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ABSTRACT Objective Currently, there is no research that includes a comprehensive three‐dimensional fracture mapping encompassing all types of Pilon fractures. Moreover, the existing classification systems for Pilon fractures exhibit only moderate to fair consistency and reproducibility. Additionally, some of these classification systems fail to accurately depict the morphological characteristics of the fractures. This study aimed to create a fracture map encompassing all types of Pilon fractures by three‐dimensional fracture mapping. In addition, this study conducted a finite element analysis of the normal ankle joint, and based on the distribution of fracture lines and the stress distribution at the distal tibia, proposed a new classification for Pilon fractures. Methods A retrospective analysis of Pilon fractures in our hospital from January 2018 to January 2024 was performed. A total of two hundred forty‐four Pilon fractures were included, and their fracture lines were transcribed onto the tibia and fibula templates, and fracture maps and heat maps were created. A nonhomogeneous model of the ankle joint was constructed and verified, and the stress distribution on the distal tibia articular surface was measured and analyzed in three models (neutral, dorsiflexed, and plantarflexed model). Based on the fracture map and stress distribution, a five‐column classification system for Pilon fractures was proposed, and the intraobserver and interobserver reliability was calculated using Cohen and Fleiss k statistics. Result The fracture line on the distal tibia articular surface showed a V‐shaped distribution. One branch extended from the junction of the medial malleolar articular surface and the inferior tibial articular surface toward the medial malleolus. The other branch extended from the middle of the fibular notch to the posterior part of the medial ankle, toward the tibial shaft. The fibula fracture line mainly extended from the anterior and lower part of the lateral malleolus to the posterior and upper part. As evidenced by the neutral, dorsiflexed, and plantar flexion models, the stress on the posterolateral articular surface (posterolateral column) was low, while the majority of the stress was concentrated in the center. Three‐column fractures were the most common, followed by two‐column fractures. Using the five‐column classification, the K‐weighted values of interobserver and intraobserver analysis were 0.653 (p

In this work, a high-strength-ductility Ti2AlNb alloy is fabricated by hot rolling the compact prepared by spark plasma sintering. The microstructure and tensile properties of the rolled sheets were controlled by changing the thickness reduction and rolling pass. Results show that rolling causes grain growth, larger thickness reduction results in pronounced grain coarseness. Rolling cannot cause recrystallization but reheating can. Higher thickness reduction results into higher recrystallization ratio, which decreases with increasing the reheating times. All sheets have tensile strengths higher than 980 MPa with elongation higher than 9%. The multiple rolling process causes the increase in ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and yield strength but decrease in elongation (EL). The maximum UTS of 1048.1 MPa is obtained after two rolling passes with 42% thickness reduction per pass. The maximum EL of 12.6% is obtained after reheating the single pass rolled sheet with 30% thickness reduction. All the sheets present ductile fracture mode.

Technological advances have significantly impacted the field of urology, providing innovative solutions for diagnosis, treatment, and management of various urological disorders and diseases. This article highlights four groundbreaking technologies: whole-cell biosensors, optogenetic interventions for neuromodulation, bioengineered urinary bladder, and 3D bioprinting. Each technology plays a crucial role in enhancing patient care and improving clinical outcomes in urology. Advances in these fields underscore a shift towards precision diagnostics, personalized treatments, and enhanced regenerative strategies, ultimately aiming to enhance patient outcomes and address unmet clinical needs in urological diseases.

Operation of EAST tokamak with full metal wall without any wall conditioning are attempted in 2023 and 2024 experimental campaign to address the issues related to ITER tungsten wall operation. It is found that H-mode plasma could be sustained even with a substantial increase in metallic impurity content caused by strong plasma-wall interaction under uncoated metal wall. Boronization wall conditioning is therefore performed to improve the plasma performance with higher injected power. This study aims to quantitatively assess the impact of boronization wall conditioning on metallic impurity concentration and behavior in the EAST tokamak. It is then proved to be an effective wall conditioning approach for significantly controlling high-Z impurity content. In this work, the impurity spectra at extreme ultraviolet (EUV) wavelength range measured by sets of fast-time-response and space-resolved EUV spectrometers are widely used in the data analysis. The variation in the boron content in plasma after boronization are investigated by monitoring the 2nd order of B V line at 48.59 Å. It is found that the persistence time of boron in EAST device after a boronization with 10 g of carborane (C2B10H12) is about 2000 s (∼150 shots) of discharge duration. The impact of different wall conditions (uncoated metal wall and boron coated wall) on metallic impurity content are then quantitatively studied. After boronization, the concentration of tungsten (CW) and molybdenum (CMo) dropped by 85 %, e. g., from 2.0 × 10-4 to 4.1 × 10-5 and from 4.6 × 10-5 to 6.3 × 10-6, respectively. While the concentration of copper (CCu) and iron (CFe) decreased by approximately 50 % and 65 %, respectively, e. g., from 4.3 × 10-5 to 2.1 × 10-5 and from 2.0 × 10-4 to 6.9 × 10-5. A comparison of the line emission profiles from tungsten ions of W26+ − W32+ and W43+ before and after boronization reveals an overall reduction in the intensity while without obvious change in the profile shape, which suggests a reduction in metallic impurities source after boronization instead of altering impurity transport in core plasma significantly.

Abstract Gliomas represent the most predominant primary malignant tumor in central nervous system. Thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG) is a central component in active DNA demethylation. However, the specific mechanisms of TDG-mediated active DNA demethylation in gliomas remain unclear. This research indicates TDG expression is overexpressed in gliomas and correlated with poor prognosis. TDG knockdown suppressed the malignant phenotype of gliomas both in vitro and vivo. Notably, RNA-seq analysis revealed a strong association between TDG and tenascin-C (TNC). ChIP-qPCR and MeDIP-qPCR assays were undertaken to confirm that TDG participates in TNC active DNA demethylation process, revealing decreased DNA methylation levels and elevated TNC expression as a result. Silencing TNC expression also suppressed the tumor malignant phenotype in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. Additionally, simultaneous silencing of TNC reduced or even reversed the glioma promotion caused by TDG overexpression. Based on our findings, we conclude that TDG exerts an indispensable role in TNC active DNA demethylation in gliomas. The DNA demethylation process leads to alternations in TNC methylation levels and promotes its expression, thereby contributing to the development of gliomas. These results suggest a novel epigenetic therapeutic strategy targeting active DNA demethylation in gliomas.

Natural slopes usually display complicated exposed rock surfaces that are characterized by complex and substantial terrain undulation and ubiquitous undesirable phenomena such as vegetation cover and rockfalls. This study presents a systematic outcrop research of fracture pattern variations in a complicated rock slope, and the qualitative and quantitative study of the complex phenomena impact on three-dimensional (3D) discrete fracture network (DFN) modeling. As the studies of the outcrop fracture pattern have been so far focused on local variations, thus, we put forward a statistical analysis of global variations. The entire outcrop is partitioned into several subzones, and the subzone-scale variability of fracture geometric properties is analyzed (including the orientation, the density, and the trace length). The results reveal significant variations in fracture characteristics (such as the concentrative degree, the average orientation, the density, and the trace length) among different subzones. Moreover, the density of fracture sets, which is approximately parallel to the slope surface, exhibits a notably higher value compared to other fracture sets across all subzones. To improve the accuracy of the DFN modeling, the effects of three common phenomena resulting from vegetation and rockfalls are qualitatively analyzed and the corresponding quantitative data processing solutions are proposed. Subsequently, the 3D fracture geometric parameters are determined for different areas of the high-steep rock slope in terms of the subzone dimensions. The results show significant variations in the same set of 3D fracture parameters across different regions with density differing by up to tenfold and mean trace length exhibiting differences of 3–4 times. The study results present precise geological structural information, improve modeling accuracy, and provide practical solutions for addressing complex outcrop issues.

Ti2AlNb alloy holds large research significance as a lightweight material for high-temperature structural applications in the next generation of aero-engines. In this work, pre-alloyed Ti2AlNb powders were spark plasma sintered to fabricate the raw compact, which was then hot rolled at different phase fields to fabricate sheets. The high-temperature properties of the sheets were tested directly without the prior heat treatment. Results show that the Ti2AlNb sheets have good high-temperature strengths even without the heat treatment prior to testing. For the sheet rolled at the single B2 phase region, the maximum tensile strength was up to 931.4 MPa at 650 °C. The sheet mainly shows intergranular fracture mode due to the weak bonding at grain boundaries. The sheets rolled at the O + B2 phase region have low tensile strengths at different testing temperatures. For the sheet rolled at α2+O + B2 phase region, the tensile strength gains its maximum strength of 956.6 MPa at 650 °C, and the sheet shows transcrystalline fracture mode. The fracture mechanisms of the sheets rolled at different phase regions are analyzed in detail and proved by experiment. This work shows the potential of fabricating Ti2AlNb sheet by using the spark plasma sintered compact.

Aeromonas hydrophila is an opportunistic pathogen of fishes and aquatic animals. A. hydrophila has a strong ability to disrupt gut integrity and cause inflammation and septicemia in fish, however, the mechanism is not fully understood. In this study, we identified the function of a galactosaminogalactan (GAG) synthase (named WbuB) in the pathogenic A. hydrophila CCL1. WbuB belongs to the family 4 of glycosyltransferases (GT4) and is composed of 407 amino acids (aa). For virulence analysis, the mutant which has an in-frame deletion of the WbuB gene in CCL1 was created (named ΔWbuB). ΔWbuB had the decreased biofilm formation, as well as adhesion ability and cytotoxicity. Animal infection study in crucian carps showed that, compared to CCL1, ΔWbuB caused the decreased expression levels of ASC, NLRP3, caspase-1 and IL-1β in gut. Moreover, the expression levels of ZO-1 and Occludin were increased by ΔWbuB infection. In line with the results, the intestinal permeability and tissue dissemination capacity of ΔWbuB were attenuated significantly. These lost virulence capacities of ΔWbuB were restored by complementation with the WbuB gene. Taken together, these results indicate that WbuB is essential for the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and is a novel virulent factor for tight junction barrier during A. hydrophila infection.

Abstract Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a well-established cause of disability, and extensive evidence has identified the important role played by regulatory noncoding RNAs, specifically circular RNAs (circRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs), in the progression of IDD. To elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying IDD, we established a circRNA/miRNA/mRNA network in IDD through standardized analyses of all expression matrices. Our studies confirmed the differential expression of the transcription factors early B-cell factor 1 (EBF1), circEYA3, and miR-196a-5p in the nucleus pulposus (NP) tissues of controls and IDD patients. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and extracellular mechanisms of degradation in NP cells (NPC) are mediated by circEYA3. MiR-196a-5p is a direct target of circEYA3 and EBF1. Functional analysis showed that miR-196a-5p reversed the effects of circEYA3 and EBF1 on ECM degradation, apoptosis, and proliferation in NPCs. EBF1 regulates the nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-кB) signalling pathway by activating the IKKβ promoter region. This study demonstrates that circEYA3 plays an important role in exacerbating the progression of IDD by modulating the NF-κB signalling pathway through regulation of the miR196a-5p/EBF1 axis. Consequently, a novel molecular mechanism underlying IDD development was elucidated, thereby identifying a potential therapeutic target for future exploration.

In this work, 2060 Al-Li alloy was joined by refill friction stir spot welding (RFSSW). The effects of the tool’s rotating speed and welding time on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the welded joints were studied. The results showed that joints without defects can be obtained within a wide range of welding parameters. Tiny voids were formed when using a low rotating speed of 1600 rpm, and incomplete refilling was obtained when using a short welding time of 1 s. Increasing the rotating speed from 1600 to 2000 rpm increased the grain size of the stir zone (SZ). When using a short welding time of 1 s, the grains of the SZ were not completely broken with high orientation differences in the grains. Higher hardness was obtained in the SZ when using a lower rotating speed and shorter welding time. Increasing the rotating speed increased the joint strength, while short and long welding times decreased the joint strength.

Free Space Optical Communication (FSOC) is a wireless communication method that utilizes laser beams for high speed and secure data transmission. Its performance is affected by various factors, among which atmospheric turbulence causes random fluctuations in the atmospheric refractive index, significantly impacting the reliability of communication links. The atmospheric coherence length is a key parameter describing the coherence properties of a laser signal as it propagates through the atmosphere, and accurately measuring it is crucial for assessing the quality of FSOC links. This paper proposes a novel strategy that utilizes extended sources directly as the information sources, combining the wavefront phase variance method with the extended source offset algorithm based on Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensors to directly measure atmospheric coherence length. Existing methods in extended scenarios typically rely on deploying laser beacons to aid in the calibration of atmospheric coherence length but setting up suitable beacons on horizontal communication links is challenging. Additionally, these approaches can be costly in terms of equipment and measurement expenses. Compared to traditional measurement methods, the algorithm proposed in this paper can measure directly based on extended scenarios in horizontal links, thereby effectively reducing system complexity and equipment costs. To verify the feasibility and effectiveness of this method, targeted simulations and experiments were conducted, and the results show that the coherence length measured by the algorithm is highly consistent with that measured by the Differential Image Motion Monitor (DIMM), with a deviation of less than 2% from actual values, effectively demonstrating the algorithm’s feasibility in coherence length assessment.

In view of the fact that the technology of polarization detection performs better at identifying targets through clouds and fog, the recognition ability of the space target detection system under haze conditions will be improved by applying the technology. However, due to the low ambient brightness and limited target radiation information during space target detection, the polarization information of space target is seriously lost, and the advantages of polarization detection technology in identifying targets through clouds and fog cannot be effectively exerted under the condition of haze detection. In order to solve the above problem, a dehazing enhancement strategy specifically applied to polarization images of space targets is proposed. Firstly, a hybrid multi-channel interpolation method based on regional correlation analysis is proposed to improve the calculation accuracy of polarization information during preprocessing. Secondly, an image processing method based on full polarization information inversion is proposed to obtain the degree of polarization of the image after inversion and the intensity of the image after dehazing. Finally, the image fusion method based on discrete cosine transform is used to obtain the dehazing polarization fusion enhancement image. The effectiveness of the proposed image processing strategy is verified by carrying out simulated and real space target detection experiments. Compared with other methods, by using the proposed image processing strategy, the quality of the polarization images of space targets obtained under the haze condition is significantly improved. Our research results have important practical implications for promoting the wide application of polarization detection technology in the field of space target detection.

In this work, multilayer thin 2024 Al alloy sheets are joined by friction spot welding (FSpW). The effects of welding mode on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the joints are mainly studied. Results show that numerous tiny cracks are observed in the bonding ligament in the joint by single side FSpW, while these cracks can be eliminated by double side FSpW. In the double side FSpW joint, the grains are coarse in the joint center. The grain size increases from the top to the bottom of the joint by single side FSpW. The double side FSpW joints have obviously higher failure loads that the single side FSpW joints. The highest failure strength of 395.6 MPa is obtained at 1200 rpm by double side FSpW.

The breaking of surface oxide film in a technology area of ultrasonic-assisted diffusion joining manufacturing of large-size structure components is a challenge. In this work, a novel method of breaking surface oxide film of Al alloys based on first diffusion-migrating and then suspension-broken was investigated. Diffusion bonding of 6063Al alloys was performed by Zn interlayer at temperature below 400 °C. The oxide film migrated away from the Al alloy base metal by solid phase diffusion at 360 °C, and remained in the joint as a nanoscale oxide film. When temperature increased to 390 °C, the oxide film suspended in the Zn–Al eutectic liquid phase were rapidly broken up into small fragments through an instantaneous ultrasonic action (only 0.3 s). The change of acoustic pressure in the liquid metal proved that the suspended continuous oxide film was broken by the micro-jet acted simultaneously on both sides of oxide film induced by the ultrasonic cavitation effect. Finally, the inter-diffusion between Zn and Al at 360 °C was promoted by a longer holding time to obtain the homogeneous joint composed by Zn–Al eutectoid phase containing oxide fragments, and had a higher strength than the base metal. The breaking of oxide film and joint homogenization were performed under pressure-less condition, which effectively avoided the squeezed-out of the liquid phase. This technology shows a great potential for manufacturing large-size joint of industrial products.

Abstract We explore the axionic dark matter search sensitivity with a narrow-band detection scheme aimed at the axion-photon conversion by a static electric field inside a cylindrical capacitor. An alternating magnetic field signal is induced by effective currents as the axion dark matter wind flows perpendicularly through the electric field. At low axion masses, such as in a KKLT scenario, front-end narrow band filtering is provided by using LC resonance with a high Q factor, which enhances the detectability of the tiny magnetic field signal and leads to thermal noise as the major background that can be reduced under cryogenic conditions. We demonstrate that high $$g_{a\gamma }$$ g a γ sensitivity can be achieved by using a strong electric field $$E\sim $$ E ∼ MVm $$^{-1}$$ - 1 . The QCD axion theoretical parameter space would require a high $$E\sim $$ E ∼ GVm $$^{-1}$$ - 1 field strength. Using the static electric field scheme essentially avoids exposing the sensitive superconducting pickup to an applied laboratory magnetic field.

Abstract Objective There is no consensus on the optimal treatment for ipsilateral femoral neck and shaft fractures. This meta-analysis aims to assess the effectiveness of reconstruction nails and dual implants in treating ipsilateral femoral neck and shaft fractures to provide a basis for decision-making when selecting the optimal approach. Methods Relevant articles were retrieved from Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane databases using the keywords "neck of femur", "shaft" and "fracture fixation" from inception until November 17, 2022. The screening process of the studies was conducted independently by two assessors, who assessed each study's eligibility and two assessors assessed the quality. Then compared differences in outcome measures using RevMan 5.3 software. Results A total of ten retrospective cohort studies were included. There were no significant differences in union time, union rate, union-related complications (malunion, nonunion, delayed union) of femoral neck and shaft fractures, osteonecrosis of the femoral head, and functional outcomes (Friedman-Wyman scoring system) (P > 0.05). Conclusion Our pooled estimates indicated that reconstruction nails and dual implants for ipsilateral femoral neck and shaft fractures could yield satisfactory surgical results, and that there is no difference between the two treatment methods. Trial registration This meta-analysis was registered on the PROSPERO website (registration number: CRD42022379606).

A high strength joint obtained at relatively low temperature and pressure by diffusion bonding has always been a challenge for manufacturing of aluminum alloy heat sinks. In this work, joining of 6063Al alloys was performed by a novel liquid and solid phase diffusion bonding method with an Zn–30Sn hypereutectic interlayer. It was achieved at a heating temperature of 360 °C and a pressure of 1 MPa. A 6063Al joint bonded was composed mainly of Zn–Al eutectoid phases and had a higher strength than the base metal. During the diffusion bonding process, the joint was constituted of Sn–Zn eutectic phases and η-Zn phases at initial diffusion stage. The proportion of Sn–Zn eutectic phases gradually decreased and Zn–Al eutectoid phases increased in a joint through inter-diffusion between base metal and interlayer with increasing of holding time. The η-Zn phases finally transformed into Zn–Al eutectoid phases with depleting of Sn–Zn eutectic phases, in which only 0.02 wt% Sn element was remained in the joint. The liquid and solid phase diffusion mechanisms were revealed. The penetration of Sn to the grain boundary of Al alloy happened under an assistance of the Zn diffusion. The Al originated from base metal interdiffused with η-Zn phases, forming Zn–Al eutectoid phases.

The Amur grayling (Thymallus arcticus grubei Dybowski, 1869), a species of potentially economic and research value, is renowned for its tender meat, exquisite flavor, and high nutritional contents. This study was conducted to investigate the physiological adaptation mechanisms to dietary lipids in Amur grayling fry (with average initial weight 4.64±0.03 g). This study involved a 56-day feeding trial with diets containing varying lipid levels (9.07%, 12.17%, 15.26%, 18.09%, 21.16%, and 24.07%, designated as GL1 through GL6, respectively) to explore the impact of dietary lipids on growth performance, intestinal digestion, liver antioxidative function, and transcriptomic profiles. Results showed that The group receiving 18% dietary lipid exhibited a markedly higher weight gain rate (WGR) and specific growth rate compared to other groups, alongside a reduced feed conversion ratio (FCR), except in comparison to the 15% lipid group. Activities of lipase in pancreatic secretion and amylase in stomach mucosa peaked in the 18% lipid treatment group, indicating enhanced digestive efficiency. The liver of fish in this group also showed increased activities of antioxidative enzymes and higher levels of glutathione and total antioxidative capacity, along with reduced malondialdehyde content compared to the 9% and 24% lipid treatments. Additionally, serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were highest in the 18% group. Transcriptomic analysis revealed four significant metabolic pathways affected: Cholesterol metabolism, Fat digestion and absorption, PPAR signaling, and Fatty acid degradation, involving key genes such as Lipase, Lipoprotein lipase, Fatty acid-binding protein, and Carnitine palmitoyltransferase I. These findings suggest that the liver of Amur grayling employs adaptive mechanisms to manage excessive dietary lipids. Quadratic regression analysis determined the optimal dietary lipid levels to be 16.62% and 16.52%, based on WGR and FCR, respectively. The optimal dietary lipid level for juvenile Amur grayling appears to be around 18%, as evidenced by improved growth performance, digestive function, balanced serum lipid profile, and enhanced liver antioxidative capacity. Exceeding this lipid threshold triggers both adaptive and potentially detrimental liver responses.

The IL-20 cytokine family, which includes only IL-20, IL-22 and IL-26 in teleost, has a wide range of biological functions and is essential for epithelial integrity and innate host defense. IL-22 and IL-26 are the most intensively studied cytokine within this family; however, the immunological function of IL-20 in fish is essentially unknown. In this study, we examined the expression and function of an IL-20 homologue (WR-IL20) from White crucian carp (Carassius cuvieri, WCC, female) × Red crucian carp (Carassius auratus red var., RCC, male). WR-IL20 and its parents, WCC-IL20 and RCC-IL20, were both composed of 177 residues with high identities among them. Additionally, gene structure, functional domain, tertiary structure, multiple sequence alignment, and phylogeny analysis showed a conserved status between WR-IL20, WCC-IL20 and RCC-IL20. WR-IL20, WCC-IL20 and RCC-IL20 were mainly expressed in the head kidney and were upregulated by Aeromonas hydrophila infection in vivo. Furthermore, recombinant WR-IL20 protein (rWR-IL20) induced increased transcript levels of c-Myc, cyclin D, Bcl-2, JAK1, TYK2 and STAT3 in head kidney lymphocytes in vitro. These results provide a new perspective for understanding the origin, evolution and function of IL-20 in teleost.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the main cause of death among young adults and the main cause of mortality and disability for all ages groups worldwide. Ginkgolides terpenoid compounds unique to Ginkgo biloba, which have protective effects on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate whether ginkgolide A (GA) can improve TBI in mice and whether it can alleviate cell apoptosis in the brain of TBI mice by reducing oxidative stress. Mice received TBI and GA administration for 7 days. Neurological deficits were monitored and brain tissues were examined for molecular pathological markers. TBI mice had more severer neurobehavioral deficits compared with sham group, which could be improved by administration of GA. GA administration improveed Modified Neurological Severity Scale (mNSS) scores, Grid-Walking test and Rotarod test of TBI mice. The apoptosis increased in TBI mice, and reduced after GA treatment. The biomarkers of oxidative stress 8-OHdG and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the brain of TBI mice increased, while SOD reduced. These changes were reversed after GA administration. These outcomes showed that GA could raise neurobehavioral deficiency of TBI mice. GA treatment could attenuate apoptosis in TBI mice by reducing oxidative stress.

Objective Analyze the effect of preservation or resection of the partial uncinate joint on the sagittal sequence of the cervical vertebrae in patients with non‐single‐segment radiculopathy and the correlation between the sagittal sequence of the cervical vertebrae and the long‐term effect after surgery, we explored whether it is necessary to perform partial resection of the uncinate joint in patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy undergoing anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF). Methods The study retrospectively analyzed 96 patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy with more than two segments from August 2016 to January 2021, who underwent ACDF (ACDF group, 45 patients) or ACDF combined with partial uncinate joint resection (ACDF + UT group, 51 patients). Partial resection of the uncinate joint indicated removal of part of the uncinate joint and osteophyte based on the compression of the nerve root during surgery, whereas the uncinate joints in the ACDF group were retained completely. The imaging data and functional scores of the two groups were recorded before surgery, 1 month after surgery, and at the last follow‐up. A paired t‐test or rank sum test was applied to analyze the data. In addition, the correlation between the imaging parameters and functional scores was validated using the Pearson's test. Results All 96 patients successfully completed the surgery and were followed up for at least 12 months, with an average follow‐up time of 14 months. At the last follow‐up, the pain visual analog scale (VAS), neck disability index (NDI), and neck pain and disability scale (NPAD) scores of the two groups were significantly lower than those before surgery, and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score was significantly higher than that before surgery. At the last follow‐up, compared with the ACDF+UT group, the NDI and NPAD scores in the ACDF group decreased more significantly (p

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has drawn extensive attention with some features including visible-light response as non-metallic semiconductor, low cost in raw material and green pollution-free for environment, but suffers from some issues such as fast charge carriers’ recombination, easy aggregation, etc. In this work, the 1D-2D HNTs&g–C3N4–X binary materials similar to meat floss pattern in a series of halloysite loading amounts are designed via a facile electrostatic self-assembly strategy with debris g-C3N4 after cell pulverizing treatment and HNTs that outwardly modified by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as the building blocks. The halloysite-mediated satellite-core material displays a photocatalytic of H2 evolution performance with the highest evolution rate of 137.0 μmol g−1 h−1 in visible light condition with no co-catalysts, and is ∼3.4 times that of bulk g-C3N4, mainly benefiting from the reduced nanometer size of debris g-C3N4 and enhanced interface dispersion ability by HNTs, resulting in ameliorative separation efficiency of photogenerated charge carriers. This research conclusively provides the new perspective towards the performance enhancement of water splitting of g-C3N4 in raw clay mineral modification mode and broadens the applications of mineral-based composite in the renewable energy utilization field.

AliCPT-1 is the first cosmic microwave background (CMB) experiment in China dedicated to achieving accurate measurements of B-mode polarization. Situated in Ali of Tibet, China, this telescope is currently undergoing deployment and will operate in two frequency bands centered at 90 and 150 GHz. The far-field flat mirror (FFF) is a calibration device of the AliCPT-1 telescope for far-field beam mapping. The design of the FFF is optimized for easy assembly and adjustment. Meteorological station data reveal that the maximum wind speed near the FFF is 17.5 m/s, while the maximum wind speed on the windward side is 8 m/s. The wind pressure on the FFF was analyzed using a maximum wind speed of 17.5 m/s as the input condition, based on the fluid–structure coupling method in ANSYS. The results demonstrate that it is safe and reliable when withstanding combined gravity and wind pressure loads. The torque on the mount is within the motor rated torque. The flatness of the FFF reflective surface can be adjusted to an RMS value of 0.05 mm when taking into account the effect of gravity and assembly accuracy. The deformation caused by the maximum wind loads is approximately 0.0587 mm under the protection of the wind-proof wall. The combined deformation is 0.077 mm in RMS value combining the two influences, which is less than 1/20 of wavelength. The FFF mirror assembly is stable and precise for telescope calibration.

Low modulus materials that can change shape in response to external stimuli are promising for a wide range of applications. The authors here introduce a shape-reprogrammable construct, based on liquid metal microfluidic networks and electromagnetic actuation, that supports a unique collection of capabilities.

In the field of HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) control, the model-based optimal control method has been extensively studied and verified by scholars, but this method highly depends on the accuracy of the model, the collection of a large amount of historical data, and the deployment of sensors.In response to the above problems,combined with EnergyPlus, actual system parameters and historical data, the HVAC optimized control model was constructed, and an improved double pools-based DQN (DPs-DQN) algorithm was proposed.Finally, it was applied to the load distribution of different types of chillers, the combined optimal control of cooling tower fan frequency and cooling water pump frequency in HVAC system.Based on the constructed problem model, aiming at the problem of sample imbalance in the decision-making optimization process, the algorithm established two independent experience pools on the basis of DQN to store load distribution and non load distribution samples respectively.During the training process, followed a certain ratio to sample from the experience pool to speed up the algorithm convergence.The proposed method was compared with the model-based control method and the baseline method.The experimental results show that compared with the baseline method, the model-based HVAC controller can save 11.5% (optimal energy-saving efficiency), while the DPs-DQN can save energy by 7.5% in the first year.At the same time, as the system runs, the controller can obtain results close to the optimal energy saving efficiency in the eighth year.In addition, compared with the model-based HVAC controller, the controller does not depend on the system model, and requires less prior knowledge and sensors in the online control process, which is more valuable in actual engineering applications.

Abstract Printing or patterning particle‐based liquid metal (LM) ink is a good strategy to overcome poor wettability of LM for its circuits’ preparation in flexible and printed electronics. Subsequently, a crucial step is to recover conductivity of LM circuits consisting of insulating LM micro/nano‐particles. However, most widely used mechanical sintering methods based on hard contact such as pressing, may not be able to contact the LM patterns' whole surface conformally, leading to insufficient sintering in some areas. Hard contact may also break delicate shapes of the printed patterns. Hereby, an ultrasonic‐assisted sintering strategy that can not only preserve original morphology of the LM circuits but also sinter circuits on various substrates of complex surface topography is proposed. The influencing factors of the ultrasonic sintering are investigated empirically and interpreted with theoretical understanding by simulation. LM circuits encapsulated inside soft elastomer are successfully sintered, proving feasibility in constructing stretchable or flexible electronics. By using water as energy transmission medium, remote sintering without any direct contact with substrate is achieved, which greatly protect LM circuits from mechanical damage. In virtue of such remote and non‐contact manipulation manner, the ultrasonic sintering strategy would greatly advance the fabrication and application scenarios of LM electronics.

To analyze the shear capacity and failure mechanism of perfobond strip (PBL) connectors in the junction of the steel-UHPC composite pedestrian truss bridge, this study conducted monotonic loading push-out tests on four specimens of PBL shear connector deeply embedded in UHPC and one specimen in normal concrete. The research primarily investigated the interfacial shear behavior of PBL connectors under static load, focusing on the effects of different concrete types, embedded depth of PBL connector, and diameter of transverse reinforcing bar, especially in the situation with a deep 240 mm embedded depth of PBL connectors. The results showed that the shear capacity of PBL connector in UHPC was 76% higher than that in normal concrete specimen. For UHPC specimens with 240 mm embedded depth, the failure mode of the specimens with 16 mm and 25 mm transverse reinforcing bar diameter was steel plate destroy while the specimens with 12 mm transverse reinforcing bar diameter showed transverse reinforcing bar fracture. Reducing the embedded depth of the PBL connector with 12 mm diameter transverse reinforcing bar increased the initial stiffness and shear capacity of PBL connector, but decreased the ductility. In this study, the experimental results were compared with several calculation equations, and a modified equation was proposed for PBL connectors deeply embedded in UHPC based on the force transferring mechanism and different failure modes. The predicted results were in good agreement with the experimental results. Furthermore, some design suggestions for PBL connectors deeply embedded in UHPC were concluded in this paper.

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems account for approximately 50% of the total energy consumption in buildings. Advanced control and optimal operation, seen as key technologies in reducing the energy consumption of HVAC systems, indispensably rely on an accurate prediction of the building’s heating/cooling load. Therefore, the goal of this research is to develop a model capable of making such accurate predictions. To streamline the process, this study employs sensitivity and correlation analysis for feature selection, thereby eliminating redundant parameters, and addressing distortion problems caused by multicollinearity among input parameters. Four model identification methods including multivariate polynomial regression (MPR), support vector regression (SVR), multilayer perceptron (MLP), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) are implemented in parallel to extract value from diverse building datasets. These models are trained and selected autonomously based on statistical performance criteria. The prediction models were deployed in a nearly zero-energy office building, and the impacts of feature selection, training set size, and real-world uncertainty factors were analyzed and compared. The results showed that feature selection considerably improved prediction accuracy while reducing model dimensionality. The research also recognized that prediction accuracy during model deployment can be influenced significantly by factors like personnel mobility during holidays and weather forecast uncertainties. Additionally, for nearly zero-energy buildings, the thermal inertia of the building itself can considerably impact prediction accuracy in certain scenarios.