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A dual nickel- and iridium-photocatalyzed radical cascade bicyclization reaction for the synthesis of highly complex molecular structures in an atom- and step-economic manner has been described. A series of radical precursors are utilized for the divergent synthesis of diversely substituted fluorenes and indenoazepinones bearing quaternary carbons by using cascade cyclization reactions of 1,5-enynes. This reaction is characterized by its mild conditions, broad substrate scope, excellent selectivity, and satisfactory yield including facile scale-up synthesis.

In multistage machining processes (MMPs), a clear understanding of the error accumulation, propagation, and evolution mechanisms between different processes is crucial for improving the quality of machining products and achieving effective product quality control. This paper proposes the construction of a machining error propagation event-knowledge graph (MEPEKG) for quality control in MMPs, inspired by the application of knowledge graphs to data, information, and knowledge organization and utilization. Initially, a cyber-physical system (CPS)-based production process data acquisition sensor network is constructed, and process flow-oriented process monitoring is achieved through the radio frequency identification (RFID) production event model. Secondly, the process-related quality feature and working condition data are preprocessed; features are extracted from the distributed CPS nodes; and the production event model is used to achieve the dynamic mapping and updating of feature data under the guidance of the MEPEKG schema layer. Moreover, the mathematical model of machining error propagation based on the second-order Taylor expansion is used to quantitatively analyze the quality control in MMPs based on the support of MEPEKG data. Finally, the efficacy and reliability of the MEPEKG for error propagation analysis and quality control of MMPs were verified using a case study of a specially shaped rotary component.

This study content analyzes the news coverage of two major presidential candidates—one populist challenger, the other female incumbent—in the 2020 Taiwan election. A nation-wide survey of voters and their newspaper uses was also utilized to verify the association between partisan news reliance and candidate evaluations. Based on the concept of partisan press, the study confirms that the coverage is highly polarizing and that it includes more horse race analysis than discussion of serious issues. Sexist and misogynistic terms were used more often by party-opponent (Blue-camp) newspapers to describe the female incumbent. The male populist candidate was portrayed more often in a personal fashion than the female candidate. The voters’ primary newspaper uses were found to be positively associated with their candidate evaluations and preferences. The study sheds new light on populist vis-à-vis gendered election coverage in the context of an Asian democracy.

The Jarvik 2000 bridge to transplant investigational device exemption study was a multicentered, prospective study of 150 UNOS status I patients implanted with the Jarvik 2000 between 2005 and 2012. During the study period, there were numerous modifications of the system that included converting from pin to cone bearings. Results were analyzed for three cohorts: total (n = 150), pin (n = 128), and cone (n = 22). Baseline demographics included age (52 ± 13), gender (79% male), size (BSA 1.98), and etiology (37% idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy; 43% Ischemic). Seventy percent of patients were either INTERMACS 1 or 2. The primary endpoint—defined as successful transplantation or listing at 180 days (prespecified at 65%; 95% lower CI: 57%)—was successfully achieved for the total cohort (67.3%; 95% CI: 59.5%–74.3%; p= 0.006). In subgroup analysis of the more contemporary, cone-bearing group, the primary endpoint was met in 91% (95% CI: 72%–97.5%; p= 0.001). Compared with pin patients, cone-bearing patients had less hemolysis as well as decreased end-organ dysfunction. Functional and quality of life scores improved after implantation independent type of bearing. In conclusion, despite a particularly sick patient population, the Jarvik 2000 was shown to be effective in supporting the advanced HF patient.

Inducing immunogenic cell death (ICD) is a critical strategy for enhancing cancer immunotherapy. However, inefficient and risky ICD inducers along with a tumor hypoxia microenvironment seriously limit the immunotherapy efficacy. Non-specific delivery is also responsible for this inefficiency. In this work, we report a drug-free bacteria-derived outer membrane vesicle (OMV)-functionalized Fe3O4-MnO2(FMO) nanoplatform that realized neutrophil-mediated targeted delivery and photothermally enhanced cancer immunotherapy. In this system, modification of OMVs derived from Escherichia colienhanced the accumulation of FMO NPs at the tumor tissue through neutrophil-mediated targeted delivery. The FMO NPs underwent reactive decomposition in the tumor site, generating manganese and iron ions that induced ICD and O2that regulated the tumor hypoxia environment. Moreover, OMVs are rich in pathogen-associated pattern molecules that can overcome the tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment and effectively activate immune cells, thereby enhancing specific immune responses. Photothermal therapy (PTT) caused by MnO2and Fe3O4can not only indirectly stimulate systemic immunity by directly destroying tumor cells but also promote the enrichment of neutrophil-equipped nanoparticles by enhancing the inflammatory response at the tumor site. Finally, the proposed multi-modal treatment system with targeted delivery capability realized effective tumor immunotherapy to prevent tumor growth and recurrence.

Pennsylvania bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica) and other bittercress (Cardamine) species are among the most common and difficult-to-control weed species in container nurseries, and they have been vouched in most counties in Florida. Preemergence herbicides can provide control, but concerns over potential resistance development, environmental issues, and crop injury problems associated with herbicide use create the need for alternative weed control methods to be explored. Previous studies have shown the potential of mulch materials for controlling weeds in nurseries, but their use along with preemergence herbicides has not been extensively investigated. To compare the effects of different mulch materials and herbicides on Pennsylvania bittercress control, a full factorial designed greenhouse study was conducted. Three mulch treatments including no mulch, pine (Pinus sp.) bark, and rice (Oryza sativa) hulls were evaluated with three herbicide treatments, including water (i.e., no herbicide), isoxaben, and prodiamine applied at label rates. Twenty-five seeds of Pennsylvania bittercress were sown on the surface of each container and emergence (percent), coverage (square centimeters), seed head number, and biomass (grams) were measured. The results showed that Pennsylvania bittercress in containers mulched with rice hulls had the lowest emergence throughout the experiment. For coverage, seedhead, and biomass parameters, Pennsylvania bittercress seeded in rice hulls treatments had significantly lower coverage, fewer seedheads, and lower biomass compared with those in nonmulched or pine bark treatments, regardless of herbicide treatment. With isoxaben and the water check, nonmulched treatments had the highest coverage/ seed head/biomass, whereas with prodiamine, Pennsylvania bittercress in pine bark mulched containers had the highest coverage/seedhead/biomass. In conclusion, applying rice hulls alone can provide better Pennsylvania bittercress control compared with isoxaben or prodiamine applied alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature and population growth are key drivers of energy consumption. However, the relative importance of climatic and socioeconomic factors driving energy consumption at different temporal scales is not well-understood. Therefore, we developed a time-series decomposition method to attribute the relative importance of climatic (heat index and monsoon index) and socioeconomic variables to domestic energy consumption in Hong Kong from 1981–2015. The same method was used for Singapore from 2005–2015 to test the transferability of our time-series method. Population growth and GDP were the primary drivers for domestic energy consumption in Hong Kong from 1981–2015, but the heat index became the primary driver from 2005–2015 instead. The monsoon and heat indexes were the primary drivers of domestic energy consumption in Singapore from 2005–2015. Climate change will increase air temperatures by 2–5 °C for Hong Kong and Singapore by 2100. For RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios, Singapore shows a linear relationship between temperature and domestic energy consumption, whereas the relationship is non-linear in Hong Kong. Our findings highlight the importance of understanding the impact of climatic change on monsoon mechanism and heat index, which can predict future cooling demand and help achieve sustainable development goals.

Adhesion G-protein-coupled receptors (aGPCRs) are important for organogenesis, neurodevelopment, reproduction and other processes1–6. Many aGPCRs are activated by a conserved internal (tethered) agonist sequence known as the Stachel sequence7–12. Here, we report the cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of two aGPCRs in complex with Gs: GPR133 and GPR114. The structures indicate that the Stachel sequences of both receptors assume an α-helical–bulge–β-sheet structure and insert into a binding site formed by the transmembrane domain (TMD). A hydrophobic interaction motif (HIM) within the Stachel sequence mediates most of the intramolecular interactions with the TMD. Combined with the cryo-EM structures, biochemical characterization of the HIM motif provides insight into the cross-reactivity and selectivity of the Stachel sequences. Two interconnected mechanisms, the sensing of Stachel sequences by the conserved ‘toggle switch’ W6.53and the constitution of a hydrogen-bond network formed by Q7.49/Y7.49and the P6.47/V6.47φφG6.50motif (φ indicates a hydrophobic residue), are important in Stachel sequence-mediated receptor activation and Gscoupling. Notably, this network stabilizes kink formation in TM helices 6 and 7 (TM6 and TM7, respectively). A common Gs-binding interface is observed between the two aGPCRs, and GPR114 has an extended TM7 that forms unique interactions with Gs. Our structures reveal the detailed mechanisms of aGPCR activation by Stachel sequences and their Gscoupling.

Adhesion G protein-coupled receptors are elusive in terms of their structural information and ligands. Here, we solved the cryogenic-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of apo-ADGRG2, an essential membrane receptor for maintaining male fertility, in complex with a Gstrimer. Whereas the formations of two kinks were determinants of the active state, identification of a potential ligand-binding pocket in ADGRG2 facilitated the screening and identification of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and deoxycorticosterone as potential ligands of ADGRG2. The cryo-EM structures of DHEA–ADGRG2–Gsprovided interaction details for DHEA within the seven transmembrane domains of ADGRG2. Collectively, our data provide a structural basis for the activation and signaling of ADGRG2, as well as characterization of steroid hormones as ADGRG2 ligands, which might be used as useful tools for further functional studies of the orphan ADGRG2.

Information technology (IT) services are indispensable in the enterprises' sustainability program nowadays. For the outsourcing of IT services, many companies use the contract service model and set up a project to implement timely IT requests which constantly arrive at different IT sites. The demand for outsourced IT services and related workforce coordination is a permanent decisional process, yet existing studies mainly focus on the one-time assignment or the centralized service model. Hence, this paper bases on the multi-period and multi-service allocation requirement to develop a sustainable assignment model. The model handles continuous service requests and decentralized worker assignments to optimize overall costs under the fixed-price contract type of IT service. A real industrial service case is reported to illustrate the model. A comparative review with related works is also provided to discuss the contributions of the model and to outline its future research and development.

This article presents a solution for fatigue recognition through a new deep learning model that has a characteristic input of the power spectrum of an electroencephalogram (EEG) signal. First, four rhythms are obtained through the designed FIR filters, and the curve areas of their power spectrum density are coupled into four fatigue indicators. Second, a deep sparse contractive autoencoder network is proposed to learn more local fatigue characteristics, and the recognition results of pilots mental fatigue status are given. Compared with the state-of-the-art models, the results show that our model has good learning performance in extracting local features and fatigue status detection.

Purpose: Management of peptic ulcer bleeding is clinically challenging. Accurate characterization of the bleeding during endoscopy is key for endoscopic therapy. This study aimed to assess whether a deep learning model can aid in the classification of bleeding peptic ulcer disease. Methods: Endoscopic still images of patients (n= 1694) with peptic ulcer bleeding for the last 5 years were retrieved and reviewed. Overall, 2289 images were collected for deep learning model training, and 449 images were validated for the performance test. Two expert endoscopists classified the images into different classes based on their appearance. Four deep learning models, including Mobile Net V2, VGG16, Inception V4, and ResNet50, were proposed and pre-trained by ImageNet with the established convolutional neural network algorithm. A comparison of the endoscopists and trained deep learning model was performed to evaluate the model’s performance on a dataset of 449 testing images. Results: The results first presented the performance comparisons of four deep learning models. The Mobile Net V2 presented the optimal performance of the proposal models. The Mobile Net V2 was chosen for further comparing the performance with the diagnostic results obtained by one senior and one novice endoscopists. The sensitivity and specificity were acceptable for the prediction of “normal” lesions in both 3-class and 4-class classifications. For the 3-class category, the sensitivity and specificity were 94.83% and 92.36%, respectively. For the 4-class category, the sensitivity and specificity were 95.40% and 92.70%, respectively. The interobserver agreement of the testing dataset of the model was moderate to substantial with the senior endoscopist. The accuracy of the determination of endoscopic therapy required and high-risk endoscopic therapy of the deep learning model was higher than that of the novice endoscopist. Conclusions: In this study, the deep learning model performed better than inexperienced endoscopists. Further improvement of the model may aid in clinical decision-making during clinical practice, especially for trainee endoscopist.

Two structural isomers of carbazole decorated with triarylamine have been designed and synthesized with a facile synthetic procedure. The impact of triarylamine substitution on the isomeric structural linkage of carbazole on the optical, thermal, electrochemical, and photovoltaic properties has been extensively studied by combining experimental and simulation methods. Car[2,3]showed a red shift in the absorption maximum compared to that of Car[1,3], indicating the linear conjugation along the 2,7-position of carbazole in the former. The high thermal decomposition temperature (>420 °C) of these compounds could be attributed to the rigid structure of the carbazole core. Perovskite solar cells fabricated with Car[2,3]as the hole transporting material (HTM) displayed the highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.23%. It can be attributed to the suitable energy alignment of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) of HTM with the adjacent perovskite valence band energy level, which results in efficient hole transport. Furthermore, the molecular dynamic simulation demonstrates that the triphenylamine substitution on the 2,3,6,7 positions of Car[2,3]results in a more planar molecular alignment on top of the perovskite surface, promoting an efficient hole extraction. Essentially, when Car[1,3]and Car[2,3]were applied in perovskite solar cells, they showed enhanced long-term stability by retaining >80% of their initial PCEs after 1000 h of continuous illumination.

Objective:Localised scleroderma is a rare disease and the wound is difficult to heal because of tissue fibrosis. We present the case of a patient with localised scleroderma treated using the TIME (tissue, infection or inflammation, moisture and edge of wound) clinical decision support tool (CDST) for wound management. This includes: assessment, bringing, control, decision and evaluation (the ABCDE approach). The patient was fully evaluated and multidisciplinary teams were involved in wound treatment. Complications of wound healing were controlled and treated, and the wound was continuously assessed until it healed.Conclusion:This method of wound management provides a sound theory for the evaluation and management of hard-to-heal wounds and is worthy of clinical application.

The integration of gallium nitride (GaN) with 2D molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) to form GaN/MoS2semiconductor heterojunctions will have high potential applications in novel electronics and optoelectronics. In this study, GaN thin films were grown on pulse-laser-deposited MoS2layer by plasma-assisted MBE at different substrate temperatures (500 °C, 600 °C and 700 °C, respectively). The energy-band alignments of GaN/MoS2semiconductor heterostructures were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The epitaxial growth conditions of GaN films influenced the band alignment of GaN/MoS2heterojunction. Type-I heterostructure, a straddling relation between narrow-bandgap MoS2and wide-bandgap GaN, was observed at the optimized growth temperature of 600 °C. At the same time, photoluminescence (PL) and photoreflectance spectroscopies were employed to analyze the optical properties of MoS2and GaN/MoS2heterostructures. The PL and exciton energy transition of 2D MoS2layer can be enhanced by the capping layer GaN, especially for type-I band alignment structure.

The relationship between impact cavitation characteristics and cavitation damage of a pure water hydraulic control check valve under high pressure and high flow was investigated to prevent cavitation damage. The surface shape, phase, chemical state, and polarization curve of the hydraulic control check valve after pure water impact at high pressure and high flow were analyzed. The results indicate that the greater the impact pressure, the more pronounced the pressure drop at the throttle and the greater and more intense the cavitation range at the flow passage's rear end. Less impact pressure results in a quicker unloading process, and impact pressure has a significant effect on unloading time. With the improvement of impact characteristics, both the cavitation index and cavitation damage intensify. Cavitation collapse can rapidly transfer high temperatures to the surface of stainless steel, resulting in a martensitic structure through the rapid cooling of a pure water medium. After cavitation collapse, the passivation film of the stainless steel surface appears with early cracks and pores, which are more fragile than the surrounding area, resulting in a higher current density in the contained area, resulting in more H+in ionization, thus an acidic corrosive solution, and accelerating the destruction of the passivation film.

For the biosynthesis of Pip in Huperzia serrata,the mechanistic studies were evaluated. Through a series of biochemical analyses, Pip is biosynthesized through a two-step cascade reaction. Three intermediates possibly exist simultaneously as an equilibrium matter in the first-step reaction catalyzed by HsAld1, while HsSard4 performs as a ketimine reductase and chemoselectively and stereoselectively takes 1,2-dehydropipecolic acid as the preferred substrate in vitro.

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), a prevalent complication of diabetes mellitus, may result in an amputation. Natural and renewable hydrogels are desirable materials for DFU dressings due to their outstanding biosafety and degradability. However, most hydrogels are usually only used for wound repair and cannot be employed to monitor motion because of their inherent poor mechanical properties and electrical conductivity. Given that proper wound stretching is beneficial for wound healing, the development of natural hydrogel patches integrated with wound repair properties and motion monitoring was expected to achieve efficient and accurate wound healing. Here, we designed a dual-network (chitosan and sodium alginate) hydrogel embedded with lignin–Ag and quercetin–melanin nanoparticles to achieve efficient wound healing and motion monitoring. The double network formed by the covalent bond and electrostatic interaction confers the hydrogel with superior mechanical properties. Instead of the usual chemical reagents, genipin extracted from Gardeniawas used as a cross-linking agent for the hydrogel and consequently improved its biosafety. Furthermore, the incorporation of lignin–Ag nanoparticles greatly enhanced the mechanical strength, antibacterial efficacy, and conductivity of the hydrogel. The electrical conductivity of hydrogels gives them the capability of motion monitoring. The motion sensing mechanism is that stretching of the hydrogel induced by motion changes the conductivity of the hydrogel, thus converting the motion into an electrical signal. Meanwhile, quercetin–melanin nanoparticles confer exceptional adhesion, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties to the hydrogels. The system ultimately achieved excellent wound repair and motion monitoring performance and was expected to be used for stretch-assisted safe and accurate wound repair in the future.

Cis-hydrobenzofurans, cis-hydroindoles, and cis-hydrindanes, privileged structural motifs found in numerous biologically active natural and synthetic compounds, are efficiently prepared by a Rh(I)-catalyzed cascade syn-arylation/1,4-addition protocol. This approach starts with the regioselective syn-arylation of the alkyne tethered to 2,5-hexadienone moieties, using a chiral Rh(I) catalyst generated in situfrom a chiral bicyclo[2.2.1]hepatadiene ligand L4f. By forging two new carbon–carbon bonds and introducing two chiral centers, the resulting alkenylrhodium species undergoes desymmetrization via an intramolecular 1,4-addition reaction, delivering annulated products with high yields and enantioselectivities.