Search

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic's "Great Online Transition" significantly impacted teachers. Existing research on Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) lacks longitudinal designs and consideration of subject-specific contexts. This study, using the Stressor-Strain-Outcome framework, investigates psychological needs thwarting (PNT) during ERT on teachers' well-being and online teaching intentions, considering subject of instruction as a potential factor. Methods: Data were collected from 1,369 Chinese primary and middle school teachers of Chinese literature, mathematics, and English as a Foreign Language (EFL) at two time points: two weeks after ERT implementation (Time 1, mid-November 2021) and two months later, after returning to face-to-face teaching (Time 2, mid-January 2022). PNT, emotional exhaustion, psychological distress, and intention towards online teaching were evaluated. Results: Among the types of PNT, competence thwarting emerged as the strongest predictor of emotional exhaustion, which was, in turn, associated with reduced online teaching intention and increased psychological distress. EFL teachers showed stronger associations between PNT, emotional exhaustion, and adverse outcomes, indicating higher susceptibility to strain during ERT. Conclusion: Subject of instruction, particularly for EFL teachers, significantly influences the relationship between PNT and teacher outcomes during ERT. Our findings underscore the need for subject-specific support strategies in online teaching environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sintering deformation is a great hindrance to the development of ceramic components with complex shapes. In this work, single-face coating method has been used to prepare the special shaped Al 2 O 3 components by taking advantage of the difference in shrinkage between substrate and coating. By adjusting the content of SiO 2 in the coating material which consisted of SiO 2 and Al 2 O 3 powder, the sintering deformation of Al 2 O 3 ceramics coated with the above material would be controlled during the sintering process. The sintering behavior of Al 2 O 3 green body with and without single-face coating were studied through visual in-situ tests combined with photographing technology. By comparing the images of specimens under different sintering temperatures (defined this method as the image relative method), the warped deformation and the shrinkage behavior of the above specimens were discussed. Moreover, the relationship between curvature radius and shrinkage rate was deduced. Results indicate that, due to the discrepancy in shrinkage of substrate and coating, the deformation of samples occurred in the heating process. And the shrinkage, the elasticity modulus and the ratio of the sectional coating area to substrate area play a major role in determining the shape of ceramics. The way to fabricate the shape controlled ceramic components by the gradient shrinkage is a novel and effective method, which can be used for the plate and shell products with complex shapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractObjectiveMethodsResultsConclusionsThis study aimed to assess the causality of allergic diseases and celiac disease.We collected summary-level data from publicly available genome-wide association studies to conduct our bidirectional two-sample and multivariable Mendelian randomization analysis. Furthermore, a series of sensitivity analyses were applied to validate our findings.In bidirectional two-sample MR analyses, we found a significant causal effect of atopic dermatitis (AD) on CD (Inverse-variance weighted (IVW): odds ratio [OR] = 1.302, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.152–1.471, p < 0.001). We also found a significant causal effect of allergic rhinitis (AR) on CD (IVW: OR = 4.181, 95% CI = 1.495–11.697, p = 0.006). However, the MR-Egger method indicated a different causal effect direction compared to the IVW and weighted median method. After Bonferroni correction, the result of asthma on CD is suggestive of a causal effect (IVW: OR = 1.186, 95% CI = 1.021–1.378, p = 0.026). No causal effects were found when CD was considered as an exposure variable. In MVMR analyses, after separately and jointly adjusting for the influence of smoking and BMI, the causal effect of AD on CD remained robust.Our study suggests that AD is a risk factor for CD and it is considered suggestive of a causal relationship between asthma and CD. Further research is needed to explore the potential mechanisms underlying this causal effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify predictive factors for the prognosis of acute-on-chronic liver disease (AoCLD) due to both hepatitis B virus (HBV) and alcohol and to develop prognostic models to improve treatment management. AoCLD patients with HBV and alcohol as etiological factors were selected from two multicenter prospective cohorts (NCT02457637,NCT03641872) and included in separate training and validation cohorts (n = 180 and n = 148). In the training cohort, the CATCH-LIFE A nomogram (based on age, bilirubin, international normalized ratio, serum sodium, and hepatic encephalopathy score) and CATCH-LIFE B nomogram (based on age, bilirubin, international normalized ratio, serum albumin, white blood cell, platelet count, and hepatic encephalopathy score) had discriminatory ability for predicting 28-day (c-indexes of 0.910 and 0.899) and 90-day mortality (c-indexes of 0.878 and 0.887, respectively). The area under the curve values for 28-day and 90-day mortality prediction by the CATCH-LIFE A nomogram were 0.922 (95% CI : 0.874, 0.971) and 0.905 (0.856, 0.956), respectively, while those for the CATCH-LIFE B nomogram were 0.916(0.861,0.972) and 0.915 (0.866,0.964), respectively. Similar performance results were observed in the validation cohort. Optimal cut-off scores for each nomogram could be used for patient stratification in high- and low-risk groups, and the high-risk groups showed shorter survival times than the low-risk groups in both the training and validation cohorts. Two nomograms constructed from the first short-term follow-up data from patients with AoCLD due to combined HBV infection and alcohol exposure showed good predictive performance for 28-day and 90-day mortality and might be used to guide clinical management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a group of demyelinating diseases of the nervous system with high relapse rate and high disability rate without treatment, and we aimed to explore the influencing factors related to the recurrence of NMOSD and provide basis for clinical treatment in this study. Methods: Referring to the diagnostic criteria for NMOSD issued in 2015, 259 patients were enrolled. Clinical information, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum analysis results, brain and spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, treatment details, and prognosis were all recorded. Results: 176 (68.00%) participants were found to be AQP4 Ab-positive in serum or CSF, and the relapse rate was 36.67% (95/259). These 259 individuals were separated into two groups: non-release (n = 164) and relapse (n = 95). In terms of EDSS scores at onset, EDSS score after treatment, lesion location, serum creatinine (Cr) and treatment strategy, there were statistical differences between the two groups. Multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed five predictors for recurrence of NMOSD patients within two years: EDSS scores at onset, transverse myelitis, brain/brainstem, Cr, and Rituximab/immunosuppressants. Conclusion: It is essential to explore the risk factors related to recurrence and prevent them to reduce the risk of disability and improve the prognosis, and the recurrence rate of NMOSD may be affected by several factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variety of strategies have been developed to enhance the cycling stability of Si-based anodes in lithium-ion batteries. Although significant progress has been made in enhancing the cycling stability of Si-based anodes, the low initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) remains a significant challenge to their commercial application. Herein, pitch-based carbon (C) coated Si nanoparticles (NPs) were wrapped by graphene (G) to obtain Si@C/G composite with a small specific surface area of 11.3 m2 g−1, resulting in a high ICE of 91.2% at 500 mA g−1. Moreover, the integrated utilization of graphene and soft carbon derived from the low-cost petroleum pitch strongly promotes the electrical conductivity, structure stability, and reaction kinetics of Si NPs. Consequently, the synthesized Si@C/G with a Si loading of 54.7% delivers large reversible capacity (1191 mAh g−1 at 500 mA g−1), long cycle life over 200 cycles (a capacity retention of 87.1%), and superior rate capability (952 mAh g−1 at 1500 mA g−1). When coupled with a homemade LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) cathode in a full cell, it exhibits a promising cycling stability for 200 cycles. This work presents an innovative approach for the manufacture of Si-based anode materials with commercial application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underground cavities have complex spatial structures and geological settings, their arrangement is dense and crisscrossed. The construction system involves multiple work surfaces, levels, and processes. The close integration of construction simulation with actual production conditions is crucial for enhancing the guidance that simulation results provide for practical engineering. Therefore, from the perspective of optimizing construction organization and management, this article comprehensively considers various factors in the construction process, innovatively introduces the principle of production line balance and the concept of rule cycle, and combines technology and management, an underground cavities construction simulation system (UCCSS) is developed. In UCCSS, a hierarchical model is built and calculation are performed on models with different construction methods by modifying the parameters as per the actual engineering characteristics. The simulation results are comprehensively analysed to determine the optimal construction programme. An application case is proposed based on the construction organisation design of the long and parallel diversion tunnels at the CB Hydropower Station. The results show that the system has good practicality and credibility and can provide guidance for the construction organisation design of underground cavities with various features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment aimed to investigate the effects of adding plant essential oil compounds to the feed on the growth performance, immunity, and meat quality of Huangma chickens, providing a reference for green and healthy breeding of Huangma chickens. The experiment selected 600 Huangma chickens at 21 days of age, randomly divided into four groups, with five replicates per group, each replicate containing 30 chickens. The control group, essential oil group 1, essential oil group 2, and essential oil group 3 were fed with 0, 200, 400, 800 mg/kg of plant essential oil compounds, respectively. The experimental period was eight weeks. The results showed that compared with the control group, the feed to gain ratio of the essential oil group 2 chickens was significantly reduced (P<0.05), the levels of serum immunoglobulin M (IgM) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were significantly increased (P<0.05), and the level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) was significantly decreased (P<0.05). The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in all plant essential oil compounds groups were significantly reduced (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the lymphocyte content in the blood of the essential oil group 2 and group 3 chickens was significantly increased (P<0.05), and the abdominal fat rate was significantly reduced (P<0.05). The pH24 h value and the a* value of the breast muscle in the essential oil group 2 and group 3 chickens were significantly improved (P<0.05), and the shear force and water loss of the breast muscle in the essential oil group 2 chickens were significantly reduced (P<0.05). The study suggests that the plant essential oil compounds can enhance the feed utilization rate and immunity, improve meat quality, and reduce the abdominal fat rate of Huangma chickens, and the appropriate addition level of the plant essential oil compounds is 400 mg/kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pair of atropisomers secofumitremorgins C (1a) and D (1b), together with fifteen known alkaloids (2-16), were isolated from a saltern-derived fungus Aspergillus fumigatus GXIMD00544. The structures of atropisomers 1a and 1b were elucidated by the detailed spectroscopic data, chemical reaction and quantum chemical calculations. Compounds 1 and 8 displayed antifungal spore germination effects against plant pathogenic fungus associated with sugarcane Fusarium sp. with inhibitory rates of 53% and 77% at the concentration of 100 µM, repectively. Atropisomers 1 also exhibited antifouling potential against Balanus amphitrite larval settlement with an inhibitory rate of 96% at the concentration of 100 µM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for clean-label starch, perceived as environmentally friendly in terms of production and less hazardous to health, has driven the advancement of food physical processing technologies aimed at modifying starch. One of the key objectives of these modifications has been to reduce the glycaemic potency and increase resistant starch content of starch, as these properties have the potential to positively impact metabolic health. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent updates in typical physical processing techniques, including annealing, heat-moisture, microwave and ultrasonication, and a brief discussion of several promising recent-developed methods. The focus is on evaluating the molecular, supramolecular and microstructural changes resulting from these modifications and identifying targeted structures that can foster enzyme-digestion resistance in native starch and its forms relevant to food applications. After a comprehensive search and assessment, the current physical modifications have not consistently improved starch enzymatic resistance. The opportunities for enhancing the effectiveness of modifications lie in (1) identifying modification conditions that avoid the intensive disruption of the granular and supramolecular structure of starch and (2) exploring novel strategies that incorporate multi-type modifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex psychological disorder provoked by distressing experiences, and it remains without highly effective intervention strategies. The exploration of PTSD's underlying mechanisms is crucial for advancing diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Current studies primarily explore PTSD through the lens of the central nervous system, investigating concrete molecular alterations in the cerebral area and neural circuit irregularities. However, the body's response to external stressors, particularly the changes in cardiovascular function, is often pronounced, evidenced by notable cardiac dysfunction. Consequently, examining PTSD with a focus on cardiac function is vital for the early prevention and targeted management of the disorder. This review undertakes a comprehensive literature analysis to detail the alterations in brain and heart structures and functions associated with PTSD. It also synthesizes potential mechanisms of heart–brain axis interactions relevant to the development of PTSD. Ultimately, by considering cardiac function, this review proposes novel perspectives for PTSD's prophylaxis and therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study aims to explore the mechanisms of the inhibitory effect of kaempferol on the invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer (GC) cells through network pharmacology prediction and experimental verification. It identifies core targets via PPI network analysis and finds that kaempferol binds to these targets well. In vitro experiments showed that kaempferol could inhibit the proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion of GC cells. Western blotting indicated kaempferol may reduce AKT and GSK3β phosphorylation, leading to lower expression of invasion-related genes SRC, MMP9, CXCR4, KDR, and MMP2. Overall, kaempferol may prevent migration and invasion of GC cells via the AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The prognostic value of traditional clinical indicators for locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma is limited because of their inability to reflect intratumor heterogeneity. We aimed to develop a radiomic signature to reveal tumor immune heterogeneity and predict survival in locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods This multicenter, retrospective study included 921 patients with locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma. A machine learning signature and nomogram based on pretreatment magnetic resonance imaging features were developed for predicting overall survival in a training cohort and validated in 2 independent cohorts. A clinical nomogram and an integrated nomogram were constructed for comparison. Nomogram performance was evaluated by concordance index and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Accordingly, patients were classified into risk groups. The biological characteristics and immune infiltration of the signature were explored by RNA-sequencing analysis. Results The machine learning signature and nomogram demonstrated comparable prognostic ability to a clinical nomogram, achieving concordance indexes of 0.729, 0.718, and 0.731 in the training, internal, and external validation cohorts, respectively. Integration of the signature and clinical variables statistically improved the predictive performance. The proposed signature effectively distinguished patients between risk groups with statistically distinct overall survival rates. Subgroup analysis indicated the recommendation of local salvage treatments for low-risk patients. Exploratory RNA-sequencing analysis revealed differences in interferon response and lymphocyte infiltration between risk groups. Conclusions A magnetic resonance imaging–based radiomic signature predicted overall survival more accurately. The proposed signature associated with tumor immune heterogeneity may serve as a valuable tool to facilitate prognostic stratification and guide individualized management for locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Meal timing has been associated with metabolism and cardiovascular diseases; however, the relationship between meal timing and sleep quality remains inconclusive. Objective: This study aims to investigate the relationship between meal timing and sleep quality from a chronobiological perspective. Methods: This study utilized data from the NHANES for the years 2005–2008, including a cohort of 7,023 participants after applying exclusion criteria. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Meal timing was analyzed based on two 24-hour dietary recalls from each individual, considering the timing of the initial and final meals, meal duration, and frequency of meal occasions. Multiple linear regression models and hierarchical analyses were employed to examine the relationship between meal timing and PSQI scores, adjusting for various demographic and habitat covariates. Results: Statistical analysis revealed a positive correlation between delayed meal timings, increased meal occasions, and elevated PSQI scores, indicating that later meal timing are intricately linked with diminished sleep quality. Both later meal timings and more frequent meal occasions were significantly associated with poorer sleep quality. Compared to the first tertile, the β (95%CI) values of the third tertile were 0.545 (0.226, 0.864) for first meal timing, 0.586 (0.277, 0.896) for midpoint meal timing, 0.385 (0.090, 0.680) for last meal timing, and 0.332 (0.021, 0.642) for meal occasions in the adjusted models. Conclusion: These findings suggest that late initial, midpoint, and final meal timing, as well as more frequent meal occasions, are chrono-nutrition patterns associated with poor sleep quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A brief introduction of Chinese Hygrobatidae taxonomy is reviewed. A new species, Sinibates xinyaoae Li, Smit & Guo sp. nov. from Hainan province is described representing a new genus Sinibates Li, Smit & Guo gen. nov. A second species, Hygrobates (Minibates) cf. dobriyali Pešić & Smit, 2019, from Hunan province represents a new subgenus, Minibates Li, Smit & Guo subgen. nov. inHygrobates. The other new species, Mixobates neoamurensis Li & Guo sp. nov. from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region adds a newly recorded genus, Mixobates Thor, 1905 from China. Text: LSID Genus:Sinibates Li, Smit & Guo gen. nov.: LSID Species:Sinibates xinyaoae Li, Smit & Guo sp. nov.: LSID Subgenus:Minibates Li, Smit & Guo subgen. nov.: LSID Species:Mixobates neoamurensis Li & Guo sp. nov.: LSID [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nuclear energy is a competitive and environmentally friendly low‐carbon energy source. It is seen as an important avenue for satisfying energy demands, responding to the energy crisis, and mitigating global climate change. However, much attention has been paid to achieving the effective treatment of radionuclide ions produced in nuclear waste. Initially, advanced adsorbents were mainly available in powder form, which meant that additional purification processes were usually required for separation and recovery in industrial applications. Therefore, to meet the practical requirements of industrial applications, materials need to be molded and processed into forms such as beads, membranes, gels, and resins. Here, we summarize the fabrication of porous materials used for capturing typical radionuclide ions, including UO22+, TcO4−, IO3−, SeO32−, and SeO42−. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work we compare the predictions for the scattering length and effective range of the channels K 0 Σ + , K + Σ 0 , K + Λ and η p , assuming the N ∗ (1535) state as a molecular state of these channels, or an original genuine state, made for instance from three quarks. Looking at very different scenarios, what we conclude is that the predictions of these two pictures are drastically different, to the point that we advise the measurement of these magnitudes, accessible for instance by measuring correlation functions, in order to gain much valuable information concerning the nature of this state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cosmonaut Sea is one of the least accessed regions in the Southern Ocean, and our knowledge about the fish biodiversity in the region is sparse. In this study, we provided a description of demersal fish diversity in the Cosmonaut Sea by analysing cytochrome oxidase I (COI) barcodes of 98 fish samples that were hauled by trawling during the 37th and 38th Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition (CHINARE) cruises. Twenty-four species representing 19 genera and 11 families, namely, Artedidraconidae, Bathydraconidae, Bathylagidae, Channichthyidae, Liparidae, Macrouridae, Muraenolepididae, Myctophidae, Nototheniidae, Paralepididae and Zoarcidae, were discriminated and identified, which were largely identical to local fish occurrence records and the general pattern of demersal fish communities at high Antarctic shelf areas. The validity of a barcoding gap failed to be detected and confirmed across all species due to the indicative signals of two potential cryptic species. Nevertheless, DNA barcoding still demonstrated to be a very efficient and sound method for the discrimination and classification of Antarctic fishes. In the future, various sampling strategies that cover all geographic sections and depth strata of the Cosmonaut Sea are encouraged to enhance our understanding of local fish communities, within which DNA barcoding can play an important role in either molecular taxonomy or the establishment of a dedicated local reference database for eDNA metabarcoding analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold‐inducible RNA‐binding protein (CIRP) is a damage‐associated molecular pattern that plays a critical role in triggering inflammatory responses. It remains unknown whether CIRP is strongly associated with bacterial load, inflammatory response, and mortality in sepsis model. Pneumonia was induced in specific pathogen‐free 8–9‐week old male rats by injecting bacteria via puncture of the tracheal cartilage. The expressions of CIRP and proinflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and IL‐1β] in lung tissues, alveolar macrophages (AMs), plasma, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were determined by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The numbers of bacteria recovered from the lungs were correlated with the bacterial loads injected and mortality. The expressions of CIRP increased sharply as the bacterial loads increased in the lung tissues and AMs. The amounts of TNF‐α, IL‐6 and IL‐1β proteins synthesized were dependent on the bacterial load in the lung tissues. Releases of CIRP, TNF‐α, IL‐6, and IL‐1β increased with the bacterial load in the blood plasma. The proteins confirmed similar patterns in the BALF. CIRP was strongly associated with the releases of TNF‐α, IL‐6, and IL‐1β in the lung tissues, blood plasma, and BALF, and showed a close correlation with mortality. CIRP demonstrated a strong association with bacterial load, which is new evidence, and close correlations with proinflammatory cytokines and mortality of pneumonia in rats, suggesting that it might be an interesting pneumonic biomarker for monitoring host response and predicting mortality, and a promising target for immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Degradation of bond strength due to corrosion of steel strands is of great importance for serviceability of prestressed concrete structures. An analytical model is proposed to demonstrate the effect of corrosion of steel strand on reduction of bond strength. Corrosion expansion force generated by steel strand corrosion before and after corrosion cracking is firstly estimated. Then, the reduced gripping effect of the concrete, change of friction coefficient between the corroded strand and reduction force on the bearing face are considered in calculating the pre-rib extrusion force. Finally, the enhancement of bond strength due to transverse confinement of stirrups is considered and the ultimate bond strength of corroded steel strand is calculated. Comparison of results between the prediction and experimental result shows the proposed model can be used to reasonably evaluate the bond strength. The prediction result of the bond strength model is affected by the degree of strand corrosion, but almost not by the drawing method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earth observation satellite (EOS) scheduling is critical for improving the performance of Earth observation system. Most of the existing studies on satellite observation scheduling problems focus on static tasks and real-time dynamic tasks also known as emergency tasks while few attempts have been made for common dynamic tasks yet. The common dynamic tasks are characterized by uncertain arrival times and delayable observations while the emergency tasks require immediate observations. The number of common dynamic tasks is rapidly increasing with the expansion of satellite observation applications, which poses great challenges to EOS observation scheduling. To address this issue, this paper investigates the satellite observation scheduling problem with common dynamic tasks. Firstly, a centralized onboard dynamic scheduling framework based on a periodic-triggered rolling horizontal optimization (RHO) strategy is proposed and a novel two-stage mathematical model is established for the periodic rescheduling problem. Secondly, we propose a low-complexity onboard periodic rescheduling algorithm (OPR), which consists of a greedy-based task allocation algorithm, a pointer network (Ptr-network) based task scheduling algorithm and an iterative local search algorithm. In the greedy-based task allocation algorithm, we define a Task-EOS Fitness Indicator (TEFI) and each task is greedily allocated to the EOS with maximum TEFI. In the Ptr-network based task scheduling algorithm, the allocated task sets of all EOSs are fed into the Ptr-network in parallel to generate the observation scheduling result. Afterward, an iterative local search algorithm is proposed to further improve the quality of the observation scheduling result. Finally, extensive experiments are conducted to demonstrate the superiority of the OPR algorithm for the satellite observation scheduling problem with common dynamic tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The viologen component with redox activity in the ionic CMP serves as an electronic pump for donating electrons to and accepting electrons from sulfur species, which can facilitate the conversion of both solid lithium sulfide and soluble polysulfides. [Display omitted] The commercialization of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries has been hindered by the shuttle effect and sluggish redox kinetics of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs). Herein, we reported a viologen-based ionic conjugated mesoporous polymer (TpV-Cl), which acts as the cathode host for modifying Li-S batteries. The viologen component serves as a reversible electron conveyer, leading to a comprehensive enhancement in the adsorption of polysulfides and improved conversion rate of polysulfides during the electrochemical process. As a result, the S@TpV-PS cathode exhibits outstanding cycling performance, achieving 300 cycles at 2.0 C (1 C = 1675 mA g−1) with low decay rate of 0.032% per cycle. Even at a high sulfur loading of 4.0 mg cm−2, S@TpV-PS shows excellent cycling stability with a Coulombic efficiency of up to 98%. These results highlight the significant potential of S@TpV-PS in developing high-performance Li-S batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulated evidence has shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) are closely related to the pathogenesis and progression of senile cataracts. Here we investigate the effect of miR-29a-3p in cataractogenesis and determined the potential molecular mechanism involved. In this study, we constructed a selenite cataract model in rats and obtained the miRNAs related to cataracts by whole transcriptome sequencing. To investigate the effect and mechanism of miR-29a-3p on cataracts, we performed several in vivo and in vitro experiments, including CCK8 assay, flow cytometry, luciferase reporter assay, Edu assay, and western blot analysis. Sequencing data showed downregulation of miR-29a-3p in rats with selenite cataracts. Down-regulation of miR-29a-3p could promote lens epithelial cells (SRA01/04) proliferation and inhibit cell apoptosis, and miR-29a-3p silence could inhibit the development of cataracts. Additionally, CAND1 was a direct target gene for miR-29a-3p. These data demonstrate that miR-29a-3p inhibits apoptosis of lens epithelial cells by regulating CAND1, which may be a potential target for senile cataracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Higgs boson pair production at the LHC provides a probe to the Higgs boson self-coupling. The higher-order QCD corrections in this process are sizable and must be taken into account in comparison with data. Due to the small cross section, it is necessary to consider at least one of the Higgs bosons decaying to bottom quarks. The QCD corrections to the decay processes would also be important in such cases. We present a full calculation of the total and differential cross sections for the b b ¯ γγ final state with next-to-leading order (NLO) QCD corrections. After applying typical kinematic cuts in the final state, we find that QCD NLO corrections in the decay decrease the LO result by 19% and reduce the scale uncertainties by a factor of two. The QCD corrections to the invariant mass mjjγγ distribution, the transverse momentum spectra of the leading bottom quark jet and photon are significant and can not be approximated by a constant factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA) has a wide range of applications in high temperature. Though some routes were reported to enhance the mechanical properties at room temperature, the preparation of ZTA with improved high temperature properties was still unknown. In this work, cordierite/ZTA pre‐stressed ceramics (marked as Cor‐ZTA30) have been fabricated successfully by using prestressed coating reinforcement method. The relationships among the temperature, residual stress and the flexural strength of Cor‐ZTA30 have been established based on experimental data. Due to the compressive stresses exists in the surface layer of Cor‐ZTA30 hinder the crack extension, the flexural strength of Cor‐ZTA30 was greatly enhanced at the temperatures below 1000°C. In addition, the difference in flexural strength between coated and uncoated ZTA ceramics decreased with increasing temperature until 1000°C. It indicated that the residual stress vanished entirely as the temperature above 1000°C, which resulted in the same flexural strength for ZTA and Cor‐ZTA30. Therefore, strengthening ZTA ceramics by prestressing is available under the temperatures below 1000°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the background of "double reduction" policy, study trip, as an emerging industry integrating educational reform and tourism, have shown a positive development trend Based on Arc GIS spatial analysis, Wechat content search, Wechat index and other analysis methods, this paper takes 120 study tourism bases in Jiangxi province as research objects to analyze the development status of their quantity distribution, subject classification, subject support, spatial differentiation and market recognition, and identify the homogenization problems, security system problems, curriculum problems, study tutor problems, process management problems and marketing effect problems that restrict its high-quality development. Finally, in view of these problems, the paper proposes the following countermeasures: to excavate characteristic resources and pay attention to the construction of high-quality study curriculum system; to improve infrastructure and highlight the construction of high-quality study guarantee system; to innovate training methods and strengthen the building of high-quality study talents; to optimize the management mode and highlight the construction of high-quality process management system; to strengthen marketing awareness and to achieve effective promotion of high-quality brand advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Typical rockfall analysis requires detailed discontinuity measurements; however, the use of conventional contact approaches can be challenging on cliffs. In this study, a novel automatic method for rockfall susceptibility is proposed to identify potential rockfall areas by topographic information on steep slopes generated by a terrestrial laser scanner (TLS). The rockfall susceptibility can be determined using the proposed method via the following four steps: first, automatic spatial information of discontinuity extraction based on high-resolution point clouds; second, defining the spatial intersection areas of discontinuities with different statistical properties; third, evaluating the contribution of discontinuity intersections to rockfalls and estimating potential rockfall hazardous blocks based on kinematic analysis; and finally, mapping the rockfall susceptibility through the overall index. Our method can be used to expedite discontinuity measurements from high-resolution point clouds, optimize the processing of discontinuity statistics for the analysis of rockfall source areas, and permit users to visualize and intuitively access potential rockfall areas to facilitate effective measures to control rockfall hazards or implementation. The method was implemented in MATLAB for excavated slopes, and the credibility of our computational results was verified by visual inspection and a comparison to the source locations of rock detachment events. The results showed that the areas in case 1 with a high susceptibility were in line with the geometry of the discontinuities, and the predicted potential failure areas in case 2 were consistent with the rockfall events. This automated process allows rapid acquisition of potential rockfall areas over a broad-scale survey area, which helps to reduce the time of investigation and the uncertainty in further treatment. Highlights: An automatic mapping method based on high-resolution point clouds was utilized for rockfall susceptibility evaluation. An evaluation method was proposed for potential hazardous rockfall blocks based on discontinuity extraction and kinematic analysis. The method was implemented in MATLAB and validated by actual rockfall events on an excavated slope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum video encryption is an essential method for ensuring video content security. This paper proposes a quantum video encryption method based on bitplanes and improved Arnold scrambling. Firstly, we design a quantum video representation based on bitplanes (BRQV) and an improved Arnold scrambling to entangle video frames. Then, we use 2D quantum wavelet transforms and an improved logic mapping for frequency-domain encryption. The encryption security analysis reveals that the post-encryption SSIM value is close to 0.015, with an information entropy reaching 7.9541. The circuit complexity analysis shows that the proposed method can realize the video encryption using 16 n 3 + 272 n 2 - 88 n quantum basic gates with the circuit width 2 n + log 2 n + 5 . The best existing quantum video encryption method needs O (2 n n 3) quantum basic gates with the circuit width 3 n + 3 . Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed video encryption method exhibits low correlation coefficients and high efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species, Momonides neolandbergi Li & Guo sp. nov. is described in detail, which is the fifth species all over the world in Momonidinae Lundblad, 1941, Momoniidae K. Viets, 1926. The family and subfamily are newly recorded for Chinese fauna. The new species are recorded by camera, optical microscope, and scanning electron microscope. Publication:New species: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of the current investigation is to compare the efficacy of different diffusion models and diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) in differentiating stage IA endometrial carcinoma (IAEC) from benign endometrial lesions (BELs). Methods: Patients with IAEC, endometrial hyperplasia (EH), or a thickened endometrium confirmed between May 2016 and August 2022 were retrospectively enrolled. All of the patients underwent a preoperative pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) from the mono-exponential model, pure diffusion coefficient (D), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D*), perfusion fraction (f) from the bi-exponential model, distributed diffusion coefficient (DDC), water molecular diffusion heterogeneity index from the stretched-exponential model, diffusion coefficient (Dk) and diffusion kurtosis (K) from the DKI model were calculated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency. Results: A total of 90 patients with IAEC and 91 patients with BELs were enrolled. The values of ADC, D, DDC and Dk were significantly lower and D* and K were significantly higher in cases of IAEC (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that K was the only predictor. The area under the ROC curve of K was 0.864, significantly higher compared with the ADC (0.601), D (0.811), D* (0.638), DDC (0.743) and Dk (0.675). The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of K were 78.89%, 85.71% and 80.66%, respectively. Conclusion: Advanced diffusion-weighted imaging models have good performance for differentiating IAEC from EH and endometrial thickening. Among all of the diffusion parameters, K showed the best performance and was the only independent predictor. Diffusion kurtosis imaging was defined as the most valuable model in the current context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A brief introduction of Chinese Limnesiidae taxonomy is provided. Adults of two new species, Limnesia (Limnesia) lupingae Li & Guo sp. nov. and Limnesia (Limnesia) macrophthalma Li & Guo sp. nov., from Heilongjiang and Hubei provinces respectively, are described in detail. Subtle structures are recorded with scanning electron micrographs. In addition, deutonymphs of two new species are also described in detail and compared with the adults in discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF), one of the most prevalent heart rhythm disorders, may lead to thromboembolism, heart failure, and sudden death. However, the mechanism of AF has not yet been fully explained. Objective: This study aims to identify novel gene signatures and to investigate the potential therapeutic targets of AF with an integrated bioinformatic approach. Methods: The gene expression and methylation datasets of AF were obtained through the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Subsequently, a set of differentially expressed genes and differential methylation sites were identified. Gene functional annotation analysis was conducted to explore the potential function of differentially-methylated/expressed genes. Then, we constructed a PPI network and TF–miRNA–mRNA network. Finally, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was presented to study critical modules of AF. Results: Seven hypomethylated-high expression genes and nine hypermethylated-low expression genes were acquired from AF patients. Functional enrichment results indicated that the differentially-methylated/expressed genes were mainly concentrated in decidualization, maternal placenta development, regulation of nitric-oxide synthase activity, and osteoclast differentiation. Based on the results of the PPI, we defined 4 key genes namely FHL2, STC2, ALPK3, and RAP1GAP2 as the core genes, playing essential roles in the TF-miRNA-mRNA network. In the end, we constructed two co-expression modules that highly correlated with AF-related phenotype. Conclusion: In our study, we found critical genes for AF that might help understand the molecular changes in AF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The alteration in microstructure, induced by ion migration due to applied voltage, constitutes a pivotal factor influencing the performance of the memristor. This phenomenon adversely impacts the stability of the memristor, posing challenges for its practical applications. Notably, the defects present in oxide films, serving as the functional layer in the memristor, assume a crucial role in determining the stability of the artificial synapse—a fundamental component of neuromorphic computing. The precise regulation of defect distribution and density at the nanoscale by growing films directly poses a formidable challenge. In this investigation, a memristor composed of strontium titanate (SrTiO3) was fabricated, exhibiting improved stability in resistive switching during I–V cycles and enhanced multilevel storage performance through the implementation of Au ions implantation. Furthermore, these devices were simulated as neural synapses and integrated into artificial neural networks. A comprehensive array of characterizations was executed to scrutinize the microscopic effects of ion implantation. This involved analyzing changes in elemental composition, structural damage, and spectral characteristics of the films. These findings offer a viable strategy for enhancing the resistive switching performance of oxide thin film devices through the judicious application of ion implantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We complete previous results about the incompressible limit of both the n -dimensional (n ≥ 3) compressible Patlak-Keller-Segel (PKS) model and its stationary state. As in previous works, in this limit, we derive the weak form of a geometric free boundary problem of Hele-Shaw type, also called congested flow. In particular, we are able to take into account the unsaturated zone, and establish the complementarity relation which describes the limit pressure by a degenerate elliptic equation. Not only our analysis uses a completely different framework than previous approaches, but we also establish two novel uniform estimates in L 3 of the pressure gradient and in L 1 for the time derivative of the pressure. We also prove regularity à la Aronson-Bénilan. Furthermore, for the Hele-Shaw problem, we prove the uniqueness of solutions, meaning that the incompressible limit of the PKS model is unique. In addition, we establish the corresponding incompressible limit of the stationary state for the PKS model with a given mass, where, different from the case of PKS model, we obtain the uniform bound of pressure and the uniformly bounded support of density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The observed variations in intense geomagnetic flux lobes have a significant impact on regional geomagnetic fields, and produce unique geomagnetic characteristics. To investigate the time‐dependent effect of the Siberian flux lobe on the geomagnetic field in East Asia, we reconstructed a stacked full‐vector paleomagnetic secular variation record (since 2000 BCE) from three sediment cores collected in the Bohai Sea, China. Age models of the studied cores were established through a combination of radiocarbon 14C dating and inter‐profile correlation of mass‐normalized magnetic susceptibility. Rock magnetic results indicate that fine‐grained magnetite is the primary remanent carrier. We found that the paleomagnetic field records in the Bohai Sea correspond more closely with those from the middle latitudes, rather than the low latitudes. This was primarily attributed to the variation of the Siberian flux lobe. This study provides a better understanding of the contrasting patterns of regional geomagnetic fields in East Asia, and emphasizes the significant role played by the Siberian flux intensity lobe in shaping their formation. Plain Language Summary: The Earth's magnetic field is in a constant state of flux, both temporally and spatially, and plays a crucial role in protecting our planet from solar wind and cosmic rays. The long‐term variation of the Earth's magnetic field is closely linked with the magnetic flux patch situated at the core‐mantle boundary. However, our understanding of the evolution of magnetic flux patches has been limited by the use of short‐term instrumental data and discrete archeomagnetic data. In this paper, we reconstruct a ∼4,000‐year high‐resolution full‐vector paleomagnetic record from sediments in the Bohai Sea, China. Our findings reveal a clear contrast in the paleomagnetic variations between the middle and low latitudes of East Asia. We proposed that the Siberian flux intensity lobe likely played an important role in the observed paleomagnetic behavior discrepancy between the low‐ and mid‐latitudes of East Asia. Key Points: A multi‐decadal resolution paleomagnetic record spanning approximately 4,000 years has been derived from sediments in the Bohai Sea, ChinaThe paleomagnetic behavior differs between middle and low latitudes across East Asia, indicating the variation of the Siberian flux lobeThe disparity in inclination between the Chinese and Levantine spikes implies that these spikes arise from separate magnetic flux patches [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We complete previous results about the incompressible limit of both the n -dimensional (n ≥ 3) compressible Patlak-Keller-Segel (PKS) model and its stationary state. As in previous works, in this limit, we derive the weak form of a geometric free boundary problem of Hele-Shaw type, also called congested flow. In particular, we are able to take into account the unsaturated zone, and establish the complementarity relation which describes the limit pressure by a degenerate elliptic equation. Not only our analysis uses a completely different framework than previous approaches, but we also establish two novel uniform estimates in L 3 of the pressure gradient and in L 1 for the time derivative of the pressure. We also prove regularity à la Aronson-Bénilan. Furthermore, for the Hele-Shaw problem, we prove the uniqueness of solutions, meaning that the incompressible limit of the PKS model is unique. In addition, we establish the corresponding incompressible limit of the stationary state for the PKS model with a given mass, where, different from the case of PKS model, we obtain the uniform bound of pressure and the uniformly bounded support of density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the development and background information of the web crippling design provision proposed for cold-formed stainless steel square and rectangular hollow sections (SHS and RHS) incorporated in the recently revised ASCE/SEI 8-22 Specification. The provision was derived based upon reliability requirements as regulated by the ASCE/SEI 8-22 using experimental data from the literature on cold-formed SHS and RHS of austenitic, ferritic, and austenitic-ferritic (duplex and lean-duplex) stainless steel types of various grades including UNS S30400, S30153, S43940, S40977, S32101, and S32202. The accuracy and consistency of the design provisions in the ASCE/SEI 8-22 and SEI/ASCE 8-02 specifications were compared. In addition, the possible extension of validity limits of the new ASCE/SEI 8-22 provision was assessed by utilizing additional finite-element results generated in this study as well as those reported in the literature. It is shown that the validity limits of the new provision could be further extended. Moreover, the direct strength method (DSM) proposed by the authors for web crippling design of cold-formed ferritic stainless steel SHS and RHS was evaluated to check its applicability to other stainless steel types and grades. A modified DSM with updated coefficients is proposed in this study using the format that in line with DSM for members in shear as per ASCE/SEI 8-22. It is shown that the modified DSM can provide well-predicted resistances for cold-formed stainless steel SHS and RHS undergoing web crippling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nuclear industry spent fuel reprocessing and some radioactive contamination sites often involve high acidity and salinity environments. Currently developed and reported sorbents in 99TcO4− sequestration from the nuclear waste are unstable and show low adsorption efficiency in harsh conditions. To address this issue, we developed a post‐synthetic modification strategy by grafting imidazole‐based ionic liquids (ILs) onto the backbone of covalent organic framework (COF) via vinyl polymerization. The resultant COF‐polyILs sorbent exhibits fast adsorption kinetics (<5 min) and good sorption capacity (388 mg g−1) for ReO4− (a nonradioactive surrogate of 99TcO4−). Outstandingly, COF‐polyILs composite shows superior ReO4− removal even under highly acidic conditions and in the presence of excess competing ions of Hanford low‐level radioactive waste stream, benefiting from the stable covalent bonds between the COF and polyILs, mass of imidazole rings, and hydrophobic pores in COF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We construct a sensitive chemiluminescent biosensor for sensitive detection of cytosine deaminase APOBEC3A based on deamination-triggered exponential signal amplification. This biosensor displays good specificity and high sensitivity, and it can screen APOBEC3A inhibitors and measure endogenous APOBEC3A at the single-cell level, with prospective applications in disease diagnostics and therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pointwise space-time behavior of the Green’s function of the one-dimensional Vlasov–Maxwell–Boltzmann (VMB) system is studied in this paper. It is shown that the Green’s function consists of the macroscopic diffusive waves and Huygens waves with the speed ± 5 3 at low-frequency, the hyperbolic waves with the speed ± 1 at high-frequency, the singular kinetic and leading short waves, and the remaining term decaying exponentially in space and time. Note that these high-frequency hyperbolic waves are completely new and cannot be observed for the Boltzmann equation and the Vlasov–Poisson–Boltzmann system. In addition, we establish the pointwise space-time estimate of the global solution to the nonlinear VMB system based on the Green’s function. Compared to the Boltzmann equation and the Vlasov–Poisson–Boltzmann system, some new ideas are introduced to overcome the difficulties caused by the coupling effects of the transport of particles and the rotating of electro-magnetic fields, and investigate the new hyperbolic waves and singular leading short waves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) that require synapse weight initialization using random numbers have been widely used in the neural morphological system. However, the random numbers generated by traditional digital circuits have certain repeatability, and the entire computing architecture has issues such as high resource consumption and low integration. In this letter, a hardware system for true random number generation is realized through integrating a magnetic tunnel junction, a memory cell of MRAM (magnetic random access memory) chips, with an interface circuit and using the same mechanism as writing data in spin transfer torque MRAM. The generated true random numbers are evaluated using NIST SP800-22 standard and are used for synapse weight initialization in an SNN system. The recognition rate of the system initialized by the generated true random numbers is about 84% for an MNIST handwritten digit dataset, which is 2%–3% higher than that using a traditional linear feedback shift register. The reported work provides a new approach for better SNN performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the Belle reaction Ξ c + → Ξ - π + π + looking at the mass distribution of π + Ξ , where clear signals for the Ξ (1620) and Ξ (1690) resonances are seen. These two resonances are generated dynamically from the interaction in coupled channels of π Ξ , K ¯ Λ , K ¯ Σ and η Ξ within the chiral unitary approach. Yet, the weak decay process at the quark level, together with the hadronization to produce pairs of mesons, does not produce the π π Ξ final state. In order to produce this state one must make transitions from the K ¯ Λ , K ¯ Σ and η Ξ components to π Ξ , and this interaction is what produces the resonances. So, the reaction offers a good test for the molecular picture of these resonances. Adding the contribution of the Ξ ∗ (1530) and some background we are able to get a good reproduction of the mass distribution showing the signatures of the two resonances as found in the experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on fire detection based on deep learning has been increasing lately, and current models differ in accuracy and computational complexity. To reduce the loss of semantic information and improve prediction accuracy, this paper combines dynamic threshold grayscale segmentation and residual network transfer learning. An effective training data extension strategy integrates the experimental data of a real fire platform and a forest-image-based fire database, where the experimental data of the real fire platform are shot based on different lighting and backgrounds. It has been proven that this is a good solution that can effectively solve the problem of training robust deep models relying on datasets with large diversity, which can improve the overall performance of the training model. Then, we introduce a network architecture based on dynamic threshold grayscale segmentation and residual net transfer learning, which reaches residual net level accuracy on image-based fire detection tasks with less computation. We train the model with a self-built image dataset, test it on a general fire image dataset, and evaluate it on a self-built fire video dataset. In numerous experiments, our method produced a training and testing accuracy of 98.26% and 99.90%, respectively, with corresponding losses of 0.036 and 0.04. The evaluation accuracy was 90% under the condition of a complex sample environment. Compared with other models, our method has advantages in accuracy, training loss, and cost time. Comprehensive comparisons show effectiveness and improved overall performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stimuli‐responsive circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) materials are ideal for information anti‐countering applications, but the best‐performing materials have not yet been identified. This work presents enantiomorphic hybrid antimony halides R‐(C5H12NO)2SbCl5 (1) and S‐(C5H12NO)2SbCl5 (2) showing mirror‐imaged CPL activity with a dissymmetry factor of 1.2×10−3. Interestingly, the DMF‐induced structural transformation is realized to obtain non‐emissive R‐(C5H12NO)2SbCl5 ⋅ DMF (3) and S‐(C5H12NO)2SbCl5 ⋅ DMF (4) upon exposure to DMF vapor. The transformation process is reversed upon heating. DFT calculations showed that the DMF‐induced‐quenched‐luminescence is attributed to the intersection of the ground and excited state curves on the configuration coordinates. Unexpectedly, the nanocrystals of the chiral antimony halides 1 and 2 were prepared and indicate the excellent solution process performance. The reversible PL and CPL switching gives the system applications in information technology, anti‐counterfeiting, encryption‐decryption, and logic gates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stimuli‐responsive circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) materials are ideal for information anti‐countering applications, but the best‐performing materials have not yet been identified. This work presents enantiomorphic hybrid antimony halides R‐(C5H12NO)2SbCl5 (1) and S‐(C5H12NO)2SbCl5 (2) showing mirror‐imaged CPL activity with a dissymmetry factor of 1.2×10−3. Interestingly, the DMF‐induced structural transformation is realized to obtain non‐emissive R‐(C5H12NO)2SbCl5 ⋅ DMF (3) and S‐(C5H12NO)2SbCl5 ⋅ DMF (4) upon exposure to DMF vapor. The transformation process is reversed upon heating. DFT calculations showed that the DMF‐induced‐quenched‐luminescence is attributed to the intersection of the ground and excited state curves on the configuration coordinates. Unexpectedly, the nanocrystals of the chiral antimony halides 1 and 2 were prepared and indicate the excellent solution process performance. The reversible PL and CPL switching gives the system applications in information technology, anti‐counterfeiting, encryption‐decryption, and logic gates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We apply an equal-velocity quark combination model to study the Λ c + / D 0 ratio in the range p T ≲ 10 GeV/c in pp collisions at s = 13 TeV. We decompose the ratio into four parts which are related to quark numbers, light-flavor quark p T spectrum, charm quark p T spectrum, momentum correlation between light and charm quarks, respectively. Their influence on Λ c + / D 0 ratio is individually studied. The curvature property of light-flavor quark p T spectrum is the main reason of the non-monotonic p T dependence of Λ c + / D 0 ratio exhibited in high multiplicity events. Moreover, the multiplicity dependence of Λ c + / D 0 ratio as the function of p T is mainly because of the multiplicity dependence of light-flavor quark p T spectrum. Using the light-flavor quark p T spectrum obtained from experimental data of light-flavor hadrons and charm quark p T spectrum obtained from FONLL and/or PYTHIA calculations, the p T dependence of experimental data of Λ c + / D 0 ratio in high multiplicity events and that in low multiplicity events in pp collisions at s = 13 TeV are reasonably understood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report an unusual case of a 40-year-old male patient who experienced painful swelling of the left lower limb that persisted for 1 week. Imaging modalities not only confirmed the diagnosis of acute iliofemoral venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (PE), but also an incidental finding of interrupted inferior vena cava (IVC). This congenital anomaly is uncommon but rarely associated with venous thromboembolism (VTE). The azygos continuation was compressed by the descending aorta against the 11th thoracic vertebrae, which was identified as the cause of VTE. He was treated successfully with anticoagulation and compression therapy. The patient was discharged with lifelong oral Rivaroxaban and remained asymptomatic. In the literature, only 9 cases of interrupted IVC-associated PE were identified but none was due to significant venous compression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colonization and extinction at local and regional scales, and gains and losses of patches are important processes in the spatiotemporal dynamics of metacommunities. However, analytical challenges remain in quantifying such spatiotemporal dynamics when species extinction‐colonization and patch gain and loss processes act simultaneously. Recent advances in network analysis show great potential in disentangling the roles of colonization, extinction, and patch dynamics in metacommunities. Here, we developed a species‐patch network approach to quantify metacommunity dynamics including (i) temporal changes in network structure, and (ii) temporal beta diversity of species‐patch links and its components that reflect species extinction‐colonization and patch gain and loss. Application of the methods to simulated datasets demonstrated that the approach was informative about metacommunity assembly processes. Based on three empirical datasets, our species‐patch network approach provided additional information about metacommunity dynamics through distinguishing the effects of species colonization and extinction at different scales from patch gains and losses and how specific environmental factors related to species‐patch network structure. In conclusion, our species‐patch network framework provides effective methods for monitoring and revealing long‐term metacommunity dynamics by quantifying gains and losses of both species and patches under local and global environmental change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the density functional theory, we investigate the electronic properties of the clusters M 2 B 7 (M = Be, Mg, Ca) and their hydrogen storage properties systematically in this paper. Extensive global search results show that the global minimal structures of the three systems (Be 2 B 7 , Mg 2 B 7 and Ca 2 B 7) are heptagonal biconical structure, and the two alkaline earth metals are located at the top of the biconical. Chemical bonding analyses show that M 2 B 7 clusters have 6σ and 6π delocalized electrons, which are doubly aromatic. At the wB97XD level, the three systems have good hydrogen storage capabilities. The hydrogen storage density of Be 2 B 7 is as high as 23.03 wt%, while Mg 2 B 7 and Ca 2 B 7 also far exceed the hydrogen storage target set by the U.S. Department of Energy in 2017. Their average adsorption energies of H 2 molecules all ranged from 0.1 eV/H 2 to 0.48 eV/H 2 , which is fall in between physisorption and chemisorption. Extensive Born Oppenheimer molecular dynamics (BOMD) simulations show that the H 2 molecules of the three systems can be completely released at a certain temperature. Therefore, M 2 B 7 systems can achieve reversible adsorption of H 2 molecules at normal temperature and pressure. It can be seen that the B 7 clusters modified by alkaline earth metals may become a promising new nano-hydrogen storage material. [Display omitted] • The M 2 B 7 clusters exhibit the high capacity hydrogen storage and release. • Be 2 B 7 can adsorb 14H 2 and achieve the theoretical 23.03 wt% gravimetric density. • The gravimetric density is as high as 13.87 wt% for Mg 2 B 7 and 13.36 wt% for Ca 2 B 7. • The alkali earth metal doped B 7 clusters can be used as hydrogen storage materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]