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Purpose: To compare the refractive efficacy and morphological changes in the cornea following a novel biphasic higher fluence transepithelial corneal crosslinking (BI-TE-CXL) and transepithelial corneal crosslinking (TE-CXL) in adults keratoconus. Methods: Patients with progressive keratoconus who required corneal crosslinking were assigned to the BI-TE-CXL group (32 eyes, phase 1: 7.2 J/cm2 for 5 min and 20 s of pulsed-light exposure, KXL, Glaukos-Avedro; phase 2: 3.6 J/cm2 for 6 min and 40 s of continuous light exposure at the front curvature apex with a 6 mm diameter light spot, UVX-2000, IROC) or the TE-CXL group (32 eyes, uniform 7.2 J/cm2 for 5 min and 20 s of pulsed-light exposure, KXL, Glaukos-Avedro). Uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), corneal fluorescein staining (CFS), corneal topography, anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT), and in vivo corneal confocal microscopy (IVCM) were performed 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery. Results: The CFS scores in the BI-TE-CXL group were significantly higher than those in the TE-CXL group on the first two days after surgery (p < 0.001). The Kmax (at 12 and 24 months) and CDVA (logMAR) were significantly lower in the BI-TE-CXL group than those in the TE-CXL group (p < 0.05). The corneal demarcation line under AS-OCT was visible in 81.3% of patients in the BI-TE-CXL group and 15.6% in the TE-CXL group. The depth of the demarcation line under IVCM was significantly deeper in the BI-TE-CXL group (248.3 ± 25.0 μm) than that of the TE-CXL group (136.5 ± 15.6 μm) in the central cornea (p < 0.001). The cross-linked collagen structures in the central cornea were still present after 12 months in the BI-TE-CXL group. No significant difference in sub-basal nerve density between the two groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Following BI-TE-CXL, CDVA was significantly improved, accompanied by deeper demarcation line depth and persistent crosslinked structures in the central corneal stroma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the realm of clinical practice, nucleoside analogs are the prevailing antiviral drugs employed to combat feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) infections. However, these drugs, initially formulated for herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections, operate through a singular mechanism and are susceptible to the emergence of drug resistance. These challenges underscore the imperative to innovate and develop alternative antiviral medications featuring unique mechanisms of action, such as viral entry inhibitors. This research endeavors to address this pressing need. Utilizing Bio-layer interferometry (BLI), we meticulously screened drugs to identify natural compounds exhibiting high binding affinity for the herpesvirus functional protein envelope glycoprotein B (gB). The selected drugs underwent a rigorous assessment to gauge their antiviral activity against feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) and to elucidate their mode of action. Our findings unequivocally demonstrated that Saikosaponin B2, Punicalin, and Punicalagin displayed robust antiviral efficacy against FHV-1 at concentrations devoid of cytotoxicity. Specifically, these compounds, Saikosaponin B2, Punicalin, and Punicalagin, are effective in exerting their antiviral effects in the early stages of viral infection without compromising the integrity of the viral particle. Considering the potency and efficacy exhibited by Saikosaponin B2, Punicalin, and Punicalagin in impeding the early entry of FHV-1, it is foreseeable that their chemical structures will be further explored and developed as promising antiviral agents against FHV-1 infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selecting the optimal spatiotemporal scale in fishing ground prediction models can maximize prediction accuracy. Current research on spatiotemporal scales shows that they are symmetrically distributed, which may not capture specific oceanographic features conducive to fishing ground formation. Recent studies have shown that deep learning is a promising research direction for addressing spatiotemporal scale issues. In the era of big data, deep learning outperforms traditional methods by more accurately and efficiently mining high-value, nonlinear information. In this study, taking Ommastrephes bartramii in the Northwest Pacific as an example, we used the U-Net model with sea surface temperature (SST) as the input factor and center fishing ground as the output factor. We constructed 80 different combinations of temporal scales and asymmetric spatial scales using data in 1998–2020. By comparing the results, we found that the optimal temporal scale for the deep learning fishing ground prediction model is 15 days, and the spatial scale is 0.25° × 0.25°. Larger time scales lead to higher model accuracy, and latitude has a greater impact on the model than longitude. It further enriches and refines the criteria for selecting spatiotemporal scales. This result deepens our understanding of the oceanographic characteristics of the Northwest Pacific environmental field and lays the foundation for future artificial intelligence-based fishery research. This study provides a scientific basis for the sustainable development of efficient fishery production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific-grade cameras are frequently employed in industries such as spectral imaging technology, aircraft, medical detection, and astronomy, and are characterized by high precision, high quality, fast speed, and high sensitivity. Especially in the field of astronomy, obtaining information about faint light often requires long exposure with high-resolution cameras, which means that any external factors can cause the camera to become unstable and result in increased errors in the detection results. This paper aims to investigate the effect of displacement introduced by various vibration factors on the imaging of an astronomical camera during long exposure. The sources of vibration are divided into external vibration and internal vibration. External vibration mainly includes environmental vibration and resonance effects, while internal vibration mainly refers to the vibration caused by the force generated by the refrigeration module inside the camera during the working process of the camera. The cooling module is divided into water-cooled and air-cooled modes. Through the displacement and vibration experiments conducted on the camera, it is proven that the air-cooled mode will cause the camera to produce greater displacement changes relative to the water-cooled mode, leading to blurring of the imaging results and lowering the accuracy of astronomical detection. This paper compares the effects of displacement produced by two methods, fan cooling and water-circulation cooling, and proposes improvements to minimize the displacement variations in the camera and improve the imaging quality. This study provides a reference basis for the design of astronomical detection instruments and for determining the vibration source of cameras, which helps to promote the further development of astronomical detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detection of a secular post-merger gravitational wave (GW) signal in a binary neutron star (BNS) merger serves as strong evidence for the formation of a long-lived post-merger neutron star (NS), which can help constrain the maximum mass of NSs and differentiate NS equations of state. We specifically focus on the detection of GW emissions from rigidly rotating NSs formed through BNS mergers, using several kilohertz GW detectors that have been designed. We simulate the BNS mergers within the detecting limit of LIGO-Virgo-KARGA O4 and attempt to find out on what fraction the simulated sources may have a detectable secular post-merger GW signal. For kilohertz detectors designed in the same configuration of LIGO A+, we find that the design with peak sensitivity at approximately 2 kHz is most appropriate for such signals. The fraction of sources that have a detectable secular post-merger GW signal would be approximately |$0.94{\!-\!}11~{{ \rm per\ cent}}$| when the spin-downs of the post-merger rigidly rotating NSs are dominated by GW radiation, while it would be approximately |$0.46{\!-\!}1.6~{{ \rm per\ cent}}$| when the contribution of electromagnetic (EM) radiation to the spin-down processes is non-negligible. We also estimate this fraction based on other well-known proposed kilohertz GW detectors and find that, with advanced design, it can reach approximately |$12{\!-\!}45~{{ \rm per\ cent}}$| for the GW-dominated spin-down case and |$4.7{\!-\!}16~{{\rm per\ cent}}$| when both the GW and EM radiations are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gels refer to the soft and flexible macromolecular polymeric materials retaining a large amount of water or biofluids in their three-dimensional network structure. Gels have attracted increasing interest in the food discipline, especially proteins and polysaccharides, due to their good biocompatibility, biodegradability, nutritional properties, and edibility. With the advancement of living standards, people's demand for nutritious, safe, reliable, and functionally diverse food and even personalized food has increased. As a result, gels exhibiting unique advantages in food application will be of great significance. However, a comprehensive review of functional hydrogels as food gels is still lacking. Here, we comprehensively review the gel-forming mechanisms of food gels and systematically classify them. Moreover, the potential of hydrogels as functional foods in different types of food areas is summarized, with a special focus on their applications in food packaging, satiating gels, nutrient delivery systems, food coloring adsorption, and food safety monitoring. Additionally, the key scientific issues for future food gel research, with specific reference to future novel food designs, mechanisms between food components and matrices, food gel-human interactions, and food gel safety, are discussed. Finally, the future directions of hydrogels for food science and technology are summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

8-oxo guanine DNA glycosylase (8-oxoG DNA glycosylase), a crucial DNA repair enzyme, is essential for maintaining genome integrity and preventing diseases caused by DNA oxidative damage. Imaging 8-oxoG DNA glycosylase in living cells requires a dependable technique. In this study, we designed a DNAzyme-modified DNA tetrahedral nanomachine (DTDN) powered by 8-oxoG restoration. Incorporating a molecular beacon probe (MB), the constructed platform was used for amplified in situ monitoring of 8-oxoG DNA glycosylase. Under normal conditions, duplexing with a complementary strand modified with two 8-oxoG sites inhibited the activity of DNAzyme. The restoration of DNAzyme activity by the repair of intracellular 8-oxoG DNA glycosylase on 8-oxoG bases can initiate a signal amplification reaction. This detection system can detect 8-oxoG DNA glycosylase activity linearly between 0 and 20 U mL−1, with a detection limit as low as 0.52 U mL−1. Using this method, we were able to screen 14 natural compounds and identify 6 of them as 8-oxoG DNA glycosylase inhibitors. In addition, a novel approach was utilized to assess the activity of 8-oxoG DNA glycosylase in living cells. In conclusion, this method provides a universal tool for monitoring the activity of 8-oxoG DNA glycosylase in vitro and in living cells, which holds great promise for elucidating the enzyme's functionality and facilitating drug screening endeavors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic therapy effectively addresses Escherichia coli-induced enteric diseases, but its excessive utilization results in microbial imbalance and heightened resistance. This study evaluates the therapeutic efficacy of orally administered poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-loaded antimicrobial peptide OH-CATH30 microspheres in murine bacterial enteritis. Mice were categorized into the healthy control group (CG), untreated model group (MG), OH-CATH30 treatment group (OC), PLGA-OH-CATH30 treatment group (POC), and gentamicin sulfate treatment group (GS). Except for the control group, all other experimental groups underwent Escherichia coli-induced enteritis, followed by a 5-day treatment period. The evaluation encompassed clinical symptoms, intestinal morphology, blood parameters, inflammatory response, and gut microbiota. PLGA-OH-CATH30 microspheres significantly alleviated weight loss and intestinal damage while also reducing the infection-induced increase in spleen index. Furthermore, these microspheres normalized white blood cell count and neutrophil ratio, suppressed inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α), and elevated the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10. Analysis of 16S rRNA sequencing results demonstrated that microsphere treatment increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria, including Phocaeicola vulgatus, in the intestinal tract while concurrently decreasing the abundance of pathogenic bacteria, such as Escherichia. In conclusion, PLGA-OH-CATH30 microspheres have the potential to ameliorate intestinal damage and modulate the intestinal microbiota, making them a promising alternative to antibiotics for treating enteric diseases induced by Escherichia coli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The natural transition in boundary layers on axisymmetric bodies with superhydrophobic surfaces is studied using numerical methods. By boundary layer, we mean the boundary layer around the forebody and around the parallel body of an underwater vehicle. A method of calculating basic laminar flows on axisymmetric bodies with superhydrophobic curved surfaces is proposed, and a method of linear stability analysis for the boundary layers that considers the slip-velocity boundary condition for small disturbances is established. The eN method is used to predict the transition locations of the boundary layers. On a superhydrophobic surface, the slip velocity on the wall increases and then decreases along the streamwise direction, resulting in a maximum value at the forebody. The boundary layer thickness on a superhydrophobic surface becomes smaller than that on an ordinary surface. The superhydrophobic surface stabilizes the boundary layer and thus delays the natural transition. As the slip length on the superhydrophobic surface increases, the unstable zone shrinks, and the transition location moves further downstream, indicating that the delay effect of the superhydrophobic surfaces becomes stronger. As the oncoming flow velocity increases, the transition location on the superhydrophobic surface moves upstream and then downstream, leading to a "dangerous" velocity, at which the transition location is closest to the leading edge. The underlying mechanism of the dangerous velocity phenomenon is discussed: An increasing velocity has both stabilizing effect and destabilizing effect on the boundary layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluate the efficacy, safety, and patient satisfaction of transradial access (TRA) compared with conventional transfemoral access (TFA) for diagnostic cerebral angiography in elderly patients (≥65 years of age). We performed a retrospective review of patients receiving cerebral angiography via TRA or TFA between October 2020 and December 2021 at 3 institutions. Basic patient characteristics, angiographic data, postoperative complications, and patient satisfaction were collected for analysis. Of the 357 enrolled elderly patients, 175 were performed through TRA and 182 were performed through TFA. There was no significant difference in mean fluoroscopy time (8.6 ± 3.8 minutes vs. 9.1 ± 3.1 minutes; P = 0.103) and radiation exposure (47.7 ± 10.8 Gy-cm2 vs. 49.8 ± 11.3 Gy-cm2; P = 0.068) between the TRA and TFA groups. However, the TRA group had a shorter procedural time (54.7 ± 6.2 minutes vs. 61.1 ± 5.6 minutes; P < 0.001) and less contrast agent (83.2 ± 28.1 mL vs. 100.1 ± 26.2 mL; P < 0.001) than the TFA group. In terms of safety, the incidence of minor vascular access complications in the TRA group was lower than that in the TFA group (1.7% vs. 8.8%; P = 0.003). The incidence of serious complications and neurologic complications in the TRA group was also lower, although the difference was not statistically significant. Overall patient satisfaction was higher in the TRA group than that in the TFA group. TRA was an efficient and safe alternative to conventional TFA in elderly patients who underwent diagnostic cerebral angiography and who underwent TRA were more satisfied. Findings supported the radial-first strategy for cerebral angiography in elderly populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xishuangbanna (XIS) cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. var. xishuangbannanesis) is a semiwild variety originating from low latitude tropic areas, and therefore shows extreme cold sensitivity and heat tolerance. Here, we mapped the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that control the cold sensitivity and heat tolerance of XIS cucumber seedlings. Using bulked segregant analysis (BSA), we identified three QTLs (HTT1.1, HTT3.1, and HTT3.2, with a total length of 11.98 Mb) for heat tolerance and two QTLs (LTT6.1 and LTT6.2, with a total length of 8.74 Mb) for cold sensitivity. The QTL LTT6.1 was then narrowed down to a length of 641 kb by using kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) markers. Based on structural variants (SVs) and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), we found the LTT6.1 is covered by a high divergent region including a 50 kb deletion in the XIS49 genome, which affects the gene structure of lipase abhydrolase domain containing 6 (ABHD6, Csa_6G032560). Accordingly, there is a very big difference in lipid composition, but not in other osmoprotectants like free amino acids and fatty acids, between XIS49 and cultivated cucumber CL. Moreover, we calculated the composite likelihood ratio (CLR) and identified selective sweeps from 115 resequencing data, and found that lipid- and fatty-acid-related processes are major aspects in the domestication of the XIS group cucumber. LTT6.1 is a particularly special region positioned nearby lipid-related selective sweeps. These studies above suggested that the lipid-related domestication of XIS cucumbers should account for their extreme cold sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intrinsically disordered proteins and regions (IDPs/IDRs) are functionally important proteins and regions that exist as highly dynamic conformations under natural physiological conditions. IDPs/IDRs exhibit a broad range of molecular functions, and their functions involve binding interactions with partners and remaining native structural flexibility. The rapid increase in the number of proteins in sequence databases and the diversity of disordered functions challenge existing computational methods for predicting protein intrinsic disorder and disordered functions. A disordered region interacts with different partners to perform multiple functions, and these disordered functions exhibit different dependencies and correlations. In this study, we introduce DisoFLAG, a computational method that leverages a graph-based interaction protein language model (GiPLM) for jointly predicting disorder and its multiple potential functions. GiPLM integrates protein semantic information based on pre-trained protein language models into graph-based interaction units to enhance the correlation of the semantic representation of multiple disordered functions. The DisoFLAG predictor takes amino acid sequences as the only inputs and provides predictions of intrinsic disorder and six disordered functions for proteins, including protein-binding, DNA-binding, RNA-binding, ion-binding, lipid-binding, and flexible linker. We evaluated the predictive performance of DisoFLAG following the Critical Assessment of protein Intrinsic Disorder (CAID) experiments, and the results demonstrated that DisoFLAG offers accurate and comprehensive predictions of disordered functions, extending the current coverage of computationally predicted disordered function categories. The standalone package and web server of DisoFLAG have been established to provide accurate prediction tools for intrinsic disorders and their associated functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen production by water electrolysis is considered to be economical and environmentally friendly. Encouraging the reconstruction of electrocatalysts during the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), which produces a large number of active species with high activity, might be viewed as a promising technique for increased activity. In this work, thermally induced complete reconstructions (TICR) are used to create (oxy)hydroxide with low crystallinity and abundant boundary/vacancy from molybdate precatalysts. The obtained Ni-doped CoOOH (CMO 1200-90 /NF) with boundary/vacancy demonstrates the efficient electrocatalytic activity for OER. An oxygen precipitation overpotential of 299 mV (100 mA cm−2) is exhibited, while the durability of this structure is verified in a strong corrosive environment (1 M KOH) with a long-term stability of 100 h. Compared with Ni-doped CoMoO 4 precatalyst, the overpotential is reduced by 102 mV at 100 mA cm−2. During the hydrothermal process, trace amounts of Ni elements are doped and have a synergistic effect with Co to induce the modulation of electronic structure. This work investigates the phenomenon of thermally induced and highlights the commercial potential of deep reconstruction catalysts in high-temperature water electrolysis. [Display omitted] • CMO 1200-90 /NF nanosheets were synthesized using a thermally induced reconstruction method. • The rapid dissolution of MoO 4 2− and the formation of CoOOH loose layer generated by the reconstruction process. • Ni incorporation can adjust the electronic structure, and significantly improve the OER performance. • CMO 1200-90 /NF exhibits motivated OER activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rational design and fabrication of catalysts with excellent efficiency, high selectivity and outstanding stability is of great significance for the practical application of formic acid dehydrogenation into hydrogen gas. Herein, Pd catalysts with a narrow size distribution around 2.2 nm are deposited on the porous chitosan microspheres, which are produced by the polycondensation with Schiff base linkage. The Pd–N bond configuration is formed upon the abundant amino-group on the chitosan backbone with the surface anchoring Pd nanocluster. The surface charge is redistributed to generate high-valence Pdδ+ species due to the ligand-to-metal charge transfer between Pd and N, thus greatly improving the catalytic performance of formic acid dehydrogenation at room temperature and maintaining outstanding stability during 15 consecutive reaction cycles. The present work paves the way to the rational synthesis of Pd-based catalysts with tunable electronic states for practical purposes. • The chitosan molecular chains are bridged to form a porous microsphere morphology. • The surface charge is redistributed to generate high-valence Pdδ+ species. • Pd/PCM can well maintain the performance of FAD within 15 cycles. • The reaction pathway and the catalytic effect of Pdδ+ species are elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Military personnel experience prolonged exposure to high-stress environments. Positive coping styles can assist in maintaining their mental and behavioral well-being, whereas negative coping styles cannot. Health behavior change theory specifies that an individual can transition from a negative to a positive coping style. The psychological resilience concept may prove vital in this transition.Methods: In a longitudinal study design, two questionnaires were administered to 233 military personnel twice, the first at T1 in April 2023 and the second at T2 in July 2023. The questionnaire measured individual negative coping style, positive coping style and psychological resilience.Results: The data showed that the negative coping style at T1 negatively predicted the level of psychological resilience at T2 (γ= - 0.26, p < 0.001) and the positive coping style at T2 (γ= - 0.16, p < 0.001). The level of psychological resilience at T1 positively predicted the positive coping style at T2 (γ= 0.22, p < 0.01). Psychological resilience played a mediating role between negative coping style and positive coping style. In addition, there was an interaction between psychological resilience and positive coping style in military personnel at the two time points.Conclusion: The negative coping styles that presently exist among military personnel have the potential to diminish their future positive coping styles by lowering their psychological resilience. This highlights the need to focus on the development and training of psychological resilience for military personnel, as it can effectively counteract negative coping styles and promote positive coping styles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C17H19F2N3O5S, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 14.157(7) Å, b = 11.133(6) Å, c = 11.400(6) Å, β = 91.965(13)°, V = 1795.6(16) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0611 wRref(F2) = 0.1809, T = 205 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• MTHFR C677T, MTHFR A1298C and MTRR A66G polymorphism were associated with the risk of diabetes. • MTHFR C677T polymorphism can independently increase the risk of diabetes. • MTHFR may be a predictable biomarker for diabetes. The methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), methionine synthase (MTR), and methionine synthase reductase (MTRR) are three regulatory enzymes in the folic acid (FA) cycle play a critical role in the balance of methionine and homocysteine. MTHFR and MTRR gene polymorphisms affect the biochemical activities of enzymes, impairing the remethylation of homocysteine to methionine. In 1972, severe MTHFR deficiency resulting in homocystinuria was first reported, suggesting MTHFR involvement in the disease. MTHFR C677T polymorphism can independently increase the risk of high homocysteine (HHcy) in plasma. Elevation of homocysteine levels could increase the risk of microvascular damage, thrombosis, heart disease, etc. Vascular complications were regarded as a leading major cause of diabetes mortality, and disability increases individual health and economic burden. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic inflammatory disease, and conventional medications do not provide a complete cure for diabetes. It was essential to identify other risk factors for the intervention and prevention of diabetes. MTHFR gene polymorphism is an emerging risk factor in diabetes. Recent studies have shown that polymorphisms of the MTHFR gene play a significant role in the pathophysiology of diabetes, including inflammation and insulin resistance. This review summarizes the association between MTHER gene polymorphism and diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cr 2 CT x nanosheets were obtained through the utilization of FeCl 3 +tartaric acid to etch Cr 2 AlC, taking advantage of the disparities in redox reactions and metal complex formation capabilities. The oxidation mechanism and kinetics process of Cr 2 CT x MXene suspensions were investigated under different pH, temperature, and concentration conditions. Then, incorporating Cr 2 CT x MXene into epoxy coatings significantly improved compatibility, mechanical and anticorrosion properties, owing to the ultra-high barrier effect and oxidative properties, which enabled it to adsorb and consume H 2 O and O 2 diffused into coatings interior and generated a dense and effective Cr-based oxidation product layer. • Cr 2 CT x nanosheets were prepared through F-free ions etching. • The oxidation mechanisms and kinetics of Cr 2 CT x MXene were summarized. • Cr 2 CT x through oxidation control formed the dense Cr-based oxide layer and further improved corrosion protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advances in thermal metamaterials and their applications have revolutionized how we can manipulate thermal transport behavior. The challenging inverse design problems of utilizing thermal metamaterial-based structures to achieve desired thermal transport behavior are increasingly being tackled by data-driven, machine learning-based approaches. The explosive progress in generative AI is permeating the field of material design by offering new perspectives to address the inverse design problems. In this paper, we propose a simple yet effective method of training a generative conditional variational autoencoder to find the design parameters for a thermal metamaterial-based system with a periodic interparticle arrangement to achieve thermal transparency, which is one of the most desirable and interesting thermal transport behaviors. Our work attests to the predictive power of a generative model with a relatively small number of parameters for the purpose of tackling inverse design problems to achieve thermal transport behavior manipulation. • Thermal metamaterials empower us to manipulate thermal transport behavior. • Generative AI models are powerful tools to address the inverse design problems. • Conditional variational encoder efficiently addresses the inverse design problems. • The obtained metamaterial-based structure achieves thermal transparency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Blocked chlorophyll metabolism and chloroplast development whitens melon skin. • 4 genes linked to methylation were involved in the chlorophyll metabolism pathway. • PORA as a key gene controlling chlorophyll biosynthesis in melon. • PORA expression may be related to DNA methylation and transcription factor. Fruit skin color is a critical agronomic trait determining fruit quality, but the mechanisms governing melon (Cucumis melo L.) fruit skin pigmentation remain inadequately characterized. We performed cytological, transcriptomic, and whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) comparative analyses on two near-isogenic lines (NILs) at different developmental stages: the green-skinned (GS) and white-skinned (WS) melon. The enriched functions among the 536 identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were related to chloroplast development, pigment metabolism, and photosynthetic pathway. The genes in these pathways were downregulated in the WS line, potentially contributing to the decreased chlorophyll content and abnormal chloroplast development in WS. WGBS analysis revealed that the levels of genomic DNA methylation in WS progressively exceeded those in GS as the fruits developed. The integrated analysis of the transcriptome and methylome identified DMR-associated DEGs (CHLI, CRD1, PORA , and HCAR) involved in chlorophyll metabolism. Notably, PORA exhibited downregulated expression and was hypermethylated in WS fruits during two developmental stages, showing a coordinated expression with the chlorophyll contents in developing WS and GS fruits. Furthermore, we identified a transcription factor gene, MELO3C011576, that was closely associated with the expression of PORA and chlorophyll levels across three developmental stages in both NILs. We speculate that PORA positively regulates chlorophyll biosynthesis in the two NILs, with its expression may be co-controlled by DNA methylation and transcription factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The presence of ZGV is predicted and confirmed in the CFRP-Nomex honeycomb structure. • The ZGV formation mechanism in the honeycomb structure is analyzed and elaborated. • A new debonding detection method is proposed using ZGV feature. Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) − Nomex adhesive honeycomb structures are widely used in aerospace due to their excellent properties. However, debonding defects pose a significant challenge to structural safety due to their hidden nature and high risk. In this work, to address the debonding detection in the CFRP-Nomex honeycomb structure, a method based on the zero group velocity (ZGV) feature is proposed. By calculating the dispersion curve of the structure, it is found that there is the ZGV on the S 1 branch. Further analysis revealed that this ZGV feature is generated by the repulsion between the S 2 and S 1 branches. The simulation and experimental analysis of the acoustic propagation characteristics in the honeycomb structure confirmed the presence of the ZGV feature with its energy localized near the exciting point. When debonding defects occur in the honeycomb structure, this feature disappears. Therefore, the ZGV feature can be used for the debonding detection of CFRP-Nomex honeycomb structures. Compared with ultrasonic C-scan, the results demonstrate that the proposed method can accurately detect and locate debonding defects with a diameter of 20 mm. Due to its simplicity, the method does not require sophisticated equipment or complex signal processing procedures, making it suitable for in-service inspection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apple plays a vitally important role in human life and is considered one of the most nutritious fruits. However, the quality and production of the apple industry are seriously restricted by apple leaf diseases and the disease lesions are hard to detect because they often have various scales and deformable geometry. To solve the above problem, this paper proposed a novel Multi-scale Constrained Deformable Convolution Network(MCDCNet), which takes advantage of multi-branch convolution and deformable convolution. Firstly, the novel two-branch convolution network is presented to enhance the discriminatory ability of models for extracting different scales of apple leaf disease. Secondly, different offset intervals are applied to the two kernels of the dual convolution channel separately, which makes the proposed model pay more attention to the deformable geometry features of the lesions and avoid extra weight parameters. Finally, a feature fusion module is constructed to achieve automatic detection of multi-scale apple leaf disease, which combines the output features from the dual convolution channels and performs dimensional operations on the channel dimensions of the feature map. Under the complex natural environment, the accuracy value of the proposed model can reach 66.8%, which is an improvement of 3.85% compared to the existing SOTA models. The experiment results established that MCDCNet has a better feature extraction capability and can efficiently and accurately detect 5 common apple leaf diseases in the natural environment. • The proposed MCDCNet can extract more reliable features of apple leaf diseases with various scales and geometry which effectively improve the discriminative ability of the network. • A novel Dual-constrained deformable convolution module is proposed to help the network get flexible receptive fields and help network dealing with apple leaf disease with various geometry and size. • A novel Feature fusion module is proposed to fuse outputs from dual branches which helps the MCDCNet automatically selecting appreciate geometry and scales of apple leaf disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Ancient reservoir sediments can be used as a potential tool for reconstructing long-term history of human activity and water level. • Anthropogenic activities had significantly affected vegetation conditions in the western Guizhou Plateau since ∼ 1700 CE. • Human-modulated dramatic fluctuation in the water level can markedly change reservoir ecosystem. Knowledge of the responses of reservoir ecosystems to anthropogenic and climatic impacts on multi-centennial timescales is relatively poor, but is crucial for the management of numerous reservoirs in China. In this study, the history of an ancient reservoir system was reconstructed for the last ∼ 700 yr based on multiple dating methods (210Pb, 137Cs, and 14C) and geochemical data (e.g., the mass accumulation rates, loss-on-ignition values, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus contents, and stable carbon isotope ratios of organic matter) obtained for sediment cores from Gongqing Reservoir in Guizhou Province, southwestern China. Combined with historical literature and regional climatic records, the response of the aquatic ecosystem in Gongqing Reservoir to water level fluctuations, anthropogenic activity, and climatic changes during the last ∼ 700 yr was assessed. The results suggest that dramatic changes in the water level due to dam heightening in 1950 s significantly changed the aquatic ecosystem of Gongqing Reservoir. During periods of low water levels (average water depth = 1–2 m; 1345–1957 CE), aquatic macrophytes contributed more to the sedimentary organic matter, whereas phytoplankton increasingly contributed more during periods of high water levels (∼ 5 m; 1957–2020 CE). During the late stage (1700–1957 CE) of low water levels, the reservoir ecosystem was significantly affected by human activities. Combined with regional geological and historical records, we consider that increased population and enhanced human activities have markedly affected vegetation conditions in western Guizhou Province since ∼ 1700 CE. After 1957 CE, anthropogenic activities were key in affecting the aquatic ecosystem of Gongqing Reservoir. Especially in the last decade, large housing developments and enhanced agricultural activities in the watershed have led to enhanced catchment erosion and transport of more nutrients into the reservoir, thus promoting the algae productivity. These results provide new insights into how reservoir ecosystems respond to water level fluctuations, anthropogenic activity and climatic changes on multi-centennial timescales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) strengthened by dispersed oxide nanoparticles are considered potential structural materials used in advanced nuclear reactors. Herein, a novel Y-Si-O nanoparticle-strengthened near-equiatomic FeNiMnCr HEA was prepared via the powder metallurgy method. Microstructural characterizations revealed that the oxide dispersion-strengthened (ODS) FeNiMnCr HEA consisted of the face-centered cubic (FCC) matrix and high-density Y-Si-O nanoparticles (Y 2 SiO 5 and Y 2 Si 2 O 7). The average diameter and volume fraction of the nanoparticles were counted to be 21.3 nm and 1.02%, respectively. The grain size was reduced from 10.13 μm of the FeNiMnCr HEA to 0.79 μm of the ODS FeNiMnCr HEA. The ODS FeNiMnCr HEA showed a yield strength of 1125 MPa, an ultimate tensile strength of 1137 MPa, and a moderate elongation of 8.3% at room temperature. At 500°C, the ODS FeNiMnCr HEA also had a high yield strength of 662 MPa. Theoretical calculation showed that the high strength of the ODS FeNiMnCr HEA was mainly due to the grain boundary strengthening, dislocation strengthening, and precipitation strengthening. ● A newly designed ODS FeNiMnCr HEA with enhanced strength-ductility combination was fabricated by a powder metallurgy method. ● The alloy contained nano-sized grain structure and nano-oxide particles including Y 2 SiO 5 and Y 2 Si 2 O 7. ● The grain boundary strengthening, dislocation strengthening, and precipitation strengthening were the main reasons for the high mechanical strength of the ODS FeNiMnCr HEA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Exoplanet Explorer common-path coherent-dispersion spectrometer (CODES) utilizes a unique combination of an asymmetric common path Sagnac interferometer and a low to medium resolution spectrometer. The ideal optical range difference (OPD) interval for CODES is OPD ∈ {15.06 mm, 19.45 mm}; however, the OPD of CODES is 64.3 mm to achieve better detection accuracy. Though they will increase the accuracy of detection, large OPDs outside of the ideal interval will also reduce the contrast of the interference fringes, making phase changes more hazy. This may also significantly affect the radial velocity inversion and reduce CODES's instrumental accuracy. This study creates an inverse tone mapping operator based on the photographic model and designs an inverse tone mapping algorithm called CODESCE. The outcomes of the experiments demonstrate that the tone mapping algorithm CODESCE in this work is appropriate for enhancing the contrast of interference fringe images with high OPD, and it can enhance the contrast of interference fringes by three orders of magnitude when OPD = 64.3 mm; the processed interference fringes are located in the range of interference fringe curves of the optimal OPD. By comparison with other current approaches, the suggested algorithm yields superior processing outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly dense and integrated data centers face key challenges of realizing efficient cooling and improved energy efficiency. To overcome these challenges, this study experimentally investigated the flow and heat transfer characteristics of single-phase immersion liquid cooling (SPILC) systems. The influence of two opposite coolant flow directions on the SPILC performance was examined. Furthermore, a correlation mechanism between coolant thermal properties and SPILC performance was established, along with a control chart for regulating the working conditions of SPILC systems. The results indicate that compared to a pro-gravity flow, an anti-gravity flow scheme reduces the chip case temperature and thermal resistance by 33.8% and 55.6%, respectively, while decreasing the power usage effectiveness (PUE) by 1.4%. Using coolant with the lowest viscosity reduces the chip case temperature and thermal resistance by 9.3% and 10.5%, respectively, while decreasing the PUE by 0.4%. Moreover, the cooling water temperature has a greater impact on the performance of SPILC systems than the volume flow rate of coolants. Additionally, this paper provides control charts for the cooling water temperature and coolant flow rate to improve the PUE while ensuring the safe operation of SPILC systems, with the highest chip temperature and total electricity consumption as indicators. • Immersion cooling performance of system-level data center servers is experimentally studied. • PUE of the anti-gravity flow decreases by 1.4% compared to the pro-gravity flow. • Correlation between coolant properties and immersion cooling performance is established. • Energy-efficient control charts for cooling water and immersion coolant are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Passive radiative cooling and triboelectric generation provide a way to achieve zero-energy cooling and sustainable electricity generation, respectively. However, they are frequently studied independently and lack integration. Herein, a scalable porous film for thermal insulation, passive radiative cooling and triboelectric generation has been developed using a facile emulsion polymerization method. Abundant micrometer size air holes within the multifunction porous film (MFPF) result in a low thermal conductivity of 0.05 W/(m·K), and strong scattering occurs at the interface between the air holes and Ecoflex, resulting in high solar reflectance. Simultaneously, a high infrared emittance of 0.95 is attained owing to the molecular vibrations of Ecoflex. The MFPF delivers a theoretical net passive radiative cooling power of 29.04 W/m2 and 122.68 W/m2 during the daytime and nighttime. Additionally, it achieves an actual temperature drop of approximately 4.5 °C under direct sunlight on a clear day. Moreover, a triboelectric effect of a maximal power density of 0.03 W/m2 is achieved due to the triboelectric-negative nature of Ecoflex. This film can achieve passive radiative cooling in the summer while more effectively blocking heat penetration due to the significant temperature difference between the outdoors and indoors. Meanwhile, the film can convert sustainable energy into electricity. • A scalable porous film with thermal insulation, passive radiative cooling and triboelectric generation. • The film has low thermal conductivity of 0.05 W/(m·K), which more effectively blocking heat penetration. • The film has theoretical passive radiative cooling power of 29.04 W/m2 and 122.68 W/m2 during the daytime and nighttime. • A triboelectric effect of a maximal power density of 0.03 W/m2 is achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Trace amounts of Ce significantly refine the alloy grain size; • The addition of trace amounts of Ce improves the corrosion resistance of the alloy; • The strong surface activity of Ce inhibits the adsorption of Cl− on the metal surface； The impact of trace Ce doping on the pitting behavior of Fe 40 Ni 20 Co 20 Cr 20 high-entropy alloy in a 3.5 wt% NaCl solution was examined. The results indicate that the addition of trace Ce elements leads to a notable reduction in grain size and improved corrosion resistance of the alloy, the critical pitting potential of the alloy increased to 428 mv, and the corrosion resistance of the passivation film was significantly enhanced. This improvement can be mainly attributed to the strong surface activity of Ce, which promotes the formation of Cr 2 O 3 in the passivation film, resulting in a more stable and protective film layer. The ΔE (difference between corrosion potential and zero charge potential) of the high-entropy alloys (HEAs) was negative, indicating a decrease in the adsorption capacity of the electrochemical interface for Cl−. This reduction helps to mitigate pitting corrosion on the surface of the passivation film caused by Cl− erosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• ·Three chromosomes-level genomes were obtained, including Trichoderma harzianum Tha739, T. asperellum Tas653 and T. atroviride Tat488. • · T. harzianum Tha739 had an advantage in sensing environmental stimulus, secreting antibiotic and stress tolerance. • ·IAA in Tha739 was mainly 3-indole acetonitrile and indole acetaldehyde, but in Tat488, it was indole-3-acetamide. • ·Tha739 was more related to soil phosphorus metabolism, but in Tat488 was mainly involved in soil nitrogen metabolism. • ·The significant differences among different Trichoderma strains/species indicated the composite application of multiple species and strains could avoid functional shortcomings of a single strain. Trichoderma is an excellent biocontrol agent, but most Trichoderma genomes remained at the scaffold level, which greatly limits the research of biocontrol mechanism. Here, we reported the chromosome-level genome of Trichoderma harzianum CGMCC20739 (Tha739), T. asperellum CGMCC11653 (Tas653) and T. atroviride CGMCC40488 (Tat488), they were assembled into 7 chromosomes, genome size were 40 Mb (10,611 genes), 37.3 Mb (10,102 genes) and 36.3 Mb (9,896 genes), respectively. The positive selected genes of three strains were associated to response to stimulus, signaling transduction, immune system and localization. Furthermore, the number of transcription factors in Tha739, Tas653 and Tat488 strains had significant difference, which may contribute to the differential biocontrol function and stress tolerance. The genes related to signal transduction and gene clusters related to antimicrobial compounds in Tha739 were more than those in Tas653 and Tat488, which showed Tha739 may keenly sense other fungi and quickly secret antimicrobial compounds to inhibit other fungi. Tha739 also contained more genes associated to detoxification, antioxidant and nutrition utilization, indicating it had higher stress-tolerance to hostile environments. And the substrate for synthesizing IAA in Tha739 was mainly 3-indole acetonitrile and indole acetaldehyde, but in Tat488, it was indole-3-acetamide, moreover, Tha739 secreted more phosphatase and phytase and was more related to soil phosphorus metabolism, Tat488 secreted more urease and was more related to soil nitrogen metabolism. These candidate genes related to biocontrol function and stress-tolerance laid foundations for construction of functional strains. All above proved the difference in biocontrol function of Tha739, Tas653 and Tat488 strains, however, the defects in individual strains could be compensated for through Trichoderma -biome during the commercial application process of biocontrol Trichoderma strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A cobalt-free fcc FeCrNi MEA was manufactured by powder metallurgy method. • The alloy maintains high structural stability even at a high irradiation fluence of 5 × 1016 Au ions/cm2. • The alloy shows excellent irradiation-hardening resistance. • Microstructural evolution under high-fluence irradiation was revealed by molecular dynamics simulation. A cobalt-free FeCrNi MEA was successfully synthesized and irradiated with 7.5 MeV Au ions at room temperature over a wide fluence from 5 × 1015 to 5 × 1016 Au ions/cm2. Microstructural characterization shows that the FeCrNi MEA exhibits low structural damage and high phase stability under high-fluence ion irradiation, and diffuse dislocations and defect clusters, especially dislocation loops and stacking-faults (SFs), are the main microstructural feature after irradiation. Limited elemental segregation at grain-boundaries and nanoscale Au clusters can be observed only in the specimen irradiated at the highest fluence. Meanwhile, void formation and phase instability are absent in any irradiation condition. Cascade-collision simulation reveals that large-size vacancy cluster collapses into the stacking fault tetrahedrons (SFTs) and abundant dislocation structures, especially the high-fraction movable Shockley dislocations at the high-energy ion irradiation, contributing to the absence of voids and the easily activated dislocation networks. Owing to these microstructural features, the irradiated specimens only exhibit a slight hardness increase (26 % at 210 dpa), indicating a superior resistance to irradiation hardening. Overall, this work supports that the FeCrNi MEA possesses an outstanding irradiation tolerance especially under high-fluence ion irradiation, thereby having good application prospects in the field of advanced nuclear reactors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Revegetation is widely acknowledged as one of the most common and effective strategies for wind erosion control. However, efficient measures need to be taken to protect plant seedlings from wind erosion during the early growth. Enzyme induced carbonate precipitation using soybean urease (SICP) has emerged as an effective technique for wind erosion control. This study aims to investigate the effect of SICP on seed emergence and seedling growth of Caragana korshinskii Kom and its application in wind erosion control.Twelve plexiglas test chambers were constructed to investigate the effects of four concentrations of SICP treatment (0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 mol/L) on the seed emergence and seedling growth behavior of Caragana korshinskii Kom and wind erosion resistance of vegetated desert sand.The seed emergence percentage of T-0.1, T-0.2 and T-0.3 decreased by 17.5%, 45%, and 71.25% compared to that of T-0 due to the increased soil hardness. T-0.1 with relatively low soil hardness and chloride content shows no significant difference in seedling growth properties from T-0. The seedling height, vegetation coverage, and root length density decreased with increasing concentration in T-0.2 and T-0.3. The soil mass loss of T-0.1 is 63.2%, 3% and 39% lower than that of T-0, T-0.2 and T-0.3.SICP-treatment can provide substantial improvements in wind erosion resistance for desert sand during early plant growth. Cementation solution with 0.1 mol/L is recommended as it would not significantly inhibit the seedling growth and can provide sufficient benefits in soil erosion resistance.Methods: Revegetation is widely acknowledged as one of the most common and effective strategies for wind erosion control. However, efficient measures need to be taken to protect plant seedlings from wind erosion during the early growth. Enzyme induced carbonate precipitation using soybean urease (SICP) has emerged as an effective technique for wind erosion control. This study aims to investigate the effect of SICP on seed emergence and seedling growth of Caragana korshinskii Kom and its application in wind erosion control.Twelve plexiglas test chambers were constructed to investigate the effects of four concentrations of SICP treatment (0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 mol/L) on the seed emergence and seedling growth behavior of Caragana korshinskii Kom and wind erosion resistance of vegetated desert sand.The seed emergence percentage of T-0.1, T-0.2 and T-0.3 decreased by 17.5%, 45%, and 71.25% compared to that of T-0 due to the increased soil hardness. T-0.1 with relatively low soil hardness and chloride content shows no significant difference in seedling growth properties from T-0. The seedling height, vegetation coverage, and root length density decreased with increasing concentration in T-0.2 and T-0.3. The soil mass loss of T-0.1 is 63.2%, 3% and 39% lower than that of T-0, T-0.2 and T-0.3.SICP-treatment can provide substantial improvements in wind erosion resistance for desert sand during early plant growth. Cementation solution with 0.1 mol/L is recommended as it would not significantly inhibit the seedling growth and can provide sufficient benefits in soil erosion resistance.Results: Revegetation is widely acknowledged as one of the most common and effective strategies for wind erosion control. However, efficient measures need to be taken to protect plant seedlings from wind erosion during the early growth. Enzyme induced carbonate precipitation using soybean urease (SICP) has emerged as an effective technique for wind erosion control. This study aims to investigate the effect of SICP on seed emergence and seedling growth of Caragana korshinskii Kom and its application in wind erosion control.Twelve plexiglas test chambers were constructed to investigate the effects of four concentrations of SICP treatment (0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 mol/L) on the seed emergence and seedling growth behavior of Caragana korshinskii Kom and wind erosion resistance of vegetated desert sand.The seed emergence percentage of T-0.1, T-0.2 and T-0.3 decreased by 17.5%, 45%, and 71.25% compared to that of T-0 due to the increased soil hardness. T-0.1 with relatively low soil hardness and chloride content shows no significant difference in seedling growth properties from T-0. The seedling height, vegetation coverage, and root length density decreased with increasing concentration in T-0.2 and T-0.3. The soil mass loss of T-0.1 is 63.2%, 3% and 39% lower than that of T-0, T-0.2 and T-0.3.SICP-treatment can provide substantial improvements in wind erosion resistance for desert sand during early plant growth. Cementation solution with 0.1 mol/L is recommended as it would not significantly inhibit the seedling growth and can provide sufficient benefits in soil erosion resistance.Conclusion: Revegetation is widely acknowledged as one of the most common and effective strategies for wind erosion control. However, efficient measures need to be taken to protect plant seedlings from wind erosion during the early growth. Enzyme induced carbonate precipitation using soybean urease (SICP) has emerged as an effective technique for wind erosion control. This study aims to investigate the effect of SICP on seed emergence and seedling growth of Caragana korshinskii Kom and its application in wind erosion control.Twelve plexiglas test chambers were constructed to investigate the effects of four concentrations of SICP treatment (0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 mol/L) on the seed emergence and seedling growth behavior of Caragana korshinskii Kom and wind erosion resistance of vegetated desert sand.The seed emergence percentage of T-0.1, T-0.2 and T-0.3 decreased by 17.5%, 45%, and 71.25% compared to that of T-0 due to the increased soil hardness. T-0.1 with relatively low soil hardness and chloride content shows no significant difference in seedling growth properties from T-0. The seedling height, vegetation coverage, and root length density decreased with increasing concentration in T-0.2 and T-0.3. The soil mass loss of T-0.1 is 63.2%, 3% and 39% lower than that of T-0, T-0.2 and T-0.3.SICP-treatment can provide substantial improvements in wind erosion resistance for desert sand during early plant growth. Cementation solution with 0.1 mol/L is recommended as it would not significantly inhibit the seedling growth and can provide sufficient benefits in soil erosion resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optimal design of hydrofoils is critical to improve the hydrodynamic performance of the tidal turbine. However, the global optimization of hydrofoils is limited by the high dimensionality of the design space, which requires extensive computational fluid dynamics simulations. This paper proposes an interactive framework for hydrofoil design and optimization based on deep learning. Generative adversarial networks are used to parameterize the hydrofoil design, which automatically learns representations from existing hydrofoils and controls new hydrofoil generation using fewer variables to reduce optimization dimensions. Moreover, the surrogate model based on convolutional neural networks is constructed, which realizes the mapping of hydrofoil design and operating parameters to hydrodynamic performance parameters. The framework can generate a large number of smooth and realistic hydrofoils with three design variables and quickly predict the performance, enabling effective optimization design of hydrofoils. The results show that the optimized hydrofoil shapes have larger lift-to-drag ratios than those of the common hydrofoils. Furthermore, the optimized hydrofoil is applied to the design of 3D horizontal axis tidal turbine blades. The simulation results show that the framework is effective and stable, which can facilitate the design of tidal turbine rotors and provide hydrofoils with higher power coefficients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• As external force increased, atomic magnetic moment increased. • Severe damage is more likely to occur on the {1 1 ¯ 0} plane than on the {1 1 2} plane. • Mn, Si, Ni and Cr will reduce the critical damage magnetic signal of the pipeline. Pipeline stress-induced critical damage is a primary cause of sudden pipe ruptures. To investigate the characteristics of weak magnetic internal detection signals related to critical damage in pipeline stress, a magneto-mechanical model was developed based on density functional theory. The model could assess the corresponding relationships among the generalized stacking fault energy (GSFE), critical resolved shear stress (CRSS), atomic magnetic moment, and magnetic signals during the critical damage process of the pipeline. The analysis included examining the influential patterns of different stress directions and materials on the magnetic signals associated with critical damage, followed by the systematic experimental verification. The research results indicated that when the crystal dislocation stress exceeded the CRSS, weak magnetic signals could effectively characterize the critical damage induced by stress, accompanying by a sharp variation in magnetic signals observed during critical damage occurrence. Different stress directions lead to varying energy barriers that must be overcome for critical damage, resulting in distinct magnetic signal features. In the {1 1 2} plane, the CRSS increased by 11.07 % compared with {1 1 ¯ 0} plane, and the axial magnetic signal during critical damage was elevated by 1.47 % compared with {1 1 ¯ 0} plane. Variances in magnetic signals for critical damage were assessed for steel pipes of different materials due to differences in processing and composition. Under identical conditions, the magnetic signal difference for critical damage in X80 steel plates was 39 % higher than that in X70 steel plates. Additionally, the magnetic signal difference for critical damage in the circumferential weld of X80 was 53 % higher than that in X80. The findings provided a theoretical basis for monitoring and early warning of critical damage states in pipelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Classification and excellent properties of PONs for tumor theranostics are highlighted. • Promising strategies for enhanced tumor monotherapy are presented. • PONs-based combined therapies and imaging-guided tumor therapies are summarized. • Potential challenges and clinical perspectives for tumor theranostics are outlooked. Cancer nanomedicines offer the effective solutions to overcome the difficulties of traditional cancer therapies. Porous organic nanoplatforms (PONs) are anticipated to be an optimal choice for tumor therapy due to their distinctive properties, including self-versatility, controllable pore size, high loading capacity, ease of functionalized modification, morphological diversity, metal-free composition as well as superior biodegradability and biocompatibility. In this review, we initially provide an overview of the classification and excellent properties of PONs. Then, with a specific focus on their applications in tumor monotherapy, combined therapy and theranostics, as well as the advancements in therapeutic optimization strategies. Lastly, we succinctly summarize the current challenges and future directions of PONs within this field to provide valuable references for further investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In fungi, MYB transcription factors (TFs) mainly regulate growth, development, and resistance to stress. However, as major disease-resistance TFs, they have rarely been studied in biocontrol fungi. In this study, MYB36 of Trichoderma asperellum Tas653 (Ta) was shown to respond strongly to the stress caused by Alternaria alternata Aa1004. Compared with wild-type Ta (Ta-Wt), the inhibition rate of the MYB36 knockout strain (Ta-Kn) on Aa1004 decreased by 11.06%; the superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) activities decreased by 82.15 U/g, 0.19 OD470/min/g, and 1631.2 μmol/min/g, respectively. The MYB36 overexpression strain (Ta-Oe) not only enhanced hyperparasitism on Aa1004, caused its hyphae to swell, deform, or even rupture, but also reduced the incidence rate of poplar leaf blight. MYB36 regulates downstream (TFs, detoxification genes, defense genes, and other antifungal-related genes by binding to the cis-acting elements "ACAT" and "ATCG". Zinc finger TFs, as the main antifungal TFs, account for 90% of the total TFs, and Zn37.5 (23.24-) and Zn83.7 (23.18-fold) showed the greatest expression difference when regulated directly by MYB36. The detoxification genes mainly comprised 11 major major facilitator superfamily (MFS) genes, among which MYB36 directly increased the expression levels of three genes by more than 2−3.44-fold. The defense genes mainly encoded cytochrome P450 (P450) and hydrolases. e.g., P45061.3 (2−10.95-), P45060.2 (2−7.07-), and Hyd44.6 (2−2.30-fold). This study revealed the molecular mechanism of MYB36 regulation of the resistance of T. asperellum to A. alternata and provides theoretical guidance for the biocontrol of poplar leaf blight and the anti-disease mechanism of biocontrol fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neural firing behavior is essentially the energy transmission between neurons, which can represent the information process of nervous system. Consequently, it is crucial to delve deeply into the intricate firing activity and energy characteristics of neurons. The Helmholtz theorem offers an accurate energy description for continuous neurons. However, the energy of discrete neurons remains under-explored due to lacking an effective theoretical framework. In this paper, we introduce a novel Rulkov neuron map that incorporates a charge-controlled memristor for imitating the effect of electromagnetic radiation. The Hamilton energy method is utilized to investigate the firing behaviors of this neuron map. A pivotal step in our analysis is meticulously scaling the parameters and variables to transform the neuron map into a continuous oscillator, which is essential for obtaining its energy function. In the exploration of the Rulkov neuron map, a range of intricate firing behaviors, including mixed-mode firing, bursting firing and coexistence firing, are observed. Notably, the occurrence of coherence resonance is detected under noise excitation. These behaviors are characterized by the time evolution of membrane potential and Hamilton energy spectrum. Furthermore, FPGA-based experiments are conducted to confirm the numerical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research successfully applied a new near-net forming process for producing thin-walled ODS ferritic steel tubes. The process involves hot isostatic pressing (HIP), hot extrusion (HE), and Pilger-rolling (PR). The tubes produced have a length of 2800 mm and a thickness of ∼1 mm. The microstructural analysis shows that the thin-walled tubes have partially elongated grains and a γ-fiber {111} texture. The precipitated nano-oxide particles in the thin-walled tubes are Y 4 Zr 3 O 12 and Y 2 (Zr 0.6 Ti 0.4) 2 O 7 , with an average size of 7.21 nm and a number density of 4.3 × 1023 m−3. The tubes have an ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 908.3 MPa at ambient temperature and 186.2 MPa at 800 °C along the hoop direction. These values are comparable to those reported for ODS steel tubes produced by conventional methods, including powder hot extrusion, drilling machining, and Pilger-rolling. Based on the results, this near-net forming method effectively produces high-performance thin-walled ODS steel tubes. In addition, compared to conventional methods, the manufacturing process has a high material utilization rate of over 90%, which is a significant improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As to huge solid mediastinal tumor which direct compression or invasion of the superior/inferior vena cava (SVC/IVC), surgical resection remains the main lifesaving treatment. However, it would present formidable anesthetic challenges due to the extremely high risks of cardiorespiratory compromise, drastic hemodynamic fluctuations and death at all perioperative stages. Here, we report a case of huge anterior mediastinal tumor resection combined with SVC replacement under the assistance of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO), and stable hemodynamics were maintained as well as high internal jugular vein pressure being avoided during the operation procedure. He was weaned off ECMO successfully just after surgery and eventually discharged. No signs of postoperatively neurological complications occurred. Therefore, the use of ECMO assistance in huge mediastinal tumor resection combined with SVC replacement is feasible and safe, which may provide the possibility of surgical treatment for such patients and improve outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A amphoteric polycarboxylate dispersant (PC-4) was synthesized by introducing -N(CH 3) 4 +. • The introduction of -N(CH 3) 4 + increased the maximum adsorption capacity of LQ for PC-4. • PC-4 can apparently modify the rheological behavior of petroleum coke water slurry. • The adsorption mode of PC-4 was revealed by integrating the experiments and MD simulation. • The -N(CH 3) 4 + ion in the PC-4 molecule acts as an anchor by cation-π interactions. Petroleum coke, as a byproduct of delayed coking in oil refineries, can be used as a raw material for gasification to meet the demand for hydrogen in oil refining processes, which can significantly reduce the cost of oil refining while efficiently and cleanly utilizing solid waste. Due to the low ash content of petroleum coke, the feedstock used for gasification is usually petroleum coke water slurry (PWS). However, the rheology of PWS needs to be improved before gasification. In this paper, a quaternary amphoteric polycarboxylate dispersant (PC-4) was synthesized by free radical polymerization with methylallyl polyoxyethylene ether (HPEG-1000), sodium styrene sulfonate (SSS), acrylic acid (AA) and trimethylallyl ammonium bromide (TAB), and for studying the influence of -N(CH 3) 4 +, a ternary polycarboxylate dispersant (PC-3) was also prepared without the -N(CH 3) 4 + cationic group. The adsorption capacity of PC-4 is about 1.6 times higher than that of PC-3, and PC-4 also leads to an increased zeta potential and stronger hydrophilic modification performance when used to modify Lanqiao petroleum coke (LQ). Therefore, PC-4 is more suitable for enhancing the slurryability and rheological behavior of PWS. Molecular dynamics simulation (MD) was employed to reveal the adsorption mode of PC-4 on the surface of LQ particles. The cation-π interaction between the -N(CH 3) 4 + ions of the PC-4 molecules and the aromatic structure of the petroleum coke were directly observed in images obtained from the MD simulation. The introduction of -N(CH 3) 4 + optimizes the adsorption configuration, resulting in a relatively dense and uniform dispersant layer on the LQ particle surface. Finally, the experimental results and MD simulation were integrated to reveal the PWS modification mechanism of PC-4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is focused on the application of the machine learning for predicting structural response of ring stiffened cylindrical shells subjected to far-field underwater explosion. Three deep neural network (DNN) models are combined to predict the progressive plastic deformation behaviour of stiffened cylindrical shells subjected to the shock wave produced by a TNT charge. In the DNN regression models, the input variables include the charge mass, stand-off distance, detonation depth, cylindrical shell thickness, stiffener web and flange. These three DNN models composed of multi hidden layers are trained based on the data collection originated from a series of simulations performed by the ABAQUS finite element solver. Grid search is introduced to the hyperparameter tuning for deep learning, improving the prediction performance of machine learning methods. The DNN models are compared to the models trained using another three methods: multiple linear regression, decision tree and k-nearest neighbour. An improved Adam optimisation algorithm is used to increase the accuracy of prediction. The challenges encountered during the predictions are discussed to provide a more comprehensive insight into the advantage of the proposed DNN models. The DNN regression models can well predict the permanent plastic deformation and strain of stiffened cylindrical shells. • Improved deep neural network is applied to predict the impact response of stiffened cylindrical shells. • Various regression algorithms in machine learning are compared. • Grid search method is used for the hyperparameter optimisation. • It is achieved the rapid and accurate assessment of plastic deformation and strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, contract manufacturers are increasingly establishing their private labels to compete with the national brands of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) on the online platform (i.e., contract manufacturer encroachment). Yet, the extant literature rarely concerns the contract manufacturer’s encroachment strategy (non-encroachment, encroachment through the reselling or agency-selling modes) under different sales modes of the OEM and their strategic interplay, although this structure is common in practice. Considering a three-tier supply chain consisting of a contract manufacturer, an OEM and an online platform, we develop a game-theoretical model to examine the interactions of the contract manufacturer’s encroachment strategy and the OEM’s sales mode choice. We show that the OEM using the agency mode encourages the contract manufacturer to encroach through the agency mode, while the contract manufacturer encroaching via agency selling increases the probability that the OEM adopts the reselling mode. Surprisingly, to deal with the contract manufacturer encroachment, the OEM may utilize the reselling mode instead of the agency mode. Furthermore, we find that in most cases, contract manufacturer encroachment can increase the profits of the contract manufacturer and the platform but reduce the OEM’s profit, whereas in a few cases, the encroachment can achieve a win-win-win situation for the three firms. Moreover, contract manufacturer encroachment always increases consumer welfare but may reduce social welfare. In addition, the extended model investigates the influence of the game sequence and shows that there is a first-mover advantage for the OEM and a second-mover advantage for the contract manufacturer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article titled "Inflammatory Fibroblast‐Like Synoviocyte‐Derived Exosomes Aggravate Osteoarthritis via Enhancing Macrophage Glycolysis" explores the role of exosomes in the development of synovitis and osteoarthritis. The authors discovered that inflammatory fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) secrete more exosomes compared to intact FLSs. These exosomes act as messengers, spreading inflammation from FLSs to macrophages and triggering macrophage M1-like polarization, which worsens osteoarthritis. The study also reveals that this communication involves the activation of glycolysis in macrophages through the upregulation of the transcription factor HIF1A. This research provides new insights into the pathogenesis of synovitis and offers potential avenues for future therapeutic approaches for osteoarthritis. [Extracted from the article]

This paper considers the three-dimensional stochastic chemotaxis-Navier-Stokes (SCNS) system subjected to a Lévy-type random external force in a bounded domain. Until recently, the existed results concerning global solvability of SCNS system mainly concentrated on the case of two spatial dimensions, little is known about the SCNS system in dimension three. We prove in the present work that the initial-boundary value problem for the three-dimensional SCNS system has at least one global martingale solution under proper assumptions, which is weak in both the analytical and stochastic sense. A new stochastic analogue of entropy-energy inequality and an uniform boundedness estimate are derived, which enable us to construct global-in-time approximate solutions from a suitably regularized SCNS system via the Contraction Mapping Principle. The proof of the existence of martingale solution is based on a stochastic compactness method and an elaborate identification of the limits procedure, where the Jakubowski-Skorokhod Theorem is applied to deal with the phase spaces equipped with weak topology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis (TB) infection remains a crucial global health challenge, with active tuberculosis (ATB) representing main infection source. MicroRNA (miRNA) has emerged as a potential diagnostic tool in this context. This study aims to identify candidate miRNAs for ATB diagnosis and explore their possible mechanisms. Differentially expressed miRNAs in ATB were summarized in qualitative analysis. The diagnostic values of miRNAs for ATB subtypes were assessed by overall sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve. Additionally, we conducted enrichment analysis on miRNAs and target genes. Over 100 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified, with miR-29 family being the most extensively studied. The miR-29 family demonstrated sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve of 80 %, 80 % and 0.86 respectively for active pulmonary TB (PTB). The differentially expressed miR-29-target genes in PTB were enriched in immune-related pathways. The miR-29 family exhibits good diagnostic value for active PTB and shows association with immune process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic memory inspection technology is an effective method for detecting early damage in ferromagnetic materials. However, the commonly used force-magnetic coupling models are insufficient for analyzing the distribution characteristics of magnetic signals in ferromagnetic material welds. This study first analyzes the influence of metal phase transformation and residual stress on the magnetic hysteresis characteristics of materials. Based on the principle of magnetic hysteresis characteristics, the magnetic charge density under the combined action of stress and phase transformation is determined, and a magnetic memory analysis model is established for multi-parameter coupling. The study quantitatively calculates the effects of phase transformation volume fraction, residual stress, the lift-off effect, and cracks on the magnetic signal features at welds. The research results show that the magnetic memory signals at welds exhibit extreme values in the tangential component and sinusoidal fluctuations with zero-crossings in the normal component. The peak-to-peak values of both the normal and tangential components of the magnetic signal increase with an increase in metal phase transformation and residual stress, while they decrease with the increase of the lift-off effect. When cracks appear in the weld, the normal component exhibits a double-peak and valley structure, with the inner side representing crack features and the outer side representing weld features. The tangential component shows a maximum value at the center of the crack. Based on the peak and valley values of the magnetic signal, a damage grade index F is determined. The damage index F can characterize the level of weld damage, decreasing approximately linearly with increasing stress. • This study analyzed how phase transformation volume fraction, residual stress, and cracks at the weld influence the magnetic hysteresis characteristics of the material. • A multi-parameter coupled magnetic memory field analysis model considering residual stress, metal phase transformation, and cracks was developed. • The accuracy of pipeline damage assessment based on magnetic signals can be improved by determining the damage grade index F. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Discusses the platform's pricing strategy and mode selection by the Hotelling model. • Considering the factors such as network effect and levels of user involvement. • Multi-homing on agents could make RSP subsidize agents, and AP charges higher fees. • RSP with access to aggregation harms its service providers in specific conditions. • Multi-homing on agents benefits RSP and social welfare with RSP accessing specific conditions. As the platform of Ride-Sharing Platforms (RSPs), the Aggregation Platform (AP) integrates resources from RSPs which provide an on-demand car-sharing service by matching suitable passengers and drivers. From the view of the platform, consumer surpluses and social welfare, this paper discusses the platform's pricing strategy and mode selection (single-homing or multi-homing on agents) by the Hotelling model considering network effect and levels of user involvement. Research findings include whether RSP accesses the aggregation, the single-homing or multi-homing on the agents does not affect the agent fees both platforms charged. The multi-homing on agents makes the platform accessible to agents if the RSPs are not integrated into the aggregation platform. The multi-homing on agents makes the RSP subsidize agents, and AP charges higher fees to agents when RSP accesses the aggregation. Furthermore, under single-homing or multi-homing on the agents, the RSP with access to the aggregation will permanently harm its service providers but benefit AP and social welfare in specific conditions. Additionally, the multi-homing on agents will harm the aggregation platform service providers but benefit RSP and social welfare in specific conditions when the RSP accesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An algorithm is provided for rapidly and accurately computing the volumetric distance field. • A control method for shape-gradient density based on the parameterization of volumetric distance fields is proposed. • An efficient method for rapidly modeling shape- and performance-controllable stochastic porous structures is presented. • A geometric boundary adaptation algorithm based on volumetric distance field is proposed, which is capable of generating Voronoi struts for different application scenarios. This work introduces a rapid modeling method for gradient porous structures with conformal density, aiming to address the challenges of transitional variation of porosity, and control of complex gradient variations in multiple directions. In comparison to other methods, this approach overcomes the limitations associated with coordinate systems and shape functions when designing complex gradient variations in multiple directions while achieving density variation with shape under different gradients. The method involves mapping the volumetric distance field to a density field using control functions. By adhering to the constraints of the density field, it employs a weighted random sampling method to attain gradient sites with shape-adaptive distribution. Voronoi polyhedron are then constructed based on these sites, and smooth Voronoi struts are generated using strut distance fields and improved Boolean operations. The boundary adaptation of the porous structure is subsequently achieved based on the volumetric distance field. By establishing the relationship between density and volumetric distance field values, the study illustrates the similarity between density variation in the structure and gradient variations in the control function, indicating the controllability of density variation with shape. Furthermore, the method enables the integration design of structural shape and mechanical properties through adjustments to the number of sites, radius size of struts, and gradient control functions. Finally, the method was validated through numerical simulation and experiments, demonstrating its controllability and effectiveness in generating random porous structures with conformal density gradients, providing important theoretical and practical support for research and application in related fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the modification of indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) thin-film transistors (TFTs) with an ultrathin metal oxide layer successfully reduces internal film stress. The introduction of an Al 2 O 3 metal oxide layer effectively diminishes defects within the film and minimizes distortion in the film densification process. A low-temperature annealing process at 200 °C was employed to mitigate thermal expansion differences between the film and the substrate, thus reducing internal stress within the device. Furthermore, we have discovered that this structural modification holds the potential to enhance mechanical stress resistance. This paper offers a novel perspective and an experimental foundation for the stress analysis of flexible TFTs. • Ultra-thin metal oxide layer used to improve internal stress in films. • Preparation of IGZO TFTS with better performance at 200 °C annealing temperature. • Structures have the potential to resist mechanical stress. • Electrical properties are combined with structural characterization of thin films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]