reaction temperature on the yield was investigated. The results showed that the reaction time and rection temperature had a significant impact on the yield, while the amount of NaBr added had no significant impact on the yield. When furfuryl alcohol 3 g(24 mmol) was added, constant pressure was 15 V, the optimal conditions were reaction time 2.4 h, NaBr addition 1.76 g, reaction temperature - 10 °C, the average current was 0.93 A, and the yield of 2,5-dimethoxy-2, 5-dihydrofuranmethanol is 67.9%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporating sulfur (S) atoms into polymer main chains endows these materials with many attractive features, including a high refractive index, mechanical properties, electrochemical properties, and adhesive ability to heavy metal ions. The copolymerization involving S-containing monomers constitutes a facile method for effectively constructing S-containing polymers with diverse structures, readily tunable sequences, and topological structures. In this review, we describe the recent advances in the synthesis of S-containing polymers via copolymerization or multicomponent polymerization techniques concerning a variety of S-containing monomers, such as dithiols, carbon disulfide, carbonyl sulfide, cyclic thioanhydrides, episulfides and elemental sulfur (S8). Particularly, significant focus is paid to precise control of the main-chain sequence, stereochemistry, and topological structure for achieving high-value applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Joining of barium titanate (BaTiO 3 , BT) ceramics to metals plays an important role in their wide applications. However, conventional joining methods, including solid state diffusion joining and liquid state joining, have several drawbacks. In this paper, BT ceramic was flash joined to NiCrFe medium-entropy alloy (MEA) in seconds with an electric field (E-field) using current density of 10–80 mA/mm2 at 700–1000 °C. Shear strength of the joint first increased with applied current density and dwell time of the E-field and then decreased. It exceeded 40 MPa when the temperature was above 900 °C with current density of 60 mA/mm2 for 60 s. Both the real part (ε') and imaginary part (ε ") of complex permittivity of the joined sample were larger than those of the as-sintered BT ceramic at high frequency range. Microstructure of the joint suggests that a layer of chromium oxide was formed at faying surfaces, achieving effective bonding of BT and MEA. This research provides an efficient method for the manufacturing of BT based devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporosis, marked by low bone mineral density (BMD) and a high fracture risk, is a major health issue. Recent progress in medical imaging, especially CT scans, offers new ways of diagnosing and assessing osteoporosis. This review examines the use of AI analysis of CT scans to stratify BMD and diagnose osteoporosis. By summarizing the relevant studies, we aimed to assess the effectiveness, constraints, and potential impact of AI-based osteoporosis classification (severity) via CT. A systematic search of electronic databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov) was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A total of 39 articles were retrieved from the databases, and the key findings were compiled and summarized, including the regions analyzed, the type of CT imaging, and their efficacy in predicting BMD compared with conventional DXA studies. Important considerations and limitations are also discussed. The overall reported accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of AI in classifying osteoporosis using CT images ranged from 61.8% to 99.4%, 41.0% to 100.0%, and 31.0% to 100.0% respectively, with areas under the curve (AUCs) ranging from 0.582 to 0.994. While additional research is necessary to validate the clinical efficacy and reproducibility of these AI tools before incorporating them into routine clinical practice, these studies demonstrate the promising potential of using CT to opportunistically predict and classify osteoporosis without the need for DEXA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effects of instruction on second language (L2) pragmatic competence and the factors that moderate the effectiveness of pragmatics instruction. A comprehensive literature search yielded 29 primary studies that involved 1,898 L2 learners, generating 54 effect sizes for between-group contrasts. Aggregated results showed that pragmatics instruction had a large, positive effect on the development of pragmatic competence, g =1.656 (95% CI: 1.387–1.924). Subsequent moderator analyses demonstrated that explicit instruction yielded larger effects than implicit instruction, but the difference was not significant; pragmatics instruction was more effective in foreign language settings than in second language settings; longer treatments yielded larger effect sizes than medium and short treatments; and teaching pragmatics at the high-school level produced the largest mean effect size among all institutional levels. In addition, the outcomes measured by written discourse completion task generated the largest effects, followed by oral production tasks, while multiple-choice tasks yielded the smallest effect sizes. We discuss the results by consulting previous meta-analytic studies and the methodological characteristics of the synthesized studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Language mindsets and L2 willingness to communicate (L2 WTC) are closely related and have contributed greatly to learners’ L2 learning achievements under the SLA paradigm. However, relatively less attention has been given to the influence of language mindsets and L2 WTC on L2 pragmatic acquisition. This paper aims to examine the potential influence of language mindsets and L2 WTC on receptive pragmatic competence, which further includes pragmatic comprehension, awareness, and perception. A total of 208 Chinese university students of English were administered a biographic survey, a receptive pragmatic task, along with language mindsets and L2 WTC questionnaires. The results showed that growth language mindsets predicted pragmatic awareness and that L2 WTC predicted sociopragmatic inappropriateness perception. Language mindsets and L2 WTC did not play a predictive role in pragmatic comprehension. Gender served as the exclusive and significant moderator in the interaction between pragmatic comprehension and L2 WTC. Pedagogical implications for pragmatic instructors and practitioners and suggestions for future research are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effect of endovascular and/or hybrid surgical recanalization on chronic long-segment occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and the effect of occlusion location on the recanalization rate and prognosis, 87 patients with chronic ICA occlusion treated with endovascular approach only or hybrid surgery were retrospectively enrolled. The duration of ICA occlusion ranged from 21 to 360 days (median 30). Type I occlusion (from the neck to below the cavernous segment) consisted of 46 (52.8%) patients while type II (from the neck to above the clinoid segment) of 41 (47.1%). Hybrid surgery was performed in 44 (50.6%) patients while endovascular recanalization only was conducted in the other 43 (49.4%). In all patients, the success rate of recanalization was 93.0% (40/43) for the endovascular approach and 95.5% for the hybrid surgical approach. In patients with type I occlusion, endovascular recanalization only was performed in 22 (47.8%) patients and hybrid surgery in 24 (52.2%), resulting in successful recanalization in all patients (100%). In patients with type II occlusion, the success rate of recanalization was 85.7% (18/21) for the endovascular approach only but 90% (18/20) for the hybrid surgery. The total success rate of recanalization was 94.3% (82/87) for all patients, 100% for type I occlusion, and 87.8% for type II occlusion. No significant (P = 0.12) differences existed in the recanalization rate between groups I and II. Clinical follow-up was performed in 82 (94.3%) patients 6–39 months (mean 16) after the surgery. Re-occlusion occurred in 0 in group I but in four (9.8%) in group II. The mRS was good with 0–2 in 38 (82.6%) patients in group I and in 27 (75%) patients in group II, with no significant (P = 0.78) difference. In conclusion, chronic long-segment ICA occlusion can be safely and efficiently recanalized with the endovascular and hybrid surgery. The location of ICA occlusion may have a critical role in determining the recanalization rate, and careful evaluation of the occlusion location may be helpful in increasing the prognosis of recanalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Solar energy-driven photocatalytic decomposition of water to produce H 2 is of great significance for promoting the development of clean energy. To improve the efficiency of H 2 production, a novel spherical Co 2 P/Cd 0.9 Zn 0.1 S (Co 2 P/CZS) composite with shell-core structure was successfully synthesized by electrostatic attraction. Under visible light irradiation, the optimal Co 2 P/CZS achieves an excellent H 2 rate of 16.05 mmol h−1 g−1 in benzyl alcohol (PhCH 2 OH) solution, with a quantum efficiency of 34.3% at 450 nm. The Co 2 P thin layer coated on the CZS surface not only facilitates the photogenerated charge transfer from Co 2 P to CZS under visible light illumination, but reduces the energy barrier of PhCH 2 OH oxidation and H 2 evolution. The present results show that shell-core Co 2 P/CZS composite may be one of promising catalyst to enhance the activity of H 2 evolution, which provides an important reference basis for new catalyst design and wide prospects for further application of metal sulfides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The articles in this special issue contribute to second language (L2) pragmatics by investigating different speech acts and interactions in Chinese as the target language. The studies all examined learners' pragmatic performance in different contexts and compared their performance with that of native Chinese speakers. The findings of the articles showed what the learners could achieve and what they still had problems in. In this commentary, I first analyze and discuss the aspects in these articles that impress me the most, including research design and focus on L2 pragmatics, theoretical contributions, and methodological considerations. Then, I will address some important implications that the articles provide for future research in L2 pragmatics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, second language (L2) pragmatics research has predominantly focused on learners' oral communication, with digital communication being much less examined. In addition, although L2 pragmatics has mainly investigated speech acts, self‐praise has not been examined from the L2 perspective. Therefore, this study investigates instances of self‐praise posted by learners of Chinese on social networking sites. Data were collected from 20 advanced learners of Chinese who were asked to share instances of self‐praise they posted on their WeChat Moments. Altogether, 61 learners' self‐praise posts in L2 Chinese and 100 instances of self‐praise from 20 Chinese native speakers were collected. The learners' Chinese self‐praise was analyzed in terms of different pragmatic strategies and emoji uses, with comparisons against the native speakers' practices. Similarities and differences were analyzed between the two groups' self‐praise strategies and their emoji use in self‐praise posts. The findings showed that the advanced learners were able to employ the three major types of self‐praise strategies in their self‐praise posts on WeChat Moments. However, their repertoires of individual self‐praise strategies and emojis were not as wide as those of native speakers. In addition, the learners showed divergences from the native speakers in terms of their preferred self‐praise strategies and culture‐relevant emojis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital twin aims to create a virtual model for a physical structure by combining measurement data in structural health monitoring. The most important feature is to achieve the physical structure-monitoring data synchronization. For this purpose, a physics-data hybrid framework to develop the bridge digital twin model in structural health monitoring is proposed in the paper. The physical base is firstly formed by the finite element model of the digital representation for the physical bridge that can fully incorporate both structural geometry and structural state. The data base is then built by all measurement data of the monitored bridge. By defining the context that is common to both physical base and data base, the mirror relationship between physical base and data base for the specified context is formulated. To achieve the best matching of the mirror relationship by minimizing process, the digital twin model in terms of the specified context can be developed. In such a way, the proposed framework integrates physical knowledge and data intelligence into one model. A demonstration of a simulated simply supported beam is provided to show how the digital twin model is developed by using proposed physics-data hybrid framework. It is found that the generated digital twin model is consistent with the current structural state of the beam. The presented physics-data hybrid framework helps in clearer understanding of the realization of digital twin model in structural health monitoring, providing a new perspective for smart bridge solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effect of endovascular and/or hybrid surgical recanalization on chronic long-segment occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and the effect of occlusion location on the recanalization rate and prognosis, 87 patients with chronic ICA occlusion treated with endovascular approach only or hybrid surgery were retrospectively enrolled. The duration of ICA occlusion ranged from 21 to 360 days (median 30). Type I occlusion (from the neck to below the cavernous segment) consisted of 46 (52.8%) patients while type II (from the neck to above the clinoid segment) of 41 (47.1%). Hybrid surgery was performed in 44 (50.6%) patients while endovascular recanalization only was conducted in the other 43 (49.4%). In all patients, the success rate of recanalization was 93.0% (40/43) for the endovascular approach and 95.5% for the hybrid surgical approach. In patients with type I occlusion, endovascular recanalization only was performed in 22 (47.8%) patients and hybrid surgery in 24 (52.2%), resulting in successful recanalization in all patients (100%). In patients with type II occlusion, the success rate of recanalization was 85.7% (18/21) for the endovascular approach only but 90% (18/20) for the hybrid surgery. The total success rate of recanalization was 94.3% (82/87) for all patients, 100% for type I occlusion, and 87.8% for type II occlusion. No significant (P = 0.12) differences existed in the recanalization rate between groups I and II. Clinical follow-up was performed in 82 (94.3%) patients 6–39 months (mean 16) after the surgery. Re-occlusion occurred in 0 in group I but in four (9.8%) in group II. The mRS was good with 0–2 in 38 (82.6%) patients in group I and in 27 (75%) patients in group II, with no significant (P = 0.78) difference. In conclusion, chronic long-segment ICA occlusion can be safely and efficiently recanalized with the endovascular and hybrid surgery. The location of ICA occlusion may have a critical role in determining the recanalization rate, and careful evaluation of the occlusion location may be helpful in increasing the prognosis of recanalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most recent learning algorithms for single image dehazing are designed to train with paired hazy and corresponding ground truth images, typically synthesized images. Real paired datasets can help to improve performance, but are tough to acquire. This paper proposes an unsupervised dehazing algorithm based on GAN to alleviate this issue. An end-to-end network based on GAN architecture is established and fed with unpaired clean and hazy images, signifying that the estimation of atmospheric light and transmission is not required. The proposed network consists of three parts: a generator, a global test discriminator, and a local context discriminator. Moreover, a dark channel prior based attention mechanism is applied to handle inconsistency haze. We conduct experiments on RESIDE datasets. Extensive experiments demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed approach which outperformed previous state-of-the-art unsupervised methods by a large margin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to unpack perceptions of self-mockery in present-day Chinese using an online self-mockery viral event. The metapragmatic analysis of comments indicates that its interpretation is closely intertwined with other cultural factors and open to construal in a folk manner. Despite folk concepts being largely consistent with etic understandings of self-mockery, they are at the same time emotional and socially salient. The interpretation of self-mockery within a social practice is determined by how it is enacted by what person and in comparison with others, i.e., the situationally (un)approved and culturally salient meaning. • The interpretation of self-mockery is intertwined with social factors, supported by metapragmatic analysis of comments. • The perception of self-mockery can be in a very folk manner. • It is more productive to scrutinize the perception of self-mockery within a particular social event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil phosphorus (P) limitation in karst areas has severely constrained soil quality and land productivity. To enhance silage maize yield and quality and alleviate and/or balance the low phosphorus availability in the karst areas of China, the experiment investigated the effects of different tillage and residue retention practices on silage maize yield and quality and soil phosphorus in this region. The treatment set included: conventional tillage (CT), conventional tillage and root stubble retention (CTH), conventional tillage and mulch (CTM), conventional tillage and crushing and incorporation of hairy vetch by tillage (CTR), no tillage (NT), no tillage and root stubble retention (NTH), no tillage and mulch (NTM), and no tillage and living mulch (NTLM). The results showed that CTM, NTM, CTR, and NTLM significantly increased the height and LAI of silage maize compared with the CT, NT, and NTH treatments. CTM, CTR, and NTM significantly enhanced maize yield. Compared with conventional tillage, not tilling had a more pronounced improvement in silage quality, whereas residue retention hardly affected corn quality. In addition, although not tilling does not significantly increase acid phosphatase activity, it appeared to be advantageous in increasing soil microbial phosphorus and available phosphorus content when combined with cover crop measures. Ultimately, we concluded that NTM and NTLM are beneficial for silage maize yield and quality and soil phosphorus content in karst areas and verified the advantages of combining no tillage and residue retention practices for silage maize production and soil phosphorus improvement in the karst areas of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is unknown whether high‐frequency ultrasound (HFUS) can evaluate invisible subcutaneous lesions. We aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of HFUS in invisible subcutaneous lesions. Method: Patients with invisible subcutaneous lesions were prospectively recruited from two centres. Before undergoing biopsy or surgery, each lesion was independently evaluated by two clinicians. One provides a clinical diagnosis by only clinical examination and the other provides an integrated diagnosis by combining clinical examination and HFUS information. Diagnoses were classified as correct, wrong, and indeterminate. A total of 391 lesions from 355 patients were enrolled, including 225 epidermoid cysts, 77 lipomas, 25 pilomatrixomas, 21 haemangiomas, 19 dermatofibromas, 11 dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP), 7 neurofibromas, and 6 leiomyomas. Using pathological results as the gold standard, diagnostic performance was compared. Results: The number of correct diagnoses increased from 185 (47.3%) by clinical examination alone to 316 (80.8%) after the addition of HFUS (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the indeterminate diagnosis rate decreased from 143 (36.6%) to 10 (2.6%). Using HFUS, the accuracy improved significantly for epidermoid cysts (59.6% vs. 86.7%), lipomas (50.6% vs. 94.8%), pilomatrixomas (0% vs. 48.0%), haemangiomas (23.8% vs. 57.1%), and DFSPs (0% vs. 81.8%) (all p < 0.05). However, HFUS did not significantly improve the diagnostic accuracy of dermatofibromas (15.8% vs. 21.1%, p > 0.999), neurofibromas (42.9% vs. 71.4%, p = 0.625), or leiomyomas (16.7% vs. 100%, p = 0.063). Conclusion: Combining HFUS and clinical examination can generally improve the diagnostic accuracy and decrease the indeterminacy of invisible subcutaneous lesions, especially epidermoid cysts, lipomas, pilomatrixomas, haemangiomas, and DFSPs. However, for some rare lesions, HFUS cannot provide useful information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity is amongst the serious abiotic stresses cotton plants face, impairing crop productivity. Foliar application of β-alanine is employed to improve salt tolerance in various crops, but the exact mechanism behind it is not yet completely understood. An advanced line SDS-01 of upland cotton Gossypium hirsutum L. was utilized to determine its salt tolerance. Foliar treatment with the β-alanine solution at different concentrations was applied to the seedlings stressed with 0.8% NaCl solution. On the 10th day of treatment, samples were collected for transcriptome and metabolome analyses. β-alanine solution at a concentration of 25 mM was found to be the best treatment with the lowest mortality rate and highest plant height and above-ground biomass under salt stress. Both differentially expressed genes and accumulated metabolites analyses showed improved tolerance of treated seedlings. The photosynthetic efficiency improved in seedlings due to higher expression of photosynthesis-antenna proteins and activation of hormones signal transduction after treatment with β-alanine. Highly expressed transcription factors observed were MYB, HD-ZIP, ARF, MYC, EREB, DELLA, ABF, H2A, H4, WRKY, and HK involved in the positive regulation of salinity tolerance in β-alanine-treated seedlings. Furthermore, compared to the control, the high accumulation of polyamines, coumarins, organic acids, and phenolic compounds in the β-alanine-treated seedlings helped regulate cellular antioxidant (glutathione and L-Cysteine) production. Hence, to improve salt tolerance and productivity in cotton, foliar application of β-alanine at the seedling stage can be a valuable management practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, yttria-stabilized zirconia (8YSZ, 8 mol%) was flash joined to Ni-Cr-Fe medium-entropy alloy (MEA) within seconds under an electric field (E-field), where the current density was above the threshold (about 100 mA·mm−2) at 750–1000 °C. The maximum joint strength of 103 MPa was achieved at joining temperature of 900 °C under current density of 100 mA·mm−2 for 30 s. The impedance spectrum of the joined sample revealed that there was no impedance barrier to charge transfer between the metal electrode and the ceramic, indicating that the interface was well bonded. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy results show that the joint was formed mainly due to the fast diffusion of Ni into 8YSZ and reduced Zr into MEA. The diffusion of these elements does not change the crystal structure of the ceramic and metal, and leads to only slight increase in the lattice spacing of MEA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A peculiar topological Hall effect (THE) is reported in a noncentrosymmetric ternary carbide GdCoC2. The GdCoC2 reveals a magnetic ordering transition from paramagnetic to ferromagnetic state at the Curie temperature TC = 15.6 K, followed by a commensurate-incommensurate phase transition at Tt = 14.1 K. Below Tt, the competition between an external magnetic field and magnetic interactions, including the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction, would give rise to characteristic spin textures with non-zero scalar spin chirality χ ijk , or even topologically protected spin configurations like skyrmions, for which the exotic spin-charge coupled phenomena are induced. Besides a large negative magnetoresistance (MR) up to ∼−52% at 14 K, a remarkably sharp topological Hall signal is observed with almost no anomalous Hall resistivity below 10 K. The topological Hall resistivity ( ρ xy T ) of GdCoC2 reaches a maximum value of ∼0.23 μΩ cm at 3 K under μ0H = 0.6 T. The mechanism underlying the exceptional THE with relatively large ρ xy T value in GdCoC2 is discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peer interaction is examined as an important indicator of performance in task-based language learning. However, little research has explored learners’ interactional competence under the influences of task factors. This study investigates the effects of task complexity and task modality on learners’ interactional competence in terms of topic management and turn management. Four tasks were designed – written-simple, written-complex, oral-simple, and oral-complex – and 40 Chinese EFL learners completed them in counterbalanced sequences. The results showed the significant influences of task complexity and task modality on learners’ topic and turn management. Task modality and complexity interactively influenced learners when they were expanding on topics in the role of the current speaker. Considering the cognitive demands of increasing complexity and differences between the two modalities, this paper discusses the implications of the findings for developing L2 interactional competence in speech- and text-based interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The software engineering community aims to achieve and maintain high‐efficient software engineering practical activities. One of the techniques used for this purpose is Test‐Driven Development (TDD), which is a cyclic and test‐centered development method positively related to maintainability, which may vary depending on the context and application. Previous research has indicated that TDD's benefits on maintainability may be due to the improved focus on coding and testing activities. However, limited research has investigated the role of engagement in software quality. Therefore, this study investigates the relationship between TDD methods, engagement level in development activities, and maintainability. The primary research questions addressed in this study are does following TDD methods improve the engagement level in development activities? And does a higher engagement level leads to better maintainability? The study employs a statistical analysis technique, regression analysis to explore the research questions. The results show that TDD behaviours improve the engagement level, and engaging in development activities has a significant positive impact on maintainability. Additionally, the study finds that the positive impact of focussing on testing, such as writing more test cases, is more pronounced compared to coding activities. Our study adds to current software engineering literature that not only personal expertise but the engagement level in the development process are associated with software quality and calls for the emphasis on developer's engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective in-season crop nitrogen (N) status diagnosis is important for precision crop N management, and remote sensing using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is one efficient means of conducting crop N nutrient diagnosis. Here, field experiments were conducted with six N levels and six maize hybrids to determine the nitrogen nutrition index (NNI) and yield, and to diagnose the N status of the hybrids combined with multi-spectral data. The NNI threshold values varied with hybrids and years, ranging from 0.99 to 1.17 in 2018 and 0.60 to 0.71 in 2019. A proper agronomic optimal N rate (AONR) was constructed and confirmed based on the measured NNI and yield. The NNI (R2 = 0.64–0.79) and grain yield (R2 = 0.70–0.73) were predicted well across hybrids using a random forest model with spectral, structural, and textural data (UAV). The AONRs calculated using the predicted NNI and yield were significantly correlated with the measured NNI (R2 = 0.70 and 0.71 in 2018 and 2019, respectively) and yield (R2 = 0.68 and 0.54 in 2018 and 2019, respectively). It is concluded that data fusion can improve in-season N status diagnosis for different maize hybrids compared to using only spectral data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The family Bacillaceae bacteria, particularly Bacillus communities, are useful and attractive probiotics with desirable features to fulfill the vast demand for aquaculture. In Hainan Island, the coastal aquaculture ponds hold about 1% of the total area in China, whereas the knowledge of Bacillaceae bacterial communities was limited. Herein, the Bacillaceae bacterial communities in the coastal aquaculture ponds of the artificial ponds (lined with high-density polyethylene plastic sheets) and earthen ponds were investigated by the culturable method. The characteristics of culturable Bacillaceae communities in these two types of coastal aquaculture ponds showed a massive difference. All the culturable Bacillaceae bacteria were identified as Bacillus in the artificial ponds, whereas the earthen ponds were dominated by Bacillus followed by Halobacillus. It is worth noting that the artificial ponds with a low Bacillaceae diversity displayed a high Bacillaceae concentration with a better water quality, whereas the earthen ponds with a higher Bacillaceae diversity and concentration displayed a higher risk of Vibrio infection, indicating that the Bacillaceae concentration than its diversity made a greater contribution to water purification and Vibrio control. This work besides providing a promising strategy for healthy coastal aquaculture by balancing the relationship between Bacillaceae concentration and its diversity also will lay a foundation for the development of probiotic Bacillaceae agents for wastewater purification and disease control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the ways that L2 learners develop their knowledge in understanding the pragmatic functions of a Chinese discourse marker (DM), zenme shuo ne (‘how to say’), and examines three interrelated aspects in pragmatic knowledge of this DM. Using metapragmatic interviews, emic data are collected from sixteen L2 Chinese learners and nineteen L1 Chinese speakers. The data are analysed using both qualitative methods and computational models. The findings reveal that L2 learners identify a different range of DM functions from L1 speakers. They attribute their function identification to concerns about self-face and speaker-centred interpersonal relationships, in contrast to L1 speakers, who refer to moral norms and indirect interpersonal relationships between the hearer and a third party. The different interpretations that L1 and L2 participants develop for the DM have given rise to different expectations of conversational directions. L2 learners are consistently more optimistic about upcoming conversations than L1 speakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pursuit of step- and atom-economy in natural product and complex molecule syntheses continuously inspires the development of synthetic methodologies. In this context, to enable efficient synthesis of (E , E)-dienes as common structural subunits in natural products, our lab has established robust protocols based on modified Negishi cross-couplings and evolved them to more concise titanium-mediated alkyne–alkyne reductive coupling. In this review, we summarize the natural product synthesis driven methodology development and their applications in the total synthesis of complex molecules, focusing on the studies from our laboratory. 1 Introduction 2 Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling in Natural Product Synthesis 2.1 Synthesis of Branched Trisubstituted Conjugated Dienes by Negishi Coupling 2.2 Stereo- and Regiocontrolled Synthesis of Branched Trisubstituted Conjugated Dienes by Modified Negishi Coupling 2.3 Enantioselective Total Synthesis of Reveromycin B by Drouet & Theodorakis 2.4 Enantioselective Synthesis of the Protein Phosphatase Inhibitor (–)-Motuporin by Hu & Panek 2.5 Total Synthesis of (–)-Callystatin A by Langille & Panek 2.6 Total Synthesis of Brevisamide by Lee & Panek 3 Titanium Alkoxide-Mediated Reductive Coupling in Natural Product Synthesis 3.1 Titanium Alkoxide-Mediated Alkyne–Alkyne Reductive Coupling 3.2 Total Synthesis of Callystatin A by Reichard & Micalizio 3.3 Total Synthesis of (–)-Virginiamycin M2 by Wu & Panek 3.4 Total Synthesis of Nuclear Factor of Activated T-Cells-68 (NFAT-68) by Cai & Panek 3.5 Titanium Alkoxide-Based Regioselective Alkyne–Alkyne Reductive Coupling Mediated by in situ Generated Arylamidate 4 Summary [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Density functional theory calculations have been performed for the structural, electronic, magnetic, and ferroelectric properties of a mixed-valence Fe(ii)–Fe(iii) formate framework [NH2(CH3)2][FeiiiFeii(HCOO)6]. Recent experiments report a spontaneous electric polarization, and our calculations are in agreement with the reported experimental value. Furthermore, we shed light onto the microscopic mechanism leading to the observed value, as well as on how to possibly enhance the polarization. The interplay between charge ordering, dipolar ordering of DMA+ cations, and the induced structural distortions suggest new interesting directions to explore in these complex multifunctional hybrid perovskites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generating FeIV=O on single‐atom catalysts by Fenton‐like reaction has been established for water treatment; however, the FeIV=O generation pathway and oxidation behavior remain obscure. Employing an Fe−N−C catalyst with a typical Fe−N4 moiety to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS), we demonstrate that generating FeIV=O is mediated by an Fe−N−C−PMS* complex—a well‐recognized nonradical species for induction of electron‐transfer oxidation—and we determined that adjacent Fe sites with a specific Fe1−Fe1 distance are required. After the Fe atoms with an Fe1‐Fe1 distance <4 Å are PMS‐saturated, Fe−N−C−PMS* formed on Fe sites with an Fe1‐Fe1 distance of 4–5 Å can coordinate with the adjacent FeII−N4, forming an inter‐complex with enhanced charge transfer to produce FeIV=O. FeIV=O enables the Fenton‐like system to efficiently oxidize various pollutants in a substrate‐specific, pH‐tolerant, and sustainable manner, where its prominent contribution manifests for pollutants with higher one‐electron oxidation potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generating FeIV=O on single‐atom catalysts by Fenton‐like reaction has been established for water treatment; however, the FeIV=O generation pathway and oxidation behavior remain obscure. Employing an Fe−N−C catalyst with a typical Fe−N4 moiety to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS), we demonstrate that generating FeIV=O is mediated by an Fe−N−C−PMS* complex—a well‐recognized nonradical species for induction of electron‐transfer oxidation—and we determined that adjacent Fe sites with a specific Fe1−Fe1 distance are required. After the Fe atoms with an Fe1‐Fe1 distance <4 Å are PMS‐saturated, Fe−N−C−PMS* formed on Fe sites with an Fe1‐Fe1 distance of 4–5 Å can coordinate with the adjacent FeII−N4, forming an inter‐complex with enhanced charge transfer to produce FeIV=O. FeIV=O enables the Fenton‐like system to efficiently oxidize various pollutants in a substrate‐specific, pH‐tolerant, and sustainable manner, where its prominent contribution manifests for pollutants with higher one‐electron oxidation potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plasmonic response of a nano C-aperture is analyzed using the Vector Field Topology (VFT) visualization technique. The electrical currents that are induced on the metal surfaces when the C-aperture is excited by light is calculated for various wavelengths. The topology of this two-dimensional current density vector is analyzed using VFT. The plasmonic resonance condition is found to coincide with a distinct shift in the topology which leads to increased current circulation. A physical explanation of the phenomenon is discussed. Numerical results are presented to justify the claims. The analyses suggest that VFT can be a powerful tool for studying the physical mechanics of nano-photonic structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose reduced Collatz conjecture that is equivalent to Collatz conjecture, which states that every positive integer can return to an integer less than it, instead of 1. Reduced Collatz conjecture is easier to explore because certain structures must be presented in reduced dynamics, rather than in original dynamics (as original dynamics is a mixture of original dynamics). Reduced dynamics is a computation sequence from starting integer to the first integer less than it, in terms of "I" that represents (3×+1)/2 and "O" that represents x/2. We formally prove that all positive integers are partitioned into two halves and either present "I" or "O" in next ongoing computation. More specifically, (1) if any positive integer x that is i module 2t (i is an odd integer) is given, then the first t computations (each one is either "I" or "O" corresponding to whether current integer is odd or even) will be identical with that of i. (2) If current integer after t computations (in terms of "I" or "O") is less than x, then reduced dynamics of x is available. Otherwise, the residue class of x (namely i module 2t) can be partitioned into two halves (namely i module $2^{t+1}$ 2 t + 1 and $i+2^t$ i + 2 t module $2^{t+1}$ 2 t + 1 ), and either half presents "I" or "O" in the intermediately forthcoming (t + 1)-th computation. This discovery will be helpful to the final proof of Collatz conjecture—if the union of residue classes who present reduced dynamics that become larger with the growth of residue module, equals all positive integers asymptotically, then reduced Collatz conjecture (or equivalently, Collatz conjecture) will be true. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrasensitive detection of biomarkers is of paramount importance in various fields. Superior to the conventional ensemble measurement-based assays, single-entity assays, especially single-entity detection-based digital assays, not only can reach ultrahigh sensitivity, but also possess the potential to examine the heterogeneities among the individual target molecules within a population. In this review, we summarized the current biomolecular analysis methods that based on optical counting and imaging of the micro/nano-sized single entities that act as the individual reactors (e.g., micro-/nanoparticles, microemulsions, and microwells). We categorize the corresponding techniques as analog and digital single-entity assays and provide detailed information such as the design principles, the analytical performance, and their implementation in biomarker analysis in this work. We have also set critical comments on each technique from these aspects. At last, we reflect on the advantages and limitations of the optical single-entity counting and imaging methods for biomolecular assay and highlight future opportunities in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the difference in K -theory, an example by Dugger and Shipley implies that the equivalence of stable categories of Gorenstein projective modules should not be a Quillen equivalence. We give a sufficient and necessary condition for the Frobenius pair of faithful functors between two abelian categories to be a Quillen equivalence, which is also equivalent to that the Frobenius functors induce mutually inverse equivalences between stable categories of Gorenstein projective objects. We show that the category of Gorenstein projective objects is a Waldhausen category, then Gorenstein K -groups are introduced and characterized. As applications, we show that stable equivalences of Morita type preserve Gorenstein K -groups, CM-finiteness and CM-freeness. Two specific examples of path algebras are presented to illustrate the results, for which the Gorenstein K 0 and K 1 -groups are calculated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic phase change materials (PCMs) are inexpensive, safe, and do not segregate. However, they exhibit a low thermal conductivity. Several papers have reported the synthesis of organic–inorganic hybrid PCMs by adding inorganic fillers to increase the thermal conductivity. However, large amounts of fillers are needed to support the shape for the encapsulation of PCMs. Herein, we propose a facile synthesis strategy that yields composite PCMs with enhanced thermal performance. Initially, 1,3:2,4-dibenzylidene sorbitol (DBS) organogel was added as an organic filler to poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) PCMs for maintaining the form and prevent leakage. Subsequently, a small amount of an inorganic filler, graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), was added to these organic PCMs. Consequently, the thermal conductivity and shape stabilization of the PEG/GNPs/DBS PCMs were significantly improved. These prepared composite PCMs, with excellent shape stabilization, appropriate latent heat, and ideal thermal conductivity, are potential as fillers in solar-thermal systems and energy-efficient buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the pragmatic strategies that advanced L2 learners of Chinese produced in greeting responses (GRs). Data were collected through roleplays and retrospective verbal reports (RVRs) from 11 advanced learners of Chinese who were studying in China. To obtain comparison data, 20 Chinese students were recruited to complete the same roleplays. The GRs were coded into openings, head acts and closings, and classified into ten strategies: phatic phrases, address terms, corresponding answers, reciprocal compliments, disagreeing, seeking confirmation, thanking, reciprocity questions, introducing another topic and reasons. The findings revealed that compared with Chinese native speakers (NSs), advanced learners produced non-target-like GRs, although their GRs were acceptable based on two NSs' evaluation. The RVR data indicated that the learners' non-target-like GRs might result from their idiosyncratic perceptions of Chinese greetings, pragmatic knowledge deficits, effects of instruction and learner agency. Implications for future research and teaching Chinese pragmatics are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autophagy plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Dysregulation of autophagy may have a huge effect on cardiac hypertrophy induced by overload pressure although reports on autophagy and cardiac hypertrophy have been contradictory. Some studies showed that autophagy activation attenuated cardiac hypertrophy. However, others suggested that inhibition of autophagy would be protective. Different research models or different pathways involved could be responsible for it. Cardiac hypertrophy may be alleviated through regulation of autophagy. This review aims to highlight the pathways and therapeutic targets identified in the prevention and treatment of cardiac hypertrophy by regulating autophagy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Salinization is major abiotic stress limiting cotton production. Melatonin (MT) has been implicated in salt stress tolerance in multiple crops including upland cotton. Here, we explored the transcriptomic and metabolomic response of a salt-tolerant self-bred high-yielding cotton line SDS-01, which was exogenously sprayed with four MT concentrations (50, 100, 200, and 500 μM). Results: Here we found that MT improves plant biomass and growth under salt stress. The combined transcriptome sequencing and metabolome profiling approach revealed that photosynthetic efficiency is improved by increasing the expressions of chlorophyll metabolism and antenna proteins in MT-treated seedlings. Additionally, linoleic acid and flavonoid biosynthesis were improved after MT treatment. The Na+/K+ homeostasis-related genes were increasingly expressed in salt-stressed seedlings treated with MT as compared to the ones experiencing only salt stress. Melatonin treatment activated a cascade of plant-hormone signal transduction and reactive oxygen scavenging genes to alleviate the detrimental effects of salt stress. The global metabolome profile revealed an increased accumulation of flavonoids, organic acids, amino acids and derivatives, saccharides, and phenolic acids in MT-treated seedlings. Interestingly, N, N′-Diferuloylputrescine a known antioxidative compound was highly accumulated after MT treatment. Conclusion: Collectively, our study concludes that MT is a salt stress regulator in upland cotton and alleviates salt-stress effects by modulating the expressions of photosynthesis (and related pathways), flavonoid, ROS scavenging, hormone signaling, linoleic acid metabolism, and ion homeostasis-related genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We prove that any faithful Frobenius functor between abelian categories preserves the Gorenstein projective dimension of objects. Consequently, it preserves and reflects Gorenstein projective objects. We give conditions on when a Frobenius functor preserves the stable categories of Gorenstein projective objects, the singularity categories and the Gorenstein defect categories, respectively. In the appendix, we give a direct proof of the following known result: for an abelian category with enough projectives and injectives, its global Gorenstein projective dimension coincides with its global Gorenstein injective dimension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores how Chinese and Japanese participants perceived different variables in making, accepting and refusing requests and how they evaluated certain requests between peers on social media. The study comprised two parts: 50 students for each language completed a questionnaire survey, and another four students took part in focus groups. The quantitative results from the questionnaires show both similarities and differences between the perceptions of the Chinese and Japanese participants. The qualitative analyses of the focus groups indicate that both the (in)directness of the request head act and the types and numbers of mitigation influenced the participants' evaluations of requests on social media. Implications for (in)directness and (im)politeness, as well as the triangulation of different methods, are also discussed. • This study explores Chinese and Japanese speakers' perception and evaluation. • Perceptions of making, accepting and refusing requests are investigated. • How Chinese and Japanese evaluate requests between peers on social media are examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the pragmatic strategies that advanced L2 learners of Chinese produced in greeting responses (GRs). Data were collected through roleplays and retrospective verbal reports (RVRs) from 11 advanced learners of Chinese who were studying in China. To obtain comparison data, 20 Chinese students were recruited to complete the same roleplays. The GRs were coded into openings, head acts and closings, and classified into ten strategies: phatic phrases, address terms, corresponding answers, reciprocal compliments, disagreeing, seeking confirmation, thanking, reciprocity questions, introducing another topic and reasons. The findings revealed that compared with Chinese native speakers (NSs), advanced learners produced non-target-like GRs, although their GRs were acceptable based on two NSs' evaluation. The RVR data indicated that the learners' non-target-like GRs might result from their idiosyncratic perceptions of Chinese greetings, pragmatic knowledge deficits, effects of instruction and learner agency. Implications for future research and teaching Chinese pragmatics are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate valve flow rate prediction is essential for the flow control process of independent metering (IM) hydraulic valve. Traditional estimation methods are difficult to meet the high-precision requirements under the restricted space of the valve. Thus data-based flow rate prediction method for IM valve has been proposed in this study. We took the four-spool IM valve as the research object, and carried out the IM valve experiments to generate labeled data. Picking up the post-valve pressure and valve opening as input, we developed and compared eight different data-based estimation models, including machine learning and deep learning. The results indicated that the SVR and DNN with three hidden layers performed better than others on the whole dataset in the trade-off of overfitting and precision. And MAPE of these two models was close to 4%. This study provides further guidelines on high-precision flow rate prediction of hydraulic valves, and has definite application value for development of digital and intelligent hydraulic systems in construction machinery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]