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Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysis have an important role in rechargeable zinc–air batteries (ZABs) and water splitting and have received extensive attention over the years. Therefore, the design and development of efficient and economical multifunctional electrocatalysts is currently considered an important subject in the field of green and renewable energy. In this paper, a simple and reproducible SiO2 templating strategy is designed to utilize natural hemin as a source of Fe–N–C material. Hemin is adsorbed onto the surface of SiO2 through electrostatic interaction, which allows hemin to stretch along the surface of SiO2 spheres during high-temperature pyrolysis. The final product named Fe3C–Fe/NC-800 with abundant cavities and a sturdy 3D framework structure shows excellent ORR, OER and HER activities. Theoretical calculations show that the synergistic interaction between Fe3C and FeN4 sites reduces the energy barrier during the electrochemical reaction and improves the ORR, OER, and HER performance. Based on its superior tri-functional activity, Fe3C–Fe/NC-800 finds potential applications in ZABs and overall water-splitting devices. This work will provide insights into the design and preparation of electrocatalysts used in clean energy conversion devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the demand for miniaturization of electronic devices increases, ceramics with an ABO3 structure require further improvement of the dielectric constant with high permittivity. In the present work, Ba1−1.5xBixTiO3 (BB100xT, x = 0.0025, 0.005, 0.0075, 0.01) ceramics were prepared via a solid-state reaction process. The effect of Bi doping on dielectric properties of lead-free relaxor ferroelectric BaTiO3-based ceramics was studied. The results showed that both colossal permittivity (37,174) and a temperature stability of TCC ≤ ±15% (−27–141 °C) were achieved in BB100xT ceramics at x = 0.5%. The A-site donor doping produces A-site vacancies, a larger space for Ti4+, and fluctuation of the component, which is partially responsible for the high permittivity and responsible for the temperature stability. Meanwhile, the contribution of defect dipoles, and IBLC and SBLC effects to polarization leads to the colossal permittivity. The formation of a liquid phase during sintering promotes mass transfer when the doping content is higher than 0.5%. This work benefits the exploration of novel multilayer ceramic capacitors with colossal permittivity and temperature stability via defect engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a multi-objective optimization method based on a hybrid of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and experimental techniques, which integrates a weighted average surrogate model and the NSGA-II intelligent algorithm. To validate the feasibility of this method, structural optimization for the self-excited oscillation mixer (SEOM) was conducted. The optimization objectives aimed to reduce potential abrasives accumulation in the mixed-flow cavity and minimize erosion on the elbow of the slurry outlet caused by mixed slurry, thereby enhancing the service life and rust removal efficiency of the mixed flow rotary jet descaling (MFD). A comparison between the optimized model and original model revealed a 2.51% increase in negative pressure within the cavity of the optimized model, as well as a 10.36% decrease in velocity at the outlet of mixed slurry based on simulation results. Experimental methods measured both mass flow rate of inhaled abrasive particles and impact force of mixed slurry outlet. The experimental results demonstrated that compared to its original counterpart, the optimized model exhibited superior performance with a 22.81% increase in abrasive particle flow rate and an 11.34% reduction in mixed slurry impact force indirectly, verifying better simulation effectiveness for SEOM with optimized structure. This approach also enhanced efficiency and surface quality of MFD processing strip steel, providing guidance for structural optimization of similar SEOMs used in mixed flow descaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sand solidification of earth-rock dams is the key to flood discharge capacity and collapse prevention of earth-rock dams. It is urgent to find an economical, environmentally friendly, and durable sand solidification technology. However, the traditional grouting reinforcement method has some problems, such as high costs, complex operations, and environmental pollution. Enzyme-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (EICP) is an anti-seepage reinforcement technology emerging in recent years with the characteristics of economy, environmental protection, and durability. The erosion resistance and shear strength of earth-rock dams solidified by EICP need further verification. In this paper, EICP-solidified standard sand is taken as the research object, and EICP-cemented standard sand is carried out by a consolidated undrained triaxial test. A two-stage pouring method is adopted to pour samples, and the effects of dry density, cementation times, standing time, and confining pressure on the shear strength of cemented standard sand are emphatically analyzed. The relationship between cohesion, internal friction angle, and CaCO3 formation was analyzed. After the optimal curing conditions are obtained through the triaxial shear strength test, the erosion resistance model test is carried out. The effects of erosion angle, erosion flow rate, and erosion time on the erosion resistance of EICP-solidified sand were analyzed through an erosion model test. The results of triaxial tests show that the standard sand solidified by EICP exhibits strain softening, and the peak strength increases with the increase in initial dry density, cementation times, standing time, and confining pressure. When the content of CaCO3 increases from 2.84 g to 12.61 g, the cohesive force and internal friction angle change to 23.13 times and 1.18 times, and the determination coefficients reach 0.93 and 0.94, respectively. Erosion model test results indicate that the EICP-solidified sand dam has good erosion resistance. As the increase in erosion angle, erosion flow rate, and erosion time, the breach of solidified samples gradually becomes larger. Due to the deep solidification of sand by EICP, the development of breaches is relatively slow. Under different erosion conditions, the solidified samples did not collapse and the dam broke. The research results have important reference value and scientific significance for the practice of sand consolidation engineering in earth-rock dams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Keloid is a disease characterized by proliferation of fibrous tissue after the healing of skin tissue, which seriously affects the daily life of patients. However, the clinical treatment of keloids still has limitations, that is, it is not effective in controlling keloids, resulting in a high recurrence rate. Thus, it is urgent to identify new signatures to improve the diagnosis and treatment of keloids. Method: Bulk RNA seq and scRNA seq data were downloaded from the GEO database. First, we used WGCNA and MEGENA to co-identify keloid/immune-related DEGs. Subsequently, we used three machine learning algorithms (Randomforest, SVM-RFE, and LASSO) to identify hub immune-related genes of keloid (KHIGs) and investigated the heterogeneous expression of KHIGs during fibroblast subpopulation differentiation using scRNA-seq. Finally, we used HE and Masson staining, quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, western blotting, immunohistochemical, and Immunofluorescent assay to investigate the dysregulated expression and the mechanism of retinoic acid in keloids. Results: In the present study, we identified PTGFR, RBP5, and LIF as KHIGs and validated their diagnostic performance. Subsequently, we constructed a novel artificial neural network molecular diagnostic model based on the transcriptome pattern of KHIGs, which is expected to break through the current dilemma faced by molecular diagnosis of keloids in the clinic. Meanwhile, the constructed IG score can also effectively predict keloid risk, which provides a new strategy for keloid prevention. Additionally, we observed that KHIGs were also heterogeneously expressed in the constructed differentiation trajectories of fibroblast subtypes, which may affect the differentiation of fibroblast subtypes and thus lead to dysregulation of the immune microenvironment in keloids. Finally, we found that retinoic acid may treat or alleviate keloids by inhibiting RBP5 to differentiate pro-inflammatory fibroblasts (PIF) to mesenchymal fibroblasts (MF), which further reduces collagen secretion. Conclusion: In summary, the present study provides novel immune signatures (PTGFR, RBP5, and LIF) for keloid diagnosis and treatment, and identifies retinoic acid as potential anti-keloid drugs. More importantly, we provide a new perspective for understanding the interactions between different fibroblast subtypes in keloids and the remodeling of their immune microenvironment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the advantages of easy installation, low cost, and high bearing capacity (P), torpedo anchors (TAs) are suitable for anchoring the floating platforms used in deep-sea oil exploitation. This study investigated the P of conventional and end-bearing TAs in saturated, normally consolidated soils based on a numerical calculation using the ABAQUS software. According to numerical calculations with different parameter values, the effects of factors such as the location, area (S), embedment depth (h), and pullout angle (α) of the bearing plates on P were investigated. Based on the numerical calculation results, vertical (V)–horizontal (H) envelopes for the P of TAs were established. The results reveal that the P of a conventional TA under vertical pullout loading between numerical calculation and American Petroleum Institute (API) standard exist a difference of only 3%, which confirms the reliability of the numerical model. The P of the end-bearing TAs was significantly higher than that of conventional TAs, and the TA equipped with bearing plates at the bottom had a relatively high P, which increased significantly as S and h increased. When S exceeded a certain value, P increased with α. An increase in S resulted in an increase in the envelope coefficient A and a decrease in the envelope coefficient B, and caused the envelope to protrude outward. Establishing V–H envelopes has a certain reference value for estimating the P of TAs in actual engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earth–rock dams are widely distributed in China and play an important role in flood control, water storage, water-level regulation, and water quality improvement. As an emerging seepage control and reinforcement technology in the past few years, enzyme (urease)-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (EICP) has the qualities of durability, environmental friendliness, and great economic efficiency. For EICP-solidified standard sand, this study analyzes the effect of dry density, amount of cementation, standing time, perfusion method, and other factors on the permeability and strength characteristics of solidified sandy soil by conducting a permeability test and an unconfined compression test and then working out the optimal solidification conditions of EICP. Furthermore, a quantitative relationship is established between the permeability coefficient (PC), unconfined compressive strength (UCS), and CaCO3 generation (CG). The test findings indicate that the PC of the solidified sandy soil decreases and the UCS rises as the starting dry density, amount of cementation, and standing time rise. With the increase of CG, the PC of the solidified sandy soil decreases while the UCS increases, indicating a good correlation among PC, UCS, and CG. The optimal condition of solidification by EICP is achieved by the two-stage grouting method with an initial dry density of 1.65 g/cm3, cementation time of 6 d, and standing time of 5 d. Under such conditions, the permeability of the solidified sandy soil is 6.25 × 10−4 cm/s, and the UCS is 1646.94 kPa. The findings of this study are of great theoretical value and scientific significance for guiding the reinforcement of earth–rock dams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the combustion characteristics and kinetics of cotton straw (CS) particles mixed with polyethylene (PE) film and coal gangue (CG) were investigated. The co-combustion characteristics of CS mixed with PE and CG at different heating rates were revealed by the thermogravimetric method and differential thermogravimetric method. The ignition temperature, burnout temperature, and maximum weight loss rate were measured, and the comprehensive combustion and flammability indexes were calculated. The results showed that the composite combustion characteristic index and flammability index increased with the increase in heating rate. The addition of PE and CG additives could effectively extend the combustion time. The Coats-Redfern (C-R) reaction model and N-order reaction model were used to evaluate the kinetic parameters of the blends. The results showed that 12.5% PE + 12.5% CG particles had the lowest activation energy (Ea = 103.73 kJ·mol−1) at the volatile combustion stage. The dynamics conform to the third-order dynamics model. In addition, the applicability of C-R model, Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO) model, and Starink model in the calculation of activation energy was explored, and it was found that the FWO model is not suitable for the calculation of activation energy of biomass pellet combustion kinetics. This study provides a new method for the development and utilization of mixed fuel particles of cotton stalk and solid waste and expands the application prospect of biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an emerging repair method, the enzyme-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (EICP) technique has the advantages of being highly economical, eco-friendly, and durable. The optimal repair conditions were obtained by taking cement mortar as the research object, adding two types of filling medium, using three EICP-based repair methods to repair the cement mortar with different crack widths, and combining ultrasonic testing and strength testing to evaluate the mechanical properties and repair effects of the repair mortar. The microscopic structure of the mortar was established using mesoscopic and microscopic tests (XRD, SEM, and EDS), thereby revealing the mechanism of repair based on EICP. The test results show that, when quartz sand is used as the repair medium, more calcium carbonate adheres to the cross-section of test samples, and it has a better repair effect. Moreover, the repair effect of the injection method is significantly higher than those of the perfusion and immersion methods, and the ultrasonic wave transit time decreases by 1.22% on average. Based on the combination of quartz sand and EICP repair methods, the calcium carbonate precipitated among the sand granules contributes to a binding effect that strengthens the cohesive force among the sand granules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep generative models have been widely used in molecular generation tasks because they can save time and cost in drug development compared with traditional methods. Previous studies based on generative adversarial network (GAN) models typically employ reinforcement learning (RL) to constrain chemical properties, resulting in efficient and novel molecules. However, such models have poor performance in generating molecules due to instability in training. Therefore, quantitative evaluation of existing molecular generation models, especially GAN models, is necessary. This study aims to evaluate the performance of discrete GAN models using RL in molecular generation tasks and explore the impact of different factors on model performance. Through evaluation experiments on QM9 and ZINC datasets, the results show that noise sampling distributions, training epochs, and training data volumes can affect the performance of molecular generation. Finally, we provide strategies for stable training and improved performance for GAN models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In holometabolous insects, such as Drosophila and Bombyx, prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH) is well established to be critical in controlling developmental transitions and metamorphosis by stimulating the biosynthesis of ecdysone in the prothoracic glands (PGs). However, the physiological role of PTTH and the receptor Torso in hemimetabolous insects remains largely unexplored. In this study, homozygous PTTH- and Torso-null mutants of the brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens, were successfully generated by employing clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated 9 (CRISPR–Cas9). Further characterization showed that both NlPTTH−/− and NlTorso−/− mutants exhibited prolonged nymphal duration and increased final adult size. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) revealed that NlPTTH−/− and NlTorso−/− mutants exhibited a significant reduction in 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) in fifth-instar nymphs at 48 h post-ecdysis compared to Wt controls. Furthermore, our results indicated that both NlPTTH−/− and NlTorso−/− mutants had shortened lifespan, reduced female fecundity, and reduced egg hatching rates in adults. These findings suggest a conserved role for the PTTH–Torso signaling system in the regulation of developmental transitions by stimulating ecdysone biosynthesis in hemimetabolous insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to investigate the pollution emission of freight diesel motor vehicles in logistics parks, the article selected three logistics parks A, B and C in Dongxihu District of Wuhan City as the research object, analyzed the activity level of diesel motor vehicles based on the on-site survey and the data obtained from Wuhan Motor Vehicle Supervisory Platform, and carried out the field monitoring of NOx and PM2.5 in the entrance and exit sections of the logistics parks. The results show that the trucks entering and leaving the logistics park are mainly heavy-duty diesel vehicles, accounting for over 78.1%; the proportion of diesel motor vehicles of National + National emission standard types is more than 50%, but there are still a small number of diesel motor vehicles of National standard. The activity level of diesel motor vehicles in each logistics park has no direct correlation with the area of the logistics park, and the changes in traffic flow on weekdays and non-weekdays show different trends from the traffic volume on urban roads. The total emissions of NOx, PM2.5, PM10, CO, and HC from the three logistics parks during August were 36.958 tons, 0.529 tons, 0.586 tons, 16.588 tons, and 1.157 tons, respectively, and the monitored concentrations of NO2 and PM2.5 at the cross-sections into and out of the logistics parks in August and November were 1.24-2.41 times higher than those of the neighboring street air-quality monitoring stations, and 2.70-2.82 times higher than that of the neighboring -street air-quality monitoring stations, respectively, which shows that diesel motor vehicle exhaust emissions from the Logistics Park have a considerable impact on the quality of the air environ ment in the neighboring areas, and the type of diesel motor vehicle structure in the Logistics Park is also associated with the green transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Aphasia is a communication disorder that affects the ability to process and produce language, which severely impacting their lives. Computer-aid exercise rehabilitation has shown to be highly effective for these patients. OBJECTIVE: In our study, we proposed a speech rehabilitation system with mirrored therapy. The study goal is to construct a effective rehabilitation software for aphasia patients. METHODS: This system collects patients' facial photos for mirrored video generation and speech synthesis. The visual feedback provided by the mirror creates an engaging and motivating experience for patients. And the evaluation platform employs machine learning technologies for assessing speech similarity. RESULTS: The sophisticated task-oriented rehabilitation training with mirror therapy is also presented for experiments performing. The performance of three tasks reaches the average scores of 83.9% for vowel exercises, 74.3% for word exercies and 77.8% for sentence training in real time. CONCLUSIONS: The user-friendly application system allows patients to carry out daily training tasks instructed by the therapists or the prompt information of menu. Our work demonstrated a promising intelligent mirror software system for reading-based aphasia rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study focuses on the development of a novel venturi-based self-excited oscillation mixer that effectively utilizes the venturi effect to facilitate efficient abrasive intake while simultaneously ensuring effective prevention of backflow through the utilization of the systolic section within the venturi tube. It not only ensures uniform mixing of water and abrasive but also transforms the continuous jet into a pulsed one, thereby significantly enhancing exit velocity. The orthogonal experimental design method and single factor experiment method were employed to investigate the effects of inlet water pressure, water nozzle diameter, abrasive inlet angle, aspect ratio of the self-excited oscillation mixer, and abrasive pipe inlet diameter on the inlet pressure of the abrasive pipe and the velocity of the jet exit in the new mixing device. Approximate response surface models for these parameters were constructed using lsight optimization software, combining the results of orthogonal experimental simulation. By employing a multi-island genetic algorithm, we have globally optimized this innovative mixing device to determine its optimal performance parameters. Subsequently, comparative experiments were conducted to validate the performance of different mixing devices in descaling applications. Through experimental verification, it was found that the venturi-self-excited oscillation mixer exhibits excellent rust removal capabilities in steel plate tests compared to traditional self-excited oscillation mixers. These findings provide valuable guidance for the subsequent design and enhancement of abrasive water jet mixers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio and triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index are novel indexes for insulin resistance (IR). We aimed to evaluate associations of TG/HDL-C and TyG with arterial stiffness risk. Methods: We enrolled 1979 participants from the Rural Chinese Cohort Study, examining arterial stiffness by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Logistic and linear regression models were employed to calculate effect estimates. For meta-analysis, we searched relevant articles from PubMed, Embase and Web of Science up to August 26, 2023. The fixed-effects or random-effects models were used to calculate the pooled estimates. We evaluated dose-response associations using restricted cubic splines. Results: For cross-sectional studies, the adjusted ORs (95%CIs) for arterial stiffness were 1.12 (1.01–1.23) and 1.78 (1.38–2.30) for per 1 unit increment in TG/HDL-C and TyG. In the meta-analysis, the pooled ORs (95% CIs) were 1.26 (1.14–1.39) and 1.57 (1.36–1.82) for per 1 unit increment of TG/HDL-C and TyG. Additionally, both TG/HDL-C and TyG were positively related to PWV, with β of 0.09 (95% CI 0.04–0.14) and 0.57 (95% CI 0.35–0.78) m/s. We also found linear associations of TG/HDL-C and TyG with arterial stiffness risk. Conclusions: High TG/HDL-C and TyG were related to increased arterial stiffness risk, indicating TG/HDL-C and TyG may be convincing predictors of arterial stiffness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is a major threat to alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) production. The discovery of important alfalfa genes regulating drought response will facilitate breeding for drought‐resistant alfalfa cultivars. Here, we report a genome‐wide association study of drought resistance in alfalfa. We identified and functionally characterized an MYB‐like transcription factor gene (MsMYBH), which increases the drought resistance in alfalfa. Compared with the wild‐types, the biomass and forage quality were enhanced in MsMYBH overexpressed plants. Combined RNA‐seq, proteomics and chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis showed that MsMYBH can directly bind to the promoters of MsMCP1, MsMCP2, MsPRX1A and MsCARCAB to improve their expression. The outcomes of such interactions include better water balance, high photosynthetic efficiency and scavenge excess H2O2 in response to drought. Furthermore, an E3 ubiquitin ligase (MsWAV3) was found to induce MsMYBH degradation under long‐term drought, via the 26S proteasome pathway. Furthermore, variable‐number tandem repeats in MsMYBH promoter were characterized among a collection of germplasms, and the variation is associated with promoter activity. Collectively, our findings shed light on the functions of MsMYBH and provide a pivotal gene that could be leveraged for breeding drought‐resistant alfalfa. This discovery also offers new insights into the mechanisms of drought resistance in alfalfa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selenium-containing agents showed novel anticancer activity by triggering pro-oxidative mechanism. Studies confirmed that methylseleninic acid (MeSe) displayed broad-spectrum anti-tumor activity against kinds of human cancers. However, the anticancer effects and mechanism of MeSe against human glioma growth have not been explored yet. Herein, the present study showed that MeSeA dose-dependently inhibited U251 and U87 human glioma cells growth in vitro. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that MeSe induced significant U251 cells apoptosis with a dose-dependent manner, followed by the activation of caspase-7, caspase-9 and caspase-3. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that MeSe time-dependently caused reactive oxide species (ROS) accumulation and subsequently resulted in oxidative damage, as convinced by the increased phosphorylation level of Ser428-ATR, Ser1981-ATM, Ser15-p53 and Ser139-histone. ROS inhibition by glutathione (GSH) effectively attenuated MeSe-induced ROS generation, oxidative damage, caspase-3 activation and cytotoxicity, indicating that ROS was an upstream factor involved in MeSe-mediated anticancer mechanism in glioma. Importantly, MeSe administration in nude mice significantly inhibited glioma growth in vivo by inducing apoptosis through triggering oxidative damage. Taken together, our findings validated the possibility that MeSe as a selenium-containing can act as potential tumor chemotherapy agent for therapy of human glioma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nitridation reaction of calcium carbide and N2 at high temperatures is the key step in the production of lime-nitrogen. However, the challenges faced by this process, such as high energy consumption and poor product quality, are mainly attributed to the lack of profound understanding of the reaction. This study aimed to improve this process by investigating the non-isothermal kinetics and reaction characteristics of calcium carbide nitridation reaction at different heating rates (10, 15, 20, and 30 °C·min−1) using thermogravimetric analysis. The kinetic equation for the nitridation reaction of additive-free calcium carbide sample was obtained by combining model-free methods and model-fitting method. The effect of different calcium-based additives (CaCl2 and CaF2) on the reaction was also investigated. The results showed that the calcium-based additives significantly reduced reaction temperature and activation energy Ea by about 40% with CaF2 and by 55%–60% with CaCl2. The reaction model f(α) was also changed from contracting volume (R3) to 3-D diffusion models with D3 for CaCl2 and D4 for CaF2. This study provides valuable information on the mechanism and kinetics of calcium carbide nitridation reaction and new insights into the improvement of the lime-nitrogen process using calcium-based additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) is an emerging solidification method characterized by high economic efficiency, environmental friendliness, and durability. This study validated the reliability of the MICP sand solidification method by conducting a small-scale wind tunnel model test using aeolian sand solidified by MICP and analyzing the effects of wind velocity (7 m/s, 10 m/s, and 13 m/s), deflation angle (0°, 15°, 30°, and 45°), wind erosion cycle (1, 3, and 5), and other related factors on the mass loss rate of solidified aeolian sand. The microstructure of aeolian sand was constructed by performing mesoscopic and microscopic testing based on X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). According to the test results, the mass loss rate of solidified aeolian sand gradually increases with the increase in wind velocity, deflation angle, and wind erosion cycle. When the wind velocity was 13 m/s, the mass loss rate of the aeolian sand was only 63.6%, indicating that aeolian sand has excellent wind erosion resistance. CaCO3 crystals generated by MICP were mostly distributed on sand particle surfaces, in sand particle pores, and between sand particles to realize the covering, filling, and cementing effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep learning models have been widely used in hyperspectral images classification. However, the classification results are not satisfactory when the number of training samples is small. Focused on above-mentioned problem, a novel Two-stage Multi-dimensional Convolutional Stacked Autoencoder (TMC-SAE) model is proposed for hyperspectral images classification. The proposed model is composed of two sub-models SAE-1 and SAE-2. The SAE-1 is a 1D autoencoder with asymmetric structre based on full connection layers and 1D convolution layers to reduce spectral dimensionality. The SAE-2 is a hybrid autoencoder composed of 2D and 3D convolution operations to extract spectral-spatial features from the reduced dimensionality data by SAE-1. The SAE-1 is trained with raw data by unsupervised learning and the encoder of SAE-1 is employed to reduce spectral dimensionality of raw data. The data after dimension reduction is used to train the SAE-2 by unsupervised learning. The fine-tuning of SAE-2 encoder and the training of classifier are implemented simultaneously with small number of samples by supervised learning. Comparative experiments are performed on three widely used hyperspectral remote sensing data. The extensive comparative experiments demonstrate that the proposed architecture can effectively extract deep features and maintain high classification accuracy with small number of training samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This meta‐analysis evaluated the relationship between overweight/obesity and depressive disorders in children and adolescents. Methods: We examined the databases of PubMed, Embase and Web of Science for pertinent observational studies released up until 20 February 2022. The pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of obesity and overweight with depressive disorder were calculated by means of random‐effects models. The Newcastle‐Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality scale were adopted to evaluate the study quality. Results: Finally, for this meta‐analysis, we evaluated 22 observational publications covering 175 135 participants (5 cohort study articles, 1 case–control study article and 16 cross‐sectional study articles). A significant positive association was found between obesity and the risk of depression (RR 1.32, 95% CI 1.09–1.60, I2 = 79.90%, Pheterogeneity < 0.001) and in the association between obesity and depressive symptoms (RR 1.16, 95% CI: 1.00–1.35, I2 = 25.0%, Pheterogeneity = 0.247). On sensitivity analysis, the pooled RRs remained robust. Subgroup analysis indicated that obese children and teenagers in western countries were more prone to depression. Conclusion: Evidence from this meta‐analysis, based on observational studies, supported the idea that obese children and adolescents are more likely to experience depression and depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To investigate the association of methylation risk score (MRS) and its interactions with environmental factors with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk. Methods: We conducted a nested case–control study with 241 onset cases and 241 matched controls. Conditional logistic regression models were employed to identify risk CpG sites. Simple and weighted MRSs were constructed based on the methylation levels of ATP‐binding cassette G1 gene, fat mass and obesity associated gene, potassium voltage‐gated channel member 1 gene, and thioredoxin‐interacting protein gene previously associated with T2DM to estimate the association of MRS with T2DM risk. Stratified analyses were used to investigate interactions between MRS and environmental factors. Results: A total of 10 CpG loci were identified from the aforementioned genes to calculate MRS. After controlling for potential confounding factors, taking tertile 1 as reference, the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for T2DM of tertile 3 was 2.39 (1.36–4.20) for simple MRS and 2.59 (1.45–4.63) for weighted MRS. With per SD score increment in MRS, the OR (95% CI) was 1.66 (1.29–2.14) and 1.60 (1.24–2.08) for simple and weighted MRSs, respectively. J‐curved associations were observed between both simple and weighted MRSs and T2DM risks. Additionally, multiplication interactions for smoking and hypertension with simple MRS on the risk of T2DM were found, similarly for smoking and obesity with weighted MRS on the risk of T2DM (all Pinteraction <.05). Conclusion: Elevated simple and weighted MRSs were associated with increased risk of T2DM. Environmental risk factors may influence the association between MRS and T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acetylene hydration to acetaldehyde is considered as a valuable and potential production route in the acetylene chemical industry. In this work, Zn-La bimetallic catalysts were prepared to improve the catalytic performance and long-term stability of Zn catalyst in the acetylene hydration, and the influence of the impregnation order for the metal components on the catalytic activity of the Zn catalyst was investigated. Moreover, the physicochemical properties of Zn-La bimetallic catalysts could be characterized by XRD, BET, TGA, TEM, XPS, H2-TPR, C2H2-TPD, and ICP-OES. The study indicated that LaCl3 additive could markedly improve the catalytic performance and stability of the Zn catalyst, and the optimal addition amount of LaCl3 was 3 wt%. The characterization results showed the addition of the La additive resulted in strong interaction in the bimetallic catalysts, which can not only enhance the adsorption of reactant acetylene but also improved the dispersion of metal components, effectively inhibited carbon deposition, and prevented the loss of Zn components would contribute to the high performance and stability of bimetallic catalysts. Furthermore, first impregnation ZnCl2 component then that of LaCl3 component could gain the high-performance and stability bimetallic catalyst in the hydration of acetylene. The La additive resulted in strong interaction in the bimetallic catalysts, which can not only enhanced the adsorption of reactant acetylene but also improved the dispersion of metal components, effectively inhibited carbon deposition, and prevented the loss of Zn components would contribute to the high performance and stability of bimetallic catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aeolian sand flow is identified as the main factor in the formation of sandstorms. However, conventional sand fixation methods cannot meet the current development requirements of environmental protection. In this paper, the method using Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) combined with basalt fiber reinforcement (BFR) was adopted to solidify the aeolian sand. Consolidated undrained triaxial shear tests were carried out to analyze the influence of fiber content, fiber length, confining pressure, and other factors on stress–strain characteristics, peak strength, brittleness index, and shear strength of aeolian sand. A shear strength model of aeolian sand solidification using MICP-BFR and considering the effect of fiber length and fiber content is established according to the test results. The results show that the peak strength of aeolian sand solidified by MICP-BFR is remarkably higher than that of aeolian sand solidified by MICP alone, and the peak strength rises with the increasing fiber length, fiber content, and confining pressure. The application of fiber can effectively reduce the brittleness index of aeolian sand solidified by MICP and improve the sample ductility. As fiber content and fiber length increase, the cohesion of solidified aeolian sand increases while the internal friction angle changes relatively little. In the limited range set by the test, the fiber length of 12 mm and the fiber content of 1.0% constitute the optimum reinforcement condition. The test results coincide with the model prediction results, indicating that the new model is fitting for predicting the shear strength of aeolian sand solidified by MICP-BFR. The research results provide an important reference value for guiding the practice of wind prevention and sand fixation in desert areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Defect sites and nitrogen species in carbon materials directly affect their catalytic activity for acetylene hydrochlorination. However, there is often a negative correlation between the increase of defect sites and nitrogen species. Usually, increasing the density of defect sites by improving the calcination temperature often results in a decrease in the content of nitrogen species. Therefore, it is an important design strategy to improve the active sites of the catalyst by creating abundantly inherent defect sites. In this paper, rosette-like nitrogen doped mesoporous carbon materials (NPCs-T) were synthesized by a self-assembly method. NPCs-T materials have more defect sites than conventional spherical materials. The structure–activity relationship of catalytic performance and nitrogen species demonstrates that pyridine N and pyridinic N+O− are the main active sites. In addition, the synergistic effect of defect sites and suitable nitrogen species is beneficial to the adsorption and activation of acetylene and hydrogen chloride, thus promoting the reaction process of acetylene hydrochlorination. The application of rosette-like mesoporous carbon materials in the hydrochlorination of acetylene leads to outstanding reactivity and stability, stimulating their potential for industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We quantitatively evaluated the dose-response association of low and normal ankle brachial index (ABI) with the risk of morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were systematically searched for cohort studies. Random effects or fixed effects models were used to estimate the pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Generalized least squares regression was used to assess study-specific dose-response associations per 0.1 ABI decrease. Restricted cubic splines were used to evaluate linear or nonlinear trends. Twelve cohort studies (57 031 participants) were included in this meta-analysis. For low vs normal ABI levels, the pooled RRs were 2.03 (95% CI, 1.72–2.41; I 2 = 52.9%; pheterogeneity=0.030) and 2.29 (95% CI, 1.98–2.64; I 2 = 39.5%; pheterogeneity =0.158) for CVD morbidity and CVD mortality, respectively. For per 0.1 ABI decrease from 1.40 the risk for CVD morbidity and CVD mortality increased by 8% (1.08, 95% CI 1.04–1.11) and 11% (1.11, 95% CI 1.07–1.15), respectively. Restricted cubic splines showed inverse linear associations for CVD morbidity and CVD mortality. As a non-invasive index, lower ABI was significantly associated with the increased risk of morbidity and mortality from CVDs in an inverse linear manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the harvesting efficiency of the sphere fruits and reduce the workload of post-harvest classification, an air-suction sphere fruit classifier was designed in this paper, which can achieve the separation of high-quality fruit and common fruit through a pneumatic device according to the size and quality of the fruit when the cones are picked. First, three fruit pickers with various shapes are proposed, and the characteristics of the external flow field are analyzed, and a fruit picker that can maximize the classification efficiency is obtained. Then, the internal flow field of the classification pipeline was analyzed, the pressure and velocity changes in the classification pipeline were studied, and the displacement changes and classification of high-quality and common fruits in the classification pipeline were analyzed by particle simulation. According to the three influencing factors of pressure divider tube inner diameter, inclination angle, and outlet volume flow rate, an orthogonal test is designed, and the regression equation of fruit classification accuracy is fitted by the Box-Behnken method. The optimal factor parameters are obtained through response surface optimization: pressure divider tube inner diameter D3 = 48 mm, inclination angle = 60°, outlet volume flow = 0.01 m3/s. Research content provides a basis for the application of gas–solid separation technology in fruit classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While noise pollution from transportation has become an important public health problem, the relationships between different sources of traffic noise and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain inconclusive. A comprehensive meta-analysis was therefore conducted to quantitatively assess the effects of long-term exposure to road traffic, railway, and aircraft noise on CVDs and relevant subtypes. We systematically retrieved PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science for articles published before April 4, 2022. Summary relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by the fixed- or random-effects models. In total, 23 articles were included in our meta-analysis. The risk of CVDs increased by 2% (RR 1.020, 95% CI 1.006–1.035) and 1.6% (RR 1.016, 95% CI 1.000–1.032) for every 10 dB increment of road traffic and aircraft noise. For CVD subtypes, the risk increased by 3.4% (1.034, 1.026–1.043) for stroke and 5% (1.050, 1.006–1.096) for heart failure with each 10 dB increment of road traffic noise; the risk of atrial fibrillation increased by 1.1% (1.011, 1.002–1.021) with each 10 dB increment of railway noise; and the risk increased by 1% (1.010, 1.003–1.017) for myocardial infarction, 2.7% (1.027, 1.004–1.050) for atrial fibrillation, and 2.3% (1.023, 1.016–1.030) for heart failure with each 10 dB increment in aircraft noise. Further, effects from road traffic, railway, and aircraft noise all followed positive linear trends with CVDs. Long-term exposure to traffic noise is positively related to the incidence risk of cardiovascular events, especially road traffic noise which significantly increases the risk of CVDs, stroke, and heart failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We sought to explore the association between heavy metal exposure and coronary heart disease (CHD) based on data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2003–2018). In the analyses, participants were all aged > 20 and had participated in heavy metal sub-tests with valid CHD status. The Mann–Kendall test was employed to assess the trends in heavy metals' exposure and the trends in CHD prevalence over 16 years. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and a logistics regression (LR) model were used to estimate the association between heavy metals and CHD prevalence. 42,749 participants were included in our analyses, 1802 of whom had a CHD diagnosis. Total arsenic, dimethylarsonic acid, monomethylarsonic acid, barium, cadmium, lead, and antimony in urine, and cadmium, lead, and total mercury in blood all showed a substantial decreasing exposure level tendency over the 16 years (all Pfor trend < 0.05). CHD prevalence varied from 3.53 to 5.23% between 2003 and 2018. The correlation between 15 heavy metals and CHD ranges from − 0.238 to 0.910. There was also a significant positive correlation between total arsenic, monomethylarsonic acid, and thallium in urine and CHD by data release cycles (all P < 0.05). The cesium in urine showed a negative correlation with CHD (P < 0.05). We found that exposure trends of total arsenic, dimethylarsonic acid, monomethylarsonic acid, barium, cadmium, lead, and antimony in urine and blood decreased. CHD prevalence fluctuated, however. Moreover, total arsenic, monomethylarsonic acid, and thallium in urine all showed positive relationships with CHD, while cesium in urine showed a negative relationship with CHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a new type of deep-sea anchoring foundation, thetorpedo anchor has the characteristics of simple installation, low cost, and high bearing capacity. Compared with the torpedo anchor without an anchor wing, the end-bearing torpedo anchor forms pile end resistance using a bearing plate, thus further improving its uplift bearing capacity. By conducting the pullout model test of torpedo anchors, we have compared and analyzed the effects of the pullout angle and bearing-plate radius on the bearing characteristics of T, EN3, EN4, and EC types of torpedo anchors. Based on the model test results, we established the V-H envelope of torpedo-anchor bearing capacity using the regression analysis method. The results show that when the displacement is small, the load-displacement curve of the torpedo anchor increases in an approximately linear mode, and the curve fluctuates and gradually entersa stable state with the gradual increase of the displacement. With the increasing pullout angle, the bearing capacity of the torpedo anchor increases first and then decreases. When the pullout angle is 45°, the torpedo anchor has the maximum bearing capacity. When the pullout angle is constant, the order of bearing capacity generated by different types of torpedo anchors is as follows: EC > EN4 > EN3 > T, and the bearing capacity rises with the increasing bearing-plate area. Through regression analysis, it is concluded that for the torpedo anchors of T, EN3, EN4, and EC types, the V-H envelope of bearing capacity shows an outward convex trend, and the determination coefficient reaches 0.930, indicating that the established V-H envelope is suitable for predicting the bearing capacity of torpedo anchors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low liquid limit clay has a low plastic index, displays poor strength, and is sensitive to water, and its mechanical qualities decline as the water content changes, making it difficult to employ directly in the construction process. Adding lime is a fantastic way to improve it. The influence of lime concentration on the road performance of low liquid limit clay is investigated in this research using a limit water content test, compaction test, and California bearing ratio test. The results show that the original plain soil does not meet the requirements of highway subgrade filling, and the basic properties of subgrade soil are improved to varying degrees after adding lime, resolving the problem regarding the original well-cultivated soil's inability to meet the requirements of construction. The plastic limit of the improved soil increased by roughly 3% as the lime content increased, but the maximum dry density decreased dramatically by 9.03%, 5.71%, and 5.98%, respectively. With an increase of 57.3% in lime content and compaction times, the California bearing ratio increases dramatically. The ideal moisture content rises as the lime content rises. The optimal dosage is 6%, according to a rigorous study of several performance metrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detecting fraudulent users in social networks could reduce online fraud and telecommunication fraud cases, which is essential to protect the lives and properties of internet users and maintain social harmony and stability. We study how to detect fraudulent users by using heterogeneous graph representation learning and propose a heterogeneous graph representation learning algorithm to learn user node embeddings to reduce human intervention. The experimental results show promising results. This article investigates how to use better heterogeneous graph representation learning to detect fraudulent users in social networks and improve detection accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The removal of trace amount of BCl3 from SiHCl3 by adsorption is an efficient method in manufacture of electronic grade polysilicon. Objective: DFT simulations were used to investigate the adsorption mechanism of aliphatic amine adsorbents and to compare the performance of these adsorbents. Methods: The adsorption energies, mulliken charges, dipole moments and FMOs of aliphatic amines on SiHCl3 and BCl3 were calculated using the DFT method at the B3LYP/6‐311++G (2d, p) level, and on this basis the factors affecting the adsorption capacity and selectivity were explored in depth. Results: The results indicates that these adsorbents show good adsorption performance and high separation efficiency for BCl3. In particular, (CH3)2NH has the highest adsorption capacity for BCl3 at 298 K and 1 atm and achieves effective desorption at high temperatures to allow the adsorbent to be reused. Conclusions: The adsorption behaviors are strongly affected by frontier orbitals, dipoles and polarizabilities of aliphatic amines, among which HOMO of amines plays the decisive role for adsorbing BCl3, providing theoretical guidance for adsorbent design associated with removal of BCl3 from SiHCl3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Sedentary behavior (SB) and physical inactivity have been associated with an increased risk of all‐cause mortality. Evidence in China is scarce, and it is unclear whether physical activity (PA) attenuates or even eliminates the harmful effects of prolonged SB in the Chinese population. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study of 17 084 Chinese adults. PA and sitting time (ST) were assessed using the IPAQ. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the risk of PA and ST with all‐cause mortality. Interaction plots were used to visualize the interaction effects. Results: During a median follow‐up of 6.01 years, a total of 1106 deaths occurred. PA level was inversely associated with the incidence of all‐cause mortality, while ST showed a detrimental association (all ptrend < 0.05). In the stratified analysis, ST was associated with all‐cause mortality in the low PA, while the association was attenuated in the moderate PA group: the HRs (95% CI) comparing ST of 4–8, 8–11, and ≥11 to <4 h/day were 1.15 (0.73–1.81), 1.55 (0.92–2.59), and 2.70 (1.52–4.80), respectively. In the high PA group, no significant association was found across all ST levels. In the joint analysis, compared with the high PA and ST <4 h/day, the harmful effect was found only in the combined low PA and moderate PA groups with ST ≥11 h/day (HR:2.71, 95% CI:1.69–4.35). In addition, a significant interaction association was found. Conclusion: Our study, based on a prospective cohort, suggests that the detrimental effect of ST on all‐cause mortality is attenuated or eliminated by high PA levels in the Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Depressive symptoms are the most common neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, despite being common, no definite consensus recommendations exist for the management of depression in AD. Objective: To assess the effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) on the alleviation of depressive symptoms in patients with AD. Material and methods: Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and PsychINFO were electronically searched from inception until October 2022. Response to therapy and mean depression scores between the treatment (or before) and placebo (or after) groups were the primary outcomes. For depression scores, the standard mean deviation and accompanying 95% confidence interval were determined. The risk of bias was determined using the funnel plot, trim and fill, Egger's and Begg's analyses. Results: SSRIs attenuated depressive symptoms in patients with AD (0.905 SMD, 95%CI, 0.689 to 1.121, p < 0.000). At individual SSRI level, escitalopram, paroxetine, and sertraline significantly alleviated depressive symptoms in AD patients (0.813 SMD, 95%CI, 0.207 to 1.419, p = 0.009, 1.244 SMD, 95%CI, 0.939 to 1.548, p < 0.000, and 0.818 SMD, 95%CI, 0.274 to 1.362, p < 0.000). The funnel plot, trim and fill, Begg's test (p = 0.052), and Egger's test (p = 0.148), showed no significant risk of publication bias. Conclusion: Our meta-analysis supports the use of SSRIs for the alleviation of depression in patients with AD. However, we recommend larger randomized clinical trials that would compare the efficacy of different SSRIs in AD patients with depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a four-coordinated organoboron compound, aminoquinoline diarylboron (AQDAB), is utilized as the photocatalyst in the oxidation of silane to silanol. This strategy effectively oxidizes Si–H bonds, affording Si–O bonds. Generally, the corresponding silanols can be obtained in moderate to good yields at room temperature under oxygen atmospheres, representing a green protocol to complement the existing preparation methods for silanols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to reduce the CO2 content of gas pollution, it is necessary to develop more efficient, controllable and sensitive adsorption materials. In this work, the capture of CO2 by 3N‐M‐VG (3N doped mono‐vacancy graphene) nanosheets in the electric field of 0.000–0.040 a. u. were investigated by density functional theory (DFT) simulations. The interaction between CO2 and 3N‐M‐VG increased with increasing applied electric field and the adsorption of CO2 by 3N‐M‐VG underwent a transition from physical to chemisorption at electric field strengths of 0.020–0.030 a. u. In addition, the material allows the capture and release of CO2 by switching on and off an applied electric field. CO2 adsorption and selectivity of 3N‐M‐VG in CH4/H2/CO2 gas mixtures can be greatly improved by applying an electric field. Theoretical results of this study can provide guidance for the design of highly selective CO2 capture materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is urgent to develop a green synthesis approach for 2-nitro-4-methylsulfonylbenzoic acid (NMSBA) production as nitric acid oxidation procedure generates large amount of waste acid and nitrogen oxide. Herein, highly selective electrochemical oxidation of 2-nitro-4-methylsulfonyltoluene (NMST) was achieved under ambient pressure and temperature by employing molybdate as the catalyst and graphite rod as the anode. Through optimizing the catalyst dosage, phase transfer catalyst dosage, reactant concentration, electrolyte concentration, cell voltage and reaction time, the NMSBA selectivity of 95.16% was realized in acidic media with the NMST conversion of 57.37%. DFT calculations demonstrate that molybdate in the form of Mo2O72− can catalyze the oxidation of NMST in acidic media. NMST loses hydrogen from the methyl group, subsequently accepts oxygen, and finally converts into NMSBA. This work not only demonstrates molybdate as an efficient catalyst for the first time, but also provides a new electrochemical approach for highly selective production of NMSBA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polarized Raman spectroscopy is a useful technique in studying orientation of molecular vibrations of crystals, which, however, has been applied insufficiently in crystallography, mineralogy, or geology. This present study is devoted to measure the transversal orientation of high‐quality cultivated pearls using polarized Raman spectroscopy. The pearls were cultivated by Pinctada fucata in Japan, consisting of aragonite dominantly. On the pearl surface, the aragonite micro‐crystals show irregularly hexagonal and pentagonal shapes, orienting their c axes towards the pearl surface. A number of aragonite micro‐crystals makes up a lamina with a noncircular contour, and a batch of laminae stacks up with a decreasing area from bottom to top to form a target pattern. So there is an abundant of target patterns spreading over the pearl surface. Using a marker on the pearl surface as a reference, angular variation of aragonite is quantifiable by measuring mode intensities of aragonite and depolarization ratio. Polarized Raman images are collected on the pearl surface, which show spatial differences in orientation of aragonite micro‐crystals on the mesoscopic scale. This transversal heterogeneity exists not only between different laminae but also between aragonite micro‐crystals on the same lamina. We suggest that the development of the stress around the aragonite micro‐grains lead to the angular variations of aragonite. The orientation of biominerals has been studied using transmission electron microscope (TEM) and electron back‐scattered diffraction (EBSD). The present study indicates another sensitive technique of polarized Raman spectroscopy to evaluate molecular orientation in biominerals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of non‐noble metal catalysts is crucial for hydrogen production. In this study, electrochemically reconfigurable Fe2O3@NiO‐x composite catalysts were synthesized within tens of seconds using a simple microwave deposition method. Interestingly, Fe2O3@NiO‐5 exhibited a high‐speed and deep surface reconstruction capability, greatly enhancing the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity. DFT calculations also confirmed that the reconstruction process optimized the adsorption energy of H2O and H intermediate to promote HER kinetics. The optimized Fe2O3@NiO‐5 electrode only afforded an overpotential of 295 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and it steadily functioned for 25 h for HER in 1 M KOH. In addition, benefiting from the combination of Fe2O3 and NiO layer during the synthesis process, Fe2O3 and NiO converted into FeOOH and NiOOH, respectively, resulted in the excellent oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity of Fe2O3@NiO‐5. The as‐prepared Fe2O3@NiO‐5 only required an overpotential of 186 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and exhibited excellent stability for up to 144 h. As a bifunctional catalyst, the Fe2O3@NiO‐5 electrode can deliver a current density of 20 mA cm−2 at a low voltage of 1.78 V with high durability for water splitting. This work can provide a new perspective for constructing advanced non‐noble metal electrode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adsorption characteristics of calcareous sand for heavy metals Pb(II), Cu(II) and Cd(II) have been studied by batch testing in this study. The influence of the solid–liquid ratio, initial pH0 value, ionic strength, reaction time, temperature and initial concentration on adsorption has been investigated. Test results indicate that the initial pH and the solid–liquid ratio have a significant influence on the removal efficiency. At T = 30 °C, r = 1.0 g/L, and C0 = 1000 mg/L and for 12 h of reaction, the removal efficiencies of Pb(II), Cu(II) and Cd(II) are 97.6%, 88.15% and 65.72%, respectively. The adsorption quantity is more than 80% of the maximum adsorption quantity within 60 min, and the equilibrium adsorption can be reached within 120 min. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model is suitable to simulate the dynamic adsorption process of calcareous sand, and the isothermal process is found to obey the Langmuir model. Calcareous sand has a very high adsorption capacity for Pb(II), Cu(II) and Cd(II), with a maximum adsorption quantity Qm reached 1052.95 mg/g, 1329.84 mg/g and 1050.56 mg/g, respectively. Thermodynamic test results indicate that the adsorption process is spontaneously exothermic and that low temperature is favorable to the adsorption reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Enhanced Control of Hypertension and Thrombolysis Stroke Study (ENCHANTED) showed that a low-dose alteplase was safe but not clearly non-inferior to standard-dose alteplase in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Given the significant cost of this medicine, we undertook a cost-effectiveness analysis to determine the probability that low-dose is cost-effective relative to standard-dose alteplase in China. Methods: For ENCHANTED participants in China with available health cost data, cost-effectiveness and cost-utility analyses were undertaken in which death or disability (modified Rankin scale scores 2–6) at 90 days and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) were used as outcome measures, respectively. There was adherence to standard guidelines for health economic evaluations alongside non-inferiority trials and according to a health-care payer's perspective. The equivalence margin for cost and effectiveness was set at USD 691 and −0.025 QALYs, respectively, for the base-case analysis. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses were used to evaluate the probability of low-dose alteplase being non-inferior. Results: While the mean cost of alteplase was lower in the low-dose group (USD 1,569 vs. USD 2,154 in the standard-dose group), the total cost was USD 56 (95% confidence interval [CI]: −1,000–1,113) higher compared to the standard-dose group due to higher hospitalization costs in the low-dose group. There were 462 (95% CI: 415–509) and 410 (95% CI: 363–457) patients with death or disability per 1,000 patients in the low-dose and standard-dose groups, respectively. The low-dose group had marginally lower (0.008, 95% CI: −0.016–0.001) QALYs compared to their standard-dose counterparts. The low-dose group was found to have an 88% probability of being non-inferior based on cost-effectiveness versus the standard-dose group. Conclusions: This health economic evaluation alongside the ENCHANTED indicates that the use of low-dose alteplase does not save overall healthcare costs nor lead to a gain in QALYs in the management of Chinese patients with AIS compared to the use of standard dose. There is little justification on economic grounds to shift from standard-of-care thrombolysis in AIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]