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Organic solar cells are a potential solution for sustainable energy. However, it is time-consuming and costly to discover high-efficiency materials for organic solar cells. In this study, a deep learning-based framework (DeepDonor) has been developed to find high-performance donor materials. Specifically, a small molecule (SM) dataset and a polymer molecule (PM) dataset were collected from the literature. Then, the quantum deep field (QDF) model and transfer learning method were used to predict the power conversion efficiency (PCE). Results show that DeepDonor significantly outperforms other common methods with r = 0.82 and MAE = 1.67% on the SM test set, and r = 0.77 and MAE = 1.59% on the PM test set. These models can predict PCE with great accuracy, extrapolation performance, and transferability. Then, a molecule generation and screening strategy was proposed to discover high-performance polymer donors with the help of DeepDonor. Two discovered candidates were further validated by experiments, and their PCE reached 16.27% and 15.07%, respectively. The released online interface of DeepDonor substantially boosts the accessibility and efficiency of designing and discovering high-performance donors. In sum, DeepDonor is a promising method to predict the PCE and speed up the discovery of high-performance donor materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waveform diversity (WD) represents a dynamic and transformative technology widely used in radar systems to enhance sensitivity and discrimination capabilities. Recently, WD techniques have been extensively explored for their potential ambiguity suppression within synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems. Among these, the alternate transmitting mode combined with orthogonal waveforms emerges as a particularly promising solution. This study focuses on optimizing the power spectrum density (PSD) of signals to design and generate an orthogonal waveform pair that achieves both a low cross-correlation-to-autocorrelation ratio (CAR) and satisfactory imaging performance. Initially, we construct a fractional programming model with convex constraints to minimize the CAR. To address this challenge, we introduce an iterative optimization procedure for the PSD variable, which sequentially reduces the CAR. Each optimization step can be efficiently solved using a quadratically constrained quadratic program, ensuring that the resulting computational complexity remains low. Building on the optimized PSD, we established a parametric piecewise linear model to generate an orthogonal waveform pair. This model not only maintains a low CAR but achieves satisfactory imaging performance in real-time applications. Consequently, this orthogonal waveform pair effectively suppresses range ambiguity in SAR systems. Finally, we demonstrated the practicability and effectiveness of the proposed orthogonal waveforms through detailed simulation experiments, specifically targeting ambiguity suppression in conventional quad-polarization SAR systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the orthogonal Gauss collocation method (OGCM) with an arbitrary polynomial degree for the numerical solution of a two-dimensional (2D) fourth-order subdiffusion model. This numerical method involves solving a coupled system of partial differential equations by using OGCM in space together with the L1 scheme in time on a graded mesh. The approximations w h n and v h n of w (· , t n) and Δ w (· , t n) are constructed. The stability of w h n and v h n are proved, and the a priori bounds of ‖ w h n ‖ and ‖ v h n ‖ are established, remaining α -robust as α → 1 - . Then, the error ‖ w (· , t n) - w h n ‖ and ‖ Δ w (· , t n) - v h n ‖ are estimated with α -robust at each time level. In addition, superconvergence results of the first-order and second-order derivative approximations are proved. These new error bounds are desirable and natural, as that they are optimal in both temporal and spatial mesh parameters for each fixed α . Finally some numerical results are provided to support our theoretical findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a time-consuming and costly process to develop affordable and high-performance organic photovoltaic materials. Computational methods are essential for accelerating the material discovery process by predicting power conversion efficiencies (PCE). In this study, we propose a deep learning-based framework (DeepAcceptor) to design and discover highly efficient small molecule acceptor materials. Specifically, an experimental dataset is constructed by collecting acceptor data from publications. Then, a deep learning-based model is customized to predict PCEs by applying graph representation learning to Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT), with the atom, bond, and connection information in acceptor molecular structures as the input (abcBERT). The computational dataset derived from density functional theory (DFT) calculations and the experimental dataset from literature are used to pre-train and fine-tune the model, respectively. The abcBERT model outperforms other state-of-the-art models for the PCE prediction with MAE = 1.78 and R2 = 0.67 on the test set. A molecular generation and screening process is built to find new high-performance acceptors for PM6. Three discovered candidates are further validated by experiment, and the best PCE reaches 14.61%. The released user-friendly interface of DeepAcceptor greatly boosts the accessibility and efficiency of designing and discovering high-performance acceptors. Altogether, the DeepAcceptor framework with abcBERT is promising to predict the PCE and accelerate the discovery of high-performance acceptor materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unstable mechanical behavior of soil particles during suffusion, including migration and clogging of fine particles in porous media, is prone to induce seepage catastrophes. Mechanical behavior of migratory fines and porous soils during suffusion is significantly influenced by the particle shape, which remains unclear. In this study, a coupled computational fluid dynamics and the irregular discrete element method (CFD-iDEM) framework is developed to investigate the migration and clogging mechanisms. A series of numerical simulations that consider spheres and irregular particles with different levels of aspect ratio are carried out to elucidate the microscopic origins of shape effects on clogging. Migratory fine particles are discharged from the grain inlet and enter the coarse particle skeleton by imposing a downward seepage flow. The subsequent migration and clogging phenomena and microscopic mechanisms are investigated. The results reveal that irregular particles present varying degrees of ability to develop clogging clusters, and spheres are more prone to traverse deeper into soil skeleton. The proposed CFD-iDEM method is able to reproduce macroscopic phenomena of saturated porous medium as well as to analyze microscopic origins of fluid–particle interactions, which contributes to practical guidance for engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an effective tool for data analysis, expectile regression is widely used in the fields of statistics, econometrics and finance. However, most studies focus on the case where the sample size is not massive and the dimension is low or fixed. This paper studies the parameter estimation and inference for large-scale expectile regression when the number of parameters grows to infinity. Specifically, an inverse probability weighted asymmetric least squares estimator based on Poisson subsampling (ALS-P) is proposed. Theoretically, the convergence rate and asymptotic normality for ALS-P are established. Furthermore, the optimal subsampling probabilities based on the L-optimality criterion are derived. Finally, extensive simulations and two real-world datasets are conducted to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on an alternating aging-annealing process for enhancing strength and ductility of Mg-Gd-Y-Zn-Zr alloy, we further investigated the effects of different annealing parameters on the microstructure and texture of Mg-Gd-Y-Zn-Zr alloy. The results show that the alloy underwent static recrystallization during the annealing process, and the recrystallization ratio and recrystallized grain size increased with increasing annealing temperature and annealing time. During the period, the transition from low-angle grain boundaries to high-angle grain boundaries within the deformed grains and the encroachment of recrystallized grains on the deformed grains were the main recrystallization mechanisms, dislocations were consumed, and the residual stresses were reduced. In addition, after annealing at different temperatures for 5 h, a rare earth (RE) texture with the orientation approximately between [2 1 ¯ 1 ¯ 4]//ED and [2 1 ¯ 1 ¯ 2]//ED was found in all samples, except for the weakened strongly extruded texture. We focused on this phenomenon and found that the strength of the RE texture gradually increased with longer annealing time at 420 °C. The formation of this texture was related to the selective growth of grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiplicative regression is a useful alternative tool in modeling positive response data. This paper proposes two distributed estimators for multiplicative error model on distributed system with non-randomly distributed massive data. We first present a Poisson subsampling procedure to obtain a subsampling estimator based on the least product relative error (LPRE) loss, which is effective on a distributed system. Theoretically, we justify the subsampling estimator by establishing its convergence rate, asymptotic normality and deriving the optimal subsampling probabilities in terms of the L-optimality criterion. Then, we provide a distributed LPRE estimator based on the Poisson subsampling (DLPRE-P), which is communication-efficient since it needs to transmit a very small subsample from local machines to the central site, which is empirically feasible, together with the gradient of the loss. Practically, due to the use of Newton–Raphson iteration, the Hessian matrix can be computed more robustly using the subsampled data than using one local dataset. We also show that the DLPRE-P estimator is statistically efficient as the global estimator, which is based on putting all the datasets together. Furthermore, we propose a distributed regularized LPRE estimator (DRLPRE-P) to consider the variable selection problem in high dimension. A distributed algorithm based on the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) is developed for implementing the DRLPRE-P. The oracle property holds for DRLPRE-P. Finally, simulation experiments and two real-world data analyses are conducted to illustrate the performance of our methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiplicative regression is a useful alternative tool in modeling positive response data. This paper proposes two distributed estimators for multiplicative error model on distributed system with non-randomly distributed massive data. We first present a Poisson subsampling procedure to obtain a subsampling estimator based on the least product relative error (LPRE) loss, which is effective on a distributed system. Theoretically, we justify the subsampling estimator by establishing its convergence rate, asymptotic normality and deriving the optimal subsampling probabilities in terms of the L-optimality criterion. Then, we provide a distributed LPRE estimator based on the Poisson subsampling (DLPRE-P), which is communication-efficient since it needs to transmit a very small subsample from local machines to the central site, which is empirically feasible, together with the gradient of the loss. Practically, due to the use of Newton–Raphson iteration, the Hessian matrix can be computed more robustly using the subsampled data than using one local dataset. We also show that the DLPRE-P estimator is statistically efficient as the global estimator, which is based on putting all the datasets together. Furthermore, we propose a distributed regularized LPRE estimator (DRLPRE-P) to consider the variable selection problem in high dimension. A distributed algorithm based on the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) is developed for implementing the DRLPRE-P. The oracle property holds for DRLPRE-P. Finally, simulation experiments and two real-world data analyses are conducted to illustrate the performance of our methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceresium sinicum ornaticolle Pic, 1907 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is one of the main pests of pomegranate and citrus trees. In this study, we described the complete mitochondrial genome of C. sinicum ornaticolle. The total length of the mitochondrial genome was 15,817 bp, and the entire content of GC was 27.8%. The genome encoded 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), and 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs). The phylogenetic tree showed that C. sinicum ornaticolle was clustered with Allotraeus orientalis and Zoodes fulguratus. These results will provide the genetic information for understanding the genetic evolution of C. sinicum ornaticolle and the insights to control cerambycid pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consider a credit portfolio with the investments in various sectors and exposed to an external stochastic environment. The portfolio loss due to defaults is of critical importance for social and economic security particularly in times of financial distress. We argue that the dependences among obligors within sectors (intradependence) and across sectors (interdependence) may coexist and influence the portfolio loss. To quantify the portfolio loss, we develop a multi-sector structural model in which a multivariate regular variation structure is employed to model the intradependence within sectors, and the interdependence across sectors is implied in the arbitrarily dependent macroeconomic factors, although, given them, obligors in different sectors are conditionally independent. We establish some sharp asymptotic formulas for the tail probability and the (tail) distortion risk measures of the portfolio loss. Our results show that the portfolio loss is mainly driven by the latent variables and the recovery rate function, and is also potentially affected by the macroeconomic factors and the intradependence within sectors. Moreover, we implement intensive numerical studies to examine the accuracy of the obtained approximations and conduct some sensitivity analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we describe a new nonlinear finite-volume scheme that preserves the discrete maximum principle (DMP) for the two-dimensional sub-diffusion equation on distorted meshes. One distinguishing feature of our method is its ability to uphold the DMP for the anisotropic sub-diffusion problems, thereby ensuring the absence of spurious oscillations in numerical solutions and maintaining the physical bounds of various quantities, such as concentration, temperature, and density. Notably, our scheme offers the advantage of being applicable to distorted meshes without stringent constraints. Numerical results demonstrate that our scheme successfully preserves maximum principle on various randomly distorted meshes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starch is a common source of carbohydrates in aqua feed. High-starch diet can cause hepatic injury and lipid accumulation in fish. Mangiferin (MGF) can regulate lipid metabolism and protect the liver, but there is limited research on its effects in fish. In the present study, we investigated whether MGF could ameliorate high-starch-induced hepatic damage and lipid accumulation in channel catfish. The channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were fed one of four experimental diets for eight weeks: a control diet (NCD), a high-starch diet (HCD), an HCD supplemented with 100 mg/kg MGF (100 MGF), and an HCD supplemented with 500 mg/kg MGF (500 MGF). The results demonstrated that the weight gain rate (WGR) (p = 0.031), specific growth rate (SGR) (p = 0.039), and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) (p = 0.040) of the 500 MGF group were significantly higher than those of the NCD group. MGF supplementation alleviated liver damage and improved antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) compared to those of the HCD group (p = 0.000). In addition, dietary MGF significantly reduced plasma glucose (GLU) (p = 0.000), triglyceride (TG) (p= 0.001), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) (p = 0.000) levels. It is noteworthy that MGF significantly reduced the plasma total cholesterol (TC) levels (p = 0.000) and liver TC levels (p = 0.005) of channel catfish. Dietary MGF improves cholesterol homeostasis by decreasing the expression of genes that are involved in cholesterol synthesis and transport (hmgcr, sqle, srebf2, sp1, and ldlr) and increasing the expression of genes that are involved in cholesterol catabolism (cyp7a1). Among them, the largest fold decrease in squalene epoxidase (sqle) expression levels was observed in the 100 MGF or 500 MGF groups compared with the HCD group, with a significant decrease of 3.64-fold or 2.20-fold (p = 0.008). And the 100 MGF or 500 MGF group had significantly decreased (by 1.67-fold or 1.94-fold) Sqle protein levels compared to those of the HCD group (p = 0.000). In primary channel catfish hepatocytes, MGF significantly down-regulated the expression of sqle (p = 0.030) and reduced cholesterol levels (p = 0.000). In NCTC 1469 cells, MGF significantly down-regulated the expression of sqle (p = 0.000) and reduced cholesterol levels (p = 0.024). In conclusion, MGF effectively inhibits sqle expression and reduces cholesterol accumulation. The current study shows how MGF supplementation regulates the metabolism and accumulation of cholesterol in channel catfish, providing a theoretical basis for the use of MGF as a dietary supplement in aquaculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood exchange therapy, specifically Whole blood exchange (WBE), is increasingly being utilized in clinical settings to effectively treat a range of diseases. Consequently, there is an urgent requirement to establish convenient and clinically applicable animal models that can facilitate the exploration of blood exchange therapy mechanisms. Our study conducted continuous WBE in rats through femoral and tail vein catheterization using dual-directional syringe pumps. To demonstrate the applicability of continuous WBE, drug-induced hemolytic anemia (DIHA) was induced through phenylhydrazine hydrochloride (PHZ) injection. Notability, the rats of DIHA + WBE group all survived and recovered within the subsequent period. After the implementation of continuous WBE therapy day (Day 1), the DIHA + WBE group exhibited a statistically significant increase in red blood cells (RBC) (P = 0.0343) and hemoglobin (HGB) levels (P = 0.0090) compared to DIHA group. The rats in the DIHA + WBE group exhibited a faster recovery rate compared to the DIHA group, indicating the successful establishment of a continuous blood exchange protocol. This experimental approach demonstrates not just promising efficacy in the treatment of DIHA and offers a valuable tool for investigating the underlying mechanisms of blood exchange. Furthermore, it has a great potential to the advancement of biomedical research such as drug delivery exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poliovirus receptor-related immunoglobulin domain-containing protein, or PVRIG, is a newly discovered immune checkpoint that has emerged as a promising target for cancer immunotherapy. It is primarily expressed on activated T and natural killer (NK) cells, and once engaged with its ligand, PVRL2, it induces inhibitory signaling in T cells, thereby promoting the functional exhaustion of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Here, we characterized IBI352g4a, a novel humanized anti-PVRIG antibody with Fc-competent function, explored the mechanism of its antitumor activity in preclinical models, and systemically evaluated the contribution of FcrR engagement to PVRIG blockade-induced antitumor activity. IBI352g4a binds to the extracellular domain of human PVRIG with high affinity (Kd = 0.53 nM) and specificity, and fully blocks the interaction between PVRIG and its ligand PVRL2. Unlike other immune checkpoints, IBI352g4a significantly induced NK cell activation and degranulation, but had a minimal effect on T-cell activation in in vitro functional assays. IBI352g4a induced strong antitumor effect in several preclinic models, through in vivo mechanism analysis we found that both NK and T cells contribute to the antitumor effect, but NK cells play predominant roles. Specifically, a single dose of IBI352g4a induced significant NK cell activation in TILs, but T-cell activation was observed only after the second dose. Moreover, the Fc effector function is critical for both NK cell activation and treatment efficacy in vitro and in vivo. Our study, for the first time, demonstrates that both NK activation and FcrR engagement are required for antitumor efficacy induced by PVRIG blockade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploration of the relationship between process parameters and grain evolution during the thermal deformation of rare-earth magnesium alloys using simulation software has significant implications for enhancing research and development efficiency and advancing the large-scale engineering application of high-performance rare-earth magnesium alloys. Through single-pass hot compression experiments, this study obtained high-temperature flow stress curves for rare-earth magnesium alloys, analyzing the variation patterns of these curves and the softening mechanism of the materials. Drawing on physical metallurgical theories, such as the evolution of dislocation density during dynamic recrystallization, recrystallization nucleation, and grain growth, the authors of this paper establish a cellular automaton model to simulate the dynamic recrystallization process by tracking the sole internal variable—the evolution of dislocation density within cells. This model was developed through the secondary development of the DEFORM-3D finite element software. The results indicate that the model established in this study accurately simulates the evolution process of grain growth during heat treatment and the dynamic recrystallization microstructure during the thermal deformation of rare-earth magnesium alloys. The simulated results align well with relevant theories and metallographic experimental results, enabling the simulation of the dynamic recrystallization microstructure and grain size prediction during the deformation process of rare-earth magnesium alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To tackle the critical challenge concerning the disparate performance outcomes between the spoke and rim in extruded AZ80 magnesium alloy wheel hub, finite element simulation was used to optimize the shape parameters of the hollow billet and improved equivalent strain was achieved. The paper studied the microstructure evolution and mechanical property response of the alloy after the forming process. The experimental results showed that the grain sizes of the spoke and rim were 32.95 and 33.84 μm, respectively, when using the optimized shape parameters, and both of them were completely dynamically recrystallized. Although the fine grain strengthening and precipitation hardening effects were consistently obtained in both samples, a discernible distinction was revealed by the mechanical property analysis. Specifically, the yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of the rim specimens evinced a notable 13.8 and 15.4% higher in comparison to the spoke specimens. This discrepancy was further elucidated by the texture analysis, which illuminated that the spoke was distinguished by an extrusion direction–transverse direction double-peak basal texture, while the rim was marked by a normal direction–transverse direction (ND–TD) double-peak basal component after extrusion. The distinct texture patterns gave rise to varying predominant deformation mechanisms during loaded at room temperature, where the textured TD-oriented grains within the spoke unfriendly promoted the initiation of {10-12} tensile twinning at low yield stress, while both the ND and TD component within the hub manifested a markedly high activation of prismatic slip with high yield stress. The cumulative effect of these contrasting deformation pathways ultimately led to a marked contrast in the YS between the two regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the microstructure of Ti-6Al-4V alloy sintered by spark plasma was studied by multi-pass of hot compression experiment, and the influence of different thermal deformation parameters (hot compression temperature deformation: 950°C–20% for one pass, 850°C–20% for two passes and 900°C–10%/20%/30% for three passes) was studied. The results show that the dynamic recrystallization characteristic behavior appears in the three deformation passes. The microstructure after the first and second pass deformation is mainly composed of Widmanstätten structure. With the increase of strain rate, the thickness of lamellar α decreases gradually. In three pass, the grain boundary α phase and the layered α phase are twisted and bent when the deformation amount is 10% and 20%, and the deformation amount increases to 30%. The spheroidization of lamellar α phase occurs, and the size of β grain decreases obviously. The content of equiaxed α phase and grain size decrease with the increase of strain rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cup-shaped Mg-Gd-Y-Zr alloy component has been successfully prepared by using the severe plastic deformation (SPD) technique of rotating backward extrusion (RBE), and the microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of different regions along the radial direction have been studied. In addition, the dynamic recrystallization (DRX) mechanism during the deformation process was further analyzed. The results indicate that the grain refinement effect significantly increased from the edge side to the inner side along the wall thickness direction. After RBE deformation, the average grain size of the sample decreased from ~ 106.01 µm in the initial state to ~ 8.55 µm in the innermost region of the cup wall. Many small and dispersed particle phases were distributed at the grain boundaries, and the DRX fraction reached 75.8%. Continuous dynamic recrystallization and discontinuous dynamic recrystallization occurred simultaneously. Due to the random orientation of the grains that underwent DRX, the texture intensity of the alloy was weakened. The microhardness and tensile properties of the alloy were tested along the wall thickness direction, and the fracture morphology was observed. The inner region exhibited the most excellent comprehensive mechanical properties, with yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, and elongation values of 323 MPa, 370 MPa, and 11.3%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Mg-Gd-Y-Zn-Zr alloy bars with the height-to-diameter ratio of 6.5 were deformed using a novel large height-to-diameter ratio upsetting–extrusion process. After the initial billets were upset at 460°C, they were extruded at 460–420°C, respectively, and the true strain of one-pass upsetting–extrusion deformation reached 2.46. The results showed that the 420°C extruded samples had the highest recrystallization fraction of 75.2%. Continuous dynamic recrystallization and discontinuous dynamic recrystallization occurred during upsetting and extrusion, and the lower extrusion temperature favored the precipitation of large particles of Mg5(RE) phase and refined the grains through the particle-stimulated nucleation mechanism, and the average grain size decreased from 93.8 μm to a minimum of 15.3 μm. The 440°C extruded samples have the best mechanical properties with yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, and elongation of 260 MPa, 368 MPa, and 13.1%, respectively. Texture strengthening and dislocation strengthening dominate, and the appropriate proportion of coarse grains accommodating deformation has enabled the high elongation. In addition, the anomalous texture of the basal plane perpendicular to the extrusion direction was found in the high recrystallization fraction samples and attributed to the selective growth of recrystallized grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have been widely used in photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production due to their favorable band structure and excellent light absorption. Due to the rapid recombination rate of charge carriers, however, their applications are mainly restricted. This study presents the design and development of two highly conjugated triazine-based COFs (TBP-COF and TTP-COF) and evaluates their photocatalytic H2O2 production performance. The nitrogen-rich structures and high degrees of conjugation of TBP-COF and TTP-COF facilitate improved light absorption, promote O2 adsorption, enhance their redox power, and enable the efficient separation and transfer of photogenerated charge carriers. There is thus an increase in the photocatalytic activity for the production of H2O2. When exposed to 10 W LED visible light irradiation at a wavelength of 420 nm, the pyridine-based TTP-COF produced 4244 μmol h−1 g−1 of H2O2 from pure water in the absence of a sacrificial agent. Compared to TBP-COF (1882 μmol h−1 g−1), which has a similar structure but lacks pyridine sites, TTP-COF demonstrated nearly 2.5 times greater efficiency. Furthermore, it exhibited superior performance compared to most previously published nonmetal COF-based photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, caffeic acid and its derivatives have received increasing attention due to their obvious physiological activities and wide distribution in nature. In this paper, to clarify the status of research on plant-derived caffeic acid and its derivatives, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy data and possible biosynthetic pathways of these compounds were collected from scientific databases (SciFinder, PubMed and China Knowledge). According to different types of substituents, 17 caffeic acid and its derivatives can be divided into the following classes: caffeoyl ester derivatives, caffeyltartaric acid, caffeic acid amide derivatives, caffeoyl shikimic acid, caffeoyl quinic acid, caffeoyl danshens and caffeoyl glycoside. Generalization of their 13C-NMR and 1H-NMR data revealed that acylation with caffeic acid to form esters involves acylation shifts, which increase the chemical shift values of the corresponding carbons and decrease the chemical shift values of the corresponding carbons of caffeoyl. Once the hydroxyl group is ester, the hydrogen signal connected to the same carbon shifts to the low field (1.1~1.6). The biosynthetic pathways were summarized, and it was found that caffeic acid and its derivatives are first synthesized in plants through the shikimic acid pathway, in which phenylalanine is deaminated to cinnamic acid and then transformed into caffeic acid and its derivatives. The purpose of this review is to provide a reference for further research on the rapid structural identification and biofabrication of caffeic acid and its derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the valuation of variable annuities with a guaranteed minimum maturity benefit under a regime-switching Lévy model. The model allows policyholders to surrender their annuities and receive a surrender benefit at predetermined tenor times before maturity. Additionally, we consider a state-dependent periodic fee structure where fees are deducted from the policyholder's account if it exceeds a certain level at discrete time points. Incorporating this fee structure, the Fourier cosine series expansion method based on characteristic functions is employed to determine the values and optimal surrender strategies for variable annuity contracts. Finally, we provide a comprehensive set of numerical examples to demonstrate and assess the effectiveness of our approach thoroughly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An 88-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary inosine 5′-monophosphate (5′-IMP) on the growth performance and salinity and oxidative stress resistance in the juvenile gibel carp CAS III (Carassius auratus gibelio; initial body weight: 7.48 g). Four isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets containing exogenous 5′-IMP were formulated. P1, P2, P3 and P4 were diets containing 5′-IMP at four concentrations (0, 1, 2 and 4 g kg−1). The four diets were randomly allotted to triplicate tanks in a recirculating system. After the feeding trial, six fish per tank were netted randomly and placed into 12‰ saline water to test their response to salinity stress. The results indicated that the feed conversion rate was enhanced by dietary supplementation with 5′-IMP. The appetite, plasma neuropeptide Y level and feeding rate of the P3 group were lower than those in the control treatment group. Dietary supplementation with 5′-IMP improved the osmoregulatory adaptation of gibel carp under acute salinity stress. Six hours after the salinity stress treatment, in the dietary 5′-IMP treatment group, the plasma cortisol and K+ concentrations were lower and the Na+/K+-ATPase activity was greater than that in the control group. Dietary supplementation with 5′-IMP promoted the expression of the glucocorticoid receptors NKA-α1b and NKCC and retarded the expression of Hsp70 in P4-treated gill filaments and kidneys. Dietary supplementation with 5′-IMP resulted in a stable oxidative-stress-resistant phenotype characterized by increased levels of cellular antioxidants, including SOD, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and MPO. The above results of the current study demonstrate that supplementation of 5′-IMP can promote feed utilization and have positive influences on the salinity and oxidative stress resistance of gibel carp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The trial was conducted to investigate the effects of the replacement of dietary fishmeal (FM) by the blend of Tenebrio molitor meal (TMM), Chlorella meal (CM), Clostridium autoethanogenum protein (CAP), cottonseed protein concentrate (CPC) on growth, protein utilization and intestinal health of gibel carp (Carassius gibelio, CAS Ⅴ). The FM-based diet was used as the control, and the blended proteins (TMM: CM: CAP: CPC) at ratios of 1 : 1:8 : 2 (BLEND A), 1 : 1:6 : 4 (BLEND B), and 1 : 1:4 : 6 (BLEND C) were used to replace FM at three levels (33%, 67%, 100%), respectively. The results showed that, compared to the control group, growth performance increased significantly when dietary FM was fully replaced by BLEND B (P < 0.05), while decreased by BLEND A (P < 0.05). The complete substitution of FM with BLEND B significantly upregulated the mRNA expression of intestinal proinflammatory cytokines, anti-inflammatory cytokines, and tight junction-related genes (P < 0.05), improving intestinal tissue morphology and health. And it also significantly increased intestinal trypsin activity (P < 0.05), upregulated the mRNA expression of amino acid sensory receptor-related and amino acid or peptide transport-related genes (P < 0.05), increased protein apparent digestibility coefficient (P < 0.05). The 100% substitution of FM with BLEND A significantly upregulated the mRNA expression of intestinal proinflammatory cytokines and downregulated the mRNA expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine il-10 (P < 0.05), reduced intestinal villus height (P < 0.05), and decreased protein apparent digestibility coefficient (P < 0.05). In conclusion, BLEND B could completely substitute dietary FM and was beneficial to the growth and health of gibel carp. Dietary digestible essential amino acids index (DEEAI) was found as an important indicator and should be higher than 79.5% to meet the maximum growth of fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the age-hardening behavior and phase transformation of an Mg-9.2Gd-1.9Y-1.8Zn-0.5Zr alloy were systematically investigated. Results showed that the alloy exhibits substantial strengthening effects during aging at 225°C. During the under-aging stage, the second phases mainly undergo nucleation, supplemented by growth. In the peak aging stage, both nucleation and growth of the second phases occur simultaneously. Many main strengthening phases (β′ and β1 phases) precipitate, leading to a 21.7% increase in alloy hardness at its peak. During the over-aging stage, the second phases predominantly undergo growth, accompanied by nucleation. As the aging time increases, the size of the β1 phases increases and transforms to stable β phases, resulting in a decrease in alloy hardness. Subsequently, the alloy experiences the accumulation of β and LPSO phase, and the lamellar LPSO phases transform into block LPSO phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two-step backward difference formula (BDF) method on variable grids for parabolic equations with self-adjoint elliptic part is considered. Standard stability estimates for adjacent time-step ratios r j : = k j / k j - 1 ⩽ 1.8685 and 1.9104, respectively, have been proved by Becker (BIT 38:644–662, 1998) and Emmrich (J Appl Math Comput 19:33–55, 2005) by the energy technique with a single multiplier. Even slightly improving the ratio is cumbersome. In this paper, we present a novel technique to examine the positive definiteness of banded matrices that are neither Toeplitz nor weakly diagonally dominant; this result can be viewed as a variant of the Grenander–Szegő theorem. Then, utilizing the energy technique with two multipliers, we establish stability for adjacent time-step ratios up to 1.9398. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rotation-two-component Camassa–Holm (R2CH) system was proposed recently to describe the motion of shallow water waves under the influence of gravity. This is a highly nonlinear and strongly coupled system of partial differential equations. A crucial issue in designing numerical schemes is to preserve invariants as many as possible at the discrete level. In this paper, we present a provable implicit nonlinear difference scheme which preserves at least three discrete conservation invariants: energy, mass, and momentum, and prove the existence of the difference solution via the Browder theorem. The error analysis is based on novel and refined estimates of the bilinear operator in the difference scheme. By skillfully using the energy method, we prove that the difference scheme not only converges unconditionally when the rotational parameter diminishes, but also converges without any step-ratio restriction for the small energy case when the rotational parameter is nonzero. The convergence orders in both settings (zero or nonzero rotation parameter) are O (τ 2 + h 2) for the velocity in the L ∞ -norm and the surface elevation in the L 2 -norm, where τ denotes the temporal stepsize and h the spatial stepsize, respectively. The theoretical predictions are confirmed by a properly designed two-level iteration scheme. Compared with existing numerical methods in the literature, the proposed method demonstrates its effectiveness for long-time simulation over larger domains and superior resolution for both smooth and non-smooth initial values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine and evaluate the impact of benzene poisoning on the relative content of the mitochondrial MT-ND1 gene and telomere length in individuals with occupational chronic benzene poisoning (CBP) compared to a control group. The study will analyze and gather data on the mitochondrial gene content and telomere length in cases of benzene poisoning, and investigate the relationship with blood routine parameters in order to contribute scientific experimental data for the prevention and treatment of CBP. Method: The case group comprised 30 individuals diagnosed with occupational chronic benzene poisoning, whereas the control group consisted of 60 healthy individuals who underwent physical examinations at our hospital concurrently. Blood routine indicators were detected and analyzed, and the PCR method was employed to measure changes in mitochondrial MT-ND1 content and telomere length. Subsequently, a comparison and analysis of the aforementioned indicators was conducted. Result: The case group exhibited a higher mitochondrial gene content (median 366.2, IQR 90.0 rate) compared to the control group (median 101.5, IQR 12.0 rate), with a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). Additionally, the case group demonstrated lower white blood cell levels (3.78 ± 1.387 × 109/L) compared to the control group (5.74 ± 1.41 × 109/L), with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the case group displayed lower red blood cell levels (3.86 ± 0.65 × 1012/L) compared to the control group (4.89 ± 0.65 × 1012/L), with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The hemoglobin level in the case group (113.33 ± 16.34 g/L) was lower than that in the control group (138.22 ± 13.22 g/L). There was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). Platelet levels in the case group (153.80 ± 58.31 × 109/L) is smaller than the control group (244.92 ± 51.99 × 109/L), there was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The average telomere length of the normal control group was 1.451 ± 0.475 (rate); The mean telomere length of individuals in the case group diagnosed with benzene poisoning was determined to be 1.237 ± 0.457 (rate). No significant correlation was observed between telomere length and three blood routine parameters, namely white blood cells (WBC), hemoglobin (HB), and platelets (PLT). However, a significant correlation was found between telomere length and red blood cell count (RBC). Additionally, a negative correlation was observed between mitochondrial gene content and white blood cell count (r = − 0.314, P = 0.026), as well as between mitochondrial gene content and red blood cell count (r = − 0.226, P = 0.032). Furthermore, a negative correlation was identified between mitochondrial gene content and hemoglobin (r = − 0.314, P = 0.028), and platelets (r = − 0.445, P = 0.001). Conclusion: Individuals diagnosed with occupational chronic benzene poisoning exhibit a reduction in telomere length and an elevation in the relative content of the mitochondrial MT-ND1 gene. Moreover, a negative correlation is observed between the content of the mitochondrial MT-ND1 gene and four blood routine parameters, namely white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (HB), and platelets (PLT). Consequently, benzene exposure may potentially contribute to the onset of premature aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Civic scientific literacy (CSL) is a fundamental indicator of social development and national literacy and is very important for personal well-being and national competitiveness. To be in line with the technological advancements and demands of the current era, we focused on "science engagement", which is now considered an important approach to enhance the CSL of the general public, and developed a 4-dimensional CSL assessment framework based on the crucial elements for citizens to engage in science. The 4 dimensions are scientific knowledge (SK), scientific method (SM), problem-solving (PS), and scientific thought and spirit of science (STSS). With this framework, a CSL measurement instrument including 50 items was developed. Various validity evidence, including evidence with reliability close to or exceeding 0.8 for all four dimensions, supports the use of the instrument to provide a valuation of CSL. Age, location type (urban or rural), educational background, and occupation are all significant factors associated with CSL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Any 3D AFM image is a convolution of the geometry of the AFM tip and the profile of the scanned sample, especially when the dimensions of the scanned sample are comparable to those of the AFM tip shape. The precise profile of the scanned sample can be extracted from the 3D AFM image if the geometry of the AFM tip is known. Therefore, in order to separate the geometry of the AFM probe tip from the 3D AFM image of a diffraction grating with a rectangular profile and to correct for the topographic convolutions induced by the AFM probe tip, a method is used to quantitatively evaluate the geometry of the AFM probe tip, including the tip radius and the included angle. A model for reconstructing the measured AFM image is proposed to correct topography convolutions caused by the AFM tip shape when scanning a diffraction grating with rectangular profiles. A series of experiments were performed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed AFM tip geometry evaluation method, and comparison experiments were conducted to demonstrate the feasibility and reliability of the proposed reconstruction model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider some finite-time dividend and ruin problems in a class of risk models under the constant dividend barrier strategy. This class of risk models includes Brownian motion risk model and the compound Poisson model with and without diffusion. By using Laguerre series expansion, we derive infinite series expansion formulas for the time T-deferred Laplace transform of the ruin time and time T-deferred expected present valued of dividend payments until ruin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palm leaf manuscripts (PLMs) are of great importance in recording Buddhist Scriptures, medicine, history, philosophy, etc. Some damages occur during the use, spread, and preservation procedure. The comprehensive investigation of Sanskrit PLMs is a prerequisite for further conservation and restoration. However, current damage identification and investigation are carried out manually. They require strong professional skills and are extraordinarily time-consuming. In this study, PLM-SegFormer is developed to provide an automated damage segmentation for Sanskrit PLMs based on the SegFormer architecture. Firstly, a digital image dataset of Sanskrit PLMs (the PLM dataset) was obtained from the Potala Palace in Tibet. Then, the hyperparameters for pre-processing, model training, prediction, and post-processing phases were fully optimized to make the SegFormer model more suitable for the PLM damage segmentation task. The optimized segmentation model reaches 70.1% mHit and 51.2% mIoU. The proposed framework automates the damage segmentation of 10,064 folios of PLMs within 12 h. The PLM-SegFormer framework will facilitate the preservation state survey and record of the Palm-leaf manuscript and be of great value to the subsequent preservation and restoration. The source code is available at https://github.com/Ryan21wy/PLM_SegFormer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine and evaluate the impact of benzene poisoning on the relative content of the mitochondrial MT-ND1 gene and telomere length in individuals with occupational chronic benzene poisoning (CBP) compared to a control group. The study will analyze and gather data on the mitochondrial gene content and telomere length in cases of benzene poisoning, and investigate the relationship with blood routine parameters in order to contribute scientific experimental data for the prevention and treatment of CBP. Method: The case group comprised 30 individuals diagnosed with occupational chronic benzene poisoning, whereas the control group consisted of 60 healthy individuals who underwent physical examinations at our hospital concurrently. Blood routine indicators were detected and analyzed, and the PCR method was employed to measure changes in mitochondrial MT-ND1 content and telomere length. Subsequently, a comparison and analysis of the aforementioned indicators was conducted. Result: The case group exhibited a higher mitochondrial gene content (median 366.2, IQR 90.0 rate) compared to the control group (median 101.5, IQR 12.0 rate), with a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). Additionally, the case group demonstrated lower white blood cell levels (3.78 ± 1.387 × 109/L) compared to the control group (5.74 ± 1.41 × 109/L), with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the case group displayed lower red blood cell levels (3.86 ± 0.65 × 1012/L) compared to the control group (4.89 ± 0.65 × 1012/L), with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The hemoglobin level in the case group (113.33 ± 16.34 g/L) was lower than that in the control group (138.22 ± 13.22 g/L). There was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). Platelet levels in the case group (153.80 ± 58.31 × 109/L) is smaller than the control group (244.92 ± 51.99 × 109/L), there was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The average telomere length of the normal control group was 1.451 ± 0.475 (rate); The mean telomere length of individuals in the case group diagnosed with benzene poisoning was determined to be 1.237 ± 0.457 (rate). No significant correlation was observed between telomere length and three blood routine parameters, namely white blood cells (WBC), hemoglobin (HB), and platelets (PLT). However, a significant correlation was found between telomere length and red blood cell count (RBC). Additionally, a negative correlation was observed between mitochondrial gene content and white blood cell count (r = − 0.314, P = 0.026), as well as between mitochondrial gene content and red blood cell count (r = − 0.226, P = 0.032). Furthermore, a negative correlation was identified between mitochondrial gene content and hemoglobin (r = − 0.314, P = 0.028), and platelets (r = − 0.445, P = 0.001). Conclusion: Individuals diagnosed with occupational chronic benzene poisoning exhibit a reduction in telomere length and an elevation in the relative content of the mitochondrial MT-ND1 gene. Moreover, a negative correlation is observed between the content of the mitochondrial MT-ND1 gene and four blood routine parameters, namely white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (HB), and platelets (PLT). Consequently, benzene exposure may potentially contribute to the onset of premature aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the microstructure evolution of as-cast and homogenized Mg-9Gd-4Y-2Zn-0.5Zr alloys during hot compression was studied by electron backscattered diffraction analysis. Specimens were compressed at 420 °C with reductions of 20, 40, and 70%. The results indicated that more recrystallized grains were obtained in the as-cast alloy, which was attributed to many block-shaped phase grains. Under the same conditions, the as-cast alloy had a finer microstructure and weaker texture. In the initial stage, dynamic recrystallization in the form of discontinuous dynamic recrystallization participated in deformation. Further deformation contributed to fine grains in the interior of deformed grains in the form of continuous dynamic recrystallization. Basal slip played an active part in the deformed grains, and the recrystallized grains activated pyramidal slip. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An hp-version interior penalty discontinuous Galerkin method under nonconforming meshes is proposed to solve the quad-curl eigenvalue problem. We prove well-posedness of the numerical scheme for the quad-curl equation and then derive an error estimate in a mesh-dependent norm, which is optimal with respect to h but has different p-version error bounds under conforming and nonconforming tetrahedron meshes. The hp-version discrete compactness of the DG space is established for the convergence proof. The performance of the method is demonstrated by numerical experiments using conforming/nonconforming meshes and h-version/p-version refinement. The optimal h-version convergence rate and the exponential p-version convergence rate are observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fully discrete finite element method with a Gauss collocation in time is proposed for solving the nonlinear Schrödinger equation with a wave operator in the d-dimensional torus, d ∈ { 1 , 2 , 3 } . Based on Gauss collocation method in time and the scalar auxiliary variable technique, the proposed method preserves both mass and energy conservations at the discrete level. Existence and uniqueness of the numerical solutions to the nonlinear algebraic system, as well as convergence to the exact solution with order O (h p + τ k + 1) in the L ∞ (0 , T ; H 1) norm, are proved by using Schaefer’s fixed point theorem without requiring any grid-ratio conditions, where (p, k) is the degree of the space-time finite elements. The Newton iterative method is applied for solving the nonlinear algebraic system. The numerical results show that the proposed method preserves discrete mass and energy conservations up to machine precision, and requires only a few Newton iterations to achieve the desired accuracy, with optimal-order convergence in the L ∞ (0 , T ; H 1) norm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, there has been ample work dedicated to understanding how framing typologies impact audiences. However, there has been rather little empirical evidence pertaining to the relationship between framing typologies and subsequent user engagement, specifically in regards to how frames impact how users engage with online content. The goal of the present study seeks to expand upon the existing literature, with a specific focus on some of the most prolific typologies used within the communication discipline. In an analysis of Facebook content produced by 239 Down syndrome nonprofits over the course of one year, we offer several findings regarding the relationship between the frames used within Facebook content and the subsequent user engagement that they received. Most notably, results indicate that Facebook posts that utilized elements of the human-interest frame were associated with higher user engagement. Further, despite existing literature indicating the contrary, there does not appear to be a statistically significant difference in user engagement between posts that utilized episodic as opposed to thematic framing. The results presented here offer recommendations for practitioners, marketing professionals, as well as individuals looking to grow their social media presence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a crucial technique for analyzing mixtures consisting of small molecules, providing non-destructive, fast, reproducible, and unbiased benefits. However, it is challenging to perform mixture identification because of the offset of chemical shifts and peak overlaps that often exist in mixtures such as plant flavors. Here, we propose a deep-learning-based mixture identification method (DeepMID) that can be used to identify plant flavors (mixtures) in a formulated flavor (mixture consisting of several plant flavors) without the need to know the specific components in the plant flavors. A pseudo-Siamese convolutional neural network (pSCNN) and a spatial pyramid pooling (SPP) layer were used to solve the problems due to their high accuracy and robustness. The DeepMID model is trained, validated, and tested on an augmented data set containing 50,000 pairs of formulated and plant flavors. We demonstrate that DeepMID can achieve excellent prediction results in the augmented test set: ACC = 99.58%, TPR = 99.48%, FPR = 0.32%; and two experimentally obtained data sets: one shows ACC = 97.60%, TPR = 92.81%, FPR = 0.78% and the other shows ACC = 92.31%, TPR = 80.00%, FPR = 0.00%. In conclusion, DeepMID is a reliable method for identifying plant flavors in formulated flavors based on NMR spectroscopy, which can assist researchers in accelerating the design of flavor formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microstructure evolution, phase development and mechanical property of AZ80 alloy cup with various processing temperatures (573 K, 613 K, 653 K) and rotating revolutions (N = 0, 5, 50, 100) during rotating backward extrusion (RBE) were explored. The study founded that reducing deformation temperature or increasing revolution could promote the grain refinement and DRX proportion. And the sample deformed at the condition of 573 K and N = 100 exhibited the best grain refinement effect (grain size was 2.5 μm, DRX ratio was up to 99.01%). The bulk eutectic phase existed at all deformation temperatures, while the dynamic precipitation was only precipitated at temperature of 573 K and 613 K. Increasing the deformation temperature or revolution could reduce the proportion of the second phase. And an increase in revolution or a reduction of temperature would reduce the average size of second phase, due to the phase could be broken by large strain and resolved with elevated temperature. Moreover, increasing the revolution and deformation temperature could promote the texture weakening, which would be contributed to the occurrence of new recrystallization grains with random orientation and the activation of non-basal slip system. The mechanical property of microhardness was significantly improved with rotating revolution increasing and deformation temperature decreasing. Supported by the grain refinement and dispersion strengthening, the sample deformed at condition of 573 K and N = 100 achieved maximum hardness values of 96.3 HV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cisplatin (CDDP) is a common anticancer drug whose side effects limit its clinical applications. Tannins (TA) are plant-derived polyphenols that inhibit tumor growth in different types of cancer. Here, we evaluated the anticancer effect of TA combined with CDDP on lung cancer cell lines (GLC-82 and H1299) and investigated the underlying molecular mechanism of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced apoptosis. Methods: Cell lines were treated with CDDP, TA, and CDDP + TA, and the effect of the combination was assessed using MTT assay and observed under light and fluorescence microscopes. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry, and the levels of ERS apoptosis pathway related genes were valuated by qRT-PCR and western blotting. The effects of the drug combination on the tumors of nude mice injected with H1299 cells were investigated, and the expression of key factors in the ER stress apoptotic pathway was investigated. Results: The combination of CDDP and TA significantly inhibited lung cancer cell viability indicating a synergistic antitumoral effect. The mRNA and protein expression levels of key ER stress factors in the CDDP + TA group were considerably higher than those in the CDDP and TA groups, the tumor volume in tumor-bearing mice was the smallest, and the number of apoptotic cells and the protein expression levels of the key ER stress in the combination group were considerably higher. Conclusions: The combination of TA and CDDP may produce synergistic antitumoral effects mediated by the PERK-ATF4-CHOP apoptotic axis, suggesting a novel adjuvant treatment for lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive carbohydrate intake leads to metabolic disorders in fish. However, few literatures have reported the appropriate carbohydrate level for zebrafish, and the metabolic response to dietary carbohydrate remains largely unknown in zebrafish. This study assessed the responses of zebrafish and zebrafish liver cell line (ZFL) to different carbohydrate levels. In vivo results showed that ≥30% dietary dextrin levels significantly increased the plasma glucose content, activated the expression of hepatic glycolysis-related genes, and inhibited the expression of hepatic gluconeogenesis-related genes in zebrafish. Oil red O staining, triglyceride content, and Hematoxylin-Eosin staining results showed that dietary dextrin levels of ≥30% significantly increased lipid accumulation and liver damage, as well as processes related to glycolipid metabolism and inflammation in zebrafish. In ZFL, the transcription factor sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c signal intensity, 4,4-difluoro-1,3,5,7,8-pentamethyl-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (BODIPY 493/503) signal intensity, and triglyceride content were also significantly increased when incubated in high glucose, along with abnormal glycolipid metabolism and increased inflammation-related genes. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the maximum dietary carbohydrate level in adult zebrafish should be less than 30%. Excess dietary carbohydrates (30%–50%) caused hepatic steatosis and damage to zebrafish, similar to that seen in aquaculture species. Thus, this study assessed responses to different carbohydrate levels in zebrafish and illustrated that zebrafish is an optimal model for investigating glucose metabolism in some aquatic animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To satisfy the requirements for the precise formation of large-scale high-performance lightweight components with inner ring reinforcement, a new multidirectional loading rotary extrusion forming technology is developed to match the linear motion with the rotary motion and actively increases the strong shear force. Its principle is that the radial force and rotating torque increase when the blank is axially extruded and loaded. Through the synergistic action of axial, radial, and rotating motions, the orderly flow of metal is controlled, and the cumulative severe plastic deformation (SPD) of an "uplift-trowel" micro-area is generated. Consequently, materials are uniformly strengthened and toughened. Simultaneously, through the continuous deformation of a punch "ellipse-circle," a high reinforcement component is grown on the cylinder wall to achieve the high-quality formation of cylindrical parts or the inner-ring-reinforcement components. Additionally, the effective strain increases with rotation speed, and the maximum intensity on the basal plane decreases as the number of revolutions increase. The punch structure also affects the axial extrusion loading and equivalent plastic strain. Thus, the proposed technology enriches the plastic forming theory and widens the application field of plastic forming. Furthermore, the formed large-scale high-performance inner-ring-stiffened magnesium components have been successfully verified in aerospace equipment, thereby solving the problems of integral forming and severe deformation strengthening and toughening. The developed technology has good prospects for mass production and application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are bioaccumulative and widely distributed persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Understanding the distribution of and ecological risks posed by PFASs is critical, particularly for PFAS emissions and accumulation from a common urban pollution source. The transformation characteristics and ecological risks of PFASs from a typical aging municipal landfill leachate were systematically monitored and assessed over five years in this study. The results showed that the total PFAS concentrations (ΣPFASs) in the rivers were between 26.4 and 464.3 ng/L, whereas in sediment, ΣPFASs ranged from 9.5 to 58.5 ng/g (w/w). The presence of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was the most prominent PFAS in both water (39.4–152.3 ng/L) and sediment (1.1–56.1 ng/g). In a five-year monitoring study, the concentration of PFASs in the aging landfill decreased by 23.3%, with higher mean concentrations observed during summer (307.6 ng/L) compared to winter (250.4 ng/L). As for the pollution distribution, the suspended particulate matter–water partition coefficient (log Kd) of carboxylic acid (PFCAs) and perfluoroalkane sulfonic acids (PFSAs) ranged from 1.53 to 2.65, and from 1.77 to 2.82, respectively. PFSAs and long-chain PFCAs exhibited a greater propensity for sediment association compared to short-chain PFCAs. An ecological risk assessment of four typical PFASs, PFOA, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS), utilizing the hazard quotient method revealed that the rivers surrounding the typical aging landfill exhibited a low contamination risk for PFOA, while no ecological risks were associated with the other three FPASs. This study contributes to an enhanced comprehension of the occurrence, distribution, and risk of PFASs in the rivers in rivers and sediment surrounding a typical aging landfill site in China, thereby providing crucial reference information for ensuring water quality safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stimulating ion channels targeting in neuromodulation by external signals with the help of functionalized nanoparticles, which integrates the pioneering achievements in the fields of neurosciences and nanomaterials, has involved into a novel interdisciplinary field. The emerging technique developed in this field enable simple, remote, non-invasive, and spatiotemporally precise nerve regulations and disease therapeutics, beyond traditional treatment methods. In this paper, we define this emerging field as nano-neuromodulation and summarize the most recent developments of non-genetic nano-neuromodulation (non-genetic NNM) over the past decade based on the innovative design concepts of neuromodulation nanoparticle systems. These nanosystems, which feature diverse compositions, structures and synthesis approaches, could absorb certain exogenous stimuli like light, sound, electric or magnetic signals, and subsequently mediate mutual transformations between above signals, or chemical reactions, to regulate stimuli-sensitive ion channels and ion migrations which play vital roles in the nervous system. We will also discuss the obstacles and challenges in the future development of non-genetic NNM, and propose its future developments, to add the further progress of this promising field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Dentists must be able to identify subtle color changes as shade-matching is crucial in aesthetic dentistry. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether color discrimination ability is related to shade-matching accuracy among dentists. METHODS: The sensitivity of the normal-color vision population to different colors was investigated using Farnsworth Munsell 100 Hue (FM-100) test results. The FM-100 test was administered to 37 dentists at the Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University. Sensitivity of dentists with normal-color vision to different colors was investigated using the FM-100 test. Participants were instructed to arrange color caps of various colors according to the gradual change in colors and the results were scored. Visual shade matching test using Vita 3D-MASTER shade guide was performed to determine shade-matching accuracy. The relationship between color discrimination ability and shade-matching accuracy was analyzed. The number of misplaced color caps in the FM-100 test was also calculated. RESULTS: The FM-100 test revealed that 16 and 21 participants had excellent and average color discrimination ability, respectively, and their shade-matching accuracies were 68.75% and 66.67%, respectively. No significant difference was observed in the shade-matching accuracy between the two groups. No significant correlation was observed between the color discrimination ability and shade-matching accuracy. In addition, the number of wrong color caps on the 43–63 color tray with the transition from blue-green to blue-purple was the highest according to Friedman's test. CONCLUSION: Color discrimination ability of dentists does not affect their visual shade-matching accuracy. Additionally, people with normal color vision are not sensitive to the transition from blue-green to blue-purple. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Particle settling is the process by which particulates move toward the bottom of a liquid, which can affect the sediment transport and energy balance of marine systems. However, the deficiency in understanding the resolved fluid–particle interactions with complex boundaries in the settling process awaits resolution. This study employs a hybrid approach that combines computational fluid dynamics (CFD) with the discrete element method (DEM) to fully simulate the free-settling behavior of polyhedral particles in water. The accuracy of the method is verified by comparing numerical results with experimental data of ellipsoidal particle settling. Two series of tests with horizontal and vertical particle release directions are established to investigate the effects of particle shape features, such as the aspect ratio (AR) and corner (C), on the particles' mechanical behavior and hydrodynamic characteristics. The results demonstrate that particle shape exerts a substantial influence on fluid resistance, rotational motion, and fluid disturbance throughout the settling process. The maximum velocities in vertically released cases are roughly 1.2–1.3 times greater than those in horizontally released cases. The study highlights the potency of the resolved CFD-DEM method as a robust technique for comprehending fluid–particle phenomena within the marine geotechnical engineering, including sedimentation and erosion of seabed sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]