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Aims Flavobacterium strains are widely distributed in various environments and generally exhibit specialized roles in the degradation of complex organic substrates. To obtain a deeper understanding of their enzyme profiles, patterns of action on natural carbohydrates degradation, and to mine gene resources for biomass conversion. Methods and results We sequenced the whole genome of a novel carbohydrate-degrading Flavobacterium sp. strain YJ01. The genome size of strain YJ01 was 5.48 Mb and encoded 4674 predicted genes. Comparative genomic analysis revealed Flavobacterium strains were characterized by the presence of abundant genes associated with catalytic activity and metabolic processes, especially carbohydrate metabolism. About 9% of genes of strain YJ01 encoded carbohydrate-active enzymes. These enzymes can act on various complex natural and cellular carbohydrates. The synergistic effect of the enzymes on the hydrolysis of complex natural polysaccharides was further experimentally evidenced by using starch and xylan as substrates, in which the degradation rate of an enzyme combination was ~10-fold higher than that of the single enzyme. Conclusions Flavobacterium sp. strain YJ01 has a high degree of catalytic and metabolic activity toward carbohydrates, and it harbors abundant, complete, and efficient enzymes for mediating complex polysaccharide degradation. These enzymes, acting synergistically on complex substrates, greatly improved the efficiency of digestion, which may be associated with the extensive ecological adaptability of Flavobacterium , which genetically heterologous divergent from extremely environments origin Flavobacterium strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass burning (BB) can produce ice nucleating particles (INPs) and influence cloud ice formation and climate effects, but the distribution and budget of BB‐induced INPs are not well understood. This study quantified INPs from BB at −17°C to −30°C and explored their spatiotemporal distributions. The results indicate that the INPs of BB aerosol were 5.42 × 1021 in 2019, approximately two orders of magnitude lower than those of dust aerosol, but much more than those of marine organic aerosol. Globally, INPs from BB were mainly influenced by wildfires, but in regions like East Asia, residential BB contributed significantly, accounting for about 57%. INPs from BB would have more pronounced effects in high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere and parts of the Southern Hemisphere, particularly during peak wildfire periods. Thus, BB should be unignorable in evaluating the fates and impacts of INPs. Plain Language Summary: Atmospheric ice nucleating particles (INPs) are crucial for the ice formation, properties, and fates of clouds, significantly influencing the cloud‐aerosol interaction and resultant climate effects. Particles from the biomass burning (BB) have been reported to have sufficiently high ice nucleation activity within mixed‐phase cloud temperature ranges. However, the budget and spatiotemporal distributions of INPs from BB have not yet been explored. Our study developed an immersion freezing parameterization scheme for BB aerosol within the temperature of −17°C to −30°C. The first global estimates of INPs from the BB indicated underappreciated impacts compared to dust emissions in East Asia and high latitudes of the northern hemisphere. This study suggested that the contribution of BB to INPs should be considered in evaluating INP fates. Key Points: On a global scale, the ice nucleating particles (INPs) from biomass burning (BB) were lower than those from dust, but much higher than those of marine organic aerosolINPs from BB are largely from wildfires, contributing nearly 60% of the total 5.42 × 1021 BB INPs at −17°C to −30°CResidential biofuel emissions are unignorable INP sources in East Asia [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights Electromagnetic shielding properties of conductive polymer composites (CPCs) are dependent on the content of conductive fillers. In this study, electromagnetic shielding effectiveness (EMW SE) of poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) filled with different content of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared to systematically discuss content‐dependent electromagnetic shielding mechanism via a simulation and experimental study. At low MWCNT loadings, the composites have high absorption coefficients because the MWCNT particles are separated by PCL chains. The shielding performance mainly comes from the polarization loss and conduction loss. However, the composites with high content of MWCNT can form conductive networks which leads to high reflection values, suggesting a reflection‐dominant shielding mechanism. In addition, a conductive mesh model is first introduced to simulate the effect of filler loadings on electromagnetic shielding performance. For electrical conductivity, there is no obvious platform being found in the samples at a high content of MWCNTs. The formation of a denser conductive network within the composites reduces inter‐filler gaps and promotes closer contact. However, according to the experimental and simulation results, upon exceeding the percolation threshold of MWCNT loadings, the EM SE value slightly increases leading to a plateau region. The results are ascribed to the formation of stable shielding networks at high content of MWCNTs. The sample has a high absorption coefficient at a low content of MWCNTs. All the samples exhibit a reflection‐dominant shielding mechanism. No obvious platform of conductivity is found at high content of MWCNTs. Obvious platform of EMW SE values is found in the high content of MWCNTs. High EMW SE values for CPC only require relatively dense conductive networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The NTRK fusion gene is a rare cancer driver and a typical representative "diamond mutation". Its unique role in tumor progression is highly important for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of patients with tumors. We searched for NTRK fusion-positive patients in our hospital. As of August 2022, a total of 8 patients were affected. We discovered that NTRK fusion was associated with enhanced tumor invasion and migration ability. Previous reports also support this finding, but its underlying mechanism has not been elucidated. Methods: We undertook a comprehensive exploration of the correlations between NTRK fusions and tumor invasion as well as migration by analysing clinical data, performing bioinformatics analysis via public databases, and conducting in vitro cell experiments. Results: We ascertained that within the thyroid cancer (THCA) dataset and the pancancer dataset, ECM1 and NOVA1 were coexpressed with NTRKs. Additionally, they demonstrated a significant association with the activity of the epithelial‒mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway. Furthermore, these genes are overexpressed in various cancers and are associated with advanced clinical stage and increased aggressiveness. Our in vitro study revealed that larolutinib potentially inhibited the invasion and metastasis ability of NTRK-fused cells. Interestingly, contrary to previous findings, the repression of ECM1 increased the migration and invasion ability of NTRK-fused tumor cells. Conclusions: NTRK fusion tumors present heightened migratory and invasive potential in clinical settings. Further experiments confirmed the significant inhibitory effects of TRK inhibitors on the migration and invasion abilities of these cells. There is a complex relationship between ECM1, NOVA1 and NTRK fusion; however, further research is needed to determine whether NTRK fusion promotes tumor metastasis through these two genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric Brown Carbon (BrC) with strong wavelength-dependence light-absorption ability can significantly affect radiative forcing. Highly resolved emission inventories with lower uncertainties are important premise and essential in scientifically evaluating impacts of emissions on air quality, human health and climate change. This study developed a bottom-up inventory of primary BrC from combustion sources in China from 1960 to 2016 with a spatial resolution at 0.1° × 0.1°, based on compiled emission factors and detailed activity data. The primary BrC emission in China was about 593 Gg (500–735 Gg as interquartile range) in 2016, contributing to 7% (5%–8%) of a previously estimated global total BrC emission. Residential fuel combustion was the largest source of primary BrC in China, with the contribution of 67% as the national average but ranging from 25% to 99% among different provincial regions. Significant spatial disparities were also observed in the relative shares of different fuel types. Coal combustion contribution varied from 8% to 99% across different regions. Heilongjiang and North China Plain had high emissions of primary BrC. Generally, on the national scale, spatial distribution of BrC emission density per area was aligned with the population distribution. Primary BrC emission from combustion sources in China have been declined since a peak of ∼1300 Gg in 1980, but the temporal trends were distinct in different sectors. The high-resolution inventory developed here enables radiative forcing simulations in future atmospheric models so as to promote better understanding of carbonaceous aerosol impacts in the Earth's climate system and to develop strategies achieving co-benefits of human health protection and climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant protein‐based adhesives are gaining traction owing to their low cost and eco‐friendliness. However, achieving flame retardancy and long‐term water resistance in them under room‐temperature curing conditions remains a challenge due to the hydrophilicity and low reactivity of plant proteins. Herein, a novel adhesive synthesized from soybean meal (SM), activated sodium alginate (aSA), nano‐hydroxyapatite (nHA), and polyamidoamine‐epichlorohydrin (PAE) resin addresses this challenge. aSA as a reactive bio‐based cross‐linker formed covalent cross‐linking structures with SM matrix at room temperature, while the nHA‐induced biomineralization and PAE‐constructed supramolecular cross‐linking promote water drainage from the adhesive, preventing water erosion of the adhesive structure. The developed adhesive shows versatility across multiple substrates, with its wet shear strength on wood reaching 0.76 MPa, surpassing that of the commercial aldehyde‐based adhesive. The adhesive is effective over a wide temperature range from room temperature to 150 °C due to the reactivity of the PAE resin above 60 °C. Moreover, it exhibits excellent flame retardancy (limiting oxygen index of 31.2%) owing to its dense structure and the abundance of N‐containing and P‐containing components. This work is expected to break the monopoly of petroleum‐based adhesives in the realm of room‐temperature adhesives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In situ cyclized polyacrylonitrile (CPAN) is developed to replace n‐type metal oxide semiconductors (TiO2 or SnO2) as an electron selective layer (ESL) for highly efficient and stable n‐i‐p perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The CPAN layer is fabricated via facile in situ cyclization reaction of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) coated on a conducting glass substrate. The CPAN layer is robust and insoluble in common solvents, and possesses n‐type semiconductor properties with a high electron mobility of 4.13×10−3 cm2 V−1 s−1. With the CPAN as an ESL, the PSC affords a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 23.12 %, which is the highest for the n‐i‐p PSCs with organic ESLs. Moreover, the device with the CPAN layer holds superior operational stability, maintaining over 90 % of their initial efficiency after 500 h continuous light soaking. These results confirm that the CPAN layer would be a desirable low‐cost and efficient ESL for n‐i‐p PSCs and other photoelectronic devices with high performance and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In situ cyclized polyacrylonitrile (CPAN) is developed to replace n‐type metal oxide semiconductors (TiO2 or SnO2) as an electron selective layer (ESL) for highly efficient and stable n‐i‐p perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The CPAN layer is fabricated via facile in situ cyclization reaction of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) coated on a conducting glass substrate. The CPAN layer is robust and insoluble in common solvents, and possesses n‐type semiconductor properties with a high electron mobility of 4.13×10−3 cm2 V−1 s−1. With the CPAN as an ESL, the PSC affords a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 23.12 %, which is the highest for the n‐i‐p PSCs with organic ESLs. Moreover, the device with the CPAN layer holds superior operational stability, maintaining over 90 % of their initial efficiency after 500 h continuous light soaking. These results confirm that the CPAN layer would be a desirable low‐cost and efficient ESL for n‐i‐p PSCs and other photoelectronic devices with high performance and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shale matrix permeability is vital to the evaluation of shale petrophysical property. In this study, an analytical model that considers pore size distribution, tortuosity, adsorption, and slippage effects is developed, to calculate the permeability of shale samples. Specifically, field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), the ImageJ software, and the MATLAB programming and numeric computing environment are employed to experimentally characterize the pore structure and to fit and optimize the pore size distribution. The discrete pore size distributions of organic matter and inorganic matter pores for Longmaxi and Qiongzhusi shale samples are determined based on FE-SEM images. According to the sum of squares error (SSE), coefficient of determination (R2), root-mean-square error (RMSE), and outcome of the fit, the Gaussian 2 correlation function is optimized to fit the continuous pore size distribution. Finally, the permeabilities of five shale rock samples are calculated and compared with the measured results from the Longmaxi and Qiongzhusi Formations. The results illustrate that the multi-term Gaussian fit is more suitable for calculating the permeability of samples with multimodal pore size distributions than the multi-segment Gaussian fit. The calculated results from the pore size distribution are more accuracy than those from the representative mean pore radius. The influence of pore size distribution on permeability and how seepage mechanisms in different pore sizes work together to represent permeability changes at the core scale will be investigated in the future. The study provides a more reliable calculation of the shale matrix permeability compared to previous methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AlGaN multiple-quantum-well diode-based solar-blind ultraviolet emission-detection monolithic integration system shows great application value due to its advantages of multifunctionality, secure communication, and anti-interference ability. To reduce the lateral optical propagation loss and improve the emitting light detection efficiency, we have proposed a concentric ring-circle configuration for the system, where the out-ring light-emitting diode is the emitter at 253 and 267 nm, and the inner-circle detector is the receiver. The out-ring light-emitting diode exhibits about twice the injection current at the same bias and slightly higher light output power at the same current due to better current spreading and sidewall light extraction compared to the conventional square–square configuration. Simultaneously, the concentric inner-circle detector maximizes the collection of the emitted light flux. Under the emission-detection mode for the monolithic integration system, compared to the conventional square–square configuration, the concentric ring-circle design presents an improvement in the ratio of emitter injection current to detector output photocurrent and higher output signal amplitude under the same transmission work mode, demonstrating the improved system energy and coupling efficiency. This design provides a potential approach to achieve low power consumption and high bandwidth in the monolithic integrated optoelectronic chips. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Good food safety practices are essential to minimizing foodborne diseases. The present study explored the food safety-related practices of residents during the COVID-19 pandemic in Southwest China and identified the impacting factors. Methods: Residents aged 18–75 years from Guizhou, Yunnan, Sichuan, and Chongqing, China, were included in our study. The convenience sampling method was used to select participants, and face-to-face surveys were conducted in households and communities to collect data. Descriptive statistics including sociodemographic characteristics of respondents and weighted percentages were obtained and the log-binomial regression was used to evaluate the influencing factors associated with food safety-related practices. Results: Overall, 7,848 respondents were involved, with 97.5% efficacy. Disparities in food safety-related practices were observed between males and females, with the former performing poorer practices than the latter (70.5% vs. 68.0%, respectively). Notably, paying attention to nutrition labels when shopping for prepackaged foods was the worst practice. Age, ethnicity, region, occupation, education level, and income were identified as significant determinants of food safety-related practices. Moreover, in comparison to males, females were more likely to acquire pertinent knowledge from diverse sources, including social media, family members/ friends, books/ newspapers/ magazines, experts, and food sales staff (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Males performed inferior food safety-related practices than females during the COVID-19 pandemic in Southwest China. It is suggested that future food safety education programs should incorporate diverse targeted approaches, with emphasis on males. The role of mainstream media in promoting food safety practices should be expanded and prioritized in the forthcoming initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Unhealthy snacking behaviors and body weight misperception are both significant concerns in adolescent health. Weight misperception are common among youth and may influence their motivation to engage in health-related behaviors, however, the effect on snacking patterns choice remains unclear. Our study aimed to examine the relationship between body weight misperception and snacking pattern choice among school adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey platform. Body weight misperception was defined based on perceived body weight and true weight. Snack intake was measured using a qualitative food-frequency questionnaire. Factor analysis was used to identify snacking patterns, and multiple linear regression was employed to examine the association between body weight misperception and snacking patterns. Results: 190,296 students with the average age of 13.3 ± 1.0 years was included, and 44.5% of students misperceived their weight. Overestimation was more prevalent than underestimation. Two snacking patterns, namely a high-calorie snacking pattern and a healthy snacking pattern, were identified with eigenvalues > 1. Weight underestimation was positively linked to high-calorie snacking pattern scores for both normal weight students (β: 0.16, 95% CI: 0.11, 0.21) and students with overweight/obesity (β: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.35, 0.52), and to healthy snacking scores for students with overweight/obesity (β: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.22, 0.33), but negatively linked to healthy snacking pattern scores for normal weight students (β: -0.12, 95% CI: -0.15, -0.09). Conversely, weight overestimation was negatively linked to both high-calorie and healthy snacking pattern scores for normal weight students (β: -0.07, 95% CI: -0.11, -0.04 and β: -0.13, 95% CI: -0.15, -0.10), but positively linked to healthy snacking scores for underweight students (β: 0.15, 95% CI: 0.08, 0.21). Interactions were found between sex, grade, accommodation, only child, primary guardians, parental education level and weight misperception to snacking patterns. Conclusions: Adolescents with normal weight and overweight/obesity who misperceived their weight exhibited less healthy snacking patterns, whereas underweight students who misperceived their weight displayed healthier snacking patterns. Comprehensive programs are crucial to educate and guide adolescents in understanding their weight status and making healthier snack choices, involving families, schools, and society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The impact of ustekinumab (UST) therapy on surgical complications in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) remains controversial. The aim of this meta-analysis is to explore the link between these two. Methods: Databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Springer Link) were searched until April 2022. Studies of CD patients who received UST and no UST prior to surgery (including no biological therapy, anti-tumor necrosis factor-α [anti-TNF-α] agent, and vedolizumab [VDZ]) were included. Primary outcomes included overall complications, infectious complications, and noninfectious complications. Results: Nine studies totaling 3,225 CD patients were enrolled; 332 patients received UST treatment. There was no evidence of difference in the overall complications (odds ratio [OR] = 0.84, p = 0.37, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.57–1.23], I2 = 40%) between CD patients who had UST treatment preoperatively and those who had no UST treatment. There was no evidence of a difference in infectious complications (OR = 1.15, p = 0.35, 95% CI = [0.86–1.53], I2 = 2%). Additionally, there was no significant evidence of difference between these groups in terms of noninfectious complications and death. Specifically, there was no evidence of difference in overall complications, infection complications (including wound complications, sepsis, abscess, and anastomotic leakage), and noninfection complications (ileus, readmission, and return to operation), compared with no biological therapy and anti-TNF-α agents. At the same time, no significant evidence of difference was discovered in the comparison of preoperative UST and VDZ therapy in terms of overall complications, infectious complications (sepsis and abscess), and noninfectious complications (intestinal obstruction, readmission, and recovery surgery). Conclusion: In general, compared with other biological agents, preoperative use of UST in the treatment of CD patients is usually safe and does not increase surgical complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To investigate the predictive ability of high-throughput MRI with deep survival networks for biochemical recurrence (BCR) of prostate cancer (PCa) after prostatectomy. Methods: Clinical-MRI and histopathologic data of 579 (train/test, 463/116) PCa patients were retrospectively collected. The deep survival network (iBCR-Net) is based on stepwise processing operations, which first built an MRI radiomics signature (RadS) for BCR, and predicted the T3 stage and lymph node metastasis (LN+) of tumour using two predefined AI models. Subsequently, clinical, imaging and histopathological variables were integrated into iBCR-Net for BCR prediction. Results: RadS, derived from 2554 MRI features, was identified as an independent predictor of BCR. Two predefined AI models achieved an accuracy of 82.6% and 78.4% in staging T3 and LN+. The iBCR-Net, when expressed as a presurgical model by integrating RadS, AI-diagnosed T3 stage and PSA, can match a state-of-the-art histopathological model (C-index, 0.81 to 0.83 vs 0.79 to 0.81, p > 0.05); and has maximally 5.16-fold, 12.8-fold, and 2.09-fold (p < 0.05) benefit to conventional D'Amico score, the Cancer of the Prostate Risk Assessment (CAPRA) score and the CAPRA Postsurgical score. Conclusions: AI-aided iBCR-Net using high-throughput MRI can predict PCa BCR accurately and thus may provide an alternative to the conventional method for PCa risk stratification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Mitochondria are strained by microbial stimuli in the periodontal niche. Damaged mitochondria are cleared by mitophagy. The purpose of the study was to explore whether mitophagy participated in the progress of periodontitis and whether activation of mitophagy can inhibit inflammatory responses to bacterial infection in macrophages. Methods: Mitophagy‐related genes were measured in the healthy and inflamed human gingiva. Bone marrow‐derived macrophages (BMDMs) were infected with Porphyromonas gingivalis. Dexmedetomidine, urolithin A, and resveratrol were used to activate mitophagy, while small interference RNA was utilized to knock down PTEN‐induced putative protein kinase 1 (PINK1). Activation of mitophagy‐related genes and colocalization of them were detected by Western blot and confocal imaging. Damages of mitochondria, accumulation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS), and production of IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNF‐α were measured. Results: Levels of mitophagy‐related genes were decreased in inflamed periodontal tissues and P. gingivalis‐infected BMDMs. Dexmedetomidine, urolithin A, and resveratrol activated mitophagy, leading to reduced mitochondria damages, decreased mtROS generation, and inhibited IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNF‐α production. PINK1 knockdown reduced dexmedetomidine, urolithin A, and resveratrol‐induced anti‐inflammatory effect. Conclusion: Inhibited mitophagy participated in the progress of periodontitis. Activation of mitophagy may become a therapeutic target during the progress of periodontitis by reducing mtROS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fiber optic distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) technology is widely used in security surveillance and geophysical survey applications. The response of the DAS system to external vibrations varies with different types of fiber optic cable connections. The mechanism of mutual influence between the cable's characteristics and DAS measurement results remains unclear. This study proposed a dynamic model of the interaction between the optical cable and the soil, analyzed the impact of the dynamic parameters of the optical cable and soil on the sensitivity of the DAS system, and validated the theoretical analysis through experiments. The findings suggest that augmenting the cable's bending stiffness 5.5-fold and increasing its unit mass 4.2-fold result in a discernible reduction of the system's response to roughly 0.15 times of its initial magnitude. Cables with lower unit mass and bending stiffness are more sensitive to vibration signals. This research provides a foundation for optimizing vibration-enhanced fiber optic cables and broadening the potential usage scenarios for DAS systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a concentrated energy source with high added value, hydrogen has great development prospects, with special emphasis on sustainable microbial production as a replacement for traditional fossil fuels. In this study, λ-Red recombination was used to alter the activity of Complex I by single and combined knockout of nuoE, nuoF and nuoG. In addition, the conversion of malic to pyruvic acid was promoted by overexpressing the maeA gene, which could increase the content of NADH and formic acid in the bacterial cells. Compared to the original strain, hydrogen production was 65% higher in the optimized strain IAM1183-EFG/M, in which the flux of the formic acid pathway was increased by 257%, the flux of the NADH pathway was increased by 13%, and the content of metabolites also changed significantly. In further bioreactor, the total hydrogen production of the scale-up IAM1183-EFG/M after 44 h of fermentation was 4.76 L, which increased by 18% compared with the starting strain. This study provides a new direction for future exploration of microbial hydrogen production by combinatorial modification of multiple genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Climate has been regarded as an important explanation for large‐scale species richness patterns. However, the mechanisms underlying the significant variations in species richness–climate relationships across different clades remain to be tested. We explored how niche conservatism, diversification rates and time for speciation influenced species richness–climate relationships between clades. Location: The globe. Time Period: Present day. Major Taxa Studied: Angiosperms. Methods: Based on a newly complied database of the global distributions of 288,735 angiosperm species, we used generalized linear models to assess the relationships between species richness of different angiosperm families and climatic factors. We also conducted phylogenetic comparative analysis to test whether niche conservatism, diversification rates and time for speciation affect the variations in species richness–climate relationships. Results: We found that temperature seasonality dominated the global angiosperm diversity patterns. Closely related families had more similar species richness–climate relationships than distantly related ones. The discrepancy between the current and ancestral niches of different clades had much stronger effects on variations in species richness–climate relationships than diversification rates and time for speciation. With the increase in the discrepancy between current and ancestral niches, the explanatory power (i.e., R2) of contemporary temperature and precipitation in explaining species richness patterns increased. Main Conclusions: Overall, our findings strongly support that niche conservatism dominates the variations in species richness–climate relationships across taxonomic groups. These findings allow better understanding on how large‐scale species diversity patterns are formed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Struvite crystallization method is used to effectively remove high concentration of ammonia nitrogen from leachate during the pretreatment stage of industrial solid waste landfill (ISWL) leachate. The effects of molar ratio of phosphorus to nitrogen (P:N), molar ratio of magnesium to nitrogen (Mg:N) and pH value on ammonia nitrogen removal were discussed. The results indicate that compared with pH adjustment later, pH adjustment first increases the removal rate of ammonia nitrogen by 30–54%. When pH value is 9.5, the removal of ammonia nitrogen reaches 82%; When P:N is 0.9 ∼ 1.1, the removal of ammonia nitrogen is maintained at 78 ∼ 82%; When Mg: N is 1.1 ∼ 1.3, the removal of ammonia nitrogen reaches 90%; When the pH value is 10 and P:N:Mg is 1.1:1:1.2, the removal rate of ammonia nitrogen reaches the highest, reaching 95.9%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mudskippers are intertidal burrowing fish with unique living habits. So far, studies on the cytoarchitecture of the brain in fish with such behaviors remain limited. Therefore, documenting the neuroanatomy of this animal is of interest because of its unique characteristics. In this study, we examined the cytoarchitecture of mudskipper (Boleophthalmus pectinirostris) brain and investigated whether it has any peculiarities in its brain structures. In general, the basic composition, morphology, and organization of mudskipper brain do not vary markedly from those of other teleosts. The main differences appear in the telencephalon and diencephalon. In addition to Nissl staining, immunostainings for catecholaminergic and cholinergic systems were performed to help identify certain nuclei. The results showed that the number of subdivisions of the central division of pallium, lateral division of pallium, and medial division of pallium were different with other teleost species. In addition, some diencephalic nuclei, including the nucleus subglomerulosus, lateral thalamic nucleus, and intermediate superficial pretectal nucleus, were absent, which suggests the corresponding functions, such as visual or gustatory function, are less developed or specialized in B. pectinirostris. These results will provide a fundamental neuroanatomical basis for future studies on neuroendocrine regulation of behavior in intertidal burrowing fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aims to develop and validate an artificial intelligence (AI)-aided Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADSAI) for prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis based on MRI. Methods: The deidentified MRI data of 1540 biopsy-naïve patients were collected from four centres. PI-RADSAI is a two-stage, human-in-the-loop AI capable of emulating the diagnostic acumen of subspecialists for PCa on MRI. The first stage uses a UNet-Seg model to detect and segment biopsy-candidate prostate lesions, whereas the second stage leverages UNet-Seg segmentation is trained specifically with subspecialist' knowledge-guided 3D-Resnet to achieve an automatic AI-aided diagnosis for PCa. Results: In the independent test set, UNet-Seg identified 87.2% (628/720) of target lesions, with a Dice score of 44.9% (range, 22.8–60.2%) in segmenting lesion contours. In the ablation experiment, the model trained with the data from three centres was superior (kappa coefficient, 0.716 vs. 0.531) to that trained with single-centre data. In the internal and external tests, the triple-centre PI-RADSAI model achieved an overall agreement of 58.4% (188/322) and 60.1% (92/153) with a referential subspecialist in scoring target lesions; when one-point margin of error was permissible, the agreement rose to 91.3% (294/322) and 97.3% (149/153), respectively. In the paired test, PI-RADSAI outperformed 5/11 (45.5%) and matched the performance of 3/11 (27.3%) general radiologists in achieving a clinically significant PCa diagnosis (area under the curve, internal test, 0.801 vs. 0.770, p < 0.01; external test, 0.833 vs. 0.867, p = 0.309). Conclusions: Our closed-loop PI-RADSAI outperforms or matches the performance of more than 70% of general readers in the MRI assessment of PCa. This system might provide an alternative to radiologists and offer diagnostic benefits to clinical practice, especially where subspecialist expertise is unavailable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The silver powder was prepared by liquid-phase reduction with silver nitrate, ascorbic acid and polyvinylpyrrolidone. The influence factors of silver nitrate concentration, dispersant amount and reaction temperature on tap density of silver powder were investigated by single-factor experiments, and the optimum process conditions were obtained by orthogonal experiments. The results show that the amount of PVP-K30 is the main factor affecting the tap density of silver powder. Silver powder obtained under orthogonal experiment is monodisperse with a narrow size distribution, the tap density of the silver powder is 3.71 g/cm3 and the average particle size is 1.55 μm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using text mining and semantic network analysis, this study analyzed the job descriptions of 34,787 positions about media analytics from Indeed.com to compare how the in-person and remote jobs differ to inform educators about integrating analytics in the media and communications curriculum. We found that the in-person positions emphasized more on the skills of verbal, interpersonal, and organizational communication, whereas the remote positions asked more for written communication. While the in-person positions had higher expectations of using general data management and analysis tools, the remote positions emphasized more on the use of social media analytics and digital marketing tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Combination of CSA and machine learning achieves precise detection of adulterated camellia oil. • Synergy of outlier detection and feature selection improves substantially data quality from CSA. • ECOD-PSO-MLP achieves 90.613% accuracy, outperforming other combinations. • Comparative analysis reveals features' contributions to data quality enhancement. Colorimetric sensor arrays (CSA) offer a promising method for distinguishing complex chemical compositions using color-sensitive dyes with cross-reactivity. However, the extensive data provided by the CSA poses challenges for data analysis, requiring advanced methods to enhance data quality. This study explores the potential of machine learning (ML) combined with outlier detection and feature selection algorithms to address these challenges, resulting in improving the detection of adulterated camellia oil. We employed two outlier detection algorithms, Empirical Cumulative Distribution −based Outlier Detection (ECOD) and Z score analysis, and two feature selection algorithms, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Genetic Algorithm (GA), to identify the most effective combination for enhancing data quality. Using CSA data from oil samples that included genuine camellia oil and the adulterated counterparts, we evaluated the classification performance of a multilayer perceptron (MLP) model integrated with the outlier detection and feature selection algorithms. The results showed that the combination of ECOD-PSO-MLP achieved superior results with an Accuracy of 90.613 % ± 0.214 %, Average Precision of 91.141 % ± 0.205 %, Average Recall of 90.613 % ± 0.214 %, and Average F1 score of 90.741 % ± 0.213 %, outperforming other combinations in distinguishing adulterated camellia oil. The study further conducted a comparative analysis of the features associated with the outlier detection and feature selection processes, respectively. This examination provided insights into the potential contributions of these features towards enhancing data quality. Consequently, the innovative strategies proposed in this study yield a substantial enhancement in data quality, thereby facilitating the effective identification of adulterated camellia oil using ML techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The compressive behaviour of stainless steel hexagonal hollow sections is investigated. • Fifteen stainless steel hexagonal hollow section stub column tests are conducted. • FE models are developed and validated against the test results and then used to conduct parametric studies. • The relevant design codes are assessed against the test and FE data. • An improved design approach is proposed. This paper presents experimental and numerical investigations into the local buckling behaviour and capacities of stainless steel hexagonal hollow sections. A testing programme, including tensile coupon tests, initial local geometric imperfection measurements and fifteen stub column tests, was firstly carried out. The key test results, including failure loads, load–end shortening curves and failure modes, were reported. Subsequently, a numerical modelling programme was conducted, where finite element models were developed and validated against the test results and then used to conduct parametric studies to generate additional numerical data. The obtained test and numerical data were used to evaluate the relevant local buckling design rules specified in the European code, American specification and ASCE standard. The evaluation results revealed that the slenderness limits, as defined in the European code and American specification, were generally accurate and safe when used for cross-section classification of stainless steel hexagonal hollow sections, while the ASCE slenderness limit was unsafe. The European code and American specification resulted in overall accurate and consistent cross-section compression resistance predictions, but the predictions for non-slender cross-sections were conservative and scattered, due to the neglect of material strain hardening. The ASCE standard led to overall scattered and relatively conservative cross-section compression resistance predictions, but also with some unsafe predictions for those intermediate cross-section sizes due mainly to the unsafe slenderness limit. Finally, a revised ASCE design approach was proposed and shown to result in more accurate predictions of cross-section classification and resistances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bio-based adhesives, because of their prominent non-toxic and sustainable properties, have attracted great attention to replace conventional formaldehyde-based adhesives. However, most bio-adhesives have poor bonding properties and antimildew stability, which seriously hinder the practical application. Herein, a coordination structure-enhancement method for the preparation of bio-based adhesives was developed that avoids the use of large amounts of crosslinking agents and produces new bio-based adhesives with good properties. The wet bonding strength of this adhesive manufactured by introducing mussel byssus cuticle-inspired complexes (FeTA) and glycerol triglycidyl ether (GTE) is as high as 1.05 MPa, far exceeding that of pure soybean meal adhesive. In addition, the resulting adhesives showed superior thermal stability and mildew resistance. Life cycle assessment results indicate that the novel adhesive production process has a minimal environmental impact. Overall, this environmentally friendly bio-based adhesive demonstrated in this study could be a promising substitute for petrochemical-based formaldehyde adhesives. [Display omitted] • FeTA complexes with stable coordination bonds were obtained. • A bio-based adhesive with wet bonding strength of 1.05 MPa was designed. • By incorporating FeTA, the adhesive acquires excellent mildew resistance. • LCA confirms SMG-FeTA adhesive's low environmental impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the ease of fabrication, cold-formed steel channel section members have gained popularity in the construction industry. However, the open and non-doubly symmetric geometries make them vulnerable to buckling, particularly under extreme loading conditions, such as fire. Current design codes for cold-formed steel channel section columns have been found to be cumbersome and lead to inaccurate failure load predictions. Therefore, an accurate and unified design method is proposed based on machine learning algorithms for cold-formed steel channel section columns with different material grades, section types, geometric dimensions and boundary conditions at both ambient and elevated temperatures. In this paper, a database of 473 cold-formed steel channel section columns with various material properties and geometric parameters was firstly collected. Regression models for failure load predictions were developed based on six machine learning algorithms – Random Forest, Extra Trees, Support Vector Machine, Extreme Gradient Boosting, Cat Boosting and Light Gradient Boosting Machine, with the key hyperparameters for each regression model tuned. The performance of regression models was assessed using a series of statistical metrics. The assessment results reveal that the regression model trained by Support Vector Machine achieves the best performance. The regression model trained by Support Vector Machine was then compared with the current design codes, indicating that the machine-learning-aided design method results in substantially improved design accuracy and consistency for cold-formed steel channel section columns failing by different buckling modes at both ambient and elevated temperatures over the current design codes. • A database of cold-formed steel channel section columns was collected. • Six machine learning algorithms were adopted to develop regression models. • Regression models were assessed and compared with existing design codes. • The unified machine-learning-aided design approach resulted in improved design accuracy and consistency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural design is an intriguing strategy to improve the physical and electrochemical performance of polymer electrolytes (PEs) for lithium‐ion batteries. However, the complex synthetic process and introduction of nonelectrolyte composition severely limit the development and practical application of PEs. Here, a facile method is reported for the fabrication of a double network polymer electrolyte (DN‐PE) through combining the lithium salt‐accelerated thiol‐Michael addition and lithium salt‐catalyzed radical polymerization. By adjusting the reaction temperature, the double network with the cross‐linking structure can be in situ formed step by step at room temperature and 80 °C. Notably, using lithium salt as the accelerator and catalyst avoids the addition of extra species and the related side reactions in the electrolyte system. Compared with single network polymer electrolyte (SN‐PE), DN‐PE has a distinctly improved mechanical strength and a better interfacial compatibility with the electrode, which leads to a stable cycling of the symmetric Li|DN‐PE|Li cell over 1000 h at a current density of 0.05 mA cm–2. In addition, the Li|DN‐PE|LiFePO4 cell shows a high discharge specific capacity of 150.3 mAh g–1 at 0.1 C and coulomb efficiency of 99%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a new beam system - steel–recycled aggregate concrete composite beam with bolted shear connectors, to achieve sustainable practices. Bolted shear connectors present a promising solution to improve construction efficiency, while recycled aggregate concrete exemplifies the eco-friendly trend by using recycled construction and demolition aggregates. Four-point bending tests were conducted on a total of five full-scale steel–recycled aggregate concrete composite beam specimens, which were designed with the same dimensions of steel beam, profiled steel decking and concrete slab, but various bolt connector sizes and spacings. Moreover, concretes were carefully mixed so that all specimens had roughly the same strength but different recycled coarse aggregate replacement ratios (0%, 30% and 100%). The test setup and procedures as well as the key test results, including failure modes, load–mid-span deflection curves, slips between steel beams and composite slabs and strain distributions at the mid-span cross-sections, were reported and discussed in detail. It was found that the specimens with higher recycled coarse aggregate replacement ratios or higher degrees of shear connection exhibited improved flexural strengths, lower ultimate mid-span deflections and smaller horizontal slips. Given that there are no established design codes for steel–recycled aggregate concrete composite beams with bolted shear connectors, the applicability of relevant design rules in the European code and American specification for steel–natural aggregate concrete composite beams with welded shear connectors was evaluated, based on the test data. The evaluation results revealed that both design codes generally provided an acceptable level of design accuracy for steel–recycled aggregate concrete composite beams with bolted shear connectors. • The flexural response of steel–recycled aggregate concrete composite beams with bolted shear connectors was studied. • Four-point bending tests were conducted on five full-scale composite beam specimens. • Test failure modes, load–mid-span deflection curves, horizontal slips and strain distributions were discussed. • The applicability of relevant design codes was assessed, indicating an acceptable level of design accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents experimental and numerical investigations into the net section fracture behaviour and resistances of aluminium alloy angle-to-plate connections. Twenty tension tests were conducted on aluminium alloy angle-to-plate connections, with each connection specimen consisting of an equal-leg or unequal-leg angle section member bolted to gusset plates by one leg at both ends. The test setup, procedures and key obtained results, including failure loads, load–elongation curves, failure modes and strain distributions at failure cross-sections were reported. The shear lag effect and influences of the out-of-plane eccentricity, in-plane eccentricity, connection length and type of the connected leg on the net section efficiency were discussed. Following experiments, numerical modelling was conducted, with a validation study, where finite element models were developed to simulate the connection test results, and a series of parametric studies, where additional numerical data were generated over a wide range of cross-section dimensions and connection lengths. All the test and numerical data were adopted to evaluate the design rules for aluminium alloy angle-to-plate connections failing by net section fracture, as specified in the European code, Aluminium Design Manual and Australian/New Zealand standard. The evaluation results revealed that the codified design rules provided inaccurate net section resistance predictions, owing to the lack of proper consideration of the key influencing factors including the out-of-plane and in-plane eccentricities, connection length and type of the connected leg. To address the shortcomings, a new design method was proposed and offered a higher level of design accuracy and consistency for aluminium alloy angle-to-plate connections than the codified design rules. • The net section fracture behaviour of aluminium alloy angle-to-plate connections was studied. • Tension tests on twenty aluminium alloy angle-to-plate connection specimens were conducted. • FE models were developed to simulate the test results and then used to perform parametric studies. • The relevant codified design rules were assessed and their shortcomings were highlighted. • An improved design approach was developed and provided a good level of design accuracy and consistency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inorganic cesium lead iodide perovskite CsPbI3 is attracting great attention as a light absorber for single or multi‐junction photovoltaics due to its outstanding thermal stability and proper band gap. However, the device performance of CsPbI3‐based perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is limited by the unsatisfactory crystal quality and thus severe non‐radiative recombination. Here, vacuum‐assisted thermal annealing (VATA) is demonstrated as an effective approach for controlling the morphology and crystallinity of the CsPbI3 perovskite films formed from the precursors of PbI2, CsI, and dimethylammonium iodide (DMAI). By this method, a large‐area and high‐quality CsPbI3 film is obtained, exhibiting a much reduced trap‐state density with prolonged charge lifetime. Consequently, the solar cell efficiency is raised from 17.26 to 20.06 %, along with enhanced stability. The VATA would be an effective approach for fabricating high‐performance thin‐film CsPbI3 perovskite optoelectronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inorganic cesium lead iodide perovskite CsPbI3 is attracting great attention as a light absorber for single or multi‐junction photovoltaics due to its outstanding thermal stability and proper band gap. However, the device performance of CsPbI3‐based perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is limited by the unsatisfactory crystal quality and thus severe non‐radiative recombination. Here, vacuum‐assisted thermal annealing (VATA) is demonstrated as an effective approach for controlling the morphology and crystallinity of the CsPbI3 perovskite films formed from the precursors of PbI2, CsI, and dimethylammonium iodide (DMAI). By this method, a large‐area and high‐quality CsPbI3 film is obtained, exhibiting a much reduced trap‐state density with prolonged charge lifetime. Consequently, the solar cell efficiency is raised from 17.26 to 20.06 %, along with enhanced stability. The VATA would be an effective approach for fabricating high‐performance thin‐film CsPbI3 perovskite optoelectronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: While the prevalence of obesity in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients is rapidly increasing, it is unclear whether obesity affects surgical outcomes in this population. This meta-analysis aims to assess the impact of obesity/overweight on patients undergoing surgery for IBD. Methods: Databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Springer) were searched through September 2021. The meta-analysis included patients with surgically treated IBD to investigate the impact of obesity/overweight on this population. Primary outcomes included overall complications, infectious complications, noninfectious complications, and conversion to laparotomy. Results: Fifteen studies totaling 12,622 IBD patients were enrolled. Compared with nonobese (including overweight) patients, obese IBD patients have increased the risk in terms of overall complications (OR = 1.45, p < 0.001), infectious complications (OR = 1.48, p = 0.003) (especially wound complications), as well as conversion to laparotomy (OR = 1.90, p < 0.001). Among the noninfectious complications, only the incidence of visceral injury (OR = 2.36, p = 0.05) had significantly increased. Compared with non-overweight patients, the risk of developing wound complications (OR = 1.65, p = 0.01) and sepsis (OR = 1.73, p = 0.007) were increased in overweight patients, but the rates of overall complications (OR = 1.04, p = 0.81), infectious complications (OR = 1.31, p = 0.07), and conversion to laparotomy (OR = 1.33, p = 0.08) associated with body mass index (BMI) were not significantly different. Conclusion: Obesity is a risk factor for surgical complications in IBD patients, mainly reflected in infectious complications. Moreover, obese patients seem to have a more common chance of developing surgical complications than overweight patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The net section fracture behavior and resistance of S690 high-strength steel angle-to-plate connections were investigated in this paper, underpinned by testing and numerical modeling. The experiments were conducted on 23 S690 high-strength steel angle-to-plate connections, with each comprising an equal- or unequal-leg press-braked angle section member bolted to gusset plates by one leg. The test procedures and setup and the key observed results were fully presented and analyzed. The experimental program was supplemented by a numerical modeling program with which finite element models were first developed and validated against the experimental responses and afterward adopted to perform parametric studies to produce additional numerical data. Based on the test and numerical data, the codified design rules for S690 high-strength steel angle-to-plate connections with net section fracture were evaluated. The results of the evaluation revealed that (1) the American specification leads to consistent but unsafe failure load predictions, (2) the European code yields conservative and scattered failure load predictions, and (3) the Australian standard results in scattered, though accurate on average, predictions of failure load, and many of the predicted failure loads are unsafe. Finally, a new design method was proposed and shown to offer substantially improved failure load predictions for S690 high-strength steel angle-to-plate connections over the design codes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, seven mutants from E. aerogenes IAM1183 wildtype were constructed via different strategies including deletion of lactate dehydrogenase, disruption of NADH dehydrogenase gene nuoE , overexpression of pncB and a combination of both to regulate of the NADH supply to enhance hydrogen production. Compared with the parental strain, the hydrogen yields of the strains IAM1183-E, IAM1183-L and IAM1183-EL increased by 23.3, 81.7 and 97.9%, respectively. When the pncB gene was overexpressed, the hydrogen yield of IAM1183/P, IAM1183-E/P, IAM1183-L/P and IAM1183-EL/P increased by 39.0, 6.5, 5.9, and 5.1% compared with the respective original knockout strains. Among them, the total hydrogen yield of strain IAM1183-EL/P with highest production efficiency was 58% higher than IAM1183. Further metabolite analysis indicated that the knockout of nuoE and ldhA , combined with the overexpression of pncB , resulted in a redistribution of the metabolic fluxes in E. aerogenes , which led to an improvement of the hydrogen yield. [Display omitted] • Disruption of nuoE or overexpression of pncB in E. aerogenes increased NADH/NAD+ pool. • Deletion of ldhA of E. aerogenes enhanced the competitiveness of NADH dehydrogenase. • The knockout of nuoE and ldhA , combined with the overexpression of pncB improved H 2 yield. • Hydrogen yield of IAM1183-EL/P increased by 58% in 5-L fermenter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was to study the effect of adding different dosages of fermented feed to production performance, digestion and metabolism, egg quality, serum biochemical indexes and nitrogen excretion of laying hens. Hyline brown commercial laying hens with no significant difference in health status and body weight at the age of 59 w were selected and randomly divided into three treatment groups, with six replicates in each group and 45 chickens in each replicate. The laying hens in control group were fed with basal diet, and the laying hens in test group were fed with 40 and 60 g/kg of fermented feed in basal diet. The test period was 6 w. The results showed that there was no significant change in production performance and digestion and metabolism of laying hens after feeding fermented diet (P>0.05), but the teratobreaking rate of eggs was decreased (P=0.064). Compared with control group, the serum cholesterol level in 40 g/kg group and 60 g/kg group of laying hens was significantly decreased 50.64% and 45.11%, respectively (P<0.05). The color grade of egg yolk and dry matter and crude protein content of eggs were significantly increased (P<0.05), the absolute nitrogen excretion of fresh manure of laying hens was significantly reduced (P<0.01). The absolute nitrogen excretion of fresh manure decreased 36.11%, and the crude protein content of eggs increased by 5.47%. The experiment indicates that adding fermented feed to diet of laying hens can improve the color grade of egg yolks, promote the deposition of egg nutrients, which has the potential to promote economic benefits. The addition amount of 60 g/kg is more appropriate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ssk1, a response regulator of the two-component signaling system, plays an important role in the cellular response to hyperosmotic stress in fungi. Herein, an ortholog of ssk1 (Aossk1) was characterized in the nematode-trapping fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora using gene disruption and multi-phenotypic comparison. The deletion of Aossk1 resulted in defective growth, deformed and swollen hyphal cells, an increased hyphal septum, and a shrunken nucleus. Compared to the wild-type (WT) strain, the number of autophagosomes and lipid droplets in the hyphal cells of the ΔAossk1 mutant decreased, whereas their volumes considerably increased. Aossk1 disruption caused a 95% reduction in conidial yield and remarkable defects in tolerance to osmotic and oxidative stress. Meanwhile, the transcript levels of several sporulation-related genes were significantly decreased in the ΔAossk1 mutant compared to the WT strain, including abaA, brlA, flbC, fluG, and rodA. Moreover, the loss of Aossk1 resulted in a remarkable increase in trap formation and predation efficiency. In addition, many metabolites were markedly downregulated in the ΔAossk1 mutant compared to the WT strain. Our results highlight that AoSsk1 is a crucial regulator of asexual development, stress responses, the secondary metabolism, and pathogenicity, and can be useful in probing the regulatory mechanism underlying the trap formation and lifestyle switching of nematode-trapping fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3D tin-based halide perovskites are promising light absorbers for perovskite solar cells (PSCs) due to their non-toxicity, suitable optical band gaps, and excellent optoelectronic properties. However, the inherent rapid crystallization and easy oxidation of Sn2+ to Sn4+ in 3D perovskites result in a low power conversion efficiency (PCE) and poor stability of tin perovskite solar cells compared with the lead counterparts. In this report, quasi-2D hybrid tin-based perovskite films are fabricated by using 2-thiopheneethylammonium (TEA+) as the spacer cation in MASnI3 (MA: CH3NH3+), leading to the formation of quasi-2D perovskite films with high orientation and a low content of Sn4+. As a result, the perovskite solar cells show a considerable power-conversion efficiency of 6.8%, which is among the highest values reported for MASnI3-based solar cells. Moreover, the devices exhibited excellent stability compared with the device without TEAI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of different Sc + Zr compound addition on the tensile properties, impact toughness, stress corrosion cracking (SCC) properties, polarization curves, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and pitting corrosion (PC) of Al–Zn–Mg alloys are investigated. The results show that the Sc + Zr co-addition significantly inhibits the recrystallization behavior, refines the grain structure, and improves the tensile properties and impact toughness of the studied alloys. In fact, 0.43 wt% Sc + Zr-containing alloy achieves the maximum tensile properties, the tensile strength and yield strength are increased by 60.4 and 71.5 MPa, respectively. The impact toughness of 0.30 wt% Sc + Zr-containing alloy is 36.5 J/cm2, which is increased by 6.4 J/cm2. The Sc + Zr co-addition significantly reduces the SCC sensitivity, increases the charge transfer resistance, decreases the corrosion current density, and improves the PC resistance of Al–Zn–Mg alloys. The results of the strengthening model show that the main strength mechanism of Al–Zn–Mg alloys is precipitation strengthening of conventional η′ phases. The high toughness and corrosion resistance of alloys with Sc + Zr co-addition associated with the recrystallization resistance and the grain structures yielded by coherent Al3ScxZr1-x particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to improve the error rate performance of the enhanced spatial modulation based orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (ESM-OFDM) system by jointly optimizing the signal constellation and the antenna power allocation (PA). We derive a closed-form expression for the optimal PA of the ESM-OFDM scheme for some practical antenna setups and then implement and verify the system by using an Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP) platform. Monte Carlo simulations and experimental results show the superiority of the derived optimal PA over the equal-gain case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important challenge for research on social media use is to relate users' activity on these platforms to user characteristics such as demographics. Surveys allow researchers to measure these characteristics but may be subject to measurement error in self-reported social media use. We compare survey responses to observed behavior in order to assess the validity of self-reported frequency of posting to Twitter, retweeting content, sharing photos, sharing videos, and sending direct messages. Additionally, we examine correlations between self-reported and observed behavior across a range of time frames, from 1 month to 114 months before the survey. We find variation in the quality of self-reports across types of Twitter activity. We also find that self-reports about posting and retweeting tend to reflect recent activity, while self-reports about other activities tend to reflect behavior over a longer span. Furthermore, we find that two characteristics of experience with the platform—the length of time that a person has been active on Twitter and how much their activity on the platform changes over time—predict individual-level discrepancies between survey response and observed behavior, but these discrepancies cancel out when averaged across individuals. Nevertheless, other sources of bias remain. Taken together, our results indicate that while surveys are quite useful for collecting characteristics of social media users, relying on self-reported social media behavior distorts inferential results from what is found when relying on observed social media behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GaN-based ultraviolet (UV) detectors have a considerable application potential in many fields. In this Letter, we report an alternative strategy to realize a high-optical-gain bipolar UV phototransistor based solely on a GaN p-i-n epilayer. The device consists of two tightly adjacent vertical p-i-n structures with a common n-type layer as a floating base. The collector and emitter electrodes are deposited on the two p-type mesas, forming a three-dimensional metal–semiconductor–metal (MSM) like photodetector. As a result, a peak responsivity of 11.7 A/W at a wavelength of 358 nm at 5 V is realized, corresponding to an optical gain of 40 with the assumption of 100% internal quantum efficiency. Different from traditional GaN-based n-p-i-n phototransistors, the optical gain of this detector originates from the accumulated electrons in the n-type floating base upon illumination, which can lower the barrier height between the base and emitter, leading to hole emission from the emitter. Although the structure of this phototransistor is similar to a planar back-to-back Schottky-type MSM photodetector, the response speed is much faster because the gain mainly results from carrier emission rather than MS interface defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic matter pores (OMP) provide significant storage space for hydrocarbons in lower Silurian Longmaxi shales in the Dingshan field of southern Sichuan, China. The distributions of organic matter and the different OMP structure parameters were characterized through Ar-ion polishing, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and image analysis software for shale samples of different wells. The research results indicated that organic matter has been divided into two categories based on its occurrence, location, and its relationship with authigenic minerals: organic matter in situ and migrated organic matter. OMP for organic matter in situ are mainly micropores mostly arranged isolatedly, while in migrated organic matter pores show larger sizes and higher roundness. The development of OMP in samples is predominantly controlled by the formation pressure. The existence of overpressure alleviated the stress on the rock skeleton, causing the compaction of some migrated organic matters to lag or decrease. This played a positive role in protecting the development of pores in the interior and edge of the rock skeleton, and it can also induce the development of microfractures in shale. The protective effect of formation pressure on organic pores was provided for understanding the exploration and exploitation of Longmaxi shales in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The effect of preoperative vedolizumab (VDZ) therapy on postoperative complications in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients is still controversial. This meta-analysis aims to review postoperative complications of IBD patients who preoperatively received VDZ. Methods: A meta-analysis of the available literature was performed. Studies of IBD patients who received VDZ and non-VDZ therapy (including anti-TNF-α agents, non-biological therapy, other biological agents, ustekinumab, and placebo) before surgery were included. Primary outcomes included overall complications, infectious complications, and non-infectious complications. Results: Twelve studies with 1925 IBD patients were enrolled, among which 709 patients received VDZ treatment. The results show that, compared with non-VDZ treatment, there is no significant difference in the incidence of overall complications (OR = 1.25, p = 0.43) for adult IBD patients treated with VDZ preoperatively, the incidence of infectious complications (OR = 0.49, p = 0.001) decreases, but the risks of all surgical site infection (SSI) (Crohn's disease (CD): OR = 2.97, p < 0.001), superficial surgical site infection (sSSI) (OR = 2.24, p = 0.02), and ileus (OR = 2.16, p < 0.001) increase. The risk of mucocutaneous separation (MCS) (OR = 4.69, p = 0.03) with VDZ is also higher than non-VDZ. Two studies involved pediatric patients and showed no difference in ileus (OR = 0.55, p = 0.55). Conclusions: Overall, compared with non-VDZ treatment, preoperative use of VDZ is relatively safer in adult IBD patients, which does not increase the risk of overall postoperative complications and reduces the occurrence of infectious complications. But, it increases the risk of all SSI and sSSI in infectious complications and the incidence of ileus and MCS in non-infectious complications. Due to lack of sufficient data, the safety of VDZ in pediatric patients is uncertain and requires further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The injured flexor tendon has poor healing ability, which is easy to cause tendon adhesion. It can affect the recovery of tendon function, which is still a long-term and difficult task for surgeons. Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) has been widely considered to play an important role in flexor tendon repair in recent years.Aim: This work was to investigate the anti-adhesion and anti-inflammatory effects of TGF-β3 on flexor digitorum longus (FDL) tendon repair rats.Method: Anastomosis models of tendon laceration in the flexion toes of rats were delivered with no treatment, vehicle, or TGF-β3 -overexpressed adenovirus vector (ad-TGF-β3) locally to the injured tendon area from day 3 to 8. Subsequently, the expression of TGF-β3, TGF-β1/2, Smad3, Smad7, JNK, phosphorylation (p)-JNK, c-Jun, and phosphorylation (p)-c-Jun were detected by western blot, the expression of Mmp9 and Mmp2 by RT-qPCR, the Range of motion (ROM) and gliding resistance by adhesion formation testing, the mechanical strength of tendon healing by biomechanical testing, the pathologic changes of flexor tendon tissues by HE staining, the expression of collagen type III by immunohistochemical staining, and the levels of IL-6, TNF-α, COX2 and IL-1β in serum by ELISA, respectively.Results: Rat models treated with no treatment showed a lower elevation of TGF-β3 and Smad7 expression, and a higher elevation of TGF-β1/2 and Smad3 expression, during day 14 to day 28. Besides, under the treatment of ad-TGF-β3, a significantly increase was reflected in the expression of TGF-β3 and Smad7, ROM, as well as mechanical strength of flexor tendon, whereas significantly reduction was shown in gliding resistance, the content of inflammatory cytokines, the ratio of p-JNK/JNK, p-c-Jun/c-Jun, as well as the expression of TGF-β1/2, Smad3, Mmp9, and Mmp2 genes, as compared to those from vehicle treatment. Meanwhile, TGF-β3 demonstrated a better pathologic recovery process with no obvious necrosis or fracture of collagen fibers. Besides, TGF-β3 revealed a significant reduction of collagen type-III expression in the flexor tendon healing tissues.Conclusion: These findings suggested that TGF-β3 effectively protected against flexor tendon injury via regulating adhesion formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the spectral problem y 1 y 2 x = − 1 2 1 2 λ m − 1 2 λ n 1 2 y 1 y 2 for the two-component modified Camassa–Holm equation, where m , n are two potentials. By introducing the rotation number ρ (λ) and studying its properties, we prove that for any integer k , the periodic or anti-periodic eigenvalues are the endpoints of the interval λ ∈ R : ρ (λ) = − k 2 . Moreover, we prove that as nonlinear functionals of potentials, such eigenvalues are continuous in potentials with respect to the weak topologies in the Lebesgue space L 1 [ 0 , T ]. Finally, we apply the trace formula to give some estimates of the periodic eigenvalues when the L 1 norms of potentials are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The bearing–curling interaction of austenitic stainless steel thin sheet bolted connections was studied. • Tension tests were conducted on 26 austenitic stainless steel thin sheet bolted connection specimens. • FE models were developed and validated against test results and then adopted to conduct parametric studies. • The effects of end and edge distances, longitudinal and transverse spacings and thickness were discussed. • Design analyses were conducted. The bearing–curling interactive behaviour and capacities of austenitic stainless steel thin sheet bolted connections are studied in this paper, underpinned by testing and numerical modelling. Experiments were firstly conducted on 26 austenitic stainless steel thin sheet bolted connection specimens, including 19 specimens designed with curling and 7 specimens designed without curling. The test failure loads, failure modes, load–in-plane elongation curves and load–out-of-plane deformation curves were fully reported. The experimental programme was followed by a numerical modelling programme, where finite element models were firstly developed to repeat the experimental results and then used to carry out parametric studies to generate a numerical data pool. Based on the obtained numerical data, the influences of end distance, edge distance, longitudinal spacing, transverse spacing and sheet thickness on failure loads of austenitic stainless steel thin sheet bolted connections were discussed. The test and numerical data were used to assess the existing design provisions, as given in the European code and American specification. The assessment results revealed that the European code led to overall accurate but scattered failure load predictions, while the American specification was shown to result in overly unsafe and scattered failure load predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The local buckling behaviour of austenitic stainless steel flat-oval hollow sections under combined loading was studied. • Ten eccentric compression tests about the cross-section major and minor principal axes were conducted. • FE models were developed and validated against the test results and then used to perform parametric studies. • The codified design interaction curves led to inaccurate resistance predictions. • A new design interaction curve was proposed and offered improved design accuracy and consistency. Flat-oval hollow section is composed of two semi-circular elements and two flat elements, with the semi-circular elements (exposed to wave and wind) offering a low level of hydrodynamic and aerodynamic drag and the flat elements facilitating connections with other members perpendicular to the wave and wind directions. This paper presents an experimental and numerical study of the cross-section behaviour and resistance of cold-formed austenitic stainless steel flat-oval hollow section stub columns under combined compression and bending. An experimental programme, including initial local geometric imperfection measurements and ten major-axis and minor-axis eccentric compression tests, was firstly carried out, with the test setups, procedures and results fully reported. Following the experimental programme, a numerical modelling programme was performed, with finite element models developed and validated against the eccentric compression test results and then used to conduct parametric studies to generate additional numerical data. Based on the test and numerical results, the relevant codified design interaction curves for cold-formed austenitic stainless steel rectangular hollow sections were evaluated for the applicability to their flat-oval hollow section counterparts. It was found from the evaluation results that the codified design interaction curves led to inaccurate resistance predictions, mainly due to the conservative end points (i.e. cross-section resistances under pure compression and pure bending) and inefficient shapes. Finally, a new design interaction curve was proposed through the use of more accurate end points and more efficient shape and offered more accurate and consistent resistance predictions for cold-formed austenitic stainless steel flat-oval hollow sections under combined loading than the codified design interaction curves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Separation of acetylene from carbon dioxide remains a daunting challenge because of their very similar molecular sizes and physical properties. We herein report the first example of using copper(I)‐alkynyl chemistry within an ultra‐microporous MOF (CuI@UiO‐66‐(COOH)2) to achieve ultrahigh C2H2/CO2 separation selectivity. The anchored CuI ions on the pore surfaces can specifically and strongly interact with C2H2 molecule through copper(I)‐alkynyl π‐complexation and thus rapidly adsorb large amount of C2H2 at low‐pressure region, while effectively reduce CO2 uptake due to the small pore sizes. This material thus exhibits the record high C2H2/CO2 selectivity of 185 at ambient conditions, significantly higher than the previous benchmark ZJU‐74a (36.5) and ATC‐Cu (53.6). Theoretical calculations reveal that the unique π‐complexation between CuI and C2H2 mainly contributes to the ultra‐strong C2H2 binding affinity and record selectivity. The exceptional separation performance was evidenced by breakthrough experiments for C2H2/CO2 gas mixtures. This work suggests a new perspective to functionalizing MOFs with copper(I)‐alkynyl chemistry for highly selective separation of C2H2 over CO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]