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Filtering high-variability and high-severity defect reports from large test report databases is a challenging task in crowdtesting. Traditional optimization algorithms based on clustering and distance techniques have made progress but are limited by initial parameter settings and significantly decrease in efficiency with an increasing number of reports. To address this issue, this paper proposes a method that integrates reinforcement learning with genetic algorithms for crowdsourced testing report optimization, called Reinforcement Learning-based Genetic Algorithm for Crowdsourced Testing Report Optimization (RLGA). Its core goal is to identify distinct, high-severity defect reports from a large set. The method uses genetic algorithms to generate the optimal report selection sequence and adjusts the crossover probability (Pc) and mutation probability (Pm) dynamically with reinforcement learning based on the population's average fitness, best fitness, and diversity. The reinforcement learning component uses a hybrid SARSA and Q-Learning strategy to update the Q-value table, allowing the algorithm to learn quickly in early iterations and expand the search space later to avoid local optima, thereby improving efficiency. To validate the RLGA method, this paper uses four public datasets and compares RLGA with six classic methods. The results indicate that RLGA outperforms BDDIV in terms of execution time and is less sensitive to the total number of test reports. In terms of optimization objectives, the test reports selected by RLGA have higher levels of defect severity and diversity than those selected by the random choice, BDDIV, and TSE methods. Regarding population diversity, RLGA effectively enhances the uniformity and diversity of individuals compared to random initialization. In terms of convergence speed, RLGA is superior to the GA, GA-SARSA, and GA-Q methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the impact of 20 MeV proton irradiation on NiOx/β-Ga2O3 p–n diodes has been investigated. After 20 MeV proton irradiation with a fluence of 2 × 1012 p/cm2, the forward current density (JF) decreased by 44.1% from 93.0 to 52.0 A/cm2, and the turn-on voltage (Von) increased from 1.55 to 1.68 V based on current–voltage (I–V) measurements. Moreover, the capacitance–voltage (C–V) measurements indicated that the net carrier concentration in the β-Ga2O3 lightly doped drift region was reduced from 1.95 × 1016 to 1.86 × 1016 cm−3 after proton irradiation. The effect of proton irradiation on NiOx/β-Ga2O3 interface trap states was also acquired utilizing the frequency-dependent conductance technique. The results indicated that the time constant increased from 0.04–0.15 to 0.13–0.23 μs after proton irradiation. Meanwhile, it was found that the density of interface trap states increases from 7.49 × 1010–1.27 × 1010 to 7.23 × 1011–1.70 × 1012 cm−2 eV−1 with an increase in trap activation energy from 0.080–0.111 to 0.088–0.121 eV after proton irradiation. This work provides an important reference for further improving the performance of NiOx/β-Ga2O3 p–n diodes through the design of subsequent anti-radiation hardening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to conventional condensation dehumidification systems, a solar liquid desiccant air conditioning system (SLDAC) offers distinct advantages, enabling independent control of temperature and humidity while operating at low carbon levels. This paper proposes a low-carbon SLDAC thermal mass exchange model that uses an indirect evaporative cooling liquid dehumidifier and photovoltaic thermal and air source heat pump for combined driving of the solution regeneration process. The system simulation model was created using MATLAB and TRNSYS software. An experimental comparison was conducted between the dehumidification module and the regeneration module, and the system's performance was simulated with an airflow of 150 m3/h in the Tianjin area. The results indicate an average dehumidification efficiency of 44.03% and a regeneration efficiency of 40.80% throughout the cooling season. During the cooling season, the power generation of the system met the power demand and produced a surplus of 85.36 kWh, achieving overall self-sufficiency in power consumption. The optimized system's operating parameters were proposed, with regeneration temperatures of 57 °C in June and September and 65 °C in July and August. During the cooling season, the system's regeneration capacity exceeded its dehumidification capacity for 84.90% of the operating time. As a result of optimization, the system's carbon emissions were reduced by 59.35%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An antenna‐filter‐antenna (AFA) based frequency selective surface (FSS) with excellent spatial filtering performance is proposed. This FSS design incorporates two back‐to‐back microstrip patch antennas, which not only ensures a high roll‐off rate at the passband edge and excellent flatness within the passband, but also achieves an ultra‐low profile. Significantly, the upper and lower band edges demonstrate a substantial drop from −3 to −10 dB within the 0.006 and 0.02 GHz ranges, respectively, resulting in a sharp roll‐off skirt. Furthermore, the frequency of radiation null can be controlled by manipulating the length of the quarter‐wavelength open‐ended stub, thereby possessing exceptional out‐of‐band suppression. A prototype of the proposed FSS with low profile is fabricated and measured. The simulations and measurements of the AFA‐based FSS show that a quasi‐elliptical bandpass filtering response with superior performance is achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complexity and strong spatial and temporal characteristics of municipal solid waste (MSW) have made resource utilization a major challenge in establishing the life-cycle model of MSW. Based on the planning of the domestic "dual-carbon" target and the current status of the structural transformation of resource utilization, this paper summarizes the physicochemical properties of MSW in China by component, species, and region. The aim is to identify the physicochemical components of MSW in different regions of China, drawing on the research findings of various scholars. A total of 159 sets of MSW data were collected, including 90 sets of physical composition and 69 sets of elemental composition. These data were used to calculate the calorific value of MSW and determine the energy-recovery and power-generation potentials before and after MSW classification. The analysis estimates the volume of MSW requiring removal in different regions of China in 2021 and assesses the effectiveness of the energy-recovery potential (ERP) and power-generation potential (PGP) before and after MSW classification in these regions. The aim is to offer insightful guidance and recommendations for municipal waste-treatment strategies tailored to the diverse regions of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the effects of high-energy proton irradiation on top-gate graphene field-effect transistors (GFETs) were investigated by using 20 MeV protons. The basic electrical parameters of the top-gate GFETs were measured before and after proton irradiation with a fluence of 1 × 1011 p/cm2 and 5 × 1011 p/cm2, respectively. Decreased saturation current, increased Dirac sheet resistance, and negative drift in the Dirac voltage in response to proton irradiation were observed. According to the transfer characteristic curves, it was found that the carrier mobility was reduced after proton irradiation. The analysis suggests that proton irradiation generates a large net positive charge in the gate oxide layer, which induces a negative drift in the Dirac voltage. Introducing defects and increased impurities at the gate oxide/graphene interface after proton irradiation resulted in enhanced Coulomb scattering and reduced mobility of the carriers, which in turn affects the Dirac sheet resistance and saturation current. After annealing at room temperature, the electrical characteristics of the devices were partially restored. The results of the technical computer-aided design (TCAD) simulation indicate that the reduction in carrier mobility is the main reason for the degradation of the electrical performance of the device. Monte Carlo simulations were conducted to determine the ionization and nonionization energy losses induced by proton incidence in top-gate GFET devices. The simulation data show that the ionization energy loss is the primary cause of the degradation of the electrical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The essential oils of Juniperus are highly beneficial medicinally. The present study aimed to assess the chemodiversity and bioactivity of Juniperus formosana, Juniperus przewalskii, Juniperus convallium, Juniperus tibetica, Juniperus komarovii, and Juniperus sabina essential oils from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The results revealed 92 components in six essential oils: α-pinene (2.71–17.31%), sabinene (4.91–19.83%), and sylvestrene (1.84–8.58%) were the main components. Twelve components were firstly reported in Juniperus oils, indicating that the geographical location and climatic conditions of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau produced the unique characteristics of Juniperus essential oils. The chemodiversity of Juniperus essential oils varied greatly, with J. sabina having the most recognized components (64) and the highest chemodiversity (Shannon–Wiener index of 3.07, Simpson's diversity index of 0.91, and Pielou evenness of 0.74). According to the chemodiversity of essential oils, the six plants were decided into the α-pinene chemotype (J. formosana), hedycaryol chemotype (J. przewalskii, J. komarovii, J. convallium, J. tibetica), and sabinene chemotype (J. sabina). PCA, HCA and OPLS-DA showed that J. formosana and J. sabina were distantly related to other plants, which provides a chemical basis for the classification of Juniperus plants. Furthermore, bioactivity tests exhibited certain antioxidant and antibacterial effects in six Juniperus oils. And the bioactivities of J. convallium, J. tibetica, and J. komarovvii were measured for the first time, broadening the range of applications of Juniperus. Correlation analysis of components and bioactivities showed that δ-amorphene, β-udesmol, α-muurolol, and 2-nonanone performed well in the determination of antioxidant activity, and α-pinene, camphene, β-myrcene, as well as (E)-thujone, had strong inhibitory effects on pathogenic bacteria, providing a theoretical basis for further research on these components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to promote the engineering application of indirect evaporative cooling (IEC) in the field of building air conditioning, as well as reduce air conditioning energy consumption and carbon emissions, this paper proposes a fresh air unit using indirect evaporative cooling to achieve heat recovery from exhaust air, which gives the recommended values of air and spray water operation parameters. The indirect evaporative cooler heat and mass transfer mathematical model and numerical solution procedure were made. In summer outdoor design conditions, the fresh air outlet state parameters, cooling capacity, fresh air cooling load, wet bulb efficiency and enthalpy efficiency were numerically solved for thirty typical cities from five climate zones of China. In addition, also based on the model results for the cities in China, two representative operating conditions points of medium and high humidity were selected. Eight models of fresh air unit coolers in the air volume range of 1000–10,000 m3/h commonly used in engineering were simulated to obtain the optimal heat transfer area and size selection of ERIEC heat exchangers for fresh air units, and economic analysis was performed. The results show that the wet bulb efficiency ranges from 0.67–0.98, and increases as the outdoor design wet bulb temperature decreases; the enthalpy efficiency ranges from 0.76–1.29, and increases as the outdoor design wet bulb temperature increases; and the fresh air load that the exhaust air heat recovery type indirect evaporative cooler can bear ranges from 55–100%, which could largely decrease the cold load of the matched surface cooler. As demonstrated, the energy-saving effect is remarkable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dioxide capture and utilization (CCU) technology is a significant means by which China can achieve its ambitious carbon neutrality goal. It is necessary to explore the behavioral strategies of relevant companies in adopting CCU technology. In this paper, an evolutionary game model is established in order to analyze the interaction process and evolution direction of local governments and coal-fired power plants. We develop a replicator dynamic system and analyze the stability of the system under different conditions. Based on numerical simulation, we analyze the impact of key parameters on the strategies of stakeholders. The simulation results show that the unit prices of hydrogen and carbon dioxide derivatives have the most significant impact: when the unit price of hydrogen decreases to 15.9 RMB/kg or the unit price of carbon dioxide derivatives increases to 3.4 RMB/kg, the evolutionary stabilization strategy of the system changes and power plants shift to adopt CCU technology. The results of this paper suggest that local governments should provide relevant support policies and incentives for CCU technology deployment, as well as focusing on the synergistic development of CCU technology and renewable energy hydrogen production technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The preparation of maleic acid from the oxidation of renewable furfural has attracted significant attention, but research regarding the direct transformation of biomass‐derived sugar to maleic acid is rare. The research regarding the direct transformation of xylose to maleic acid would further promote its industrial applications. RESULTS: The direct synthesis of maleic acid from xylose was investigated based on a sustainable system of deep eutectic solvents (DESs). Four DESs were screened to evaluate their abilities for the dehydration of xylose. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was then loaded to realize the oxidation of furfural without the separation of intermediates. A good maleic acid yield of 20.8%, along with 5.0% of fumaric acid, based on the xylose content were obtained under the initial xylose loading of 50 mM, a tin(IV) chloride (SnCl4)–xylose molar ratio of 4:1, in a monophase choline chloride (ChCl)–formic acid (Fa) (molar ratio of 1:6) system at 120 °C for 2 h. Then, 4 mL of H2O2 per mmol furfural was loaded for a further 10 min at 120 °C. CONCLUSION: This ChCl–Fa–SnCl4–H2O2 system possesses a higher oxidation selectivity to maleic acid with no furanone and succinic acid. Moreover, it was interesting that ChCl and SnCl4 could be recovered through natural recrystallization. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Lipid accumulation, inflammatory responses and oxidative stress have been implicated in the pathology of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Targeting inhibition of these features may provide a promising therapeutic strategy for ALD. Baicalin, a flavonoid isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, has been shown to exert a hepatoprotective effect. However, its effects on ALD remain obscure. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of baicalin on alcohol-induced liver injury and its related mechanisms. METHODS: For in vivo experiments, rats were supplied intragastrical administration of alcohol continuously for 4 or 8 weeks, and then received baicalin treatment in the latter 4 weeks in the presence / absence of alcohol intake. Liver histology and function, inflammatory cytokines, oxidative mediators, and the components of the Sonic hedgehog pathway were evaluated. For in vitro experiments, alcohol-stimulated human normal liver cells LO2 were used. RESULTS: Baicalin treatment significantly alleviated alcoholic liver injury, improved liver function impaired by alcohol, and inhibited hepatocytes apoptosis. In addition, baicalin decreased the expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) and malonyldialdehyde (MDA), and increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes SOD and GSH-Px. Furthermore, baicalin modulated the activation of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) pathway. Administration of baicalin upregulated the expression of sonic hedgehog (Shh), patched (Ptc), Smoothened (Smo), and Glioblastoma-1(Gli-1). Blockade of the Shh pathway in cyclopamine abolished the effects of baicalin in vitro. CONCLUSION: Both in vivo and in vitro experimental results indicate that baicalin exerts hepatoprotective roles in alcohol-induced liver injury through inhibiting oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and the regulation of the Shh pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastrointestinal endoscopy has been identified as an important tool for cancer diagnosis and therapy, particularly for treating patients with early gastric cancer (EGC). It is well known that the quality of gastroscope images is a prerequisite for achieving a high detection rate of gastrointestinal lesions. Owing to manual operation of gastroscope detection, in practice, it possibly introduces motion blur and produces low-quality gastroscope images during the imaging process. Hence, the quality assessment of gastroscope images is the key process in the detection of gastrointestinal endoscopy. In this study, we first present a novel gastroscope image motion blur (GIMB) database that includes 1,050 images generated by imposing 15 distortion levels of motion blur on 70 lossless images and the associated subjective scores produced with the manual operation of 15 viewers. Then, we design a new artificial intelligence (AI)-based gastroscope image quality evaluator (GIQE) that leverages the newly proposed semi-full combination subspace to learn multiple kinds of human visual system (HVS) inspired features for providing objective quality scores. The results of experiments conducted on the GIMB database confirm that the proposed GIQE showed more effective performance compared with its state-of-the-art peers., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The reviewer KG declared a shared affiliation with the author RB to the handling editor at the time of review., (Copyright © 2023 Yuan, Bai, Yan, Li, Wang, Cao and Wu.)

Chinese fermented sausage is a famous fermented meat product with a complex microbiota that has a potential impact on flavor and quality. In this study, Lactobacillus plantarum MSZ2 and Staphylococcus xylosus YCC3 were used as starter cultures to investigate the change in bacterial diversity, metabolic pathways, and flavor compounds during the ripening process of fermented sausages. High-throughput sequencing technology and headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC/MS) were applied for characterizing the profiles of bacterial diversity, metabolic pathways, and flavor compounds in sausage samples on days 0, 6, and 12 during ripening. Results showed that Lactobacillus , Staphylococcus , Lactococcus , Leuconostoc , and Weissella were the most abundant bacterial genera found in the sausage samples during all stages of fermentation. Functional prediction reveals the abundance of 12 different metabolic pathways, the most important pathways are carbohydrate metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, lipid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism. A total of 63 volatile compounds were successfully identified in fermented sausage samples. Correlational analysis demonstrated that Staphylococcus and Leuconostoc were closely related to the formation of flavor compounds. Therefore, the present study may provide guidance for future use of microbiota to improve flavor, quality, and preservation of fermented sausages., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Wang, Aziz, Bai, Zhang, Shahzad, Khan, Elazzazy, Dablool and Zhu.)

Aberrant activation of the sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway plays an important role in gastric cancer. The exact mechanisms defining how the Shh pathway promotes tumorigenesis or regulates its downstream targets remains elusive. In the present study, the effects of inhibiting the Shh signaling pathway in gastric cancer AGS cells was examined. It was identified that the Shh antagonist, cyclopamine, inhibited cancer proliferation, migration and invasion in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Additionally, it was revealed that several key targets that are activated by the Shh signaling pathway, Gli1 and CXCR4, were downregulated at an RNA and protein level by cyclopamine. The results from the present study may be of benefit in facilitating the development of novel therapeutic strategies to treat gastric cancer in human patients.