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Tingting Li,1,&ast; Yilan Zeng,2,&ast; Xianrong Fan,3,&ast; Jing Yang,4 Chengying Yang,4 Qingyun Xiong,5 Ping Liu2 1Department of Science and Education, Changsha Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya Medical College, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Changsha Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya Medical College, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Hospital Office, The Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Yongchuan, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Changsha Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya Medical College, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Ultrasonography, Changsha Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan Province, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Ping Liu, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Changsha Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya Medical College, Central South University, 311 Yingpan Road, Kaifu District, Changsha, Hunan Province, 410005, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 15973136512, Email liuping_3356@126.com Qingyun Xiong, Department of Ultrasonography, Changsha Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 22, Xingsha Avenue, Changsha County, Changsha City, Hunan Province, 410100, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 731-85259000, Email xiongqy1100@21cn.comObjective: This study aimed to bibliometrically analyse the main features of the 100 top-cited articles on the midwifery index on the Web of Science.Methods: Academic articles on midwifery’ research published from 1985 to 2020 were included. VOSviewer 1.6.15, SPSS 22.0 software and a homemade applet were used to identify, analyse and visualise the citation ranking, publication year, journal, country and organisation of origin, authorship, journal impact factor and keywords along with the total link strength of countries, organisations and keywords.Results: Among the 100 top-cited articles, the highest number of citations of the retrieved articles was 484. The median number of citations per year was 5.16 (interquartile range: 3.74– 8.38). Almost two-thirds of the included articles (n = 61) centred on nursing and obstetrics/gynaecology. The top-cited articles were published in 38 different journals, the highest number of which was published by Midwifery (15%). Australia was the most productive country (24%). According to the total link strength, the sequence ran from the United States (28) to England (28) to Australia (19). The University of Technology Sydney and La Trobe University in Australia topped the list with four papers each. Hunter B was the most productive author (n = 4), and the average citations were positively related to the number of authors (r = 0.336, p < 0.05).Conclusion: This study identified the most influential articles on midwifery and documented the core journals and the most productive countries, organisations and authors along with future research hotspots for this field; the findings may be beneficial to researchers in their publication and scientific cooperation endeavours.Keywords: bibliometric analysis, citation, midwifery, total link strength

Zhihong Lu,1,&ast; Ailin Luo,2,&ast; Su Min,3,&ast; Hailong Dong,1 Qiuju Xiong,3 Xinhua Li,2 Qingzhu Deng,2 Tingting Liu,1 Xue Yang,1 Chen Li,4 Qingchuan Zhao,5 Lize Xiong1,6 1Department of Anaesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Anaesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Anaesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Medical Statistics, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China; 5Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China; 6Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence and Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Fourth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Zhihong Lu; Lize Xiong, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Changle West Road127, Xi’an, Shaanxi, 710032, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-29-84775337 ; Tel +86-29-84772126, Email deerlu23@163.com; xlzmzk@163.comPurpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) in improving bowel function and thus shortening hospital stay after laparoscopic colon surgery within the ERAS pathway.Patients and Methods: From November 2016 to March 2018, 100 patients who underwent elective colon surgery were enrolled and 94 finished study (n = 47 for each) in three university hospitals. Patients in the TEAS group received TEAS 30 min before surgery and once a day for 3 days after surgery, while those in the Control Group received no stimulation. Primary outcome was the time to discharge.Results: Compared with standardized postoperative care, TEAS resulted in a shorter time to first flatus (P=0.03) and time to first defecation (P=0.03), as well as a reduction in the length of hospital stay (P=0.02). Median patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) deliveries and PCA attempts at 24h, 48h and 72h after surgery were less in the TEAS group (P< 0.01). No evidence of significant advantages in postoperative pain intensity, nausea, vomiting, sleeping quality and expenses was found in the TEAS group.Conclusion: Perioperative TEAS further shortens the time to meet discharge criteria after laparoscopic colon surgery in patients under ERAS strategy.Keywords: transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation, colon surgery, laparoscopy, ERAS

Kai Dai,1,&ast; Zhibing Li,2,&ast; Yafei Luo,1,&ast; Qianhui Xiong,1,&ast; Yao Xiong,3,&ast; Zhifang Song,1,&ast; Wenjun Xiong1 1Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Medical Department of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Intensive Care Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Medical Department of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital Affiliated to Nanchang University, Medical Department of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Wenjun XiongDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Medical Department of Nanchang University, No. 461 Bayi Avenue, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of China, Tel +8613767970074, Email xiongwenjunnc@foxmail.comBackground: Cardiac rupture (CR) is a serious complication of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We aimed to explore the predictive value of blood cell parameters for identifying CR in patients with AMI using the introduction of propensity score matching (PSM).Methods: This retrospective study enrolled patients who were diagnosed with AMI from January 2013 to May 2020. A total of 109 patients with CR were included, and 327 hospitalized non-CR patients were randomly selected at a 1:3 ratio. Based on the 1:1 nearest neighbour matching method by using SPSS, the covariances of the two groups were balanced. After PSM, the independent risk factors for CR were selected by using multivariate logistic regression analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was applied to evaluate the predictive value of blood cell parameters for CR. Ninety cases were matched successfully in each of the two groups.Results: Among the 180 patients with AMI after PSM, the results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) (OR = 3.57, 95% CI: 1.28– 9.97, P = 0.015) and monocyte-to-haematocrit ratio (MHR) (OR = 1.80, 95% CI: 1.02– 3.20, P = 0.043) were independently related to the risk of CR. Additionally, the MLR (area under the curve (AUC): 0.74) and MHR (AUC: 0.73) were useful for distinguishing CR patients after PSM. To differentiate CR patients from the control subjects, the optimal cut-offs of the MLR and MHR were 0.61 (63% sensitivity and 80% specificity) and 2.06 (57% sensitivity and 81% specificity), respectively.Conclusion: The blood cell parameters MLR and MHR were independently correlated with CR. Additional, the MLR and MHR were useful to predict CR in patients with AMI.Keywords: cardiac rupture, acute myocardial infarction, blood cell parameters, monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio, inflammatory, monocyte-to-haematocrit ratio

Dechao Feng,&ast; Facai Zhang,&ast; Ling Liu,&ast; Qiao Xiong, Hang Xu, Wuran Wei, Zhenghua Liu, Lu Yang Department of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Zhenghua Liu; Lu YangDepartment of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37 Guoxue Xiang, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 28-8542-2444Fax +86 28-85422451Email zhliu@scu.edu.cn; wycleflue@163.comBackground: There is a surprising paucity of studies investigating the potential mechanism of SKA3 in the progression and prognosis of kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma (KIRP).Methods: We used TCGA and other databases to analyze the expression, clinical value, and potential mechanisms of SKA3 in KIRP patients. We also explored therapeutic agents for KIRP through GSCALite.Results: SKA3 mRNA expression was significantly upregulated and the area under the curve was 0.792 (95% CI 0.727– 0.856). Increased SKA3 expression was related to shorter overall survival, disease-specific survival and progression-free survival. Hub genes in protein–protein interactions were CDK1, CDC20, CCNB1, CCNA2, BUB1, AURKB, BUB1B, PLK1, CCNB2, and MAD2L1, which were differentially expressed and also associated with KIRP prognosis. Gene-set enrichment analysis indicated that E2F targets, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, glycolysis, the WNT signaling pathway, and other pathways were highly enriched upon SKA3 upregulation. Gene-set variation analysis of SKA3 and its ten hub genes showed that the significant correlation of cancer-related pathways included the cell cycle, DNA damage, hormone androgen receptor, hormone estrogen receptor, PI3K/Akt, and Ras/MAPK. In addition, we found that MEK inhibitors, ie, trametinib, selumetinib, PD0325901, and RDEA119, may be feasible targeting agents for KIRP patients.Conclusion: SKA3 might contribute to poor prognosis of KIRP through cell cycle, DNA damage, hormone androgen receptor, hormone estrogen receptor, PI3K/Akt, and RAS/MAPK. SKA3 potentially serves as a prognostic biomarker and target for KIRP.Keywords: spindle and kinetochore–associated complex subunit 3, kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma, biomarker, enrichment analysis, targeted therapy

Huahua Du,1 Li Liang,1 Jiahui Li,1 Qingqing Xiong,1 Xin Yu,2 Hong Yu3 1MoE Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, 310058, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Anesthesia, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, 310016, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, 310016, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Hong YuDepartment of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, 310016, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-571-86044817Fax +86-571-86090063Email blueyu000@zju.edu.cnPurpose: Lipocalin-2 (Lcn2) is an acute-phase protein and elevated in several inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to determine whether Lcn2 alleviates inflammation and explore the underlying cellular mechanisms.Methods: C57BL/6 Lcn2-deficient (Lcn2−/-) male mice were intraperitoneally injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to build systemic inflammation model. The inflammatory processes were investigated. The morphology of villi was measured by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The levels of inflammatory factors were detected by ELISA and qPCR analysis. The production of Lcn2 was determined with immunofluorescence staining by confocal microscope. The molecular mechanism of Lcn2 in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) was analyzed by mass spectrometry (MS)-based quantitative proteomic analysis.Results: Compared to wild-type (WT) mice injected with LPS, Lcn2−/- mice injected with LPS showed increased inflammatory damage in jejunum and ileum, and significantly elevated the levels of multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines. After determining that Lcn2 was mainly located in the cytoplasm of macrophages, we isolated BMDMs from Lcn2−/- mice to evaluate their function. During LPS challenge, transcripts of pro-inflammatory cytokines were all significantly increased in BMDMs from Lcn2−/- mice, while those of anti-inflammatory cytokines were significantly decreased when compared with the cytokines in BMDMs from WT mice. A label-free relative quantitation proteomics analysis showed that LPS-treated BMDMs from Lcn2−/- mice had elevated levels of pro-inflammatory pathways, but reduced phagocytosis and autophagy when compared with LPS-treated BMDMs from WT mice.Conclusion: These findings demonstrated that Lcn2 was a potent protective factor in response to systemic inflammation and might be an indispensable factor for macrophage functions.Keywords: Lcn2, systemic inflammation, macrophages, BMDMs

LianLi Duan,1,&ast; Jinyong Zhang,1,&ast; Zhifu Chen,1 Qiang Gou,1 Qingshan Xiong,1 Yue Yuan,1 Haiming Jing,1 Jiang Zhu,2 Li Ni,3 Yuling Zheng,4 Zhiyong Liu,5 Xiaokai Zhang,1 Hao Zeng,1 Quanming Zou,1 Zhuo Zhao1 1National Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, Department of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Pathology, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, People’s Republic of China; 3Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First People’s Hospital of Jiulongpo District, Chongqing, 400050, People’s Republic of China; 4State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Laboratory Medicine, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Zhuo Zhao; Quanming Zou Email zhaozhuo198309@163.com; qmzou2007@163.comPurpose: We previously reported that monoclonal antibody (mAb) cocktail improves survival in Staphylococcus aureus infection. In this study, we used acute pneumonia model and lethal sepsis model to investigate the efficacy of antibiotic combined with epitope-specific mAb cocktail in treating MRSA252 infection.Methods: MRSA252 was challenged by tail vein injection or tracheal intubation to establish sepsis model or pneumonia model. One hour after infection, the mice received a single intravenous injection of normal saline, vancomycin, and vancomycin combined monoclonal antibody, linezolid alone or linezolid combined monoclonal antibody. Daily record survival rate (total 7 days), bacterial load, histology, cytokine analysis of serum and alveolar lavage fluid, and in vitro determination of the neutralizing ability of antibodies to SEB toxin and Hla toxin explained the mechanism of antibody action.Results: The mAb cocktail combined with low doses of vancomycin or linezolid improved survival rates in acute pneumonia model (70%, 80%) and lethal sepsis model (80%, 80%). Epitope-specific monoclonal antibodies reduced bacterial colonization in the kidneys and lungs of mice and inhibited the biological functions of the toxins Hla and SEB in vitro. Compared to the antibiotic alone or PBS groups, the combination group had higher levels of IL-1α, IL-1β and IFN-γ and lower levels of IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α. Further, the combination of antibiotic and mAb cocktail improved infection survival against the clinical MRSA isolates in a lethal sepsis model.Conclusion: This study demonstrates a novel method to treat people with low immunity against drug-resistant S. aureus infections.Keywords: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, immunodominant epitope, monoclonal antibody, lethal sepsis, pneumonia

Wen Ye,1 Yan Yan,2 Yunliang Tang,1 Xiaoyang Dong,1 Gengfa Chen,1 Junwei Kang,1 Lianghua Huang,1 Qi Xiong,1 Zhen Feng1 1Department of Rehabilitation, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Zhen FengDepartment of Rehabilitation, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail medstu@126.comBackground: Neuronal damage is the main cause of neurological diseases. Neural stem cells (NSCs) have the functions of cell repair and replacement of neurons, secretion of neurotrophic factors, and immune regulation of the neural microenvironment.Objective: Previous study found that Orexin-A had a protective effect on neurons in the central nervous system, but it is lacking in making great efforts on the function of Orexin-A on NSCs. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory responses and signaling mechanisms of Orexin-A on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NSCs.Methods: Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the mRNA level. Signaling pathway-related protein expression was detected by Western blot. The proliferation and migration of NSCs were investigated by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) detection kit and transwell assay. Besides, the staining of hematoxylin and eosin (HE) was performed to study the morphology of cell.Results: Orexin-A decreased the pro-inflammatory cytokines of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 induced by LPS by regulating nuclear factor-k-gene binding (NF-kB) and phosphorylation of P38/Erk-mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) pathways, but not p-JNK signaling.Conclusion: Our findings indicate that Orexin-A can alleviate the inflammatory response of NSC. It can provide beneficial help in neural stem cell therapy applications.Keywords: NSCs, Orexin-A, NF-kB, MAPK

Qing Xiong,1 Shuping Shi,2 Jianwen Chen,3 Yiqiu Hu,4 Xintong Zheng,3 Congcong Li,5 Quanlei Yu5– 7 1Institute of Developmental Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2RDFZ Chaoyang Branch School, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 3Graduate School of Education, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, People’s Republic of China; 4School of Educational Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of China; 5School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Hubei, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China; 6Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei, People’s Republic of China; 7Central China Normal University Branch, Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment Toward Basic Education Quality, Wuhan, Hubei, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Quanlei Yu School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, No. 152 Luoyu Road, Hongshan District, Wuhan, Hubei 430079, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-027-67868617Email yulei19881987@mail.ccnu.edu.cnPurpose: Bullying is a serious problem among adolescents. Many scholars have examined school bullying in recent years; however, there are many psychological and behavioral mechanisms for bully that still remain unclear. Based on the theory of self-worth orientation, this study examined the influence of academic achievement on bullying behavior among adolescents and explored the moderating effects of perceived social support and age cohort.Methods: Participants were 3227 middle and high school students in the 7th through 12th grades in China. A self-report method was used to measure academic achievement, social support, bullying, and demographic variables.Results: Moderation analyses indicated that the relationship between academic achievement and bullying behavior was moderated by the perceived social support of adolescents and their age cohort. Specifically, social support moderated the relationship between achievement and bullying behavior positively in the middle school group but negatively in the high school group.Conclusion: The results support the hypothesis of self-worth orientation theory and indicate that bullying intervention could be enhanced by addressing the relationships between academic achievement, social support, age cohort, and bullying.Keywords: academic achievement, bully, social support, age cohort, self-worth

Qiuhong Xiong, Min Yang, Ping Li, Changxin Wu Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Qiuhong Xiong; Changxin WuInstitutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanxi University, No.92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan 030006, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 351 701 8958Email qxiong@sxu.edu.cn; cxw20@sxu.edu.cnAbstract: Autophagy is a lysosomal degradation pathway to clear long-lived proteins, protein aggregates, and damaged organelles. Certain microorganisms can be eliminated by an autophagic degradation process termed xenophagy. However, many pathogens deploy highly evolved mechanisms to evade autophagic degradation. What is more, series of pathogens have developed different strategies to exploit autophagy to ensure their survival. These bacteria could induce autophagy and/or prevent autophagosomes fusion with lysosomes through secreted effector proteins or utilizing host components, thereby maintaining the localization of the bacteria within the autophagosomes where they replicate. Here, we review the current knowledge of the mechanisms developed by the bacteria to benefit from autophagy for their survival.Keywords: bacteria, autophagy, exploit, benefit

Zhan Yu,1,* Min Yu,2,* Zhimin Zhou,3 Zhibao Zhang,3 Bo Du,3 Qingqing Xiong3 1Second Artillery General Hospital, Beijing, 2Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Ministry of Public Health, College of Basic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, 3Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Material of Tianjin, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China *These authors contributed equallyto this work Abstract: Controlled-release carriers for local drug delivery have attracted increasing attention for inner-ear treatment recently. In this paper, flower-shaped bovine serum albumin (FBSA) particles were prepared by a modified desolvation method followed by glutaraldehyde or heat denaturation. The size of the FBSA particles varied from 10 µm to 100 µm, and most were 50–80 µm. Heat-denatured FBSA particles have good cytocompatibility with a prolonged survival time for L929 cells. The FBSA particles were utilized as carriers to investigate the release behaviors of the model drug – rhodamine B. Rhodamine B showed a sustained-release effect and penetrated the round-window membrane of guinea pigs. We also confirmed the attachment of FBSA particles onto the round-window membrane by microscopy. The FBSA particles, with good biocompatibility, drug-loading capacity, adhesive capability, and biodegradability, may have potential applications in the field of local drug delivery for inner-ear disease treatment. Keywords: bovine serum albumin (BSA), controlled release, local delivery, round-window membrane

A novel design concept of new periodic interdigital structure for total transmission is proposed from the perspective of electromagnetic (EM) field in this paper. The new structure is constructed in two-dimensional (2D) firstly by using the constructive interference of EM fields, and its transmission characteristic and band structure are calculated. Based on the calculated results, the interaction of the structure with EM fields is clearly demonstrated to provide a better physical understanding for the structure design. Meanwhile, the final three-dimensional (3D) implementation of the presented structure in actual printed circuit board is conducted for its potential applications. The maximum transmission frequency, bandgap and electric field distribution calculated by using the 2D structure and its final implementation all testify the validity of the realization process.

Electron pitch angle distributions (PADs) are crucial to revealing electron acceleration and heating in geospace. The electron PADs in the Earth's magnetotail have been widely studied by statistical or case analysis. However, the statistical features of electron PADs in tailward flows are still unclear. We survey data from the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) satellite to statistically investigate electron PADs in tailward flows in the Earth's magnetotail for the first time. We find that for most (66.3%) tailward flows, electrons with energy from 0.1 to 30 keV are mainly field‐aligned. The PADs of suprathermal (>2 keV) electrons in a part of tailward flows (26.3%) are mostly isotropic. Additionally, the perpendicular‐dominated PADs of suprathermal electrons only exist in a few (7.4%) tailward flows. According to the different dominant PADs of suprathermal electrons, the tailward flows are classified into three types: field‐aligned‐dominated type, isotropic‐dominated type and perpendicular‐dominated type flows. The dependence of electron PADs on plasma environmental parameters is investigated in these three types of flows. For field‐aligned‐dominated type flows, the field‐aligned anisotropy decreases toward the central plasma sheet (CPS) and with the increase of the energy. In addition, it is found that the field‐aligned anisotropy in the field‐aligned‐dominated tailward flows reduces noticeably when the |Vix| exceeds 800 km/s. In isotropic‐dominated type flows, the field‐aligned anisotropy of electrons with energy ≥10 keV also shows a slight decreasing trend toward the CPS. For perpendicular‐dominated type flows, the perpendicular anisotropy exhibits two non‐monotonic processes, initially increasing and then decreasing with the increase of distance from the CPS; while becomes more evident for higher energy electrons. Our statistical results indicate that in tailward flows, electron anisotropy depends on the distance from the CPS, energy and plasma flow velocity. Tailward flows are associated with the transport of plasma toward the distant tail, and the statistical analysis of electron PADs in these flows can improve our understanding of the related electron dynamics in the magnetotail. Key Points: Statistically features of field‐aligned‐dominated, isotropic‐dominated and perpendicular‐dominated type tailward flows are revealedFor the field‐aligned‐dominated type flows, the field‐aligned anisotropy decreases toward the central plasma sheet and with the increase of the energyThe perpendicular pitch‐angle anisotropy in the perpendicular‐dominated type flows is more evident for higher energy electrons [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron pyrite (FeS2) holds an enormous potential as a low cost and non-toxic photoelectrochemical and energy-harvesting material owing to its interesting optical, electronic, and chemical properties along with elemental abundance. In this Review, low cost and scalable processing techniques to synthesize phase-pure pyrite thin films and nanocubes are described, and the application of this material in various energy-harvesting devices such as dye-sensitized solar cells, photodiodes, and heterojunction solar cells is discussed. A detailed analysis of the electron transport in single-crystal iron pyrite is presented to shed light on its bulk- and surface-conduction properties, which could be useful in designing better pyrite solar cells and could be exploited for novel device architectures. Finally, future prospects and directions are discussed.

Computational particle fluid dynamics method is utilized to study the influence of polydisperse and monodisperse particle size distribution, fuel addition, and biomass mixing ratio on the gas-solid flow behavior in a pilot-scale circulating fluidized bed (CFB). Numerical results show that a polydisperse system with different particle sizes can enhance the fluidization quality and the uniformity of the particle volume fraction in comparison with a monodisperse system with uniform particle sizes. When fuel is present in the CFB, the disturbance at the circulation inlet is eliminated and the particle aggregation effect at the wall is reduced. Furthermore, the particle volume fraction, pressure, and particle velocity distributions change only slightly as the biomass increased from 0% to 20% or from 50% to 100% of the total fuel mass. However, as the biomass ratio increases from 20% to 50%, the pressure drop in the riser decreases and the backmixing degree at the riser wall weakens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy conversion between the fields and the particles occurs through various physical processes within space environments. Magnetic reconnection stands out as one such process capable of rapidly and massively releasing energy. The high‐speed outflow jets produced by reconnection can induce turbulence characterized by intermittent structures. In this study, we investigate the impact of guide field on the energy conversion associated with the magnetic topologies within these structures during reconnection. Utilizing both particle‐in‐cell simulations and observations from the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission, our findings suggest that a larger guide field present during reconnection leads to increased energy conversion as well as the generation of O‐type topology structures within the turbulent outflow. Our results provide significant evidence on the relationships between energy conversion and magnetic topologies within turbulent outflow of reconnection and the guide field conditions. Plain Language Summary: In space environments, various physical processes involve the conversion of energy between magnetic fields and particles. One such process is magnetic reconnection, which can rapidly release a large amount of energy. During magnetic reconnection, high‐speed outflow jets are generated, leading to the formation of turbulent structures. In our study, we investigate how the presence of a guide field affects the energy conversion process and the resulting magnetic topologies within these turbulent structures during reconnection events. Using both particle‐in‐cell simulations and observations from the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission, we explore the impact of guide fields on energy conversion and magnetic topologies. Our findings indicate that a larger guide field present during reconnection leads to increased energy conversion and the generation of specific magnetic topology structures known as O‐type topologies within the turbulent outflow. These results provide significant insights into the complex relationships between energy conversion processes, magnetic topologies, and guide field conditions during magnetic reconnection events in space. Understanding these relationships is crucial for advancing our knowledge of fundamental physical processes occurring in space environments. Key Points: Magnetic topology in the turbulent reconnection outflow is investigated through both Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) observations and particle‐in‐cell (PIC) simulationsA larger guide field can promote the generation of O‐type topology in the turbulent outflow of the reconnectionHigher energy conversion is contributed by those O‐type topologies in the presence of a larger guide field [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While Mars lacks a global intrinsic magnetic field, it does exhibit crustal magnetic anomalies (mostly in its Southern Hemisphere). These crustal magnetic anomalies directly interact with solar wind, which forms a mini‐magnetosphere and a region denoted the mini‐magnetopause. Using magnetic field and plasma measurements from the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution, we report a novel case of magnetic reconnection at the Martian mini‐magnetopause. In this process, protons and oxygen ions from the Martian atmosphere were accelerated during reconnection and likely escaped along the outflow direction. Magnetic reconnection may occur between the interplanetary magnetic field and crustal magnetic fields at the Martian mini‐magnetopause, which contributes to planetary ion escape, solar wind entering the mini‐magnetosphere and the evolution of magnetic topology in the dayside Martian mini‐magnetosphere. Plain Language Summary: While Mars lacks a global intrinsic magnetic field, it does exhibit crustal magnetic anomalies. The solar wind from the sun accompanied by interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) directly interacts with this crustal magnetic field, similar to what occurs on Earth, albeit at a smaller scale. The boundary between the crustal field on Mars and the IMF is called the mini‐magnetopause. Magnetic reconnection is a fundamental process in astrophysical and space plasmas that can change the topology of magnetic field and effectively convert magnetic energy into thermal and kinetic energy. Using magnetic field and plasma measurements from the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution missions, we report direction observations of magnetic reconnection at the Martian mini‐magnetopause. Through magnetic reconnection at the mini‐magnetopause, the IMF reconnects with the magnetic field from the crustal field, forming new magnetic field lines that channel solar wind to enter the Martian atmosphere and planetary plasmas to escape. Key Points: Magnetic reconnection at the Martian mini‐magnetopause is reported for the first timeProton and oxygen ions from the mini‐magnetosphere are accelerated during magnetic reconnectionMagnetic reconnection at the mini‐magnetopause could cause solar wind to enter the mini‐magnetosphere [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using high‐resolution data from the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission, an electron‐only reconnection current sheet is found between two successive dipolarization fronts (DFs). The electron‐only reconnection occurs between the northward component of the magnetic field of the flux pileup region (FPR) of the first DF (DF1) and the southward component of the magnetic dip of the second DF (DF2). The faster DF2 compresses the FPR of DF1, which constitutes an anti‐parallel topology and reduces the thickness of the current sheet. Further analysis shows that the current sheet is unstable to the electron tearing instability, which may power the onset of the reconnection. Our results suggest that these two DFs may merge into one by the reconnection, which sheds light on the evolution of DFs during their earthward propagation. Plain Language Summary: Magnetic reconnection, releasing magnetic energy and energizing plasmas, are believed to be responsible for the explosive phenomena in space. Though reconnection has been investigated for decades, the onset of reconnection is elusive. Dipolarization fronts (DFs), important carriers in the transportation of mass, magnetic flux, and energy in the magnetotail, can be generated by reconnections and will integrate into the geomagnetic field at last. The generation of DFs and dynamics at DFs are thoroughly probed by simulations and observations. However, the evolution of DFs during their earthward propagation is rarely inspected. In this work, we present an observation of an electron‐only reconnection between two successive DFs. The latter DF compresses the former DF and reduces the thickness of the current sheet between them. Inside the reconnection current sheet, electron tearing instability is unstable, which may power the reconnection. By reconnection, these two DFs may merge. Our observations can improve our understanding of the evolution of DFs in the magnetotail. Key Points: An electron‐only reconnection current sheet is found between two dipolarization frontsThe current sheet is unstable to the electron tearing instabilityDF2 compresses DF1 and thins the current sheet, which may initiate electron tearing instability and trigger the reconnection [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

First-principles calculations using first-principles calculations have been performed to investigate the structural, elastic, and electronic properties of chalcogenide perovskite CaZrS3 under different pressures. The calculated structural parameters and elastic constants show a good agreement with the other theoretical values. The details of pressure dependences of the structural parameters and elastic constants are also presented and discussed. According to our calculation, we found that the deformation resistances along the axial direction are stronger than the deformation resistances in shape. It is also found, the elastic constant C11 is always bigger than the C33 at the same pressure, showing that it is easier to compress along the c-axis than along the a-axis. For the calculated results of the pressure dependence of the electronic band structure, the total density of states and partial density of states of orthorhombic CaZrS3. We found that the band gap decreases with the pressure, which provide some additional information about these chalcopyrite semiconductors under pressure to fundamental material physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying how different wave modes interaction with each other is an important topic in space physics. Using measurements from the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission, we report an event in the Earth's magnetosheath where ultra‐low‐frequency (ULF) waves, whistler waves, and quasi‐electrostatic whistler harmonics were observed simultaneously. Specifically, our analyses show that the parallel components of ULF waves modulate the electron butterfly distributions which provide the free energy to the excitation of the observed whistler waves. Meanwhile, quasi‐electrostatic waves sharing frequencies that are nearly integral multiples of the frequency of the observed whistlers are identified as nonlinear harmonics of whistler waves. The close correlations between the whistler waves and the electric field harmonics, as well as the high bicoherence indexes within the frequency ranges of the whistlers and harmonics, suggest the significant nonlinear couplings between the whistler waves and quasi‐electrostatic whistler harmonics. Our work provides new insights to the interactions between waves at different frequency bands. Key Points: Ultra‐low‐frequency (ULF) waves, whistler waves, and quasi‐electrostatic whistler harmonics are observed simultaneously in the magnetosheath plasmaULF waves modulate the electron butterfly shaped distributions which provide free energy for the excitation of the observed whistler wavesQuasi‐electrostatic waves are identified as the whistler harmonics, and may be generated by the wave‐wave nonlinear coupling [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy particles are extensively detected in the space environment, especially in the solar wind and interplanetary magnetosphere. Various physical processes can be affected by the physical dynamics of heavy particles. One of the processes is magnetic reconnection, which converts the energy from the magnetic field to the particles. In the present study, we investigate the impact of heavy particles with increasing mass (i.e., mass-loading effect) on energy conversion rate during magnetic reconnection. The declined reconnection rate and energy conversion rates by this effect are captured as reported previously. After considering three major regions in reconnection, it reveals that the mass-loading effect decreases more energy conversion rate of positive species at the separatrix, affects the heavier species less in the inner electron diffusion region (EDR), and propels the formation of a non-zero electric field at reconnection front (RF). Our results provide a more comprehensive understanding of the magnetic reconnection with complicated plasma components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dipolarization fronts (DFs) are widely believed to host energy conversion processes. However, which mechanism is responsible for the energy conversion is still obscure. Using data from the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission, a current sheet is observed at a DF. This current sheet is caused by interchange instability bending the edge of the DF. Inside the current sheet, Hall electromagnetic field, super Alfvénic electron jets, demagnetization of ions and electrons, strong energy conversion, and steady ion flow and temperature are observed, indicating an electron‐only reconnection at the DF. The duskward plasma flow, which may be deflected by the DF, compresses the bent edges of the DF. As a result, the width of the current sheet between two adjacent bent edges of the DF reduces, and then reconnection begins. Our observations give direct evidence that magnetic reconnection results in energy conversion at a DF. Plain Language Summary: Magnetic reconnection is an explosive phenomenon in space, which can rapidly convert energy from magnetic field to particles. Dipolarization fronts are essential carriers of mass and energy from the magnetotail to the Earth. Strong energy conversion, considered to be even more significant than magnetic reconnection, is usually observed at dipolarization fronts. However, the specific mechanism responsible for the energy conversion at a dipolarization front is elusive. Using data from the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission, we present direct evidence of magnetic reconnection at a dipolarization front, leading to strong energy conversion. The reconnection occurs in the current sheet at the dipolarization front. The duskward diverted flow compresses the bent dipolarization front induced by interchange instability, resulting in reconnection. Key Points: A current sheet with strong energy conversion is found at a DFThe strong energy conversion at this DF is mainly caused by the magnetic reconnectionThe duskward diverted flow compresses the bent DF caused by interchange instability, leading to the reconnection [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]