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Focused ion beam (FIB) is a high-precision technology for micro/nanofabrication that can be used to fabricate micro/nanoscale structures and electronic devices, such as waveguide gratings, resonators, and photonic crystals. In this study, a novel FIB processing system was developed using machine vision coupled with a piezoelectric motor, which compensates the process periodically and automatically. The FIB system is controlled by a computer program that enables automatic processing, automatic recognition, and provides feedback to control the movement of the stage. The results show that ring arrays with a diameter of 2 μm can be detected automatically under the field of view (FOV) of 114 × 114 μm2 with relative errors of less than 6%. The FOV can be larger than 400 × 400 μm2 after the splicing function of automatic compensation control is applied to the same ring arrays. Structurally, the average splicing errors in the X- and Y-directions decreased one order of magnitude, which are from 1.49 to 0.15 μm and 1.47 to 0.37 μm, respectively. This paves the way for the mass production of nanoholes in a large area with high precision and high speed for semiconductor manufacturing and research.

Chromium (Cr (VI)) can cause severe damage to the ecosystem and humans because of its toxicity. In this paper, the adsorbed Fe/Mn ions Bacillus cereus ZNT-03, lotus seeds, and graphene oxide were co-cultured as the raw materials. Fe/Mn oxide biochar composite (FMBC) was prepared to treat Cr (VI) by one-step pyrolysis. FMBC has high-density micropores, and the average pore size is about 0.82 nm. Fe (II), Mn (II), and N-containing functional groups could serve as electron donors for Cr (VI) reduction. The removal of Cr (VI) is monolayer chemisorption and pH-dependent. The maximum adsorption capacity of FMBC is 21.25 mg g

Antifouling coatings face some critical challenges toward applications, particularly poor mechanical properties, complex or expensive fabrication and non-transparency. This work reports a transparent fluorine-free antifouling coating with robust mechanical properties. Water and salt, alkali and acid solutions can slide off the coating surface (water contact angle > 105°) and remove dirt. The coating endows the substrate with remarkable protection against exposure to harsh chemical conditions, mechanical robustness against extensive abrasion and high hardness (6H–9H). The characteristics of this coating are derived from heavily cross-linking branched (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane with zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) ceramic nanoparticles by using a curing agent.

Liquid biopsy is rapidly growing into a hot research field due to its unique advantages of minimal invasiveness, and extracellular vesicle (EVs) are also expected to become an important pillar in the diagnostic technology system as a newly discovered active substance carrier. More and more research has highlighted the important contribution of EVs in the progress of tumor. Molecular changes during disease progression could be detected in EVs. However, the diagnostic applications of EVs are not generally understood. Combined with the characteristics of hepatobiliary and pancreatic tumor, we summarized the recent developments in various omics analysis of EVs. Furtherly, we explored the role of EVs in the early diagnosis of hepatobiliary and pancreatic tumors by multi-omics analysis.

Through sorting out the theory of financing efficiency, the influencing factors and empirical methods of financing efficiency at home and abroad, taking the panel data of 29 listed companies in the photovoltaic industry in China from 2017 to 2021 as the research object, the DEA-Tobit model was used to study the financing efficiency and influencing factors of China's photovoltaic industry. The results show that in recent years, the financing efficiency of listed companies in the domestic photovoltaic industry has fluctuated greatly, and there is a certain downward trend as a whole, and there is still a broad room for improvement; There are significant positive effects on net profit, net profit margin on sales, cost of main business, cash ratio and corporate financing efficiency, while current liabilities and corporate financing efficiency show significant negative effects. Based on this, suggestions are put forward to optimize the scale of listed companies, broaden financing channels, and introduce new financing methods by relevant government departments.

Fluorescent D-amino acids (FDAAs) have previ-ously been developed to enable in situ highlighting of locations of bacterial cell wall growth. Most bacterial cells lie at the edge of the diffraction limit of visible light; thus, resolving the precise details of peptidoglycan (PG) biosynthesis requires super-resolution micros-copy after probe incorporation. Single molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) has stringent requirements on the fluorophore photophysical properties and therefore has remained challenging in this context. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of new FDAAs compatible with one-step labeling and SMLM imaging. We demonstrate the incorporation of our probes and their utility for visualizing PG at the nanoscale in Gram-negative, Gram-positive, and mycobacteria species. This improved FDAA toolkit will endow researchers with a nanoscale perspective on the spatial distribution of PG biosynthesis for a broad range of bacterial species.

Single eyelids of many individuals seek incision-based blepharoplasty to construct double eyelids. However, excessive tissue damage is still a common problem after this surgery. Much of the tissue injury incurred during blepharoplasty results from damage to vertical blood vessels in the superficial and deep layers, so we designed a new modified incisional-based blepharoplasty method that preserves superficial and deep blood vessels.To evaluate the efficacy and safety of this preservation of superficial and deep blood vessels approach to incisional-based blepharoplasty.We retrospectively examined the outcomes of 462 consecutive patients receiving this new method from January 2015 to December 2019. The surgical methods were designed to preserve superficial and deep blood vessels to the greatest extent possible. All patients were followed up for 6 to 40 months. Postoperative evaluations were performed and patients graded results at final follow-up as excellent, good, fair, or poor. The combined proportion of excellent, good, and fair was deemed the satisfaction rate.The overall satisfaction rate was 94.16% (435/462). Postoperative swelling regressed significantly during the first week and disappeared by 4 weeks postsurgery for patients without ptosis or with mild ptosis, whereas swelling regressed in 2 to 5 weeks for patients with moderate ptosis. Fourteen patients (3.03%, 14/462) displayed obvious bruising after surgery.This new blepharoplasty method yielded a high satisfaction rate, rapid dissipation of swelling, low bruising, and low complication rate. This effective and safe surgical method warrants wider use for single eyelid and mild/moderate ptosis.

In order to improve the application scale of diatomite in the remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soil in non-ferrous metal mining areas, the preparation of the modified diatomite-combined curing agent and its stabilizing effect on manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) were systematically studied in non-ferrous metal tailing soil in this paper. The results showed that compared with that in natural diatomite (DE), the contents of available Mn in soil treated by acid- and alkali-modified diatomite samples (C-D and Na-D) were 18.82 and 25.93% lower, respectively, and the content of available Zn in Na-D was significantly lower, 6.71%, than that in DE. Further research showed that modified diatomite combined with quicklime (CaO) and hydroxyapatite (HAP) could significantly improve the solidification effect of soil heavy metals. Compared with that in single modified diatomite, the contents of available Mn, Pb, and Zn in the mixed curing agent-treated soil decreased by 23.59-46.32, 5.88-47.93, and 5.37-10.68%, respectively. The final pot test showed that the mixed curing agent of modified diatomite had no significant effect on the growth of plants, but it could reduce the Mn, Pb, and Zn accumulation in the upper and lower parts of plants, which is because the acid-soluble and reducible heavy metals in soil transform into an oxidizable and residual state, which reduces the mobility of heavy metals.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Psychological Science Accelerator coordinated three large-scale psychological studies to examine the effects of loss-gain framing, cognitive reappraisals, and autonomy framing manipulations on behavioral intentions and affective measures. The data collected (April to October 2020) included specific measures for each experimental study, a general questionnaire examining health prevention behaviors and COVID-19 experience, geographical and cultural context characterization, and demographic information for each participant. Each participant started the study with the same general questions and then was randomized to complete either one longer experiment or two shorter experiments. Data were provided by 73,223 participants with varying completion rates. Participants completed the survey from 111 geopolitical regions in 44 unique languages/dialects. The anonymized dataset described here is provided in both raw and processed formats to facilitate re-use and further analyses. The dataset offers secondary analytic opportunities to explore coping, framing, and self-determination across a diverse, global sample obtained at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which can be merged with other time-sampled or geographic data.

BACKGROUND: PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9), which is mainly secreted by the liver, is not only a therapeutic target for hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular disease, but also has been implicated in the immune regulation of infections and tumors. However, the role of PCSK9 and the liver in heart transplant rejection (HTR) and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. METHODS: We assessed serum PCSK9 expression in both murine and human recipients during HTR and investigated the effect of PCSK9 ablation on HTR by using global knockout mice and a neutralizing antibody. Moreover, we performed multiorgan histological and transcriptome analyses, and multiomics and single-cell RNA-sequencing studies of the liver during HTR, as well. We further used hepatocyte-specific Pcsk9 knockout mice to investigate whether the liver regulated HTR through PCSK9. Last, we explored the regulatory effect of the PCSK9/CD36 pathway on the phenotype and function of macrophages in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: Here, we report that murine and human recipients have high serum PCSK9 levels during HTR. PCSK9 ablation prolonged cardiac allograft survival and attenuated the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the graft and the expansion of alloreactive T cells in the spleen. Next, we demonstrated that PCSK9 was mainly produced and significantly upregulated in the recipient liver, which also showed a series of signaling changes, including changes in the TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor α) and IFN-γ (interferon γ) signaling pathways and the bile acid and fatty acid metabolism pathways. We found mechanistically that TNF-α and IFN-γ synergistically promoted PCSK9 expression in hepatocytes through the transcription factor SREBP2 (sterol regulatory element binding protein 2). Moreover, in vitro and in vivo studies indicated that PCSK9 inhibited CD36 expression and fatty acid uptake by macrophages and strengthened the proinflammatory phenotype, which facilitated their ability to promote proliferation and IFN-γ production by donor-reactive T cells. Last, we found that the protective effect of PCSK9 ablation against HTR is dependent on the CD36 pathway in the recipient. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals a novel mechanism for immune regulation by the liver through the PCSK9/CD36 pathway during HTR, which influences the phenotype and function of macrophages and suggests that the modulation of this pathway may be a potential therapeutic target to prevent HTR.

The inherent single narrow emission peak and fast anion exchange process of cesium lead halide perovskite CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I) nanocrystals severely limited its application in white light-emitting diodes. Previous studies have shown that composite structures can passivate surface defects of NCs and improve the stability of perovskite materials, but complex post-treatment processes commonly lead to dissolution of NCs. In this study, CsPb(Cl/Br)3 NCs was in-situ grown in TiO2 hollow shells doped with Eu3+ ions by a modified thermal injection method to prepare CsPb(Cl/Br)3/TiO2:Eu3+ composites with direct excitation of white light without additional treatment. Among them, the well-crystalline TiO2 shells acted as both a substrate for the dopant, avoiding the direct doping of Eu3+ into the interior of NCs to affect the crystal structure of the perovskite materials, and also as a protection layer to isolate the contact between PL quenching molecules and NCs, which significantly improves the stability. Further, the WLED prepared using the composites had bright white light emission, luminous efficiency of 87.39 lm/W, and long-time operating stability, which provided new options for the development of perovskite devices.

Vehicle platoons were recently proposed to reduce energy consumption and emissions. However, the majority of platooning studies have focused on pure connected automated vehicle (CAV) environments with limited insights into energy consumption and emissions. This paper quantifies fuel consumption and emissions by studying the microscopic movements of CAVs and human driving vehicles (HDVs) in mixed traffic flows. With an extended cellular automaton model, a four-lane mixed traffic flow of CAVs and HDVs is investigated in detail. The results have shown that ad hoc platoon formation can lead to frequent acceleration and lane changing, resulting in more fuel consumption and emission. With a dedicated CAV lane (DCL) strategy, the interference of CAVs and HDVs is greatly reduced, thereby improving the fuel economy and emission reduction. The findings can benefit the organization of vehicle platoons in the persisting mixed traffic flow environment.

With the development of urban rail transit systems, the operation and management of the system faces various problems, among which the unreasonably long waiting time at transfer stations during the first train period is a major challenge for metro companies. To address this problem, some cities (e.g. Guangzhou, Hefei) are operating inter-regional trains to reduce the waiting time of passengers. With this motivation, we study the first train timetable synchronization problem with multiple departure stations. The problem is first formulated as a mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) model. By using auxiliary intermediate variables, the nonlinear model is reformulated as a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model, which can be solved directly by the commercial solver COPT. A real-world example of the Hefei urban rail transit network is applied to test the effectiveness of the proposed model. By adjusting the first ordinary train start service times and operating 12 additional inter-regional trains on 2 bidirectional lines, the total transfer waiting time and the number of long waiting time directions decreased by 39.09% and 56.25%, respectively.

The deficit of fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein (FMRP) leads to intellectual disability in human and animal models, which also leads to desensitization of pain after nerve injury. Recently, it was shown that the protein arginine methyltransferases 1 (PRMT1) regulates the phase separation of FMRP. However, the role of PRMT1 in pain regulation has been less investigated. Here we showed that the downregulation of PRMT1 in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) contributes to the development of peripheral pain hypersensitivity. We observed that the peripheral nerve injury decreased the expression of PRMT1 in the ACC; knockdown of the PRMT1 via shRNA in the ACC decreased the paw withdrawal thresholds (PWTs) of naïve mice. Moreover, the deficits of FMRP abolished the effects of PRMT1 on pain sensation. Furthermore, overexpression of PRMT1 in the ACC increased the PWTs of mice with nerve injury. These observations indicate that the downregulation of cingulate PRMT1 was necessary and sufficient to develop peripheral hypersensitivity after nerve injury. Thus, we provided evidence that PRMT1 is vital in regulating peripheral pain hypersensitivity after nerve injury via the FMRP.

BackgroundInfertility is one of the three major public health problems in the world, bringing immense physical and psychological damage to men and affecting the quality of men’s fertility life. Thus, the purpose of this study was to analyze the status of social support, fertility stress, mindfulness, and fertility quality of life in infertile men, and to explore the dual mediating effects of social support and fertility stress on mindfulness and fertility quality.MethodsA case–control group study was conducted, with 246 men in the case group and 149 in the control group. The Social Support Scale, Fertility Stress Scale, Mindfulness Scale, and Fertility Quality of Life Scale were used to establish a structural equation model using Mplus 8.3 to explore social support and fertility stress. Pathway relationships were drawn between mindfulness and fertility quality of life in infertile men.ResultsThere were significant differences between infertile and healthy men in each dimension of the core module of fertility quality of life, in the total score of the treatment module, in the total score of social support, in subjective and objective support, and in the total score of fertility stress, social pressure, sexual pressure, marital relationship, and childless pressure (p p ConclusionThe fertility quality of life of infertile men is not optimistic. Mindfulness-related interventions and programs can improve their fertility quality of life.

The demand for accurate estimation of aboveground biomass (AGB) at high spatial resolution is increasing in grassland-related research and management, especially for those regions with complex topography and fragmented landscapes, where grass and shrub are interspersed. In this study, based on 519 field AGB observations, integrating Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR; Sentinel-1) and high-resolution (Sentinel-2) remote sensing images, environmental and topographical data, we estimated the AGB of mountain grassland in Southwest China (Yunnan Province and Guizhou Province) by using remote sensing algorithms ranging from traditional regression to cutting edge machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) models. Four models (i.e., multiple stepwise regression (MSR), random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM) and convolutional neural network (CNN)) were developed and compared for AGB simulation purposes. The results indicated that the RF model performed the best among the four models (testing dataset: decision co-efficient (R2) was 0.80 for shrubland and 0.75 for grassland, respectively). Among all input variables in the RF model, the vegetation indices played the most important role in grassland AGB estimation, with 6 vegetation indices (EVI, EVI2, NDVI, NIRv, MSR and DVI) in the top 10 of input variables. For shrubland, however, topographical factors (elevation, 12.7% IncMSE (increase in mean squared error)) and SAR data (VH band, 11.3% IncMSE) were the variables which contributed the most in the AGB estimation model. By comparing the input variables to the RF model, we found that integrating SAR data has the potential to improve grassland AGB estimation, especially for shrubland (26.7% improvement in the estimation of shrubland AGB). Regional grassland AGB estimation showed a lower mean AGB in Yunnan Province (443.6 g/m2) than that in Guizhou Province (687.6 g/m2) in 2021. Moreover, the correlation between five consecutive years (2018–2022) of AGB data and climatic factors calculated by partial correlation analysis showed that regional AGB was positively related with mean annual precipitation in more than 70% of the grassland and 60% of the shrubland area, respectively. Also, we found a positive relationship with mean annual temperature in 62.8% of the grassland and 55.6% of the shrubland area, respectively. This study demonstrated that integrating SAR into grassland AGB estimation led to a remote sensing estimation model that greatly improved the accuracy of modeled mountain grassland AGB in southwest China, where the grassland consists of a complex mix of grass and shrubs.