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It has long been debated whether the "congruency sequence effect (CSE)" in conflict tasks such as Flanker could reflect adaptive control. The current study used "mouse tracking" to tackle the issue in a combination of three conflict tasks (i.e., Flanker, Simon, and Spatial Stroop tasks). Congruency effects from previous and current trials emerged in latencies as well as curvature of movement trajectories in all three tasks. Critically, movement initiation times were affected only by congruency on previous but not on current trials. A further analysis showed that even when initiation time on the previous trials was taken into account, a subtle but highly significant effect of conflict arising from trial N –1 on initiation times remained. Although not necessarily implying "conflict adaptation," i.e., a dynamic up- and downregulation of cognitive control in response to a recent conflict, our finding indicates a specific sensitivity to the presence or absence of recent "conflict" in the cognitive environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expected excellent tribological performance of high-entropy alloys (HEAs) is rarely achieved due to the absence of self-lubricating ability on the worn surface. In particular, the situation is more challenging in HEAs with face-centered cubic structure because of the inferior yield strength when used in dry sliding conditions. Unlike conventional soft-solid lubricants, which deteriorate the mechanical properties of HEA matrix, in this study we demonstrate in a protocol model alloy that the proper incorporation of few-layer graphene as reinforcement in CoCrFeNiMn can lead to both surface strengthening and lubrication. This is achieved by a partially chemical interface reaction between graphene and HEA via a tunable fabrication process, resulting in a reduction of wear rate and friction coefficient of 86.03% and 23.87%, respectively. As a result of the interfacial in-situ carbide strengthening together with the self-lubrication of graphene, this tailored composite structure also exhibits superior tribological properties over most HEA-based self-lubrication composites. Besides, the subsurface structure evolution and deformation mechanisms that influence the wear resistance are systematically clarified through microscopic exploration and atomistic simulation. The present study presents an effective strategy for the development of innovative HEA composites suitable for safety-critical applications, which overcomes the inherent compromise and achieves exceptional tribological performance, i.e., self-lubricating and anti-wear. [Display omitted] • The self-lubricating graphene reduces wear rate to an order of magnitude. • The wear rate of Gr/HEA composite surpasses most FCC-structured HEAs. • The in-situ carbides alter the plastic deformation mode from planar to wavy slips. • The graphene significantly alters the plowing and adhesion mechanisms during wear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing body of observational studies and Mendelian Randomisation analyses suggest an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia following COVID-19 infection. However, evidence on the potential association between COVID-19 and vascular dementia, which is plausible given the vascular complications of COVID-19 infection, is still limited. In this study, we conducted a two-sample Mendelian Randomisation analysis to examine the potential causal relationship between COVID-19 phenotypes and the risk of vascular dementia, using summary data from large-scale GWASs. The two-sample Mendelian Randomisation analysis did not detect any significant associations of COVID-19 infection, COVID-19 hospitalisation, or critical COVID-19 with the risk of vascular dementia, with weighted average β values of −0.29 (95% CI: −0.84, 0.26; p = 0.301), −0.12 (95% CI: −0.36, 0.13; p = 0.345), and −0.07 (95% CI: −0.23, 0.09; p = 0.374), respectively. Our findings do not support the hypothesis that vascular dementia is one of the long-term sequelae of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hypothalamus–pituitary–ovary axis is the most important system for regulating female reproductive endocrine function. Its dysfunction would lead to the abnormal secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, or luteinizing hormone, and eventually result in the occurrence of reproductive disease, such as congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, polycystic ovary syndrome, and premature ovarian failure. Recently, an anti-aging gene, Klotho, has gained broad attention in female reproductive diseases. Reports have shown that Klotho is closely correlated to the hypothalamus–pituitary–ovary axis and plays a key role in the development and progression of reproductive diseases. With this issue, we generally review the physiological and pathological role of Klotho in the hypothalamus–pituitary–ovary axis. We also review the underlying mechanisms of Klotho in promoting and preventing female reproductive diseases, which involve the dysfunction of the fibroblast growth factor–Klotho endocrine system, the abnormal signaling regulation of Wnt-β-catenin and insulin-like growth factor-1, the accumulation of oxidative stress, and the inhibition of autophagy, eventually affecting the genesis, development, ovulation, or atresia of follicles. The present review would provide new insights and potential therapeutic target strategies for clinical strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The question of whether bilingualism conveys a broader advantage in executive functions has recently been controversially discussed, with the empirical findings presenting a complex pattern of positive and null results. Here we present results from three standard tasks measuring executive functions (Flanker; Simon; Spatial Stroop) in which we compared performance of English monolingual to Chinese–English bilingual young adults. Participants provided responses via movement of a computer mouse rather than the conventional key presses, which provides a rich signal of the unfolding response dynamics. Clear differences between bi- and monolinguals emerged, with the former providing more 'efficient' responses than the latter. Results are discussed regarding the extent to which these results can be characterised as a genuine "bilingual advantage". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Traditional cluster ensemble (CE) methods use labels produced by base learning algorithms to obtain an ensemble result. These base learning algorithms can also obtain other information, such as parameter, covariance, or probability data, which is called dark knowledge. In this paper, we propose a method for integrating dark knowledge, which is usually ignored, into the ensemble learning process. This provides more information about the base clustering. We apply nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) to the clustering ensemble model based on dark knowledge. First, different base clustering results are obtained by using various clustering configurations, before dark knowledge of every base clustering algorithm is extracted. NMF is then applied to the dark knowledge to obtain integrated results. Experimental results show that the method outperforms other clustering ensemble techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CoCrFeNiMn high entropy alloy (HEA) owns prominent strain hardening capacity and high tensile elongation but poor wear resistance. In present work, in-situ carbide/CoCrFeNiMn composites with excellent anti-wear properties were fabricated by a flake powder metallurgy route using graphene oxide (GO) and CoCrFeNiMn as original powders. As a result, the hard carbide phase, Cr 7 C 3 , is formed in the soft matrix via in-situ reaction at the GO/HEA interface, which leads to a dense distribution of small-sized Cr 7 C 3 and strong interfacial bonding of the composites. With the addition of 5 wt% GO, the microhardness is improved by 66.7% and the macroscopic wear rate is decreased by 78.3% as compared with CoCrFeNiMn HEA. Increased nano-scratch resistance indicates that the dense distribution of hard Cr 7 C 3 carbide and the strong Cr 7 C 3 -CoCrFeNiMn interfacial bonding play key roles to resist the plastic flow of the HEA matrix during friction and wear. This study may provide a pathway to improve the wear resistance of HEA for engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The intensity and position of coupling points in polarization-maintaining fibers (PMFs) caused by force and twist can be effectively detected by Polarization Coupling Measurement (PCM). The sensitivity of detection will decrease due to the movement of scanning Michelson interferometer. To detect the weak coupling point, an EMD-based method is proposed in this paper. The experimental results illustrate that the EMD-based method can suppress the noise and improve the SNR effectively. The DWT method is also performed for a comparative study. The results show that the EMD-based method is effective and applicable for PCM and the coupling point can still be detected when the intensity is as weak as −70dB. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• The effect of layer thickness on hardness is investigated in amorphous nanolaminates. • There is a strong length-scale-dependence mechanical property of the nanolaminates. • With an increasing of h , the deformation mechanism is dominated by surface layer. • The influence of interface on the expansion of shear deformation is demonstrated. The nanoindentation deformation behaviors of Cu 80 Zr 20 (A)/Cu 20 Zr 80 (B) amorphous/amorphous nanolaminates were studied by using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, aiming to investigate the effects of heterogeneous interface and layer thickness on the hardness. It was found that there is a strong length-scale-dependence for the mechanical properties of amorphous/amorphous nanolaminates. There is a critical range of layer thickness h (~1 nm < h < 2 nm), within which the hardness of nanolaminates is minimized. By analyzing the shear strain and atomic displacement vector, the interface strengthening effect was found to be prominent when the layer thickness is less than 1 nm. We also revealed that the hardness of nanolaminates is mainly contributed by the surface layer when the layer thickness is larger than 1 nm, which should not be ignored when evaluating the mechanical properties at nanoscale. The current work highlights the influence of interface on the shear localized deformation through MD simulations, and shows that the amorphous/amorphous nanolaminates could be an important candidate for high performance materials at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is closely related with the onset and development of metabolic abnormalities. However, the correlation between PCOS and kidney injury has not been clarified, and the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Herein, we performed a prospective survey in 55 PCOS and 69 healthy participants. Furthermore, the correlation analyses between serum testosterone and renal functional manifestations of patients and healthy subjects, including urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR), urinary κ‐light chains (KapU), urinary λ‐light chains (LamU), urinary α1‐microglobulin (α1‐MU), and urinary β2‐microglobulin (β2‐MU), were analyzed. Compared with that in normal subjects, the levels of serum testosterone and UACR were significantly higher in PCOS patients. Serum testosterone is significantly correlated with the disease severity of PCOS. Although urinary excretions of KapU, LamU, α1‐MU, and β2‐MU did not increase in PCOS patients, they had a significantly positive correlation with the extent of serum testosterone in PCOS patients. IN vitro, primary cultured human ovary granulosa cells (GCs) were isolated from the follicular fluid (FF) extracting from PCOS patients and controls. FF, especially which extracted from PCOS patients with a high expression of serum testosterone, significantly induced cell apoptosis and inflammation in human GCs. To examine the communication between PCOS and kidney injury, a human proximal tubular epithelial cell line (HKC‐8) was cultured and administered FF. Interestingly, FF from PCOS patients with a higher level of serum testosterone induced fibrotic lesions in HKC‐8 cells. These data suggest serum testosterone plays a critical role in PCOS and PCOS‐associated kidney injury. Serum testosterone may serve as a promising indicator for kidney fibrotic injury outcomes in PCOS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The simultaneous improvement of mechanical and functional properties of Ti alloys is of considerable significance for their diverse applications and service life. Incorporating graphene with Ti is hoping to realize that, however, it is challenging to achieve the improvement because of the poor chemical stability of carbon/Ti systems. This challenge becomes particularly significant when using high carbon-content reinforcements, as the reinforcement agglomeration is considered to adversely affect composite performances. In this work, an efficient powder metallurgy method was developed to fabricate titanium matrix composites reinforced by a high content of graphene nanosheets (GNSs). Quasi-continuous GNSs were arranged in a 3D network and were surrounded by in-situ TiC. The results revealed that the load-transfer and solid-solution strengthening factors contributed to the high mechanical strength of the composites. Moreover, the GNS networks conduced to the improvement of thermal conduction, reduced the total weight, and enhanced the anti-wear performance of the composites via self-lubrication. Furthermore, the proposed approach can be applied to other carbon/metal composites for achieving significant improvements in their performance. [Display omitted] • An overall improved property is realized in high-contents graphene/Ti composites. • Load transfer and solid solution factors strengthen the compressive yield strength. • Dense-agglomerated graphene nanosheets build a channel for thermal energy transfer. • Self-lubrication of graphene decreases coefficient of friction and wear loss. • The proposed approach and mechanism can be applied to other carbon/metal systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • CSA-OPC blends perform the properties of rapid setting and high early strength. • Ettringite content of CSA is increased by the addition of OPC at early age. • Ettringite morphology of CSA-OPC is related to the rise of pH caused by OPC. • Evolution of ettringite from CSA to CSA-OPC is caused by the presence of lime. Abstract Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) was used to enhance the early performances of calcium sulfoaluminate cement (CSA), and the hydration process of CSA-OPC composite was researched by XRD, TG, and SEM. Results showed that the rapid setting and high early strength of CSA can be achieved by the addition of 10–20 wt% OPC. The addition of OPC can evidently increase the ettringite content of CSA at early age, and change the morphology of ettringite significantly related to its high pH value. The difference of ettringite from CSA to CSA-OPC composite was mainly contributed to the presence of lime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multi-principal nitride film is known for its high hardness, good corrosion resistance, but its limited toughness severely reduces its wear resistance. This study presents a VCoNiN weak-nitride-forming system with unique microstructure of nanocrystalline embedded in amorphous matrix. The VCoNiN system demonstrates superior hardness to the VCoNi multi-principle alloy film and VN metal nitride film. Moreover, it exhibits the lowest wear rate against Si 3 N 4 at room temperature. The exceptional mechanical properties and excellent oxidation resistance derived from the multi-principal system contribute to the superior wear resistance of VCoNiN. Additionally, the novel microstructure allows for more uniform deformation during wear as the nanocomposite structure accommodates plastic strain without cracking or localized brittle fracture. This provides a promising design strategy for weak-nitride-forming film with enhanced wear resistance by enhancing the plastic deformation ability of brittle nitride. • VCoNiN film exhibits much higher toughness and ultra-lower wear rate than VN. • The structure of nanocrystal embedded in amorphous enhances toughness significantly. • More uniform plastic deformation during the wear greatly reduces the wear rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The TiCxN1−x coatings containing calcium (Ca–TiCxN1−x) were prepared on the surface of titanium through plasma electrolytic carbonitriding (PEC/N) technique in a certain concentration of electrolyte solution of triethanolamine, urea and calcium nitrate. The effects of parameters, such as discharge time, on the Ca–TiCxN1−x coatings were investigated, and the phase composition, morphologies, surface chemical components, anticorrosion and hardness were also examined, respectively. The results show that the plasma discharge time significantly affects the microstructure and composition of the coatings. In addition, introduction of the Ca–TiCxN1−x coatings into the Ti surface can clearly improve the wear resistance and anticorrosion. Moreover, MTT assay demonstrates that the Ca–TiCxN1−x coatings can improve the cell viability, showing excellent cytocompatibility. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Many researchers have shown that renin–angiotensin system (RAS) is involved in various important aspects of male reproduction. In this study, we assessed whether abnormal levels of seminal angiotensinogen (AGT) may be associated with semen parameters in infertile males. A total of 115 male patients were recruited, and semen parameters, seminal AGT and the electrolytes including K+, Na+, Cl−, P and Ca were evaluated. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2010 criteria, the patients were divided into two groups: G1 group with normal semen parameters (n = 42) and G2 group with subnormal semen parameters (n = 73). The level of seminal AGT was significantly higher in G2 group compared with G1 group. Moreover, the level of AGT was negatively correlated with the percentage of total motility (r = −.322, p = .000), progressive motility (PR) (r = −.339, p = .000) and morphologically normal forms (r = −.263, p = .004). This study suggests that elevated seminal AGT level is associated with increased risk of asthenospermia and teratozoospermia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]