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Cobalt oxides are known for their excellent heat transfer properties. The main component of cobalt oxides is the CoO2 monolayer, which exhibits high-temperature superconductivity caused by strong electron–phonon coupling (EPC). We here systematically investigate the structural stability, electronic structure, and magnetism of the CoO2 monolayer using first-principles and Monte Carlo simulations. On this basis, we further study the changes in the spin energy gap, magnetic axis direction, and other properties of the CoO2 monolayer with the changes in carrier concentration. By appropriately doping the CoO2 monolayer with holes, the magnetic axis direction of the CoO2 monolayer can be reversed, thereby enhancing its potential application in the field of spin electronic devices. Monte Carlo simulation is used to study the regulation of different factors on the magnetothermal properties of the CoO2 monolayer. Through the analysis of physical parameters such as Curie temperature (TC) and bandgap, we find that the appropriate carrier concentration and magnetic field can not only regulate the magnetothermal properties of materials but also further improve the efficiency of materials in low-temperature environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isotropic materials are required to adhere to various mechanical principles due to their limited thermal stability. For instance, it is essential for Poisson's ratio to be within the range of −1 to 0.5, and the longitudinal wave velocity must exceed the transverse wave velocity. Nevertheless, perfect crystals, as anisotropic materials, have the ability to defy conventional rules. Through the integration of high-throughput processes and first-principles calculations, a comprehensive exploration of known materials was conducted, resulting in the establishment of a database featuring an extreme anisotropic mechanism. This included the identification of abnormal Poisson's ratios (with the directional Poisson's ratio ranging from −3.00 to 3.67), the discovery of extreme negative linear compressibility, the determination of the upper and lower limits of the sound velocity, and other associated properties. Several materials with abnormal Poisson's ratios (<−1 or >0.5) were listed, and their peculiar mechanical behavior, wherein the volume decreased counterintuitively with uniaxial tension, was discussed. Finally, this study focused on the velocities of longitudinal and transverse waves, with specific emphasis on materials exhibiting transverse wave velocities that exceeded the longitudinal wave velocities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, we propose a simple and novel graphene-black phosphorus composite structure. Through the coupling mechanism of bright–bright mode, four layers of graphene and one layer of black phosphorus produce a quadruple plasmon-induced transparency (PIT) effect. The response of the proposed structure to the angle of polarized light is investigated, and it is found that the sensitivities of graphene and black phosphorus to the polarization angle of light are different. In addition, the dynamic regulation of PIT by the Fermi level of graphene and the carrier concentration of black phosphorus are discussed. The modulation depths of the fivefold optical switching are 96%, 99%, 87%, 93%, and 80%, respectively. The quadruple PIT can also be converted into triple PIT, in which single, dual, or triple optical switching are realized, respectively. Finally, with the change in the refractive index of the environment medium, the sensitivity response of the proposed structure is as high as 4.790 THz⋅RIU−1. We believe that this research will contribute to the development of optical switches, modulators, and sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impacting phenomenon of nanodroplets has received much attention due to their importance in various industrial applications. The oblique impingement of single droplets is well understood; however, the effect of oblique angle on impacting the dynamics of multiple droplets at the nanoscale is very limited. To address this gap, we perform molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study the impacting dynamics of binary nanodroplets with various oblique angles (αob) and Weber numbers (We). Using MD simulations, we directly capture the detailed morphological evolution of the impacting binary droplets with various given conditions. Compared to the oblique impingement of a single droplet, the evolution of impacting binary droplets involves two novel dynamic characteristics: the asymmetric dynamics with droplet preferential spreading in the y direction and the rotating of the coalescing droplet. The mechanisms underlying are well studied. The asymmetric dynamics is a result of the velocity gradient of the outer edge of the spreading droplet, and the rotating effect is due to the change in angular momentum induced by surface force. The analysis and study of these phenomena have never been mentioned in previous studies of single droplet. Finally, we investigate the effect of αob and We on normalized moving distance (L/Dsin) and contact time (tc). This work paves the way for offering a comprehensive understanding of the oblique impingement of binary nanodroplets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of metasurfaces has renewed Snell's law, and the metasurfaces can manipulate sound waves flexibly. In this paper, a coding metasurface with a simple and adjustable coding unit for sound wave transmission is proposed. By changing the orientation of a movable part in a fixed structure, conversion is achieved between two types of units with a phase difference of 180° and high transmittance (>75%). By combining the two types of units, the phases of sound waves can be regulated dynamically. Structural simulations are performed using finite-element software, and the beam splitting of the transmitted sound wave is verified by theoretical analysis and experiments under plane wave incidence in the frequency range of 4.7–5.7 kHz. In addition, the two types of units are used to design a coding Fresnel lens, and its simulated focusing performance is verified by experiments at 4.7–5.7 kHz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2D lateral heterostructures possess atomically sharp lateral interfaces, while understanding of their ultrafast photocarrier dynamics from a spatiotemporal viewpoint is rather elusive. In this study, we have investigated the spatiotemporal evolution of photocarrier dynamics across the 1D lateral interface of a WS2–ReS2 2D lateral heterostructure utilizing femtosecond laser pump–probe. The nontrivial band offset across the 1D lateral interface markedly mediates the spatiotemporal photocarrier transfer and transport processes. Subsequently, a hole accumulation region on the WS2 side and an electron accumulation region (1DEG) on the ReS2 side have been spatially identified by correlating ultrafast photocarrier signals. The measured width of the unilateral depletion region is 1360 ± 160 nm. Our work has provided substantial insights into mediated photocarrier dynamics in the 2D lateral heterostructure, which will benefit explorations in 2D interfacial physics and 2D lateral optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coal mine roller is a key component in the mine belt conveyor system. The work described herein involved a Fe-based clad prepared on a 42CrMo steel roller substrate by laser cladding in order to improve the service life and performance of the coal mine roller. The chemical composition, microstructure, properties, microhardness, wear resistance and salt spray corrosion performance of the laser clad layer and substrate under the optimum process parameters were systematically studied. The results showed that laser scanning speed and laser power mainly affect the width, height and depth of the clad. The process parameters were optimized by a series of orthogonal experiments. The optimal process parameters were a laser power of 1700 W, scanning speed of 6 mm/s and powder feed rate of 15 g/min. The laser clad mainly composed γ-Fe and the compounds of Fe and Cr, such as CrFe4and CrFe19. Along the depth direction of laser clad the microstructure gradually changed from planar crystal and bits of dendrite crystal to equiaxed crystal. The grains at the top of the direction of the laser cladding layer were further refined. The hardness of the laser clad was increased by about 2.2 times that of the substrate. The friction and the loss of weight from wear test and salt spray corrosion of the laser clad show that the weight gain is much smaller than that of the substrate. The experimental results show that the wear resistance and corrosion resistance are improved significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum chemical calculations using ab initio methods at the MRCI+Q(8,9)/def2‐QZVPPD and CCSD(T)/def2‐QZVPPD levels as well as using density functional theory are reported for the diatomic molecules AeN− (Ae=Ca, Sr, Ba). The anions CaN− and SrN− have electronic triplet (3Π) ground states with nearly identical bond dissociation energies De ~57 kcal/mol calculated at the MRCI+Q(8,9)/def2‐QZVPPD level. In contrast, the heavier homologue BaN− has a singlet (1Σ+) ground state, which is only 1.1 kcal/mol below the triplet (3Σ−) state. The computed bond dissociation energy of (1Σ+) BaN− is 68.4 kcal/mol. The calculations at the CCSD(T)‐full/def2‐QZVPPD and BP86‐D3(BJ)/def2‐QZVPPD levels are in reasonable agreement with the MRCI+Q(8,9)/def2‐QZVPPD data, except for the singlet (1Σ+) state, which has a large multireference character. The calculated atomic partial charges given by the CM5, Voronoi and Hirshfeld methods suggest small to medium‐sized Ae←N− charge donation for most electronic states. In contrast, the NBO method predicts for all species medium to large Ae→N− electronic charge donation, which is due to the neglect of the (n)p AOs of Ae atoms as genuine valence orbitals. Neither the bond orders nor the bond lengths correlate with the bond dissociation energies. The EDA−NOCV calculations show that the heavier alkaline earth atoms Ca, Sr, Ba use their (n)s and (n‐1)d orbitals for covalent bonding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore the effect of mixed antibiotics on the intestinal flora of mice to affect the immune regulation of the body, explore the role of intestinal flora in the development of obesity, and provide new ideas and ways for the prevention and treatment of obesity. Methods Seventy-two 10-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into blank control (Ctrl) group, high-fat diet (HF) group, antibiotic (ABX) group, and combined (COMB) group (n = 18). At the first 2 weeks (lavage intervention weeks), Ctrl and HF group were given normal saline gavage; ABX and COMB group were given mixed antibiotics gavage, and the gavage volume was 0.2 mL/animal/day. For the following 8 weeks (feeding weeks), Ctrl and ABX group were fed with ordinary diet, HF and COMB group were fed with high-fat diet. Body weight was measured weekly, and fasting blood glucose was measured before and after gavage, and at the 4th and 8th week of feeding. Oral glucose tolerance test was performed at the end of the experiment. The organ coefficient was measured and the cell morphology of white and brown adipose tissue was observed. Serum was collected for the determination of free fatty acid, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, and total cholesterol. Serum TNF- a, IL-10, IL-4, IL-13, IL-33 and MCP-1 was detected by ELISA. The stool of mice was collected for second generation sequencing. Results High-fat diet increased body weight, serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, IL-13, IL-33, TNF-α, MCP-1 content, and decreased glucose tolerance and organ coefficient in mice (P < 0.05). From the first feeding week to the end of the experiment, body weight in COMB group was significantly lower than that in HF group (P < 0.05). The level of glucose tolerance, serum total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, IL-13, IL-33, TNF-α and MCP-1 in COMB group was lower than those in HF group (P < 0.05). The α diversity of intestinal flora in ABX group was lower than that in Ctrl group (P < 0.05). Congestion and bleeding in WAT were obvious in HF group, but not in COMB group. The microbial community composition of ABX and HF group was similar to that of Ctrl and COMB group, respectively. Conclusion High-fat diet induces obesity, disorder of glucose and lipid metabolism and inflammation in mice. Short-term mixed antibiotic use can regulate the intestinal flora of mice, mediate increased expression of related anti-inflammatory factors, up-regulate host immunity, and improve glucose and lipid metabolism in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endoscopic spine lumbar interbody fusion (Endo-LIF) is well-regarded within the academic community. However, it presents challenges such as intraoperative disorientation, high rates of nerve damage, a steep learning curve, and prolonged surgical times, often occurring during the creation of the operative channel. Furthermore, the undefined safe operational zones under endoscopy continue to pose risks to surgical safety. We aimed to analyse the anatomical data of Kambin's triangle via CT imaging to define the parameters of the safe operating area for transforaminal posterior lumbar interbody fusion (TPLIF), providing crucial insights for clinical practice. Methods: We selected the L4–L5 intervertebral space. Using three-dimensional (3D), we identified Kambin's triangle and the endocircle within it, and recorded the position of point 'J' on the adjacent facet joint as the centre 'O' of the circle shifts by angle 'β.' The diameter of the inscribed circle 'd,' the abduction angle 'β,' and the distances 'L1' and 'L2' were measured from the trephine's edge to the exiting and traversing nerve roots, respectively. Results: Using a trephine with a diameter of 8 mm in TPLIF has a significant safety distance. The safe operating area under the TPLIF microscope was also clarified. Conclusions: Through CT imaging research, combined with 3D simulation, we identified the anatomical data of the L4–L5 segment Kambin's triangle, to clarify the safe operation area under TPLIF. We propose a simple and easy positioning method and provide a novel surgical technique to establish working channels faster and reduce nerve damage rates. At the same time, according to this method, the Kambin's triangle anatomical data of the patient's lumbar spine diseased segments can be measured through CT 3D reconstruction of the lumbar spine, and individualised preoperative design can be conducted to select the appropriate specifications of visible trephine and supporting tools. This may effectively reduce the learning curve, shorten the time operation time, and improve surgical safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous materials that could recognize specific molecules from complex mixtures are of great potential in improving the current energy‐intensive multistep separation processes. However, due to the highly similar structures and properties of the mixtures, the design of desired porous materials remains challenging. Herein, a sulfonate‐functionalized metal–organic framework ZU‐609 with suitable pore size and pore chemistry is designed for 1,3‐butadiene (C4H6) purification from complex C4 mixtures. The sulfonate anions decorated in the channel achieve selective recognition of C4H6 from other C4 olefins with subtle polarity differences through C−H⋅⋅⋅O−S interactions, affording recorded C4H6/trans‐2‐C4H8 selectivity (4.4). Meanwhile, the shrunken mouth of the channel with a suitable pore size (4.6 Å) exhibits exclusion effect to the larger molecules cis‐2‐C4H8, iso‐C4H8, n‐C4H10 and iso‐C4H10. Benefiting from the moderate C4 olefins binding affinity exhibited by sulfonate anions, the adsorbed C4H6 could be easily regenerated near ambient conditions. Polymer‐grade 1,3‐butadiene (99.5 %) is firstly obtained from 7‐component C4 mixtures via one adsorption‐desorption cycle. The work demonstrates the great potential of synergistic recognition of size‐sieving and thermodynamically equilibrium in dealing with complex mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous materials that could recognize specific molecules from complex mixtures are of great potential in improving the current energy‐intensive multistep separation processes. However, due to the highly similar structures and properties of the mixtures, the design of desired porous materials remains challenging. Herein, a sulfonate‐functionalized metal–organic framework ZU‐609 with suitable pore size and pore chemistry is designed for 1,3‐butadiene (C4H6) purification from complex C4 mixtures. The sulfonate anions decorated in the channel achieve selective recognition of C4H6 from other C4 olefins with subtle polarity differences through C−H⋅⋅⋅O−S interactions, affording recorded C4H6/trans‐2‐C4H8 selectivity (4.4). Meanwhile, the shrunken mouth of the channel with a suitable pore size (4.6 Å) exhibits exclusion effect to the larger molecules cis‐2‐C4H8, iso‐C4H8, n‐C4H10 and iso‐C4H10. Benefiting from the moderate C4 olefins binding affinity exhibited by sulfonate anions, the adsorbed C4H6 could be easily regenerated near ambient conditions. Polymer‐grade 1,3‐butadiene (99.5 %) is firstly obtained from 7‐component C4 mixtures via one adsorption‐desorption cycle. The work demonstrates the great potential of synergistic recognition of size‐sieving and thermodynamically equilibrium in dealing with complex mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the deep integration of basic research and clinical translational research of nanotechnology and oncology has led to the emergence of a new branch, namely integrated nanooncology. This is an emerging and important interdisciplinary field, which plays an irreplaceable role in the diagnosis, treatment, early warning, monitoring and prevention of tumors, and has become a new interdisciplinary frontier. Here main advances of integrated nano-oncology was reviewed, mainly included controlled preparation of nanomaterials, ultra-sensitive detection of tumor biomarkers, multifunctional nanoimaging probes and integrated diagnosis and treatment technology, innovative nano drugs and nano drug delivery system, DNA nanotechnology, RNA nanotechnology, nano selfassembly technology, nanosensors, intelligent nanorobots, nanotherapeutic machines. The terms, concepts, trends and challenges are also discussed with the aim of promoting the application of nanotechnology in integrated oncology and solving the scientific and key technical problems in basic and clinical translational research of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A metabolic bone disease characterized by decreased bone formation and increased bone resorption is osteoporosis. It can cause pain and fracture of patients. The elderly are prone to osteoporosis and are more vulnerable to osteoporosis. In this study, radiomics are extracted from computed tomography (CT) images to screen osteoporosis in the elderly. Collect the plain scan CT images of lumbar spine, cut the region of interest of the image and extract radiomics features, use Lasso regression to screen variables and adjust complexity, use python language to model random forests, support vector machines, K nearest neighbor, and finally use receiver operating characteristic curve to evaluate the performance of the model, including precision, recall, accuracy and area under the curve (AUC). For the model, 14 radiolomics features were selected. The diagnosis performance of random forest model and support vector machine is good, all around 0.9. The AUC of K nearest neighbor model in training set and test set is 0.828 and 0.796, respectively. We selected the plain scan CT images of the elderly lumbar spine to build radiomics features model, which has good diagnostic performance and can be used as a tool to assist the diagnosis of osteoporosis in the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) combined with xanthan gum curing technology was used to improve the engineering properties of standard sand, and the curing effect of EICP combined with different xanthan gum contents was studied by macroscopic tests such as unconfined compressive strength, direct shear, permeability, calcium carbonate content, and microscopic tests such as scanning electron microscope and nuclear magnetic resonance. The results show that the unconfined compressive strength, shear strength, cohesion and internal friction angle of EICP combined with xanthan gum solidified sand increases with the increase of xanthan gum content and reaches the maximum value at the content of 2%, in which the increase of unconfined compressive strength, shear strength, and cohesion is significant; further, the increase of internal friction angle is small. The permeability coefficient of EICP combined with xanthan gum solidified sand decreases with the increase of xanthan gum content, and the permeability coefficient of 2% xanthan gum is only 65.4% that of pure EICP treatment. The incorporation of xanthan gum promotes the deposition of calcium carbonate, increases the viscosity of the reaction solution, and produces colloidal encapsulation and bonding effect on the sand particles. In addition, the incorporation of xanthan gum effectively reduces the porosity of solidified sand and greatly reduces the proportion of large pores and medium pores by changing the pore size, which greatly improves the pore structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For large-scale optimization that covers a wide range of optimization problems encountered frequently in machine learning and deep neural networks, stochastic optimization has become one of the most used methods thanks to its low computational complexity. In machine learning and deep learning problems, nonconvex problems are common, while convex problems are rare. How to find the global minimum for nonconvex optimization and reduce the computational complexity are challenges. Inspired by the phenomenon that the stagewise stepsize tuning strategy can empirically improve the convergence speed in deep neural networks, we incorporate the stagewise stepsize tuning strategy into the iterative framework of Nesterov's acceleration- and variance reduction-based methods to reduce the computational complexity, i.e., the stagewise stepsize tuning strategy is incorporated into randomized stochastic accelerated gradient and stochastic variance-reduced gradient. The proposed methods are theoretically derived to reduce the complexity of the nonconvex and convex problems and improve the convergence rate of the frameworks, which have the complexity O (1 / μ ϵ) and O (1 / μ ϵ) , respectively, where μ is the PL modulus and L is the Lipschitz constant. In the end, numerical experiments on large benchmark datasets validate well the competitiveness of the proposed methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) combined with chitosan curing technology was used to improve the mechanical properties of standard sand, and the curing effect of EICP combined with different chitosan contents was studied by macroscopic tests, such as the unconfined compressive strength test, direct shear test, and calcium carbonate content test, and microscopic tests, such as scanning electron microscope (SEM) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The results show that compared with the pure EICP treatment, the unconfined compressive strength, shear strength, and calcium carbonate content of the sand treated by EICP combined with chitosan were significantly improved, and increased first and then decreased with the increase of chitosan content, reaching the maximum value when the content is 1.5%. The calcium carbonate content is positively correlated with the strength, indicating that calcium carbonate crystals can effectively play a role in filling and cementation. After the incorporation of chitosan, the shape of calcium carbonate crystals is still mainly spherical, but the number and volume become larger. At the same time, the incorporation of chitosan can greatly reduce the proportion of large pores and medium pores, significantly increasing the proportion of small pores, which greatly improves the pore structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We delved into the intricate relationships of social support, ethnic identity, pride, and subjective well-being among Chinese athletes who belong to an ethnic minority. The study's focus was on 877 athletes from diverse economic regions in China, who participated in the 11th Zhengzhou National Minority Traditional Sports Games in 2019. The results showed that social support was positively correlated with ethnic identity, pride, and subjective well-being among Chinese athletes from ethnic minorities. Social support directly influenced the athletes' subjective well-being, as well as indirectly impacting it by affecting their ethnic identity and/or pride. By addressing critical research gaps, this study has contributed to a more nuanced understanding of well-being within the context of cultural diversity and sports participation. The insights derived from this study can inform interventions aimed at enhancing the overall experiences and achievements of athletes in ethnic minorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fermentation of a soil-derived fungus Acremonium sp. led to the isolation of thirteen ascochlorin congeners through integrated genomic and Global Natural Product Social (GNPS) molecular networking. Among the isolated compounds, we identified two unusual bicyclic types, acremochlorins O (1) and P (2), as well as two linear types, acremochlorin Q (3) and R (4). Compounds 1 and 2 contain an unusual benzopyran moiety and are diastereoisomers of each other, the first reported for the ascochlorins. Additionally, we elucidated the structure of 5, a 4-chloro-5-methylbenzene-1,3-diol with a linear farnesyl side chain, and confirmed the presence of eight known ascochlorin analogs (6–13). The structures were determined by the detailed interpretation of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, MS, and ECD calculations. Compounds 3 and 9 showed potent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus, with MIC values ranging from 2 to 16 μg/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep problems are common in pregnant women and sleep is altered during pregnancy. However, the associations between sleep trajectory patterns and adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes are unclear. The current study aims to identify sleep trajectory patterns and explore their associations with adverse perinatal outcomes in a prospective cohort study. Pregnant women (N = 232) completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index each trimester during pregnancy in Tianjin, China. Perinatal outcomes were extracted from the hospital delivery records. Latent class growth analysis (LCGA) described the trajectories of sleep timing, duration, and efficiency. Multivariable linear regression and multivariable logistic regression were employed to evaluate associations between sleep trajectory patterns and perinatal outcomes. Trajectories were identified for bedtime (early, 49.1%; delaying, 50.9%), wake-up time (early, 82.8% of the sample; late, 17.2%), duration (short, 5.2%; adequate 78.0%; excessive, 16.8%), and efficiency (high, 88.4%; decreasing, 11.6%). Compared with women in more optimal sleep groups, those in the late wake-up, excessive duration, and decreasing efficiency groups had babies with shorter birth lengths (β range, −0.50 to −0.28, p < 0.05). Moreover, women in the decreasing efficiency group had babies with lower birth weight (β, −0.44; p < 0.05). Women in the delaying bedtime group had greater odds of preterm delivery (OR, 4.57; p < 0.05), while those in the decreasing efficiency group had greater odds of cesarean section (OR, 3.12; p < 0.05). Less optimal sleep trajectory patterns during pregnancy are associated with perinatal outcomes. Therefore, early assessment of maternal sleep during pregnancy is significant for identifying at-risk women and initiating interventions to reduce perinatal outcomes. • Latent class growth analysis was used to identify trajectories of prenatal sleep timing, duration, and efficiency. • Maternal prenatal sleep timing, duration, and efficiency patterns are associated with shorter birth lengths. • Maternal prenatal sleep efficiency pattern is associated with greater odds of preterm delivery and lower birth weight. • Maternal prenatal sleep timing pattern is associated with greater odds of cesarean section. • Assessing maternal sleep, a modifiable factor, is essential to reduce the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measurement of the pole axis deviation angle of superconducting magnetic levitation rotors plays a crucial role in the field of high-precision navigation. This article conducts theoretical analysis and experimental research on the diffuse reflection intensity modulation principle of optical fiber sensors and the ideal diffuse reflection modulation model under ideal conditions. First, the structural distribution of optical fiber sensors is presented, and the principle of measuring the polar deviation angle of superconducting magnetic levitation rotors is analyzed. Then, based on the diffuse reflection intensity modulation principle, an optical fiber intensity modulation model for ideal superconducting magnetic levitation rotors is established. The correctness of this model was verified through simulation and calibration experiments, and the error between the simulation and experimental results was less than 8%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of angulon, stemming from the rotor (molecule or impurity), rotating in the quantum many-body field, adds a new member to the quasi-particles' family and has aroused intense interest in multiple research fields. However, the analysis of the coupling strength between the rotor and its hosting environment remains a challenging task, both in theory and experiment. Here, we develop the all-coupling theory of the angulon by introducing a unitary transformation, where the renormalization of the rotational constants for different molecules in the helium nanodroplets is reproduced, getting excellent agreement with the experimental data collected during the past decades. Moreover, the strength of molecule-helium coupling and the effective radius of the solvation shell co-rotating along with the molecular rotor could be estimated qualitatively. This model not only provides significant enlightenment for analyzing the rotational spectroscopy of molecules in the phononic environment, but also provides a new method to study the transfer of the phonon angular momentum in the angulon frame. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To prepare a high quality Fe-based ceramic composite coating, 17-4ph+30% WC alloy powder was clad onto a 17-4ph stainless steel substrate by high speed laser cladding (HSLC) and a metal matrix composite (MMC) clad without cracks and pores was achieved. The WC particle distribution, microstructure formation and evolution mechanism of the MMC laser clad were studied in detail. The results show that the phase composition of the MMC laser clad mainly includes γ-Fe, W2C, WC, Ni3Fe, Cr23C6, etc. The WC particles in the MMC laser clad show a good metallurgical bonding with the 17-4ph substrate, the dilution rate of the clad is low and the higher heat input causes more WC particles to melt and decompose, generating more hard strengthening phases. The grain refinement strengthening, solid solution strengthening and second phase strengthening are more prominent, which provides a scientific basis for optimizing the preparation of high quality Fe-based ceramic composite coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four halophilic archaeal strains YCN1T, YCN58T, LT38T, and LT62T were isolated from Yuncheng Salt Lake (Shanxi, China) and Tarim Basin (Xinjiang, China), respectively. Phylogenetic and phylogenomic analyses showed that these four strains tightly cluster with related species of Halobacterium, Natronomonas, Halorientalis, and Halobellus, respectively. The AAI, ANI, and dDDH values between these four strains and their related species of respective genera were lower than the proposed threshold values for species delineation. Strains YCN1T, YCN58T, LT38T, and LT62T could be differentiated from the current species of Halobacterium, Natronomonas, Halorientalis, and Halobellus, respectively, based on the comparison of diverse phenotypic characteristics. The polar lipid profiles of these four strains were closely similar to those of respective relatives within the genera Halobacterium, Natronomonas, Halorientalis, and Halobellus, respectively. The phenotypic, phylogenetic, and genome-based analyses indicated that strains YCN1T, YCN58T, LT38T, and LT62T represent respective novel species within the genera Halobacterium, Natronomonas, Halorentalis, and Halobellus, for which the names Halobacterium yunchengense sp. nov., Natronomonas amylolytica sp. nov., Halorientalis halophila sp. nov., and Halobellus salinisoli sp. nov. are proposed, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION Grape peels, the main by‐products of wine processing, are rich in bioactive ingredients of phenolics, including proanthocyanidins, flavonoids and anthocyanins. Phenolics have the function of regulating intestinal microbiota and promoting intestinal health. From the perspective of the dietary nutrition of grape peel phenolics (GPP), the present study aimed to investigate the influence of GPP on the composition and metabolism of human gut microbiota during in vitro fermentation.The results indicated that GPP could decrease pH and promote the production of short‐chain fatty acids. ACE and Chao1 indices in GPP group were lower than that of the Blank group. GPP enhanced the levels of Lachnospiraceae UCG‐004, Bacteroidetes and Roseburia, but reduced the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Proteins and Genome enrichment pathways related to phenolic acid metabolism mainly included flavonoid, anthocyanin, flavone and flavonol biosynthesis. Gut microbiota could accelerate the release and breakdown of phenolic compounds, resulting in a decrease in the content of hesperetin‐7‐O‐glucoside, delphinidin‐3‐O‐glucoside and cyanidin‐3‐rutinoside etc. In vitro antibacterial test found that GPP increased the diameters of the inhibition zones of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in a dose‐dependent manner.The results of the present study revealed that GPP might be a potential prebiotic‐like to prevent diseases by improving gut health. The findings could provide a theoretical basis for the potential to exploit GPP as dietary nutrition to maintain intestinal function. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diurnal variation in regional precipitation in Central and East China has been broadly identified in previous study. This study focused on clarifying not only the differences in the diurnal variation concerning the local precipitation occurred in the Dabie Mountain (DBM) region and the regional precipitation occurred through the middle‐lower reaches of the Yangtze River Basin, but also the association mechanism between diurnal variation in local precipitation with differing duration and diurnal modulation of ambient circulations driven by large‐scale background synoptic force or local‐scale orographic force of the DBM. It was found that cases of short duration precipitation (SDP, duration <6 h) and cases of long duration precipitation (LDP, duration ≥6 h) exhibit vastly different patterns of diurnal variations. Further investigation revealed that the primary pattern of the ambient circulation responsible for SDP and LDP is the recycling transformation between a closed cyclonic circulation to a cyclonic wind shear, and the recycling movement of a closed cyclonic circulation in the lower troposphere respectively. Although the diurnal variation in LDP exhibited greater orographic regional differences between the west slope (WS) region and the east slope (ES) region in comparison with that of SDP, topographical sensitivity experiments of the DBM and detailed analysis of background synoptic systems associated with LDP indicated that this regional orographic difference shows closer association with eastward propagation of background synoptic systems than orographic effects of the DBM. Respective strengthening of upward vertical motion at different levels of the troposphere during diurnal variation in SDP and LDP cases provide substantial evidences to reconfirm the close association with orographic force in lower the troposphere for SDP cases and background synoptic force in middle troposphere for LDP cases. Further quantitative diagnosis also confirmed that the orographic effects of the DBM is conducive to cause marked differences in the diurnal variation in SDP cases between the WS region and the ES region via adjustment of the upslope wind over the former and the circumventing wind over the latter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fibrinogen has been identified as a modulator of the coagulation and inflammatory process. There is uncertainty about the relationship between the dynamic profile of fibrinogen levels and its impact on clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with endovascular thrombectomy. Methods: We consecutively enrolled patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent endovascular thrombectomy. Fibrinogen was measured on admission and during hospitalization. The change in fibrinogen (Δfibrinogen) was calculated as the highest follow-up fibrinogen minus admission fibrinogen, with a positive Δfibrinogen indicating an increase in fibrinogen level. Functional outcome was assessed by the modified Rankin Scale at 3 months. Poor outcome was defined as modified Rankin Scale > 2. Results: A total of 346 patients were included (mean age 67.4 ± 13.6 years, 52.31% men). The median fibrinogen on admission was 2.77 g/L (interquartile range 2.30–3.39 g/L). The median Δfibrinogen was 1.38 g/L (interquartile range 0.27–2.79 g/L). Hyperfibrinogenemia (> 4.5 g/L) on admission was associated with an increased risk of poor outcome [odds ratio (OR) 5.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.44–24.41, p = 0.014]. There was a possible U-shaped association of Δfibrinogen with outcomes, with an inflection point of − 0.43 g/L (p = 0.04). When Δfibrinogen was < − 0.43 g/L, a higher decrease in fibrinogen (lower Δfibrinogen value) was associated with a higher risk of poor outcome (OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.02–2.48, p = 0.219). When Δfibrinogen was > − 0.43 g/L, the risk of poor outcome increased with increasing fibrinogen (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.04–1.54, p = 0.016). Conclusions: In patients with endovascular thrombectomy, hyperfibrinogenemia on admission was associated with poor functional outcomes at 3 months, whereas Δfibrinogen was associated with poor 3-month outcomes in a possible U-shaped manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The appetite of fish significantly influences aquaculture efficiency and fish welfare. However, accurately assessing fish appetite has posed a challenging problem. Currently, the study of fish feeding behaviour relies primarily on the overall information obtained from images of fish schools, often overlooking the distinctive behavioural traits of individual fish. Analysing the behaviour of individual fish is hindered by challenges such as intraclass variation and cross-occlusion within real aquaculture environments. To address these challenges, this paper introduces a novel method for assessing appetite based on individual fish behaviour. The ByteTrack model was improved to enable stable tracking of each fish within a school under complex conditions. Additionally, this paper employs the spatiotemporal graph convolutional neural network (ST-GCN) to extract the movement characteristics of individual fish, facilitating accurate appetite assessment. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves 98.47% accuracy in appetite assessment, surpassing the performance of other state-of-the-art methods. This paper provides a new opportunity and effective means for analysing fish behaviour and appetite in intricate environments. • ·An appetite assessment method based on YOLOv8-ByteTrack and ST-GCN was proposed. • ·The method integrates fish features into spatial-temporal sequences. • ·The method prevents data loss caused by fish school stacking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geochemical compositions can be used to determine the tectonic setting of sedimentary basins, while where the link of source to sink is no longer preserved, detrital zircon age patterns can aid in resolving the original basin setting. The metasedimentary Legoupil Formation, located at Cape Legoupil and the Schmidt Peninsula, could give a hint for the tectonic evolution of Antarctic Peninsula. In this contribution, we constrain the sedimentary provenance of the Legoupil Formation through geochemistry and detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology. The petrography and geochemical features indicate that the provenance of the Legoupil Formation could be felsic rocks. Detrital zircon grains record a steady supply of Permian and Ordovician material into the Legoupil Formation. The youngest concordant zircon ages of 262 Ma suggest that the depositional time of Legoupil Formation is no older than Late Permian. The detrital zircon age spectrum of Legoupil Formation suggests that the Legoupil Formation sediments should be derived from regional sources endemic to western Gondwana prior to its breakup. Together with the previous studies, geochemistry and detrital zircons reflect an active continental margin tectonic setting and the detrital zircon spectra of Legoupil Formation are similar to the ones deposited in forearc tectonic setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are porous organic materials with well‐defined and uniform structure. The material is an excellent candidate as a solid adsorbent for iodine adsorption. In the present study, we report the synthesis of COF with porphyrin moiety, TF‐TA‐COF, by solvothermal reaction, which was characterized by XRD, solid‐state 13C NMR, IR, TGA, and nitrogen adsorption‐desorption analysis. TF‐TA‐COF showed a high specific surface area of 443 m2 g−1, and exhibited good adsorption performance for iodine vapor, with an adsorption capacity of 2.74 g g−1. XPS and Raman spectrum indicated that a hybrid of physisorption and chemisorption took place between host COF and iodine molecules. The electric properties of iodine‐loaded TF‐TA‐COF were also studied. After doped with iodine, the conductivity of the material increased by more than 5 orders of magnitude. The photoconductivity of I2‐doped COF was also studied and TF‐TA‐COF showed doping‐enhanced photocurrent generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the effects of oxalic acids on plant growth and Pb accumulation in different parts of the plants of intercropping Arabis alpina and Zea mays, pot experiment was conducted to investigate the changes of oxalic acid contents of the plants and Pb accumulation through exogenous oxalic acid addition (0, 5, 25 and 50 mmol kg−1). The results showed the root biomass of intercropped A. alpina and total biomass of Z. mays increased by 3.22 folds and 2.97 folds with 5 mmol kg−1 oxalic acid treatment. The oxalic acid contents of shoots and root secretions decreased by 86.5% and 44.3%, respectively. The BCF (bio-accumulation factor) and TF (translocation factor) of intercropping A. alpina reduced under 25 − 50 mmol kg−1 oxalic acid treatments. There were relationships between exogenous oxalic acid treatment concentrations and oxalic acid contents of A. alpina shoots, Z. mays root secretions. The Pb contents of shoots of A. alpina and Z. mays were related to exogenous oxalic acid additions and oxalic acid contents of shoots. In general, 5 mmol kg−1 oxalic acid treatment, that can improve plant growth of intercropped A. alpina and Z. mays, which Pb translocation and accumulation of A. alpina were promoted, whereas Pb accumulation of A. alpina was inhibited with 25 − 50 mmol kg−1 concentrations addition. This study will provide a basis for promoting the application of phytoremediation techniques and efficient crop production in heavy metal contaminated areas. Hyperaccumulators intercropped with crops will remediate heavy metal soils or mitigate the damage caused by heavy metals to plants through oxalic acid secretion by the root system. However, the effect of oxalic acid changes on plant growth and Pb accumulation is lacking. Our study investigated the changes in oxalic acid content at different concentrations and sites affected the ability of intercropped plants to grow and accumulate Pb. This work shown that under intercropping conditions, exogenous oxalic acid promotes intercropped plant growth as well as soil pH reduction, Pb content in shoots both Arabis alpina and Zea mays is influenced by exogenous oxalic acid content, while lower Z. mays roots Pb content is determined by a combination of exogenous addition and aboveground oxalic acid content. Low concentrations of oxalic acid promoted Pb enrichment in roots of A. alpina, while reducing the uptake of Pb content in Z. mays. This article gives us a better understanding for the response of intercropping plants to the use of organic acids under heavy metal stress and how to modify their environment so as to favor growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquatic organisms are known for their ability to generate efficient propulsion with low energy expenditure. While existing research has sought to leverage bio-inspired structures to reduce energy costs in underwater robotics, the crucial role of control policies in enhancing efficiency has often been overlooked. In this study, we optimize the motion of a bio-mimetic robotic fish using deep reinforcement learning (DRL) to maximize propulsion efficiency and minimize energy consumption. Our novel DRL approach incorporates extended pressure perception, a transformer model processing sequences of observations, and a policy transfer scheme. Notably, significantly improved training stability and speed within our approach allow for end-to-end training of the robotic fish. This enables agiler responses to hydrodynamic environments and possesses greater optimization potential compared to pre-defined motion pattern controls. Our experiments are conducted on a serially connected rigid robotic fish in a free stream with a Reynolds number of 6000 using computational fluid dynamics simulations. The DRL-trained policies yield impressive results, demonstrating both high efficiency and propulsion. The policies also showcase the agent's embodiment, skillfully utilizing its body structure and engaging with surrounding fluid dynamics, as revealed through flow analysis. This study provides valuable insights into the bio-mimetic underwater robots optimization through DRL training, capitalizing on their structural advantages, and ultimately contributing to more efficient underwater propulsion systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kindergarteners' numerical abilities are fundamental to their future academic development. The cognitive correlates of numerical abilities remain in debate. The present study examined whether non-verbal number sense and literacy could persistently predict kindergarteners' numerical abilities. A large-scale sample consisting of 930 children aged from 5.0 to 6.9 years were assessed for numerical abilities (addition and subtraction), non-verbal number sense (numerosity comparison), literacy (character reading), and general cognitive processing (word span, rapid automatized naming, mental rotation, figure matching and rhythm). The results showed that, after controlling for all other aspects of cognitive processing available, non-verbal number sense did not correlate with numerical abilities, while literacy was a stable cognitive predictor of numerical abilities in both age groups. And rapid automatized naming (RAN) was the most powerful cognitive predictor in the 6 years of age group. Further dominance analysis also showed that literacy was the most important predictor of numerical performance in the 5 years of age group and was next only to RAN in the 6 years of age group. The results suggest that literacy rather than non-verbal number sense is a unique cognitive correlate for kindergartener's numerical abilities. We argue that increased focus on natural language, especially literacy, may help to improve kindergarteners' math ability. Highlights: A large-scale sample consisting of 930 Chinese children aged from 5.0 to 6.9 years were assessed for numerical abilities, non-verbal number sense, literacy, and general cognitive processing. The link between non-verbal number sense and children's numerical abilities did not survive after controlling for other cognitive processing. Literacy rather than non-verbal number sense is a stable cognitive correlate for kindergartener's numerical abilities in 5.0–6.9 years old kindergarteners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Past studies have demonstrated that patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) often exhibit abnormal levels of lipids. Furthermore, certain lipid-modifying medications have shown effectiveness in alleviating clinical symptoms associated with RA. However, the current understanding of the causal relationship between lipids, lipid-modifying medications, and the risk of developing RA remains inconclusive. This study employed Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate the causal connection between lipids, lipid-modifying drugs, and the occurrence of RA. Methods: We obtained genetic variation for lipid traits and drug targets related to lipid modification from three sources: the Global Lipids Genetics Consortium (GLGC), UK Biobank, and Nightingale Health 2020. The genetic data for RA were acquired from two comprehensive meta-analyses and the R8 of FINNGEN, respectively. These variants were employed in drug-target MR analyses to establish a causal relationship between genetically predicted lipid-modifying drug targets and the risk of RA. For suggestive lipid-modified drug targets, we conducted Summary-data-based Mendelian Randomization (SMR) analyses and using expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) data in relevant tissues. In addition, we performed co-localization analyses to assess genetic confounders. Results: Our analysis revealed no significant causal relationship between lipid and RA. We observed that the genetically predicted 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) -mediated low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (OR 0.704; 95% CI 0.56, 0.89; P = 3.43×10−3), Apolipoprotein C-III (APOC3) -mediated triglyceride (TG) (OR 0.844; 95% CI 0.77, 0.92; P = 1.50×10−4) and low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) -mediated LDL-C (OR 0.835; 95% CI 0.73, 0.95; P = 8.81×10−3) were significantly associated with a lowered risk of RA. while Apolipoprotein B-100 (APOB) -mediated LDL-C (OR 1.212; 95%CI 1.05,1.40; P = 9.66×10−3) was significantly associated with an increased risk of RA. Conclusions: Our study did not find any supporting evidence to suggest that lipids are a risk factor for RA. However, we observed significant associations between HMGCR, APOC3, LDLR, and APOB with the risk of RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a polygonal topology optimization method combined with the alternating active-phase algorithm to address the multi-material problems. During the process of topology optimization, the polygonal elements generated by signed distance functions are utilized to discretize the structural design domain. The volume fraction of each material is considered as a design variable and mapped to its corresponding element variable through a filtering matrix. This method is used to solve a multi-material structural topology optimization problem of minimizing compliance, in which a descriptive model is established by using the alternating active-phase algorithm and the solid isotropic microstructure with penalty theory. This method can accomplish the topology optimization of multi-material structures with complex curve boundaries, eliminate the phenomena of checkerboard patterns and a one-node connection, and avoid sensitivity filtering. In addition, this method possesses fine numerical stability and high calculation accuracy compared to the topology optimization methods that use quadrilateral elements or triangle elements. The effectiveness and feasibility of this method are demonstrated through several commonly used and representative numerical examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The security context, generally stored in the universal subscriber identity module card or the baseband chip, is the critical information applied by the subscriber to access the 5G network during the fast authentication procedure. Once exposed or illegally used, the security context can be exploited to derive various keys for authentication and encryption. Despite its importance, challenges and questions still remain in the previous relevant research. To fill this gap, by adopting the security protocol verification tool ProVerif, we provide a comprehensive formal model of the fast authentication procedure based on the security context to analyze whether security goals can be met. Unfortunately, we uncover two vulnerabilities, including one never reported before. Our analysis shows that these vulnerabilities stem from fundamental design flaws in the cellular network protocol and thus apply to the 4G network. These vulnerabilities could be exploited to launch several attacks, including impersonation and eavesdropping. We have validated these attacks using 5 mobile phones from 5 different baseband manufacturers through experimentation in three mobile carriers. We find an insecure implementation of one of these phones, which exposed it to replay attacks. And we further discuss the security threats posed by the impersonation attack, such as location spoofing and one-tap authentication bypass, which is verified on 10 popular apps. We finally propose several countermeasures to eliminate these security issues. Actually, we have reported the novel vulnerability to the GSM Association and received a confirmation in the form of a coordinated vulnerability disclosure (CVD) number CVD-2022-0057. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, Nb element is introduced into the AlCoCrFeNi2.1 eutectic high‐entropy alloy to create a heterogeneous structure. AlCoCrFeNi2.1Nbx (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5) eutectic high‐entropy alloys (HEAs) are fabricated using selective laser melting technology. The forming characteristics, microstructure, and mechanical properties of the AlCoCrFeNi2.1Nbx eutectic HEAs are investigated. The results show that the relative density of the samples increase and then decrease. The optimal process parameters are determined as laser power of 50 W, scanning speed of 400 mm s−1, scanning spacing of 70 μm, and layer thickness of 30 μm. The primary microstructure of AlCoCrFeNi2.1Nbx alloys (x > 0) consists of a hypoeutectic structure comprising body‐centered cubic, face‐centered cubic, and Fe2Nb‐type Laves phases. With the addition of Nb element, the hardness of the high‐entropy alloy increases from 600.6 to 774 HV, the yield strength increases from 664.1 to 1091.9 MPa, while the ductility slightly decreases. Furthermore, the strengthening mechanisms of the alloy are attributed to the precipitation strengthening and solid solution strengthening of the Laves phase, as well as the grain refinement effect. The wear resistance of the alloy improves gradually with the increasing Nb content, and AlCoCrFeNi2.1Nb0.5 exhibits the best wear resistance, primarily through adhesive wear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nano-sized irradiation defects are widely observed to aggregate and decorate the dislocation lines, which is believed to induce irradiation hardening and is mainly described by the cascade-induced source hardening model. In the current work, we demonstrate that dislocation decorated by sessile irradiation defects leads to hardening, which agrees well with the theoretical model prediction. However, no hardening or even softening is observed if the decorated irradiation defects are glissile. The reason for this observation is that the glissile irradiation loops move coordinated to the moving dislocation, and keep in the region where the interaction force between the irradiation defects and dislocation is zero. This work leads to a new understanding of irradiation defect decoration effect and irradiation hardening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface magneto-plasmon (SMP) sensors have attracted continuous attention due to their field enhanced signal-to-noise ratios, sensitivities, and detection limits. Although many progresses have been achieved in the nanodots, nanorods, or nanodiscs, few studies have been conducted on films containing arrays of nanopores or nanoholes. SMP sensors based on arrays of nanopores could be much more promising for future ultrasensitive optical detectors since they can couple the SMP enhancement with Fabry–Pérot interference of nanopores for high-performance resonator sensors that can be further tuned under a magnetic field. We, thus, propose a high-performance SMP sensor based on the magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) of films containing a square array of Au–Co double-layer nanopores on the Au film substrate or SMP-MOKE sensor. The local electric field around the magneto-plasmon arrays of nanopore photonic crystals can be greatly enhanced by applying an external magnetic field due to their magneto-optical activity and excitation of high-quality surface plasmon resonances. Multi-physics coupling simulations and validation by COMSOL on the structure-dependent optical properties suggest that the proposed SMP-MOKE sensor has a high sensitivity of 711 nm/Refractive Index Units (RIUs) and a figure of merit (FOM) of the order of 105 RIU−1, which is an order of magnitude greater than the best grating-type sensors, to the best of our knowledge. Our results shall facilitate the theoretical design for the future fabrication of ultra-sensitive sensors or resonators with excellent FOM and reliability for air-quality monitoring or chemical sensing, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of efficient and cost-effective electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) holds key to the large-scale production of hydrogen via a water splitting process. In this work, a bio-waste of eggshell membranes (ESMs) is utilized as a feedstock to fabricate Ni x S y -loaded carbon composite, which is further employed as a platform for the assembly of NiFe layered double hydroxides (NiFe LDH) with the aid of sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate via facile hydrothermal processes. The resulting nanoarchitectures consist of highly amorphous and intercalation-expanded NiFe LDH nanosheets attached to the carbon composite with strong interactions. The as-prepared samples are examined as electrocatalysts for the OER in alkaline electrolytes and the synergistic effects of the components are elucidated. The optimized sample exhibits a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at an overpotential of 266 mV in 0.1 M KOH, which is superior to the most previously reported non-precious-metal based electrocatalysts and even to the commercial IrO 2. Such remarkable catalytic activity is attributed to the in-situ assembly of NiFe LDH with the carbon composite, leading to the strong coupling interaction of the components. The sample shows stable current during the long-term durability tests accompanying with a structural re-construction process. [Display omitted] • A biowaste of eggshell membranes was used as a facile platform to synthesize electrocatalysts. • The OER activity of the samples was optimized by Ni/Fe ratio, support loadings and SDS. • The optimized sample exhibited a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at an overpotential of 266 mV in 0.1 M KOH. • The outstanding catalytic performance was attributed to the synergistic effects of carbon composite and NiFe LDH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of cheap, efficient, and long-term stable hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts is indispensable but still challenging for large-scale industrialized water electrolysis. Recently, many studies have shown that in-situ selenization of metal matrixes is expected to improve the catalytic activity of the metal-based electrodes. In the present work, optimal nickel matrix with controlled polygonal morphology and pore size was obtained by adjusting the sintering process. A highly efficient Ni 3 Se 2 @sintered Ni electrode was acquired by in-situ growing nano-Ni 3 Se 2 on sintered Ni matrix using one-step hydrothermal selenization. The metallurgical bonding between Ni particles accelerates electron transfer, and nano-Ni 3 Se 2 provides more active sites. As a consequence, the prepared Ni 3 Se 2 @Ni500 electrode can operate stably at current density of 200 mA cm−2 over 260 h. The excellent hydrogen catalytic performance and long-term stability make such electrode promising in the hydrogen evolution reaction. • Optimal nickel matrix with controlled polygonal morphology and pore size. • Intimate contact between nano-Ni 3 Se 2 and Ni. • The electrode displays current density of 100 mA cm−2 at overpotential of 160 mV. • The electrodes has outstanding long-term stability at large current density. • The tensile strengths of our electrode are superior than commercial Ni Foam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mammalian embryos produced in vitro have poor embryo quality and low developmental ability compared with in vivo embryos. The main manifestations are the low number of blastocysts, the low ratio of the number of inner cell mass cells to the number of trophoblastic cells, and the high apoptosis rate of blastocysts, resulting in low embryo implantation rate. Therefore, optimizing in vitro culture conditions has become a key technology to im-prove the quality of preimplantation embryos. Oviduct Epithelial cells exosomes (OEVs) can be absorbed and internalized by embryos to improve the blastocyst rate and blastocyst quality of embryos in vitro. As a special nuclear structure, Paraspeckles are involved in the fate determination of mammalian early embryonic mammalian cells. However, the regulation of embryonic cell differentiation by OEVs remains unknown. We aimed to investigate the effects of OEVs on paraspeckle formation and cell fate determination in yak in vitro fertilization (IVF) of em-bryos. To simulate the in vivo oviduct environment after ovulation, we used follicular fluid exosomes (FEVs) to stimulate yak oviduct epithelial cells and collect OEVs. OEVs were added to the yak IVF embryo culture system. Paraspeckle formation, cell differentiation, and blastocyst quality in yak embryos were determined. Our results show that, development of yak embryos is unique compared to other bovine species, and OEVs can be used as a supplement to the in vitro culture system of yak embryos to improve embryonic development and blas-tocyst quality. And also Paraspeckles/CARM1 mediated the regulation of OEVs on cell differentiation during in vitro yak embryo production. These results provide new insights into the study of yak embryonic development and the role of OEVs in embryonic development. [Display omitted] • The cell differentiation of yak embryos was determined to be earlier than other cattle breeds and more similar to mice. • OEVs affect the formation of paraspeckles, blastocyst rate, and blastocyst quality of yak embryos. • OEVs increases the ICM/TE ratio in yak blastocysts and makes the embryonic cells tend to ICM fate. • CARM1 inhibition attenuated the effect of OEVs on embryos, but the addition of OEVs alleviated the development arrest and cell fate change of yak embryos caused by CARM1 inhibition. • The development of yak embryos is unique compared with other cattle species. OEVs can be used as a supplement to the in vitro culture system of yak embryos to improve embryonic development and blastocyst quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To break the resolution limitation of traditional resists, more work is needed on non-chemically amplified resists (non-CARs). Non-CARs based on iodonium salt modified polystyrene (PS-I) were prepared with controllable molecular weight and structure. The properties of the resist can be adjusted by the uploading of iodonium salts on the polymer chain, the materials with a higher proportion of iodonium salts show better lithography performance. By comparing contrast curves and quality of the lithographic patterns, the optimum developing condition of 4-methyl-2-pentanone and ethyl alcohol (v:v = 1:7) was selected. The high-resolution stripes of 15 nm half-pitch (HP) can be achieved by PS-I0.58 in e-beam lithography (EBL). PS-I0.58 shows the advanced lithography performance in the patterns of 16 nm HP and 18 nm HP stripes with low line edge roughness (3.0 nm and 2.4 nm). The resist shows excellent potential for further pattern transfer, the etch selectivity of resist PS-I0.58 to the silicon was close to 12:1. The lithographic mechanism of PS-I was investigated by experimental and theoretical calculation, which indicates the polarity of materials changes results in the solubility switch. This work provides a new option and useful guidelines for the development of high-resolution resist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the vehicle position points obtained by multi-sensor fusion are taken as the observed values, and Kalman filter is combined with the vehicle kinematics equation to further improve the vehicle trajectory. To realize this, mathematical principles of deep reinforcement learning are analyzed, and the theoretical basis of reinforcement learning is also analyzed. It is proved that the controller based on dynamic model is better than the controller based on kinematics in deviation control, and the performance of the controller based on deep reinforcement learning is also verified. The simulation data show that the proportion integration differentiation (PID) controller has a better tracking effect, but it does not have the constraint ability, which leads to radical acceleration change, resulting in unstable acceleration and deceleration control. Therefore, the deep reinforcement learning controller is selected as the longitudinal velocity tracking controller. The effectiveness of lateral and longitudinal motion decoupling strategy is verified by simulation experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amyloid plaques, a major pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD), are caused by an imbalance between the amyloidogenic and non‐amyloidogenic pathways of amyloid precursor protein (APP). BACE1 cleavage of APP is the rate‐limiting step for amyloid‐β production and plaque formation in AD. Although the alteration of BACE1 expression in AD has been investigated, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we determined MEIS2 was notably elevated in AD models and AD patients. Alterations in the expression of MEIS2 can modulate the levels of BACE1. MEIS2 downregulation improved the learning and memory retention of AD mice and decreased the number of amyloid plaques. MEIS2 binds to the BACE1 promoter, positively regulates BACE1 expression, and accelerates APP amyloid degradation in vitro. Therefore, our findings suggest that MEIS2 might be a critical transcription factor in AD, since it regulates BACE1 expression and accelerates BACE1‐mediated APP amyloidogenic cleavage. MEIS2 is a promising early intervention target for AD treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights Polymeric dielectric materials with high energy storage density have attracted plenty of attention due to their broad application prospects in electronic device fields. However, energy density of polymer dielectrics is limited originating from the difficulty in balancing permittivity and breakdown strength. Herein, we report fabrication of sandwich‐structured polyarylene ether nitrile (PEN) composites with enhanced energy density by hot pressing single layered phthalonitrile groups modified carbon nanotube (Ph‐CNT) and PEN (Ph‐CNT/PEN) composite films demonstrating positive and negative permittivity. The Ph‐CNT/PEN composites exhibit positive permittivity at Ph‐CNT content lower than 6 wt%, while shows negative permittivity at a higher Ph‐CNT concentration. Attributing to the synergistic action of the positive and negative dielectric layer, the dielectric constant is enhanced to 90.9 at 200 kHz for sandwich‐structured PEN composite T‐6‐8‐6 at a thickness ratio of 1/0.5/1. Although the breakdown strength is decreased to 147.7 kV/mm, the 1/0.5/1 sandwich‐structured film T‐6‐8‐6 demonstrates an energy storage as high as 9.1 J/cm3, which is about 10 times to that of pure PEN. This boosted energy storage density presents a fresh approach to advancing high‐performance dielectric materials, offering wide‐ranging potential applications across electronic devices. Sandwich‐structured PEN composites with enhanced energy density are fabricated. Sandwich‐structured films consists of positive and negative dielectric layer. Ph‐CNT/PEN exhibit negative permittivity at a higher Ph‐CNT concentration. Dielectric constant increases due to synergistic action of dielectric layers. Sandwich‐structured film demonstrates an energy storage as high as 9.1 J/cm3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details on anisotropic magnon dispersion in van der Waals (vdW) ferromagnetic insulators CrPS4 and CrSBr are reported, driven by anisotropic Heisenberg exchange couplings arising from in‐plane broken crystal symmetry. The anisotropic magnon dispersion contributes to longitudinal and transverse magnon currents generating the anisotropic spin Seebeck effect (ASSE) and the thermal Hall effect (THE) accompanied with spin Nernst effect (SNE), requiring neither external magnetic field nor Berry curvature. In CrPS4, the ASSE exhibits a very large anisotropy ratio of over 100% as the thermal gradient along different main axes, and this ratio can be further tuned by temperature or a gate current. The THE and SNE unconstrained by spin‐orbit coupling (SOC) emerge when the thermal gradient is not parallel to the main axis, characterized by a large Hall angle ≈ 0.4. Compared to CrPS4, CrSBr exhibits a more limited anisotropic magnon transport owing to the less variation in magnon group velocities along different main axes. Moreover, the reversed magnitude relationship of magnon group velocities leads to the transverse magnon current being oriented in the opposite direction. These findings identify low‐symmetry vdW magnetic materials as a promising framework for generation and manipulation of anisotropic magnon transport, relevant for spincaloritronic devices in the ultrathin regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is an uncommon clinical pathogen, especially in the central nervous system (CNS), and carries a poor prognosis. MAC infections commonly present as immune reconstitution disease (IRD) in HIV patients. Herein, we report a case of intracranial infection caused by MAC in an AIDS patient without disseminated MAC (DMAC) and immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). Case presentation: A 31-year-old HIV-positive male presented us with progressively worsening CNS symptoms, and neuroimaging revealed ring-enhancing lesions. The intracranial lesions worsened after the empirical therapy for toxoplasma encephalitis and fungal infection. Due to the rapid progression of the disease, the patient died. Mycobacterium avium was the only pathogen in brain tissue after cultures and molecular biology tests. Conclusion: MAC infection in CNS is challenging to diagnose in HIV patients. Our findings emphasize that obtaining tissue samples and applying molecular biology methods is essential to help diagnose the patient as soon as possible to receive adequate treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The achievement of high performance in organic solar cells (OSCs) is highly dependent on efficient exciton dissociation. However, a comprehensive understanding of the exciton dissociation process under photoexcitation in OSCs remains elusive. Herein, a prototypical system of PM6:Y6 is adopted to explore the exciton dissociation process. An organic semiconductor PCz with distinctive photoexcitation signals from PM6 and Y6 is incorporated as the third component. Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy demonstrates clear cascade charge transfer processes in ternary PM6:PCz:Y6 system. These cascade channels contribute to enhancing the efficiency of exciton dissociation. Consequently, the nonradiative recombination energy loss is reduced, resulting in an improved power conversion efficiency (PCE) of OSCs. Furthermore, the reduction of energy loss is verified in different OSCs. When PCz is introduced into the D18:L8‐BO system, a low nonradiative recombination energy loss of 0.175 eV is demonstrated, contributing a PCE of over 19%. This work highlights that the insight of efficient exciton dissociation enables low nonradiative recombination losses for efficient OSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION Aspergillus oryzae protease can release the opioid peptide β‐casomorphin‐10 (CM‐10, YPFPGPIPNS, 60–69) from A2‐type casein. However, not only is the yield of the active peptide low, but the key enzyme involved in processing has yet to be identified.A significant amount of the opioid peptide 60YPFPGPIPNSLP71 (CM‐12) was produced from the A2‐type casein peptide 53AQTQSLVYPFPGPIPNSLPQNIPPLTQTPV82 when the active protease in A. oryzae protease extract was fractionated with DEAE‐Sepharose. The fractionated enzyme produced CM‐12 from bovine A2‐type casein but not from bovine A1 casein. A major protein of 34 kDa was purified and identified as an alkaline protease (Alp). Motif prediction of the Alp cleavage site using Multiple EM for Motif Elicitation analysis revealed preferable cleavage at the C‐terminal end of Ser–Leu–Xaa for the release of CM‐12. A2‐type casein hydrolysate by Alp exhibited similar levels of opioid activity to that of synthetic CM‐12 in cAMP‐Glo assays with μ‐opioid receptor‐expressing HEK293 cells. These results suggest that CM‐12 is a major opioid peptide in the casein hydrolysate.Our findings showed that Alp fractionated from A. oryzae protease extract produced the opioid peptide CM‐12 from A2‐type casein as a result of preferential cleavage at the C‐terminal end of Ser–Leu–Xaa and the removal of coexisting enzymes. Moreover, docking predictions suggested a stable interaction between CM‐12 and the 3D structure of Alp. Casein hydrolysate with Alp‐containing CM‐12 has the potential for use as a bioactive peptide material with opioid activity. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]