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Nowadays, rumors spread more rapidly than before, leading to more panic and instability in society. Therefore, it is essential to seek out propagation law in order to prevent rumors from spreading further and avoid unnecessary harm. There is a connection between rumor models and symmetry. The consistency of a system or model is referred to as the level of symmetry under certain transformations. For this purpose, we propose a fractional-order Ignorant–Latent–Spreader–Remover (ILSR) rumor propagation model that incorporates media reports and a nonlinear inhibition mechanism. Firstly, the boundedness and non-negativeness of the solutions are derived under fractional differential equations. Secondly, the threshold is used to evaluate and illustrate the stability both locally and globally. Finally, by utilizing Pontryagin's maximum principle, we obtain the necessary conditions for the optimal control in the fractional-order rumor propagation model, and we also obtain the associated optimal solutions. Furthermore, the numerical results indicate that media reports can decrease the spread of rumors in different dynamic regions, but they cannot completely prevent rumor dissemination. The results are also exhibited and corroborated by replicating the model with specific hypothetical parameter values. It can be inferred that fractional order yields more favorable outcomes when rumor permanence in the population is higher. The presented method facilitates the acquisition of profound insights into the dissemination dynamics and subsequent consequences of rumors within a societal network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The application of a growing rod technique can retain the growth and development potential of the spine and thorax while controlling the progression of scoliosis deformity. Theoretically, convex side short fusion combined with a concave side single growing rod technique can significantly reduce the asymmetric growth of the spine in the vertex region in most patients. However, the final clinical outcome of various techniques is yet to be clearly determined and compared between studies. Therefore, we compared the efficacy of these two growing rod techniques in treating early onset scoliosis. Methods: In a retrospective study of 152 EOS patients seen between 2013.1 and 2019.12, 36 cases of EOS patients were selected for inclusion. Among the 36 cases, 11 cases were treated with convex side short fusion combined with a concave side single growing rod technique, group (A) The remaining 25 cases were treated with traditional bilateral growing rod technique, group (B) Age, gender, etiology, follow-up time, Cobb angle of main curve, T1-S1 height, coronal trunk shift, sagittal vertical axis (SVA), Cobb angle of thoracic kyphosis at last follow-up, and Cobb angle at proximal junction kyphosis of the first and last post-operation follow-up were recorded. In addition, internal fixation related complications, infection, nervous system complications were recorded as well. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between group A and group B in preoperative age, Cobb angle of main curve, coronal trunk shift, T1-S1 height, SVA, Cobb angle of thoracic kyphosis (p > 0.05). However, at the last follow-up (Group A, mean 4.4 ± 1.01 years; Group B, mean 3.6 ± 0.01 years) the Cobb angle of the main curve was less and T1-S1 height greater in group A compared with group B (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between group A and group B in the correction rate of the Cobb angle of the main curve or the growth rate of T1-S1 height (p > 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the coronal imbalance ratio, thoracic kyphosis abnormality ratio, or the occurrence PJK ratio between group A and group B at the last follow-up (p > 0.05), but the sagittal imbalance ratio and internal fixation abnormality ratio were higher in group A than in the group B (p < 0.05). Conclusions: During the treatment of EOS, both the convex side short fusion combined with concave side single growing rod technique and traditional bilateral growing rod technique can correct the Cobb angle of main curve with no significant hindering of the spinal growth observed. The traditional bilateral growing rod technique has advantages in control of the sagittal balance of the spine, and the complications associated with internal fixation were lower. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many non‐precious metal‐nitrogen (M–Nx)‐containing catalysts are highly efficient for electrochemical reduction of CO2 to CO and yet encounter challenges in further converting CO to more valuable two‐carbon products (C2), such as ethanol and acetic acid. The ambiguous structure‐activity relationship of the M–Nx moieties toward CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) results in difficulties in regulating the CO2RR product selectivity on the M–Nx‐containing catalysts. Herein, by using fluorinated iron phthalocyanines with axial‐coordinated ligands (L–FePc–F) as an M–N4‐based model electrocatalyst for CO2RR, a correlation between the electronic structure and C2 selectivity of Fe–N4 is revealed and a comprehensive descriptor based on the Fe–CO π‐backbonding is proposed for guiding the regulation of M–N4 toward higher C2 selectivity. Based on the regulation principle, the Br‐axial‐coordinated FePc–F (Br–FePc–F) remarkably increases the Faradic efficiency (FE) of C2 products from 0% (i.e., the FEC2 of FePc–F) to 34% due to the strengthened Fe–CO π‐backbonding stemming from the elevated 3dxz/dyz orbital energy and enhanced electron‐donating ability of the Fe centers of Fe–N4. This work provides a strategy and mechanism insights on the regulation of the C2 selectivity of CO2RR on the Fe–N4 moieties, which may be inspiring for precise construction and regulation of the M–Nx‐containing catalysts for specific CO2RR products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Examining screening outcomes by breast density for breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with or without mammography could inform discussions about supplemental MRI in women with dense breasts. Methods We evaluated 52 237 women aged 40-79 years who underwent 2611 screening MRIs alone and 6518 supplemental MRI plus mammography pairs propensity score–matched to 65 810 screening mammograms. Rates per 1000 examinations of interval, advanced, and screen-detected early stage invasive cancers and false-positive recall and biopsy recommendation were estimated by breast density (nondense = almost entirely fatty or scattered fibroglandular densities; dense = heterogeneously/extremely dense) adjusting for registry, examination year, age, race and ethnicity, family history of breast cancer, and prior breast biopsy. Results Screen-detected early stage cancer rates were statistically higher for MRI plus mammography vs mammography for nondense (9.3 vs 2.9; difference = 6.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.5 to 10.3) and dense (7.5 vs 3.5; difference = 4.0, 95% CI = 1.4 to 6.7) breasts and for MRI vs MRI plus mammography for dense breasts (19.2 vs 7.5; difference = 11.7, 95% CI = 4.6 to 18.8). Interval rates were not statistically different for MRI plus mammography vs mammography for nondense (0.8 vs 0.5; difference = 0.4, 95% CI = -0.8 to 1.6) or dense breasts (1.5 vs 1.4; difference = 0.0, 95% CI = -1.2 to 1.3), nor were advanced cancer rates. Interval rates were not statistically different for MRI vs MRI plus mammography for nondense (2.6 vs 0.8; difference = 1.8 (95% CI = -2.0 to 5.5) or dense breasts (0.6 vs 1.5; difference = -0.9, 95% CI = -2.5 to 0.7), nor were advanced cancer rates. False-positive recall and biopsy recommendation rates were statistically higher for MRI groups than mammography alone. Conclusion MRI screening with or without mammography increased rates of screen-detected early stage cancer and false-positives for women with dense breasts without a concomitant decrease in advanced or interval cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent sapphire and magnesium aluminum spinel (MgAl 2 O 4) ceramic was first brazed using La 2 O 3 -SiO 2 -B 2 O 3 -Nb 2 O 5 (LSBN) or La 2 O 3 -SiO 2 -B 2 O 3 -Nb 2 O 5 -MgO (LSBNM) glass filler. The Al 2 O 3 layer was formed at MgAl 2 O 4 /LSBN interface or sapphire/LSBNM interface, which caused the decrease of light transmission of joints. To avoid the formation of this interface layer, sapphire/LSBN/LSBNM/MgAl 2 O 4 joints with double glass interlayers were fabricated by using a two-step joining method consisting of high-temperature coating and low-temperature bonding. After the first step of high-temperature coating, no interfacial layer was observed in sapphire/LSBN glass and MgAl 2 O 4 /LSBNM glass samples. During the bonding process, low bonding temperature (750 °C) resulted in cracks and unbonding, while high bonding temperature (950 °C) caused the crystallization of glass interlayers. However, when the bonding temperature was 850 °C, the in-line transmission and shear strength of the sapphire/MgAl 2 O 4 joints reached 78.3% and 52 MPa, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the predictive ability of global longitudinal strain (GLS) and mechanical dispersion for coronary stenosis and provide a more reliable noninvasive method for diagnosis of obstructive coronary artery disease(OCAD). Methods: Sixty‐seven patients diagnosed with suspected CAD were included in the study. Patients with coronary stenosis greater than 50% were assigned as OCAD, while the others were assigned as non obstructive coronary artery disease(NOCAD). General information was collected and patients underwent speckle tracking echocardiogram(STE). Results: Spearman's correlation analysis showed that GLS and mechanical dispersion were positively correlated with the degree of coronary stenosis (r = 0.383, 0.342, p < 0.05), and there was also a positive correlation between GLS and mechanical dispersion (r = 0.327, p < 0.05). GLS, longitudinal strain (LS) of each chamber, and mechanical dispersion were higher in the OCAD group than in the NOCAD group (p < 0.05). Univariate regression analysis showed that GLS, each lumen LS and mechanical dispersion were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Multifactorial regression analysis showed that elevated GLS (p = 0.007) and elevated mechanical dispersion (p = 0.030) were independent risk factors for OCAD. The ROC curves showed that GLS predicted OCAD (AUC area 0.745, 95% CI 0.624 to 0.865) versus mechanical discrete prediction of OCAD (AUC area 0.702, 95% CI 0.569 to 0.834) were more diagnostic than conventional cardiac ultrasound observations of ventricular wall motion abnormalities (AUC area 0.566, 95% CI 0.463 to 0.669). Conclusions: Combining GLS with mechanical dispersion can rapidly assess OCAD in a very short period, which has strong promotion value and in‐depth research value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent sapphire and magnesium aluminum spinel (MgAl 2 O 4) ceramic was first brazed using La 2 O 3 -SiO 2 -B 2 O 3 -Nb 2 O 5 (LSBN) or La 2 O 3 -SiO 2 -B 2 O 3 -Nb 2 O 5 -MgO (LSBNM) glass filler. The Al 2 O 3 layer was formed at MgAl 2 O 4 /LSBN interface or sapphire/LSBNM interface, which caused the decrease of light transmission of joints. To avoid the formation of this interface layer, sapphire/LSBN/LSBNM/MgAl 2 O 4 joints with double glass interlayers were fabricated by using a two-step joining method consisting of high-temperature coating and low-temperature bonding. After the first step of high-temperature coating, no interfacial layer was observed in sapphire/LSBN glass and MgAl 2 O 4 /LSBNM glass samples. During the bonding process, low bonding temperature (750 °C) resulted in cracks and unbonding, while high bonding temperature (950 °C) caused the crystallization of glass interlayers. However, when the bonding temperature was 850 °C, the in-line transmission and shear strength of the sapphire/MgAl 2 O 4 joints reached 78.3% and 52 MPa, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multiple rib fractures can lead to flail chest with up to 35% mortality rate due to severe pulmonary complications. Current treatments of flail chest remain controversial. Studies have shown that surgical treatments can improve outcomes and reduce mortality, comparing to non-operative treatments. Current surgical fixation methods focus on stabilization of ribs on the outward facing side, and they require division of intercostal muscles. Damages to surrounding nerves and vessels may lead to chronic pain. This study tests a novel interior fixation method that minimizes neurovascular injuries. Methods: Twelve healthy canines were divided in two surgical operation groups for exterior and interior fixation using titanium metal plates. Osteotomy with oblique fractures was prepared under general anesthesia. Exterior fixation was performed in open surgery. Interior fixation was minimally invasive using custom made tools including a flexible shaft extension screwdriver, solid plate stand, guiding wire loop and metal plates with threaded holes. Results: Respiratory and cardiovascular functions (RR, PO2, PCO2, SpO2, and HR) together with body temperature were measured before anesthesia and within 48 h after surgery. The difference in measurements was not statistically significant between the two groups before surgery with P values greater than 0.05. However, the interior group canines had better RR and PO2 values starting from the 24th hour, and better PCO2, SpO2, and HR values starting from the 48th hour. It took longer operation time to complete the minimally invasive interior fixation surgery (P value less than 0.001), but the total blood loss was less than the exterior fixation group (P value less than 0.001). Results also showed that interior group canines suffered less pain, and they had quicker recovery in gastrointestinal and physical mobility. Conclusions: The investigative interior fixation method was safe and effective in rib stabilization on a canine rib fracture model, comparing to the exterior fixation method. The interior fixation was minimally invasive, with less damages to tissues and nerves surrounding the ribs, leading to better postoperative outcomes. Highlights: Current metal prosthesis surgical fixation requires division of intercostal muscles, which may lead to neurovascular injuries and chronic pain. Metal plate stabilization from the inward facing side of the rib avoids muscle division, and only needs a cut through a thin layer of periosteum to expose the bones. A flexible soft shaft extension screwdriver can be bent, twisted, rotated, and turned into narrow space and dead end. It can be used with VATS in surgical rib fixation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effects of mitochondrial homeostasis on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced endothelial cell barrier function and the mechanisms that underlie these effects. Cells were treated with LPS or oligomycin (mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate synthase inhibitor) and the mitochondrial morphology, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS), and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) were evaluated. Moreover, the shedding of glycocalyx‐heparan sulphate (HS), the levels of HS‐specific degrading enzyme heparanase (HPA), and the expression of occludin and zonula occludens (ZO‐1) of Tight Junctions (TJ)s, which are mediated by myosin light chain phosphorylation (p‐MLC), were assessed. Examining the changes in mitochondrial homeostasis showed that adding heparinase III, which is an exogenous HPA, can destroy the integrity of glycocalyx. LPS simultaneously increased mitochondrial swelling, mtROS, and ΔΨm. Without oligomycin effects, HS, HPA levels, and p‐MLC were found to be elevated, and the destruction of occludin and ZO‐1 increased. Heparinase III not only damaged the glycocalyx by increasing HS shedding but also increased mitochondrial swelling and mtROS and decreased ΔΨm. Mitochondrial homeostasis is involved in LPS‐induced endothelial cell barrier dysfunction by aggravating HPA and p‐MLC levels. In turn, the integrated glycocalyx protects mitochondrial homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to describe public risk perception regarding COVID‐19 and corresponding self‐protection behavior using samples in China. An online survey was operated to investigate the perception of the COVID‐19 pandemic and their coping behavior (n = 1144). Structural equation models were applied to analyze data. Empirical results indicate that intention to adopt self‐protection behaviors and public risk perception are high. Risk perception, perception of governmental COVID‐19 prevention, and systematic processing positively influence coping behavioral intentions. Perception of governmental COVID‐19 prevention, knowledge regarding COVID‐19, and systematic processing positively impact risk perception. Knowledge regarding COVID‐19 positively influences systematic processing. Information acquisition positively affects perception of governmental COVID‐19 prevention and knowledge regarding COVID‐19. The epidemic prevention and control efforts of the government could trigger public coping behavioral intentions. Improving the information processing capability of the public helps maintain a high level of risk perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, crystallization, thermal expansion and wetting behavior of ZnO–Al 2 O 3 –SiO 2 (ZAS) glass were first investigated. The results showed that ZnAl 2 O 4 was precipitated from ZAS glass after crystallization treatment. Crystallization increased the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of ZAS glass ceramic due to the high CTE of ZnAl 2 O 4. In addition, ZAS glass exhibited good wettability on the surface of MgAl 2 O 4 substrate. On this basis, ZAS glass was used to join MgAl 2 O 4 ceramic, and the microstructure and mechanical properties of joints obtained with different cooling methods were investigated. The flexural strength of joints was related to the content of ZnAl 2 O 4 crystals in the brazing seams. Additional nucleation and crystallization treatment during cooling process improved the crystallinity of brazing seam, resulting in better matching of the CTE of brazing seam with that of MgAl 2 O 4 ceramic. The maximum flexural strength of joints reached 201 MPa, which was equivalent to the strength of MgAl 2 O 4 ceramic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Pod dehiscence facilitates seed dispersal in wild legumes but results in yield loss in cultivated legumes. The evolutionary genetics of the legume pod dehiscence trait remain largely elusive.We characterized the pod dehiscence of chromosome segment substitution lines of Glycine max crossed with Glycine soja and found that the gene underlying the predominant quantitative trait locus (QTL) of soybean pod‐shattering trait was Pod dehiscence 1 (Pdh1). A few rare loss‐of‐function (LoF) Pdh1 alleles were identified in G. soja, while only an allele featuring a premature stop codon was selected for pod indehiscence in cultivated soybean and spread to low‐precipitation regions with increased frequency. Moreover, correlated interactions among Pdh1's haplotype, gene expression, and environmental changes for the developmental plasticity of the pod dehiscence trait were revealed in G. max.We found that orthologous Pdh1 genes specifically originated in warm‐season legumes and their LoF alleles were then parallel‐selected during the domestication of legume crops.Our results provide insights into the convergent evolution of pod dehiscence in warm‐season legumes, facilitate an understanding of the intricate interactions between genetic robustness and environmental adaptation for developmental plasticity, and guide the breeding of new legume varieties with pod indehiscence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The La 2 O 3 -SiO 2 -B 2 O 3 (LSB) glass filler with high softening temperature was first used to join MgAl 2 O 4 ceramic. An interfacial layer composed of Al 2 O 3 was formed due to the solubility difference of MgO and Al 2 O 3 in the LSB glass filler. As a result, the addition of Al 2 O 3 into the LSB glass filler caused the increase of interfacial layer thickness. On the contrary, the addition of MgO into the LSB glass filler led to the decrease of interfacial layer thickness. When the adding content of MgO was 6 wt%, the interfacial layer disappeared and completely amorphous brazing seam was obtained. The in-line transmittance of joints decreased with the increase of the thickness of interfacial layer. The optimal in-line transmittance of joint bonded with La 2 O 3 -SiO 2 -B 2 O 3 -MgO (LSB6M) glass filler reached 82.9% at 1000 nm. Meanwhile, the average flexural strength of joints was about 196.2 MPa, which was equal to the strength of MgAl 2 O 4 substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydraulic fracturing is widely used to stimulate unconventional reservoirs, but a systematic and comprehensive investigation into the hydraulic fracturing process is insufficient. In this work, a discrete element‐lattice Boltzmann method is implemented to simulate the hydro‐mechanical behavior in a hydraulic fracturing process. Different influential factors, including treatment parameters (injection rates and fluid viscosity), formation parameters (in situ stress states and natural fractures) and rock properties (heterogeneity of rock strengths and rock permeability), are considered and their impacts on the initiation and propagation of hydraulic fractures are evaluated. A higher injection rate, increased viscosity, and larger in situ stress will lead to an increase in the initiation pressure. Conversely, higher formation permeability and a greater degree of heterogeneity in bond strengths will result in a decrease in the initiation pressure. The complexity of generated fractures is significantly influenced by the injection rate and degree of heterogeneity. However, fluid viscosity, in situ stress states, and formation permeability individually do not affect the geometrical complexity. Shear displacement can occur during a hydraulic fracturing process due to increased pore pressure and variations in in situ stress caused by injected fluid. Low‐viscosity fluid with a high injection rate can have a significant pressure buildup and generate complex fracture networks in low‐permeability heterogeneous formations. Natural fractures can significantly impact the complexity of generated fractures, while more in‐depth research is required regarding complex natural fracture distributions. Plain Language Summary: Hydraulic fracturing technique is essential for the development of unconventional reserves, such as shale gas/oil and geothermal reservoirs. To optimize field operations and properly estimate the stimulation reservoir volume, it is necessary to investigate the impact of influential factors. In this work, we adopt a numerical scheme (DEM‐LBM) to investigate the process in detail and consider as many factors as possible, including treatment parameters (injection rates and fluid viscosity), formation parameters (in situ stress states and preexisting natural fractures), and rock properties (heterogeneity of rock strengths and rock permeability). The impacts of those influential factors on the initiation and propagation of hydraulic fractures are evaluated. We find that all factors have a significant impact on fracture initiation pressure. However, the complexity of generated fractures is mainly affected by injection rates and heterogeneity degrees of rock strengths. The combination of low‐viscosity fluid and a high injection rate can result in the generation of a much more complex fracture network in a low‐permeability heterogeneous formation. The existence of natural fractures can significantly influence the complexity of the generated fracture networks. Further research on natural fracture networks is feasible based on the foundation established in this work. Key Points: Different influential factors have significant impacts on the initiation pressureExistence of natural fractures, high injection rates and heterogeneity degrees increase the geometrical complexity of fracturesLow‐viscosity fluid combined with a high injection rate leads to a complex fracture network in low‐permeability heterogeneous formation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a method to identify the damages in frame structures with slender beams. This method adjusts the parameters of the structure to match the analytical and the measured displacements. The effect of transverse shear deformation on the nodal analytical displacement is analyzed, and the parameter identification of frame structures with slender beams is performed. The results demonstrate that parameter-identification accuracy can be considerably improved by considering the transverse shear deformation in the frame structure with slender beams. The proposed method can accurately identify the damages in frame structures with slender beams using displacement measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main pollutant particle of smog pollution. Public PM2.5-reduction behavior is beneficial and important to the reduction of smog emissions. The article aims to investigate the influencing factors of the intention for individuals' PM2.5-reduction. A conceptual model was proposed from the perspective of the protection behavior decision model and the heuristic-systematic information processing model. A random questionnaire survey was conducted in Hefei City, China. Results suggest that risk perception is a positive determinant of PM2.5-reduction intention, information insufficiency, and information-seeking intention. Information insufficiency positively determines systematic processing and information-seeking intention but fails to influence heuristic processing. Information-seeking intention is positively correlated with systematic processing and heuristic processing. Systematic processing positively determines PM2.5-reduction intention. However, the results suggest that heuristic processing has no significant effect on PM2.5-reduction intention. The findings of this study provide practical implications for enhancing individuals' PM2.5-reduction intention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, dysprosium-aluminosilicate (DAS) and neodymium-aluminosilicate (NAS) glasses with high softening temperature were used as fillers to join alumina ceramics. The similarities and differences in the interfacial microstructure and flexural strength of the joints were investigated. Results showed that the glass fillers both could infiltrate into alumina ceramics during the joining process. However, excessive infiltration at high joining temperatures led to the formation of pore defects in the brazing seam. An interfacial reaction layer composed of Dy 3 Al 5 O 12 was formed at the DAS glass/alumina interface. In contrast, no interfacial reaction was observed between the NAS glass and alumina ceramic. Slower cooling rate promoted the crystallization of Dy 2 Si 2 O 7 and Al 2 O 3 in the Al 2 O 3 /DAS/Al 2 O 3 joints, and only Nd 2 Si 2 O 7 in the Al 2 O 3 /NAS/Al 2 O 3 joints. The flexural strength at room temperature of both joints first increased and then decreased with the increased of joining temperature, and showed a declined tendency with the decrease in cooling rate. The flexural strength at 900 °C of Al 2 O 3 /DAS/Al 2 O 3 joints reached 245 MPa, which is higher than that of Al 2 O 3 /NAS/Al 2 O 3 joints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a challenging clinical syndrome that leads to various respiratory sequelae and even high mortality in patients with severe disease. The novel pharmacological strategies and therapeutic drugs are urgently needed. Natural products have played a fundamental role and provided an abundant pool in drug discovery. Experimental Approach: A compound library containing 160 natural products was used to screen potential anti‐inflammatory compounds. Mice with LPS‐induced ALI was then used to verify the preventive and therapeutic effects of the selected compounds. Key Results: Licochalcone A was discovered from the anti‐inflammatory screening of natural products in macrophages. A qPCR array validated the inflammation‐regulatory effects of licochalcone A and indicated that the potential targets of licochalcone A may be the upstream proteins in LPS pro‐inflammatory signalling. Further studies showed that licochalcone A directly binds to myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD2), an assistant protein of toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4), to block both LPS‐induced TRIF‐ and MYD88‐dependent pathways. LEU61 and PHE151 in MD2 protein are the two key residues that contribute to the binding of MD2 to licochalcone A. In vivo, licochalcone A treatment alleviated ALI in LPS‐challenged mice through significantly reducing immunocyte infiltration, suppressing activation of TLR4 pathway and inflammatory cytokine induction. Conclusion and Implications: In summary, our study identified MD2 as a direct target of licochalcone A for its anti‐inflammatory activity and suggested that licochalcone A might serve as a novel MD2 inhibitor and a potential drug for developing ALI/ARDS therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the flexural performance of the steel fiber reinforced concrete beams with recycled fine and coarse aggregates was investigated through the experiments. The effects of steel fiber volume fraction, recycled fine and coarse aggregate replacement ratio, and concrete compressive strength grade on the flexural performance of steel fiber reinforced recycled aggregate concrete (SFRAC) beams were systematically studied in terms of failure mode, flexural capacity, cracking patterns, load-deflection response, and load-tensile reinforcement strain response. The results showed that the flexural capacity and deflection of beams increased and decreased with the increase of steel fiber volume fraction, respectively. The beam with 100% replacement ratio of recycled fine aggregate and 0.5% volume fraction of steel fiber presented the similar or even better flexural performance than that of the ordinary concrete beam. By adding 1.0% volume fraction of steel fiber, the flexural capacity of beam with both 100% replacement ratio of recycled fine and coarse aggregates was higher than that of the ordinary concrete beam. Based on the experimental results of SFRAC beams in this study and other literature, the effects of steel fiber volume fraction and recycled aggregate replacement ratio on the flexural capacity of beams were quantitatively analyzed. Lastly, a model for the prediction of SFRAC beam flexural capacity was proposed and verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: It is simpler and more environmentally friendly to use supercritical CO2 fluid technology to process skincare viscose fabrics. Therefore, it is significant to study the release properties of drug-loaded viscose fabrics to choose suitable skincare drugs. In this work, the release kinetics model fittings were investigated in order to clarify the release mechanism and provide a theoretical basis for processing skincare viscose fabrics with supercritical CO2 fluid. (2) Methods: Nine kinds of drugs with different substituent groups, different molecular weights, and different substitution positions were loaded onto viscose fabrics using supercritical CO2 fluid. Then, the drug-loaded viscose fabrics were placed in an ethanol medium, and the release curves were drawn. Finally, the release kinetics were fitted using zero-order release kinetics, the first-order kinetics model, the Higuchi model, and the Korsmeyer–Peppas model. (3) Results: The Korsmeyer–Peppas model was the best-fitting model for all the drugs. Drugs with different substituent groups were released via a non-Fickian diffusion mechanism. On the contrary, other drugs were released via a Fickian diffusion mechanism. (4) Conclusions: In view of the release kinetics, it was found that the viscose fabric can swell when a drug with a higher solubility parameter is loaded onto it using supercritical CO2 fluid, and the release rate is also slower. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study evaluated the outcomes of breast MRI with or without mammography in women with dense breasts. The study found that MRI screening increased rates of early-stage cancer detection and false-positive recalls for women with dense breasts, but did not decrease advanced or interval cancers. The study suggests that breast density alone should not be the sole criterion for recommending supplemental breast MRI, and that screening should be based on a woman's breast cancer risk to maximize benefits and minimize harms. Another document discusses the findings of two studies that examined the use of MRI in reducing advanced breast cancer incidence in high-risk women. The studies found a statistically significant reduction in advanced breast cancer incidence among women who underwent MRI. The document also discusses the development of a risk model that can be used to determine screening intervals and the need for supplemental imaging in high-risk women. The authors note that further research is needed to examine the association between breast cancer risk and mortality. The research was funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute and the National Cancer Institute, among others. [Extracted from the article]

Summary: Soybean (Glycine max) was domesticated from its wild relative Glycine soja. One‐hundred‐seed weight is one of the most important domesticated traits determining soybean yield; however, its underlying genetic basis remains elusive.We characterized a soybean seed size 1 (sss1) mutant featuring large seeds compared to its wild‐type background. Positional cloning revealed that the candidate gene GmSSS1 encoded a SPINDLY homolog and was co‐located in a well‐identified quantitative trait locus (QTL)‐rich region on chromosome 19. Knocking out GmSSS1 resulted in small seeds, while overexpressing GmSSS1/Gmsss1 induced large seeds. Modulating GmSSS1/Gmsss1 in transgenic plants can positively influence cell expansion and cell division. Relative to GmSSS1, one mutation leading to an E to Q substitution at the 182nd residue in Gmsss1 conferred an enhancing effect on seed weight.GmSSS1 underwent diversification in wild‐type and cultivated soybean, and the alleles encoding the Gmsss1‐type substitution of 182nd‐Q, which originated along the central and downstream parts of the Yellow River, were selected and expanded during soybean domestication and improvement.We cloned the causative gene for the sss1 mutant, which is linked with a seed weight QTL, identified an elite allele of this gene for increasing seed weight, and provided new insights into soybean domestication and breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and irreversible pulmonary interstitial disease that seriously affects the patient's quality of life and lifespan. The pathogenesis of IPF has not been clarified, and its treatment is limited to pirfenidone and nintedanib, which only delays the decline of lung function. Alveolar epithelial type 2 (AT2) cells are indispensable in the regeneration and lung surfactant secretion of alveolar epithelial cells. Studies have shown that AT2 cell dysfunction initiates the occurrence and progression of IPF. This review expounds on the AT2 cell dysfunction in IPF, involving senescence, apoptosis, endoplasmic reticulum stress, mitochondrial damage, metabolic reprogramming, and the transitional state of AT2 cells. This article also briefly summarizes potential treatments targeting AT2 cell dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel La 2 O 3 -Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 (LAS) glass was used as filler to join transparent sapphire for obtaining high strength and high light transmittance joints. The results show that the LAS glass filler had compatible coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) with sapphire and excellent wetting ability on sapphire. During the joining process, no interfacial reaction occurred and the brazing seams were in a completely amorphous state under fast cooling conditions (~50 °C/min). With increased joining temperature, the mutual dissolution and diffusion between sapphire and the LAS filler were enhanced. The flexural strength of joints first increased and then decreased with an increase in the joining temperature from 1400 °C to 1550 °C. The optimal flexural strength of joint reached 325 MPa, which almost was the same as the strength of sapphire substrate. At 500 nm, the in-line transmittance of this joint was 80.5%, which was close to that of sapphire (84.2%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Supercritical CO2 fluid (SCF-CO2)-assisted impregnation presents advantages on loading active drugs to polymer substrates, since it enables the realization of a drug-loaded polymer without any solvent residue. Besides, CO2 gas and drugs can be recycled and utilized again. Resveratrol-loaded diacetate fiber by SCF-CO2-assisted impregnation was done to give diacetate fiber biological activity function for enhancing its added value. (2) Methods: The effect of SCF-CO2 temperature, pressure and treatment time on loading ability (LA) of resveratrol onto diacetate fiber was explored by ultraviolet visible spectrophotometer. The variation of structure and property of diacetate fiber was analyzed by characterization instruments. (3) Results: LA had been increasing with SCF-CO2 treatment time, temperature and pressure when SCF-CO2 was above 70 °C, 12 MPa. The inhibiting rate of resveratrol to free radicals was affected positively by SCF-CO2. After resveratrol was impregnated by SCF-CO2 it appeared some small white granular substances on the surface of diacetate fiber. It had a good interaction between resveratrol and molecular chain of diacetate fiber. (4) Conclusions: Resveratrol was well-loaded onto the diacetate fiber by SCF-CO2 assisted impregnation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a statics quantum Cournot duopoly model with isoelastic demand is firstly set up considering quantum entanglement in decision making between firms. On this basis, a dynamic duopoly game with bounded rationality is established by dynamic adjustment mechanism, and then, local stability of the Nash equilibrium is studied by Jacobian matrix and Jury criterion. In addition, local bifurcation, the multi-stability motion and contact bifurcation of system are analyzed in detail through numerical simulation. It is found that the system will gradually enter chaos as the speed of adjustment increases. Furthermore, the marginal cost can change the stability region and the bifurcation types of the system. The results of quantum entanglement show that the squeezing parameter affects the global dynamical behaviors of the system and the equilibrium profits of firms. Finally, we compared the dynamical behaviors of the established model with those of the linear demand model proposed by Yang and Gong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of ZrO 2 content on the crystallization kinetics, formation mechanism of voids and mechanical property of Dy 2 O 3 –Al 2 O 3 –SiO 2 glass were studied. The crystallization method of DAS glasses transforms from surface crystallization into bulk crystallization with an increase in ZrO 2 content from 0-3% to 6–9%. When ZrO 2 content is 0–3%, the crystalline phases of DAS glass ceramics are Dy 2 Si 2 O 7 and Al 2 O 3 , accompanied by formation of voids. When ZrO 2 content is 6–9%, the DAS glass ceramics consist of Dy 2 Si 2 O 7 , Al 2 O 3 and ZrO 2. At the same time, no voids are found in the glass ceramics. Therefore, formation of voids during crystallization can be attributed to combined effect of the crystallization method and the density difference before and after crystallization. In addition, for glassy samples, the flexural strength increases from 80.4 MPa to 219.3 MPa with an increase in ZrO 2 content from 0% to 9%. Moreover, crystallization further improves the mechanical properties of the DAS glass ceramics with bulk crystallization method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radio frequency interference (RFI) is a significant challenge faced by today's radio astronomers. While most past efforts were devoted to cleaning the RFI from the data, we develop a novel method for categorizing and cataloguing RFI for forensic purpose. We present a classifier that categorizes RFI into different types based on features extracted using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Fourier analysis. The classifier can identify narrowband non-periodic RFI above 2σ, narrowband periodic RFI above 3σ, and wideband impulsive RFI above 5σ with F1 scores [defined as F 1 = (2 · recall  × precision)/(recall + precision)] between 0.87 and 0.91 in simulation. This classifier could be used to identify the sources of RFI as well as to clean RFI contamination (particularly in pulsar search). In the long-term analysis of the categorized RFI, we found a special type of drifting periodic RFI that is detrimental to pulsar search. We also found pieces of evidence of an increased rate of impulsive RFI when the telescope is pointing towards the cities. These results demonstrate this classifier's potential as a forensic tool for RFI environment monitoring of radio telescopes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heart failure (HF) is one of the major causes of death among diabetic patients. Although studies have shown that curcumin analog C66 can remarkably relieve diabetes-associated cardiovascular and kidney complications, the role of SJ-12, SJ-12, a novel curcumin analog, in diabetic cardiomyopathy and its molecular targets are unknown. 7-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were intraperitoneally injected with single streptozotocin (STZ) (160 mg/kg) to develop diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). The diabetic mice were then treated with SJ-12 via gavage for two months. Body weight, fast blood glucose, cardiac utrasonography, myocardial injury markers, pathological morphology of the heart, hypertrophic and fibrotic markers were assessed. The potential target of SJ-12 was evaluated via RNA-sequencing analysis. The O-GlcNAcylation levels of SP1 were detected via immunoprecipitation. SJ-12 effectively suppressed myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis, thereby preventing heart dysfunction in mice with STZ-induced heart failure. RNA-sequencing analysis revealed that SJ-12 exerted its therapeutic effects through the modulation of the calcium signaling pathway. Furthermore, SJ-12 reduced the O-GlcNAcylation levels of SP1 by inhibiting O-linked N -acetylglucosamine transferase (OGT). Also, SJ-12 stabilized Sarcoplasmic/Endoplasmic Reticulum Calcium ATPase 2a (SERCA2a), a crucial regulator of calcium homeostasis, thus reducing hypertrophy and fibrosis in mouse hearts and cultured cardiomyocytes. However, the anti-fibrotic effects of SJ-12 were not detected in SERCA2a or OGT-silenced cardiomyocytes, indicating that SJ-12 can prevent DCM by targeting OGT-dependent O-GlcNAcylation of SP1.These findings indicate that SJ-12 can exert cardioprotective effects in STZ-induced mice by reducing the O-GlcNAcylation levels of SP1, thus stabilizing SERCA2a and reducing myocardial fibrosis and hypertrophy. Therefore, SJ-12 can be used for the treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy. [Display omitted] • Compound SJ-12 alleviates cardiac dysfunction, hypertrophy, and fibrosis in DCM. • SJ-12 increases the level of SERCA2a, a crucial regulator of calcium homeostasis, thus playing a protective role in DCM. • Mechanistically, the cardiac protection effect of SJ-12 was targeting OGT-regulated O-GlcNAc-Sp1/SERCA2a axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate and efficient localization of CO 2 leakage if occurred in subsurface formations, is of significant importance in achieving secure geological carbon sequestration (GCS) projects. However, this task is inherently challenging due to the considerable uncertainties in the subsurface. In this work, we develop a novel deep learning-assisted Bayesian framework for identifying potential CO 2 leakage sites based on the reservoir pressure transient behavior measured at the wellbores of injection or observation wells. The method consists of two essential steps: 1) Deep learning surrogate: This step aims to effectively replace the intensive high-fidelity simulation with an efficient deep learning surrogate. 2) Bayesian inversion: In this step, the posterior distributions of potential CO 2 leakage locations are inverted, in which the surrogate serves as the forward model. The above two processes are automated using Bayesian optimization instead of a labor-intensive trial-and-error approach. The proposed framework is verified using a 3D geological model simulating CO 2 sequestration into a brine-filled reservoir. The results demonstrate the Bayesian-optimized surrogate could successfully capture the underlying process of subsurface CO 2 -brine flow. The Bayesian inversion algorithm enables localizing CO 2 leakage with high accuracy. To our knowledge, the proposed Bayesian framework is implemented for the first time to locate multiple leakage sites at the field scale. The proposed workflow provides an accurate and efficient approach to detecting possible CO 2 leakage locations in a real-time manner and has promising potential for field-scale GCS applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consuming game meats directly influences human health and environmental conservation, yet research integrating theoretical perspectives remains scarce. The study aims to uncover and assess the factors shaping intentions towards game meat consumption, introducing an integrated theoretical framework that combines the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Norm Activation Model (NAM). The study collected 913 genuine responses via a self-administered questionnaire in China. Analysis was conducted using SPSS 22.0 and AMOS 26, leveraging Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to investigate both direct and indirect relationships among variables of TPB and NAM. The findings highlight that perceived behavioral control plays the most critical role in explaining the intention to consume game meats, followed by attitude and subjective norm. Notably, perceived risk serves as a mediating factor between attitude and the intention to consume game meats. Simultaneously, the ascription of responsibility plays a mediating role within the NAM, intervening in the connection between awareness of consequences and personal norms. The results underscore the effectiveness of TPB and NAM in predicting individuals' intentions to consume game meats, particularly highlighting the critical role of perceived risk in this context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evaluation of the ecosystem service value (ESV) and its regionalization toward coordinating ecological protection and socioeconomic development is of great significance. In this study, we developed a classification method based on the Random Forest algorithm and a feature optimization method to identify grassland types. Then, we proposed an approach to quantitatively evaluate the ESV of the grassland ecosystem in Ethiopia, in which net primary production derived from remote sensing was used to evaluate organic matter production value (ESV1), promoting nutrient circulation value (ESV2), and gas regulation value (ESV3), the RUSLE model was used to evaluate soil conservation value (ESV4), and cumulative rainfall was used to calculate water conservation value (ESV5). By integrating the mean ESV under various influencing factors, the zoning map of grassland ecosystem service value was obtained. Our study found that more fine grassland types can be well classified with the overall accuracy of 86.52%. And the classification results are the basis of the ESV analysis. The total ESV of grassland ecosystems was found to be USD 105,221.72 million, of which ESV4 was the highest, accounting for 44.09% of the total ESV. The spatial analysis of ESV showed that the differences were due to the impacts of grassland types, elevation, slope, and rainfall. It was found that the grassland is suitable to grow in the elevation zone between approximately 1000 and 2000 m, and the larger the slope and rainfall are, the greater the mean ESV is. The zoning map was used to conclude that the areas from approximately the fourth to sixth level (only 34.78% of the total grassland area, but 65.94% of the total ESV) have better growth status and development potential. The results provide references and bases to support the local coordination and planning of various grassland resources and form reasonable resource utilization and protection measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent MgAl 2 O 4 ceramics were bonded by using CaO-Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 (CAS) glass filler. The CAS glass filler exhibited the same thermal expansion behavior as MgAl 2 O 4 ceramic and excellent wetting ability on the surface of MgAl 2 O 4 ceramic. When the cooling rate of 15 °C/min was used, no interfacial reaction was observed and the amorphous brazing seam could be obtained. However, low joining temperature (1250 °C) led to the formation of pores and high joining temperature (1400 °C) resulted in the formation of cracks. Furthermore, the slow cooling rate of 5–10 °C/min induced the crystallization of CaAl 2 Si 2 O 8 and Mg 2 Al 4 Si 5 O 18 due to the dissolution of MgAl 2 O 4 substrate. The optimal flexural strength of 181–189 MPa was obtained when the joining temperature and cooling rate were 1300–1350 °C and 15 °C/min respectively. Moreover, the in-line transmittance of the joint at 1000 nm was 82.1%, which was slightly lower than that of MgAl 2 O 4 ceramic (85.6%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interfacial property of H 2 O+CO 2 +oil three-phase systems is crucial for CO 2 flooding and sequestration processes but was not well understood. Density gradient theory coupled with PC-SAFT equation of state was applied to investigate the interfacial tension (IFT) of H 2 O+CO 2 +oil (hexane, cyclohexane, and benzene) systems under three-phase conditions (temperature in the range of 323–423 K and pressure in the range of 1–10 MPa). The IFTs of the aqueous phase+vapor phase in H 2 O+CO 2 +oil three-phase systems were smaller than the IFTs in H 2 O+CO 2 two-phase systems, which could be explained by enrichment of oil in the interfacial region. The difference between IFTs of aqueous phase+vapor phase in the three-phase system and IFTs in H 2 O+CO 2 two-phase system was largest in the benzene case and smallest in the cyclohexane case due to different degrees of oil enrichment in the interface. Meanwhile, CO 2 enrichment was observed in the interfacial region of the aqueous phase+oil-rich phase, which led to the reduction of IFT with increasing pressure while different pressure effects were observed in the H 2 O+oil two-phase systems. The effect of CO 2 on the IFTs of aqueous phase+benzene-rich phase interface was small in contrast to that on the IFTs of aqueous phase+alkane (hexane or cyclohexane)-rich phase interface. H 2 O had little effect on the interfacial properties of the oil-rich phase+vapor phase due to the low H 2 O solubilities in the oil and vapor phase. Further, the spreading coefficients of H 2 O+CO 2 in the presence of different oil followed this sequence: benzene > hexane > cyclohexane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Osteoarthritis‐related insomnia is the most common form of comorbid insomnia among older Americans. A randomized clinical trial found that six sessions of telephone‐delivered cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT‐I) improved sleep outcomes in this population. Using these data, we evaluated the incremental cost‐effectiveness of CBT‐I from a healthcare sector perspective. Methods: The study was based on 325 community‐dwelling older adults with insomnia and osteoarthritis pain enrolled with Kaiser Permanente of Washington State. We measured quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs) using the EuroQol 5‐dimension scale. Arthritis‐specific quality of life was measured using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Insomnia‐specific quality of life was measured using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and nights without clinical insomnia (i.e., "insomnia‐free nights"). Total healthcare costs included intervention and healthcare utilization costs. Results: Over the 12 months after randomization, CBT‐I improved ISI and WOMAC by −2.6 points (95% CI: −2.9 to −2.4) and −2.6 points (95% CI: −3.4 to −1.8), respectively. The ISI improvement translated into 89 additional insomnia‐free nights (95% CI: 79 to 98) over the 12 months. CBT‐I did not significantly reduce total healthcare costs (−$1072 [95% CI: −$1968 to $92]). Improvements in condition‐specific measures were not reflected in QALYs gained (−0.01 [95% CI: −0.01 to 0.01]); at a willingness‐to‐pay of $150,000 per QALY, CBT‐I resulted in a positive net monetary benefit of $369 with substantial uncertainty (95% CI: −$1737 to $2270). Conclusion: CBT‐I improved sleep and arthritis function without increasing costs. These findings support the consideration of telephone CBT‐I for treating insomnia among older adults with comorbid OA. Our findings also suggest potential limitations of the general quality of life measures in assessing interventions designed to improve sleep and arthritis outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• GTS-21 regulated the ACE/ACE2 ratio and glycocalyx shedding in LPS-ALI mice. • GTS-21 inhibited macrophage M1 polarization and increased M2 polarization in vivo and in vitro. • Macrophage polarization regulated ACE/ACE2 ratio and glycocalyx shedding in epithelial cells. • Macrophage generated ADAM-17 mediated the effect of GTS-21 on ACE/ACE2 ratio and glycocalyx shedding in epithelial cells. Acute lung injury (ALI) has received considerable attention in intensive care owing to its high mortality rate. It has been demonstrated that the selective alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist Gainesville Tokushima scientists (GTS)-21 is promising for treating ALI caused by lipopolysaccharides (LPS). However, the precise underlying mechanism remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the potential efficacy of GTS-21 in the treatment of ALI. We developed mouse models of ALI and alveolar epithelial type II cells (AT2s) injury following treatment with LPS and different polarized macrophage supernatants, respectively. Pathological changes, pulmonary edema, and lung compliance were assessed. Inflammatory cells count, protein content, and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels were analysed in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), ACE2, syndecan-1 (SDC-1), heparan sulphate (HS), heparanase (HPA), exostosin (EXT)-1, and NF-κB were tested in lung tissues and cells. GTS-21-induced changes in macrophage polarization were verified in vivo and in vitro. Polarized macrophage supernatants with or without recombination a disintegrin and metalloproteinase-17 (ADAM-17) and small interfering (si)RNA ADAM-17 were used to verify the role of ADAM-17 in AT2 injury. By reducing pathological alterations, lung permeability, inflammatory response, ACE/ACE2 ratio, and glycocalyx shedding, as well as by downregulating the HPA and NF-κB pathways and upregulating EXT1 expression in vivo, GTS-21 significantly diminished LPS-induced ALI compared to that of the LPS group. GTS-21 significantly attenuated macrophage M1 polarization and augmented M2 polarization in vitro and in vivo. The destructive effects of M1 polarization supernatant can be inhibited by GTS-21 and siRNA ADAM-17. GTS-21 exerted a protective effect against LPS-induced ALI, which was reversed by recombinant ADAM-17. Collectively, GTS-21 alleviates LPS-induced ALI by attenuating AT2s ACE/ACE2 ratio and glycocalyx shedding through the inhibition of macrophage M1 polarization derived ADAM-17. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The crystal content increases and the crystal size decreases with the increase of TiO 2 content. • The CTE of NAS glass ceramics can be adjusted by the formation of Nd 2 SiO 5 with high CTE and Al 6 Si 3 O 12 with low CTE. • The NAS glasses possess excellent wettability on the surface of Al 2 O 3 , ZrO 2 and ZTA ceramic. The crystallization behavior, microstructure, crystalline phases, microhardness, coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), and wetting behavior of Nd 2 O 3 -Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 (NAS) glass ceramics with different TiO 2 content were investigated. The results show that the content of crystals increases and the size of crystals decreases with the increase of TiO 2 content. Moreover, the formation of Nd 2 SiO 5 leads to the increase and the precipitation of Al 6 Si 2 O 13 results in the decrease in the CTE value of NAS glass ceramics. As a result, the CTE of NAS glass ceramics can be controlled in the range of 4.2–9.2 × 10−6/℃. These values are suitable for matching bonding to most ceramics with different CTE. Indeed, contact angle measurement demonstrates that the NAS glasses with 3 %, 6 % and 9 % TiO 2 possess excellent wettability on the Al 2 O 3 , ZrO 2 and zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA) ceramic, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Higher-order topological phases (HOTPs) are systems with topologically protected in-gap boundary states localized at their (d - n) -dimensional boundaries, with d the system dimension and n the order of the topology. This work proposes a dynamics-based characterization of one large class of Z -type HOTPs without specifically relying on any crystalline symmetry considerations. The key element of our innovative approach is to connect quantum quench dynamics with nested configurations of the so-called band inversion surfaces (BISs) of momentum-space Hamiltonians as a sum of operators from the Clifford algebra (a condition that can be partially relaxed), thereby making it possible to dynamically detect each and every order of topology on an equal footing. Given that experiments on synthetic topological matter can directly measure the winding of certain pseudospin texture to determine topological features of BISs, the topological invariants defined through nested BISs are all within reach of ongoing experiments. Further, the necessity of having nested BISs in defining higher-order topology offers a unique perspective to investigate and engineer higher-order topological phase transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public smog reduction behavior is vital for controlling smog pollution. The study investigates the factors that influence individuals' willingness to enact smog reduction behavior. The hypothetical model is empirically verified, applying survey data gathered in China. Findings indicate that individuals' knowledge about smog positively affects perceived risk, information need, and smog reduction intention. Perceived risk significantly impacts information need, information seeking, and smog reduction intention. Information seeking positively determines smog reduction intention. Findings also reveal that financial incentive policy positively impacts smog reduction intention. This study also discusses policy implications for enhancing individuals' smog reduction intention and recommendations for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep apnea (SA) syndrome is a respiratory disorder that occurs during the sleep. Polysomnography (PSG) has been widely applied by clinicians as a gold standard in the clinical diagnosis of SA syndrome. However, the use of PSG is inconvenient, intrusive, and significantly affects the sleep quality of patient. In this paper, we provide a nonintrusive solution for SA detection. Specifically, a force sensor was employed for the noninvasive vital sign acquisition during the patient's sleep, where the respiratory signal was extracted adaptively by using the morphological filter. It was observed that the morphological variations before and during the occurrence of the SA events were significant for the SA discrimination. By taking advantage of the differential features with respect to the respiratory signal, the recognition of the SA event was performed using classifiers. For validation, the all-night PSG recordings of 12 volunteers with 8 SA syndrome patients were obtained from the National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease. Numerical results showed that the proposed scheme achieved an averaged accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of 83.67%, 58.57% and 85.13%, respectively, for the SA recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This research aims to explore ways to build a corporate media reputation by sponsoring a sports event (i.e. a marathon), by examining the effects of communication intensity, CEO commitment and cause fit that are most conducive to helping a sponsor gain media reputation benefits. Design/methodology/approach: An empirical study of 122 Chinese marathon title sponsorships is employed that explores the relationship between sponsorship attributes and media reputation construction from the perspective of cause-related marketing theory. Hypotheses are tested with hierarchical regression and interaction analysis. Findings: The results show that a high level of sponsorship communication intensity, the proximity of the sponsor to a sport property, the level of CEO commitment and the level of cause fit contribute to the media reputation of enterprise sponsors. Further analysis also reveals the different interaction effects of technical fit and institutional fit in the process. Practical implications: This research has practical implications related to sport sponsorship management for event organizers and business operators that seek to promote the healthy and dynamic operations of the sponsor market. Several suggestions for future studies and strategies to increase the media reputation benefits can be drawn from the results of this paper. Sports sponsoring is a process of system engineering and strategic planning, and the integration and coordination of various types of resources are needed. Originality/value: This study advances the current research about the impact of sponsorship attributes on the media reputation of sports sponsors. The differentiation and exploration of the two kinds of cause fit (i.e. technical fit and institutional fit) expand the dimension of fit in the field of sponsorship. Furthermore, this research provides an in-depth understanding of the mechanism that determines the media reputation benefits that sponsors can reap from a property's activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is a data‐driven tool for performance evaluation, measuring decision‐making units (DMUs) and designating them with specific weightings. The standard DEA model typically sets up that decision‐makers (DMs) are wholly rational to select the most favourable weights to obtain the maximum performance score, but does not take into account their attitude toward risk during the assessment. The prospect theory generally matches humans' psychological behaviours. Thus, our study captures the non‐rational behaviours of DMs, performing under risk scenarios, in order to construct a novel common‐weights DEA model that maximizes the total prospect value, which can vary more steeply for losses than for gains, hence obtaining a more realistic common weight scheme. Our proposed model not only generates DMUs, with higher total prospect values, but also greater degrees of satisfaction. The current study shows that the prospect theory can be aptly extended to the DEA research area, supplying a proper guideline for future DEA research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Chronic inflammation contributes to the development of DCM, • A novel MyD88 inhibitor, c17, has been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory effect. • Compound c17 improved heart dysfunction, hypertrophy, and fibrosis in DCM. • The cardiac protection effect of c17 was mediated via suppressing the interaction of TLR4 and MyD88. • Compound c17 could be a potential candidate for DCM. Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a common complication of diabetes mellitus and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality due to cardiac dysfunction. Chronic inflammation plays a significant role in the development of DCM, making it a promising target for novel pharmacological strategies. Our previous study has synthesized a novel compound, c17, which exhibited strong anti-inflammatory activity by specifically targeting to myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88). In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic effect of c17 in DCM. The small molecular selective MyD88 inhibitor, c17, was used to evaluate the effect of MyD88 on DCM in both high concentration of glucose- and palmitic acid-stimulated macrophages and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) mice. The treatment of c17 in T1DM mice resulted in improved heart function and reduced cardiac hypertrophy, inflammation and fibrogenesis. RNA sequencing analysis of the heart tissues revealed that c17 effectively suppressed the inflammatory response by regulating the MyD88-dependent pathway. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments further confirmed that c17 disrupted the interaction between MyD88 and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), consequently inhibiting downstream NF-κB activation. In vitro studies demonstrated that c17 exhibited similar anti-inflammatory activity by targeting MyD88 in macrophages, which are the primary regulators of cardiac inflammation. Furthermore, conditioned medium derived from c17-treated macrophages showed reduced capacity to induce hypertrophy, pro-fibrotic reactions, and secondary inflammation in cardiomyocytes. In conclusion, the small-molecule MyD88 inhibitor, c17, effectively combated the inflammatory DCM, therefore could be a potential candidate for the treatment of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The DsrA sRNA inhibits initiation of chromosome replication in Escherichia coli. • Excess DsrA promotes expression of the oxyR and dps gene. • The DsrA inhibitory effect on replication initiation requires Hfq and upregulation of Dps by OxyR. Regulation of the cell cycle process is an effective measure to ensure the stability and fidelity of genetic material during the reproduction of bacteria under different stresses. The small RNA DsrA helps bacteria adapt to environments by binding to multiple targets, but its association with the cell cycle remains unclear. Detection by flow cytometry, we first found that the knockout of dsrA promoted replication initiation, and corresponding overexpression of DsrA inhibited replication initiation in Escherichia coli. The absence of the chaperone protein Hfq, the DNA replication negative regulator protein Dps, or the transcription factor OxyR, was found to cause DsrA to no longer inhibit replication initiation. Excess DsrA promotes expression of the oxyR and dps gene, whereas β-galactosidase activity assay showed that deleting oxyR limited the enhancement of dps promoter transcriptional activity by DsrA. OxyR is a known positive regulator of Dps. Our data suggests that the effect of DsrA on replication initiation requires Hfq and that the upregulation of Dps expression by OxyR in response to DsrA levels may be a potential regulatory pathway for the negative regulation of DNA replication initiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel Dy 2 O 3 -Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 (DAS) glass ceramic was designed and prepared for joining zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA) ceramic. The crystallization, thermal expansion behavior and wetting behavior of the DAS glass filler were studied. The effect of cooling rate and joining temperature on the microstructure and flexural strength of joints was investigated. The results show that slow cooling rate (15 °C/min) leads to crystallization of brazing seam, which causes the formation of pores in the joints due to the large density difference between the glass and the crystalline phases. The dissolution of ZrO 2 from ZTA substrate into the filler during joining process improves the mismatch of the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) between the brazing seam and substrate. The maximum flexural strength of 535 MPa is obtained when the joining temperature and cooling rate are 1475 °C and 50 °C/min, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This empirical study evaluated the public acceptance of nuclear-power plants in China. A conceptual framework was proposed to explain the factors affecting nuclear-power acceptance based on antecedent variables, including social-media-use frequency, social-media information trust, nuclear-power knowledge, nuclear-accident knowledge, and risk-and-benefit perception. An empirical study was operated based on the Haiyang nuclear-power plant by conducting a face-to-face survey among residents who use social-media platforms near the plant. The frequency of social-media-use and the trust on social-media information promote individuals' knowledge about nuclear power and nuclear accidents, leading to risk and benefit perception. Finally, benefit perception results in nuclear-power acceptance among the individuals. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium alloys have been widely used for medical devices and structural applications. However, conventional titanium alloys often suffer from low resistance to wear, particularly at elevated temperatures. Herein, an equiatomic TiMoNb compositionally complex alloy (CCA) is shown to exhibit wear resistance comparable to alumina at room temperature (RT). Even at 600 °C, the alloy still shows an extremely low wear rate of the order of 10−6 mm3/(N·m). The remarkable wear resistance is achieved via tuning the interfacial structure and chemistry in TiMoNb CCA, including nanostructuring, titanium segregation at the grain boundaries, and the formation of a high density of nanoscale coherent Ti-rich precipitates with cube-on-cube orientation relationship with the ultrafine-grained matrix. The present results provide significant insights into the design of novel alloys for service in harsh environments. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most patients with lower risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR-MDS) become red blood cell (RBC) transfusion dependent at some time during their disease course. Hypomethylating agents (HMAs) are frequently used in this setting; however, reported rates of in RBC transfusion independence (TI) achieved with HMA therapy vary significantly between studies. Here we study the real-life clinical effectiveness of HMA in inducing RBC TI in anemic LR-MDS patients using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database. We find that approximately 40% of LR-MDS patients who were receiving RBC transfusions and 33% who were dependent on RBC transfusions at HMA initiation ultimately achieved TI. The receipt of ≥3 transfusions in the 8-week period before HMA initiation was significantly associated with lower odds of achieving TI. Our study provides important population level estimates of clinical effectiveness of HMAs in LR-MDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]