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Aims Design Methods Results Conclusion Relevance to Clinical Practice Patient or Public Contribution Reporting Method To identify the multiple mediating effects of resilience and depression between social support and self‐care ability among patients with breast cancer during rehabilitation to provide reference for developing and implementing targeted interventions.A cross‐sectional study reported according to the STROBE checklist.A convenience sample of 320 patients with breast cancer during rehabilitation was recruited from one hospital in China. Data were collected from April to August 2022 using a self‐report questionnaire, including the demographic and clinical information, Appraisal of Self‐Care Agency Scale‐Revised, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Connor‐Davidson Resilience Scale‐10 item, and Patient Health Questionnaire‐9. The mediation analysis was conducted using the SPSS Process macro.Self‐care ability was positively associated with social support (β = .229) and resilience (β = .290), and negatively associated with depression (β = −.208). The relationship between social support and self‐care ability was mediated by resilience and depression, respectively, and together in serial. The multiple mediating effects accounted for 34.0% of the total effect of social support on self‐care ability.Our findings identify resilience and depression as multiple mediators between social support and self‐care ability and highlight the important roles of social support, resilience and depression in improving self‐care ability.Healthcare providers should pay great attention to the underlying mechanisms of how social support affects patients' self‐care ability during breast cancer rehabilitation. Integrated intervention programmes targeted at enhancing social support, building resilience and alleviating depression might be beneficial to the improvement of self‐care ability.No patient or public contribution.The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist for cross‐sectional studies was applied to report the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the energy band structure and transport properties of electrons in superlattice structure based on semi-Dirac material with one-dimensional periodic potentials of square barriers. The influence of different parameters on transmission probability in superlattice structure is studied. It is found that two new Dirac points are formed in the superlattice structure by adjusting the gap parameter. The position of the new Dirac points can be regulated by changing the size of the potential barrier, the ratio of well width to barrier width, and the gap parameter. Some forbidden bands appear in the transmission probability, the location and width of the forbidden bands can be regulated by changing the system parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unconventional superconductivity on a honeycomb lattice has received increasing interest since the discovery of graphene primarily due to the similarities between materials with a honeycomb lattice and cuprate superconductors. Many theoretical studies have been conducted on superconductivity on a honeycomb lattice, however, a consistent picture is still lacking. In this paper, we have extended the theory of kinetic-energy-driven superconductivity, which has been developed to investigate unconventional superconductivity in cuprate superconductors, to explore superconductivity on a honeycomb lattice within the t-J model. Our results demonstrate that the charge-carrier pair gap parameter with d x 2 − y 2 + i d x y -wave symmetry exhibits a dome-like shape as a function of doping, with superconductivity emerging at a certain doping concentration and disappearing at high doping levels, similar to what has been observed in cuprate and cobaltate superconductors. Furthermore, the charge-carrier pair gap parameter decreases with increasing the value of J ∕ t (the ratio between the antiferromagnetic exchange coupling constant and the nearest-neighbor hopping integral), and approaches zero when J ∕ t reaches a sufficiently large value. This indicates that the antiferromagnetic order will suppress the superconducting state and a sufficiently strong exchange coupling will completely destroy the superconductivity. Taking into account our present results together with the corresponding results of cuprate and cobaltate superconductors, it appears that the dome-like shape of the doping dependence of the charge-carrier pair gap parameter may be a common feature in doped Mott insulators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: CD4+ T cell helper and regulatory function in human cancers has been well characterised. However, the definition of tumor‐infiltrating CD4+ T cell exhaustion and how it contributes to the immune response and disease progression in human gastric cancer (GC) remain largely unknown. Methods: A total of 128 GC patients were enrolled in the study. The expression of CD39 and PD‐1 on CD4+ T cells in the different samples was analysed by flow cytometry. GC‐infiltrating CD4+ T cell subpopulations based on CD39 expression were phenotypically and functionally assessed. The role of CD39 in the immune response of GC‐infiltrating T cells was investigated by inhibiting CD39 enzymatic activity. Results: In comparison with CD4+ T cells from the non‐tumor tissues, significantly more GC‐infiltrating CD4+ T cells expressed CD39. Most GC‐infiltrating CD39+CD4+ T cells exhibited CD45RA−CCR7− effector–memory phenotype expressing more exhaustion‐associated inhibitory molecules and transcription factors and produced less TNF‐α, IFN‐γ and cytolytic molecules than their CD39−CD4+ counterparts. Moreover, ex vivo inhibition of CD39 enzymatic activity enhanced their functional potential reflected by TNF‐α and IFN‐γ production. Finally, increased percentages of GC‐infiltrating CD39+CD4+ T cells were positively associated with disease progression and patients' poorer overall survival. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that CD39 expression defines GC‐infiltrating CD4+ T cell exhaustion and their immunosuppressive function. Targeting CD39 may be a promising therapeutic strategy for treating GC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invading microbes face a myriad of cidal mechanisms of phagocytes that inflict physical damage to microbial structures. How intracellular bacterial pathogens adapt to these stresses is not fully understood. Here, we report the discovery of a virulence mechanism by which changes to the mechanical stiffness of the mycobacterial cell surface confer refraction to killing during infection. Long-term time-lapse atomic force microscopy was used to reveal a process of "mechanical morphotype switching" in mycobacteria exposed to host intracellular stress. A "soft" mechanical morphotype switch enhances tolerance to intracellular macrophage stress, including cathelicidin. Both pharmacologic treatment, with bedaquiline, and a genetic mutant lacking uvrA modified the basal mechanical state of mycobacteria into a soft mechanical morphotype, enhancing survival in macrophages. Our study proposes microbial cell mechanical adaptation as a critical axis for surviving host-mediated stressors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The entertainment industry is driven to sell certain commodities transnationally, particularly in a world where borders are becoming increasingly diffused through the access afforded by the Internet. Media content is easily consumed, making cultural exporting fast and easy. Similar tropes and plot have been replicated in the East Asian film and TV industry, perhaps in hopes of replicating the success. This paper looks at the manufacture of ideal masculinities within East Asia, particularly China. From ex-members of K-pop group EXO to the successful TV series, cross-influence of East Asian popular culture is prominent. Through this paper, I look at the influence of K-dramas on the Chinese TV industry and particularly the manufacturing of a militarized masculinity on Chinese TV. Far from portraying brute and fearsome soldiers, ideal masculinity on TV is portrayed as "steely exterior but gentle internally" and thus desirable romantic partners to heterosexual women. By exploring the basic conception of Chinese masculinity, I then discuss representations of militarized masculinity on the silver screen (Wolf Warrior II) and C-dramas, with particular focus on the series, You Are My Hero (2021). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, in situ electrochemical synthesis of Ni–Mg–Al–LDHs for the treatment of simulated strontium-containing liquid radioactive waste (LRW) from nuclear power plants. The optimal reaction conditions were obtained by single-factor experiments: initial pH of 12, Mg electrode current density (JMg) of 12.5 mA/cm2, Ni–Mg–Al metal molar ratio (RNi_Mg–Al) of 3:1:1 and reaction temperature (T) of 30 °C. The removal rate of Sr2+ can reach up to 99.65%. The synthetic precipitate was characterized by XRD, FESEM-EDS and FT-IR under optimal reaction conditions. The XRD pattern showed that the main component of the precipitate is Ni–Mg–Al–LDHs. The precipitate was characterized by FESEM to have distinct layered double hydroxides (LDHs) structure. The absorption peaks of O–H bonds, C–O bonds, and M–O–M (M is Ni, Mg and Al) bonds appeared in IR spectrum. The method of in situ electrochemical synthesis of Ni–Mg–Al–LDHs has promising applications in the treatment of LRW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the transverse magnetic focusing of pseudospin-1 fermions in two-dimensional materials with a superconducting contact is studied. The transmission coefficient and Andreev reflection coefficient from injector lead to collector lead are calculated based on the Landauer–Büttiker formula combined with the non-equilibrium Green's function method. The local state density diagrams of the electron and hole transmission in the center region are given, which provide a complete image of the ballistic electron–hole cyclotron orbits. Using these images, the positive longitudinal shift in Andreev reflection of the pseudospin-1 fermion can be obviously seen. Furthermore, it is found that the total offset is proportional to the number of Andreev reflection occurrence. This setup provides the possibility of detecting this shift experimentally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced packaging technology has become more and more important in the semiconductor industry because of the benefits of higher I/O density compared to conventional soldering technology. In advanced packaging technology, copper–copper (Cu-Cu) bonding has become the preferred choice due to its excellent electrical and thermal properties. However, one of the major challenges of Cu-Cu bonding is the high thermal budget of the bonding process caused by Cu oxidation, which can result in wafer warpage and other back-end-of-line process issues in some cases. Thus, for specific applications, reducing the thermal budget and preventing Cu oxidation are important considerations in low-temperature hybrid bonding processes. This paper first reviews the advancements in low-temperature Cu-based bonding technologies for advanced packaging. Various low-temperature Cu-Cu bonding techniques such as surface pretreatment, surface activation, structure modification, and orientation control have been proposed and investigated. To overcome coplanarity issues of Cu pillars and insufficient gaps for filling, low-temperature Cu-Cu bonding used, but it is still challenging in fine-pitch applications. Therefore, low-temperature Cu/SiO2, Cu/SiCN, and Cu/polymer hybrid bonding have been developed for advanced packaging applications. Furthermore, we present a novel hybrid bonding scheme for metal/polymer interfaces that achieves good flatness and an excellent bonding interface without the need for the chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy band structure, density of states, and optical properties of monolayers of MoS2 doped with alkaline earth metals (Be/Mg/Ca/Sr/Ba) are systematically studied based on first principles. The results indicate that all the doped systems have a great potential to be formed and structurally stable. In comparison to monolayer MoS2, doping alkaline earth metals results in lattice distortions in the doped system. Therefore, the recombination of photogenerated hole–electron pairs is suppressed effectively. Simultaneously, the introduction of dopants reduces the band gap of the systems while creating impurity levels. Hence, the likelihood of electron transfer from the valence to the conduction band is enhanced, which means a reduction in the energy required for such a transfer. Moreover, doping monolayer MoS2 with alkaline earth metals increases the static dielectric constant and enhances its polarizability. Notably, the Sr–MoS2 system exhibits the highest value of static permittivity, demonstrating the strongest polarization capability. The doped systems exhibit a red-shifted absorption spectrum in the low-energy region. Consequently, the Be/Mg/Ca–MoS2 systems demonstrate superior visible absorption properties and a favorable band gap, indicating their potential as photo-catalysts for water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We sought to explore the relationship between dexmedetomidine as an anesthetic adjuvant in cardiac surgery and postoperative complications and length of stay (LOS) in the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU). Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients aged 18 years and older who underwent heart valve surgery between October 2020 and June 2022. The primary endpoint of the study was major postoperative complications (cardiac arrest, atrial fibrillation, myocardial injury/infarction, heart failure) and the secondary endpoint was prolonged CICU LOS (defined as LOS > 90th percentile). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed for variables that were significant in the univariate analysis. Results: A total of 856 patients entered our study. The 283 patients who experienced the primary and secondary endpoints were included in the adverse outcomes group, and the remaining 573 were included in the prognostic control group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age > 60 years (odds ratio [OR], 1.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23–2.31; p < 0.01), cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) > 180 min (OR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.03–2.55; p = 0.04) and postoperative mechanical ventilation time > 10 h (OR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.35–2.52; p < 0.01) were independent risk factors for major postoperative complications; Age > 60 years (OR, 3.20; 95% CI, 1.65–6.20; p < 0.01), preoperative NYHA class 4 (OR, 4.03; 95% CI, 1.74–9.33; p < 0.01), diabetes mellitus (OR, 2.57; 95% CI, 1.22–5.41; p = 0.01), Intraoperative red blood cell (RBC) transfusion > 650 ml (OR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.13–3.66; p = 0.02), Intraoperative bleeding > 1200 ml (OR, 2.69; 95% CI, 1.42–5.12; p < 0.01) were independent risk factors for prolonged CICU length of stay. Intraoperative use of dexmedetomidine as an anesthetic adjunct was a protective factor for major complications (odds ratio, 0.51; 95% confidence interval, 0.35–0.74; p < 0.01) and prolonged CICU stay. (odds ratio, 0.37; 95% confidence interval, 0.19–0.73; p < 0.01). Conclusions: In patients undergoing heart valve surgery, age, duration of cardiopulmonary bypass, and duration of mechanical ventilation are associated with major postoperative complication. Age, preoperative NYHA classification 4, diabetes mellitus, intraoperative bleeding, and RBC transfusion are associated with increased CICU length of stay. Intraoperative use of dexmedetomidine may improve such clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide, with low rates of early diagnosis and surgical resection. In recent years, with the rapid development of liquid biopsy technology, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has emerged as a research hotspot in the field of precision medicine for liver cancer. Existing studies have demonstrated the suitability of ctDNA for combined detection with other liver cancer diagnostic markers, enabling a multi-index analysis. In recent years, a novel prediction model has been developed for early liver cancer screening based on ctDNA liquid biopsy, M2P-HCC (methylation, mutation, and protein-HCC), mainly incorporating methylation changes, gene mutations, and protein markers associated with liver cancer. Preliminary validation in the HCCscreenTM Investigational (HIT, ChiCTR1800020233) study, which focused on screening early liver cancer in communities with Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity, yielded promising results with 100% sensitivity and 94% specificity. However, it remains uncertain whether M2P-HCC can be effectively applied in high-risk populations for Hepatitis B-associated liver cancer, warranting further research. Methods: Patients who were under long-term follow-up at the outpatient clinic of the Infectious Diseases Center of West China Hospital of Sichuan University from December 2020 to January 2023 were recruited in this prospective observational study and underwent the M2P-HCC test. The study population consisted of high-risk patients with Hepatitis B-related liver cancer who met the inclusion criteria. Patients with a history of previous malignancy, recent blood transfusion, autoimmune diseases, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection were excluded. Clinical data were collected at a baseline, and all patients underwent the M2P-HCC blood test. Based on the test results, they were categorized into positive, early-warning, and negative groups. Prospective cohort observation and regular follow-ups were performed for 6–8 months. Results: 313 patients met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. After 6–8 months of follow-up, HCC occurred in 41(13.1%) participants. The M2P-HCC test demonstrated good predictive performance with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.88 (95% CI: 0.81–0.95, p < 0.001) and a cutoff value of 83 points (sensitivity 82.9% and specificity 85.7%). In contrast, the combination of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and ultrasound (US) yielded an inferior predictive performance (AUC 0.76 (95% CI: 0.69–0.84, p < 0.001), sensitivity 58.5%, and specificity 94.1%). Multivariate analyses revealed that M2P-HCC was an independent predictor of increased risk of HCC (OR = 1.16 [1.09–1.22], p < 0.001). Conclusions: M2P-HCC liquid biopsy demonstrated good performance for early liver cancer screening in high-risk populations of Hepatitis B-related liver cancer, exhibiting better sensitivity than the combination of AFP and US. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imidazole-based compounds are a series of heterocyclic compounds that exhibit a wide range of biological and pharmaceutical activities. However, those extant syntheses using conventional protocols can be time-costly, require harsh conditions, and result in low yields. As a novel and green technique, sonochemistry has emerged as a promising method for organic synthesis with several advantages over conventional methods, including enhancing reaction rates, improving yields, and reducing the use of hazardous solvents. Contemporarily, a growing body of ultrasound-assisted reactions have been applied in the preparation of imidazole derivatives, which demonstrated greater benefits and provided a new strategy. Herein, we introduce the brief history of sonochemistry and focus on the discussion of the multifarious approaches for the synthesis of imidazole-based compounds under ultrasonic irradiation and its advantages in comparison with conventional protocols, including typical name-reactions and various sorts of catalysts in those reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asexual and sexual morphs of saprobic bambusicolous fungi were collected from freshwater and terrestrial habitats in Sichuan Province, China. Taxonomic identification of these fungi was carried out on the basis of morphological comparison, culture characteristics, and molecular phylogeny. Multi-gene phylogeny based on combined SSU, ITS, LSU, rpb2, and tef1α sequence data was performed to determine their phylogenetic placement, and the result showed that these fungi belong to Savoryellaceae. Morphologically, four asexual morphs are similar to Canalisporium and Dematiosporium, while a sexual morph well-fits to Savoryella. Three new species, Canalisporium sichuanense, Dematiosporium bambusicola, and Savoryella bambusicola are identified and described. Two new records, C. dehongense and D. aquaticum, were recovered from the bamboo hosts in terrestrial and freshwater habitats, respectively. In addition, the nomenclatural confusion of C. dehongense and C. thailandense is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cement is an important way to digest industrial waste. Semi‐dry gas desulfurized ash (SGDA) and granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) as solid waste both have pozzolanic activity as well as small particle size and continuous particle size distribution, which allow their use as cement mixtures. In the present work, a cement matrix with 60% Portland cement, 20% SGDA, and 20% GBFS, including 3% nano‐TiO2 and 2% nano‐SiO2 as dopants, was produced via cement slurry mixing process. The obtained matrix was found to have the better 3‐ and 28‐day age compressive strength (by 104% and 116%, respectively) as compared with the pure Portland cement; the mortar compressive strength is also improved. The imaging and mineralogical analysis revealed that the nanomodified cement matrix had a more compact structure along with a well‐developed crystal form and the uniform micropore distribution. Furthermore, the doped cement mixture exhibited good fire resistance: Even after exposure to simulated fire conditions for 2.5 h at 450°C, the compressive strength of the composite was 98.27% of its initial value (57 MPa) and the microstructure remained undestroyed. The findings of this study open up new prospects for collaborative use of SGDA and GBFS as solid waste along with nano‐TiO2 and nano‐SiO2 as dopants, therefore providing outstanding fire stability of related composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hypertriglyceridemia is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis and vascular inflammation even when low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels are normal. However, few cohort studies on hypertriglyceridemia have been conducted in males with higher susceptibility to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related deterioration of arterial structure and function. Our objective was to investigate the incidence of hypertriglyceridemia during treatment with combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) in males with HIV and explore its related risk factors. Methods: In this retrospective study, we included 309 males living with HIV (median age 31 years [interquartile range 26–42.5]) who initiated cART treatment in our hospital from January 2013 to December 2018. We collected follow-up data on serum triglycerides and other related information as of June 31, 2021. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze the related risk factors. Results: In 666.7 person-years, hypertriglyceridemia occurred in 140 patients (triglyceride ≥2.3 mmol/L [200 mg/dL]), and the incidence rate was 21.0 per 100 person-years (Patients who took the lamivudine [3TC] + tenofovir disoproxil fumarate [TDF] + efavirenz [EFV] regimen accounted for 77.0% of the total patients.). Multiple Cox regression analysis showed that baseline CD4/CD8 ratio < 0.20 (hazard ratio [HR], 2.705 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.381–5.296]; P = 0.004}, body mass index (BMI) ≥ 24.0 kg/m2 (HR, 1.768 [95% CI: 1.225–2.552]; P = 0.002), borderline high triglyceride at baseline (HR, 3.457 [95% CI: 2.162–5.527]; P < 0.001), and 3TC + zidovudine (AZT) + EFV regimen (HR, 2.702 [95% CI: 1.593–4.581]; P < 0.001), or 3TC + TDF + lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) regimen (HR, 4.349 [95% CI: 2.664–7.102]; P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for hypertriglyceridemia. Conclusion: During the course of cART treatment, the incidence of hypertriglyceridemia in males with HIV was high. The main risk factors influencing its occurrence are a low baseline CD4/CD8 ratio, overweight and obesity, and the use of AZT or LPV/r in the cART regimen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spongospora subterranea f. sp. subterranea is a major pathogen of potatoes leading to losses in tuber quality and yield. Disease can be expressed as root infection, root galling and tuber lesions, the latter known as powdery scab. Attachment of zoospores to potato root hairs is the first step before infection of roots and disease development. Root hair infection results in root dysfunction leading to impaired plant productivity and yield. Varieties vary in their susceptibility to root and tuber disease; however, varietal screening is both time and resource intensive. Furthermore, traditional screens assess root galling or tuber disease and not root infection. In this study, we determined optimal conditions for zoospore release and attachment of zoospores to plant roots and used this information to develop an in vitro bioassay to assess resistance to zoospore root attachment among 153 potato lines and cultivars. Optimal zoospore release occurred at 20°C in Hoagland's solution in a rapid and synchronized manner over the first 2 days, followed by a steep decline. The extent of zoospore root attachment varied with cultivar (Iwa > Agria > Russet Burbank > Gladiator), region of the root maturation zone (lower > middle > upper) and temperature (greatest zoospore root attachment occurring at 15°C). Further comparisons suggested efficiency of zoospore root attachment was also generally associated with known variety resistance to powdery scab, zoosporangial infection and root galling, with a few notable exceptions. The bioassay proved to be a rapid and robust method for screening cultivar resistance to zoospore root attachment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcoholic liver damage is caused by long-term drinking, and it further develops into alcoholic liver diseases. In this study, we prepared a probiotic fermentation product of Grifola frondosa total active components (PFGF) by fermentation with Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and Pediococcus acidilactici. After fermentation, the total sugar and protein content in the PFGF significantly decreased, while the lactic acid level and antioxidant activity of the PFGF increased. Afterward, we investigated the alleviating effect of PFGF on alcoholic liver injury in alcohol-fed mice. The results showed that the PFGF intervention reduced the necrosis of the liver cells, attenuated the inflammation of the liver and intestines, restored the liver function, increased the antioxidant factors of the liver, and maintained the cecum tissue barrier. Additionally, the results of the 16S rRNA sequencing analysis indicated that the PFGF intervention increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as Lactobacillus, Ruminococcaceae, Parabacteroids, Parasutterella, and Alistipes, to attenuate intestinal inflammation. These results demonstrate that PFGF can potentially alleviate alcoholic liver damage by restoring the intestinal barrier and regulating the intestinal microflora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, in-situ electrochemical synthesis of monohydric phosphate intercalated layered double hydroxides (LDHs) was used to remove Sr2+ from the simulated liquid radioactive wastes. The optimum reaction conditions were obtained by response surface methodology (RSM). The removal of Sr2+ can reach up to 99.30% and the adsorption capacity of Zn–Al–LDHs–HPO4 toward Sr2+ was 6.01 mg/g under optimal conditions. With Sr2+ being removed mainly by multilayer chemisorption, the adsorption kinetics followed Lagergren pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and the adsorption isotherms followed Freundlich model. Thermodynamic studies of adsorption showed that the adsorption of Sr2+ to LDHs was a spontaneous and endothermic process. This method of LDHs synthesis simplifies the operational steps and is a promising treatment method because of its low energy consumption, high efficiency and small solid waste volume. This study provides an innovative idea for the treatment of strontium-containing liquid radioactive wastes from nuclear power plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crack initiation, propagation, and coalescence are important for the understanding of rock mass behavior. In this paper, we use an improved numerical manifold method (NMM) that can stimulate the initiation, propagation, and coalescence of many cracks simultaneously to model the continuous–discontinuous deformation of granite under uniaxial and confined compression. This new simulation method couples subcritical crack growth (SCG) theory and the Mohr–Coulomb strength criterion with tension cut-off to consider the propagation of virtual and real cracks, respectively, and uses a statistical Weibull distribution to study the influence of elastic modulus inhomogeneity on crack propagation and rock failure. The mechanical behavior and failure modes of the models are in good agreement with experimental data. Increasing elastic modulus inhomogeneity decreases strength and the strain required for macroscopic failure. The stress corrosion index (n) and crack growth constant (C) also have a strong influence on uniaxial compressive strength. Indeed, higher values of C and n result in faster virtual crack speeds, a lower uniaxial compressive strength, and a lower axial strain upon failure. Confining pressure also exerts an influence on crack propagation, compressive strength, and failure mode. Our study shows that the improved NMM code combined with the virtual crack model is therefore an effective and reliable method to simulate crack initiation, propagation, and coalescence in granite under uniaxial and confined compression. Highlights: A virtual crack approach combined with subcritical crack growth theory is implemented in numerical manifold method to simulate the initiation of multi-cracks. The Mohr–Coulomb criterion with tension cut-off coupled with subcritical crack growth theory is incorporated into numerical manifold method to simulate the propagation of micro-and macro-cracks. Three types of crack intersection are identified in numerical manifold method to allow the model to accurately simulate the propagation and coalescence of multi-cracks and large displacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study multistage distributionally robust mixed-integer programs under endogenous uncertainty, where the probability distribution of stage-wise uncertainty depends on the decisions made in previous stages. We first consider two ambiguity sets defined by decision-dependent bounds on the first and second moments of uncertain parameters and by mean and covariance matrix that exactly match decision-dependent empirical ones, respectively. For both sets, we show that the subproblem in each stage can be recast as a mixed-integer linear program (MILP). Moreover, we extend the general moment-based ambiguity set in Delage and Ye (Oper Res 58(3):595–612, 2010) to the multistage decision-dependent setting, and derive mixed-integer semidefinite programming (MISDP) reformulations of stage-wise subproblems. We develop methods for attaining lower and upper bounds of the optimal objective value of the multistage MISDPs, and approximate them using a series of MILPs. We deploy the Stochastic Dual Dynamic integer Programming (SDDiP) method for solving the problem under the three ambiguity sets with risk-neutral or risk-averse objective functions, and conduct numerical studies on multistage facility-location instances having diverse sizes under different parameter and uncertainty settings. Our results show that the SDDiP quickly finds optimal solutions for moderate-sized instances under the first two ambiguity sets, and also finds good approximate bounds for the multistage MISDPs derived under the third ambiguity set. We also demonstrate the efficacy of incorporating decision-dependent distributional ambiguity in multistage decision-making processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, in situ electrochemical synthesis of a monohydric phosphate intercalated layered double hydroxide was used to treat simulated strontium-containing low-level waste liquids. The removal rate of Sr2+ was 99.24% and the adsorption capacity of Zn–Al-LDHs toward Sr2+ was 6.01 mg g−1 under the optimal conditions: a current density of 20 mA cm−2 (Zn electrode), a HPO42− concentration of 0.006 mol L−1, a Zn/Al current ratio of 2 : 1, a reaction time of 120 min, a reaction temperature of 60 °C, and an initial pH of 10. The synthesized precipitates were characterized by SEM-EDS, XRD and FT-IR. The precipitate shows the phenomenon of lamellar agglomeration. The XRD pattern indicated that zinc–aluminum hydrotalcite intercalated with a monohydric phosphate was successfully synthesized. The absorption peaks of O–H bonds, O–M–O bonds (M is Zn, Al) and P–O bonds appeared in the infrared spectrum. Therefore, the method of in situ electrochemical synthesis of layered double hydroxides is promising for the removal of strontium in liquid radioactive wastes from nuclear power plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite 3‐year survival being used as a primary endpoint in some randomized controlled trials (RCTs), limited evidence supports the use of intermediate endpoints to evaluate the effect of new therapies in esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC). This study aimed to systematically evaluate progression‐free survival at 3 years (3‐year PFS) and overall survival (OS) among patients with ESCC. Methods: We identified 528 patients newly diagnosed with locally advanced ESCC who received definitive radiotherapy. OS was compared with an age‐ and sex‐matched general Chinese population using the standardized mortality ratio (SMR). Regression analysis was used to validate the correlation between PFS and OS using published data. Results: The annual risk of progression decreased to 11.5% after 3 years. Patients who did not achieve 3‐year PFS had a median postprogression survival (PPS) of 7.3 months, with a 5‐year OS rate of 9.6% and a SMR of 15.0 (95% confidence interval [CI], 12.9–17.5). Conversely, the SMR for patients who achieved 3‐year PFS was 0.9 (95% CI, 0.6–1.3). We observed a significant correlation between log hazard ratio (HR) (PFS) and log HR (OS) at the trial level (r = 0.89; 95% CI, 0.88–0.90). The strongest correlation was observed between 3‐year PFS and 5‐year OS in RCTs and retrospective studies. Conclusions: Patients exhibiting progression within 3 years experienced poor survival, whereas patients achieving 3‐year PFS had excellent outcomes. Our study supports 3‐year PFS as a reliable primary endpoint for study design and risk stratification in locally advanced ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LINKED CONTENT: This article is linked to Tong et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17263 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17423 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) exhibits broad variations in cultivar resistance to tuber and root infections by the soilborne, obligate biotrophic pathogen Spongospora subterranea. Host resistance has been recognised as an important approach in potato disease management, whereas zoospore root attachment has been identified as an effective indicator for the host resistance to Spongospora root infection. However, the mechanism of host resistance to zoospore root attachment is currently not well understood. To identify the potential basis for host resistance to S. subterranea at the molecular level, twelve potato cultivars differing in host resistance to zoospore root attachment were used for comparative proteomic analysis. In total, 3723 proteins were quantified from root samples across the twelve cultivars using a data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry approach. Statistical analysis identified 454 proteins that were significantly more abundant in the resistant cultivars; 626 proteins were more abundant in the susceptible cultivars. In resistant cultivars, functional annotation of the proteomic data indicated that Gene Ontology terms related to the oxidative stress and metabolic processes were significantly over-represented. KEGG pathway analysis identified that the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway was associated with the resistant cultivars, suggesting the potential role of lignin biosynthesis in the host resistance to S. subterranea. Several enzymes involved in pectin biosynthesis and remodelling, such as pectinesterase and pectin acetylesterase, were more abundant in the resistant cultivars. Further investigation of the potential role of root cell wall pectin revealed that the pectinase treatment of roots resulted in a significant reduction in zoospore root attachment in both resistant and susceptible cultivars. This study provides a comprehensive proteome-level overview of resistance to S. subterranea zoospore root attachment across twelve potato cultivars and has identified a potential role for cell wall pectin in regulating zoospore root attachment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Nearly all breast cancer patients survive for more than five years when the tumor is found early and in the localized stage. Regular clinical breast examinations, mammograms, and monthly self-exams of the breasts all contribute to early detection. However, late-stage breast cancers are common in many Asian countries. Low-income countries suffer from a lack of resources for breast cancer screening. High-income countries, on the other hand, are not benefiting fully from national breast screening programs due to an underutilization of the preventive healthcare services available. Existing reviews on Asian breast cancers are heavily focused on risk factors. The question of whether we should adopt or adapt the knowledge generated from non-Asian breast cancers would benefit from an extension into screening guidelines. In addition, several Asian countries are piloting studies that move away from the age-based screening paradigm. Close to half (45.4%) of the 2.3 million breast cancers (BC) diagnosed in 2020 were from Asia. While the burden of breast cancer has been examined at the level of broad geographic regions, literature on more in-depth coverage of the individual countries and subregions of the Asian continent is lacking. This narrative review examines the breast cancer burden in 47 Asian countries. Breast cancer screening guidelines and risk-based screening initiatives are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article a novel data-driven iterative learning control (ILC) approach is proposed for unknown nonlinear nonaffine repetitive discrete-time systems, where the dynamic linearization (DL) technique in the iteration domain is applied both on the controlled nonlinear system and on the unknown nonlinear ideal learning controller. Through updating the weight matrix of a radial basis function neural network (RBFNN), the learning control gain of the obtained iterative learning law is automatically tuned in reaching the optimal learning controller using only the input-output data of the nonlinear system. The uniformly ultimately bounded property is established for the tracking error of the proposed ILC scheme in the iteration domain through rigorous theoretical analysis. The effectiveness and applicability are validated by a simulation example and further demonstrated by simulation on a high-speed train model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pleosporales is the largest and most morphologically diverse order in Dothideomycetes, including a large proportion of saprobic fungi. During the investigation of microfungi from decaying wood in Sichuan Province, several novel fungal taxa of asexual and sexual morphs were collected, identified, and well-described. Phylogenetic analyses based on SSU, ITS, LSU, RPB2 and TEF1α gene sequences suggested that these new taxa were related to Pleosporales and distributed in five families, viz. Amorosiaceae, Bambusicolaceae, Lophiostomataceae, Occultibambusaceae and Tetraplosphaeriaceae. The morphological comparison and molecular phylogeny evidence justify the establishment of six new taxa, namely Bambusicola guttulata sp. nov., Flabellascoma sichuanense sp. nov., Neoangustimassarina sichuanensis gen. et sp. nov., Occultibambusa sichuanensis sp. nov. and Pseudotetraploa bambusicola sp. nov. Among them, Neoangustimassarina was introduced as the second sexual morph genus in Amorosiaceae; Bambusicola guttulata, O. sichuanensis and P. bambusicola were isolated from bamboos, which contributed to the diversity of bambusicolous fungi. The detailed, illustrated descriptions and notes for each new taxon are provided, as well as a brief note for each family. The potential richness of fungal diversity in Sichuan Province is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore local Andreev reflection and crossed Andreev reflection in a normal metal (N)–superconductor (S)–normal metal (N) hybrid junction based on the α − T 3 lattice. Initially, both the left and right sections feature dice lattice structures (α = 1). We compute probabilities for electron reflection, local Andreev reflection, electron transmission, and crossed Andreev reflection, as well as local conductance, electron transmission conductance, and crossed Andreev reflection conductance. Subsequently, we analyze structures with the left side featuring dice lattice and the right side graphene (α = 0), as well as the reverse configuration. Our findings reveal that crossed Andreev reflections are more prevalent in the graphene–superconductor–dice lattice (GSD) junction, particularly with moderate superconducting region lengths, larger electron incidence angles, and lower electron incidence energy. • Investigate local Andreev reflection and crossed Andreev reflection within a normal metal-superconductor-normal metal hybrid junction based on the α − T 3 lattice. • Explore scattering processes in NSN hybridized junctions, with both the left and right sections featuring a dice lattice structure (α = 1). • Subsequently, we evaluate two configurations: one with dice lattice on the left side and graphene (α = 0) on the right side, and the reverse configuration. • The transport properties of these three junctions are systematically compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports spin coating and hydrothermal approaches to the synthesis of Cu2O seed layer−ZnO and Cu2O film−ZnO heterojunction films on fluorine‐doped tin oxide substrates. Cu2O seed layers and an ethylene glycol (EG) reducing agent were employed to obtain pure, uniform, and adhesive Cu2O films on the substrate. Transmission electron microscopy validated the heterojunctions with clear interfaces between each component on the p‐Cu2O film−n‐ZnO (with EG) sample, the conductive types of which were determined through Mott−Schottky measurements. Constructed energy band diagrams supported the Mott−Schottky result, manifesting favorable conduction band positions for the generation of •O2− radicals for all constituent materials and indicating smooth charge carrier transport for the p‐Cu2O film−n‐ZnO (with EG) sample. Furthermore, abundant p−n junction interfaces synergistically enabled the sample to exhibit the most satisfactory photodegradation capability (rate constant ≈ 8.9 × 10−3 min−1), which was attributable to the predominance of •OH radicals. The sample's rectifying (diode) behavior with a ratio of the current density (J) at +3 V (forward bias) to that at −3 V (reverse bias) of approximately 27 was observed without ultraviolet illumination. Moreover, the J at −3 V is under illumination approximately 80 times that without illumination, implying the suitability of the sample for UV detectability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the perturbative quantum chromodynamics (pQCD) approach and the quasi-two-body approximation, we have studied the three-body decays B s 0 → ψ (3686 , 3770) K π , which include the contributions of the intermediate resonances K ¯ 0 ∗ (1430) 0 , K ¯ ∗ (892) 0 , K ¯ ∗ (1410) 0 , K ¯ ∗ (1680) 0 , and K ¯ 2 ∗ (1430) 0 . The time-like form factors corresponding to the distribution amplitudes of the S-, P-, and D-wave of the kaon–pion pair were adopted in parameterized form, and describe the interactions between K and π in the resonance region. First, the decays B s 0 → ψ (2 S , 1 D) K - π + were calculated, followed by the calculation of the branching ratios of the decays B s 0 → ψ (3686 , 3770) K - π + using the 2S–1D mixing scheme. In addition, the pQCD predictions for the decays B s 0 → ψ (2 S , 1 D) K π and B s 0 → ψ (3686 , 3770) K π were obtained using the narrow-width approximation relation given by the Clebsch–Gordan coefficients. Our work shows that the K ¯ ∗ (892) 0 resonance is the main contributor to the total decay, and the branching ratio and the longitudinal polarization fraction of the ψ (2 S) K ¯ ∗ (892) 0 decay mode agree well with the currently available data within errors. Furthermore, the theoretical predictions of the ψ (2 S) and ψ (3686) decay modes are very close, indicating that they can be regarded as the same meson state. Finally, the pQCD predictions for branching ratios of decays B s 0 → ψ (3686 , 3770) K π are of the order of 10 - 5 and 10 - 6 , respectively, which can be verified using the ongoing LHCb and Belle II experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guidelines recommend hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance in patients with chronic HBV infection. Several HCC risk prediction models are available to guide surveillance decisions, but their comparative performance remains unclear. Using a retrospective cohort of patients with HBV treated with nucleos(t)ide analogues at 130 Veterans Administration facilities between 9/1/2008 and 12/31/2018, we calculated risk scores from 10 HCC risk prediction models (REACH-B, PAGE-B, m-PAGE-B, CU-HCC, HCC-RESCUE, CAMD, APA-B, REAL-B, AASL-HCC, RWS-HCC). We estimated the models' discrimination and calibration. We calculated HCC incidence in risk categories defined by the reported cut-offs for all models. Of 3,101 patients with HBV (32.2% with cirrhosis), 47.0% were treated with entecavir, 40.6% tenofovir, and 12.4% received both. During a median follow-up of 4.5 years, 113 patients developed HCC at an incidence of 0.75/100 person-years. AUC values for 3-year HCC risk were the highest for RWS-HCC, APA-B, REAL-B, and AASL-HCC (all >0.80). Of these, 3 (APA-B, RWS-HCC, REAL-B) incorporated alpha-fetoprotein. AUC values for the other models ranged from 0.73 for PAGE-B to 0.79 for CAMD and HCC-RESCUE. Of the 7 models with AUC >0.75, only APA-B was poorly calibrated. In total, 10–20% of the cohort was deemed low-risk based on the published cut-offs. None of the patients in the low-risk groups defined by PAGE-B, m-PAGE-B, AASL-HCC, and REAL-B developed HCC during the study timeframe. In this national cohort of US-based patients with HBV on antiviral treatment, most models performed well in predicting HCC risk. A low-risk group, in which no cases of HCC occurred within a 3-year timeframe, was identified by several models (PAGE-B, m-PAGE-B, CAMD, AASL-HCC, REAL-B). Further studies are warranted to examine whether these patients could be excluded from HCC surveillance. Risk prediction models for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) could guide HCC surveillance decisions. In this large cohort of US-based patients receiving treatment for HBV, most published models discriminated between those who did or did not develop HCC, although the RWS-HCC, REAL-B, and AASL-HCC performed the best. If confirmed in future studies, these models could help identify a low-risk subset of patients on antiviral treatment who could be excluded from HCC surveillance. [Display omitted] • CAMD, APA-B, HCC-RESCUE, CU-HCC, AASL-HCC, RWS-HCC, REAL-B models identified patients at high risk of developing HCC. • RWS-HCC, REAL-B, and AASL-HCC had the highest AUCs and also predicted the actual risk of HCC closely. • No low-risk patients (∼10-20% of cohort) defined by PAGE-B, m-PAGE-B, AASL-HCC, CMAD and REAL-B models developed HCC within 3 years. • Further studies are warranted to examine whether this low-risk group may be excluded from HCC surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy band structures and transport properties in 8-Pmmn borophene superlattice were investigated. It is found that the Dirac point at other energy appears in the energy band structure and the Dirac cone is tilted. As a function of the incident angle, the transmission probability no longer maintains chiral symmetry. The transmission gaps highly dependent on the widths of the well and barrier of the superlattice. Some forbidden bands appear in the transmission probability with different incident angles, the location and width of the forbidden bands can be regulated by changing the system parameters, which filters the electrons. Modulating the widths of the well and barrier the original Dirac point in superlattice disappears, the minimum value of the conductance at the initial Dirac point was changed into maximum when the widths of the well and barrier of the superlattice were increased to a certain value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An energy-based multifield damage model for early-age concrete is well established. • A new approximation of the heat of hydration is derived to reduce the nonlinearity. • The damage is driven by the energy release rate rather than the plastic strain. • The validated model can well simulate the hydration process of early-age concrete. Cracking prediction and control in hydration process of mass concrete and structures has always been a challenging task. In this work, an energy-based chemo-thermo-mechanical damage model for early-age concrete is well established within the framework of thermodynamics and continuum damage mechanics. The evolution laws for the mechanical damage are driven by the work conjugate elastoplastic damage energy release rates to fully represent the microcracks closure-reopening effect, the anisotropy, and the aging effect of concrete relating to the degree of hydration. A formulation fitted from a large number of test data is introduced to simulate the thermal evolution during hydration process, resulting in an excellent approximation of the degree of hydration. When the degree of hydration is 1, the model is degenerated into the classical plastic damage model. The presented model is thus able to simulate the hydration process of early-age concrete and mechanical responses of concrete as well as reinforced concrete structures at any age. The model is implemented by user defined subroutine in Abaqus, in which a sequential coupling method is established. Several benchmark tests are successfully reproduced, indicating that the proposed model is capable of predicting the damage evolution and typical nonlinear behavior of early-age concrete and hardened concrete. The computational efficiency of the model is significantly improved compared to the classical ones due to the introduction of the fitting formulation of the thermal evolution and the sequential coupling method to reduce the nonlinearity of the system. The strategy allows the model to be applied in massive concrete structures during construction and provide valuable prediction as well as guidance for large scale engineering structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the impact of WeChat follow‐up education on infants' breastfeeding efficiency after congenital cardiac surgery and parents' satisfaction. Methods: A prospective study was conducted in a provincial hospital in China. Sixty participants were divided into two groups: 30 participants in the study group received WeChat follow‐up health education, and 30 participants in the control group received postoperative routine nursing education for infants after congenital cardiac surgery. The infants' breastfeeding efficiency, parents' satisfaction and relevant clinical data were recorded and analysed. Results: After the WeChat follow‐up intervention, the breastfeeding efficacy score, the parents' satisfaction score and the exclusive breastfeeding rate in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of feeding intolerance, abdominal distension, dyspeptic diarrhoea, weight gain or recurrent vomiting between the two groups during the 3‐month follow‐up period. Conclusion: WeChat education can improve infants' breastfeeding efficiency after congenital cardiac surgery and can improve parents' satisfaction and exclusive breastfeeding rate during the short‐term follow‐up period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loss of reduction is the most common complication after acromioclavicular (AC) joint dislocation treated with the suture-button. Some predictors of it are known, but finding new predictors is an ongoing process. In this study, we evaluate the importance of the position of the coracoid button. Between April 2010 and February 2017, 186 patients with AC joint dislocation were identified. All patients were managed with the same surgical technique and postoperative protocol. The position of the coracoid button was determined immediately after surgery by anterior–posterior views of the operated shoulder and was classified as medial (Group A, 42 cases), central (Group B, 85 cases) and lateral (Group C, 59 cases) positions. The main outcome measurement was loss of reduction. The main analysis was the association between the coracoid button position and loss of reduction. No significant difference was found in the baseline characteristics among 3 groups. During follow-up, there were 15 cases (35.7%) developing loss of reduction in Group A, 5 cases (5.9%) in Group B and 26 cases (44.1%) in Group C. The rate of loss of reduction in Groups A and C were higher than that in Group B (p <.05). Moreover, there was no significant difference in the rate of reduction loss between lateral and medial positions of the coracoid buttons (p >.05). Our results indicated that both lateral and medial positions of the coracoid buttons could predict loss of reduction in AC joint dislocation patients treated with the suture-button. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Innate lymphoid cells type 2 (ILC2s) play critical homeostatic functions in peripheral tissues. ILC2s reside in perivascular niches and limit atherosclerosis development.Objectives: ILC2s also reside in the pericardium but their role in postischemic injury is unknown.Methods: We examined the role of ILC2 in a mouse model of myocardial infarction (MI), and compared mice with or without genetic deletion of ILC2. We determined infarct size using histology and heart function using echocardiography. We assessed cardiac ILC2 using flow cytometry and RNA sequencing. Based on these data, we devised a therapeutic strategy to activate ILC2 in mice with acute MI, using exogenous interleukin (IL)-2. We also assessed the ability of low-dose IL-2 to activate ILC2 in a double-blind randomized clinical trial of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS).Results: We found that ILC2 levels were increased in pericardial adipose tissue after experimental MI, and genetic ablation of ILC2 impeded the recovery of heart function. RNA sequencing revealed distinct transcript signatures in ILC2, and pointed to IL-2 axis as a major upstream regulator. Treatment of T-cell-deficient mice with IL-2 (to activate ILC2) significantly improved the recovery of heart function post-MI. Administration of low-dose IL-2 to patients with ACS led to activation of circulating ILC2, with significant increase in circulating IL-5, a prototypic ILC2-derived cytokine.Conclusions: ILC2s promote cardiac healing and improve the recovery of heart function after MI in mice. Activation of ILC2 using low-dose IL-2 could be a novel therapeutic strategy to promote a reparative response after MI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method based on QuEChERS combined with high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) was established for the determination of fenarimol residues in loquat. The samples were extracted by acetonitrile, purified by N-primary secondary amine (PSA), and determined by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The results showed that: the linearity of fenarimol was good in the concentration range of 0. 5~200 µg · L-1 (r² = 0. 999 4), the limit of detection was 0. 14 µg · kg-1, and the limit of quantitation was 0.5 µg · kg-1. The average recovery rates of fenarimol were respectively 87.0%, 97.4% and 96. 7% at the adding level of 2, 20 and 200 µg · kg-1, with the relative standard deviations (RSD) of 8. 3%, 7. 9% and 4. 3%, respectively. The method was simple, rapid and sensitive, which could meet the requirements of residue detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, China is deepening its cooperation in oil and gas resources with countries along the Initiative. In order to better mitigate risks and enhance the safety of investments, it is of significant importance to research the oil and gas investment environment in these countries for China's overseas investment macro-layout. This paper proposes an indicator system including 27 indicators from 6 dimensions. On this basis, game theory models combined with global entropy method and analytic hierarchy process are applied to determine the combined weights, and the TOPSIS-GRA model is utilized to assess the risks of oil and gas investment in 76 countries along the Initiative from 2014 to 2021. Finally, the GM (1,1) model is employed to predict risk values for 2022 e2025. In conclusion, oil and gas resources and political factors have the greatest impact on investment environment risk, and 12 countries with greater investment potential are selected through cluster analysis in conjunction with the predicted results. The research findings may provide scientific decisionmaking recommendations for the Chinese government and oil enterprises to strengthen oil and gas investment cooperation with countries along the Belt and Road Initiative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article studies the existence and the exact form of entire solutions of several Fermat type partial differential equations in C², by utilizing the Nevanlinna theory of meromorphic functions in several complex variables. We obtain results about the existence and form of transcendental entire solutions with finite order for some variations of Fermat type functional equations. Our results are extensions and generalizations of the previous theorems by Xu and Cao [29,30], Liu and Dong [19]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the transport properties in nodal-line Weyl semimetal resonant tunneling junction. Double reflections and double transmissions appear, which are specular reflection, retroreflection, normal transmission, and specular transmission. The incident angle dependence transmissions and reflections are studied with different incident energies and different quantum well widths. The retroreflection and the specular transmission appear only when the incident angle of the electron θ is less than the critical value θc. As the incident energy approximately equals the z component of the momentum, double transmissions disappear completely, perfect retroreflection (specular reflection) can be found when θ is smaller (bigger) than θc. Under certain conditions, the transmission and reflection types and their magnitudes can be controlled. For the different cases that the nodal line of the Weyl semimetal is parallel to and perpendicular to the interface, the conductance spectra exhibit strong anisotropy. These physical phenomena help us to design nodal-line Weyl semimetal-based nanodevices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we have synthesized successfully a three-dimensional/two dimensional (3D/2D) core–shell Cu2O@Fe–Ni3S2 nanoflower on copper foam at room temperature. Remarkably, by virtue of rich active sites and vacancies, large surface area, high conductivity and close contact with the electrolyte, the Cu2O@Fe–Ni3S2 catalyst exhibits superior stability and oxygen evolution reaction performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the effect of early oral stimulation with breast milk on the feeding behavior of infants after congenital cardiac surgery.Methods: Infants with congenital heart disease were randomly divided into the breast milk oral stimulation group (n = 23), physiological saline oral stimulation group (n = 23) and control group (n = 23). Debra Beckman's oral exercise program was used with breast milk and physiological saline in the breast milk oral stimulation group and the physiological saline oral stimulation group, respectively. The time oral feeding and total oral nutrition were started, the length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay and hospital stay, weight and the complications at discharge were recorded for each group and statistically analyzed.Results: The time oral feeding and total oral nutrition were started and the length of ICU stay and hospital stay were significantly less in the breast milk oral stimulation group and physiological saline oral stimulation group than in the control group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in other indicators between the breast milk oral stimulation group and the physiological saline oral stimulation group, except for the time total oral nutrition began (P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in weight or complications at discharge among the three groups (P > 0.05).Conclusion: Early oral stimulation exercises with breast milk can help infant patients quickly recover total oral nutrition and reduce the length of ICU and hospital stay after cardiac surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the accuracy of gadobenate-enhanced MRI for predicting microvascular invasion (MVI) in patients operated for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: The 164 patients who met the inclusion criteria were assigned to one of two groups: the MVI-positive group and the MVI-negative group. Imaging results were compared between the two groups using the Kruskal test, chi-square test, independent sample t test, and logistic regression analysis. Results: Differences in the capsule (p = 0.037) and margin (p = 0.004) of the tumor, rim enhancement (p = 0.002), peritumoral enhancement in the arterial phase (p < 0.001), and peritumoral hypointensity in the hepatobiliary phase (HBP) (p < 0.001) were statistically significant. The results of multivariate analysis identified rim enhancement in the arterial phase (odds ratio (OR) = 2.115; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.002–4.464; p = 0.049) and peritumoral hypointensity in the HBP (OR = 5.836; 95% CI, 2.442–13.948; p < 0.001) as independent risk factors for MVI. Use of the two predictors in combination identified 32.79% (20/61) of HCCs with MVI with a specificity of 95.15% (98/103). Conclusions: Rim enhancement in the arterial phase and peritumoral hypointensity in the HBP were identified as independent risk factors for MVI in patients with HCC. Key Points: • Rim enhancement in the arterial phase and peritumoral hypointensity in the hepatobiliary phase were independent risk factors for microvascular invasion in patients with HCC. • Use of the two predictors in combination had a sensitivity of 32.79% and a specificity of 95.15% for predicting microvascular invasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transport properties in graphene-based asymmetric double velocity well (Fermi velocity inside the well less than that outside the well) and electrostatic well structures are investigated using the transfer matrix method. The results show that quantum beats occur in the oscillations of the conductance for asymmetric double velocity wells. The beating effect can also be found in asymmetric double electrostatic wells, but only if the widths of the two wells are different. The beat frequency for the asymmetric double well is exactly equal to the frequency difference between the oscillation rates in two isolated single wells with the same structures as the individual wells in the double well structure. A qualitative interpretation is proposed based on the fact that the resonant levels depend upon the sizes of the quantum wells. The beating behavior can provide a new way to identify the symmetry of double well structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]