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Annealing Mg-implanted homoepitaxial GaN at temperatures above 1400 °C eliminates the formation of inversion domains and leads to improved dopant activation efficiency. Extended defects, in the form of inversion domains, contain electrically inactive Mg after post-implantation annealing at temperatures as high as 1300 °C (one GPa N2 overpressure), which results in a low dopant activation efficiency. Triple-axis x-ray data reveal that implant-induced strain is fully relieved after annealing at 1300 °C for 10 min, indicating that strain-inducing point defects formed during implantation have reconfigured and inversion domains are formed. However, annealing at temperatures of 1400–1500 °C (one GPa N2 overpressure) eliminates the presence of the inversion domains. While residual defects, such as dislocation loops, still exist after annealing at and above 1400 °C, chemical analysis at multiple dislocation loops shows no sign of Mg segregation. Meanwhile, an overall decreasing trend in the dislocation loop density is observed after annealing at the higher temperatures and longer times. Additionally, once inversion domains are formed and the samples are cooled to room temperature, they are shown to dissolve with subsequent annealing above 1400 °C. While such defects have been observed before, the important finding that such defects can be dissolved with a short, higher temperature step is key. Earlier work [Breckenridge et al., J. Appl. Phys. Lett. 118, 022101 (2021)] addressing electrical measurements of these types of samples showed that annealing at 1400 °C leads to a dopant activation efficiency that is an order of magnitude higher than that observed at 1300 °C. This work complements earlier work by identifying the inversion domains, which incorporate Mg, and points to the benefits, in terms of defect density and p-type dopant activation, of using higher temperature (>1400 °C) annealing cycles to activate Mg in GaN, even if the Mg-containing inversion domains had been formed during lower temperature annealing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. This study investigates the molecular mechanisms affecting brooding in Zhedong white geese by examining differences in reproductive endocrine levels, ovarian histology and transcriptomics.2. Twenty 18-month-old Zhedong white geese were selected to examine their ovaries using histological, biochemical, molecular biological, and high-throughput sequencing techniques during the laying and brooding periods.3. The results showed that the number of atretic follicles and apoptotic cells in the ovaries increased significantly (p < 0.05), the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone, gonadotropin-releasing hormone and oestradiol decreased significantly (p < 0.05), and the level of prolactin increased significantly (p < 0.01) during the brooding stage.4. In broody geese, the expression of CASP3, CASP9, P53, BAX, and Cyt-c were considerably higher (p < 0.05), but BCL2 expression was significantly lower (p < 0.05).5. In ovarian tissues, 260 differentially expressed lncRNAs, 13 differentially expressed miRNA and 60 differentially expressed mRNA were all discovered using transcriptome sequencing analysis. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that the differentially expressed mRNA and non-coding RNA target genes were primarily involved in ECM-receptor interaction, cell adhesion, cardiac muscle contraction, mTOR signalling, and the calcium signalling pathway.6. In conclusion, follicular atrophy and apoptosis occurred in the ovaries and serum reproductive hormone levels were significantly changed during the brooding period of Zhedong white geese. COL3A1, COL1A2, GRIA1, RNF152, miR-192, and miR-194 may be important candidates for the regulation of brooding behaviour, with the mTOR signalling pathway playing a key role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is a preliminary examination of officials' suicides in the high Qing. While existing research has amply described specific aspects of suicide in the Qing law, especially among women commemorated in the "chastity cult," this piece presents a more systematic view of suicide's legal definitions and common tropes in suicide cases. It also considers how the economic and cultural backdrop of the high Qing shaped elite men's suicides. How did officials' lives lead them to seek death by their own hands, how did their circumstances contrast to the suicidality of non-elite men and women, and how did their bureaucratic peers, superiors, and sovereigns regard their deaths? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the effects of high-altitude living low-altitude training on the athletic performance and metabolic indexes of adolescent boxers by using a hypobaric cabin to simulate hypoxia in high-altitude environments. Male adolescent boxers (n = 16; control: n = 8, living and training at low altitude [LOLO]; experimental: n = 8, living at high altitude and training at low altitude [HILO]). The study period was 5 weeks (35 days) for both groups: baseline, week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4, and week 5 (post-training) representing the time point prior to, the first week, second week, third week, fourth week, and the week after training. Participants in the experimental group, slept in a high-altitude environment (2000m) simulated using an altitude-training hypobaric cabin. Blood indexes (erythrocyte count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, blood urea, creatine kinase), functional indexes (longitudinal jump, grip strength, eyes-closed one-foot standing, selective reaction time, 30-second sit-ups, 30-second push-ups, 30-second squats), and endurance indexes (lactate threshold, power) were assessed. In the HILO group, with respect to baseline, erythrocyte count, hemoglobin level, and hematocrit level increased (week 1); hemoglobin level remained high (week 2), decreased (week 3), and increased (week 4). Blood urea concentration increased to 6.11 ± 0.59 mmol/L in week 2 (P < 0.05); creatine kinase concentration increased to 310.75 ± 112. 21 U/L in week 3 (P < 0.01). Upper and lower limb strength increased in week 5, while the number of squats performed in 30 seconds (lower limb strength) decreased 6.87% in week 4 (P < 0.05), and the grip strength (upper limb strength) decreased 11.35% in week 4 (P < 0.05). The lactate threshold of the experimental group increased. Adolescent boxers who lived in high-altitude conditions and trained in low-altitude conditions for 4 weeks exhibited improved blood oxygen transport capacity, upper limb strength, and speed endurance, which indicate that exercise ability improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Companies face complex decisions when considering investing in green technology innovation versus traditional products. Key factors include financial constraints, risk of failure, and retailer demand uncertainty and risk aversion for new green products. This study constructs three financing models to analyse green tech manufacturer financing strategies and how the likelihood of success and risk tolerance impacts stakeholder behaviours and profits. Results demonstrate interdependencies between financing model chosen, investment willingness, order volumes, and participant earnings based on the success probability and risk appetite towards unproven green innovations. The models provide nuanced insights into investor and retailer uncertainties surrounding green technology, highlighting how perceived chances of success alongside risk preferences influence funding availability, production scales, and profit outcomes. By quantifying these relationships, the study aims to guide manufacturer decisions and promote suitable financing structures to support wider adoption of sustainability-focused technological innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper constructs a data-driven demand purchasing confidence rule-based model based on the theory of evidential reasoning to address the problem of purchasing decision bias in which the decision maker anchors the prior demand. First, we apply a synthetic algorithm to reason about the confidence structure distribution of the purchasing decision and then iteratively optimize the purchasing quantity according to the confidence structure distribution to minimize the cost loss function. Finally, we choose the average cost loss and service level value as the evaluation indexes to explore the purchasing confidence rule model. The simulation shows that compared with the expected purchasing decision based on the stochastic cumulative distribution function, the decision based on the confidence structure distribution can reduce the purchasing decision bias, manifested in the lower mean cost loss and a higher mean value of service level. Sensitivity analyses of the number of rules, product shelf life, and critical values show that the purchasing confidence rule base is highly adaptable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a horizontal-type surface acoustic wave device based on electrode width control interdigital transducer/polymethylmethacrylate/54° Y --X LiNbO3 is proposed to achieve the removal of non-specific binding particles by Rayleigh waves and the detection of meningococcus by Love waves. It is proved that the surface acoustic wave force plays a leading role in the removal of non-specific binding, and the frequency of the acoustic wave also affects the removal effect. The advantage of electrode width control interdigital transducer lies not only in overcoming the shortcomings of bidirectional and focused interdigital transducers, but also in improving the utilization of acoustic waves and the sensitivity of the sensor. When non-specific binding particles are removed by Rayleigh waves, the Love wave sensor shows a sensitivity of 330 Hz/(ng/l'L) and a detection limit of 50 pg/µL for meningococcus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead in any food is harmful even at low concentrations. In this study, a direct and highly sensitive lead analysis technique was developed for wheat flour using laser-induced fluorescence combined with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. Wheat flour was pressed into small pellets and ablated by a low-energy ultraviolet 266-nm laser. A tunable dye laser constructed in our laboratory was used to resonantly excite the lead. The optimized interpulse time delay was 400 ns. A calibration curve was constructed and the detection limit for lead was 73.8 ppb. This method could be used to directly and sensitively analyze wheat flour for trace concentrations of lead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An out‐branching Bu+ ${B}_{u}^{+}$ (in‐branching Bu− ${B}_{u}^{-}$) in a digraph D $D$ is a connected spanning subdigraph of D $D$ in which every vertex except the vertex u $u$, called the root, has in‐degree (out‐degree) one. It is well known that there exists a polynomial algorithm for deciding whether a given digraph has k $k$ arc‐disjoint out‐branchings with prescribed roots (k $k$ is part of the input). In sharp contrast to this, it is already NP‐complete to decide if a digraph has one out‐branching which is arc‐disjoint from some in‐branching. A digraph is semicomplete if it has no pair of nonadjacent vertices. A tournament is a semicomplete digraph without directed cycles of length 2. In this paper we give a complete classification of semicomplete digraphs that have an out‐branching Bu+ ${B}_{u}^{+}$ which is arc‐disjoint from some in‐branching Bv− ${B}_{v}^{-}$ where u,v $u,v$ are prescribed vertices of D $D$. Our characterization, which is surprisingly simple, generalizes a complicated characterization for tournaments from 1991 by the first author and our proof implies the existence of a polynomial algorithm for checking whether a given semicomplete digraph has such a pair of branchings for prescribed vertices u,v $u,v$ and construct a solution if one exists. This confirms a conjecture of Bang‐Jensen for the case of semicomplete digraphs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to deeply investigate the dielectric and ferroelectric photovoltaic properties of BiFeO3 (BFO) thin films, the Pt/BFO/La 0. 5 Sr 0. 5 CoO3 (LSCO) heterostructure ferroelectric capacitor grown on (001) SrTiO3 (STO) substrate is successfully fabricated by off-axis magnetron sputtering. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Phi scanning results show that the STO-based BFO and LSCO films are both (001) epitaxial structure. Although the BFO ferroelectric film exhibits an obvious dielectric dispersion phenomenon, a remarkable ferroelectric photovoltaic performance is obtained with open circuit voltage ( V OC ) of 0.38 V and short-circuit current ( J SC ) of 0.23 mA/cm2, respectively. With increasing test temperatures, V OC decreases slowly and then rapidly, while J SC increases rapidly and then decreases. At a critical temperature of 80∘C, the BFO ferroelectric film exhibits a faster photovoltaic response, in which the values of V OC and J SC are about 0.19 V and 0.28 mA/cm2, respectively. Moreover, the energy band analysis indicates that a large work function difference (∼ 1 eV) between LSCO and Pt leads to a strong built-in electric field in the BFO film, which is beneficial to separate the photo-generated carriers and improve ferroelectric photovoltaic effect. In all, this study not only shows that BFO is an excellent and environmentally friendly photovoltaic candidate material, but also provides a practical strategy for improving the performance of BFO ferroelectric photovoltaic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about parents’ perceptions of school counselling in Hong Kong. We adopted an explanatory sequential mixed methods design to investigate Chinese and non-Chinese parents’ perceptions. In phase one, 287 parents in Hong Kong were surveyed. Results suggested that Chinese parents had a poorer understanding of counsellors’ roles, more negative perceptions of counselling, and were less likely to perceive counselling as beneficial than did non-Chinese parents. In phase two, we interviewed 27 parents. Our findings suggested that cultural stigma and school-related factors accounted for the findings of the phase one study. Schools may consider proactive engagement with parents, and establishing communication which is sensitive to cultural norms to promote a better understanding of and willingness to participate in counselling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop the martingale theory in the framework of Lorentz amalgam spaces. Atomic decompositions for the martingale Hardy Lorentz amalgam spaces are established. As applications of atomic decompositions, the dual spaces of the martingale Hardy Lorentz amalgam spaces are characterized. Furthermore, when the stochastic basis is regular, the boundedness of the fractional integrals on martingale Hardy Lorentz amalgam spaces is proved. The results obtained here generalized the corresponding known results in martingale Hardy amalgam spaces and various classical martingale Hardy spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the converter dry-type dust removal system, controlling the outlet temperature directly impacts the efficiency of flue gas treatment. To ensure high-precision control of the outlet temperature, this study utilized improved Arithmetic Optimization Algorithm for Optimizing Stochastic Configuration Networks. This resulted in the establishment of the outlet temperature prediction model, LAOA-SCN, for the converter dry-type dust removal evaporative cooler. To assess the predictive performance of model, a comparative analysis was conducted with algorithms such as Back Propagation (BP), Radial Basis Function (RBF), and Twin Support Vector Regression (TSVR). Finally, the model was applied to practical production verification, confirming its high prediction accuracy. This underscores its potential to provide theoretical guidance for the control of outlet temperature in converter dry-type dust removal evaporative coolers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tendency for low-speed solar wind to show greater spatiotemporal variability and different compositional properties from high-speed wind has led to the prevailing idea of a bimodal solar wind, in which fast wind comes from coronal holes and slow wind comes from coronal streamers. We present observational evidence that most of the slow wind originates from small coronal holes or from just inside the boundaries of large holes, with the rest leaking out from coronal streamers and confined to the immediate vicinity of the heliospheric current and plasma sheets. Although this conclusion was suggested earlier by extrapolations of photospheric field maps, additional support comes from (1) observations of slow wind at Earth following the central-meridian passage of small equatorial holes; (2) observations of slow wind with high Alfvénicity at 1 au by Wind, and more recently near the Sun by Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter; and (3) the finding that 80% of the solar wind observed by Helios at 0.3 – 0.4 au during 1974 – 1978 was Alfvénic. We show that compositional properties such as charge-state ratios vary over the solar cycle and may depend on parameters such as the footpoint field strength B 0 , and thus cannot be used alone to distinguish between coronal hole and noncoronal-hole wind. Finally, we note that magnetograms greatly underestimate the amount of small-scale flux emerging inside coronal holes and other unipolar regions. If this rate is taken to be the same as in the quiet Sun, the energy flux density resulting from interchange reconnection with open field lines is on the order of 3 × 10 5 erg cm−2 s−1 ( B 0 /10 G), sufficient to drive the solar wind. The wind speed depends on the rate of flux-tube expansion, with slower expansion leading to more energy deposition at greater heights and faster wind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar radio bursts are intense radio radiation sources that occur during the energy-release process and represent a hot topic in solar-physics and space-weather research. In this paper, we present a multimode prediction model for daily solar radio bursts. The model uses deep learning and machine learning to obtain data information from different dimensions and to establish the relationship between the characteristics of the solar active region on the solar surface and solar radio bursts. For this model, we use data from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO)/Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) total solar magnetic map, the Royal Observatory of Belgium World Data Centre in Brussels, and NOAA sunspot parameters (including number, area, and type of sunspots) as inputs. The output results are then compared with the list of solar radio bursts recorded by the Radio Solar Telescope Network (RSTN) to determine whether solar radio bursts are present and to determine the key parameters for determining radio bursts. Based on 5449 days of observational data, we find that the prediction accuracy of the model is 0.898 ± 0.011, and that the number of sunspots is a key parameter in determining the occurrence of solar radio bursts. Specifically, when the number of sunspots is greater than 15, the probability of occurrence of solar radio bursts is greater than 90%. We have identified the key parameters and thresholds for determining solar radio bursts and highlighted the key parameters for space-weather prediction. In addition, the prediction model can also be used for predicting in other fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People have ideas about the attributes (i.e., traits or characteristics that vary along a dimension) that they like in others (e.g., "I like intelligence in a romantic partner"), and these ideas about liking are called summarized attribute preferences (Ledgerwood et al., 2018). But where do summarized preferences come from, and what do they predict? Across four studies, we examined how people form summarized attribute preferences and whether they predict situation selection. We showed participants a series of photographs of faces and assessed both their experienced liking for an attribute (or functional attribute preference) as well as their inference about how much they liked the attribute in the abstract (their summarized attribute preference). Our results suggest that summarized attribute preferences--despite being (weakly) grounded in functional attribute preferences--were affected by incidental aspects of the context in which people learn about them (i.e., the overall likeability of the pool of faces). Furthermore, we observed a double dissociation in the predictive validity of summarized and functional attribute preferences: Whereas summarized attribute preferences predicted situation selection at a distance (e.g., whether to join a new dating website based on a description of it), functional attribute preferences predicted situation selection with experience (e.g., whether to join a new dating website after sampling it). We discuss theoretical and methodological implications for the interdisciplinary science of human evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Early-life exposure increases health risks throughout an individual's lifetime. Biological aging is influenced by early-life risks as a key process of disease development, but whether early-life risks could accelerate biological aging and elevate late-life mortality and morbidity risks remains unknown. Knowledge is also limited on the potential moderating role of healthy lifestyle. Methods We investigate associations of three early-life risks around birth, breastfeeding, maternal smoking and birth weight, with biological aging of 202 580 UK Biobank participants (54.9 ± 8.1 years old). Biological aging was quantified as KDM-BA, PhenoAge and frailty. Moderate alcohol intake, no current smoking, healthy diet, BMI <30 kg/m2 and regular physical activity were considered as healthy lifestyles. Mortality and morbidity data were retrieved from health records. Results Individual early-life risk factors were robustly associated with accelerated biological aging. A one-unit increase in the 'early-life risk score' integrating the three factors was associated with 0.060 (SE=0.0019) and 0.036-unit (SE = 0.0027) increase in z-scored KDM-BA acceleration and PhenoAge acceleration, respectively, and with 22.3% higher odds (95% CI: 1.185–1.262) of frailty. Increased chronological age and healthy lifestyles could mitigate the accelerations of KDM-BA and PhenoAge, respectively. Associations of early-life risk score with late-life mortality and morbidity were mediated by biological aging (proportions: 5.66–43.12%). KDM-BA and PhenoAge accelerations could significantly mediate the impact on most outcomes except anxiety, and frailty could not mediate the impact on T2D. Conclusion Biological aging could capture and mediate the late-life health risks stemming from the early-life risks, and could be potentially targeted for healthy longevity promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We systematically study the low cycle fatigue behavior and its dependence of specific surface area (ζ) for nanoporous copper (NPC) under ultrahigh strain rate ( γ ˙ ≈ 10 9 s − 1 ) cyclic shear loading by conducting large-scale molecular dynamic simulation and small-angle x-ray scattering analysis. With an increase in ζ , NPC undergoes a transition from the first excellent anti-fatigue property (ζ < 1.24 nm − 1 ) to the subsequent easy-to-fatigue capacity (ζ ≥ 1.24 nm − 1 ). Two different mechanisms are governing fatigue: (i) smooth nucleation and propagation of dislocations for the former and (ii) nanopore compaction/coalescence for the latter by prohibiting the activities of dislocations. For NPC with ζ = 0.42 nm − 1 , fatigue contributes to a surprising superelasticity, prompted by the entanglements and reversed disentanglements of longer dislocations. Surface reconstruction contributes to the fatigue tolerance of NPC by facilitating local surface roughening and the emission of dislocation slips, and it becomes more pronounced with decreasing ζ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermecmaster-Z thermal simulator was used to carry out hot compression experiments on the metal material TB6 titanium alloy of exoskeleton robot at deformation temperature of 1 013 ~ 1 073 K and strain rate of 0,001 ~ 1 s-1, and the influence of deformation conditions on the flow stress of TB6 titanium alloy was studied. The multivariate linear regression constitutive model of TB6 titanium alloy was established by Arrhenius hyperbolic sine equation. The results show that the flow stress is significantly affected by the strain rate, and the influence of deformation temperature on the flow stress is related to the strain rate. The theoretical value of the peak stress obtained by the multiple linear regression constitutive model of TB6 titanium alloy is well fitted with the actual value, and the correlation reaches 98,11 %, which proves that the model has high prediction accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-intelligent vehicles forming and maintaining a specific formation during traveling can save energy consumption and road resources, and improve traffic efficiency and driving safety. Centered around the Cooperative Vehicle Infrastructure(CVI) framework of the Internet of Vehicles(IOV), this paper delves into the control objectives of forming multi-intelligent vehicle formation, explores the theory of formation shaping process, and investigates the optimization of energy consumption in the formation shaping process. First, the clustering design is used to take the kinematic process of vehicles as an optimization process from the bionics, taking the instantaneous consumption indexes as the optimization objectives. Then, optimize the acceleration inputs of the vehicle formation process using the improved Artificial Fish Swarm Algorithm(AFSA), and iterate with the clustering algorithm part, so as to realize the formation shaping process with energy consumption as the optimization objective. Finally, ajoint simulation platform built by Simulation of Urban Mobility (SUMO) and Python is used for simulation verification, and the results show that the formation shaping process can be realized and achieve the optimal energy consumption under the scenarios proposed in this paper, thus verifying the validity of the clustering model of vehicle formation shaping and the energy consumption optimization algorithm designed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temozolomide resistance is a major cause of recurrence and poor prognosis in neuroglioma. Recently, growing evidence has suggested that mitophagy is involved in drug resistance in various tumor types. However, the role and molecular mechanisms of mitophagy in temozolomide resistance in glioma remain unclear. In this study, mitophagy levels in temozolomide-resistant and -sensitive cell lines were evaluated. The mechanisms underlying the regulation of mitophagy were explored through RNA sequencing, and the roles of differentially expressed genes in mitophagy and temozolomide resistance were investigated. We found that mitophagy promotes temozolomide resistance in glioma. Specifically, small ubiquitin-like modifier specific protease 6 (SENP6) promoted temozolomide resistance in glioma by inducing mitophagy. Protein-protein interactions between SENP6 and the mitophagy executive protein PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) resulted in a reduction in small ubiquitin-like modifier 2 (SUMO2)ylation of PINK1, thereby enhancing mitophagy. Our study demonstrates that by inducing mitophagy, the interaction of SENP6 with PINK1 promotes temozolomide resistance in glioblastoma. Therefore, targeting SENP6 or directly regulating mitophagy could be a potential and novel therapeutic target for reversing temozolomide resistance in glioma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 has a spectrum of disease severity, ranging from asymptomatic to requiring hospitalization. Understanding the mechanisms driving disease severity is crucial for developing effective treatments and reducing mortality rates. One way to gain such understanding is using a multi-class classification framework, in which patients' biological features are used to predict patients' severity classes. In this severity classification problem, it is beneficial to prioritize the identification of more severe classes and control the "under-classification" errors, in which patients are misclassified into less severe categories. The Neyman-Pearson (NP) classification paradigm has been developed to prioritize the designated type of error. However, current NP procedures are either for binary classification or do not provide high probability controls on the prioritized errors in multi-class classification. Here, we propose a hierarchical NP (H-NP) framework and an umbrella algorithm that generally adapts to popular classification methods and controls the under-classification errors with high probability. On an integrated collection of single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) datasets for 864 patients, we explore ways of featurization and demonstrate the efficacy of the H-NP algorithm in controlling the under-classification errors regardless of featurization. Beyond COVID-19 severity classification, the H-NP algorithm generally applies to multi-class classification problems, where classes have a priority order. for this article are available online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two-color laser filamentation technique serves as a high-quality, laser-based strong-field terahertz source. However, the terahertz energy obtained from this method tends to saturate at high laser intensity, limiting its ability to fully exploit the advantage of the extremely strong field offered by relativistic lasers. Here, we proposed a novel approach based on photon deceleration in plasma to obtain controllable terahertz radiations with two-color relativistic femtosecond laser pulses. In our method, an 800-nm laser drives the plasma wave and controls the plasma density distribution, while the other 10.6- μ m laser experiences a strong frequency downshift in the plasma wave and converts to a multi-cycle terahertz pulse, whose central frequency is adjustable by altering the parameters of laser and plasma. The conversion efficiency from the 10.6- μ m laser to terahertz radiation can be over 12%, potentially unlocking novel applications in the terahertz domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a case study of a patient with maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) type 7, caused by a mutation in the KLF11 gene. The patient and other family members were found to have mutations in the same gene, with some displaying diabetes mellitus and others exhibiting hyperinsulinemia. The article emphasizes the importance of molecular diagnosis in effectively treating and providing genetic counseling for individuals with monogenic diabetes. Treatment options for MODY7 patients include oral antidiabetic drugs, insulin injections, and dietary intervention. The article also includes a table with clinical indicators and laboratory examination results for the family members, providing further insight into their conditions and genetic mutations. Another document discusses a case study of a patient with MODY7, who initially received insulin and oral hypoglycemic agents for treatment. After one year, the patient's clinical indicators and laboratory results showed significant improvement. The study highlights the importance of molecular diagnosis in effectively treating and managing monogenic diabetes, but further research is needed to evaluate long-term complications and determine optimal treatment strategies for MODY7. [Extracted from the article]

Immune homeostasis is a steady immune state that not only protects the host from pathogens but also prevents the emergence of pathological self-reactive immune cells. The disruption of immune homeostasis leads to the development of various diseases, such as cancer and autoimmune diseases. An emerging paradigm for the treatment of these diseases with dysfunctional immune systems is the restoration and maintenance of immune homeostasis. However, currently available drugs exert a unidirectional influence on immunity whereby they either augment or inhibit it. This strategy is associated with the drawback of potential adverse effects arising from uncontrolled activation or suppression of the immune system. Fortunately, evidence suggests that acupuncture can bidirectionally regulate the immune system to maintain immune homeostasis. In cases of immunosuppressive diseases (e.g. cancer), acupuncture has an enhancing effect on immunity. Conversely, in autoimmune diseases (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis), acupuncture has been observed to have an immunosuppressive effect, which helps restore normal immune tolerance. However, there is no publication systematically summarizing the bidirectional regulatory effects of acupuncture on the immune system in the literature. Here, our review provides a comprehensive overview of the various mechanisms through which acupuncture modulates the immune system in a bidirectional manner. These mechanisms include the augmentation of NK and CD8+ T cell function, as well as the restoration of Th1/Th2, Th17/Treg and M1/M2 balance. Thus, we propose the concept that acupuncture has the potential to alleviate illnesses through the facilitation of immune normalization. Moreover, we further highlight the therapeutic potential of acupuncture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Feathers are an important product from poultry, and the state of feather growth and development plays an important role in their economic value.2. In total, 120 eggs were selected for immunoblotting and immunolocalisation experiments of ERK and β-catenin proteins in different developmental stages of goose embryos. The ERK protein was highly expressed in the early stage of goose embryo development, while β-catenin protein was highly expressed in the middle stage of embryo development.3. The 120 eggs were divided into four treatment groups, including an uninjected group (BLANK), a group injected with 100 µl of cosolvent (CK), a group injected with 100 µl of AZD6244 containing cosolvent in a dose of 5 mg/kg AZD6244 containing cosolvent (AZD5) and a group injected with 100 µl of AZD6244 containing cosolvent in a dose of 15 mg/kg AZD6244 containing cosolvent (AZD15). The eggs were injected on the ninth day of embryonic development (E9). Samples were collected at E21.5 to observe feather width, feather follicle diameter, ERK and Wnt/β-catenin pathway protein expression.4. The AZD5 and AZD15 doses were within the embryonic safety range compared to the BLANK and CK groups and had no significant effect on the survival rate and weight at the inflection point, but significantly reduced the feather width and feather follicle diameter (p < 0.05). The AZD6244 treatment inhibited ERK protein phosphorylation levels and blocked the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, which in turn significantly down-regulated the expression levels of FZD4, β-catenin, TCF4 and LEF1 (p < 0.05), with an inhibitory effect in the AZD15 group being more significant. The immunohistochemical results of β-catenin and p-ERK were consistent with Western blot results.5. The small molecule inhibitor AZD6244 regulated the growth and development of feather follicles in goose embryos by the ERK and Wnt/β-catenin pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Power parameters are of importance to determine the microstructure and property of coatings deposited by cathode plasma electrolytic deposition (CPED). In the present study, the effect of power parameters including voltage and duty cycle on the microstructure and anti-corrosion property of zirconia (ZrO 2) CPED-coatings was investigated. The results suggested that the as-deposited coatings consisted of t -ZrO 2 and m -ZrO 2 , while the content of t -ZrO 2 exceeded 50 %. The content of t -ZrO 2 increased with the increase of voltage and decreased with the increase of duty cycle, reaching a maximum of 89.9 %. In addition, as the voltage and duty cycle increased, the porosity of the coating increased from 3.7 % to 15.5 %. Due to the high t -ZrO 2 content, high thickness and relatively dense structure, the coatings deposited at 250 V had a superior corrosion resistance in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. This work will provide a guideline for tailoring high performance ZrO 2 CPED-coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A double-layer composite ceramic incorporating excellent mechanical and joining properties was designed by optimizing the composition of the TiB 2 –TiC–SiC ceramic. First, the ceramic composition that optimized the mechanical properties was explored by fabricating TiB 2 –TiC–SiC ceramics with four different compositions. The results showed that the flexural strength of the composite ceramics increased with the increase of TiC component in the composite ceramics, albeit with a slight decrease in fracture toughness. The TiB 2 –20TiC–20SiC (vol. %) ceramic exhibited excellent mechanical properties with a hardness of 20.6 GPa, fracture toughness of 6.21 MPa ·m1/2, and flexural strength of 486 MPa. Then, the four TiB 2 –TiC–SiC composite ceramics were brazed with Nb to investigate the ceramic composition that optimized the joining performance. As the TiC component in the composite ceramics increased, the reduction of the Nb 3 B 2 phase and the increment of the (Ti, Nb) 2 Ni phase within the reaction zone along the ceramic side can be noticed, and the width of this reaction zone decreased from 29 μm to 15 μm. The TiB 2 –5TiC–20SiC (vol. %) ceramic demonstrated promising joining performance with a maximum shear strength of 229 MPa for its brazed joint with Nb. Finally, a double-layer composite ceramic with the surface composition of TiB 2 –5TiC–20SiC and base composition of TiB 2 –20TiC–20SiC was prepared. The maximum shear strength of 248 MPa was achieved by brazing the double-layer composite ceramic with Nb at a temperature of 1433 K for 10 min, representing a 39 % improvement over the unoptimized condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One challenge of current biosensors is to remove non-specifically bound (NSB). Surface acoustic wave (SAW) technology, because of its non-contact and non-marker characteristics, becomes one of the hot research fields and shows great prospects. In this paper, SAW is used to remove NSB. Firstly, the effect of the cut of the piezoelectric material on the removal force is determined based on the dispersion equation of the acoustic wave and the properties of the piezoelectric material. Secondly, the effects of channel height, excitation voltage and fluid medium temperature on the removal process are verified through theoretical calculations. The results show that the SAW force, lift force and drag force induce by the SAW can effectively remove the NSB, among which, SAW force mainly removes the nonspecifically bound from sensor surface, while the lift force and drag force mainly prevent the re-deposition of the removed NSB. Finally, the optimal region where NSB can be removed effectively by SAW is determined by comparing the SAW force and van der Waals force. When the sensing region is located in the optimal region, not only can the NSB be effectively removed, but also the performance of the sensor is guaranteed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A double-layer composite ceramic incorporating excellent mechanical and joining properties was designed by optimizing the composition of the TiB 2 –TiC–SiC ceramic. First, the ceramic composition that optimized the mechanical properties was explored by fabricating TiB 2 –TiC–SiC ceramics with four different compositions. The results showed that the flexural strength of the composite ceramics increased with the increase of TiC component in the composite ceramics, albeit with a slight decrease in fracture toughness. The TiB 2 –20TiC–20SiC (vol. %) ceramic exhibited excellent mechanical properties with a hardness of 20.6 GPa, fracture toughness of 6.21 MPa ·m1/2, and flexural strength of 486 MPa. Then, the four TiB 2 –TiC–SiC composite ceramics were brazed with Nb to investigate the ceramic composition that optimized the joining performance. As the TiC component in the composite ceramics increased, the reduction of the Nb 3 B 2 phase and the increment of the (Ti, Nb) 2 Ni phase within the reaction zone along the ceramic side can be noticed, and the width of this reaction zone decreased from 29 μm to 15 μm. The TiB 2 –5TiC–20SiC (vol. %) ceramic demonstrated promising joining performance with a maximum shear strength of 229 MPa for its brazed joint with Nb. Finally, a double-layer composite ceramic with the surface composition of TiB 2 –5TiC–20SiC and base composition of TiB 2 –20TiC–20SiC was prepared. The maximum shear strength of 248 MPa was achieved by brazing the double-layer composite ceramic with Nb at a temperature of 1433 K for 10 min, representing a 39 % improvement over the unoptimized condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing a simplified quantum model approach, the low-energy inelastic collision processes between yttrium atoms (ions) and hydrogen atoms have been studied. Rate coefficients corresponding to the mutual neutralization, ion-pair formation, excitation, and de-excitation processes for the above collision systems have been provided in the temperature range of 1000–10 000 K. Three ionic states and 73 covalent states are considered in calculations for the collisions of yttrium atoms with hydrogen atoms, which include six molecular symmetries and 4074 partial inelastic reaction processes. For the collisions of yttrium ions with hydrogen atoms, one ionic state and 116 covalent states are included, which are related to three molecular symmetries and 13 572 partial inelastic collision processes. It is found that the rate coefficients for the mutual neutralization process have a maximum at T = 6000 K, which is an order of magnitude higher than those of other processes. Notably, the positions of optimal windows for the collisions of yttrium atoms and ions with hydrogen atoms are found near electronic binding energy −2 eV (Y) and −4.4 eV (Y+), respectively. The scattering channels located in or near these optimal windows have intermediate-to-large rate coefficients (greater than 10−12 cm3 s−1). The reported data should be useful in the study of non-local thermodynamic equilibrium modelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, the drugs used to treat dry eye are mainly ocular topical drugs, with only 5 % of the drugs are absorbed, which on the market have adverse reactions, such as eye pain, eye burns, conjunctival hyperemia and poor patient compliance. In order to reduce irritation and improve bioavailability, a new type of ocular drug delivery system, mixed micelles modified with cationic hyaluronic acid was studied by rotary evaporation method. Vitamin E tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate and polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil, two non-ionic surfactants are used for the preparation of cyclosporin micelles. Finally, the micelles were modified with cationic hyaluronic acid to form the final formulation named cationic hyaluronic acid modified cyclosporin A nanomicelle, which was designed with particle size of 17.21 nm, polydispersity index of 0.221, zeta potential of -23.4 mV and osmotic pressure of 299 mOsmol/kg. The release rate of cyclosporin A nanomicelle in vitro reached 88 %, and the preparation showed reduced surface tension (34.46 mN/m) and contact angle (22.8°), which indicated that cyclosporin A nanomicelle had better wetting and spreading properties. Transmission electron microscope showed that the preparation was spherical, homogeneous and no aggregates. After modification with cationic hyaluronic acid, the corneal permeability and apparent permeability increased by about 1.4 times and 1.3 times respectively, indicating that cyclosporin A nanomicelle can improve corneal penetration and improve bioavailability. Draize test of rabbit eye surface showed that cyclosporin A nanomicelle has no ocular irritation. In conclusion, Cationic hyaluronic acid modified cyclosporin A nanomicelle might be a promising ocular drug delivery system for the treatment of dry eye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A glycoprotein inhibiting the growth of colon cancer cells was isolated from sheep intestinal mucous membrane. The glycoprotein, designated IGP, was purified by a combination of ion-exchange chromatography over DEAE-650M and gel-filtration over HW-55F. Purified IGP had a molecular mass of ~60 kDa and consisted of 68.72 ± 2.10% protein and 32.09 ± 1.52% carbohydrates. The monosaccharide composition of the carbohydrate part consisted of glucose (31.28% of the total carbohydrate content), glucosamine (22.28%) and N-acetylgalactosamine (19.38%), mannose (11.14%), fucose (11.28%), and rhamnose (4.64%). The amino-acid composition of IGP was also determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a rare hematologic malignancy with an aggressive clinical course and poor prognosis. The genetic abnormalities in BPDCN are heterogeneous; therefore, its molecular pathogenesis and the prognostic importance of genomic alterations associated with the disease are not well defined. Here we report a case of BPDCN with a novel AFF4::IRF1 fusion predicted to lead to a loss-of-function of the IRF1 tumor suppressor, somatic mutations of ASXL1, TET2, and MYD88, as well as multiple intrachromosomal deletions. The patient showed resistance to Tagraxofusp and Venetoclax, and he died about 16 months after diagnosis. Considering the predicted effect of the AFF4::IRF1 fusion on IRF1's antitumor effects and immune regulation, and the possibility of its relevance to the aggressive course observed in this case, we propose further evaluation of the clinical significance of this fusion in BPDCN in future cooperative group studies and the consideration of therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring IRF1-dependent antineoplastic effects in such cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recovery of iron phosphate from the leaching slag of used lithium iron phosphate cathode materials is a crucial step to achieve closed-loop recovery of lithium iron phosphate, which has not yet been effectively accomplished. In the study, ultrasonic-assisted sulfuric acid leaching was used to remove impurities in the iron phosphate, to meet the stringent impurity content requirements for battery-grade iron phosphate regarding impurity content. Optimization of leaching conditions involved a sulfuric acid concentration of 0.2 mol·L-1, acid-leaching time of 30 min, power of 50 W, and reaction temperature of 80°C. Under these conditions, the removal efficiencies of Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn in iron phosphate were 26.09%, 83.0%, 75.9%, and 96.3%, respectively. Simultaneously, the content of impurity elements Cr and Zn concurred with the standard for battery-grade iron phosphate (HG/T 4701-2021), with both 50 ppm and 10 ppm contents. The leaching results indicated the effectiveness of ultrasound in enhancing the removal of impurity elements in iron phosphate within a sulfuric acid solution. Further analyses, including XRD, particle size, TEM, and XPS indicated that the surface of the iron phosphate particles cavitated after ultrasonic acid leaching, resulting in the formation of numerous pores. Additionally, particle collisions led to a reduction in particle size, with no generation of by-products during the process. This innovative approach not only contributed to the removal of impurity elements but also provided insights into the reuse of leaching slag (iron phosphate) and offered guidance for the recovery of metals from waste lithium iron phosphate cathode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the potential of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion-weighted imaging to predict perineural invasion (PNI) preoperatively in resectable gastric cancer (GC). This study prospectively recruited 85 surgically resected GC patients (58 men, 27 women) aged 60.87 ± 10.17 (39–81) years, who underwent IVIM sequence within 1 week before surgery. According to histopathological PNI diagnoses, patients were divided into PNI positive and negative groups. Conventional apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and the IVIM parameters, including true diffusion coefficient (D), pseudodiffusion coefficient (D∗), and pseudodiffusion fraction (f), were compared between the two groups. Morphological MRI features were also analysed. Multivariate logistic regression was used to screen independent predictors of PNI. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analyses were preformed to evaluate the efficacy. Spearman's correlation test was performed to analyse the relationship between MRI parameters and PNI. Tumour thickness and f in PNI-positive group were higher, whereas the ADC, D were lower than those in PNI-negative group (p< 0.05). These four parameters correlated with PNI (p< 0.05). The D, f , and tumour thickness were independent predictors of PNI. The area under the curve of ADC, D, f , thickness, and the combined parameter (D + f + thickness) were 0.648, 0.745, 0.698, 0.725, and 0.869, respectively. The combined parameter demonstrated higher efficacy than any other parameters (p< 0.05). The ADC, D, and f can effectively distinguish PNI status in GC. The D, f , and thickness were independent predictors of PNI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many uncertain factors in the test process of electroplating zinc. The establishment of control standards in the research process can reduce the workload and shorten the test cycle. Based on the electrochemical module developed by COMSOL multi-physics software, this study uses the computer's powerful computing power and the existing perfect theoretical system to simulate the experiment. The results show that the potential at the anode plate is higher, the potential at the cathode plate is lower, and the potential distribution in the middle area of the two plates is relatively uniform. When the plating time is 10 min, the outer surface of the galvanized part is basically coated with a relatively uniform zinc coating, which is about 2μm. Due to the large local current density in each edge area of the sample, the plating layer is relatively thick, but the difference is not large. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polar topological domain structures may have potential applications in future memory devices. Exploring their dynamical behaviors is paramount to the device design. Here, the meron–antimeron annihilation processes induced by the electric field in ultrathin ferroelectric PbTiO3 films were studied by phase-field simulations. Two types of annihilation behaviors were identified: The merons with central polarizations parallel to the electric field will directly annihilate with their nearby antimerons; those antiparallel to the electric field will first be switched and then annihilate with antimerons. The annihilation ratio of meron–antimeron pairs (MAPs) decreases with the increase in the meron–antimeron distance. During annihilation processes, the positions of antimerons seldom change and the merons approach to antimerons at some critical electric fields. The annihilation probability of a meron is found to be closely related to its topological charge. Specifically, the restoration of an MAP from a partially annihilated state was observed under the decrease in the electric field. These results may have some indications to the development of polar-meron-based memory devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To analyze the effects of soil acidity on tea quality and the ability of soil nitrogen transformation, the tea leaves and tea tree rhizosphere soils were collected from 26-tea plantations and determined their contents of theanine and amino acids in tea leaves, the number of soil nitrogen transforming microorganisms and soil biochemical intensity. The results showed that the content of theanine and amino acid in tea leaves, the number of aerobic nitrogen-fixing bacteria and ammonifying bacteria in the soil and the nitrogen fixation intensity and ammonification intensity of the soil increased with the increase of pH value of tea tree rhizosphere soil. However, the number of soil nitrifying bacteria and denitrifying bacteria and soil nitrification intensity and denitrification intensity showed a downward trend. The results of principal component analysis showed that the contribution rate of principal component 1 and principal component 2 was 84.97 % and 7.57 %, respectively. In the soil with different acidity, the main contribution to differentiate the amino acid and theanine content in tea leaves came from the ability of soil for nitrogen fixation and ammonification as well as the ability of soil nitrification and denitrification. The results of correlation analysis showed that soil pH value was significantly positively correlated with theanine, amino acid, aerobic nitrogen-fixing bacteria, ammonifying bacteria, nitrogen fixation intensity and ammoniating intensity, while significantly negatively correlated with nitrifying bacteria, denitrifying bacteria, nitrification intensity and denitrification intensity. The intensification of soil acidity decreased the nitrogen fixation and ammonification activities and boosted nitrification and denitrification activities and decreased the quality of tea leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transient photocurrent is one of the key parameters of the spatial radiation effect of photoelectric devices, and the energy level defect affects the transient photocurrent. In this paper, by studying the deep level transient spectrum of a self-designed Schottky diode, the defect properties of the interface region of the anode metal AlCu and Si caused by high-temperature annealing at 150 ℃, 200 ℃ and 300 ℃ for 1200 h have been quantitatively analyzed. The study shows that the defect is located at the position of + 0.41 eV on the valence band, the concentration is 2.8 × 1013/cm2, and the capture cross section is σ = 8.5 × 1017. The impurity energy level mainly comes from the diffusion of Al atom in anode metal. We found that the defect did not cause the electrical performance degradation and obvious morphology change of the device, but the transient photocurrent increased significantly. The reason is that the high temperature treatment results in a growth in the density of states at the interface between AlCu–Si. The more mismatched dislocations and recombination center increased the reverse current of the heterojunction. The above view is proved by the TCAD simulation test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a long-term condition that affects >10% of the adult population worldwide. Noninvasive assessment of renal function has important clinical significance for disease diagnosis and prognosis evaluation. To explore the value of mDIXON-Quant combined with amide proton transfer weighted (APTw) imaging for accessing renal function in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Twenty-two healthy volunteers (HVs) and 30 CKD patients were included in this study, and the CKD patients were divided into the mild CKD (m CKD) group (14 cases) and moderate-to-severe CKD (ms CKD) group (16 cases) according to glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The cortex APT (c APT), medulla APT (m APT), cortex R2⁎ (c R2⁎), medulla R2⁎ (m R2⁎), cortex FF (c FF) and medulla FF (m FF) values of the right renal were independently measured by two radiologists. Intra-group correlation coefficient (ICC) test was used to test the inter-observer consistency. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the difference among three groups. Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze the differences of R2⁎, FF and APT values among the patient and HV groups. Area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) was used to analyze the diagnostic efficiency. The corresponding threshold, sensitivity, and specificity were obtained according to the maximum approximate index. The combined diagnostic efficacy of R2⁎, FF, and APT values was analyzed by binary Logistic regression, and the AUC of combined diagnosis was compared with the AUC of the single parameter by the Delong test. The c APT value of the HV, m CKD and ms CKD groups increased gradually. The m APT value and c R2⁎ values of the m CKD and ms CKD groups were higher than those of the HV group, while the m FF value of the m CKD group was lower than HV group (all P < 0.05). The c APT and m APT values showed good diagnostic efficacy in evaluating different degrees of renal damage, while c R2⁎ and m FF values showed moderate diagnostic efficacy. When combining the APT, R2⁎, and FF values, the diagnostic efficiency was significantly improved. mDIXON-Quant combined APTw imaging can be used for improved diagnosis of CKD. • mDIXON-Quant and APTw imaging were explored to access renal function in CKD. • APT, FF and R2* values showed significant differences among healthy controls and patients with different degrees of CKD. • The combination of APT, R2⁎, and FF values showed good diagnostic efficacy in evaluating different degrees of renal damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the focusing phenomenon of inertial waves generated by a vertically oscillating slender torus in a uniformly rotating fluid. Building on the previous research on linear aspects of inertial wave focusing by Liu et al. ["Focusing of inertial waves by a vertically annular forcing," Phys. Fluids 34, 086601 (2022)], we analyze the focusing phenomenon in a fluid with a small Rossby number using the perturbation method. Our analytical solution to the weakly nonlinear problem reveals that, in addition to the primary inertial waves predicted by the linear theory, secondary inertial waves (SIW) are excited due to wave interaction if the forcing frequency is lower than the fluid rotation rate. Particularly, in our case, the SIWs induced directly by the oscillating torus form a relatively weak secondary focal area on the rotation axis below the primary focal point. The rays of the SIWs form a new double cone with a different angle than the primary cone. In addition, the SIWs are also excited at the primary focal point with a much stronger effect than that generated by the oscillating torus in an inviscid limit, but significantly suppressed even in low-viscosity fluids. A fully nonlinear analysis, especially in the primary focal zone, is necessary for further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromosome X is often excluded from bovine genetic studies due to complications caused by the sex specific nature of the chromosome. As chromosome X is the second largest cattle chromosome and makes up approximately 6% of the female genome, finding ways to include chromosome X in dairy genetic studies is important. Using female animals and treating chromosome X as an autosome, we performed X chromosome inclusive genome-wide association studies in the selective breeding environment of the New Zealand dairy industry, aiming to identify chromosome X variants associated with milk production traits. We report on the findings of these genome-wide association studies and their potential effect within the dairy industry. We identify missense mutations in the MOSPD1 and CCDC160 genes that are associated with decreased milk volume and protein production and increased fat production. Both of these mutations are exonic SNP that are more prevalent in the Jersey breed than in Holstein-Friesians. Of the 2 candidates proposed it is likely that only one is causal, though we have not been able to identify which is more likely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The all-optical nano-switch has aroused considerable attention due to its fast switching and potential applications in silicon integrated photonics. The high power-consuming, however, limits its implementation, which can be avoided by mechanical Kerr effect. Multilayered structures could significantly enhance mechanical Kerr effect. In this paper, we propose a general method for analyzing optomechanical behavior of multilayer nano-waveguides. Moreover, we design three stacked ways for multilayer nano-waveguides: periodic stack, arithmetic stack, and geometric stack. An interesting result is that the optical gradient force and bending deflection will converge to a stable value if the stacked layer number is, respectively, larger than 26, 28, and 26, for the three stacked ways. This indicates that if the stacked layer number goes beyond the certain number, increasing the number of layers is useless for enhancing optical gradient forces and bending deflection. We further find that for arithmetic stack, the stable values of optical gradient forces and bending deflection are independent of common difference factor. The present method and results may offer a promising pathway for the design and optimization of multilayer all-optical nano-switches driven by optical gradient forces.Please check the edit made in the article title.Done. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. The Forkhead box O3 (FOXO3) transcription factor is a crucial regulator in controlling cell metabolism, proliferation, apoptosis, migration and response to oxidative stress. However, FOXO3 has not previously been studied much in the embryonic skin follicles of geese. 2. This study used Zhedong white geese (Anser cygnoides), Jilin white geese (Anser cygnoides) and Hungarian white geese (Anser anser). The feather follicle structure in the dorsal skin during embryonic stages was examined with haematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Pollak staining. The FOXO3 protein content in the embryonic dorsal skin from feather follicles was detected using western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR. 3. The mRNA expression level of FOXO3 in the dorsal skin of Jilin white geese was highly expressed on embryonic day 23 (E23; P < 0.01), while mRNA expression of FOXO3 was highly expressed in the feather follicle of Hungarian white geese at E28 (P < 0.01). The expression of FOXO3 protein mainly concentrated in the early embryonic phase among these goose breeds (P < 0.05). This suggested that FOXO3 plays a crucial role in the development and growth of embryonic dorsal skin of feather follicles. The location of the FOXO3 protein was determined using the IHC technique, which further verified the effect of FOXO3 in the dorsal skin for feather follicles during embryogenesis. 4. The study demonstrated the differential expression and localisation of the FOXO3 gene among different goose species. It was speculated that the gene could potentially improve goose feather follicle development and feather-related traits and provide a basis for further understanding of FOXO3 function in the dorsal tissue of goose embryos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To clone the polyphenol oxidase gene (CsPPO) from Yunwu Tribute Tea (Camellia sinensis [L.] Kuntze var. niaowangensis Q.H. Chen) and conduct bioinformatics analysis, expression vector construction, and analysis of its physiological activity in transgenic plants. The CsPPO was cloned from Yunwu Tribute Tea, and bioinformatics and evolutionary analysis was conducted. Transgenic plants overexpressing CsPPO were created by Agrobacterium tumefaciens infection and expression and changes in physiological indices were analyzed under low-temperature stress to determine the role of the gene in cold tolerance in tea trees. The cloned CsPPO had a total length of 1740 bp, encoding 580 amino acids, and showed 96.72% homology with the PPO gene of C. sinensis. Analysis of the physiological features of cold tolerance showed that the transgenic tobacco were more tolerant to cold stress than wild-type tobacco, and the relative conductivity and malondialdehyde content of transgenic tobacco were significantly lower than in the wild-type, while the PPO activity was significantly higher. Increased expression of the CsPPO in tobacco significantly reduced oxidative damage to the cell membrane and markedly improved cold tolerance in the plants. These findings verify the role of CsPPO in cold tolerance in Yunwu Tribute tea plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sophorolipids (SLs) as a kind of glycolipid biosurfactants are secondary metabolites produced by non-pathogenic yeasts and other microorganisms. Structurally, SLs are composed of a disaccharide sophorose which is β-glycosidically linked to a long fatty acid chain. SLs have broad applications in various areas and many companies are developing SLs products for food, cosmetics, cleaning, personal care, environmental industries, pharmaceutics, and fungicides. Antimicrobial activity, anti-biofilm, and synergistic effect of SLs have been paid more attention since their discovery, especially in recent years. In this review, we reviewed the inhibitory effects of SLs on bacterial and fungal growth and their biofilms formation, and we provided an overview of the synergistic effects of SLs combined with other antimicrobial substances. Furthermore, the antimicrobial mechanisms of SLs action and perspectives on future research for the development of SLs as antimicrobial therapeutics are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil acidification is common in some Chinese tea plantations, which seriously affected growth of tea trees. Hence, it is essential to explore soil remediation in acidified tea plantations for sustainable development of the tea industry. We sought to determine how different fertilizers affect acidified soil and their N transformation in tea plantations.Different fertilizers were used on acidified tea plantation soils for 4 years (2017–2021), and changes in soil pH, indices related to soil N transformation and tea yield were analysed to construct interaction networks of these indices and find which had the largest influence on fertilization.Long‐term use of sheep manure reduced soil acidification, increased soil pH, enhanced the number and intensity of N‐fixing and ammonifying bacteria, urease, protease, asparaginase and N‐acetamide glucose ribosidase activity and nifH gene expression. This treatment reduced the number and intensity of soil nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria, nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase activity, while the expression of amoA‐AOA, nirK, nirS, narG and nosZ in turn increased ammonium N content of the soil, reduced nitrate N content, and enhanced tea yield. Topsis index weight analysis showed that ammonium N content in the soil had the largest impact among fertilization effects.Long‐term use of sheep manure was beneficial in restoring the balance of the micro‐ecosystem in acidified soil. This study provides an important practical basis for soil remediation and fertilizer management in acidified tea plantation soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ranking fuzzy numbers(FNs) was a critical issue in fuzzy computing field. Generally, triangular FNs, trapezoidal FNs, and even interval-valued FNs(IVFNs) were often expressed in ranking. However, ranking intuitionistic FNs(IFNs) were less mentioned due to the complicated components in membership functions. Herein, we will develop fuzzy binary relation that is an extended fuzzy preference relation(EFPR) to express the preference degree of two IFNs, and then the relation is improved to be a relative preference relation(RPR) used to rank a set of IFNs. Since EFPR on IFNs is a total ordering relation, RPR will be also a total ordering relation. Based on belonging and non-belonging components of membership functions in IFNs, using EFPR being also fuzzy preference relation(FPR) is suitable to compare FNs on pairwise, but time complexity on fuzzy operation of comparison computing is complicated. Hence, RPR is developed to avoid comparing on pairwise. Through yielding RPR values for a set of IFNs, IFNs are effectively and efficiently ranked to utilize related decision-making problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In [S. Liu and Y. Wang, A Kastler–Kalau–Walze type theorem for the J-twist DJ of the Dirac operator, preprint (2022), arXiv:2203.10467], the authors proved a Kastler–Kalau–Walze type theorem for the J -twist D J of the Dirac operator on 3 -dimensional and 4 -dimensional almost product Riemannian spin manifold with boundary. In this paper, we develop the Kastler–Kalau–Walze type theorem for the J -twist D J of the Dirac operator on a 6 -dimensional almost product Riemannian spin manifold with boundary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]