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Ingestion of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) via contaminated food contact materials (FCMs) is an important human exposure source. This study adopts a toxicity equivalent approach to evaluate the collective health risk of multiple PFAAs in FCMs. A comprehensive extraction and analysis of 21 PFAAs in FCMs was performed. Among the analyzed substances, 15 PFAAs were detected. Migration experiment using three food simulants revealed the migration range of seven PFAAs from FCMs into the simulant to be 0.47–46.7 ng/cm2. The hazard quotient results suggest minimal health risk, except for 9% of packaged samples where perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) poses a higher risk. Utilizing PFOA toxic equivalent concentrations, comprehensive risk calculations showed ∼77% of samples potentially posing elevated health risks due to PFAA exposure. This emphasizes the substantial contribution of PFAAs beyond PFOA and underscores the importance of considering them in related assessments. The aggregated risk assessment reflects actual exposure circumstances more accurately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractExcessive visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is a significant risk factor for various diseases. Diet plays a crucial role in controlling obesity. This study examined the association between the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and VAT in 9027 adults using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Linear regression models were used to explore this association, with subgroup analyses included. Results showed a significant inverse association between DASH scores and VAT area, even after adjusting for covariates (β = −2.18, 95% CI: −3.10, −1.27). Participants in the highest DASH score tertile had significantly lower VAT areas compared to those in the lowest tertile (β = −7.2, 95% CI: −10.40, −4.01). This inverse association was most pronounced in middle-aged participants. Further prospective cohort studies are necessary to confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malus baccata, a valuable germplasm resource in the genus Malus, is indigenous to China and widely distributed. However, little is known about the lineage composition and genetic basis of 'ZA', a mutant type of M. baccata. In this study, we compared the differences between 'ZA' and wild type from the perspective of morphology and ultrastructure and analyzed their chloroplast pigment content based on biochemical methods. Further, the complete mitogenome of M. baccata 'ZA' was assembled and obtained by next-generation sequencing. Subsequently, its molecular characteristics were analyzed using Geneious, MISA-web, and CodonW toolkits. Furthermore, by examining 106 Malus germplasms and 42 Rosaceae species, we deduced and elucidated the evolutionary position of M. baccata 'ZA', as well as interspecific variations among different individuals. In comparison, the total length of the 'ZA' mitogenome (GC content: 45.4%) is 374,023 bp, which is approximately 2.33 times larger than the size (160,202 bp) of the plastome (GC: 36.5%). The collinear analysis results revealed abundant repeats and genome rearrangements occurring between different Malus species. Additionally, we identified 14 plastid-driven fragment transfer events. A total of 54 genes have been annotated in the 'ZA' mitogenome, including 35 protein-coding genes, 16 tRNAs, and three rRNAs. By calculating nucleotide polymorphisms and selection pressure for 24 shared core mitochondrial CDSs from 42 Rosaceae species (including 'ZA'), we observed that the nad3 gene exhibited minimal variation, while nad4L appeared to be evolving rapidly. Population genetics analysis detected a total of 1578 high-quality variants (1424 SNPs, 60 insertions, and 94 deletions; variation rate: 1/237) among samples from 106 Malus individuals. Furthermore, by constructing phylogenetic trees based on both Malus and Rosaceae taxa datasets, it was preliminarily demonstrated that 'ZA' is closely related to M. baccata, M. sieversii, and other proximate species in terms of evolution. The sequencing data obtained in this study, along with our findings, contribute to expanding the mitogenomic resources available for Rosaceae research. They also hold reference significance for molecular identification studies as well as conservation and breeding efforts focused on excellent germplasms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their identical building blocks and high surface‐to‐volume ratio, subnanomaterials exhibit significant properties compared to their bulk nanomaterial counterparts. The interactions between these building blocks can result in either equal or unequal sharing of electrons, leading to electron transfer in heterojunctions or electron delocalization within symmetric structures. Clusters, possessing electronic properties akin to atoms, can serve as reservoirs of electrons to stabilize crucial intermediates in catalytic reactions. This perspective provides a novel understanding of well‐defined subnanomaterials with distinct architectures, such as cluster‐based constructions and co‐assembled heterojunctions, emphasizing the relationship between electronic structures and catalytic properties. The objective is to provide novel perspectives on the realm of subnanomaterials and cluster‐based architectures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Excessive visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is associated with a spectrum of diseases, including diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. Remnant cholesterol (RC), denoting cholesterol within triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and their metabolic byproducts, has been identified as a key contributor to cardiovascular diseases and related mortality. However, the association between the VAT and RC remains unclear. In this study, the objective is to provide new evidence regarding the association between VAT and RC concentrations. Methods: 4727 individuals aged 18–59 were selected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2011 and 2018 as study participants. This study utilized several weighted linear regression models and a restricted cubic spline (RCS) to explore the association and potential nonlinearities between VAT and RC. Subgroup analyses were performed to determine the consistency of findings. Results: The mean VAT value was 103.82 ± 1.42 cm2, and the median RC value was 18 mg/dl. VAT demonstrated a positive association with RC in a fully adjusted model, with a β and 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.09 (0.08, 0.11) after adjustment for potential confounders. Analysis using RCS revealed a nonlinear association between the VAT area and RC (P < 0.001 for nonlinearity). Adjusted two-piecewise regression models demonstrated β coefficients of 0.13 (95%CI: 0.11 ~ 0.16, P < 0.001) for RC in individuals with VAT < 143 cm2, and 0.02 (95%CI: -0.01 ~ 0.06, P = 0.15) for those with VAT ≥ 143 cm2. Interactions were observed among the body mass index (BMI) subgroup; the β coefficients for RC were 0.14 (95%CI: 0.12 ~ 0.16) in those with BMI < 30 kg/m2 and 0.05 (95%CI:0.04 ~ 0.07) in those with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, with a P-value of < 0.001 for interaction. Conclusions: This study identified a nonlinear association between VAT and RC in American adults. Reducing the VAT area may be beneficial in lowering RC concentration, particularly when VAT is < 143 cm2 and those with a BMI < 30 kg/m2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graph Convolutional Networks (GCNs) demonstrate an excellent performance in node classification tasks by updating node representation via aggregating information from the neighbor nodes. Note that the complex interactions among all the nodes can produce challenges for GCNs. Independent subgraph sampling effectively limits the neighbor aggregation in convolutional computations, and it has become a popular method to improve the efficiency of training GCNs. However, there are still some improvements in the existing subgraph sampling strategies: 1) a loss of the model performance caused by ignoring the connection information among different subgraphs; and 2) a lack of representation power caused by an incomplete topology. Therefore, we propose a novel model called Dual-channel Progressive Graph Convolutional Network (DPGCN) via sub-graph sampling. We construct subgraphs via clustering and maintain the connection information among the different subgraphs. To enhance the representation power, we construct a dual channel fusion module by using both the geometric information of the node feature and the original topology. Specifically, we evaluate the complementary information of the dual channels based on the joint entropy between the feature information and the adjacency matrix, and effectively reduce the information redundancy by reasonably selecting the feature information. Then, the model convergence is accelerated through parameter sharing and weight updating in progressive training. We select 4 real datasets and 8 characteristic models for comparison on the semi-supervised node classification task. The results verify that the DPGCN possesses superior classification accuracy and robustness. In addition, the proposed architecture performs excellently in the low labeling rate, which is of practical value to label scarcity problems in real cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An excess of selenium (Se) can cause toxicity to plants. Treatment with melatonin (MT) can alleviate the stress conditions in plants. Limited research exists on the impact of MT on Se stress and uptake in fruit trees. To address Se stress and enhance Se accumulation in Cyphomandra betacea Sendt. (Solanum betaceum Cav.), the effects of exogenous MT (50–200 µmol L−1) on C. betacea growth and Se accumulation under Se stress were studied. MT increased the biomass, photosynthetic pigments levels, and peroxidase activity of C. betacea under Se stress. Only at concentrations of 150 and 200 µmol L−1 did MT increase superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, as well as soluble protein content in C. betacea leaves. MT treatment also boosted the Se content and bioconcentration factor of C. betacea under Se stress while reducing the translocation factor. The dose of MT was directly related to the Se content, and the highest levels of Se in roots and shoots were observed at 150 µmol L−1, which was an increase of 114% and 60%, respectively, compared with the control. In addition, correlation, principal component, cluster, grey, and path analyses revealed a strong correlation between root Se content and shoot biomass with the shoot Se content. Therefore, MT treatment can mitigate Se stress and enhance Se uptake in C. betacea, and the most effective dose of MT is 150 µmol L−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semipolar {101¯1} InGaN quantum dots (QDs) formed on GaN V‐shaped pits by metal–organic vapor‐phase epitaxy (MOVPE) with a growth interruption method are reported. The 3D GaN V‐pit structures are directly grown on a patterned sapphire substrate (PSS). By adjusting the pattern arrangement direction on the substrate, it is observed in the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image that elliptical QDs are formed on the {101¯1} semipolar sidewalls of the V‐pits with a density of about 5 × 1010 cm−2. The emission wavelength of semipolar InGaN QDs is confirmed by cathodoluminescence (CL). The gradient distribution of In composition and QD size are observed along the sidewall of the V‐pits. On this basis, a three‐period semipolar InGaN QD sample is prepared. For the temperature‐dependent photoluminescence (TDPL) test, the prominent peak of the sample shows a blueshift with the increase in temperature and reaches the green band (≈523 nm) at room temperature (RT). According to time‐resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) decay curves, a carrier lifetime of 329.3 ps fit by the stretched exponential model is obtained at RT. Compared with c‐plane QDs with the same growth method, the semipolar QDs have a shorter radiative recombination lifetime due to suppressed polarization electric field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of China's most significant neighbouring states, Vietnam has been a natural focus of Chinese scholars. This article analyses how Chinese scholars have interpreted changes in the Vietnamese political economy after 1975, usually characterized in English as a period of "reform" and "renovation" that created steady high economic growth in Vietnam. While Vietnamese reform has been positive, Chinese discourse on it has varied from criticizing it to using it as a reference point for Chinese reform. Although previous studies attributed these variations to fluctuating China-Vietnam relations, I argue that shifts in China's domestic reforms also played a role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L-band spaceborne polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR) data has been well used for the high-resolution retrieval of the ionospheric Faraday rotation (FR). A vast majority of these retrievals were, however, conducted on PolSAR data of lands, with only a very few over oceans. For the global imaging of the Earth's ionosphere, the retrieval of oceanic ionosphere is indispensable. This paper aims to furnish a deep insight into the FR retrieval on oceans using the widely used Bickel-Bates estimator based on the two cross-circular polarizations ${Z_{12}}$ Z 12 and ${Z_{21}}$ Z 21 . The FR estimates (FRE) on oceans are evaluated in detail by comparing with those on lands on four ALOS PALSAR datasets. The achieved oceanic FRE are shown to possess comparable or even better quality than those on lands. It occurs in three of the four scenes that the selected ocean sub-area holds a smaller standard deviation (STD) of FRE (less than 0.7000°) than all the selected land sub-areas. Especially, the quality of FRE is shown to be closely linked to the dispersed degree of the magnitude of the conjugate product of ${Z_{12}}$ Z 12 and ${Z_{21}}$ Z 21 via the analysis of coefficient of variation (CV), according to which the unusual occurrence of larger magnitude level corresponding to larger STD of FRE can be explained. Nevertheless, compared with CV, the magnitude of the polarimetric coherence between ${Z_{12}}$ Z 12 and ${Z_{21}}$ Z 21 (i.e. $\left| \gamma \right|$ γ ) is identified as a better index to measure the quality of FRE. A smaller STD of FRE appears along with a larger $\left| \gamma \right|$ γ . Three of the four scenes show that the selected ocean sub-area bears a larger mean of $\left| \gamma \right|$ γ (greater than 0.9890) in comparison with all the selected land sub-areas. This work can promote the ionospheric research over oceans and to the correction of ionospheric effects in oceanic L-band spaceborne polarimetric radar data as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cell division cycle associated 5 (CDCA5) plays ontogenetic role in various human cancers. However, its specific function and regulatory mechanism in ccRCC remain uncertain. Methods: Immunohistochemistry and western blots were performed to investigate the expression of CDCA5 in ccRCC tissues. Genetic knockdown and upregulation of CDCA5 were performed to investigate its functional roles in ccRCC proliferation, migration, apoptosis and sunitinib resistance. Furthermore, Co-IP assay and LC–MS/MS were performed to investigate the underlying mechanisms. Results: We found that CDCA5 expression is frequently upregulated in ccRCC tumors and is associated with poor prognosis of ccRCC patients. Functionally, CDCA5 promotes proliferation, migration, and sunitinib resistance, while inhibiting apoptosis in ccRCC cells. In vivo mouse xenograft model confirms that silencing of CDCA5 drastically inhibits the growth of ccRCC. Mechanistically, we discovered that CDCA5 interacts with Eukaryotic Translation Elongation Factor 1 Alpha 1 (EEF1A1) to regulate mTOR signaling pathway, thereby promoting ccRCC progression. Conclusions: Taken together, our results demonstrate the significant role of CDCA5 in ccRCC progression. The findings may provide insights for the development of new treatment strategies targeting CDCA5 for ccRCC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is becoming a global health problem. Visceral adiposity is the main cause of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Dietary improvement is the key to controlling obesity. We hypothesized that a higher Composite Dietary Antioxidant Index (CDAI) was associated with a lower visceral adipose tissue (VAT) area. In this cross-sectional study, 10,389 adults were selected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2018. CDAI was calculated based on 6 micronutrients: zinc, selenium, total carotenoids, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E. VAT area was determined by the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan. Linear regression models were constructed to evaluate the association between CDAI and VAT area. Subgroup analyses were also performed. The mean age of participants was 39.68 years, 5240 were male, and 3841 of those were non-Hispanic White. The inverse associations were observed in all models. In model 3, CDAI was inversely associated with VAT area as a continuous variable, β (95% confidence interval), –0.56 (–0.85 to –0.27). When compared with the first tertile, the third tertile of CDAI was also inversely associated with VAT area, β (95% confidence interval), –6.72 (–10.44 to –2.99). No interactions were found in the subgroup analyses. In conclusion, an inverse association between CDAI and VAT area was found among U.S. adults aged 20 to 59 years. These results suggest the possible benefit of an antioxidant diet in relieving visceral obesity. More prospective studies are needed to identify this dietary benefit. In this cross-sectional study, a higher CDAI consisting of Vitamins A, C, and E, and zinc, selenium, and carotenoid was found to be negatively associated with visceral adipose tissue in U.S. adults.Abbreviation: CDAI, Composite Dietary Antioxidant Index. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tree ring has been regarded as an emerging archive to reconstruct historical atmospheric mercury (Hg) trends, but with the large knowledge gaps in the reliability. In this study, we comprehensively evaluated the Hg source, radial translocation and age effect of Masson pine (Pinus massoniana) tree ring at Mt. Jinyun in Chongqing, to assess the suitability of such tree ring as the archive of atmospheric Hg. Results showed that distinct variabilities among Masson pine tree-ring Hg concentration profiles. The Hg concentration significantly increased along with stem height (P < 0.05), indicating the Hg in tree rings mainly derived from foliage uptake atmospheric Hg. We found a distinct age effect that the tree ring of young trees had the higher Hg concentration. Besides, we used the advection-diffusion model to demonstrate how Hg concentration shifted by the advection or/and diffusion in tree rings. The modeling results showed that the advection induced radial translocation during the young growth period of tree was a plausible mechanism to result in the tree-ring Hg record largely different from the trend of anthropogenic Hg emissions in Chongqing. We finally suggest that in further Hg dendrochemistry, better discarding the tree-ring Hg profile of the young growth period to reduce impacts of the radial translocation and age effect. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foliage uptake of atmospheric elemental mercury (Hg0) and subsequent translocation by the phloem is the main pathway for Hg accumulation in tree rings. Tree rings have been used as the emerging natural archive to directly reconstruct centennial trends of atmospheric Hg0 level. The tree-ring Hg records in remote regions have successfully reconstructed the peak of anthropogenic Hg emissions in Europe and North America in 1960s − 1970s and the distinct increase of Hg emissions in Asia since 1980s. Combining the Hg concentrations and isotopic signatures would provide historical atmospheric Hg trends and Hg emission source shifts. The mechanisms for Hg translocation, specifically the radial translocation and impacts of environmental and tree physiological factors, are yet to be clarified to explain the nonlinear relation between atmospheric Hg0 concentration and Hg signals in tree rings. Thus, we recommend to trace Hg accumulation and translocation processes and their Hg isotopic fractionation in tree rings, and examine the relationship between tree-ring Hg profile and atmospheric pollution level in specific tree species. Finally, we suggest to develop more statistical models to quantify environmental and tree physiological impacts on Hg accumulation and translocation in tree rings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present some explicit solutions with radial character in the setting of Eulerian framework to the three-dimensional nonlinear water waves in arctic regions. In particular, we focus on the motion of water waves with a moving bed and the pressure varying on free surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given two measures μ , ν and their total variations, we study the minimization of Neumann eigenvalues for measure differential equation d y • = y (t) d μ (t) + λ y d ν (t). By solving the infinitely dimensional minimization problem of the lowest positive Neumann eigenvalue for the measure differential equation, we obtain the optimal lower bound of the lowest positive Neumann eigenvalue for the Sturm-Liouville problem y ″ = q (t) y + λ m (t) y , where q (t) is a nonnegative potential function and the other potential function m (t) admits to change sign. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most effective methods of utilizing CH 4 and CO 2 resources is the dry reforming of methane (DRM). However, the small particle size and the metal-support interactions of Ni–W bimetallic catalysts are key factors affecting activity and carbon deposition. This article evaluates the effect of Ni–W bimetallic catalysts synthesized by different preparation methods on their catalytic performance in DRM reactions. The results show that the bimetallic catalyst prepared by the solid-state grinding method exhibits excellent catalytic performance and anti-carbon deposition performance. The conversion rate of CH 4 and CO 2 remain unchanged during 1450 min, which is 58% and 66%, respectively. Through various characterization methods, it has been proven that the bimetallic catalyst prepared by the solid-state grinding method effectively reduces the size of Ni particles and increases the number of exposed active sites. In addition, this method also enhances the metal-support interactions, which helps to improve the stability of the catalyst. [Display omitted] • The Ni2W catalyst has high activity due to its small particle size. • The Ni2W catalyst exhibits excellent stability due to strong interactions. • The Ni2W-IM catalyst is deactivated due to the formation of coated carbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Textile‐based flexible alternating current electroluminescent devices have attracted extensive research interest due to their great potential in the fields of illumination and display, information interaction, smart wear, visual sensing, and trendy decoration. However, the challenge remains to easily and efficiently fabricate electroluminescent devices with high brightness and excellent durability. In this study, a fully sprayed method for fabricating electroluminescent devices on fabric is proposed. Based on the top‐emitting structure, light‐emitting e‐textiles with bright light emission are successfully prepared using highly conductive eutectic gallium–indium alloy and silver nanowires as the bottom and top electrodes, respectively, and high dielectric constant composites as the dielectric layer. Here, the brightness enhancement mechanism of high dielectric constant dielectric layers is explained for alternating current electroluminescence devices with top‐emitting structure. The devices have a brightness of up to 338.6 cd m−2 and are resistant to all forms of physical damage. This work may be a feasible path to simplify the process and reduce the cost, and may effectively promote the industrialization of wearable electroluminescent devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have been proposed for electrochemical energy storage, although the poor conductivity resulted from covalent bonds limits their practical performance. Here, we propose to introduce noncovalent bonds in COFs through a molecular insertion strategy for improving the conductivity of the COFs as supercapacitor. The synthesized COFs (MI−COFs) establish equilibriums between covalent bonds and noncovalent bonds, which construct a continuous charge transfer channel to enhance the conductivity. The rapid charge transfer rate enables the COFs to activate the redox sites, bringing about excellent electrochemical energy storage behavior. The results show that the MI−COFs exhibit much better performance in specific capacitance and capacity retention rate than those of most COFs‐based supercapacitors. Moreover, through simply altering inserted guests, the mode and strength of noncovalent bond can be adjusted to obtain different energy storage characteristics. The introduction of noncovalent bonds is an effective and flexible way to enhance and regulate the properties of COFs, providing a valuable direction for the development of novel COFs‐based energy storage materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have been proposed for electrochemical energy storage, although the poor conductivity resulted from covalent bonds limits their practical performance. Here, we propose to introduce noncovalent bonds in COFs through a molecular insertion strategy for improving the conductivity of the COFs as supercapacitor. The synthesized COFs (MI−COFs) establish equilibriums between covalent bonds and noncovalent bonds, which construct a continuous charge transfer channel to enhance the conductivity. The rapid charge transfer rate enables the COFs to activate the redox sites, bringing about excellent electrochemical energy storage behavior. The results show that the MI−COFs exhibit much better performance in specific capacitance and capacity retention rate than those of most COFs‐based supercapacitors. Moreover, through simply altering inserted guests, the mode and strength of noncovalent bond can be adjusted to obtain different energy storage characteristics. The introduction of noncovalent bonds is an effective and flexible way to enhance and regulate the properties of COFs, providing a valuable direction for the development of novel COFs‐based energy storage materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The association between segmental body composition and bone mineral density (BMD) remains uncertain. The primary aim of this cross-sectional investigation was to elucidate the connection between segmental body composition and BMD within the United States adult population. Methods: We selected a cohort of 10,096 individuals from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database, with a mean age of 39 years and a mean BMI of 28.5 kg/m². The parameter of segmental body composition was achieved by quantifying body fat and lean mass percentages across various anatomical regions, including the torso, Android, Gynoid, arms and legs. We conducted a weighted multivariate linear regression analysis to investigate the association between segmental body composition and total BMD. Additionally, subgroup analysis was performed based on age and gender. Results: We found an inverse association between fat proportion in each anatomical region and total BMD, with the arm and leg regions demonstrating the most significant negative correlation. Conversely, a positive correlation was observed between lean mass and BMD across all anatomical regions. These associations remained consistent in subgroup analyses. Conclusion: Our investigation revealed a negative association between adipose levels in various anatomical regions and BMD among Americans aged 20 to 59. Importantly, higher fat proportion in the extremities exerted the most deleterious impact on BMD. Furthermore, an increase in lean mass within each anatomical region was ascertained to confer a positive effect on bone health. Consequently, the evaluation of segmental body composition is well-positioned to predict bone health status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advent of energy crisis and stringent emission regulations, natural gas (NG)/diesel dual‐fuel engines have entered the popular view. In this paper, the accurate boundary conditions are determined by the Converge model and the transient parameters were introduced into the chemical kinetics model to make the operating conditions more closely match the actual engine operating conditions. The effects of different methane/n‐heptane ratios, initial temperatures, initial pressures, and equivalence ratios on the IDT of methane/n‐heptane fuel mixtures were analyzed using comprehensive chemical kinetic tools such as mole fraction analysis, ROP analysis, and sensitivity analysis. The IDT of methane/n‐heptane mixture decreased significantly with increasing the equivalence ratio, initial pressure, and the proportion of n‐heptane in the mixture, but the change of temperature was more complicated for the IDT. The NTC behavior of methane/n‐heptane mixture was also affected by the NTC behavior of n‐heptane. With the increase of initial temperature, the consumption of methane and n‐heptane appeared to be significantly accelerated. The peak of radicals and intermediate groups appeared earliest and had the highest radical concentration when the n‐heptane content was 30%. With the increase of initial pressure, the peak moments of the six radicals were further advanced, but the mole concentrations of O, OH, H radicals decreased significantly. This paper not only provides a reference for the design of NG/diesel dual‐fuel engines, but also provides a theoretical basis and data support for improving the ignition and initial condition setting strategies of the engines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) are common clinical problems that arise from various reasons. The differential diagnosis of benign and malignant VCFs is challenging. This study was designed to develop and validate a radiomics model to predict benign and malignant VCFs with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT). Results: Twenty-six features (9 PET features and 17 CT features) and eight clinical variables (age, SUVmax, SUVpeak, SULmax, SULpeak, osteolytic destruction, fracture line, and appendices/posterior vertebrae involvement) were ultimately selected. The area under the curve (AUCs) of the radiomics and clinical–radiomics models were significantly different from that of the clinical model in both the training group (0.986, 0.987 vs. 0.884, p < 0.05) and test group (0.962, 0.948 vs. 0.858, p < 0.05), while there was no significant difference between the radiomics model and clinical–radiomics model (p > 0.05). The accuracies of the radiomics and clinical–radiomics models were 94.0% and 95.0% in the training group and 93.2% and 93.2% in the test group, respectively. The three models all showed good calibration (Hosmer–Lemeshow test, p > 0.05). According to the decision curve analysis (DCA), the radiomics model and clinical–radiomics model exhibited higher overall net benefit than the clinical model. Conclusions: The PET/CT-based radiomics and clinical–radiomics models showed good performance in distinguishing between malignant and benign VCFs. The radiomics method may be valuable for treatment decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, there has been growing interest among researchers in exploring the effects of epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) or N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) modification regulators on tumor development. However, the synergistic efficiency of these regulators in relation to ovarian cancer development remains unclear. This study aims to explore the transcription patterns of main regulators, including 19 EMT and 22 m6A, in ovarian cancer samples from TCGA datasets and normal samples from GTEx datasets. After conducting a LASSO regression analysis, ten prognostic signatures were identified, namely KIAA1429, WTAP, SNAI1, AXL, IGF2BP1, ELAVL1, CBLL1, CDH2, NANOG and ALKBH5. These signatures were found to have a comprehensive effect on immune infiltrating signatures and the final prognostic outcome. Next, utilizing the ssGSEA algorithm and conducting overall survival analyses, we have identified the key prognosis-related immunological signatures in ovarian cancer to be ALKBH5, WTAP, ELAVL1, and CDH2 as the regulators. The characteristic immune response and related genetic expression have revealed a significant correlation between the alteration of m6A regulators and EMT regulators, indicating a synergistic effect between these two factors in the development of ovarian cancer. In summary, our research offers a novel perspective and strategy to enhance the occurrence, progression, and prognosis of ovarian cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The current study evaluated a large cohort of T2N0M0 NSCLC patients with different T2 descriptors to investigate the prognostic disparities and further externally validate the T category of these patients. Methods: The Kaplan–Meier Method with the log–rank test was used to plot survival curves. The propensity score matching (PSM) method was used to reduce bias. Univariable and multivariable Cox analyses were used to determine prognostic factors. Results: A total of 13,015 eligible T2N0M0 NSCLC patients were included. There were 5,287, 2,577 and 5,151 patients in the T2a, T2b and non-sized determined T2N0M0 (T2non-sized) groups, respectively. Before PSM, the survival of T2non-sized patients was comparable to that of T2a patients (P = 0.080) but was superior to that of T2b patients (P < 0.001). After PSM, the survival of T2non-sized patients was inferior to that of T2a patients (P = 0.028) but was similar to that of T2b patients (P = 0.325). The T category was further subdivided based on the specific non-sized T2 descriptors and tumor size. The results of the multivariate Cox analysis found that the prognosis of T2 tumors with visceral pleural invasion (size: 0–30 mm) was better than that of T2a tumors, and the prognosis of T2 tumors with visceral pleural invasion (size: 30–40 mm) was inferior to that of T2a tumors but comparable to that of T2b tumors. Conclusion: T2 tumors with visceral pleural invasion (size: 30–40 mm) should be assigned to the T2b category, and those with a size interval of 0–30 mm should be assigned to a better prognostic T2a category. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial synthesis of plant-based myrcene is of great interest because of its high demand, however, achieving high biosynthetic titers remains a great challenge. Previous strategies adopted for microbial myrcene production have relied on the recruitment of a multi-step biosynthetic pathway which requires complex metabolic regulation or high activity of myrcene synthase, hindering its application. Here, we present an effective one-step biotransformation system for myrcene biosynthesis from geraniol, using a linalool dehydratase isomerase (LDI) to overcome these limitations. The truncated LDI possesses nominal activity that catalyzes the isomerization of geraniol to linalool and the subsequent dehydration to myrcene in anaerobic environment. In order to improve the robustness of engineered strains for the efficient conversion of geraniol to myrcene, rational enzyme modification and a series of biochemical process engineering were employed to maintain and improve the anaerobic catalytic activity of LDI. Finally, by introducing the optimized myrcene biosynthetic capability in the existing geraniol-production strain, we achieve de novo biosynthesis of myrcene at 1.25 g/L from glycerol during 84 h aerobic-anaerobic two-stage fermentation, which is much higher than previously reported myrcene levels. This work highlights the value of dehydratase isomerase-based biocatalytic in establishing novel biosynthetic pathways and lays a reliable foundation for the microbial synthesis of myrcene. [Display omitted] • LDI catalyzes the isomerization of the geraniol to linalool and also its dehydration to myrcene in anaerobic environment. • Induction temperature and biocatalytic conditions of LDI are critical for its functionality. • G132A and S123H mutations result in increased activity of LDI against geraniol. • De novo biosynthesis of myrcene at 1.25 g/L from glycerol through an aerobic-anaerobic two-stage fermentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The small punch (SP) test has been widely used in applications where conventional mechanical tests cannot be performed; this paper predicts the material strength from the SP test results by empirical correlations method. The yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) models serve to associate the load–displacement (LD) curves of SP tests with the stress–strain data of uniaxial tensile tests, and then, the feasibility of these models at different temperatures is investigated. Using the Pearson's correlation coefficient (PCC) method, the ideal strength equations are accessed from past studies for the cast superalloys, including ZG15Cr2Mo1, P91, 316H, and Hastelloy X, whereas the validation results of the additively manufactured (AM) GH4169 alloy are not satisfactory. As a result, considering the unique manufacturing process of AM GH4169, this paper develops a YS model with correlation coefficients higher than 90% between the calculated and actual values and proposes a UTS formula with estimation errors less than 3.5%. Furthermore, with the purpose of superior strength prediction results, the discussion of the SP test velocity reveals that 0.50 mm min−1 had wide adaptability to various strength models and operating temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pigeons (Columba livia) are among a select few avian species that have developed a specialized reproductive mode wherein the parents produce a 'milk' in their crop to feed newborn squabs. Nonetheless, the transcriptomic dynamics and role in the rapid transition of core crop functions during 'lactation' remain largely unexplored. Here, we generated a de novo pigeon genome assembly to construct a high resolution spatio-temporal transcriptomic landscape of the crop epithelium across the entire breeding stage. This multi-omics analysis identified a set of 'lactation'-related genes involved in lipid and protein metabolism, which contribute to the rapid functional transitions in the crop. Analysis of in situ high-throughput chromatin conformation capture (Hi-C) sequencing revealed extensive reorganization of promoter-enhancer interactions linked to the dynamic expression of these 'lactation'-related genes between stages. Moreover, their expression is spatially localized in specific epithelial layers, and can be correlated with phenotypic changes in the crop. These results illustrate the preferential de novo synthesis of 'milk' lipids and proteins in the crop, and provides candidate enhancer loci for further investigation of the regulatory elements controlling pigeon 'lactation'. Author summary: The provision of food by parents is essential for offspring survival in some species. Unlike most birds, pigeons produce a 'milk' in their crops to feed hatched squabs. Here, using a multi-omics strategy, we conducted an integrated behavioral, genomic, transcriptomic, and chromatin interactome analysis of 'milk' production in the crop during the pigeon breeding stages. We generated a chromosome-level pigeon genome and annotated 18,660 high confidence protein-coding genes. Examination of spatio-temporal transcriptomic profiles revealed that lipid and protein synthesis-related genes are expressed at high levels in 'lactating' crops, suggesting that lipids and proteins used for 'milk' are preferentially synthesized de novo in the crop. We also identified the cis-regulatory elements of these 'lactation'-related genes and found that their expression is modulated by variation in promoter-enhancer chromatin-level interactions. Our data indicate that lipid- and protein-loaded crop epithelial cells proliferate rapidly and slough off during the 'lactation' stage to form pigeon 'milk'. This study provides an informative reference for further investigation of the transcriptional regulation underlying pigeon 'lactation'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malus baccata (L.) Borkh. is an important wild species of Malus. Its rich variation types and population history are not well understood. Chloroplast genome mining plays an active role in germplasm identification and genetic evolution. In this study, by assembly and annotation, six complete cp genome sequences, ranging in size from 160,083 to 160,295 bp, were obtained. The GC content of stable IR regions (42.7%) was significantly higher than that of full length (36.5%) and SC regions (LSC-34.2%, SSC-30.4%). Compared with other Malus species, it was found that there were more sites of polymorphisms and hotspots of variation in LSC and SSC regions, with high variation sites including trnR/UCU-atpA, trnT/UGU-trnL/UAA, ndhF-rpl32 and ccsA-ndhD. The intraspecific and interspecific collinearity was good, and no structural rearrangement was observed. A large number of repeating elements and different boundary expansions may be involved in shaping the cp genome size. Up to 77 or 78 coding genes were annotated in the cp genomes of M. baccata, and high frequency codons such as UUA (Leu), GCU (Ala) and AGA (Arg) were identified by relative synonymous codon usage analysis. Phylogeographic analysis showed that 12 individuals of M. baccata clustered into three different groups with complex structure, whereas variant xiaojinensis (M.H. Cheng & N.G. Jiang) was not closely related to M. baccata evolutionarily. The phylogenetic analysis suggested that two main clades of different M. baccata in the genus Malus were formed and that I and II diverged about 9.7 MYA. In conclusion, through cp genome assembly and comparison, the interspecific relationships and molecular variations of M. baccata were further elucidated, and the results of this study provide valuable information for the phylogenetic evolution and germplasm conservation of M. baccata and Malus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) affect children's development, and their harm to health is pervasive throughout the life course. To identify ACEs and their risk factors in Chinese household with or without parental mental illness. A controlled study was conducted among 181 young adults with parental mental illness (positive group) and 201 demographically matched individuals without parental mental illness (negative group). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to study the correlation between ACEs and their risk factors. The positive group suffered emotional abuse, domestic violence, bullying, and cumulative ACEs more frequently than the negative group. In the positive group, living in rural areas and having a low household economic status during childhood were identified as risk factors for cumulative ACEs, whereas a higher education level of the mother was a protective factor for cumulative ACEs in univariate analyses. Low household economic status remained an independent risk factor for cumulative ACEs in the positive group in multivariate analyses. Children living with parental mental illness are more vulnerable to ACEs, and our findings highlight the importance of socioeconomic factors in increasing the risk of ACEs. To alleviate the deleterious impact of parental mental illness on offspring, multidimensional supports are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delayed judgment of learning (JOL) is a widely used metacognitive monitoring strategy that can also enhance learning outcomes. However, the potential benefits of delayed JOL on subsequent learning of new material, known as the forward effect of delayed JOL, and its stability and underlying mechanisms have yet to be fully explored. In this study, we investigated the forward effect of delayed JOL using previously unexamined word pair materials and explored the boundary conditions of this effect by manipulating the difficulty of the materials. We also examined this effect within the context of category learning. Our findings demonstrate that delayed JOL significantly enhanced the retention of new information (Experiment 1A), while the forward effect of the delayed JOL occurred only for material with a certain degree of difficulty rather than for easy material (Experiment 1B). These findings were extended and replicated using category learning (Experiment 2). These results suggest that delayed JOL can be used as a preparation strategy for subsequent learning, particularly when faced with challenging materials. Our study provides novel insights into the potential benefits and limitations of delayed JOL and contributes to our understanding of the underlying mechanisms that govern metacognitive monitoring and learning strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface electromyography (sEMG) is generally used to measure muscles' activity. The sEMG signal can be affected using several factors and vary among individuals and even measurement trials. Thus, to consistently evaluate data among individuals and trials, the maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) value is usually calculated and used to normalize sEMG signals. However, the sEMG amplitude collected from low back muscles can be frequently larger than that found when conventional MVC measurement procedures are used. To address this limitation, in this study, we proposed a new dynamic MVC measurement procedure for low back muscles. Inspired by weightlifting, we designed a detailed dynamic MVC procedure, and then collected data from 10 able-bodied participants and compared their performances using several conventional MVC procedures by normalizing the sEMG amplitude for the same test. The sEMG amplitude normalized by our dynamic MVC procedure showed a much lower value than those obtained using other procedures (Wilcoxon signed-rank test, with p < 0.05), indicating that the sEMG collected during dynamic MVC procedure had a larger amplitude than those of conventional MVC procedures. Therefore, our proposed dynamic MVC obtained sEMG amplitudes closer to its physiological maximum value and is thus more capable of normalizing the sEMG amplitude for low back muscles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is a common complication in spinal surgery that can significantly affect the patient's prognosis. Despite advances in surgical techniques and infection control measures, SSI remains a considerable concern for healthcare providers and patients alike. In recent years, there has been a steady increase in studies related to SSI in spine surgery, leading to the publication of numerous informative articles. However, the current state and trends of research in the field of spinal SSI remain unclear. This study aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis of SSI-related articles in spine surgery to identify research status and trends. Meanwhile, we identify the top 100 most cited articles for further analysis. Methods: We searched for all articles related to spinal SSI in the Web of Science Core Collection, recording the publication year, country, journal, institution, keywords, and citation frequency for further analysis. In addition, we identified and analyzed the top 100 most cited articles. Results: A total of 307 articles related to spinal SSI were identified. All of these articles were published between 2008 and 2022, with the number of publications showing an increasing trend over the years. The related articles originated from 37 countries, with the USA contributing the most (n = 138). The institution with the highest number of publications and citations was Johns Hopkins University (14 articles; 835 citations). Among the journals, Spine had the highest number of articles (n = 47). The prevention of spinal SSI has been a research hotspot in recent years. Among the top 100 most cited articles, the most common research theme was the risk factors associated with spinal SSI. Conclusions: In recent years, research related to spinal SSI has attracted the attention of numerous clinicians and scholars. As the first bibliometric analysis of spinal SSI, our study aims to provide pragmatic guidance for clinicians to learn the research status and trends in this field and improve their vigilance toward SSI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

System dynamics (SD) applications in high-volume production operations are widely used, helping to define decision rules to reduce costs associated with the variance in planning orders and inventory. The exploitation of SD in engineer-to-order (ETO) project-oriented supply chains—e.g., in construction, shipbuilding, and capital goods—is less well established. Hence, this research reviews the literature that takes a systematic ETO perspective in modeling construction projects, exploiting SD approaches. To comprehensively identify and filter previously published works, we used a keyword searching method using Web of Science and Scopus databases. After applying relevant exclusion criteria, 143 papers were selected. Although previous reviews of ETO literature, more generally, have been done, this work contributes to the body of knowledge by specifically reviewing SD applications in ETO industries and providing insights by creating a categorization system by which to determine existing gaps. Articles are categorized into the classic four phases of a project: aggregated planning, preproject planning, project execution, and postdelivery. Analyses of the methods, attributes, and applications of SD were undertaken for each phase. Findings indicate that SD research covers the range of ETO industries, of which construction is the most dominant, demonstrating SD's high applicability. The wealth of case-orientated research in the construction field provides a solid foundation for further SD studies in the ETO field. Further research should focus on (1) developing a general ETO archetype for performance benchmarking and strategy development in construction projects; (2) introducing analytical tools, such as control theoretic approaches as found in manufacturing production planning and control design, to improve understanding of the ETO systems' dynamic behaviors; (3) developing cross-phase, cross-project, design–production integrated, aggregated planning models via hybrid techniques modeling, which can improve understanding of an ETO system's performance; and (4) improving model fidelity. We also provide a research agenda for each phase of the ETO production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural instability at high voltage severely restricts the reversible capacity of the LiCoO2 cathode. Moreover, the main difficulties in achieving high-rate performance of LiCoO2 are the long Li+ diffusion distance and slow Li+ intercalation/extraction during the cycle. Thus, we designed a modification strategy of nanosizing and tri-element co-doping to synergistically enhance the electrochemical performance of LiCoO2 at high voltage (4.6 V). Mg, Al, and Ti co-doping maintains the structural stability and phase transition reversibility, which promotes the cycling performance of LiCoO2. After 100 cycles at 1 C, the capacity retention of the modified LiCoO2 reached 94.3%. In addition, the tri-elemental co-doping increases Li+ interlayer spacing and enhances Li+ diffusivity by tens of times. Simultaneously, nanosize modification decreases Li+ diffusion distance, leading to a significantly enhanced rate capacity of 132 mA h g−1 at 10 C, much better than that of the unmodified LiCoO2 (2 mA h g−1). After 600 cycles at 5 C, the specific capacity remains at 135 mA h g−1 with a capacity retention of 91%. The nanosizing co-doping strategy synchronously enhanced the rate capability and cycling performance of LiCoO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) has been demonstrated to be a proven method for quantifying gene-expression heterogeneity and providing insight into the transcriptome at the single-cell level. When combining multiple single-cell transcriptome datasets for analysis, it is common to first correct the batch effect. Most of the state-of-the-art processing methods are unsupervised, i.e., they do not utilize single-cell cluster labeling information, which could improve the performance of batch correction methods, especially in the case of multiple cell types. To better utilize known labels for complex dataset scenarios, we propose a novel deep learning model named IMAAE (i.e., integrating multiple single-cell datasets via an adversarial autoencoder) to correct the batch effects. After conducting experiments with various dataset scenarios, the results show that IMAAE outperforms existing methods for both qualitative measures and quantitative evaluation. In addition, IMAAE is able to retain both corrected dimension reduction data and corrected gene expression data. These features make it a potential new option for large-scale single-cell gene expression data analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compressive data gathering (CDG) is an adequate method to reduce the amount of data transmission, thereby decreasing energy expenditure for wireless sensor networks (WSNs). Sleep scheduling integrated with CDG can further promote energy efficiency. Most of existing sleep scheduling methods for CDG were formulated as centralized optimization problems which introduced many extra control message exchanges. Meanwhile, a few distributed methods usually adopted stochastic decision which could not adapt to variance in residual energy of nodes. A part of nodes were prone to prematurely run out of energy. In this paper, a reinforcement learning-based sleep scheduling algorithm for CDG (RLSSA-CDG) is proposed. Active nodes selection is modeled as a finite Markov decision process. The mode-free Q learning algorithm is used to search optimal decision strategies. Residual energy of nodes and sampling uniformity are considered into the reward function of the Q learning algorithm for load balance of energy consumption and accurate data reconstruction. It is a distributed algorithm that avoids large amounts of control message exchanges. Each node takes part in one step of the decision process. Thus, computation overhead for sensor nodes is affordable. Simulation experiments are carried out on the MATLAB platform to validate the effectiveness of the proposed RLSSA-CDG against the distributed random sleep scheduling algorithm for CDG (DSSA-CDG) and the original sparse-CDG algorithm without sleep scheduling. The simulation results indicate that the proposed RLSSA-CDG outperforms the two contrast algorithms in terms of energy consumption, network lifetime, and data recovery accuracy. The proposed RLSSA-CDG reduces energy consumption by 4.64% and 42.42%, respectively, compared to the DSSA-CDG and the original sparse-CDG, prolongs life span by 57.3%, and promotes data recovery accuracy by 84.7% compared to the DSSA-CDG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article addresses the state estimation problem for a class of nonlinear complex networks (CNs) under attack. First, a novel important‐data‐based (IDB) attack strategy is skillfully proposed from the adversary's point of view to maximize the attack effect. Different from most existing attack models, the IDB attacker has the ability to eavesdrop measurements and only attacks the packets which play an important role in the system. As such, a larger system performance degradation can be expected. Second, a new kind of resilient H∞$$ {H}_{\infty } $$ estimator is designed, from the perspective of the defenders, to alleviate the negative effect of the attack. In a word, a novel unified attack‐defense framework for nonlinear CNs is established. In order to make up for the defect that the IDB attacker's parameter is unknown to the defender, an algorithm is developed to approximate the attack parameter. With the help of the Lyapunov functional method, sufficient conditions are obtained to resist the proposed IDB attack and ensure the H∞$$ {H}_{\infty } $$ performance of the augmented system. At last, two examples are given to demonstrate the destructiveness of the proposed IDB attack strategy and the effectiveness of the developed resilient H∞$$ {H}_{\infty } $$ estimator, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyoxometalate (POM) clusters with atomic precision structures are promising candidates construct functional nanomaterials via self‐assembly. Non‐covalent interactions at molecular levels can govern the self‐assembly of POM clusters, for which the precise control of POM‐based assemblies can be realized at single‐cluster levels. This mini‐review focuses on the synthesis and properties of POM‐based nanostructures, including amphiphilic POM assemblies and co‐assemblies of POM clusters and other subnanometer building blocks. Several synthetic strategies have been developed for rational control of POM‐based assemblies in terms of morphologies, compositions and properties. 1D subnanometer POM assemblies demonstrate remarkable enhanced mechanical properties due to the topological interactions between nanowires and surroundings. The in‐depth understanding of POM‐based assemblies may help in the design of functional nanomaterials in fundamental perspectives and applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyoxometalate (POM) clusters with atomic precision structures are promising candidates construct functional nanomaterials via self‐assembly. Non‐covalent interactions at molecular levels can govern the self‐assembly of POM clusters, for which the precise control of POM‐based assemblies can be realized at single‐cluster levels. This mini‐review focuses on the synthesis and properties of POM‐based nanostructures, including amphiphilic POM assemblies and co‐assemblies of POM clusters and other subnanometer building blocks. Several synthetic strategies have been developed for rational control of POM‐based assemblies in terms of morphologies, compositions and properties. 1D subnanometer POM assemblies demonstrate remarkable enhanced mechanical properties due to the topological interactions between nanowires and surroundings. The in‐depth understanding of POM‐based assemblies may help in the design of functional nanomaterials in fundamental perspectives and applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent years have seen tremendous success in the design of novel drug molecules through deep generative models. Nevertheless, existing methods only generate drug-like molecules, which require additional structural optimization to be developed into actual drugs. In this study, a deep learning method for generating target-specific ligands was proposed. This method is useful when the dataset for target-specific ligands is limited. Deep learning methods can extract and learn features (representations) in a data-driven way with little or no human participation. Generative pretraining (GPT) was used to extract the contextual features of the molecule. Three different protein-encoding methods were used to extract the physicochemical properties and amino acid information of the target protein. Protein-encoding and molecular sequence information are combined to guide molecule generation. Transfer learning was used to fine-tune the pretrained model to generate molecules with better binding ability to the target protein. The model was validated using three different targets. The docking results show that our model is capable of generating new molecules with higher docking scores for the target proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a clean energy source, hydrogen has attracted much attention due to its high thermal conversion efficiency, recyclability and non-polluting properties. Recently, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have become a global research hotspot, and the number of hydrogen refueling stations is steadily increasing. But the biggest problem holding them back is that the filling of high-pressure hydrogen causes a rapid increase in the internal temperature of the storage tank. In order to make hydrogen fuel cell vehicles fully popular, the principle of temperature rise is systematically elucidated, the influence of refueling parameters on the tank state is summarized and appropriate mitigation measures and solutions to limit or mitigate the effects of temperature rise are proposed in this review, such as pre-cooling the hydrogen in advance, reducing the initial hydrogen content in the tank and ensuring that the ambient temperature and the initial tank temperature are at a low level. In addition, a number of safe refueling strategies and methods are presented. Through the comprehensive study in this paper, the important relationship between the refueling parameters and the temperature rise in the tank is refined, which is very useful in promoting the development of new refueling strategies and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. [Display omitted] • Different existing hydrogen refueling protocols were compared specifically. • Researches on distribution, economics and risks of hydrogen refueling stations were studied. • The influence of hydrogen refueling parameters on the state of the tank was investigated. • An outlook on the development of fuel cell vehicles and related components was discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Parasite diversity and population structure influence malaria control measures. Malaria transmission at international borders affects indigenous residents and migrants, defying management efforts and resulting in malaria re-introduction. Here we aimed to determine the extent and distribution of genetic variations in Plasmodium vivax populations and the complexity of infections along the China–Myanmar border. Methods: We collected clinical P. vivax samples from local and migrant malaria patients from Laiza and Myitsone, Kachin State, Myanmar, respectively. We characterized the polymorphisms in two P. vivax merozoite surface protein markers, Pvmsp-3α and Pvmsp-3β, by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP) analysis. We sought to determine whether these genetic markers could differentiate these two neighboring parasite populations. Results: PCR revealed three major size variants for Pvmsp-3α and four for Pvmsp-3β among the 370 and 378 samples, respectively. PCR–RFLP resolved 26 fragment-size alleles by digesting Pvmsp-3α with Alu I and Hha I and 28 alleles by digesting Pvmsp-3β with Pst I. PCR–RFLP analysis of Pvmsp-3α found that infections in migrant laborers from Myitsone bore more alleles than did infections in residents of Laiza, while such difference was not evident from genotyping Pvmsp-3β. Infections originating from these two places contained distinct but overlapping subpopulations of P. vivax. Infections from Myitsone had a higher multiplicity of infection as judged by the size of the Pvmsp-3α amplicons and alleles after Alu I/Hha I digestion. Conclusions: Migrant laborers from Myitsone and indigenous residents from Laiza harbored overlapping but genetically distinct P. vivax parasite populations. The results suggested a more diverse P. vivax population in Myitsone than in the border town of Laiza. PCR–RFLP of Pvmsp-3α offers a convenient method to determine the complexity of P. vivax infections and differentiate parasite populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the energy equality for weak solutions of the nonhomogeneous incompressible Hall-magnetohydrodynamics equations in a bounded domain Ω ⊂ R n (n ⩾ 2). By exploiting the special structure of the nonlinear terms and using the coarea formula, we obtain some sufficient conditions for the regularity of weak solutions to ensure that the energy equality is valid. For the special case n = 3 , p = q = 2 , our results are consistent with the corresponding results obtained by Kang-Deng-Zhou in [Results Appl. Math. 12:100178, 2021]. Additionally, we establish the sufficient conditions concerning ∇ u and ∇ b , instead of u and b. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated model predictive control (MPC) for close-proximity maneuvering of spacecraft. It is essential for a designed MPC to effectively handle collision avoidance between the servicer spacecraft and the client spacecraft, especially while the client is rotating. The rotating motion of the client leads to dynamic changes in the collision avoidance constraints, which increases the difficulty of optimizing the control input in the MPC framework. Therefore, this study presents a method to improve the performance and computational efficiency of MPC for rendezvous and docking with a nonrotating or rotating client. An ellipsoid is adopted to model the client's keep-out zone (KOZ). Given the spherical KOZ of the servicer, an expanded ellipsoid is introduced to describe the KOZ for the center of mass of the servicer and modeled as a nonlinear constraint. The linearization method for reference points located at the expanded ellipsoid is adopted to convexify the nonlinear constraints. The reference points are adaptively determined according to the positions of the servicer, client, and expanded ellipsoidal KOZ. The resulting hyperplanes are then used to describe the collision avoidance constraints. By utilizing the aforementioned strategies, combined with the calculated reference points, an adaptive convex programming algorithm suitable for real-time implementation of MPC is derived. The performance of the proposed method is demonstrated through numerical simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest ecosystem accounts for 31% of global land areas and plays a key role in the global biogeochemical cycling of mercury (Hg). In this critical review, datasets of Hg flux measurements and Hg isotopic compositions in the environmental compartments of forests in the last three decades are synthesized to examine the budgets of Hg mass balance and storages. The primary goal of this synthesis is to provide insight into the source, transportation, translocation and fate of legacy Hg in forests. Existing data indicate that forests represent the largest atmospheric Hg sink in the terrestrial ecosystem, with atmospheric total Hg deposition of 2200–3400 Mg yr−1 (i.e., relative to 40–65% atmospheric Hg pool size) and 500–1100 Gg of Hg stored in surface soils and vegetation. The climate and land cover changes, deforestation and wildfire re-volatilize several hundred tons of Hg into the atmosphere, thus increasing the ecological risk to the regional and global environments. Vegetative uptake of Hg0 vapor from air predominantly controls Hg accumulation and isotopic fractionation in the atmosphere and in global forests. With the ongoing Hg emission reduction from anthropogenic sources required by the Minamata Convention, an integrated assessment on the changing biogeochemical processes and isotopic fractionation in response to human and natural perturbations of emissions, climate, and land use is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Congenital cataracts (CCs) have significant genotypic and phenotypic heterogeneity. The major intrinsic protein (MIP) gene, one of the causative genes of CCs, plays a vital role in maintaining the homeostasis and transparency of the lens. In this study, we identified a unique phenotype of anterior umbilication of the lens in a four-generation pedigree with CCs. All patients in the observed family had nystagmus, nuclear cataracts, and elongated axial lengths compared with their healthy counterparts except for patient I:2, whose axial length was unavailable, and patientII:4, who had total cataracts. We confirmed, using Sanger sequencing based on whole-exon sequencing (WES) data, that all patients carried a heterozygous variant NM_012064.4:c.97C > T (NP_036196.1:p.R33C) in their MIP gene. To our knowledge, 29 variants of the human MIP gene and the relative phenotypes associated with CCs have been identified. Nevertheless, this is the first report on the anterior umbilication of the lens with nuclear or total opacity caused by the c.97C > T (p.R33C) variant in the MIP gene. These results also provide evidence that the elongated axial length might be associated with this variant. This study further confirms the phenotypic heterogeneity of CCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an ultra-thin CPW-fed ultra-wideband flexible MIMO antenna for Internet of Things (IoT) applications is proposed. The antenna is etched on a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) substrate. Two antenna elements of the presented MIMO antenna are placed parallelly without an isolator. The measured S11 is less than −6 dB from 4.7 to 45 GHz, covering China's 5G and 5G millimeter-wave bands. The measured S21 is less than −20 dB in most bands except 8.5–11.7 GHz, and the minimum |S21| is 15.7 dB at 10.5 GHz. In addition, the simulation and measurement results of flexible MIMO antenna indicate the antennas have good radiation characteristics, and the maximum gain can get 6.4 dB. Then ECC, DG and TARC are evaluated. The proposed antennas are suitable for 5G-enabled IoT applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The effect of bismuth on molecularly imprinted titanium dioxide was investigated. • Selective photocatalytic removal of ethyl paraben achieved. • Addition of ethyl paraben to achieve enhanced degradation of ethyl paraben. In this paper, a variety of titanium-bismuth-based composite photocatalysts were prepared by molecularly imprinted sol–gel method using ethyl paraben (EP) as the target pollutant and tetra-n-butyl titanate as the precursor for the degradation of EP. The photocatalytic removal of 81.4 % of 10 mg/L EP wastewater was achieved by synthesising Bi-EP-TiO 2 for 30 min at 500°C, 5 g Bi and 2 g EP. The main component of the prepared Bi-EP-TiO 2 and Bi-TiO 2 is Bi 2 Ti 2 O 7 -TiO 2. In addition, the forbidden bandwidth of Bi-EP-TiO 2 is 0.28 eV larger than that of Bi-TiO 2 but 0.30 eV smaller than that of TiO 2 , which suggests that, compared with TiO 2 , Bi-EP-TiO 2 requires a lower electron-leap energy, which is capable of generating more. This suggests that Bi-EP-TiO 2 requires lower electron transition energy than TiO 2 , and therefore can generate more photogenerated electron holes, thus improving the catalytic efficiency. Hence, Bi 2 Ti 2 O 7 -TiO 2 doped with ethyl paraben degrades EP with excellent performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adhesion between epithelial cells enables the remarkable mechanical behavior of epithelial tissues during morphogenesis. However, it remains unclear how cell-cell adhesion influences mechanics in both static and dynamically flowing confluent epithelial tissues. Here, we systematically modulate E-cadherin-mediated adhesion in the Drosophila embryo and study the effects on the mechanical behavior of the germband epithelium before and during dramatic tissue remodeling and flow associated with body axis elongation. Before axis elongation, we find that increasing E-cadherin levels produces tissue comprising more elongated cells and predicted to be more fluid-like, providing reduced resistance to tissue flow. During axis elongation, we find that the dominant effect of E-cadherin is tuning the speed at which cells proceed through rearrangement events. Before and during axis elongation, E-cadherin levels influence patterns of actomyosin-dependent forces, supporting the notion that E-cadherin tunes tissue mechanics in part through effects on actomyosin. Notably, the effects of ∼4-fold changes in E-cadherin levels on overall tissue structure and flow are relatively weak, suggesting that the system is tolerant to changes in absolute E-cadherin levels over this range where an intact tissue is formed. Taken together, these findings reveal dual—and sometimes opposing—roles for E-cadherin-mediated adhesion in controlling tissue structure and dynamics in vivo , which result in unexpected relationships between adhesion and flow in confluent tissues. • Elevated E-cadherin levels produce tissues with more elongated cells • E-cadherin levels tune the speed of cell rearrangements in elongating tissues • E-cadherin levels tune tissue mechanics in part through effects on actomyosin • Drosophila axis elongation is robust to 4-fold changes in E-cadherin levels Wang et al. quantitatively study how E-cadherin levels influence tissue structure and dynamics in the Drosophila embryo before and during body axis elongation. They find that E-cadherin levels tune cell shapes and cell rearrangement speeds, in part via effects on actomyosin, and uncover that axis elongation is resilient to changes in E-cadherin levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]