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Abstract Background This paper investigated the link between non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (NHHR) and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in adult diabetic patients and identified the optimal NHHR value for impacting DKD. Methods This cross-sectional research made use of records from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) executed between 2005 and 2016. The link of NHHR to DKD risk was analyzed by logistic regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) models. The stability and reliability of the results were assessed by subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis. Results In total, 4,177 participants were involved. As a continuous variable, NHHR was markedly connected to an increased risk of DKD (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.02, 1.12, P

This paper aimed to investigate the correlation between carbon emissions, fuel consumption, and speed limit. A theoretical model was derived based on the energy conservation law, which expresses the relationship between vehicle's fuel consumption and speed. Subsequently, a total of 40 sets of fuel consumption data were collected through field tests to verify the accuracy of the theoretical model at different speeds and different road longitudinal slope combinations. The fuel consumption was then converted to carbon emissions according to the carbon emission factors specified by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). In the field experiment, two types of cars and trucks, which are most common on the expressways in China, were selected. Finally, the travel speed under different posted speed limits was obtained through the previously established model, and the carbon emission changes of different vehicle types at different limited speeds are calculated. The results show that the speed limit has a significant impact on fuel consumption and carbon emissions. When the speed limit increased from 80 to 120 km/h, average vehicle speeds increased about 21%–27%, and fuel consumption and carbon emissions increased from approximately 33%–38%. Another interesting result was that the vehicle's fuel consumption and carbon emissions are only affected by speed. The results of the study explore the effect of speed limits on carbon emissions and provide evidence for road managers to set reasonable speed limits.

Abstract Vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) light sensing shows great potential applications in the space science, materials, biophysics, and plasma physics. In this work, an all-optical detection method is proposed for VUV sensing by constructing an optical fiber-end Fabry-Pérot interferometer based on a single aluminum nitride (AlN) microwire. Compared with the traditional electrical devices, this all-optical detection method overcomes the difficulties like the fast response and electromagnetic interference immunity in detecting VUV bands at the present stage, and improves the response speed. The proposed device shows the excellent performance of VUV detection, with the static sensitivity of 1.03 nm/(W·cm−2), response rise time of down to 10 µs, and decay time of 0.64 ms. Beneficial from the excellent radiation resistance of AlN microwires and UV resistance of silica fibers, the proposed device is expected to have the good stability and potential applications in the fields of the solar physics and space exploration.

Abstract Due to the alternating loads on pumping units and the integration of new energy sources, multisource DC microgrid pumping unit well groups experience increased fluctuations in voltage and power as well as superimposed peak and valley values. This work presents a distributed control strategy for pumping unit well groups on a multisource DC microgrid based on the weighted moving average algorithm. A centralized control program is implanted in the RTU of the single-well controller of each pumping unit, and communication with each well is realized via SCADA and multicast communication, resulting in a distributed well group system. The real-time power values of the pumping well group are calculated by grouping the power values, and each group is weighted using the total power fluctuation threshold of the well group as the control target. Then, a weighted moving average algorithm is used to predict the next power value and form a table of predicted real-time power spectra. According to the power values in the community power spectrum table, the inverter frequency is proportionally adjusted downwards to reach the power peak before deceleration; after the power peak is crossed, the frequency is increased in the same way to reach the power valley before acceleration. Finally, the peak and valley power values of the bus system level off and further learn to reach the set impulse; ultimately, a stable impulse is formed. In laboratory testing and field application in the Shengli Oilfield XIN-11 block, the group control software module effectively suppressed the active power peak and valley values and voltage fluctuations of the bus system, the active power fluctuation rate range decreased by more than 70%, and the DC bus voltage fluctuation range decreased by more than 80%; moreover, the active power decreased by approximately 6% without additional hardware costs.

Abstract Despite a long tradition in ecology of studying tree species assembly and its potential drivers in tropical forest communities, little information exists with respect to lianas (woody climbers), the second most abundant life form of woody plants in tropical forests. Lianas influence forest diversity and stability and provide critical resources for forest fauna. Using a unique dataset of a 30‐ha plot in Thailand, where tree and liana individuals were fully mapped, we investigated the degree to which local species assemblages of trees and lianas of different size classes (i.e., seedlings, established individuals, and large individuals) are related to local environmental conditions. We asked (1) What are the spatial patterns and environmental drivers of local tree and liana species assemblages? (2) How do such patterns and drivers differ among size classes? (3) Which species associate with these assemblages? Local assemblages of established trees showed substantial structuring by environmental variables, whereas we found only weakly structured assemblages of tree seedlings, large trees, and lianas of all size classes. Our results indicated that the biotic and abiotic drivers of local species assemblages differed strongly between tree and liana communities and across size classes. Species assemblages of trees were mainly driven by soil nutrients, leading to patchy assemblages associated with high base saturation (Alfisols) and assemblages associated with lower levels of base saturation and higher aluminum (Ultisols), whereas tree seedling assemblages were only weakly structured by riparian zones. In contrast, species assemblages of established and large lianas were primarily associated with forest canopy structure, separating low‐canopy forests from high‐canopy forests, whereas soil nutrients were the only factors associated with liana seedling assemblages. The weak environmental structuring of tree seedlings and large trees suggests that other mechanisms, such as stochastic disturbances, competition for space, or animal seed dispersal, may play an important role in structuring tree communities in this seasonal tropical forest. The weak patterns observed in liana communities across all life stages raise questions about the underlying mechanisms of liana community assembly, and further research should focus on liana niches, their dispersal mechanisms, and host tree relations.

GCA, also known as Buschke-Lowenstein tumor, is a rare sexually transmitted disease associated with HPV types 6 and 111. These warts are considered histologically benign, but there is a risk of localized invasion and development of malignancy. This malignant transformation occurs most often in the perianal and vulvar areas, and involvement of other sites is relatively rare2. In this case, we report a rare case of a giant wart originating from breast skin infected with HPV and progressing to cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

Organic carbonyl electrode materials offer promising prospects for future energy storage systems due to their high theoretical capacity, resource sustainability, and structural diversity. Although much progress has been made in the research of high-performance carbonyl electrode materials, systematic and in-depth studies on the underlying factors affecting their electrochemical properties are rather limited. Herein, five polyimides containing different types of diamine linkers are designed and synthesized as cathode materials for Li-ion batteries. First, the incorporation of carbonyl groups increases the active-site density in both conjugated and non-conjugated systems. Second, increased molecular rigidity can improve the accessibility of the active sites. Third, the introduction of the conjugated structure between two carbonyl groups can increase the reactivity of the active sites. Consequently, the incorporation of carbonyl structures and conjugated structures increases the capacity of polyimides. PTN, PAN, PMN, PSN, and PBN exhibit 212, 198, 199, 151, and 115 ​mAh ​g−1 ​at 50 ​mA ​g−1, respectively. In addition, the introduction of a carbonyl structure and a conjugated structure is also beneficial for improving cycling stability and rate performance. This work can deepen the understanding of the structure–function relationship for the rational design of polyimide electrode materials and can be extended to the molecular design of other organic cathode materials.

The majority of patients with thyroid cancer can attain a favorable prognosis with a comprehensive treatment program based on surgical treatment. However, the current treatment options for advanced thyroid cancer are still limited. In recent years, chimeric antigen receptor-modified T-cell (CAR-T) therapy has received widespread attention in the field of oncology treatment. It has achieved remarkable results in the treatment of hematologic tumors. However, due to the constraints of multiple factors, the therapeutic efficacy of CAR-T therapy for solid tumors, including thyroid cancer, has not yet met expectations. This review outlines the fundamental structure and treatment strategies of CAR-T cells, provides an overview of the advancements in both preclinical investigations and clinical trials focusing on targets associated with CAR-T cell therapy in treating thyroid cancer, and discusses the challenges and solutions to CAR-T cell therapy for thyroid cancer. In conclusion, CAR-T cell therapy is a promising therapeutic approach for thyroid cancer, and we hope that our review will provide a timely and updated study of CAR-T cell therapy for thyroid cancer to advance the field.

Ecological restoration is vital in the management of eutrophic lakes. However, the effect of combined ecological restoration measures on the improvement of water quality and the light environment of urban eutrophic lakes requires further exploration. This study considered Qingshan Lake, a typical urban eutrophic lake in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River in China and explored the changes in the water quality and light environment before and after the implementation of combined ecological restoration measures from 2021 to 2022. The results showed that: (1) Ecological restoration significantly improved the transparency of Qingshan Lake (P

Abstract Ammonia, a vital component in the synthesis of fertilizers, plastics, and explosives, is traditionally produced via the energy‐intensive and environmentally detrimental Haber–Bosch process. Given its considerable energy consumption and significant greenhouse gas emissions, there is a growing shift toward electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis as an eco‐friendly alternative. However, developing efficient electrocatalysts capable of achieving high selectivity, Faraday efficiency, and yield under ambient conditions remains a significant challenge. This review delves into the decades‐long research into electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis, highlighting the evolution of fundamental principles, theoretical descriptors, and reaction mechanisms. An in‐depth analysis of the nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) and nitrate reduction reaction (NitRR) is provided, with a focus on their electrocatalysts. Additionally, the theories behind electrocatalyst design for ammonia synthesis are examined, including the Gibbs free energy approach, Sabatier principle, d‐band center theory, and orbital spin states. The review culminates in a comprehensive overview of the current challenges and prospective future directions in electrocatalyst development for NRR and NitRR, paving the way for more sustainable methods of ammonia production.

Abstract Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries has emerged as a promising post‐lithium‐ion battery technology due to their high potential energy density and low raw material cost. Recent years have witnessed substantial progress in research on Li–S batteries, yet no high‐energy Li–S battery products have reached the market at scale. Achieving high‐energy Li–S batteries necessitates a multidisciplinary approach involving advanced electrode material design, electrochemistry, and electrode and cell engineering. In this perspective, we offer a holistic view of pathways for realizing high‐energy Li–S batteries under practical conditions. Starting with a market outlook for high‐energy batteries, we present a comprehensive quantitative analysis of the critical parameters that dictate the cell‐level energy density for a Li–S battery. Thereby we establish a protocol to expedite the integration of lab‐scale Li–S research results into practical cell. Furthermore, we underscore several key considerations for promotion of commercial viability of high‐energy Li–S batteries from the perspective of battery industrialization.

It is usually believed that differentiated thyroid cancer is less likely to have distant metastases and rarely occurs secondary to hyperthyroidism. In our case report, we describe a patient diagnosed with thyroid fetal adenoma in 2002 who subsequently presented with a painful lump in her right rib. Through puncture biopsy, the mass was considered as metastatic follicular thyroid carcinoma, and then she appeared to have hyperthyroidism. The results of SPECT examination and other tests suggested that the hyperthyroidism was secondary to the thyroid cancer. The patient further underwent total thyroidectomy, and the pathology did not find any follicular thyroid foci. In this article, we analyze and discuss this case and review the relevant literature.

AbstractInflowing rivers input many pollutants into lakes, affecting their water quality and ecological health. The contents of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) and organic matter (OM) in the Dagang river, the largest inflowing river of Daye Lake, were measured in 2019 to determine the sediment pollution status. The sediment pollution was evaluated to provide information for pollution source control of the Dagang river and Daye Lake basin. The results showed that: (1) The average TN, TP and OM contents in the Dagang river sediments were 1323.72 mg/kg, 1378.65 mg/kg and 7.20%, respectively. (2) The comprehensive pollution index of the Dagang river was 3.64–4.42, indicating severe pollution at all sampling points. All sites had organic pollution except for DG5 and DG6. (3) The source of the dissolved OM (DOM) was exogenous and endogenous, which FI and BIX were 1.58–1.70 and 0.7–1.51, respectively. The characteristics of endogenous pollution are more obvious. (4) TN was significantly (p

Tunnel–interchange connecting sections pose significant safety challenges on mountainous expressways due to their high incidence of accidents. Improving road safety necessitates a comprehensive understanding of driver behavior in such areas. This study explores the influences of road characteristics, signage information volume, and traffic conditions on drivers’ car-following and lane-changing behavior in tunnel–interchange diverging areas. Utilizing driving data from 25 subjects of 72 simulated road models, driving performance is assessed using the Friedman rank test and multivariate variance analysis. The results highlight the significant influence of both connection distance and signage information load on driving behavior. In tunnel–interchange scenarios, the reduction in velocity increased by 62.61%, and speed variability surged by 61.11%, indicating potential adverse effects on driving stability due to the environmental transitions. Decreased connection distances are associated with reduced lane-changing durations, larger steering angles, and increased failure rates. Furthermore, every two units of increase in signage information leads to a 13.16% rise in maximum deceleration and a 5% increase in time headway. Notably, the signage information volume shows a significant interaction with connection distance (F > 1.60, p < 0.045) for most car-following indicators. Hence, the study recommends a maximum connection distance of 700 m and signage information not exceeding nine units for optimal safety and stability.

Wurtzite aluminum nitride (AlN) crystal has a non-centrosymmetric crystal structure with only a single axis of symmetry. In an AlN crystal, the electronegativity difference between the Al atom and N atom leads to a distortion of electron cloud distribution outside the nucleus and a spontaneous polarization (SP) along the c-axis direction. The N-polar surface along the directions of [000-1] has higher surface energy than the Al-polar surface along the directions of [0001]. Due to the different atomic arrangement, Al atoms on the Al-polar surface bond with O and OH− in the environment to generate Al2O3·xH2O, which prevents the reaction from occurring inside the crystal. After the Al2O3·xH2O dissolve in an alkaline environment, N atoms have three dangling bonds exposed on the surface, which can also protect OH− from destroying the internal Al-N bonds, so the Al-polar surface is more stable than the N-polar surface.

Aluminum nitride (AlN) exhibits excellent high-temperature resistance, chemical stability, and a wide bandgap, making it a prime candidate material for deep ultraviolet detectors. In this study, a modified metal–semiconductor–metal (MSM) photodetector using titanium (Ti) electrodes and millimeter-scale AlN bulk polycrystals grown through physical vapor transport is developed, demonstrating photoresponse to light from visible to vacuum ultraviolet. An additional tungsten (W) electrode is designed on the backside of the device, transforming it into a W-MSM device. A proper bias to the W electrode (VW) is found valid to boost the performance of the photodetector. Representatively, with a V of 20 V and VW of −12 V applied, the device achieves improvements in responsivity (R), detectivity (D*), and external quantum efficiency of 112.84%, 30.5%, and 112.84%, respectively, to 532 nm light and 123.18%, 36.84%, and 123.18%, respectively, to 193 nm light. Furthermore, it is found that with the total voltage being instant, optimizing the distribution of voltage between the Ti electrode and the W electrode would induce a better photoresponse than applying voltage solely to the Ti electrode (VW = 0 V). The reason is elaborated through modeling the voltage distribution in the device, revealing the particular role of the bulk semiconductor in this feature. This research provides a facile and innovative approach to developing low-power photodetectors for bulk materials.

Abstract Infant emotional stimuli can preferentially engage adults’ attention and provide valuable information essential for successful interaction between adults and infants. Exploring the neural processes of recognizing infant stimuli promotes better understandings of the mother-infant attachment mechanisms. Here, combining task-functional magnetic resonance imaging (Task-fMRI) and resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI), we investigated the effects of infants’ faces on the brain activity of adults. Two groups including 26 women and 25 men were recruited to participate in the current study. During the task-fMRI, subjects were exposed to images of infant emotional faces (including happy, neutral, and sad) randomly. We found that the brains of women and men reacted differently to infants’ faces, and these differential areas are in facial processing, attention, and empathetic networks. The rs-fMRI further showed that the connectivity of the default-mode network-related regions increased in women than in men. Additionally, brain activations in regions related to emotional networks were associated with the empathetic abilities of women. These differences in women might facilitate them to more effective and quick adjustments in behaviors and emotions during the nurturing infant period. The findings provide special implications and insights for understanding the neural processing of reacting to infant cues in adults.

The success of the two mRNA vaccines developed by Moderna and BioNTech during the COVID-19 pandemic increased research interest into the application of mRNA technologies. Compared with the canonical linear mRNA used in these vaccines, circular mRNA has been found to mediate more potent and durable protein expression and demands a simpler manufacturing procedure. However, the application of circular mRNA is still at the initiation stage, and proof of concept for its use as a future medicine or vaccine is required. In the current study, we established a novel type of circular mRNA, termed cmRNA, based on the echovirus 29-derived internal ribosome entry site element and newly designed homology arms and RNA spacers. Our results demonstrated that this type of circular mRNA could mediate strong and durable expression of various types of proteins, compared with typical linear mRNA. Moreover, for the first time, our study demonstrated that direct intratumoral administration of cmRNA encoding a mixture of cytokines achieved successful modulation of intratumoral and systematic anti-tumor immune responses and enhanced anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) antibody-induced tumor repression in a syngeneic mouse model. This novel circular mRNA platform is thereby suitable for direct intratumoral administration for cancer therapy.

ZSM-5 zeolite is a kind of high-value-added porous aluminosilicate zeolite. The use of the coal gasification slag utilization process by-product desilication liquid as a silicon raw material to replace the current raw materials such as water glass will help reduce production costs and achieve high-value utilization of solid waste. ZSM-5 zeolites for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) adsorption were prepared by a one-step hydrothermal method using the desilication solution prepared from coal gasification slag as the main silicon source and sodium source. The effects of crystallization reaction time, the crystallization temperature, the Na2O/SiO2 molar ratio, and the SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratio on the relative crystallinity and the specific surface area of the ZSM-5 zeolite were investigated and optimized. The optical reaction conditions were as follows: a crystallization time of 12 h, a crystallization temperature of 170 °C, a Na2O/SiO2 molar ratio of 0.2, and a SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratio of 200. The optimal ZSM-5 zeolite synthesized is hexagonal, with regular grains, a relative crystallinity of 101.48%, a specific surface area of 337.48 m2·g−1, and a pore volume of 0.190 cm3·g−1. And the optimal ZSM-5 zeolite was composed of SiO2 content of 97.52 wt%, Al2O3 content of 1.58 wt%, Na2O content of 0.33 wt%, and SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratio of 104.93. Na2O/SiO2 molar ratio is 0.0033. The results of static adsorption experiments show that the static adsorption capacities of ZSM-5 zeolite for p-xylene, benzene, toluene, and butyl acetate were 118.85, 69.98, 68.74, and 95.85 mg·g−1, respectively, which can effectively adsorb VOCs. The synthetic process of the ZSM-5 zeolite is a simple preparation process and short in synthesis time. The results of this study not only help to realize the high-value utilization of silicon components in solid waste, but also provide an economical and effective way to synthesize VOCs adsorption materials.

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) is among the most promising candidates for solid‐state electrolytes in lithium metal batteries. However, the low ionic conductivity caused by strong coordination between Li ions and the EO chains limits the practical application of PEO‐based electrolytes. Herein, a double crosslinked PEO‐based electrolyte with alternate C–S–C groups and functionalized metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) is proposed. The incorporation of C–S–C groups not only accelerates Li ions transport by weakening the coordination between Li ions and polymer backbone, but also facilitates segmental relaxation of the polymer backbone. The PEO‐based electrolyte with C–S–C groups shows a remarkable 13‐fold increase in ionic conductivity. Furthermore, when functionalized MOFs are used as crosslinked centers, the double‐crosslinked PEO‐based electrolyte with a robust network structure possesses enhanced mechanical/electrochemical/thermal stability and limited anion transmission. As a result, the symmetrical Li||Li cell enables over 2400 h cycling at room temperature. The LiFePO4||Li cells show long cycle life over a wide temperature range from 25 to 100 °C, and a high areal capacity of 1.43 mAh cm−2 is achieved with a cathode loading of 10.0 mg cm−2. This study demonstrates a promising strategy to develop advanced electrolytes for potential solid‐state lithium‐metal batteries.

Forest structural complexity can mediate the light and water distribution within forest canopies, and has a direct impact on forest biodiversity and carbon storage capability. It is believed that increases in forest structural complexity can enhance tree species diversity and forest productivity, but inconsistent relationships among them have been reported. Here, we quantified forest structural complexity in three aspects (i.e., horizontal, vertical, and internal structural complexity) from unmanned aerial vehicle light detection and ranging data, and investigated their correlations with tree species diversity and forest productivity by incorporating field measurements in three forest biomes with large latitude gradients in China. Our results show that internal structural complexity had a stronger correlation (correlation coefficient = 0.85) with tree species richness than horizontal structural complexity (correlation coefficient = -0.16) and vertical structural complexity (correlation coefficient = 0.61), and it was the only forest structural complexity attribute having significant correlations with both tree species richness and tree species evenness. A strong scale effect was observed in the correlations among forest structural complexity, tree species diversity, and forest productivity. Moreover, forest internal structural complexity had a tight positive coordinated contribution with tree species diversity to forest productivity through structure equation model analysis, while horizontal and vertical structural complexity attributes have insignificant or weaker coordinated effects than internal structural complexity, which indicated that the neglect of forest internal structural complexity might partially lead to the current inconsistent observations among forest structural complexity, tree species diversity, and forest productivity. The results of this study can provide a new angle to understand the observed inconsistent correlations among forest structural complexity, tree species diversity, and forest productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The share of electricity consumption by urban and rural residents in China’s overall electricity consumption is very close to that of the tertiary sector, which has become an important driver of China’s electricity consumption growth. At the same time, due to the mismatch between China’s regional resource endowments and the level of regional development, the regional supply and demand situation for electricity varies. Therefore, it is urgent to clarify the regional differences in residential electricity consumption and the factors affecting it, and accordingly adopt targeted and feasible measures to regulate residential electricity consumption. This article includes data from 285 Chinese prefecture-level cities from 2006 to 2019, and adopts a “three lines” method of region-partitioning (Qinling–Huaihe line, Huhuanyong line, and Shanhaiguan line) to divide four regions. We used spatial econometric models to examine residential electricity consumption and its influencing factors in China from the standpoint of regional heterogeneity. The results show that there is significant regional heterogeneity in residential electricity consumption in China, and the difference between the north of the Shanhaiguan line and other areas is significant. Moreover, there is a positive spatial correlation in the per capita domestic electricity consumption of urban residents, and each influencing factor has obvious regional heterogeneity, among which household appliances are the significant influencing factor. Based on the regional heterogeneity of residential electricity consumption, management measures should be formulated according to local conditions, and the supply of electricity should be ensured by strengthening multidimensional initiatives.

This study investigates the characteristics of distance perception among drivers in tunnel sections in comparison to those of outside environments. An experimental approach is employed to analyze the differences and accuracy of distance perception in both settings, while also examining the influence of driving age on distance perception. The results indicate that drivers tend to perceive larger distance values when traveling at speeds between 55 and 75 km/h, irrespective of whether they are in the general road environment outside the tunnel or within it. However, at speeds within the range of 75–85 km/h, the perceived distance values (Sp) are generally smaller than the actual values. Moreover, the findings suggest that older drivers demonstrate more accurate distance judgment compared to their younger counterparts. Based on these research outcomes, specific recommendations are proposed for the implementation of relevant distance sensing facilities in tunnel sections.

Secondary aluminum dross (SAD) refers to hazardous waste from secondary aluminum refinement. It contains a large amount of aluminum nitride and fluorides that cause serious environmental pollution for direct discharge and hinder the resource utilization of SAD. However, it is difficult to remove nitride and fluoride simultaneously for their complicated phases. In this paper, the catalytic hydrolysis of SAD using NaOH as a catalyst to remove nitrides and fluorides synchronously was investigated systemically through single factor and response surface experiments. In addition, the chemical speciation and transformation of nitrides and fluorides were analyzed systematically. The catalytic hydrolysis removal mechanism was summarized. The optimal conditions for catalytic hydrolysis were established as follows: reaction temperature 96.60 °C; reaction time 2.85 h; liquid-solid ratio 9.28 mL/g and catalyst addition 12.62 wt %; and removal efficiency of nitrides and fluorides reached 99.03% and 81.93%, respectively. The mechanism of nitrides removal was that aluminum nitride was hydrolyzed to Al(OH)3 and NH3. NaOH reacting with Al(OH)3 covering on the surface of AlN and the rapid escape of NH3 promoted the hydrolysis of AlN under the catalysis of NaOH. The mechanism of fluorides removal was that the encapsulated fluoride particles were opened by catalytic hydrolysis to be dissolved in the solution. In this research, nitrides and fluorides were removed efficiently and synchronously. The hydrolysis residues can be used to prepare polyaluminum chloride (PAC) and ceramic materials. The hydrolysate can be prepared NH3·H2O by evaporative in alkaline solution. Then the solution without NH4+ was prepared Al(OH)3 by precipitation of adjusting pH value using HCl. And the remained liquid after removing NaAlO2 was used to prepare refining agent by evaporative crystallization. The work in this paper was beneficial for the utilization of SAD.

Elevational patterns of tree diversity are well studied worldwide. However, few studies have examined how seedlings respond to elevational gradients and whether their responses vary across climatic zones. In this study, we established three elevational transects in tropical, subtropical and subalpine mountain forests in Yunnan Province, southern China, to examine the responses of tree species and their seedlings to elevational gradients. Within each transect, we calculated species diversity indices and composition of both adult trees and seedlings at different elevations. For both adult trees and seedlings, we found that species diversity decreased with increasing elevation in both tropical and subalpine transects. Species composition showed significant elevational separation within all three transects. Many species had specific elevational preferences, but abundant tree species that occurred at specific elevations tended to have very limited recruitment in the understory. Our results highlight that the major factors that determine elevational distributions of tree species vary across climatic zones. Specifically, we found that the contribution of air temperature to tree species composition increased from tropical to subalpine transects, whereas the contribution of soil moisture decreased across these transects.

BackgroundAs a kind of squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (HNSCC), gingival sarcomatoid squamous cell carcinoma (GSSCC) is a rare biphasic malignant neoplasm. To date, surgical resection was often utilized for gingival squamous cell carcinoma (GSCC), while for patients with advanced gingival carcinoma who cannot tolerate surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy can be regarded as a treatment strategy. Many molecular-targeted drugs were investigated and approved for the treatment of malignant diseases, including hematologic diseases and solid tumors. Although targeted therapies such as EGFR inhibitors have shown therapeutic efficacy in HNSCC, there are still some patients who cannot benefit from it. New therapeutic targets and strategies should be further explored.Case presentationAn 83-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with left lower gingival mass for more than 1 month in June 2021. Pathologic diagnosis is sarcomatoid squamous cell carcinoma. Due to the large tumor at the time of diagnosis and poor quality of life, the patient was intolerant to surgery, so she was given radiotherapy (RT) combined with concurrent chemotherapy (CT) with albumin bound paclitaxel. According to next-generation sequencing (NGS) results (MET exon 14 skipping mutation-positive), she was treated with crizotinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets MET. Through the comprehensive treatment, the patient’s condition promptly improved, clinical complete remission (CR) was achieved in 2 months, and 9-month progression-free survival (PFS) was obtained. She finally died from non-cancer-related diseases.ConclusionHere we report the treatment of a GSSCC patient with MET mutation, who responded to crizotinib promptly and positively. It provides a new reference for understanding MET abnormalities in GSSCC and offers a new idea for the targeted treatment of gingival carcinoma.

In the context of double carbon, it is an inevitable requirement for the low-carbon power industry to take economic efficiency and low carbon into consideration. This article introduces the carbon emission constraint into the economic dispatching of the power system. Then, combined with the blockchain theories, the methods of particle swarm optimization and multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) are employed to simulate the economic and environmental scheduling of a power generation system based on six thermal power units. Research shows that the constraint processing approach is practical and effective, and it can firmly adhere to equality requirements, which is superior to other algorithms’ constraint processing methods; the algorithm is stable, and the global optimal solution can be determined under different initial solutions. In the process of multi-objective optimization, the solutions of POF obtained by using the slope method are evenly distributed.

Tropical forests are biologically diverse and structurally complex ecosystems that can store a large quantity of carbon and support a great variety of plant and animal species. However, tropical forest structure can vary dramatically within seemingly homogeneous landscapes due to subtle changes in topography, soil fertility, species composition and past disturbances. Although numerous studies have reported the effects of field-based stand structure attributes on aboveground biomass (AGB) in tropical forests, the relative effects and contributions of UAV LiDAR-based canopy structure and ground-based stand structural attributes in shaping AGB remain unclear. Here, we hypothesize that mean top-of-canopy height (TCH) enhances AGB directly and indirectly via species richness and horizontal stand structural attributes, but these positive relationships are stronger at a larger spatial scale. We used a combined approach of field inventory and LiDAR-based remote sensing to explore how stand structural attributes (stem abundance, size variation and TCH) and tree species richness affect AGB along an elevational gradient in tropical forests at two spatial scales, i.e., 20 m × 20 m (small scale), and 50 m × 50 m (large scale) in southwest China. Specifically, we used structural equation models to test the proposed hypothesis. We found that TCH, stem size variation and abundance were strongly positively associated with AGB at both spatial scales, in addition to which increasing TCH led to greater AGB indirectly through increased stem size variation. Species richness had negative to negligible influences on AGB, but species richness increased with increasing stem abundance at both spatial scales. Our results suggest that light capture and use, modulated by stand structure, are key to promoting high AGB stocks in tropical forests. Thus, we argue that both horizontal and vertical stand structures are important for shaping AGB, but the relative contributions vary across spatial scales in tropical forests. Importantly, our results highlight the importance of including vertical forest stand attributes for predicting AGB and carbon sequestration that underpins human wellbeing.

Background Disturbances are crucial in determining forest biodiversity, dynamics, and ecosystem functions. Surface fire is a significant disturbance in tropical forests, but research on the effect of surface fire on structuring species and functional composition in a community through time remains scarce. Using a 20-year dataset of tree demography in a seasonal evergreen tropical forest in Thailand, we specifically addressed two essential questions: (1) What is the pattern of temporal turnover in species and functional composition in a community with frequent fire disturbance? (2) How did the temporal turnover vary with tree size? Methods We analyzed species compositional and functional temporal turnovers in four different tree size classes among five tree censuses. We quantified species turnover by calculating Bray-Curtis dissimilarity, and investigated its underlying mechanisms by comparing pairwise dissimilarity of functional traits with simulations from null models. If fire disturbances contribute more to a stochastic process, the functional composition would display a random pattern. However, if they contribute more towards a deterministic process, the functional composition should reveal a non-random pattern. Results Over 20 years (1994–2014), we observed changes in species composition, whereas functional composition remained relatively stable. The temporal turnover patterns of species and functional compositions varied with tree sizes. In particular, temporal functional turnover shifted very little for large trees, suggesting that changes in species composition of larger trees are contributed by species with similar functional traits through time. The temporal functional composition turnovers of smaller trees (DBH ≤ 5 cm) were mostly at random. We detected a higher functional turnover than expected by null models in some quadrats throughout the 50-ha study plot, and their observed turnover varied with diameter classes. Conclusions Species compositional changes were caused by changes in the abundance of species with similar functional traits through time. Temporal functional turnover in small trees was random in most quadrats, suggesting that the recruits came from the equal proportions of surviving trees and new individuals of fast-growing species, which increased rapidly after fires. On the other hand, functional composition in big trees was more likely determined by surviving trees which maintained higher functional similarities than small trees through time. Fire disturbance is important for ecosystem functions, as changing forest fire frequency may alter forest turnover, particularly in functional composition in the new recruits of this forest.

Background. We attempt to discuss the function of self-made prescription compound Rhodiola rosea on the kidneys of rats with type 2 diabetic nephropathy (DN), through studying the effects of self-made rescription compound Rhodiola rosea on the ultrastructure of podocytes in rats with DN. Methods. DN rat model was established by streptozotocin. The successfully modeled rats were divided into 4 groups, DN group, compound Rhodiola low-dose group, medium-dose group, and high-dose group. Compound Rhodiola low-dose group, medium-dose group, and high-dose group were administered for 8 weeks, and the DN group and the blank control group were administered with normal saline. The podocyte count, podocyte width, podocyte fusion rate, and average thickness of glomerular basement membrane were compared in each group, and the ultrastructural changes in podocytes were observed by transmission electron microscope. Results. Compared with the normal control group, the number of podocytes in the DN group remarkably reduced, but the width level of podocyte, the fusion rate of podocyte, and the average thickness of basilar membrane remarkably increased (P0.05). Conclusions. Self-made prescription compound Rhodiola rosea can promote the recovery of podocyte in DN rat and protect their kidney.

Owing to the complicated geometric conditions and increasingly diversified driving environment, freeway curves have become a road section with frequent serious accidents. To ensure safe driving on curves, drivers must first perceive the movement condition and the vehicle's position, and accurately evaluate the characteristics of the road to make the right speed choice. In this process, the perception of speed plays a crucial role. The present study aims to investigate the driver's speed perception characteristics with respect to freeway curves to better understand the driver speed selection mechanism. We first construct six three-dimensional (3D) virtual highway models, which are consistent with the geometric lines and traffic engineering instruments of real freeways. A virtual simulation test is then conducted in a highly immersive environment. After the completion of the simulation experiment, we conduct a field verification experiment, test the actual driving speed and perceived speed of drivers in the same place as the simulation experiment, and verify the effectiveness of the simulation method. Finally, 25 3D curve models of four different types are constructed, and the influence of curve characteristics (e.g., curve radius, curve combination, tangent length between curves) on drivers' speed perception accuracy are tested on the simulation platform. The results show that the driver's perceived speed is lower than the real speed when driving on curves, and the tangent-to-spiral (TS) point is the section where the driver's speed is most underestimated. Radius was the most important factor affecting driver's speed perception, but the tangent length between curves also had a lesser influence. However, the curve combination had no effect on it. Our findings can help researchers and road designers understand the reasons for drivers' speed choice, thus promoting drivers' safety on freeway curves.

Mullite–cordierite ceramic saggar is a necessary consumable material used in the synthesis process of LiCoO2 that is easily eroded during application. In our study, we systematically investigated the characteristics and surface corrosion behavior of waste saggar samples. We divided the cross sections of waste saggar into the attached layer, hardened layer, permeability layer, and matrix layer. Then, we examined the high-temperature solid-state reactions between saggar powder and lithium carbonate or cobalt oxide to identify erosion reactants correlating with an increase in the number of recycled saggars. The results of time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometric analysis (TOF-SIMS) prove that the maximum erosion penetration of lithium can reach 2 mm. However, our morphology and elemental distribution analysis results show that the erosion penetration of cobalt was only 200 μm. When enough lithium carbonate reacted, lithium aluminate and lithium silicate were the main phases. Our X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT) analysis results show that the change in phase volume before and after the reaction, including the generation of oxygen and carbon dioxide gas, led to the internal crack expansion of the material–saggar interface. Our results can contribute to improving saggar and upgrading waste saggar utilization technology.

The improved resistively-heated furnace with two heaters established a vertical thermal gradient to control nucleation during AlN single crystals Physical Vapor Transport (PVT) growth on polycrystal tungsten substrates. During the high temperature (> 1850 °C) heating process, the reverse temperature field (i.e., the temperature difference between the sublimation zone and the crystalline zone ΔT 1850 °C) cooling was fulfilled to avoid recrystallization on grown AlN crystal. AlN single crystals made through the method were characterized by X-ray diffractions (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy.

This study aimed to evaluate the gender-specific effect of a couple-based intervention on the management behaviors and mental well-being of community-dwelling older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus during the COVID-19 partial lockdown in Guangzhou. Out of 207 participants involved in a prior randomized controlled trial (Trial no. ChiCTR1900027137), 156 (75%) completed the COVID-19 survey. Gendered differences in management behaviors and depressive symptoms between the couple-based intervention group and the patient-only control group were compared by distance to the high-risk areas cross-sectionally and longitudinally using random intercept models. Cross-sectionally, female patients of the intervention group had more positive behavior change scores (β = 1.53, p = 0.002) and fewer depressive symptoms (β = −1.34, p = 0.02) than the control group. Over time, female patients lived closer to the high-risk areas (β = −4.48, p = 0.008) in the intervention group vs. the control group. No statistically significant between-group difference was found for males. Females tended to benefit more from the coupled-based intervention than males did, particularly among these closer to the high-risk areas. Chronic disease management can be better sustained with active spousal engagement.

Abstract In this study, electrically conductive meta‐aramid fiber paper (MAFP) was prepared by combining low‐temperature plasma treatment and electroless plating. The influence of various plasma treatment parameters including nozzle speed, plasma cycle time and nozzle height on the electrical conductivity, washing fastness and bending fastness of silver‐coated MAFP was investigated. The results show that low‐temperature plasma treatment etched the surface of meta‐aramid fiber and increased the oxygen content on the MAFP surface. The optimal plasma treatment condition is: nozzle speed of 1 m/min, plasma cycle time of 80%, and nozzle height of 4–5 cm. The electrical resistance of the silver‐plated MAFP pre‐treated under this condition reached as low as 0.15 Ω/sq. In addition, the silver‐plated MAFP maintained high electrical conductivity (sheet resistance below 0.5 Ω/sq) after five washing cycles and 1000 bending cycles.

Abstract Efficient charge storage media play a pivotal role in transistor‐based memories and thus are under intense research. In this work, the charge storage ability of type‐I InP/ZnS core/shell quantum dots is well revealed through studying a pentacene‐based organic transistor with the quantum dots (QDs) integrated. The quantum well‐like energy band structure enables the QDs to directly confine either holes or electrons in the core, signifying a dielectric layer‐free nonvolatile memory. Especially, the QDs in this device can be charged by electrons using light illumination as the exclusive method. The electron charging process is ascribed to the photoexcitation process in the InP‐core and the hot holes induced. The QDs layer demonstrates an electron storage density of ≈5.0 × 1011 cm−2 and a hole storage density of ≈6.4 × 1011 cm−2. Resultingly, the output device shows a fast response speed to gate voltage (10 µs), large memory window (42 V), good retention (>4.0 × 104 s), and reliable endurance. This work suggests that the core/shell quantum dot as a kind of charge storage medium is of great promise for optoelectronic memories.

Abstract Stormwater ponds are used to compensate for the adverse effects that road runoff might have on the natural environment. Depending on their design and placement, stormwater ponds can act as both refugia and traps for local biodiversity. To evaluate the impact of stormwater ponds on biodiversity, it is critical to use effective and precise methods for identification of life associated with the water body. DNA metabarcoding has recently become a promising tool for identification and assessment of freshwater biodiversity. Using both morphology and DNA metabarcoding, we analyze species richness and biological composition of samples from 12 stormwater ponds and investigate the impact of pond size and pollution levels in the sediments and water column on the macroinvertebrate community structure. DNA metabarcoding captured and identified more than twice the number of taxa compared to morphological identification. The (dis)similarity of macroinvertebrate community composition in different ponds showed that the ponds appear better separated in the results obtained by DNA metabarcoding, but that the explained variation is higher for the results obtained by morphologically identification, since it provides abundance data. The reliance on morphological methods has limited our perception of the aquatic biodiversity in response to anthropogenic stressors, thereby providing inaccurate information for appropriate design and management of stormwater ponds; these drawbacks can be overcome by DNA metabarcoding. Synthesis and applications. The results indicate that DNA metabarcoding is a useful tool in identifying species, especially Diptera, which are difficult to determine. Application of DNA metabarcoding greatly increases the number of species identified at each sampling site, thereby providing a more accurate information regarding the way the ponds function and how they are affected by management. OPEN PRACTICES This article has earned an Open Data Badge for making publicly available the digitally‐shareable data necessary to reproduce the reported results. The data is available at https://www.ebi.ac.uk/ena/data/view/PRJEB30841.

This paper focuses on the detailed investigation of the structural and electronic properties of wurtzite AlN crystals doped by Li with and without oxygen with the first principles calculation. All the calculations have exhibited significant structural distortions. Compared with the monoclinic doping, the oxygen codoping has improved the structure deformation and lowered the formation energy of Li dopants. The calculated electronic density of states (DOS) reveals that all doping configurations still preserve semiconductor characteristics. The states around the valence band maximum cross the Fermi level, which implies p-type doping. The induced extra levels are extremely localized and flat in Li-doped AlN while much more delocalized in oxygen codoped models. The mono-doping of Li is in general energetically unfavorable while the codoping improves the formation and makes the intercalation of Li more stable in AlN. According to the results, the codoping configuration of Li with O in AlN has provided a useful way of modifying the corresponding properties.

Lianas are predicted to perform better than trees during seasonal drought among tropical forests, which has substantial implications for tree and forest dynamics. Here, we use whole-plant trait comparison to test whether lianas allocated on the resource acquisitive end of the continuum of woody plant strategies. We measured morphological and biomass allocation traits for seedlings of 153 species of trees and lianas occurring in a tropical forest in Thailand during the dry season. We first compared trait differences between lianas and trees directly, and then classified all species based on their trait similarities. We found that liana seedlings had significantly higher specific leaf areas and specific stem lengths than co-occurring tree seedlings. Trait similarity classification resulted in a liana-dominated cluster and a tree-dominated cluster. Compared to the tree-dominated cluster, species in the liana-dominated cluster were characterized by a consistent pattern of lower dry matter content and cheaper and more efficient per dry mass unit investment in both above- and below-ground organs. The consistency of all organs operating in tandem for dry matter content, together with optimized investment in them per mass unit, implied that the lianas and trees can be highly overlapped on the strategy gradient of the resource acquisition continuum.

Truck rollover is a problem that seriously endangers the safety of human life. Under special conditions, when the driver takes a sharp turn, the truck is most prone to rollover. Speed seriously affects the driving stability of the truck in a sharp turn, but the calculation of the safe speed is not accurate enough at present. The aim of this paper is to develop a more accurate safe speed calculation method to avoid the truck rollover in a sharp turn. Firstly, the calculation formula of the rollover threshold was derived based on a theoretical model, then, the simulation tests were carried out. We selected a 4-axle truck with a total weight of 30t as the subject, simulated the dynamic process of the truck rollover in a sharp turn with TruckSim, evaluated the dynamic rollover risk levels of the truck during this process, and verified the accuracy of the simulation results by results of the theoretical model. Finally, by analyzing the steering principle of the vehicle, the safe speed threshold and the limit speed threshold of the truck in a sharp turn were calculated according to the lateral acceleration corresponding to the rollover risk levels. The results show that no matter what the loading condition of the truck is, when the rollover margin is reduced to about 0.15g, the truck just reaches the risk level of critical rollover; the result provides an accurate algorithm for speed thresholds of the truck when turning radius is less than 250 m. The research provides a calculation method for safe speed of trucks from a dynamic perspective. The research results can be applied to the speed warning system of trucks, which can make drivers better control the rollover risk of trucks in the process of driving and improve driving safety.

The development of wearable systems stimulate the exploration of flexible broadband photodetectors with high responsivity and stability. In this paper, we propose a facile liquid-exfoliating method to prepare SnS2 nanosheets with high-quality crystalline structure and optoelectronic properties. A flexible photodetector is fabricated using the SnS2 nanosheets with graphene-poly[bis(4-phenyl) (2,4,6-trimethylphenyl) amine (PTAA) hybrid structure. The liquid-exfoliated SnS2 nanosheets enable the photodetection from ultraviolet to near infrared with high responsivity and detectivity. The flexible broadband photodetector demonstrates a maximum responsivity of 1 × 105 A/W, 3.9 × 104 A/W, 8.6 × 102 A/W and 18.4 A/W under 360 nm, 405 nm, 532 nm, and 785 nm illuminations, with specific detectivity up to ~1012 Jones, ~1011 Jones, ~109 Jones, and ~108 Jones, respectively. Furthermore, the flexible photodetector exhibits nearly invariable performance over 3000 bending cycles, rendering great potentials for wearable applications.