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Under in-situ conditions, natural hydraulic fractures (NHF) can occur in permeable rock structures as a result of a rapid decrease of pore water accompanied by a local pressure regression. Obviously, these phenomena are of great interest for the geo-engineering community, as for instance in the framework of mining technologies. Compared to induced hydraulic fractures, NHF do not evolve under an increasing pore pressure resulting from pressing a fracking fluid in the underground but occur and evolve under local pore-pressure reductions resulting in tensile stresses in the rock material. The present contribution concerns the question under what quantitative circumstances NHF emerge and evolve. By this means, the novelty of this article results from the combination of numerical investigations based on the Theory of Porous Media with a tailored experimental protocol applied to saturated porous sandstone cylinders. The numerical investigations include both pre-existing and evolving fractures described by use of an embedded phase-field fracture model. Based on this procedure, representative mechanical and hydraulic loading scenarios are simulated that are in line with experimental investigations on low-permeable sandstone cylinders accomplished in the Porous Media Lab of the University of Stuttgart. The values of two parameters, the hydraulic conductivity of the sandstone and the critical energy release rate of the fracture model, have turned out essential for the occurrence of tensile fractures in the sandstone cores, where the latter is quantitatively estimated by a comparison of experimental and numerical results. This parameter can be taken as reference for further studies of in-situ NHF phenomena and experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an environmentally friendly refrigeration system, the heat-driven Stirling refrigerator, which has demonstrated high efficiency and promising application prospects, is receiving significant attention for utilizing the waste heat to generate the cooling capacity. In this study, a heat-driven direct-coupled Stirling refrigerator, featuring an engine unit and a refrigeration unit directly coupled through a thermal buffer tube rather than utilizing a piston-based mechanism, is designed and tested. In comparison to the conventional heat-driven Stirling refrigeration systems, the proposed system exhibits the potential for significantly increased reliability and simplicity. Simulations and experiments were carried out to investigate the output characteristics of the system under different heating temperatures and mean pressures. The results show that higher heating temperature is beneficial for producing the acoustic power, thereby increasing the cooling capacity, with the mean pressure among 2.7–3.2 MPa. In the experiments, the system can provide a cooling capacity of 363W with a coefficient of performance of 0.17 when the heating, ambient, and cooling temperatures are 250, 35, and 7 °C, respectively. The results have validated the feasibility of the heat-driven direct-coupled Stirling refrigerator, which is a potential alternative for air-conditioning through waste-heat recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental pollution caused by organic pollutants has been attracted more and more attention by the researchers. In this paper, ZnIn2S4 modified TiO2 nanotube array (ZnIn2S4/TiO2) composite electrodes are prepared by loading chalcogenide semiconductor material ZnIn2S4 on the surface of TiO2 nanotube array (TiO2 NTA) for the degradation of methylene blue (MB). The physicochemical properties of ZnIn2S4/TiO2 composite electrodes are analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, photoluminescence spectroscopy and so on. The photoelectrocatalytic degradation rate of ZnIn2S4/TiO2 composite electrode with the concentration of ZnIn2S4 as 0.5 mmol/L (ZISTO-2) reaches 93.3% under the bias voltage of 0.7 V and simulated sunlight irradiation for 180 min against MB, which is 22.44% higher than that of pure TiO2 NTA electrode, and the degradation rate of ZISTO-2 composite electrode toward MB is maintained at 78.2% after five cycles. The radical trapping experiments indicate that h+, ·O2− and ·OH has significant contribution in the photoelectrocatalytic degradation. This paper provides a new ideal way to solve the problem of water pollution under visible light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Levamisole (LVM) is considered an immunomodulatory agent that has the potential to treat various cancer and inflammation diseases. However, there is still much debate surrounding the toxicokinetic and toxicological information of LVM. Therefore, it is crucial to assess its toxicity to provide useful data for future human LVM risk assessments. In this study, a barrier environment was established under the guidance of good laboratory practice (GLP) at the Fujian Center for New Drug Safety Evaluation. Male beagle dogs were orally administered with 5, 15, and 30 mg/kg of LVM daily for four weeks. Toxicity assessment was based on various factors such as mortality, clinical signs, food and water consumption, body weight, body temperature, electrocardiogram, ophthalmological examination, hematology, serum biochemistry, organ/body coefficients, histopathological study, and toxicokinetic analysis. The results of this study showed that LVM did not exhibit any significant toxicological effects on beagle dogs at the exposure levels tested. A no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of LVM was set at 30 mg/kg/day for male beagle dogs, which is equivalent to a 12-fold clinical dose in humans. Moreover, the repeated exposure to LVM for four weeks did not lead to any bioaccumulation. These findings provide valuable insights for future human LVM risk assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of highly efficient electrochemical devices is as a desirable approach to hydrogen industries. Hydrogen depolarization anode (HDA), is considered as an advanced approach to dramatically reducing the high energy consumption for hydrometallurgy. To evaluate the feasibility of HDA technology in zinc electrowinning and its technical features, we prepare two kinds of HDAs. After 48 h operation in industrial electrolyte, the low cell voltage (below 1.5 V), low power consumption (below 1320 kWh/t) and high Faraday efficiency (above 95%) confirm the good technical prospect of this hydrogen-participated hydrometallurgy. Besides, the anode degradation should also be paid attentions. The lower hydrophobicities (i.e., PVDF-bonded HDA), leading a better electrolyte wettability, make a better initial electrocatalysis performance but a faster degradation. Through the structural changes of electrodes before and after electrowinning operations, the degradation behaviors seem different on their corrosion regions of PVDF-bonded HDA (mainly on platinum-carbon interface) and PTFE-bonded HDA (carbon supports). Whereas, we also provide some insights into materials selections, structural states, and operation conditions for the future development of using HDA technologies for hydrometallurgies, with the expectation of increasing ability to design and tailor highly efficient electrochemical devices. [Display omitted] • Hydrogen depolarization anodes are prepared for the zinc electrowinning. • The low cell voltages endow a promising application of hydrogen depolarization. • The different hydrophilicities led different performance and corrosion regions. • Some insights were given for the further development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stress of rock-like materials first increases and then decreases with an increase in the strain, and finally become damaged under tensile or compressive loads. It is not suitable to use the traditional bond-based peridynamics model to simulate the crack propagation of rock-like materials. Based on the bond-based peridynamics theory, a constitutive model has here been proposed that can reflect the characteristic of the stress with an increase in strain (i.e., that the stress of the rock-like materials first increases and then decreases, and finally fails). This makes up for the weakness with the traditional bond-based peridynamics theory, which fails to reflect the stress-strain change in rock-like materials. The strain energy density of the proposed constitutive model of rock-like materials has been derived and compared against the classical elasticity theory to obtain the model constants with respect to the elasticity moduli for plane stress conditions. Based on the here proposed constitutive model for rock-like materials, a numerical solution program for rock-like materials has been written using the Fortran language. For different loading conditions, the crack propagation process for an intact specimen has been simulated and compared with experimental results. This was also the situation for a specimen with a pre-existing flaw, a single non-straight flaw, and with three pre-existing flaws for plane stress conditions. The numerical simulation results were in good agreement with the corresponding experimental results. By using this proposed constitutive model, it was possible to simulate and predict the mechanical properties of rock-like materials, and the process of crack initiation, propagation, and coalescence under different loading conditions. The results from the present study can thus provide a reference for practical engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of high-value utilization technology of fly ash plays an important role in promoting environmental protection and social and economic development. In this paper, a novel composite photocatalyst Z-ZnO/Co 3 O 4 is synthesized by loading ZnO/Co 3 O 4 on the surface of fly ash zeolite. In addition, the properties of Z-ZnO/Co 3 O 4 are characterized by variety of methods. The results show that the surface of cubic A-type zeolite is coated with ZnO/Co 3 O 4 composite, forming an open spherical flower-like structure with a typical p-n heterostructure, which plays a positive role in reducing the band gap and the recombination rate of photogenerated electrons and holes of the composite catalyst, thus improving the degradation efficiency of xanthate. The degradation rate toward xanthate of Z-ZnO/Co 3 O 4 is 97.62 % after simulated sunlight irradiation for 120 min under the optimum conditions, which is higher than that of Z-ZnO and Z-Co 3 O 4 , respectively. Meanwhile, the experimental results indicate that h+ plays a leading role in the catalytic reaction system. Furthermore, degradation rate toward xanthate of Z-ZnO/Co 3 O 4 decreases slightly from 97.62 % to 88.24 % after five cycles, indicating its remarkable durability and stability. • Successfully synthesized composite photocatalyst Z-ZnO/Co 3 O 4. • 97.62 % removal of xanthate by the photocatalyst under visible light. • h+ was the most important free radical in the photocatalytic degradation of xanthate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many results from cyclic triaxial experiments indicate that porous media, such as clays, exhibit various long-term behaviours under different cyclic stress ratios (CSRs). These can be classified into three main categories, namely, cyclic shakedown, cyclic stable and cyclic failure. Modelling these soil deformation responses, along with pore pressure and other fundamental cyclic aspects, such as closed hysteresis cycles and degradation, is still an open challenge, and research to date is limited. In order to properly describe and capture these characteristics, an enhanced plasticity model, based on the bounding surface and stress distance concepts, is developed here. In detail, a new uniform interpolation function of the plastic modulus, suitable for all loading stages, is proposed, and a new damage factor associated with the plastic shear strain and the deformation type parameter, is also incorporated into the plastic modulus. Accordingly, cyclic shakedown and cyclic failure can be distinguished, and degradation is achieved. Closed hysteresis loops, typical of clays, are obtained through a radial mapping rule along with a moving projection centre, located by the stress reversal points. Comparisons between the obtained numerical results and the experimental ones from literature confirm the suitability of the constitutive approach, which is capable of correctly capturing and reproducing the key aspects of clays' cyclic behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar reforming cellulosic biomass into hydrogen is a promising approach for sustainable biomass waste utilization and renewable energy development. To overcome the challenge of depolymerization of rigid cellulose in mild conditions, a strategy that combines enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose with photocatalytic H 2 production from water under mild conditions has been proposed. Specifically, porous carbon doped brookite/anatase heterophase titania as a representative photocatalyst has been synthesized by an easy self-assembly and growth approach. The typical characteristics of porous structure, carbon doping as well as heterojunction formation of the prepared photocatalyst result from the self−assembled crystallization and low temperature annealing processes, and the special structural effects on the improved photochemical behavior were investigated through a series of characterizations. The synthesized TiO 2 annealed at 200 °C (Meso-TiO 2 -200) presents remarkable H 2 production performance even without cocatalyst loading under UV light irradiation. Furthermore, the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose and raw biomass materials has been optimized in terms of reaction temperature, solution pH and types of enzyme to obtain higher yields of glucose. Lastly, the H 2 production from water employing with the Meso-TiO 2 -200 photocatalyst and enzymatic depolymerized products as sacrificial agents has been quantitively evaluated. The H 2 yields are about 56 μmol/g.cat (5 h) and 2965 μmol/g.cat (5 h) at pH 7 for Meso−TiO 2 −200 without or with 1.0 wt% Pt cocatalyst loading, significantly higher than that of the commercial P25 sample. Under the optimized condition, the apparent quantum efficiency under 365 ± 10 nm irradiation was about 1.95%, and the mechanism for the improved H 2 production has been proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional Voice Assistants (VAs) rely on traditional language models to discern user intent and respond to their queries, leading to interactions that often lack a broader contextual understanding, an area in which Large Language Models (LLMs) excel. However, current LLMs are largely designed for text-based interactions, thus making it unclear how user interactions will evolve if their modality is changed to voice. In this work, we investigate whether LLMs can enrich VA interactions via an exploratory study with participants (N =20) using a ChatGPT-powered VA for three scenarios (medical self-diagnosis, creative planning, and discussion) with varied constraints, stakes, and objectivity. We observe that LLM-powered VA elicits richer interaction patterns that vary across tasks, showing its versatility. Notably, LLMs absorb the majority of VA intent recognition failures. We additionally discuss the potential of harnessing LLMs for more resilient and fluid user-VA interactions and provide design guidelines for tailoring LLMs for voice assistance. • Studied user interactions with LLM-powered Conversational Voice Assistants (VAs). • Developed a ChatGPT-powered Alexa skill to study interactions with such VAs. • Explored varied user interaction patterns and breakdowns across diverse scenarios. • Found ChatGPT improved intent recognition and proactively addressed VA breakdowns. • Outlined LLMs benefits and challenges to inform design guidelines for future VAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dynamic damage constitutive model is proposed based on the uni-bond dual-parameter peridynamic (UDPD) model. The new model overcomes the shortcomings of fixed Poisson's ratio embedded in the BBPD model, then takes into account the influence of a nonlocal PD force on calculation accuracy, and describes the nonlinear mechanical behavior and progressive failure of heterogeneous rocks under different strain rates. Based on the proposed dynamic damage constitutive model, three examples were simulated and compared with the experimental results. The effects of heterogeneity and strain rate on the crack propagation and failure mechanism of rocks were further studied. The results show that the proposed model improved the calculation accuracy and effectively simulated the mechanical behavior and crack propagation characteristics of heterogeneous rocks at different strain rates. The dynamic strength exponentially increased with shape parameters. Compared with homogeneous rocks, the inherent heterogeneity led to stress concentration, making the initial crack location more random, and the failure mode changed from double-cone conjugate shear failure to pulverizing failure. The increase in the strain rate altered the main crack's propagation direction and increased the number of block failures on the outer surface of the specimen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, even though Stochastic Gradient Descent (SGD) and its variants are well-known for training neural networks, it suffers from limitations such as the lack of theoretical guarantees, vanishing gradients, and excessive sensitivity to input. To overcome these drawbacks, alternating minimization methods have attracted fast-increasing attention recently. As an emerging and open domain, however, several new challenges need to be addressed, including 1) Convergence properties are sensitive to penalty parameters, and 2) Slow theoretical convergence rate. We, therefore, propose a novel monotonous Deep Learning Alternating Minimization (mDLAM) algorithm to deal with these two challenges. Our innovative inequality-constrained formulation infinitely approximates the original problem with non-convex equality constraints, enabling our convergence proof of the proposed mDLAM algorithm regardless of the choice of hyperparameters. Our mDLAM algorithm is shown to achieve a fast linear convergence by the Nesterov acceleration technique. Extensive experiments on multiple benchmark datasets demonstrate the convergence, effectiveness, and efficiency of the proposed mDLAM algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pyrolysis characters and fire behavior of ceiling materials have a great impact on the fire retardant of the whole bus because the fire might spread along the ceiling. This study investigated the pyrolysis characters of five plastic ceiling components with TG tests at four heating rates, and then, the kinetic parameters were calculated with Kissinger method, Friedman method and an advanced isoconversional Vyazovkin method. The obtained kinetic parameters were also validated by reconstruction of conversion curves. Finally, the flammability of each component from three ceiling materials was estimated using PCFC, and the fire behavior of three ceiling materials was investigated with cone calorimeter at different heat fluxes. Results show the pyrolysis characters of surface material could explain the early stage fire behavior of ceiling materials. The ignition and fire resistance were also highly dependent on the properties of surface materials. A transition between limited and more fierce combustion occurs at some heat flux for three ceiling materials. This property was related to the composition and structure of ceilings. Below this transition heat flux level, only the surface layer of ceiling was ignited and the fire load was limited. Above this level, the underlying layer was involved in combustion and leads to a sharply increased heat release. These results suggest that the flame retardant of surface material was important to promote fire retardant of the whole ceiling. Moreover, the obtained parameters can be used for predicting fire propagation in bus ceiling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel dynamic damage constitutive model of rock-like materials based on peridynamics is proposed. • The relationship between the micro-modulus constant and elastic modulus has been derived. • Dynamic mechanical properties and energy dissipation of argillaceous sandstone with different internal flaws are obtained. • The dynamic failure process of argillaceous sandstone specimens are captured by numerical simulation. The original bond-based peridynamic model addresses brittle fracture rather than progressive fracture. It also does not account for the impact of strain rate on bond strength and fails to incorporate the impact of internal length on non-local long-range forces. As a result, it is inadequate for simulating the dynamic failure of rock-like materials under impact loading. To address these limitations, a new approach involves a sextic polynomial attenuation function. This function captures the impact of internal length on non-local long-range forces and leads to the derivation of a corresponding micro-modulus expression. A damage function and a new failure criterion are integrated to describe the nonlinear mechanical behavior and progressive failure of rock-like materials. The influence of strain rate on bond dynamic strength is considered to reflect the strain rate effect in rock materials. The outcome is a newly proposed dynamic damage constitutive model that overcomes the three shortcomings of the original bond-based peridynamic model when simulating the dynamic failure of rock-like materials. Numerical examples are simulated based on this model, and their results are compared with the experimental data. This comparison allows further exploration of the volumetric fracturing behavior and mechanical properties of rock specimens with internal flaws in three dimensions when subjected to impact loading. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model in accurately simulating crack propagation and mechanical properties across varying strain rates in rock-like materials. Notably, the internal flaw's depth significantly influences the specimen's mechanical properties and energy utilization efficiency at a specific flaw angle α = 90 °. Complex three-dimensional cracks, consisting of shell-like, wing, anti-wing, and shear cracks, emerge due to the interconnection of various crack types. The shape of these cracks is intricately linked to the flaw angle and depth. Ultimately, this model solves the challenge of capturing internal crack growth during dynamic impact processes that are often difficult to observe in experimental tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reversible data hiding (RDH) has unique advantage in copyright and integrity protection for multimedia contents. As a typical RDH scheme, histogram shifting technique (HS) has found wide applications due to its high quality of marked image. At present, most existing HS-based RDH schemes rely on single histogram generated from cover image to hide data. Since the single histogram-based approach (SH_RDH) commonly employs smooth regions in the cover image for data hiding, it might not well utilize the cover image and exploit the correlations among image contents of different texture characteristics. In this paper, a novel RDH general framework using multiple histograms modification (MH_RDH) is proposed, which involves two key issues as follows: 1) the construction of multiple histograms based on optimized multi-features and 2) the rate allocation among multiple histograms is formulated as the one of rate-distortion optimization and solved with evolutionary algorithms. The experimental results show that the proposed method could considerably increase the payload of current MH_RDH-based embedding (ranging from 0.2 to 0.7 bpp for most test images) and outperform the other state-of-the-art SH_RDH and MH_RDH schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To summarize and analyze the technique and experience of laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) in children. Methods: From Dec 2015 to Dec 2018, surgical outcomes were evaluated in 30 pediatric patients with liver tumors. LLR was performed in 21 patients, including 15 males and 6 females with a mean age of 7.6 ± 3.8 years (range, 2-13 years) and a mean liver tumor diameter of 7.2 ± 2.0 cm (range, 4-10 cm). During the same period, 9 cases of traditional open liver resection were selected as controls, including 6 males and 3 females with a mean age of 7.0 ± 3.7 years (range, 2-13 years) and a mean liver tumor diameter of 7.5 ± 2.2 cm (range, 4.4-10.0 cm). Results: The mean operation time and mean hepatic inflow occlusion time were longer in the laparoscopic group, with values of 182.3 ± 66.1 minutes and 83.2 ± 38.2 minutes, respectively, than in the open group, with values of 120.0 ± 54.3 minutes and 49.6 ± 26.5 minutes, respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups in blood loss (164.4 ± 107.4 mL versus 133.8 ± 87.1 mL), blood transfusion volume (102.2 ± 100.2 mL versus 69.2 ± 81.8 mL), and alanine aminotransferase levels 24 hours after surgery (212.0 ± 101.4 IU/L versus 173.3 ± 97.2 IU/L) and 72 hours after surgery (74.0 ± 32.5 IU/L versus 81.7 ± 57.3 IU/L). The average hospital stay in the laparoscopic group (6.2 ± 1.6 days) was significantly shorter than that in the open group (8.2 ± 2.0 days). The children in both groups recovered well after surgery without serious complications. Conclusion: LLR contributes to improved recovery of patients after surgery without increasing the incidence of complication, therefore, LLR is a safe option for liver tumors in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An integrated CCHP system is proposed with one machine synchronously. • A prototype based on a free-piston Stirling configuration was designed and built. • The prototype can obtain the highest values of COPc and COPh of 0.26 and 1.28. • Under typical working conditions, the prototype can achieve an exergy efficiency of 49.3 %. • Compared with the traditional system, the prototype saves at least 39 % of energy consumption. Conventional combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) systems, involving multiple energy conversion technologies, are composed of a variety of coupled subsystems with different working principles. To solve the problems of bulky structure, operational complexity, and high initial investment cost, a novel integrated combined heating, cooling, and electricity system based on the same energy conversion technology with a triple-effect free-piston Stirling configuration was proposed. Compared with the traditional system, the novel integrated system can cool, heat, and generate power using one machine without introducing additional devices. Some verification experiments were tested on a built experimental platform to validate the feasibility of the concept of this configuration. The result shows that the system was able to obtain the highest values of COPc, COPh, and the output performance coefficient of 0.26, 1.28, and 1.54, respectively, which can save 39 % of energy consumption compared with traditional independent energy-supplying systems when providing the same cooling and heating capacity and electricity under typical working conditions. It is expected that the reported result can facilitate a practical application in decentralized CCHP systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the thermal degradation mechanisms and kinetics of TDI/MDI-based flexible polyurethane foam (FPUF) under nitrogen and air atmospheres, employing thermogravimetric (TG) analysis in conjunction with TG-FTIR technique. The information gleaned from these analysis is used to construct kinetic model based on model-free approaches coupled with the Shuffled Complex Evolution optimization algorithm. The results uncovered the five-step complex thermal degradation process of TDI/MDI-based FPUF compared to TDI-based or MDI-based polyurethane in both atmospheres. In nitrogen atmosphere, this involve the dissociation of TDI- and MDI-based urethane bonds, breakage of recombined urea bonds, random chain scission of polyol, and further degradation of incompletely pyrolyzed solid products. In air atmosphere, the process emcompasses dissociation of TDI- and MDI-based urethane linkages, accelerated oxidation of polyol chains, consumption of urea groups, and combustion of partially oxidized intermediates. This work also emphasizes the limitations of solely relying on TG tests for kinetic modeling, necessitating the integration of TG tests and TG-FTIR technique to obtain a comprehensive understanding of degradation mechanisms. The significance of the acquired insights lies in their potential to reshape the design of thermo-chemical reactors, resulting in heightened resource recovery, diminished environmental impact, and a stride towards a circular economy within the polyurethane industry. • Revealed five-step degradation process of TDI/MDI-based FPUF in nitrogen and air. • Kinetic models constructed by coupling TG, TG-FTIR data and SCE algorithm. • Prediction of generation and consumption of intermediates in degradation. • Stressed importance of integrating TG-FTIR with TG for enhanced kinetic modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurately determining the parameters of the dynamic constitutive model is significant to analyzing the dynamic response characteristics of the surrounding rock at the proximal and distal ends of a railroad tunnel blasting. Hence, this paper analyzes the propagation and attenuation of blasting vibration waves in the rock by utilizing the vibration velocity monitoring data of the Xinbin Tunnel at the Liaoning section of the Shenbai High-speed Railway. The data are provided by the drilling and blasting method. Additionally, the IA-BP inverse analysis method was established to invert the parameters of the JH-2 constitutive model of the rock by numerically analyzing the simulated blasting vibration waves using the inversion parameters. The results highlight that the inversion value obtained by the IA-BP algorithm is slightly different from the calculated test value but still highly accurate, demonstrating the rationality of the inverse analysis method. Meanwhile, the numerical simulation results supplement the proximal vibration velocity, which is difficult to monitor in the project. This is because the vibration velocity of the tunnel surrounding the rock has a noticeable directional effect. Specifically, the vibration velocity law varies as the blast center distance increases, where the peak vibration velocity direction at the far end of the blast changes from the Y direction (vertical direction) to the Z direction (blast direction). The linear attenuation formula of the vibration velocity in the three principles of the tunnel arch, arch shoulder, and arch foot is obtained by fitting, which is an adequate prediction of the safety of the subsequent construction. • A large number of on-site monitoring for the blast distal vibration velocity. • The formula for the attenuation of blasting distal vibration velocity in different locations and directions is derived. • The difficult problem of determining the parameters of the surrounding rock at the site is solved. • The differentiated analysis of blasting proximal vibration velocity and blasting distal vibration velocity are realised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Employ FCM clustering to build multiple closely correlated carriers for MH_RDH. • Attempt to apply machine learning algorithm to reversible data hiding applications. • Effectively represent each pixel with a set of features, which will be used in FCM. • Optimize the hyper parameters in clustering process for better performance in MH_RDH. • Experimental results show the superiority of our FCM based MH_RDH. Abstract Reversible data hiding algorithm (RDH) has been widely used in multimedia's copyright protection and content integrity authentication. As a typical RDH scheme, histogram shifting (HS) is extensively investigated due to its high quality of stego-image. Most existing HS based RDH schemes utilize prediction and sorting techniques to build single sharp histogram, which exploit the smooth areas in cover image for data hiding. To take advantages of the correlation among image contents of different texture characteristics, several multiple histograms based RDHs (MH_RDH) are proposed recently, which resort on some rigid rules, e.g. single feature based sorting followed by uniform segmentation of sorted sequence, to construct the multiple histograms. In this paper, the clustering algorithm, i.e. Fuzzy C-means (FCM) clustering, is introduced for the construction of multiple histograms. The FCM equipped with deliberately designed features is employed to classify the cover carriers, e.g. prediction errors, into different clusters with similar traits, which are then used to build the multiple histograms for efficient data embedding. Experimental results demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed scheme over other state-of-the-art ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve effective cementation of fine tailings, slag-based binders were prepared using Portland cement clinker stimulation, early strength activator (ESA, mixture of anhydrite and triethanolamine at 97:3 (w/w)) activation and slag pulverization methods. The compressive strength, hydration products, slag reaction degree and non-evaporable water content of the consolidated samples under different curing times were analyzed to clarify the application performance and early strength action mechanisms of this slag-based binder. The results showed that clinker alone was able to effectively stimulate the slag’s cementitious property, but the cementation strength was relatively low. The addition of ESA in the clinker activated slag promoted the conversion of C4AH13into ettringite (AFt) and accelerated the consumption of Ca(OH)2, all of which significantly improved the early cementation strength of fine tailings. Slag pulverization promoted the slag reaction degree and increased the yield of hydrated products, which led to a further increase in the early strength of the slag-based binder. Eventually, a more efficient and higher early strength slag-based binder was prepared with the composition of 27% clinker, 10% ESA and 63% pulverized slag, and the cementation strength at 3 curing days for the fine tailings sample was 231% more than that of P.O 42.5 Portland cement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcium oxide (CaO) and sodium carbonate (Na 2 CO 3 ) are potential activators for ground granulated blast furnace slag, but they result in slow strength development, especially at the early age. To overcome this issue and explore the application of CaO/Na 2 CO 3 compound activators in alkali-activated slag (AAS) systems, this paper investigated the mechanical and hydration properties of CaO/Na 2 CO 3 -activated slag binders by measuring the compressive strength, pH value of pore solution and non-evaporable water content up to 28 days. The hydration products and microstructure of hardened pastes were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy techniques. It was found that the ratio of CaO to Na 2 CO 3 played a vital role in the performance of the AAS binders. The combination of 2.5% CaO and 5% Na 2 CO 3 significantly increased the quantities of hydration products and thus resulted in a much denser microstructure and higher compressive strength. This increment was attributed to the generation of sodium hydrate and low crystalline calcium carbonate by the reaction of CaO with Na 2 CO 3 , which was beneficial for the formation of hydration products. XRD and TGA results showed that the main hydration products were calcium silicate hydrate gels and hydrotalcite-like phases for all samples except the one with only Na 2 CO 3 . In addition, low crystalline calcium carbonate was detected in the samples with both CaO and Na 2 CO 3 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hierarchical copper sulfide (CuS)-reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composites were synthesized using a simple wet chemical method. The samples were characterized via X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy techniques. The electrochemical performances of hierarchical CuS-rGO composites, as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries, were also investigated in comparison with that of pure CuS. Results showed that the specific capacity of 408 mAh/g after 100 cycles and cycling stability of hierarchical CuS-rGO composites were higher than those of pure CuS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a new explanation on an old idea to enhance the Stirling engine, i.e., the evaporative (two-phase two-component) Stirling engine, has been provided through thermoacoustic theory. In such a system, the periodical evaporation and condensation of an evaporative species is incorporated into the classical Stirling cycle to enhance the thermal-to-acoustic conversion. A theoretical model for an evaporative free piston Stirling engine has been developed, based on which the performance of the system has been investigated. Our calculated results show that the evaporative engine can operate with a temperature difference<50 K, much lower than that of the classical Stirling engine. In the optimal case, the proposed system can reach an exergy efficiency of 0.39 with the corresponding output power, efficiency and temperature difference to be 10 W, 0.032 and 33 K, respectively. The main reason for the improvement is the enhanced thermoacoustic conversion by the phase change of the evaporative species happening in the regenerator, embodied by the significantly increased acoustic source term. Moreover, the improved heat transfer in heat exchangers by phase change also helps. This demonstrates the promising potential of the evaporative Stirling engine for ultra-low-grade heat recovery. • Mechanism of evaporative Stirling engine has been explained via thermoacoustic theory. • A numerical model for an evaporative FPSE has been developed. • Phase change reduces the temperature difference and increases the specific power of the engine. • The improvement is due to wet thermoacoustic conversion, and the enhanced heat transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop a quasi-one-dimensional theoretical model describing the oscillatory plasma MHD conversion in a channel with parallel electrodes. Based on the model, a thermoacoustic plasma MHD generation system with a looped configuration is proposed and the characteristics of the operation of the system are investigated. Our results show that, for efficient oscillatory MHD generation, the channel dimension of the MHD duct should be much larger than the penetration depth (a proper Womersley number is above 100), otherwise the thermoacoustic effect will play a major role and consume considerable energy. Further, the electromagnetic induction parameter should be larger than 100 S ⋅ T 2 / m , so that a majority of the kinetic energy of the oscillatory plasma can be harnessed for energy conversion. Moreover, a load ratio between 0.6 to 0.8 is suggested for the presented system, with which an efficiency above 20% can be achieved when the electromagnetic induction parameter is 500 S ⋅ T 2 / m. In the optimal case, an efficiency of 24% can be obtained, with the corresponding output electricity of 1644 W. These results shed light on the feasibility of the closed-cycle MHD generation without any moving part, which endows the system with advantages of high reliability and long lifetime. • A theoretical model for oscillatory plasma MHD conversion was developed. • A novel thermoacoustic plasma MHD generation system was proposed. • Characteristics of the oscillatory Hartmann flow and the thermoacoustic MHD generator were investigated. • An efficiency of 24% with an output electricity of 1644 W could be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Prussian blue analogue, Na 2 Co 3 [Fe(CN) 6 ] 2 , has been fabricated by a facile co-precipitation method at room temperature as a potential cathode material for both lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries. It found that the Na 2 Co 3 [Fe(CN) 6 ] 2 nanoparticles with a primary particle size of 30–40 nm have been synthesized, and exhibited an excellent electrochemical performance, including a long cycling behavior in lithium-ion batteries and a good rate performance in sodium-ion batteries. In lithium-ion batteries, the Na 2 Co 3 [Fe(CN) 6 ] 2 nanoparticles cathode can deliver an excellent cyclic performance with 73.0% retention of initial capacity after 50 cycles at 50 mA g −1 . Moreover, when Na 2 Co 3 [Fe(CN) 6 ] 2 is used as cathode material of sodium-ion batteries, it exhibits an outstanding rate performance exceeding 75.2% retention of initial capacity after 50 cycles at 200 mA g −1 . Therefore, the Na 2 Co 3 [Fe(CN) 6 ] 2 nanoparticles can be a potential cathode candidate for the application of lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries due to its excellent electrochemical performance, easy preparation, low cost and environment benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ru-doped lanthanum chromates (LaRu x Cr 1− x O 3 ) were prepared through a solid-state reaction method. The perovskite pellets with high bulk density over 98% were obtained using the as-prepared LaRu x Cr 1− x O 3 powders as starting materials by spark plasma sintering (SPS) process. The pellets performed high electrical conductivity, which increased with increasing of temperature and ruthenium content (0≤ x ≤0.10). The activation energy of lanthanum chromate was found to be decreased due to the ruthenium doping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple and reliable methods for evaluating the inhibitory effects of drug candidates on complement activation are essential for preclinical development. Here, using an immortalized porcine aortic endothelial cell line (iPEC) as target, we evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of an in vitro xenoantibody-mediated complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) model for evaluating the complement inhibitory activity of Cp40, a potent analog of the peptidic C3 inhibitor compstatin. The binding of human xenoantibodies to iPECs led to serum dilution-dependent cell death. Pretreatment of the human serum with Cp40 almost completely inhibited the deposition of C3 fragments and C5b-9 on the cells, resulting in a dose-dependent inhibition of CDC against the iPECs. Using the same method to compare the effects of Cp40 on complement activation in humans, rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys, we found that the inhibitory patterns were similar overall. Thus, the in vitro xenoantibody-mediated CDC assay may have considerable potential for future clinical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

System incorporated (SI) direct-splitting (DS) algorithm is proposed to efficiently simulate periodic nonuniform structures in open regions. Based on the digital signal processing technique, the proposed algorithm cannot only maintain the calculation stability with the enlargement of time steps but also tighten the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) implementation. An alternative periodic boundary condition (APBC) algorithm is proposed according to the unconditionally stable SIDS algorithm to analyze the periodic structures. To calculate multiscale nonuniform domains, domain decomposition (DD) method is proposed to discretize the entire computational domain into several sub-regions according to the SIDS algorithm. Furthermore, higher order perfectly matched layer (PML) is incorporated with the proposed algorithm for the boundary termination in open regions. Periodic nonuniform metamaterial structure is employed as an example to demonstrate the efficiency, absorption and accuracy. Through comparison with the other algorithms, the proposed algorithm can receive the most considerable performance from each aspect. By employing the proposed APBC algorithm, sparse matrix can be converted to tri-diagonal matrix which alleviates the time increment problem in periodic structures calculation. Through introducing the proposed domain decomposition method, size of nonuniform domains can be reduced compared with the uniform discretization which leads to the decrement of simulation duration and resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A method called PESFDM is proposed to improve the performance of FDM. • An improved "locmaxmin" spectrum segmentation method is used in PESFDM. • The segmentation boundaries of PESFDM are more effective. • Compared with other methods, PESFDM gets a better diagnostic effect. The Fourier decomposition method (FDM) is a useful method for signal decomposition. However, FDM has the problems of over decomposition and time-consuming. Therefore, a peak envelope spectrum Fourier decomposition method (PESFDM) is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the upper peak envelope is used to process the signal spectrum and obtain the peak envelope spectrum. Secondly, the segmentation boundaries are adaptively determined on the peak envelope spectrum using a modified "Locmaxmin" spectrum segmentation method. The bands between the segmentation boundaries are then reconstructed into several single-component signals. Finally, the proposed method is used to decompose the simulated and actual bearing fault signals. The results are compared against the other four signal processing methods: empirical mode decomposition, empirical wavelet transform, FDM, and adaptive power spectrum Fourier decomposition method. The results show that the proposed method has a more effective spectrum segmentation and a better effect of fault diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid sodium is an attractive working fluid for thermoacoustic conversion. Herein, a numerical study on a standing-wave thermoacoustic electricity generation system with liquid sodium as the working fluid is presented, based upon the Swift model. The characteristics of the thermoacoustic conversion and the output performance of the system have been investigated. The results show that the sodium engine can reach a power density much higher than the classical gas engine. Due to the strong acoustic coupling between components, the electricity output is significantly affected by the input heating power, the magnetic flux density, and the load ratio. In a typical case, the thermal-to-electric efficiency and the relative Carnot efficiency can reach 4.6% and 7.8%, respectively, with a temperature difference of 563 K and an input heat of 5 kW. More importantly, the output electricity density reaches 150 kW/m3, higher than some commercially available technologies. These results demonstrate the potential of such technology for small-scale electricity generation. Its extremely simple structure without any mechanical moving part endows the system with high reliability and long lifetime, if risks of corrosion and exposure to air and water can be avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present an efficient histogram shifting (HS) based reversible data hiding scheme for copyright protection of multimedia. Firstly, an improved HS based multi-layer embedding process for rhombus prediction is employed by introducing a control parameter to explore the correlation of prediction errors. A rate-distortion model for HS embedding is then developed for optimal side information selection, which is especially suitable for low payload reversible data hiding when only a single layer embedding is required. Finally, a modified location map is constructed to facilitate the compression of location map and further increase the embedding capacity. Compared with similar schemes, experimental results demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed scheme in the terms of embedding capacity and stego-image quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel index is proposed to evaluate the signal complexity. • The envelope signal is Fourier transformed twice in the objective function. • A novel adaptive VMD method based on the AOA is proposed. Variational mode decomposition (VMD) is widely used in rotating machinery fault diagnosis. However, the choice of its main parameters is often based on experience, affecting the decomposition results. Aiming to mitigate this drawback, an adaptive VMD method using the Archimedes optimization algorithm (AOA) is presented. Firstly, the computational domain of the objective function is set to the amplitude spectrum of the signal envelope spectrum. Secondly, a correlation waveform index (Cwi) is proposed to evaluate the complexity of the signal. The minimum average value of the Cwi of all intrinsic modal functions (IMFs) is taken as the objective function. Finally, the AOA is used to search for the optimal mode number and penalty factor to find IMFs which are sensitive to fault features. Compared to the other improved VMD methods, the proposed method has a better performance in extracting the fault characteristics from the simulated and actual cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ETS variant transcription factor 4 (ETV4) is a common cancer-promoting transcription factor and its expression has been found to be significantly upregulated in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), as determined via analysis of the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) database. In addition, our previous study demonstrated that ETV4 expression was highly positively correlated with epithelial membrane protein 1 (EMP1). The present study aimed to determine whether ETV4 could influence the activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway to affect the autophagy and apoptosis of GBM cells by regulating the transcriptional activity of EMP1. In addition to the analysis of the GEPIA database, the expression levels of ETV4 were also investigated in several different GBM cell lines. After interfering with the expression of ETV4, western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of autophagy- and apoptosis-related proteins, and a TUNEL assay was used to detect the levels of cell apoptosis. Dual luciferase reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were used to verify the potential binding site of ETV4 on EMP1. Western blotting was also used to analyze the expression levels of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway-related proteins. The results of the current study revealed that the expression levels of ETV4 were significantly upregulated in GBM cell lines compared with those in normal glial cells. In the GBM cell line, LN-229, ETV4 was discovered to bind to the EMP1 promoter and positively regulate the expression of EMP1. The knockdown of ETV4 expression inhibited the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway activity to promote autophagy and apoptosis, and this effect could be partially reversed by overexpressing EMP1. In conclusion, these findings indicated that the knockdown of ETV4 in GBM cells may reduce the transcriptional activation of EMP1 and thereby inhibit PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway activity to promote autophagy and apoptosis. This provides a novel insight into potential strategies for the treatment of GBM via the induction of autophagy-dependent apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nylon 1010 composite specimens were prepared with MoS2 filler and short carbon fiber as the reinforcement. The friction and wear behavior of composite materials was investigated on a ring-block wear tester where sliding occurred under dry friction condition at a speed of 0.42 ms−1 under various loads. The results showed that the addition of carbon fiber was effective in reducing friction and wear of pure nylon, but MoS2 filler increased its wear. Wear and friction reduction were more significant while the carbon fiber was used as reinforcement along with MoS2 filler. The tribochemical studies by XPS revealed that MoS2 particles decomposed and MoO3, FeS, FeSO4 and Fe2(SO4)3 were produced during sliding. It was concluded that FeS, FeSO4 and Fe2(SO4)3 compounds could increase the adhesion between the transfer film and the counterface surface. The ability of the synergistic fillers in helping the formation of thin, uniform and continuous transfer film would contribute to the increase in wear resistance of nylon composites. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Microdamage in a rock induces a change in the rock's internal structure, affecting the stability and strength of the rock mass. To determine the influence of dissolution on the pore structure of rocks, the latest continuous flow microreaction technology was used, and a rock hydrodynamic pressure dissolution test device simulating multifactor coupling conditions was independently developed. The micromorphology characteristics of carbonate rock samples before and after dissolution were explored using computed tomography (CT) scanning. To conduct the dissolution test on 64 rock samples under 16 groups of working conditions, 4 rock samples under 4 groups were scanned by CT under working conditions, twice before and after corrosion. Subsequently, the changes in the dissolution effect and pore structure before and after dissolution were quantitatively compared and analyzed. The results show that the dissolution results were directly proportional to the flow rate, temperature, dissolution time, and hydrodynamic pressure. However, the dissolution results were inversely proportional to the pH value. The characterization of the pore structure changes before and after sample erosion is challenging. After erosion, the porosity, pore volume, and aperture of rock samples increased; however, the number of pores decreased. Under acidic conditions near the surface, carbonate rock microstructure changes can directly reflect structural failure characteristics. Consequently, heterogeneity, the presence of unstable minerals, and a large initial pore size result in the formation of large pores and a new pore system. This research provides the foundation and assistance for predicting the dissolution effect and evolution law of dissolved pores in carbonate rocks under multifactor coupling, offering a crucial guide for engineering design and construction in karst areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cobalt hydroxide and cobalt oxychloride are very promising materials for batteries and electrocatalysis, but the reaction mechanism for inducing the formation of both using epoxides is currently unclear. This study focused on synthesizing cobalt oxychloride and cobalt hydroxides from CoCl2⋅6H2O using a precipitation reaction triggered by propylene oxide (PO) in ethanol and water. The precipitation reaction process was described using hitherto unexplored UV–Vis technology. In the water system, Co2+ existed as [Co(H2O)6]2+ with octahedral coordination, while in alcohol, it was [CoCln(H2O)6−n]2−n. The water content and pH of the reaction system played crucial roles in determining the coordination compounds formed by Co2+ ions, impacting the reaction’s course. These findings provide both experimental groundwork and theoretical insights for effectively regulating the synthesis of products in such systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic chronic autoimmune disease characterized by a protracted course, high rates of morbidity, and disability yet lacks effective therapeutic modalities. Levamisole (LVM), an immunomodulatory drug, has been clinically reported for its potential in RA treatment, while its therapeutic mechanism toward RA remains to be elucidated. Hence, this study provides theoretical support for the application of LVM in the treatment of RA. Methods: This study employed male Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats to construct the adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) model, administering LVM orally (5 mg/kg, 15 mg/kg, and 45 mg/kg) for 25 days. An evaluation of LVM's therapeutic effects on RA was conducted through arthritis index scores, paw pad thickness, paw volume, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, 3D microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) scans, serum levels of pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokines, and serum biochemical indicators. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry staining were utilized to measure the expression levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) proteins in synovial and ankle joint tissues. Results: Treatment with the median dose of LVM (15 mg/kg, M-LVM) significantly reduced the arthritis index (p < 0.01), paw pad thickness (p < 0.001), and paw volume (p < 0.01) without affecting body weight. Additionally, M-LVM alleviated inflammatory lesions in the synovium and ankle joints and also normalized serum levels of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). The Model group exhibited significant increases in serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (p < 0.01), creatine kinase (CK) (p < 0.05), and glucose (GLU) (p < 0.001) compared with the Control group; however, M-LVM effectively regulated these parameters to normal levels. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry staining revealed that PI3K-/Akt-related proteins were highly expressed in the synovial and ankle joint tissues of rats in the Model group, while treatment with M-LVM significantly reduced the expression of these proteins. Furthermore, histological examination of major organs (heart, liver, lungs, kidneys, and thymus) showed no significant pathological changes, with the exception of the spleen, where M-LVM ameliorated splenic lesions. Conclusions: We demonstrate that LVM at an optimal dose substantially relieves synovitis and bone erosion in AIA rats by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenolic-formaldehyde resins have been firstly demonstrated for applications in solar water disinfection and purification under both immobilized and flow-through conditions. [Display omitted] • Photocatalytic water disinfection ability of phenolic-formaldehyde (PR) resins was firstly discovered. • The performance of PR resin was comparable with other visible light photocatalysts. • Water purification in both immobilized and continuous flow-through conditions has been demonstrated. • Resin coating film exhibits remarkable E. coli deactivation property under weak LED irradiation. In present study, we for the first time discovered the photocatalytic water disinfection and antibacterial ability of phenolic-formaldehyde (PR) resins irradiated by LED lamp or natural sunlight in various application modes. The novel narrow band-gap, low-cost and large mass easily producible resin photocatalysts exhibit advanced and stable Escherichia coli (E. coli) inactivation performance, which is better than some well-known metal and non-metal based visible light photocatalysts under the identical condition. We have provided a proof-of-concept demonstration of its practical application feasibility for water purification in both immobilized plastic bag and continuous flow-through reactor under weak LED lamp or natural sunlight irradiation. Furthermore, the PR resin coating film exhibits remarkable E. coli deactivation property under weak LED lamp irradiation. This work provides a new approach for developing resin-based products with antibacterial function or solar water purification products for practical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The latest continuous flow micro reaction technology was adopted to independently develop carbonate rock dissolution test equipment. Carbonate rock dissolution tests were conducted under different temperatures, flow rates, and dynamic water pressure conditions to study the dissolution process of carbonate rocks under the coupling of heat-water-chemistry. The dissolution effect and development law of carbonate rocks were explored by quantitatively studying carbonate rock dissolution rate and chemical composition of karst water. The results showed that the self-designed dissolution test equipment has obvious advantages. After dissolution, carbonate rock specimens were damaged to varying degrees. The dissolution rate was proportional to water velocity and hydrodynamic pressure, with the velocity effect being greater than the hydrodynamic pressure effect. The pH value, conductivity, and Ca2+ ion content of the reaction solution gradually increased after dissolution. The development and application of the equipment have proved that, at low dynamic water pressures (2 MPa), the water flow velocity effect on the dissolution velocity was 1.5 times that when the dynamic water pressure was high (6 MPa); at a low water flow velocity of 15 mL/min, the dynamic water pressure effect on the dissolution velocity was three times that when the water flow velocity was high (75 mL/min). The development process is gradually becoming strong and stable. Its research has important theoretical significance and engineering application value to provide technical means and guarantee for the early identification, karst development, and safety evaluation of karst geological disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Thermal decomposition modeling on flame-retardant flexible PVC. • The model-free method is coupled with model-fitting method. • The Ant lion Optimization algorithm is applied for inverse modeling process. • The performance of different optimization algorithm is compared. The thermal decomposition model of flame-retardant flexible PVC is essential for relevant waste management and predicting its fire behavior. In this work, thermal decomposition kinetics of this material was investigated via thermogravimetric analysis in non-isothermal conditions. The kinetic analysis was performed using model-free (including Kissinger, Friedman, and advanced Vyazovkin methods) coupled with model-fitting method (Ant Lion Optimization algorithm, ALO). The kinetic parameters obtained from model-free method provide guides for initial guess and search range for ALO. Two different decomposition models are developed and the validations show that second two-step parallel model could better predict experimental data and explain the decomposition process. The performance of ALO is compared with Shuffled Complex (SCE) Evolution algorithm. The results show that the ALO shows better performance because all solutions from SCE are trapped in local minima. In this way, the ALO could be used as an alternate optimization tool for inverse modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphite has been almost proven to be the positive material with the highest voltage and superior cycle stability for Al-graphite dual-ion battery. However, the limited energy density of graphite as positive material still blocks the future practical application. It is of great significance to further improve the energy density of the battery to satisfy the growing demand. In this regard, an edge-rich flakes-stacked graphite prepared by intentionally eroding the outer dense graphitic layer of graphite paper is demonstrated to apply in Al-graphite dual-ion battery that the chloroaluminate anions can be directly transported from edge-rich graphene nanoflakes and diffused into interior graphitic layers, which will greatly shorten the diffusion pathway, thus revealing better rate capability. The edge-rich flakes-stacked graphite paper enables to deliver a reversible capacity of ~87 mAh g−1 at 50 mA g−1, significantly higher than that of the untreated graphite paper electrode. More importantly, owing to the ultrahigh areal mass loading advantage, the as-assembled batteries exhibit much enhanced areal capacity (1.2 mAh cm−2), which is distinctly the highest among the reported graphite-based electrodes. [Display omitted] • Edge-rich graphite nanoflakes are prepared by eroding outer dense graphitic layer. • Edge-rich flakes-stacked graphite is confirmed to work stably in acid ionic liquid. • AlCl 4 − anion is diffused into interior graphite layers through edge-rich nanoflake. • Edge-rich flakes-stacked graphite exhibits enhanced areal capacity (1.2 mAh cm−2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The midgut aminopeptidase N (APN) isoforms have been identified as the binding receptor of insecticidal Cry toxins in numerous insects, including the major arbovirus vector Aedes aegypti (Ae. aegypti). However, whether the Cry-binding APN acts as an essential functional receptor to mediate Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (Bti) toxicity in Ae. aegypti larvae remains to be determined. In this study, our results provide the direct molecular evidence demonstrating that two Cry-binding APN isoforms (AeAPN1 and AeAPN2) did not play a key role in mediating Bti Cry4Ba and Cry11Aa toxicity in Ae. aegypti larvae. The insecticidal Cry4Ba and Cry11Aa crystal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (Bti) are highly toxic to Ae. aegypti larvae. The glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored APN was identified as an important membrane-bound receptor for multiple Cry toxins in numerous Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Diptera insects. However, there is no direct molecular evidence to link APN of Ae. aegypti to Bti toxicity in vivo. In this study, two Cry4Ba/Cry11Aa-binding Ae. aegypti GPI-APN isoforms (AeAPN1 and AeAPN2) were individually knocked-out using CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis, and the AeAPN1/AeAPN2 double-mutant homozygous strain was generated using the reverse genetics approach. ELISA assays showed that the high binding affinity of Cry4Ba and Cry11Aa protoxins to the midgut brush border membrane vesicles (BBMVs) from these APN knockouts was similar to the background from the wild-type (WT) strain. Likewise, the bioassay results showed that neither the single knockout of AeAPN1 or AeAPN2, nor the simultaneous disruption of AeAPN1 and AeAPN2 resulted in significant changes in susceptibility of Ae. aegypti larvae to Cry4Ba and Cry11Aa toxins. Accordingly, our results suggest that AeAPN1 and AeAPN2 may not mediate Bti Cry4Ba and Cry11Aa toxicity in Ae. aegypti larvae as their binding proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A low-cost, high-capacity Al-graphite rechargeable aluminum-ion battery is confirmed to be able to work stably in a quaternary AlCl 3 -NaCl-LiCl-KCl inorganic molten salt as electrolyte with the lowest eutectic temperature of less than 75 °C. The battery shows a stable specific capacity of 114.9 mAh g−1 at 200 mA g−1 over 1500 cycles at 90 °C. Moreover, the capacity can remain at ∼85 mAh g−1 with a higher current density of 800 mA g−1 over 2600 cycles at 90 °C. Importantly, even cycled at 80 °C and 100 °C, almost 100% capacity retention can be achieved after 5800 cycles when the temperature is back to 90 °C, verifying the superior long-term cycling stability under various temperatures. The inherent low-cost and high capacity, as well as outstanding long-term cycling stability, makes it particularly favorable for large-scale energy storage devices. Image 1 • A quaternary AlCl 3 -NaCl-LiCl-KCl has the lowest eutectic temperature of 75 °C. • Al-graphite battery is confirmed to work stably in molten inorganic chlorides. • Graphite shows a capacity of 114.9 mAh g−1 at 200 mA g−1 over 1500 cycles at 90 °C. • The battery verifies superior long-term cycling stability at various temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slow Transit Constipation (STC) is characterized by impaired colonic motility, but its relationship with gut microbiota remains unclear. This study investigated the correlation between specific gut microbial populations and STC, focusing on the Lactobacillus acidophilus to Lactobacillus johnsonii (A/J) ratio. We used four rat groups: Control (CON), Loperamide-induced STC (LOP), antibiotic-treated (ABX), and antibiotic plus Loperamide (ABX + LOP). Fecal samples were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and serum metabolites were examined through LC–MS. The LOP group showed an increased A/J ratio, while ABX and ABX + LOP groups had decreased ratios. Notably, the ABX + LOP group did not develop STC symptoms. Metabolomic analysis revealed alterations in key metabolites across groups, including changes in levels of guanidinoacetate, glycine, l-glutamine, nicotine, and nicotinate d-ribonucleotide in the LOP group, and variations in l-glutamine, l-phenylalanine, l-tyrosine, histamine, d-ornithine, and lecithin in the ABX and ABX + LOP groups. Our findings suggest a correlation between the A/J ratio and STC development, offering insights into STC pathophysiology and potential microbiome-targeted therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vaccine has been one of the most successful public health interventions to date. However, vaccines are pharmaceutical products that carry risks so that many adverse events (AEs) are reported after receiving vaccines. Traditional adverse event reporting systems suffer from several crucial challenges including poor timeliness. This motivates increasing social media-based detection systems, which demonstrate successful capability to capture timely and prevalent disease information. Despite these advantages, social media-based AE detection suffers from serious challenges such as labor-intensive labeling and class imbalance of the training data. Results: To tackle both challenges from traditional reporting systems and social media, we exploit their complementary strength and develop a combinatorial classification approach by integrating Twitter data and the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) information aiming to identify potential AEs after influenza vaccine. Specifically, we combine formal reports which have accurately predefined labels with social media data to reduce the cost of manual labeling; in order to combat the class imbalance problem, a max-rule based multi-instance learning method is proposed to bias positive users. Various experiments were conducted to validate our model compared with other baselines. We observed that (1) multi-instance learning methods outperformed baselines when only Twitter data were used; (2) formal reports helped improve the performance metrics of our multi-instance learning methods consistently while affecting the performance of other baselines negatively; (3) the effect of formal reports was more obvious when the training size was smaller. Case studies show that our model labeled users and tweets accurately. Conclusions: We have developed a framework to detect vaccine AEs by combining formal reports with social media data. We demonstrate the power of formal reports on the performance improvement of AE detection when the amount of social media data was small. Various experiments and case studies show the effectiveness of our model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface characteristics of sub-bituminous coal have been determined in the presence of nonylphenol ethoxylate with 9 ethylene oxide groups (NP-9). The surface characterization techniques of zeta potential measurement, contact angle measurement, and surfactant adsorption have been used. Addition of NP-9 causes the zeta potential profiles to become less negative resulting from the surfactant molecules shielding the negative charge of the sub-bituminous coal. Changes in the sub-bituminous coal surface hydrophobicity are assessed using contact angle measurements. As the concentration of NP-9 gradually increases, the contact angle first increases and then decreases with the maximum contact angle at about critical micelle concentration (CMC) of NP-9. FTIR and XPS results show that oxygen functional groups on the low-rank coal surface were significantly covered by the NP-9, which indicates more hydrophobicity for the low-rank coal after adsorbing surfactant. The surfactant adsorption has been investigated as a function of concentration and temperature. The adsorption isotherms are well fitted by the Langmuir equation. The adsorption data are utilized to calculate thermodynamic parameters. The thermodynamic functions indicate that the whole adsorption process is exothermic, being driven by enthalpy-entropy synergically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The main treatment of choledochal cysts is the complete resection of the cyst with Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy, which includes open procedures, laparoscopic procedures, and robot-assisted procedures using a da Vinci surgical system. The aim of this current study was to investigate the safety and effectiveness of these three different surgical methods in pediatric choledochal cyst excisions.Methods: Between January 2015 and December 2018, patients with choledochal cysts treated with open procedures, laparoscopic procedures, or robot-assisted procedures were retrospectively analyzed. The data collected included demographic information of all patients, type and size of cyst, operative details, and postoperative outcomes.Results: A total of 371 episodes of patients were enrolled which consist of the open procedures group (n = 226), laparoscopic procedures group (n = 104), and robot-assisted procedures group (n = 41). The operation time was significantly longer in the laparoscopic procedures group (212.79 ± 34.94) than open procedures group (115.88 ± 13.50) and robot-assisted procedures group (180.61 ± 14.07) (p < 0.001). The volume of intraoperative bleeding were higher in the open procedures group (40.12 ± 55.51) than in the laparoscopic procedures group (21.73 ± 11.44) and robot-assisted procedures group (21.34 ± 9.42), while there was no significant difference between the latter groups. The time to taking water, time to starting liquid diet, and the average length of postoperative hospital stay were similar between the laparoscopic and robot-assisted procedures group, which are shorter than the open procedures group with significant differences. There was no signifcant difference in complications among the three groups.Conclusion: Choledochal cyst excision with robotic-assisted procedures had identical surgical effects as open procedures and had lower technical requirements. But it had higher medical cost and better cosmetic effects. Open procedures had largely positive surgical outcomes with fewest complications but poor cosmetic effects. Laparoscopic procedures were the most technique-demanding approaches with positive cosmetic and economic effect. The incidence of complications of laparoscopic procedures decreased with the learning curve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to reveal the association between the gut microbiota (GM) and six diabetic complications: diabetic hypoglycemia; ketoacidosis; nephropathy; neuropathy; retinopathy; and Charcot's foot. Methods: GM data were obtained from the MiBioGen consortium and Dutch Microbiome Project while data on the six diabetic complications were obtained from the FinnGen consortium. Two-sample Mendelian randomization (TSMR) was performed to explore the association between GM and the common diabetic complications. Inverse MR analysis was conducted to examine the effect of diabetic complications on the identified GM. Sensitivity tests were conducted to validate the stability of the results. Finally, multivariate MR (MVMR) was performed to determine whether GM had a direct influence on the diabetic complications. Results: After multiple corrections, the inverse variance weighted (IVW) results predicted 61 suggestive markers between GM and six diabetic complications. In particular, the IVW results revealed that the Bacteroidia class and Bacteroidales order were positively associated with diabetic hypoglycemia while the Verrucomicrobiae class and Verrucomicrobiales order were positively associated with diabetic nephropathy. Based on the replication analysis, these results were identified to be stable. MVMR showed that the results remained stable after accounting for traditional risk factors. Conclusion: Extensive causal associations were found between GM and diabetic complications, which may provide new insights into the mechanisms of microbiome-mediated complications of diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]