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In recent years, the utility of polygenic risk scores (PRS) in forecasting disease susceptibility from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) results has been widely recognised. Yet, these models face limitations due to overfitting and the potential overestimation of effect sizes in correlated variants. To surmount these obstacles, we devised the Stacked Neural Network Polygenic Risk Score (SNPRS). This novel approach synthesises outputs from multiple neural network models, each calibrated using genetic variants chosen based on diverse p-value thresholds. By doing so, SNPRS captures a broader array of genetic variants, enabling a more nuanced interpretation of the combined effects of these variants. We assessed the efficacy of SNPRS using the UK Biobank data, focusing on the genetic risks associated with breast and prostate cancers, as well as quantitative traits like height and BMI. We also extended our analysis to the Korea Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) dataset. Impressively, our results indicate that SNPRS surpasses traditional PRS models and an isolated deep neural network in terms of accuracy, highlighting its promise in refining the efficacy and relevance of PRS in genetic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tomato variety 'Provence' was used as the material, and the artificial light supplement test was carried out in the double-arch steel frame solar greenhouse, and T1 (2R3B, the ratio of red/blue light beads R:B=2:3), T2 (4R1B), T3 (6R1B), T4 (7R1B) four groups of red and blue light treatments were set up, and no artificial light was used as the control (CK) to explore the optimal red and blue light ratio for greenhouse tomato growth and photosynthetic response. The results showed that after 35 days of T1 treatment, the plant height, SPAD, transpiration rate (Tr) and photochemical quenching coefficient (qP) of tomato were significantly increased by 26.7%, 19.6%, 107.6% and 34.3%, respectively, compared with the control group. After 35 days of T3 treatment, the stem diameter, flower number, net photosynthetic rate (Pn), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), stomatal conductance (Gs), actual photochemical efficiency (ΦPSII) and electron transport rate (ETR) of tomato were significantly increased by 26.9%, 38.6%, 133.7%, 5.9%, 183.3%, 31.3% and 30.9%, respectively, compared with the control group. After 35 days of T4 treatment, the maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) was significantly increased by 4.0% compared with the control group. Compared with the control group, the growth and photosynthesis of tomato could be significantly promoted under different red and blue light supplement treatments. Among the four red and blue combination light treatments of 2R3B, 4R1B, 6R1B and 7R1B in this experiment, the comprehensive effect of each index under 6R1B treatment was the best, which could provide some theoretical guidance for LED light supplement in greenhouse tomato cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The glymphatic system plays an important role in the transportation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the clearance of metabolite waste in brain. However, current imaging modalities for studying the glymphatic system are limited. Herein, we apply NIR-II nanoprobes with non-invasive and high-contrast advantages to comprehensively explore the function of glymphatic system in mice under anesthesia and cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury conditions. Our results show that the supplement drug dexmedetomidine (Dex) enhances CSF influx in the brain, decreases its outflow to mandibular lymph nodes, and leads to significant differences in CSF accumulation pattern in the spine compared to isoflurane (ISO) alone, while both ISO and Dex do not affect the clearance of tracer-filled CSF into blood circulation. Notably, we confirm the compromised glymphatic function after cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury, leading to impaired glymphatic influx and reduced glymphatic efflux. This technique has great potential to elucidate the underlying mechanisms between the glymphatic system and central nervous system diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let g be a complex simple Lie algebra and Z (g) be the center of the universal enveloping algebra U (g). Denote by V λ the finite-dimensional irreducible g -module with highest weight λ. Lehrer and Zhang defined the notion of strongly multiplicity free representations for simple Lie algebras motivated by studying the structure of the endomorphism algebra End U (g) (V λ ⊗ r) in terms of the quotients of the Kohno's infinitesimal braid algebra. Kostant introduced the g -invariant endomorphism algebras R λ (g) = (End V λ ⊗ U (g)) g and R λ , π (g) = (End V λ ⊗ π (U (g))) g. In this paper, we give some other criteria for a multiplicity free representation to be strongly multiplicity free by classifying the pairs (g , V λ) , which are multiplicity free and for such pairs, R λ (g) and R λ , π (g) are generated by generalizations of the quadratic Casimir elements of Z (g). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acidic electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) for direct formic acid (HCOOH) production holds promise in meeting the carbon‐neutral target, yet its performance is hindered by the competing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Understanding the adsorption strength of the key intermediates in acidic electrolyte is indispensable to favor CO2RR over HER. In this work, high‐density Sn single atom catalysts (SACs) were prepared and used as catalyst, to reveal the pH‐dependent adsorption strength and coverage of *CO2− intermediatethat enables enhanced acidic CO2RR towards direct HCOOH production. At pH=3, Sn SACs could deliver a high Faradaic efficiency (90.8 %) of HCOOH formation and a corresponding partial current density up to −178.5 mA cm−2. The detailed in situ attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR‐FTIR) spectroscopic studies reveal that a favorable alkaline microenvironment for CO2RR to HCOOH is formed near the surface of Sn SACs, even in the acidic electrolyte. More importantly, the pH‐dependent adsorption strength of *CO2− intermediate is unravelled over the Sn SACs, which in turn affects the competition between HER and CO2RR in acidic electrolyte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acidic electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) for direct formic acid (HCOOH) production holds promise in meeting the carbon‐neutral target, yet its performance is hindered by the competing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Understanding the adsorption strength of the key intermediates in acidic electrolyte is indispensable to favor CO2RR over HER. In this work, high‐density Sn single atom catalysts (SACs) were prepared and used as catalyst, to reveal the pH‐dependent adsorption strength and coverage of *CO2− intermediatethat enables enhanced acidic CO2RR towards direct HCOOH production. At pH=3, Sn SACs could deliver a high Faradaic efficiency (90.8 %) of HCOOH formation and a corresponding partial current density up to −178.5 mA cm−2. The detailed in situ attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR‐FTIR) spectroscopic studies reveal that a favorable alkaline microenvironment for CO2RR to HCOOH is formed near the surface of Sn SACs, even in the acidic electrolyte. More importantly, the pH‐dependent adsorption strength of *CO2− intermediate is unravelled over the Sn SACs, which in turn affects the competition between HER and CO2RR in acidic electrolyte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the exponential stability of nonlinear discrete‐time systems with time‐varying state delay and delayed impulses, where the delays in impulses are not fixed. Specifically, the study is separated into two cases: (1) stability of delayed discrete‐time systems with destabilizing delayed impulses, where the time delays in impulses can be flexible and even larger than the length of the impulsive interval; (2) stability of delayed discrete‐time systems with mixed delayed impulses (means stabilizing and destabilizing delayed impulses exist simultaneously), where the time delays in impulses are unfixed between two adjacent impulsive instants. First, the concept of average impulsive delay (AID) is extended to discrete‐time systems with delayed impulses. Then, some Lyapunov‐based exponential stability criteria are provided for delayed discrete‐time systems with delayed impulses, where the impulses satisfy the average impulsive interval (AII) condition and the delays in impulses satisfy the AID condition. For the delayed discrete‐time systems with mixed delayed impulses, the exponential stability criterion is provided by limiting the geometric average of the impulses' strengths. The obtained results can be used to study the delayed discrete‐time systems with some large impulses which may even be unbounded. It's also shown that the delays in impulses can have a stabilizing effect on the stability of delayed discrete‐time systems. Some numerical examples are also provided to illustrate the effectiveness and advantage of the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A yellowish‐green emitting phosphor Ba3YAl2O7.5:Eu2+ was synthesized by a solid‐state method. The crystal structure, luminescence, concentration quenching, fluorescence decay, and thermal quenching properties were systematically investigated. Under blue light (440 nm) excitation, Ba3YAl2O7.5:Eu2+ phosphors exhibit a yellowish‐green emission peaking at 550 nm with a full width at half maximum ∼ 69 nm, and The Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates of Ba3YAl2O7.5:Eu2+ are (0.4064, 0.5811). Structural analysis and Van Uitert equation along with fluorescence lifetime analysis reveal that Eu2+ ions occupy 6‐coordinated Y and 9‐coordinated Ba sites in Ba3YAl2O7.5, and therefore generate two emission sub‐bands at 582 and 548 nm. In addition, Ba3YAl2O7.5:Eu2+ phosphor remaining 43% photoluminescence emission intensity at 125°C with an activation energy of 0.372 eV. Utilizing the title phosphor (Ba3YAl2O7.5:3%Eu2+), commercial red (Ca,Sr)AlSiN3:Eu2+ (CSAlSi:Eu2+) phosphor, and InGaN‐based blue light emitting diode (LED) chip, a proof‐of‐concept warm white LEDs (WLEDs) with a color rendering index of 80.1, CIE chromaticity coordinates of (0.411, 0.381), luminous efficacy of ∼ 22.13 lm/W, and correlated color temperature of ∼ 3288 K is achieved. Thus, Eu2+ activated Ba3YAl2O7.5 phosphors have the potential application in WLEDs pumped by a blue LED chip for solid‐state lighting application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel Ni–SiO2 composite deposition layer was created in the inner wall of the pipe adopting a new type of brush plating device, and the properties of the deposition layer were characterized; experimental results show that the nanocomposite deposition layer significantly improves the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of the inner wall of the pipe. Firstly, under the conditions of nanoparticle addition (40 mL/L, 60 mL/L, 80 mL/L), working voltage (12 V, 14 V, 16 V) and pH (5, 7, 9), the hardness value and surface morphology of deposited layer were investigated through orthogonal experiments, and the optimal process variables were preliminarily determined. Orthogonal experiment results show that when the addition of nanoparticles is 80 mL/L, the voltage is 14 V, and the pH value is 7, the Ni–SiO2 nanocomposite deposition layer has high microhardness (618.6 HV) and good microscopic morphology. According to the analysis of the results of the orthogonal experiment, the addition amounts of nanoparticles is the main influencing factor, so the control variable method is utilized to investigate the effect of the addition amounts of nanoparticles on the properties of the deposited layer. The results show that when the amounts of nanoparticles added is 80 mL/L, the surface of deposited layer is smoother, denser and less defective. Moreover, the deposited layer has excellent mechanical property and corrosion resistance. In a solution of 3.5% sodium chloride, −0.78 V is the corrosion potential, 1.93 × 10−5 A·cm−2 is the corrosion current density, and 0.22 mm·a−1 is the corrosion rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multi-scale model is established to describe the relationship between the macroscopic damage evolution and microscopic cracks behaviors of concrete at elevated temperatures. The evolution equation of the ideal microscopic crack system of concrete at elevated temperatures is deduced for construct the model, which can predict the microscopic crack density and macroscopic damage of concrete at elevated temperatures. The multi-scale model fuses some advantages of the traditional microscopic and macroscopic damage models. Finally, multi-scale damage of a concrete block under high temperature is predicted and compared with the corresponding experimental results, which is utilized to support the ability of the developed model. The results show that the developed multi-scale model can be used to evaluate fire damage of concrete structures in macro-scale as well as explain its physical mechanisms in micro-scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Facial infiltrating lipomatosis (FIL) is a rare condition characterized by congenital facial enlargement. Beyond its impact on physical appearance, FIL can also impair essential facial functions such as swallowing, chewing, vision, and breathing, imposing a substantial physiological and psychological burden. Currently, fewer than 80 cases of FIL have been reported, and the characteristics and management strategies for FIL remain unclear. Methods: We reviewed the clinical, surgical, and radiological records of 39 FIL patients who were treated at our center. Of these, genetic testing was performed for 21 patients. Results: Aberrant overgrowth involves subcutaneous fat, bones, muscles, glands, tongue, lips, and teeth. Epidermal nevi could be observed in the dermatomes innervated by the three branches of the trigeminal nerve, with the highest frequency seen in the dermatome of the mandibular branch. Four patients exhibited concurrent hemimegalencephaly (HMEG), with one case presenting HMEG on the opposite side of the FIL. Nineteen patients were confirmed to harbor the PIK3CA mutation. Thirty-three patients underwent surgical procedures, with a post resection recurrence rate of approximately 25%. Conclusions: A variety of maxillofacial structures may be involved in FIL. PIK3CA mutations are important pathogenic factors. Emerging targeted therapies could present an additional treatment avenue in the future. However, surgery currently remains the predominant treatment choice for FIL. The timing and modality of surgery should be individually customized, taking into account each patient's unique circumstances. Notably, there is a significant possibility of postoperative recurrence during childhood and adolescence, necessitating early strategic planning of disease management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ammonia (NH3) is an essential chemical for agricultural production and a promising next‐generation hydrogen‐rich fuel. The electrocatalytic nitrate (NO3−) reduction reaction (NO3RR) to NH3 provides a sustainable and low‐energy method to replace industrial NH3 synthesis. However, the NO3− to NH3 conversion is limited by the complex eight‐electron and nine‐proton reduction processes, thus it is highly desirable to develop efficient electrocatalytic materials to overcome the kinetic barrier of NO3RR. Herein, Au nanocrystals (Au‐NCs) modified holey PtTeAu metallene (PtTeAu‐ML) heteronanostructures (Au‐NCs/PtTeAu‐MLs) are designed through phase and interface engineering, which achieve the high NH3 yield (3.499 mg h−1 mgcat−1) and Faradaic efficiency of 96.3% for NO3RR at −0.03 V versus RHE. Detailed investigations reveal that the introduction of Te atoms significantly inhibits the high activity of Pt atoms for hydrogen evolution reaction that competes with NO3RR. Density functional theory results demonstrate that Au atoms further modulate the electronic structure of Pt in PtTe‐MLs, resulting in the upward shifted d band center of Pt and in turn the optimized NO3RR process on PtTeAu‐MLs. Furthermore, Au‐NCs allows the sustainable sunlight energy to accelerate the NO3RR kinetics at PtTeAu‐MLs because of the localized surface plasmon resonance of Au, inducing a higher NH3 yield of 4.684 mg h−1 mgcat−1 under light irradiation condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxidation behavior of SUS430 ferritic stainless steel is studied during isothermal oxidation at 1100 °C for 2 h under a mixture of 10, 30, and 50% water vapor and air, and oxidation kinetics curves are drawn. The surface morphology and phase composition of oxide scale are analyzed using X‐Ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope, and energy dispersive spectrometer. The oxidation kinetic curves under three different humidities are S‐shaped and include three stages: induction period, acceleration period, and deceleration period. The controlling steps under 10% water vapor and air are nucleation and growth, while under 30% and 50% water vapor and air are both phase boundary control reactions. The induction period becomes shorter and the breakaway oxidation occurs earlier with increasing water vapor content. The structure of oxide scale produced is layered, with the outer layer being iron oxide and the inner layer being mainly the Fe–Cr spinel phase. The volatilization of Cr and the growth stress of the Cr2O3 layer cause the formation of nodules, and a large number of cracks are generated in oxide scale. The cracks provide diffusion paths, accelerating the diffusion of Fe ions and electrons, as well as the erosion of the substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) is a durable and versatile construction material that enables the engineering of slender fabricated beams. Nonetheless, existing design methodologies exhibit certain discrepancies in predicting the ultimate shear capacity of UHPC beams. This study aimed to develop an improved predictive shear model based on design and mechanical properties. Eleven prestressed rectangular UHPC beams were subjected to shear tests, systematically investigating essential design parameters such as shear-span-to-depth ratio, stirrups ratio, longitudinal reinforcement ratio, prestressing force, and prestressing type. The results demonstrated that UHPC beams exhibit strain-hardening behavior after cracking, accompanied by the formation of dense diagonal cracks. Localized cracking eventually led to shear failure. The shear behavior was primarily influenced by the shear-span-to-depth ratio, showing an inverse relationship with shear strength. Increasing the longitudinal reinforcement ratio, stirrups ratio, and prestressing force marginally improved shear capacity. Furthermore, a limit equilibrium state-based method was proposed to develop a practical prediction formula that incorporates steel fibers and matrix interaction. The proposed method demonstrated superior accuracy compared to existing design models, displaying an average difference of 1.1% and a correlation coefficient of 0.96 with experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a case of congenital hemangioma (CH) in the breast, accompanied by breast hypoplasia in a 12-year-old girl. CH is a rare cutaneous vascular tumor that develops in utero, and its relationship to breast development is uncertain. The authors suggest surgical intervention for CH in the breast before puberty to promote normal breast development. They emphasize the importance of accurate preoperative identification of CH subtypes and careful surgical dissection to avoid damage to the breast bud. The article calls for more reports on long-term postoperative breast development to evaluate the benefits of early surgical excision. [Extracted from the article]

The southern Junggar Basin, Xinjiang, has abundant coalbed methane (CBM) resources. Currently, the Baiyang River development pilot test area (BYR block for short) in the Fukang east block has achieved large-scale CBM development, but the productivity characteristics and its controlling factor are still unclear. Based on the field production data of the BYR block and experimental tests, this paper summarizes the gas and water production characteristics and presents the analysis results of the geological and geochemical responses to the productivity of CBM wells. The productivity of CBM wells in the BYR block was generally characterized as medium-to-low yield. The productivity was jointly controlled by the burial depth, structure condition, thickness and number of co-production coal seams, and hydrogeological conditions. The gas production first increased and then decreased with the increase in the burial depth of the coal seam, and a burial depth between 750 and 1000 m was the most beneficial to increasing the gas production due to the good gas preservation conditions and suitable permeability and stress conditions. The total thickness of the co-production coal seams had a positive effect on the productivity of gas wells, but the productivity was also affected by the number of co-production coal seams and interlayer interference. In the BYR block, the co-production of the nos. 41 and 42 coal seams was the most favorable combination form for CBM drainage. The productivity of CBM wells had a good response to the Na+, K+ and HCO3− concentrations but a poor response to δD-H2O and δ18O-H2O. Based on the concentrations of the main ions and TDSs of the coal seam water, a productivity response index δ* was established, and there was a good positive correlation between the productivity and δ*. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the effects of global climate change and altered human land-use patterns, typical shrub encroachment in grasslands has become one of the most prominent ecological problems in grassland ecosystems. Shrub coverage can quantitatively indicate the degree of shrub encroachment in grasslands; therefore, real-time and accurate monitoring of shrub coverage in large areas has important scientific significance for the protection and restoration of grassland ecosystems. As shrub-encroached grasslands (SEGs) are a type of grassland with continuous and alternating growth of shrubs and grasses, estimating shrub coverage is different from estimating vegetation coverage. It is not only necessary to consider the differences in the characteristics of vegetation and non-vegetation variables but also the differences in characteristics of shrubs and herbs, which can be a challenging estimation. There is a scientific need to estimate shrub coverage in SEGs to improve our understanding of the process of shrub encroachment in grasslands. This article discusses the spectral differences between herbs and shrubs and further points out the possibility of distinguishing between herbs and shrubs. We use Sentinel-2 and Gao Fen-6 (GF-6) Wide Field of View (WFV) as data sources to build a linear spectral mixture model and a random forest (RF) model via space–air–ground collaboration and investigate the effectiveness of different data sources, features and methods in estimating shrub coverage in SEGs, which provide promising ways to monitor the dynamics of SEGs. The results showed that (1) the linear spectral mixture model can hardly distinguish between shrubs and herbs from medium-resolution images in the SEG. (2) The RF model showed high estimation accuracy for shrub coverage in the SEG; the estimation accuracy (R2) of the Sentinel-2 image was 0.81, and the root-mean-square error (RMSE) was 0.03. The R2 of the GF6-WFV image was 0.72, and the RMSE was 0.03. (3) Texture feature introduced in RF models are helpful to estimate shrub coverage in SEGs. (4) Regardless of the linear spectral mixture model or the RF model being employed, the Sentinel-2 image presented a better estimation than the GF6-WFV image; thus, this data has great potential to monitor shrub encroachment in grasslands. This research aims to provide a scientific basis and reference for remote sensing-based monitoring of SEGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultra‐high performance concrete (UHPC) prefabricated beams are competitive in accelerated bridge construction. However, their broader application has been hindered by limited large‐scale tests and inaccurate design methods. To fill this gap, the authors conducted an experimental investigation on the shear and flexural performance of UHPC pi‐beams using two full‐scale specimens. One specimen was a precast UHPC beam, while the other was a composite beam with a normal concrete slab on the UHPC beam. The primary focus was on crack propagation, ultimate capacities, and failure modes. To complement the experimental findings, the extended finite element method (XFEM) was developed as a numerical approach. Nevertheless, relying solely on XFEM to understand real structural behavior is prone to misinterpretations. Moreover, the shear and flexural capacities were evaluated using existing codes and compared with the experimental results. The comparisons revealed that the predictions of shear capacities were at least 15% lower than the experimental values, whereas the flexural capacities showed acceptable agreement. To address this, the authors introduced the limit equilibrium method, leading to a more accurate prediction of shear capacity for UHPC beams with a deviation of <2%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Skeletal muscle satellite cells can be induced to differentiate into various cells under different conditions. The manipulation of adipogenesis during the stage critical for intramuscular adipocyte formation is expected to enhance marbling. However, oleic acid is a crucial player in regulating lipid metabolism and the formation of intramuscular marbling. In this study, the effects of different oleic acid concentrations on adipogenesis-induced differentiation of skeletal muscle satellite cells in vitro were selected. The results showed that oleic acid treatment could induce lipid droplet formation in the Yanbian bovine satellite cells. The expression of genes related to adipogenesis and fatty acid metabolism was upregulated, whereas that of genes related to muscle formation was downregulated. Oleic acid can induce Yanbian bovine star cells and promote cell lipid transdifferentiation. Skeletal muscle satellite cells have the ability to differentiate into various cells under different conditions. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different concentrations of oleic acid (50, 100, and 200 µmol/L) on the process of lipogenic transdifferentiation in Yanbian bovine satellite cells, as well as its molecular regulatory mechanism. After inducing differentiation with oleic acid for 96 h, it was observed that the addition of oleic acid resulted in the formation of lipid droplets in the bovine satellite cells, and the triglyceride content showed a dose-dependent relationship with the concentration of OA. qPCR results demonstrated a significant downregulation of myogenesis-related factors (Pax3 and MyoD) and upregulation of lipogenesis-related factors (C/EBP-β and PPARγ) (p < 0.05). Fatty acid metabolism-related factors, SCD and PLIN2, were also significantly upregulated (p < 0.05). These finding were consistent with the results obtained from Western blotting. Transcriptome sequencing analysis identified 278 differentially expressed genes between the control group and the groups treated with OA. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that differentially expressed genes were mainly concentrated in the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase signaling pathway and fatty acid metabolic pathway. Our study presents that the OA induction of Yanbian bovine skeletal muscle satellite cells can promote cellular lipid transdifferentiation and reveals the potential genes and pathways related to OA induction of these satellite cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surgical resection is an effective treatment for colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, whereas occult metastases hinder the curative effect. Currently, there is no effective method to achieve intraoperatively diagnosis of tumor-positive lymph nodes (LNs). Herein, we adopt a near-infrared-II (NIR-II) organic donor-pi-acceptor-pi-donor probe FE-2PEG, which exhibits bright fluorescence over 1100 nm, excellent photostability, blood circulation time, and biocompatibility, to achieve high-performance bioimaging with improved temporal and spatial resolution. Importantly, the FE-2PEG shows efficient passive enrichment in orthotopic CRC, metastatic mesenteric LNs, and peritoneal metastases by enhanced permeability and retention effect. Under NIR-II fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS), the peritoneal micrometastases were resected with a sensitivity of 94.51%, specificity of 86.59%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 96.57%, and negative predictive value of 79.78%. The PPV still achieves 96.07% even for micrometastases less than 3 mm. Pathological staining and NIR-II microscopy imaging proved that FE-2PEG could successfully delineate the boundary between the tumor and normal tissues. Dual-color NIR-II imaging strategy with FE-2PEG (1100 ~ 1300 nm) and PbS@CdS quantum dots (> 1500 nm) successfully protects both blood supply and normal tissues during surgery. The NIR-II-based FGS provides a promising prospect for precise intraoperative diagnosis and minimally invasive surgery of CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lightweight-foamed soils are promising new geomaterials that can be used when the lateral earth pressure and settlement need to be reduced. Lightweight-foamed soil typically consists of dredged soils, cement, and air foam. Extra additives could be used to enhance the performance of lightweight-foamed soils, and waste fishing nets are materials that can be used for tensile reinforcement of geomaterials. In this study, a waste fishing net was used in lightweight-foamed soil, and several laboratory tests were conducted to optimize the composition of lightweight-foamed soils in terms of water content, cement ratio, air foam ratio, and net type. A dredged soil in-situ was sampled to use and a waste fishing net was retreated for laboratory experiments. The waste fishing net cut into pieces and some were unthreaded. A form generator was used to produce air foam. The comprehensive evaluation of lightweight-foamed soil reinforced with waste fishing net was performed in terms of the sample preparation time, rheology, unit weight, and strength associated with lightweight-foamed soils. The results showed that lightweight-foamed soils reinforced with waste fishing net provided a peak strength similar with unreinforced one, but having higher critical strength. Finally, the normalized factor (NF) was used to develop a design guideline for lightweight-foamed soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report an unusual case of facial infiltrating lipomatosis with hemimegalencephaly and lymphatic malformations. In addition to the clinical data and imaging findings, detection of a heterozygous PIK3CA nonhotspot known pathogenic variant C420R in a facial epidermal nevus provided novel insight into the pathogenic effect of somatic PIK3CA mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anther culture (AC) is a valuable technique in rice breeding. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying anther culturability remain elusive, which has hindered its widespread adoption in rice breeding programs. During AC, microspores carrying favorable alleles for AC are selectively regenerated, leading to segregation distortion (SD) of chromosomal regions linked to these alleles in the doubled haploid (DH) population. Using the AC method, a DH population was generated from the japonica hybrid rice Shenyou 26. A genetic map consisting of 470 SNPs was constructed using this DH population, and SD analysis was performed at both the single- and two-locus levels to dissect the genetic basis underlying anther culturability. Five segregation distortion loci (SDLs) potentially linked to anther culturability were identified. Among these, SDL5 exhibited an overrepresentation of alleles from the female parent, while SDL1.1, SDL1.2, SDL2, and SDL7 displayed an overrepresentation of alleles from the male parent. Furthermore, six pairs of epistatic interactions (EPIs) that influenced two-locus SDs in the DH population were discovered. A cluster of genetic loci, associated with EPI-1, EPI-3, EPI-4, and EPI-5, overlapped with SDL1.1, indicating that the SDL1.1 locus may play a role in regulating anther culturability via both additive and epistatic mechanisms. These findings provide valuable insights into the genetic control of anther culturability in rice and lay the foundation for future research focused on identifying the causal genes associated with anther culturability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The FMCW (Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave) laser interferometer can achieve high-precision displacement measurement by calculating the phase of the interference signal. Due to the need for continuous superposition of signal phases, the optical path and power supply cannot be interrupted during the measurement process. To solve this problem, this article proposes a new absolute ranging method—the decimal comparison method. Two distributed feedback lasers with different central wavelengths are used to measure the same target. The digital signal processing technology is used to solve the sampled interference signals, and the initial phase value corresponding to the decimal of interference is taken. Combined with the central wavelength of the two laser sources, the length variation of the F–P cavity corresponding to the number of interference periods is calculated. Finally, the optical path difference of the target is calculated by the established mathematical model. The experimental results show that this method can realize the absolute measurement of laser interferometry and can expand the application range of FMCW interferometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additive manufacturing of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) has been widely used in many fields. However, issues such as inconsistent fiber orientation distribution and void formation during the layer stacking process have hindered the further optimization of the composite material's performance. This study aimed to address these challenges by conducting a comprehensive investigation into the influence of carbon fiber content and printing parameters on the micro-morphology, thermal properties, and mechanical properties of PA6-CF composites. Additionally, a heat treatment process was proposed to enhance the interlayer bonding and tensile properties of the printed composites in the printing direction. The experimental results demonstrate that the PA6-CF25 composite achieved the highest tensile strength of 163 MPa under optimal heat treatment conditions: 120 °C for 7.5 h. This corresponds to a significant tensile strength enhancement of 406% compared to the unreinforced composites, which represents the highest reported improvement in the current field of CFRP-fused deposition 3D printing. Additionally, we have innovatively developed a single-layer monofilament CF-OD model to quantitatively analyze the influence of fiber orientation distribution on the properties of the composite material. Under specific heat treatment conditions, the sample exhibits an average orientation angle μ of 0.43 and an orientation angle variance of 8.02. The peak frequency of fiber orientation closely aligns with 0°, which corresponds to the printing direction. Finally, the study explored the lightweight applications of the composite material, showcasing the impressive specific energy absorption (SEA) value of 17,800 J/kg when implementing 3D-printed PA6-CF composites as fillers in automobile crash boxes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We know of five cases of cervical nerve root variants that have been reported, all of which were found during posterior cervical surgery. We reported two cases of cervical nerve root variants. One had two anomalous branches of the C7 root, is the other had a C5, C6 nerve root communication branch. A 62-year-old female presented with neck and right upper extremity pain, accompanied by hypaesthesia in her right forearm for 4 months. Preoperative X-ray film, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated C6-7 uncovertebral joint hyperplasia and foraminal stenosis. She underwent posterior cervical endoscopic foraminoplasty. The right C7 nerve root was observed to have two anomalous branches originated from a proximal trunk. After the surgery, the symptoms resolved. A 54-year-old female presented with radiating pain and numbness in her right arm and hand for 4 months. Preoperative MRI showed a C5/6 intervertebral disc herniation. She had hypaesthesia in radial side of her right arm and 1st–3rd fingers. Posterior cervical endoscopic foraminalplasty was performed for the patient. After decompression of the bony wall of the posterior nerve root canal, a 2-mm thick communicating nerve was observed emerging from the dura with the C6 nerve root and exiting to the caudal level. After the surgery, the symptoms resolved immediately. Cervical nerve root variant may be more apparent on edoscopic approaches to the cervical foraminae than at open surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the directional excitation of acoustic graphene plasmons (AGPs) are numerically studied using finite element methods. In our proposed hybrid graphene-metal structure under oblique incidences, not only are AGPs excited efficiently, but also they are unidirectional propagating along a graphene monolayer. Although the symmetry AGPs dispersion relations are broken by oblique incidence, both left- and right-moved AGPs are excited simultaneously at a resonant wavelength due to almost equaled wavenumbers of directional propagated AGPs. Based on the fact that great AGPs excitation efficiency can't guarantee high EM energy propagating in one direction, we will focus on how the directional propagating net energy are affected by geometrical parameters. Due to the tunable graphene conductivity, AGPs propagation with great unidirectional net energy can be dynamically controlled by a relatively low externally applied bias voltage (electrostatic gating). The prototype structure may find applications in ultra-confined plasmon launchers and switchers in integrated optics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Facial infiltrating lipomatosis (FIL) is a rare congenital disorder characterized by unilateral facial swelling, for which surgery is the prevailing therapeutic option. Several studies have shown that the development of FIL is closely associated with PIK3CA mutations. This study aimed to further identify rare clinical features and underlying molecular variants in patients with FIL. Results: Eighteen patients were included in this study, and all patients presented with infiltrating adipose tissues confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. Macrodactyly, polydactyly, hemimegalencephaly and hemihyperplasia were also observed in patients with FIL. In total, eight different PIK3CA mutations were detected in tissues obtained from sixteen patients, including the missense mutations p.His1047Arg (n = 4), p.Cys420Arg (n = 2), p.Glu453Lys (n = 2), p.Glu542Lys (n = 2), p.Glu418Lys (n = 1), p.Glu545Lys (n = 1), and p.His1047Tyr (n = 1) and the deletion mutation p.Glu110del (n = 3). Furthermore, the GNAQ mutation p.Arg183Gln was detected in the epidermal nevus tissue of one patient. Imaging revealed that several patients carrying hotspot mutations had more severe adipose infiltration and skeletal deformities. Conclusions: The abundant clinical presentations and genetic profiles of FIL make it difficult to treat. PIK3CA mutations drive the pathogenesis of FIL, and PIK3CA hotspot mutations may lead to more extensive infiltration of lipomatosis. Understanding the molecular variant profile of FIL will facilitate the application of novel PI3K-targeted inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The understanding of oxide scale reduction mechanisms after microstructure transformation under different preheating conditions is incomplete. Herein, the reduction kinetics and microstructure transformations of hot rolled steel strip oxide scale during reduction (30% H2–N2) annealing are studied in detail using thermogravimetric and microstructure analyses, and mathematical modeling based on the gas–solid reaction. The results show that the rate‐determining steps of the reduction reaction are nucleation and growth of new phase between 500 and 600 °C, and gas–solid interface reactions between 700 and 800 °C. Microstructure transformation of the oxide scale occurs during the preheating process: at 500 °C, the eutectoid iron preferentially dissolves, and short‐range diffusion of Fe ions into adjacent Fe3O4 increases their content in the metal oxide; at 600 °C, nucleation and growth of Fe1 − yO occur, and some Fe3O4 precipitates and white α‐Fe are found in the Fe1 − yO layer, whereas the majority of the Fe3O4/iron eutectoid structure is retained; between 700 and 800 °C, the oxide scale forms outer and inner layers of Fe3O4 and Fe1 − yO, respectively. After preheating and reduction, the reduced products are porous iron over 500–600 °C, while porous and dense iron occur at 700 °C; dense iron forms as whiskers or granules between 700 and 800 °C. The surface quality of hot rolled steel strip after reduction annealing is subsequently improved as surface cracks are infilled by the newly formed dense iron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, such as Funneliformis mosseae, are essential components of the soil microbiome that can facilitate plant growth and enhance abiotic and biotic stress resistances. However, the mechanisms via which F. mosseae inoculation influences Capsicum annuum L. plant growth and fruit yield remain unclear. Here, we conducted pot experiments to investigate bacterial and fungal community structures in the rhizosphere of C. annuum plants inoculated with F. mosseae based on 16S ribosomal RNA and internal transcribed spacer gene sequencing. The α‐diversity of bacteria increased significantly following F. mosseae inoculation (p < 0.01); however, there was no significant difference in fungal diversity indices between treatments. The relative abundances of major bacterial phyla, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Gemmatimonadetes, together with the fungal phylum Ascomycota, were all higher in inoculated samples than in uninoculated controls. F. mosseae inoculation led to a remarkable enrichment of potentially beneficial genera (e.g., Streptomyces, Sphingomonas, Lysobacter, and Trichoderma), in stark contrast to the depletion of fungal pathogens (e.g., Botryotrichum, Acremonium, Fusarium, and Plectosphaerella). Rhizosphere pathways related to amino acid metabolism and antibiotic biosynthesis were upregulated by F. mosseae inoculation, whereas pathways involved in infectious diseases were downregulated. Thus, F. mosseae inoculation appears to reshape the rhizosphere microbiome, thereby augmenting C. annuum plant growth and fruit yield. Core Ideas: Funneliformis mosseae can enhance Capsicum annuum L. plant growth and fruit yield.F. mosseae can lead to the enrichment of beneficial rhizosphere microbiota.F. mosseae inoculation contributes to the depletion of fungal pathogens.F. mosseae can mediate the beneficial functions of rhizosphere microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robust and reliable multi-modal image matching is an essential and challenging technique in the multi-modality involved scenarios for image fusion, image mosaic, and visual navigation. Existing image matching methods cannot simultaneously solve the scale and rotation distortion caused by different viewpoints and the nonlinear radiation distortion caused by different imaging environments or mechanisms. To address these problems, a multiscale structural feature transform method is proposed for multi-modal image matching, which consists of three blocks: multiscale structural feature detector, symmetric log-polar descriptor, and point matching with position correction. The multiscale structural feature detector constructs the phase congruency map based Difference of Gaussian image pyramid for the scale-invariant feature points detection to tackle the nonlinear radiation distortion. The feature points are detected within 10-neighborhood instead of 26-neighborhood to produce sufficient points on the phase congruency map with very sparse texture. The symmetric log-polar descriptor utilizes the multiscale structure principal direction and symmetric bins to improve the robustness of the descriptor to rotation and nonlinear radiation distortion. At last, the point matching with position correction corrects the position of feature points to compensate the position offset between different images caused by the scale and rotation distortion and the nonlinear radiation distortion, which increases the number of correct matches and improves the transformation consistency between matched points. In the experiment, the proposed method in this paper is compared with seven state-of-the-art methods. Experimental results verify the superiority of the proposed method and its robustness to the scale and rotation distortion and the nonlinear radiation distortion. In addition, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed three blocks by the ablation experiments. • A multiscale structural feature transform is proposed for multi-modal image matching. • The multiscale structural feature detector extracts repeatable and salient points. • The symmetric log-polar descriptor achieves rotation-invariance and robustness. • The offsets of feature points are corrected to produce more correct match pairs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intramolecular Heck reaction is a well-established strategy for natural product total synthesis. When constructing large rings, this reaction is also referred to as Heck macrocyclization, which has proved a viable avenue to access diverse naturally occurring macrocycles. Less noticed but likewise valuable, it has created novel macrocycles of non-natural origin that neither serve as nor derive from natural products. This review presents a systematic account of the title reaction in forging this non-natural subset of large rings, thereby addressing a topic rarely covered in the literature. Walking through two complementary sections, namely (1) drug discovery research and (2) synthetic methodology development, it demonstrates that beyond the well-known domain of natural product synthesis, Heck macrocyclization also plays a remarkable role in forming synthetic macrocycles, in particular macrocyclic drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coordination chemistry is a powerful method to synthesize supramolecular cages with distinct features that suit specific applications. This work demonstrates the synthesis of discrete, homochiral FeII2L3 cages via chirality‐driven self‐assembly. Specifically, the installation of chirality – at both the vertices and ligand backbones – allows the formation of discrete, homochiral FeII2L3 cages of different sizes via stereochemical control of the iron(II) centers. We observed that larger cages require multiple chiral centra (chiral ligands and vertices). In contrast, the formation of smaller cages is stereoselective with solely chiral ligands. The latter cages can also be formed from two chiral subcomponents, but only when they have matching chirality. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction of these smaller FeII2L3 cages revealed several non‐covalent interactions as a driving force for narcissistic chiral self‐sorting. This expected behavior was confirmed utilizing the shorter ligands in racemic form, yielding discrete, homochiral FeII2L3 cages formed in enantiomeric pairs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An operationally simple aqueous phase three‐component photochemical strategy for the alkylation of quinoxalin‐2(1H)‐ones with diethyl α‐bromomalonate and unactivated alkenes in the absence of both photoredox catalysts and additive has been developed. This reaction is driven by the photochemical activity of electron donor‐acceptor (EDA) complexes formed by quinoxalin‐2(1H)‐ones and diethyl α‐bromomalonate. Irradiation with visible light triggered single‐electron transfer (SET) from the quinoxalin‐2(1H)‐ones to the diethyl α‐bromomalonate, inducing the formation of the corresponding alkyl radical and the subsequent radical tandem reaction. It provides an efficient way to construct alkylated quinoxalinones from simple small molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A floating breakwater can significantly reduce the wave invasion of marine structures and provide a safe construction environment and service environment for wave attenuation protection for marine structures. With the development and utilization of marine resources, the application of floating breakwaters in engineering is becoming more and more important; research on integrated systems of a floating breakwater and wave-energy converter (WEC) is also valuable. However, existing research has not yet systematically improved the influencing factors of wave attenuation performance of floating breakwaters and the summary of the wave attenuation mechanism; there are few summaries about the integration of floating breakwaters and wave-energy converters. Therefore, the research progress on the wave attenuation performance and wave-energy integration of floating breakwaters is reviewed and summarized. Firstly, according to the structural shape, floating breakwaters are divided into three types: box type, floating cylinder type, and other types. Secondly, the wave attenuation performance of three types of breakwaters and the research progress of floating breakwater-WEC integrated devices are discussed and reviewed. Finally, the problems to be solved in the study of various breakwaters and the key directions for future research are summarized. This review is helpful to deepen the cognition and understanding of wave attenuation performance of floating breakwater and floating breakwater-WEC integration devices, which can provide reference for the optimization research and engineering application of floating breakwaters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By using a graphics processing unit-accelerated parallel algorithm on a compute unified device architecture platform, we perform large-scale molecular dynamics simulations in a Lennard-Jones system to observe the entire crystallization process, including metastable stage, critical nuclei formation, and the stage of crystal growth. Although the intermediated precursors that play a role in determining the polymorphs are predominantly bcc ordered, the polymorph selection is rather different at different stages. The precursors that have a relatively high orientational order will be on average in a denser region than uniform liquids, but microscopically the crystal nucleation happens without a density change. The average density of nuclei first increases significantly, and then almost keeps independent on the crystallite size after the growing post-critical nucleus becomes large enough. With such a large enough system, the crystal growth rate is able to be calculated directly by doing a linear fit to the temporal evolution of growing crystallite size. The obtained value of the growth rate indicates that the actual crystal growth in the Lennard-Jones system where the crystal–liquid interface has several kinds of structures is possibly driven by both collision-controlled and diffusion-controlled mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) to chemical fuels such as formate offers a promising pathway to carbon‐neutral future, but its practical application is largely inhibited by the lack of effective activation of CO2 molecules and pH‐universal feasibility. Here, we report an electronic structure manipulation strategy to electron‐rich Bi nanosheets, where electrons transfer from Cu donor to Bi acceptor in bimetallic Cu−Bi, enabling CO2RR towards formate with concurrent high activity, selectivity and stability in pH‐universal (acidic, neutral and alkaline) electrolytes. Combined in situ Raman spectra and computational calculations unravel that electron‐rich Bi promotes CO2⋅− formation to activate CO2 molecules, and enhance the adsorption strength of *OCHO intermediate with an up‐shifted p‐band center, thus leading to its superior activity and selectivity of formate. Further integration of the robust electron‐rich Bi nanosheets into III–V‐based photovoltaic solar cell results in an unassisted artificial leaf with a high solar‐to‐formate (STF) efficiency of 13.7 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) to chemical fuels such as formate offers a promising pathway to carbon‐neutral future, but its practical application is largely inhibited by the lack of effective activation of CO2 molecules and pH‐universal feasibility. Here, we report an electronic structure manipulation strategy to electron‐rich Bi nanosheets, where electrons transfer from Cu donor to Bi acceptor in bimetallic Cu−Bi, enabling CO2RR towards formate with concurrent high activity, selectivity and stability in pH‐universal (acidic, neutral and alkaline) electrolytes. Combined in situ Raman spectra and computational calculations unravel that electron‐rich Bi promotes CO2⋅− formation to activate CO2 molecules, and enhance the adsorption strength of *OCHO intermediate with an up‐shifted p‐band center, thus leading to its superior activity and selectivity of formate. Further integration of the robust electron‐rich Bi nanosheets into III–V‐based photovoltaic solar cell results in an unassisted artificial leaf with a high solar‐to‐formate (STF) efficiency of 13.7 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phase lag and its first, second, third, fourth, and fifth derivatives are all accounted for in a phase-fitting method. The new system uses the fewest possible function evaluations per integration step (FEvs) to achieve the highest possible algebraic order (AOR) and is hence P-stable. PF5DPFN2SPS is the symbol for the new method. The proposed method can be used for many different problems with periodic and/or oscillating solutions. We used the unique approach to the well-known problem in quantum chemistry posed by Schrödinger-type coupled differential equations. The new method is part of the economic algorithms since it uses 5 FEvs at each stage to achieve a 12 AOR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the best graphene raw materials for the preparation of graphene-aluminum matrix composites by high-energy ball milling. The graphene-aluminum matrix composites were prepared by high-energy ball milling and vacuum hot pressing sintering, and the mechanical properties of the composites were tested. The enhancement effect of reduced graphene oxide (R-GNPs), multilayer graphene (M-GNPs), and graphene oxide (GO) was analyzed by SEM, TEM, XRD, XPS, and FT-IR spectroscopy. The results show that the enhancement effect of graphene oxide is more significant, the tensile strength can reach 329.256 MPa, and the hardness is 136.3 ± 5 HV. GO forms a sandwich-type composite structure in the 2024 aluminum alloy matrix under the action of high-energy ball milling, and the formed composite structure avoids the agglomeration of graphene during the composite process. During the sintering process, GO undergoes thermal reduction to form reduced graphene oxide, which improves the mechanical properties of the composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ongoing challenge is to find an effective and precise fire detection method for safety concerns of utility tunnels to predict the fire danger zone and take measures for firefighting and intervention promptly. A data-driven danger zone estimation method was established based on Bayesian inference. The probability distribution of the fire danger zone can be obtained by this method. In particular, the governing equation is a simplified physical model, in which only crucial parameters of the fire states are referred to, including the fire source location, the maximum temperature, and the attenuation coefficient. This task shows superiority because it can avoid additional workload to provide the forward database for Bayesian inference. A prototype experiment was conducted in the largest utility tunnel experimental platform in China to verify the validity of the proposed method. Results demonstrated that the fire danger zone could be estimated with high accuracy merely based on several sensor data, which are not limited to specific scenes. The temperature distribution of the whole tunnel could also be predicted according to the fire parameters. Moreover, analysis of the measurement noise and disturbance conditions shows the robustness of the proposed method. Low costs, low consumption, and universality make it have broad engineering application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inorganic lead halide perovskite is one of the most excellent fluorescent materials, and it plays an essential role in high-definition display and visible light communication (VLC). Its photochromic properties and stability determine the final performance of light-emitting devices. However, efficiently synthesizing perovskite with high quality and stability remains a significant challenge. Here, we develop a facile and environmentally friendly method for preparing high-stability and strong-emission CsPbBr3/Cs4PbBr6 composites using ultrasonication and liquid paraffin. Tuning the contents of liquid paraffin, bright-emission CsPbBr3/Cs4PbBr6 composite powders with a maximum PLQY of 74% were achieved. Thanks to the protection of the Cs4PbBr6 matrix and liquid paraffin, the photostability, thermostability, and polar solvent stability of CsPbBr3/Cs4PbBr6-LP are significantly improved compared to CsPbBr3 quantum dots and CsPbBr3/Cs4PbBr6 composites that were prepared without liquid paraffin. Moreover, the fabricated CsPbBr3/Cs4PbBr6-LP-based WLEDs show excellent luminescent performance with a power efficiency of 129.5 lm/W and a wide color gamut, with 121% of the NTSC and 94% of the Rec. 2020, demonstrating a promising candidate for displays. In addition, the CsPbBr3/Cs4PbBr6-LP-based WLEDs were also demonstrated in a VLC system. The results suggested the great potential of these high-performance WLEDs as an excitation light source to achieve VLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: A photocatalyst‐ and metal‐free radical tandem alkylation/cyclization between 1,6‐dienes and redox‐active esters has been developed, affording a series of N‐aryl pyrrolidine‐2‐ones in moderate to good yields. The transformation is driven by the formation of an electron‐donor‐acceptor (EDA) complex and a subsequent single electron transfer (SET) process. This photocatalyst‐free protocol features excellent regioselectivity, mild conditions and broad substrate scope, providing a facile access to 3‐alkyl‐3,4‐dimethyl‐1‐phenylpyrrolidin‐2‐one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the association between mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) and semen quality. Design: A cross‐sectional study. Setting: Hubei Province Human Sperm Bank of China (from April 2017 to July 2018). Population: A total of 1164 healthy male sperm donors with 5739 specimens. Main outcome measures: Real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) was used to measure sperm mtDNAcn. We also determined semen volume, concentration and motility parameters (progressive motility, nonprogressive motility and immotility). Methods: Mixed‐effect models and general linear models were uses. Results: After adjusting for relevant confounding factors, mixed‐effect models revealed diminished sperm motility (progressive and total), concentration, and total count across the quartiles of mtDNAcn (all P < 0.05). Compared with men in the lowest quartile, men in the highest quartile of mtDNAcn had lower progressive sperm motility, total motility, concentration and total count of −8.9% (95% CI −12.7% to −5.0%), −8.0% (95% CI −11.6% to −4.4%), −42.8% (95% CI −47.7% to −37.4%), and − 44.3% (95% CI −50.1% to −37.7%), respectively. These inverse dose–response relationships were further confirmed in the cubic spline models, where mtDNAcn was modelled as a continuous variable. Conclusions: We found that mtDNAcn was inversely associated with semen quality in a dose‐dependent manner. Our results provide novel clues that sperm mtDNAcn may serve as a useful predictor of human semen characteristics. Sperm mitochondrial DNA copy number was markedly associated with diminished sperm motility (progressive and total), concentration and total count. Sperm mitochondrial DNA copy number was markedly associated with diminished sperm motility (progressive and total), concentration and total count. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid growth of Internet of Things (IoT) and Internet of Vehicles (IoV) are rapidly moving to the 6G networks, which leads to dramatically raised security issues. Using machine learning, including deep learning, to find out malicious network traffic is one of practical ways. Though much work has been done in this direction, we found little investigating the effect of using fused network conversation datasets to train and test models. Thus, this work proposes to check conversation dataset characteristics and find suitable ones to fuse into one dataset in order to improve the capability of malicious traffic and malware detection performance. The experiments using real data show that conditioned combination of datasets can be used to enhance algorithm performance and improve detection results. For this reason, it is recommended to profile datasets and conduct conditional fusion of network conversation datasets before using machine learning or deep learning. As the characterization is done using general statistical calculation, it is promising to be used for other domains too. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is one of the most common retinal vascular diseases leading to vision loss if not diagnosed and treated in time. RVO can be classified into two types: CRVO (blockage of the main retinal veins) and BRVO (blockage of one of the smaller branch veins). Automated diagnosis of RVO can improve clinical workflow and optimize treatment strategies. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are few reported methods for automated identification of different RVO types. In this study, we propose a new hypermixed convolutional neural network (CNN) model, namely, the VGG-CAM network, that can classify the two types of RVOs based on retinal fundus images and detect lesion areas using an unsupervised learning method. The image data used in this study is collected and labeled by three senior ophthalmologists in Shanxi Eye Hospital, China. The proposed network is validated to accurately classify RVO diseases and detect lesions. It can potentially assist in further investigating the association between RVO and brain vascular diseases and evaluating the optimal treatments for RVO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flow resistance is a critical calculation parameter in hydraulic engineering. In this study, the roughness coefficient of a circular drainage pipe with sedimentation was investigated under open-channel flow conditions using experimental measurements and numerical calculations. The ratio of the height of the sediment placed in the pipe to the diameter was defined as the sedimentation degree. The Manning roughness coefficient (n) was determined for pipes with different sedimentation degrees. Moreover, numerical simulations were performed for circular pipes with diameters of 0.152 m and a slope of 0.003, with discharges varying between 1 and 8 L/s. The results of the numerical calculations were validated in terms of the water surface and Manning's n using the corresponding experimental data. Accordingly, an equation in the form of the Moody formula was proposed to estimate the roughness coefficient. Subsequently, the predicted Manning roughness coefficient obtained through the proposed equation was compared with independent experimental results. The results indicate that the equation accurately predicts Manning's n in a pipe with sedimentation, which can provide a theoretical basis for the design of drainage pipelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chang'an Chong Cu-Mo deposit is located in the Chang'an Cu-Mo-Au ore cluster in the southern Ailaoshan tectonic belt in southwestern China. There are six intrusive bodies in the mining area, among which the No.Ⅱ intrusive body is the largest and most closely related to Cu-Mo mineralization of skarn. The No. 1 main orebody is composed of the No. 1 copper orebody and No. 1 molybdenum orebody, which are distributed in parallel with similar shapes. In this paper, the age of skarn is determined by the LA-SF-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of garnet, and it is nearly consistent with the age of alkaline porphyry in this region (41–32 Ma). Compared with the U-Pb age of zircon from the ore-bearing porphyry and the Re-Os age of molybdenite, the U-Pb age of garnet was consistent with them within error, indicating that they were the same mineralization event, which further proves that the porphyry-skarn Cu-Mo-Au mineralization event along the Ailaoshan-Red River fault zone mainly occurred at 38~32 Ma. In-situ S isotope results show that the δ34S mean values of disseminated pyrite (PyI), pyrite of sulfide veins (PyⅡ) and chalcopyrite (Ccp) in the main mineralization period are 2.35‰, 3.60‰ and 0.55‰, respectively. These δ34S values are similar to those of magma and slightly enriched in δ34S, and the δ34S value of chalcopyrite is mainly concentrated near 0‰, so it can be considered that the S of the ore-forming fluid came from magmatic-hydrothermal fluids. Based on the comprehensive analysis of the regional metallogenic background, deposit chronology and isotope geochemistry, it is concluded that the Chang'an Chong Cu-Mo deposit was formed in an intra-plate post-collision strike-slip environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrostatically assembled ultrathin rhodium nanosheet–gold nanowire nanocomposites (Rh–Au CNSs) were used as an advanced electrocatalyst for the methanol oxidation reaction, which revealed a mass activity of 355 mA mgRh−1 at 0.607 V potential, much higher than single metal Rh nanosheets (273 mA mgRh−1) and commercial Rh nanoparticles (165 mA mgRh−1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]