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Plasma spray physical vapor deposition (PS-PVD) is a technology that combines the advantages of traditional atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) and electron beam physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD). As the feedstock of the PS-PVD, nano-agglomerated powder is critical on determining the microstructure of the obtained coating. In this study, a method to characterize the cohesion of nano-agglomerated powders was investigated. The nano-agglomerated powders fractured into smaller particles under ultrasonic waves. Their particle size distributions were measured to quantitatively compare their cohesiveness. The change rate in the percentage of powders with particle size less than 5 μm was selected as the value for the cohesion comparison. A high change rate corresponded to a faster fracture and lower powder cohesion. Furthermore, the fracture behavior and heat and mass transfer process of nano-agglomerated powders in the plasma torch were studied by combining 3-D simulation and observation of the microstructures of PS-PVD coatings sprayed with different powders. To obtain a quasi-columnar coating, the nano-agglomerated powder required high cohesion. Finally, a suitable powder was selected and quasi-columnar structure coatings were obtained by optimizing the PS-PVD parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose an asymptotic homogenization framework to simulate the fracture of heterogeneous materials. This framework upscales the phase field model for microscale fracture and yields anisotropic effective properties such as the degraded elasticity tensor and the fracture toughness. Furthermore, it quantitatively accounts for the toughening effect in a simple way. More specifically, when the critical energy release rate of a heterogeneous material is uniform, the framework reveals that toughening is essentially determined by the disparity in the moduli of toughness, the energy per unit volume absorbed by the constituents before cracking. • Asymptotic homogenization for phase field models for fracture. • Both the displacement field and the phase field are upscaled. • Tension-compression asymmetry in the underlying phase field model is incorporated. • Anisotropic fracture toughness tensor obtained with one single computation. • Under uniform fracture toughness, toughening depends on contrast in toughness moduli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• There were differential effects in different testosterone active states in gout. • Higher total testosterone in males linked to lower gout risk, not in females. • Higher free testosterone and bioavailable testosterone, higher risks of gout in males. • Higher SHBG were associated with lower risks of gout both in males and females. • Females have the lowest risk of gout at around 70 nmol/L SHBG levels. To investigate the associations between sex hormones and gout. A total of 448,836 individuals free of gout at baseline were included from the UK Biobank. Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for gout. Besides, we investigated the causal relationship between bioavailable testosterone (BAT) and gout using mendelian randomization (MR). There were differential effects in different testosterone active states in gout. One-unit higher log-transformed total testosterone (TT) was associated with a 52 % [95 % CI, 0.39–0.58] lower risk of gout in males. In contrast, free testosterone (FT) and BAT were associated with a 74 % [95 % CI, 1.38–2.20] and a 78 % [95 % CI, 1.41–2.25] higher risk of gout in males respectively. For MR, the weighted median [OR, 1.70; 95 % CI, 1.14–2.56;] and inverse variance-weighted [OR, 1.25; 95 % CI, 0.96–1.62; P = 0.09] method revealed significant and approximately significant positive effect of genetic liability to BAT levels on the risk of gout respectively. Sex hormones were potentially associated with gout. Notably, we were the first to explore different testosterone states on gout and found that FT and BAT may increase the risk of gout in males, which is opposite to TT. And the former are active states of androgens, may be more accurately reflect the association between androgens and gout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Seawater intrusion and reclamation are the main salinization processes of shallow groundwater. • Saline water in deep groundwater originates from evaporite dissolution. • Saline-fresh water interfaces in shallow and deep groundwater are determined. • Human activities are the main influencing factors of shallow groundwater. Coastal groundwater salinization, contaminants and water resource shortage have become the main coastal groundwater environmental issues globally, drastically affecting human living and ecological environments. This study provides a new insight into the salinization process and influencing factors of groundwater in different aquifers of coastal deltas. Luanhe River Delta, a typical estuarine delta, is used to analyze multiple salinization processes and the quality of shallow and deep groundwater using hydrochemical and monitoring approaches. The analysis has verified the obvious difference of groundwater quality and, the location and influencing factors of saline-fresh water interface in shallow groundwater and deep groundwater. For shallow groundwater, water–rock interactions, seawater intrusion, evaporation and reclamation are the main salinization processes. For deep groundwater, water–rock interactions, saline water intrusion, evaporation and marine transgression are the main salinization processes. The salinization and quality of groundwater are divided into four units in shallow groundwater and three units in deep groundwater. Coastal groundwater salinization causes complex groundwater quality unsuitable for human consumption in some areas. Groundwater resources in different aquifers of coastal deltas should be managed and used in different zones. Local governments should formulate groundwater exploitation plans and rationally plan for groundwater utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Emerging g-DLP technique and shape memory polymers were employed to the dual information encryption. • Reconfigurable geometry and tunable optics provide the encryption and decryption behaviors under the stimulations of temperature and humidity. • The dual information encryption system is erasable, repeatable, and programmable. • The encrypted information system can be stored or decrypted permanently through the different post-processing methods. Dual information encryption such as geometry and transparency switching is highly desirable for preventing the leakage of confidential information and constructing a secure environment which has wide range of applications in privacy protection, anti-counterfeiting, and information security. However, it is still a challenge to develop a novel encrypted strategy and smart material to achieve credible protective capacity for stored information by a facile and programmed manner. Herein, integrating with arbitrary grayscale stereolithography, the hydrophilic ultraviolet (UV) curable shape memory polymers (HU-SMPs) with superior mechanical properties (the tensile strength of 29.39 MPa, elongation of 46.32 %, and the toughness of 1021.98 kJ.m−3) were prepared, which can be used for multifunctional information encryption. During the encrypted process, the HU-SMPs with the performances of high deformable and excellent shape memory behaviors can provide the preprogrammed morphological information and inevitable encryption, while the humidity-responsive of HU-SMPs capable of generating revisable transparency switching that can be encoded as the secondary information encryption. In this way, the dual encrypted information in the HU-SMPs is readable only after sequential shape recovery and fast hydration under heat-stimuli and humidity-stimuli. In addition, with the aid of digitally grayscale drawing, the secondary encrypted information is cyclically displayed and erasable due to the reversible hydration and dehydration process of HU-SMPs. Finally, the encrypted information is also can be permanently storage or decryption by the versatile post-processing methods of UV irradiation after and before decryption, respectively. In short, the design of HU-SMPs that compatible with grayscale digital light process (g-DLP)-based 3D printing, will motivates the future development of smart materials and provides a new insight into the information encrypt fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The response of chemotherapy and prognosis in bladder cancer is unsatisfied. • Immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and ADC improve the efficacy of chemotherapy. • Emerging targets in cancer cells and TME spawned novel preclinical agents. • Novel drug delivery, such as nanotechnology, enhances effects of chemotherapeutics. • The organoid and PDX model are promising to screen and evaluate the target therapy. Chemotherapy is a first-line treatment for advanced and metastatic bladder cancer, but the unsatisfactory objective response rate to this treatment yields poor 5-year patient survival. Only PD-1/PD-L1-based immune checkpoint inhibitors, FGFR3 inhibitors and antibody-drug conjugates are approved by the FDA to be used in bladder cancer, mainly for platinum-refractory or platinum-ineligible locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma. Emerging studies indicate that the combination of targeted therapy and chemotherapy shows better efficacy than targeted therapy or chemotherapy alone. Newly identified targets in cancer cells and various functions of the tumour microenvironment have spawned novel agents and regimens, which give impetus to sensitizing chemotherapy in the bladder cancer setting. This review aims to present the current evidence for potentiating the efficacy of chemotherapy in bladder cancer. We focus on combining chemotherapy with other treatments as follows: targeted therapy, including immunotherapy and antibody-drug conjugates in clinic; novel targeted drugs and nanoparticles in preclinical models and potential targets that may contribute to chemosensitivity in future clinical practice. The prospect of precision therapy is also discussed in bladder cancer. Combining chemotherapy drugs with immune checkpoint inhibitors, antibody-drug conjugates and VEGF inhibitors potentially elevates the response rate and survival. Novel targets, including cancer stem cells, DNA damage repair, antiapoptosis, drug metabolism and the tumour microenvironment, contribute to chemosensitization. Gene alteration-based drug selection and patient-derived xenograft- and organoid-based drug validation are the future for precision therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Objective gradation assessment on atrial fibrillation is achieved based on 12-lead ECG in sinus rhythm. • Baseline information, ECG and VCG signals are comprehensively analyzed. • Feature selection is performed and accurate assessment is obtained. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a progressive arrhythmia that significantly affects a patient's quality of life. The 4S-AF scheme is clinically recommended for AF management; however, the evaluation process is complex and time-consuming. This renders its promotion in primary medical institutions challenging. This retrospective study aimed to simplify the evaluation process and present an objective assessment model for AF gradation. In total, 189 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings from 64 patients were included in this study. The data were annotated into two groups (mild and severe) according to the 4S-AF scheme. Using a preprocessed ECG during the sinus rhythm (SR), we obtained a synthesized vectorcardiogram (VCG). Subsequently, various features were calculated from both signals, and age, sex, and medical history were included as baseline characteristics. Different machine learning models, including support vector machines, random forests (RF), and logistic regression, were finally tested with a combination of feature selection techniques. The proposed method demonstrated excellent performance in the classification of AF gradation. With an optimized feature set of VCG and baseline features, the RF model achieved accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 83.02 %, 80.56 %, and 88.24 %, respectively, under the inter-patient paradigm. Our results demonstrate the value of physiological signals in AF gradation evaluation, and VCG signals were effective in identifying mild and severe AF. Considering its low computational complexity and high assessment performance, the proposed model is expected to serve as a useful prognostic tool for clinical AF management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CO 2 capture and separation performance is enhanced by the improved structural polarity and additional adsorption sites created by anchoring alkali metal Li/Na/K. And the increase shows a positive correlation with AM concentration. Specially, UPC-6Li presents the best CO 2 capture capacity of 221.64 cm3 cm−3, along with the CO 2 over N 2 /CH 4 selectivity of 308/206, among UPC-AMs. [Display omitted] • CO 2 capture and separation performance were evaluated in 2D-COFs anchored by different concentration alkali metal (Li, Na, and K). • UPC-6Li exhibited the best CO 2 capture capacity of 221.64 cm3 cm−3 and CO 2 over N 2 /CH 4 selectivity of 308/206. • Improved structural polarity and additional metal adsorption sites are the main reasons for optimized performance. The development of advanced adsorbents with high CO 2 capture and separation performances is essential for decreasing atmospheric CO 2 concentration. Herein, grand canonical Monte Carlo and density functional theory were employed to investigate the adsorption and separation properties of CO 2 , N 2 , and CH 4 in 2D covalent organic framework (COFs) anchored by alkali metal (AMs) Li, Na, and K (UPC-nAMs, n = 3 or 6) at 298 K and 0–1.0 bar. The anchoring of AMs formed favorable adsorption sites, endowing UPC-nAMs with better CO 2 capture and separation performances. This effect was more evident with an increase in Li/Na/K concentration. The CO 2 adsorption capacity of UPC-6Li/Na/K was ∼ 221.64, 188.28, and 140.50 cm3 cm−3. The smaller atomic size of Li occupied less adsorption space, resulting in the highest CO 2 capture capacity of 221.64 cm3 cm−3 with selectivity of 308/206 over N 2 /CH 4 in UPC-6Li at 298 K and 1.0 bar. Structural stability, pore characteristics, isothermal adsorption heat, van der Waals and Coulomb interactions, gas distribution density, adsorption configuration, and gas radial distribution function were analyzed to identify the intrinsic mechanism of anchoring Li/Na/K to improve CO 2 capture and separation performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silica diagenesis has been proved to significantly affect rock composition and fabric. However, it still needs to be clarified how silica diagenesis affects the mechanical properties of shales. To further investigate this impact, we collected shale samples from the Upper Ordovician Wufeng and the Lower Silurian Longmaxi formations, southeast Sichuan Basin. The total organic carbon (TOC) content, mineralogical composition, and major oxide concentrations were measured to characterize the shale composition. Thin-section observations and high-resolution imaging techniques were used to characterize the rock fabric and identify quartz types. The Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, and the measured hardness were used to characterize the shale mechanical properties. Four major lithofacies were identified, namely, siliceous shale, siliceous-argillaceous mixed shale, silty mudstone, and argillaceous shale. Three types of authigenic quartz in the Wufeng-Longmaxi formations were observed, namely, quartz overgrowth, matrix-dispersed microquartz, and microquartz aggregates. Matrix-dispersed microquartz is typically mixed with clay matrix, while microquartz aggregates typically coexist with migrated organic matter. The combined analysis of Fe–Al–Mn ternary diagram, cross-plots of Si versus Al, Rb versus K 2 O, and TOC content versus excess silica demonstrate that the dominant silica source of quartz cementation is biogenic. The cross-plot of excess silica contents versus Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, and hardness suggest that silica diagenesis significantly affects the mechanical properties of shale rocks. Microquartz aggregates greatly contribute to shale brittleness, while detrital quartz minimally affects shale brittleness if the detrital quartz was enclosed by ductile clay minerals. • Four quartz types were identified in the Wufeng-Longmaxi shales. • Silica cementation could significantly enhance shale rock mechanical properties. • The organic-rich siliceous shale typically manifests the best brittleness behavior. • The evolution patterns of silica diagenesis in different lithofacies were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the influence of initial strain on the photo-oxidation aging process of HDPE sheath, the actual strain value of HDPE sheath was calculated based on the design method and the production process of parallel steel wire suspender. The initial strain of HDPE specimen was applied by fixture, and xenon arc lamp accelerated aging test of HDPE were carried out. The results show that after 5000 h xenon arc lamp accelerated aging, the tensile strength, yield strength and secant modulus of the elastic stage of the specimen decrease by 11.19%, 9.15% and 40% respectively. During the aging process, there is no obvious increase or decrease in the elongation at break.There is a critical time in the aging process, when the aging time exceeds the critical time, the yield elongation of HDPE specimen will increase sharply; When the aging time is less than the critical time, the tensile properties of the specimens are basically unchanged with the increase of the initial strain; When the aging time is greater than the critical time, with the increase of initial strain, the tensile strength of the specimen decreases gradually, while the yield strength and secant modulus increase gradually. The critical time increases with the increase of initial strain. In addition, based on the experimental results, the prediction model of HDPE strength and secant modulus is established. The results of this paper lay a foundation for the prediction of the remaining service life of HDPE sheath, which can provide a theoretical basis for the durability design of suspension bridge cable system. • The tensile properties of HDPE sheath for parallel wire suspender after photo-oxidative aging is explored. • The characteristics of elastic stage, strain softening stage, necking stage and orientation hardening stage are analyzed. • With the increase of aging time, the tensile and yield strength and secant modulus in the elastic stage decrease. • When the aging time exceeds a critical time, the yield elongation of the specimen suddenly rises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Cu/FeO x catalysts were prepared by hydrothermal method companying with H 2 reduction. • Cu/FeO x was used to catalyze LTWGS and heavy crude oil cracking simultaneously. • Oxalic acid supplies in-situ H 2 for the heavy crude oil upgrading over Cu/FeO x. In this paper, Cu/FeO x composite catalysts were successfully synthesized by a hydrothermal method followed by a hydrogen gas reduction and were used as the catalysts for the cracking of heavy crude oil and the simultaneous low-temperature water–gas swift (LTWGS) reaction. Oxalic acid was used to generate the reactants (i.e., CO and H 2 O) of LTWGS reaction in-situ through its decomposition under the reaction temperature (200 ℃) of the heavy crude oil cracking. Cu0 in Cu/FeO x acted as a catalyst of the LTWGS reaction (CO + H 2 O ↔ CO 2 + H 2) and α-Fe 2 O 3 in Cu/FeO x acted as a catalyst for the cracking of heavy crude oil. In-situ H 2 coming from the LTWGS reaction promoted the catalytic viscosity reduction rate of heavy crude oil via inhibiting the radicals from recombining. This work gives a new, economical and efficient approach to supplying H 2 for heavy crude oil upgrading through the in-situ LTWGS reaction of the decomposition products of oxalic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clustering is a typical and important method to discover new structures and knowledge from data sets. Most existing clustering methods need to know the number of clusters in advance, which is difficult. Some algorithms claim they do not need to know the number of clusters in advance. Among these algorithms, however, some need to manually determine the cluster centers in a decision graph, which is not easy; some assume that the number of initial cluster centers given is greater than the actual number of classes, but in fact the true number of clusters is not known. In order to tackle this issue, we propose a density-peak-based clustering algorithm of automatically determining the number of clusters. First, we design a density metric by using a continuous function which can well distinguish the densities of different data points. Then, we design a pre-clustering method which can get the initial cluster centers and the corresponding clusters. Furthermore, we propose an automatic clustering method which can automatically determine the final cluster centers and the corresponding clusters. Experiments are conducted on widely used data sets, and the results show the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• For the first time, first-principles calculations are used to predict the lattice thermal conductivity of free-standing monolayer XS2 (X = mo and W) and monolayer XS2 supported on SiC (0001) and ZnO (0001) substrates. • The lattice thermal conductivity of monolayer XS2 supported on SiC (0001) and ZnO (0001) substrates show a significant decrease, and the decrease is even greater for the monolayer XS2 supported on ZnO (0001) substrates, reaching about 65–70 %. • The substrate drives softening of the acoustic branch, making the low-frequency phonon group velocity decrease and the three-phonon scattering enhance. • From the perspective of atomic bonding, the substrate breaks the symmetry of bonding of monolayer XS2, which leads to the increase of phonon anharmonicity and ultimately to a decrease in thermal conductivity of monolayer XS2. Thermoelectric materials have properties such as direct conversion of waste heat into electricity and environmental friendliness, which make them promising for renewable energy utilization, however, the lower conversion efficiency limits the large-scale application of thermoelectric materials. Monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are candidates for thermoelectric materials due to their high power factor, but their higher thermal conductivity (TC) limits the further improvement of the figure of merit (ZT). Here, we employ first-principles calculations and solve the Boltzmann transport equation (BTE) to compare the lattice TC of free-standing monolayer XS 2 (X = Mo and W) and monolayer XS 2 supported on SiC (0001) and ZnO (0001) substrates. We find that the lattice TC of monolayer XS 2 supported on SiC (0001) and ZnO (0001) substrates are sharply reduced. Especially supported on the ZnO (0001) substrate, the lattice TC of XS 2 reduce by 65 %–70 %, which is expected to improve the thermoelectric properties of monolayer XS 2. In addition, we report the underlying cause of this significant reduction in TC. Firstly, the substrate drives softening of the acoustic branch, which leads to a decrease of phonon group velocity in the low-frequency and an enhancement of the three-phonon scattering. Then, the asymmetric bonding of XS 2 is induced by the substrates, which enhance phonon anharmonicity and reduce the phonon lifetime. Our results demonstrate that the lattice TC of monolayer XS 2 can be tuned by adjusting the substrate, which has certain reference values for the thermoelectric design of XS 2. SiC (0001) and ZnO (0001) substrates break the symmetry of the monolayer XS 2 (X = Mo and W) bonding, resulting in an increase in phonon anharmonicity, which reduces the contribution of the low-frequency acoustic branch of monolayer XS 2 to the thermal conductivity. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semi-parallel wire suspenders with spherical plain bearings have untwisting under axial force, and the collision in the untwist process bring adverse effects on the structure. To investigate the axial mechanical response of semi-parallel wire suspenders with spherical plain bearings, the equilibrium equations of suspender are deduced by assuming the distribution of steel wire after deformation, the forms of boundary conditions are distinguished according to the use of spherical plain bearing, and the linear equation expressed by equivalent stiffness coefficients is deduced. The Costello theory and finite element modeling are used to verify the proposed calculation method in this paper, and the influence of suspender parameters on the stiffness equivalent coefficient is analyzed. The results show that the proposed calculation method is suitable for multi-layer semi-parallel wire suspenders; the twist angle and the total number of layers of wires have the greatest effect on the stiffness equivalence factor; when the twisting angle is close to 0, the torsional stiffness of suspender is 0.010–0.21 of that of the steel rod with the same section; the axial tensile stiffness of the conventional suspender is basically the same as that of the steel rod with the same section, but the torsional stiffness is only 0.012–0.023 of the steel rod with the same section, and the tension-torsion coupling effect cannot be ignored. The research results provide a concise method to calculate the axial response of semi-parallel wire suspenders, which lays a foundation for the engineering treatment of the untwisting problem of semi-parallel wire suspender using spherical plain bearings. • The axial mechanical response of semi-parallel wire suspenders with spherical plain bearings is investigated. • The expression between axial resultant force, torque and overall strain of twisting structures is deduced and verified. • A concise method to calculate the axial response of semi-parallel wire suspenders is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite extensive evidence demonstrating the beneficial effects of the additional PCSK9 antibodies with high-density statins treatment on cardiovascular clinical outcomes, the potent causes underlying these effects remain elusive. This meta-analysis aimed at exploring the underlying causes to assess the effect of PCSK9 antibodies on the regression and stabilization of coronary plaque derived from intravascular imaging in statin-treated patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched from inception to February 1, 2023, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), nonrandomized studies without language restrictions if they described the association between PCSK9 antibodies with coronary plaque regression and stabilization evaluated by intravascular imaging in statin-treated patients with CAD. Meta-analyses were performed for mean difference (MD) and odds ratio (OR) using a random-effects model. This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) reporting guideline. A total of 9 studies (7 RCTs and 2 non-RCTs) with 2290 CAD patients were identified and included. Among statin-treated CAD patients, the addition use of PCSK9 antibodies was associated with IVUS-derived percent atheroma volume (PAV) (4 studies with 1875 participants; MD, −1.26; 95% CI, −1.51 to −1.00; P < 0.01), total atheroma volume (TAV) (4 studies with 1875 participants; MD, −7.23; 95% CI, −11.28 to −3.18; P < 0.01), incidence of PAV regression (4 studies with 1875 participants; OR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.81 to 2.77; P < 0.01) and incidence of TAV regression (3 studies with 1256 participants; OR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.33 to 2.09; P < 0.01) in Caucasians instead of Asians from multiple countries; OCT-derived minimum fibrous cap thickness (FCT) (6 studies with 841 participants; MD, 25.16; 95% CI, 14.06 to 36.27; P < 0.01), incidence of thin-capped fibroatheroma (TCFA) regression (2 studies with 222 participants; OR, 2.56; 95% CI, 1.42 to 4.61; P < 0.01) and maximum lipid arc (4 studies with 280 participants; MD, −14.96; 95% CI, −22.10 to −7.83; P < 0.01) in Asians and Caucasians without races restrictions. PCSK9 antibodies resulted in significantly greater coronary plaque regression and stabilization in statin-treated CAD patients, mostly Caucasians from multiple countries. Further studies are needed to assess the effect for Asian patients. • There exist racial disparities of additional PCSK9 antibodies versus statin treatment alone on coronary plaque regression and stabilization. • The additional PCSK9 antibodies made great coronary plaque regression and stabilization in Caucasians. • The additional PCSK9 antibodies did not make coronary plaque regression in Asians. • Our findings about the effect of PCSK9 antibodies on coronary plaque contribute to reveal potent causes improving cardiovascular prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Over 97 % of FGD gypsum was converted into CaS. • •The reduction is controlled by the phase boundary, which is a typical shrinking sphere reaction. • •The reduction process of S in the FGD gypsum is SO 4 2−-SO 3 2−-S 2 2−-S2−. • •The obtained CaS has a honeycomb structure, which is conducive to the reuse. • The mechanism of reduction roasting of FGD gypsum was proposed. Flue gas desulfurized (FGD) gypsum is produced during the removal of SO 2 from flue gas. The reductive decomposition of FGD gypsum to calcium sulfide (CaS) is a crucial method for resource utilization. This study investigated the reduction roasting behavior and mechanism to enrich and recycle the calcium and sulfur resources in FGD gypsum effectively. Firstly, thermodynamics calculation revealed that the complete reduction of CaSO 4 to CaS is feasible. Experimental results showed that more than 95 % of the FGD gypsum can be reduced to CaS. Subsequently, the kinetic parameters of the reduction process were calculated. The results indicate that the reaction is controlled by the phase boundary, which is a typical shrinking sphere reaction process. Based on the kinetic study, the micromorphological transformation during the reduction process were studied. The results show that the reduction reaction initially starts from the boundary and gradually occurs towards the core. Finally, the reduction roasting mechanism is proposed. The intermediate processes of calcium sulfate reduction behavior were studied through XRD and XPS. The phase conversion and behavior of the main elements S in the process were explored. The results indicate that the process is a step-by-step reduction, and the transformation of S is SO 4 2−-SO 3 2−-S 2 2−-S2−. The reduction product forms a hollowed-out spheroid structure that cannot only effectively enrich Ca and S resources, but also provide advantageous conditions for their subsequent reuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Calcined *CTH experienced structural collapse and reconstruction by HNO3 treatment. • Sn-*CTH were post-synthesized via the structural rearrangement and Sn incorporation. • Sn-*CTH exhibited a high catalytic activity in the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation. • High ε-caprolactone selectivity was obtained through controlling reaction parameters. Germanium-rich *CTH zeolite without organic molecules located inside pore channels experienced only partial structural collapse and subsequently repaired to high-silica structure analogous to the original topology in a short time. The surprise acid-hydrolysis process has caused a large amount of framework Ge ions were removed, giving rise to abundant hydroxyl nests. Benefiting from the unexpected variation of framework structure and chemical composition, stannosilicates Sn-*CTH with extra-large pores and various Sn loadings (Si/Sn molar ratio in the range of 30-∞) were post-prepared depending on the reaction between the added (NH 4) 2 SnCl 6 species and the formed silanol groups in the hydroxyl nests. The resultant Sn-*CTH zeolites were able to release significantly the diffusion limitations encountered by the bulky substrates and oxidants, exhibiting promising activities to catalyze the Baeyer-Villiger (B-V) oxidation of ketones with single oxidant either hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) or large-sized tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP). Especially, high ε-caprolactone product selectivity was also obtained in the B-V oxidation of cyclohexanone using H 2 O 2 oxidant through reducing the H 2 O 2 /cyclohexanone molar ratio as well as controlling appropriate reaction time, which was more efficient than the traditional Sn-Beta-F catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the alloy design and development process, a wealth of atomically resolved structural high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images are produced. Identifying the different nano-precipitate phases and tracking their evolution under various compositions and during manufacturing or post-processing requires hundreds of HRTEM images and thousands of precipitates. The nanoscopic phase information labeling and analysis purely relies on humans are prohibitively costly and time-consuming, sometimes not reliable because of the lack of authoritative knowledge. Here, we develop a novel unsupervised machine learning approach coupled with adaptive computer vision techniques with features in the Fourier space to automatically determine the number of phases and segment/quantify the phases with nanoscale resolution, allowing for quantitative correlation between nanostructure formation, processing and functional properties. To automate the phase extraction/quantification and ascertain its applicability, we have applied the developed framework to the HRTEM images from several alloy systems, processing conditions, image magnifications, and phase types and morphologies (precipitates, nano-twins, stacking faults, crystalline matrix, and amorphous structures) for verification. This study paves the road for compression, visualization, and translation of raw image structural data into physically relevant information in real-time with minimal human supervision. It shows the promise of enabling high-throughput materials characterization for the acceleration of alloy manufacturing and design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar-driven straightforward one-step synthesis of pyridine derivatives in the absence of photosensitizer is of considerable interest but greatly challenging in synthetic and medicinal chemistry. Herein, an unprecedented 2-fold interpenetrated lvt polyoxometalate-based open framework (POM-OF), LCU-22 ([Zn(1-ipIM) 3 ] 2 [Zn 6 (AsW 9 O 33) 2 (1-ipIM) 6 ]·2(1-HipIM), 1-ipIM = 1-isopropyl imidazole) has been synthesized in gram-scale quantities using one-pot reaction and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. The cluster node in LCU-22 is a Zn 6 ring seamed trivacant polyoxotungstate cluster ([Zn 6 (AsW 9 O 33) 2 ]), which is quadruply extended by [Zn(1-ipIM) 3 ]2+ units to form the final 3D open framework. Remarkably, LCU-22 is highly stable over wide pH range and in various solvents, and dramatically boosted the white light-powered heterogeneous photocatalysis for synthesis of pyridine derivatives in good yields after three times recycles utilization. This work not only builds a novel POM-OF but also underscores the unique advantages of transition metal cluster substituted polyoxotungstates frameworks used for selective photocatalytic formation of value-added organic molecules. [Display omitted] • The one-pot gram-scale synthetic strategy has been reported for 2-fold interpenetrated lvt LCU-22. • LCU-22 is highly stable over wide pH range and in various solvents • LCU-22 boosted the visible-light-driven heterogeneous photocatalysis for one-step synthesis of pyridine derivatives. • The catalysis mechanism of the photocatalyst has been intensively discussed and revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamic epigenetic changes during hibernation occur in some hibernating rodents, but these changes are poorly understood in hibernating bats. Populations of the greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) in north China hibernate and provide an opportunity to study how epigenetic markers and modifiers differ in the active and torpid states of a chiropteran. We used fluorescence-labeled methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism (F-MSAP) and qRT-PCR techniques to determine changes in the global DNA methylation levels and mRNA expression levels of methylation-related proteins. These included DNA methyltransferase (DNMTs), methyl-CpG-binding proteins (MBPs, including MBDs, UHRFs, and zinc-finger protein family) in active and torpid R. ferrumequinum. In the torpid state, both the relative global methylation and the relative mRNA expression levels of some DNMTs and MBPs, including dnmt3b and zbtb4 , increased significantly compared to the expression levels of these in the active state. These changes may involve methylation or assist in regulation of a particular subset of genes according to hibernation status. This indicates that epigenetic mechanisms may exist and facilitate the hibernation process of R. ferrumequinum. [Display omitted] • The global DNA methylation level increased in torpid state. • Some MBPs showed higher mRNA expression levels in hibernation. • Epigenetic marker and modifiers may facilitate the hibernation of the great horseshoe bats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Four pyrenyl-based iridium(III) complexes modulated by -CF 3 , -F, and -CH 3 were presented and their structures were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. • The photophysical properties were discussed in detail by ultraviolet–visible absorption and photoluminescence studies. • The substituent effect on modulating the electronic structure of deep-red or near-infrared iridium(III) complexes cyclometalated by pyrenyl-containing ligand was elucidated by density functional theory calculation and cyclic voltammetry. The extension of π -conjugation and the introduction of substituents are efficient channel for achieving low-energy emitting phosphors. To investigate the influence of substituent effect on the deep-red or near-infrared iridium(III) complexes containing great π -conjugation cyclometalating ligands, we synthesized four pyrenyl-based heteroleptic Ir(III) complexes bearing electron-withdrawing or -donating groups. The four Ir(III) complexes comprise 5-R-2-(1-pyrenyl)pyridine (R = H, CF 3 , F, CH 3) as the main ligands and 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-heptane-3,5-dione as ancillary ligands. Their structures and coordination geometries are determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. It is found that the emission profiles of four complexes are located on deep red to near-infrared region and -CF 3 substitution leads to a bathochromic shift of 11 nm relative to the unsubstituted complex. From density functional theory calculation results as well as electrochemical analysis, their HOMO and LUMO energy levels fall in the order of substituents -CF 3 < -F < -H < -CH 3. Intriguingly, the electron density distributions of LUMOs of both -CF 3 and -CH 3 substituted complexes are more susceptible than their HOMOs, while the HOMO of the -F substituted complex is more susceptible. Our work showcases the vital significance of substituent effect on modulating the electronic structure of deep-red or near-infrared iridium complexes cyclometalated by great π -conjugation cyclometalating ligands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calreticulin (CRT) on the cell surface that acts as an "eat me" signal is vital for macrophage-mediated programmed cell removal. The polyhydroxylated fullerenol nanoparticle (FNP) has appeared as an effective inducer to cause CRT exposure on cancer cell surface, but it failed in treating some cancer cells such as MCF-7 cells based on previous findings. Here, we carried out the 3D culture of MCF-7 cells, and interestingly found that the FNP induced CRT exposure on cells in 3D spheres via re-distributing CRT from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to cell surface. Phagocytosis experiments in vitro and in vivo illustrated the combination of FNP and anti-CD47 monoclonal antibody (mAb) further enhanced macrophage-mediated phagocytosis to cancer cells. The maximal phagocytic index in vivo was about three times higher than that of the control group. Moreover, in vivo tumorigenesis experiments in mice proved that FNP could regulate the progress of MCF-7 cancer stem-like cells (CSCs). These findings expand the application of FNP in tumor therapy of anti-CD47 mAb and 3D culture can be used as a screening tool for nanomedicine. [Display omitted] • Fullerenol nanoparticle (FNP) reduces the toxicity of anti-CD47 antibodies therapy. • 3D culture enhances the sensitivity of MCF-7 cells to FNP. • FNP inhibits the progression of MCF-7 cancer stem cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crystal plane engineering and defect engineering are feasible approaches to tune the electrochemical performance of nanocmaterials. Herein, a carambola-like CoWO 4 microsphere with preferred crystal planes and oxygen vacancies is synthesized by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal process together with post annealing treatment. The in-depth observation on microstructure and electrochemical tests suggest that it is the new preferred crystal planes and oxygen vacancies in CoWO 4 that improves conductivity and reaction activity to lead to a much higher capacity. Further density functional theory (DFT) analysis reveals that tuning the preferred crystal plane and introduction of oxygen vacancy into CoWO 4 not only effectively enhance electronic conductivity, but also promote OH− adsorption/desorption, and reduce electronic transmission barrier. As a result, the as-obtained carambola-like CoWO 4 microsphere with preferred crystal planes and oxygen vacancies delivers high specific capacity (493.7 C g−1/137.1 mA h g−1 at 1 A g−1) with superior rate capability (148.6 C g−1/41.3 mA h g−1 at 15 A g−1). Moreover, the cycling-induced morphology evolution lead to unconventional capacity increasing during cycling. The as-fabricated A-CoWO 4 //6 M KOH//activated carbon (AC) BSH device exhibits a maximum energy density of 27.5 Wh kg−1 at 1031.4 W kg−1 and 95.7% capacity retention after 12000 cycles. This work provides a possible way to improve the electrochemical performances of other metal oxide electrodes with low-capacity and irreversibility. [Display omitted] • ●CoWO 4 with preferred crystal planes and oxygen vacancies was synthesized. • ●A-CoWO 4 electrode exhibits improved conductivity and reaction activity. • ●DFT reveals the effect of preferred orientation and oxygen vacancies. • ●The morphology remolding lead to an increased cycling capacity phenomenon. • ●BSH devices deliver 27.5 Wh kg−1 energy density at a power density of 1031.4 W kg−1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A new MCGDM model combined with a bidirectional influence relationship is proposed. • The decision-making process takes different psychological attitudes into account. • The IBCSMDM method is developed to accommodate emergency environments. • An extended IT2FS way is implemented for reflecting the uncertainty in assessments. The COVID-19 pandemic outbreak spread rapidly worldwide, posing a severe threat to human life. Due to its unpredictability and destructiveness, the emergency has aroused great common in society. At the same time, the selection of emergency medical supplier is one of the critical links in emergency decision-making, so undertaking appropriate decision-making using scientific tools becomes the primary challenge when an emergency outbreak occurs. The multi criteria group decision-making (MCGDM) method is an applicable and common method for choosing supplier. Nevertheless, because emergency medical supplier selection should consider regarding many aspects, it is difficult for decision makers (DMs) to develop a comprehensive assessment method for emergency medical supplier. Therefore, few academics have focused on emergency situation research by the MCGDM method, and the existing MCGDM method has some areas for improvement. In view of this situation, in this study, we propose a new MCGDM method, which considers the bidirectional influence relation of the criteria, consensus and the psychological factors of DMs. It providers a good aid in emergency decision-making and it could apply to other types of MCGDM research. Firstly, DMs give their assessment in interval type-2 fuzzy sets (IT2FSs). Secondly, an extended IT2FSs assessment method and a novel ISM-BWM-Cosine Similarity-Max Deviation Method (IBCSMDM) are used for weighing all alternatives. The TODIM (an acronym for interactive and multi-criteria decision-making in Portuguese) can obtain the ranking results under different risk attenuation factors. Eventually, this extended IT2FSs-IBCSMDM-TODIM method is applied in a real case in Wuhan in the context of COVID-19 to illustrate the practicability and usefulness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To establish an Alzheimer's disease (AD) mouse model, investigate the behavioral performance changes and intracerebral molecular changes induced by bilateral intracerebroventricular injection of streptozotocin (STZ/I.C.V), and explore the potential pathogenesis of AD. An AD mouse model was established by STZ/I.C.V. The behavioral performance was observed via the open field test (OFT), novel object recognition test (NOR), and tail suspension test (TST). The mRNA and protein expressions of interleukin 1β (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in the hippocampus were measured via qPCR and Western blot. The expression of β-amyloid 1–42 (Aβ 1–42), phosphorylated Tau protein (p-Tau (Ser396)), Tau5, β-site amyloid precursor protein (APP) cleaving enzyme (BACE), insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), Copine6, synaptotagmin-1 (Syt-1), synapsin-1, phosphoinositol 3 kinase (PI3K), serine/threonine kinase (Akt), phosphorylated serine/threonine kinase (p-Akt (Ser473)), triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1/2 (TREM1/2) were detected using Western blot, and the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), ionized calcium binding adapter molecule 1 (IBA1), Aβ 1–42 , p-Tau(Ser396), Syt-1, BDNF were measured via immunofluorescence staining. STZ/I.C.V induced AD-like neuropsychiatric behaviors in mice, as indicated by the impairment of learning and memory, together with the reduced spontaneous movement and exploratory behavior. The expression of BACE, Aβ 1–42 , p-Tau(Ser396), and TREM2 were significantly increased in the hippocampus of model mice, while the expression of IRS1, BDNF, Copine6, Syt-1, synapsin-1, PI3K, p-Akt(Ser473), and TREM1 were decreased as compared with that of the controls. Furthermore, the model mice presented a hyperactivation of astrocytes and microglia in the hippocampus, accompanied by the increased mRNA and protein expressions of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α. STZ/I.C.V is an effective way to induce AD mice model, with not only AD-like neuropsychiatric behaviors, but also typic AD-like neuropathological features including neurofibrillary tangles, deposit of β-amyloid (Aβ), neuroinflammation, and imbalanced synaptic plasticity. [Display omitted] • Injection of streptozotocin into the intracerebral or intracerebroventricular in rodents is a mature animal model for extensive studies of Alzheimer's disease. • Bilateral intracerebroventricular injection of streptozotocin induced AD-like neuropsychiatric behavior in mice. • The formation of neurofibrillary tangles, deposit of β-amyloid, neuroinflammation, and imbalanced synaptic plasticity were induced in the hippocampus of mice by bilateral intracerebroventricular injection ofstreptozotocin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The influence of dynamic disturbance on population self-healing was analyzed. • Medium disturbance restoration rate is more conducive to population self-healing. • Global dispersal is not always better than local dispersal. • Some suggestions are provided for ecological restoration. The stability of ecological system is inseparable from the self-healing ability of population. Therefore, exploring the self-healing of population after disturbance is of great significance to deeply understand the ecological stability. By constructing a pair approximation model, the special explicit dynamics of one population on disturbance is studied in this paper. In which, dynamic disturbance (which can be gradually restored) is used, and the self-healing time of the population is investigated. Through a mass of simulations, some interesting results are obtained. At a lower disturbance restoration rate, the population self-healing time will not be affected by the spatial correlation of disturbance, regardless of the dispersal mode of population and the existence of competition. Compared with local dispersal, global dispersal has more obvious advantages at medium disturbance restoration rate. The increase of disturbance restoration rate is not always conducive to the self-healing of population, and a higher disturbance restoration rate will increase the self-healing time. The results can give us some insights on ecological conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to traditional RNN-based models, abstractive summarization systems based on Pre-trained Language Models (PTMs) achieve dramatic improvements in readability. Thus, in the field of abstractive summarization, more attention should be devoted to the faithfulness issue that predicted summaries are not factually consistent with source texts. To alleviate this disadvantage, we propose a novel S yntax- E nriched A bstractive Sum marization (SEASum) framework, which utilizes graph attention networks (GATs) to introduce syntactic features of source texts to generate faithful summaries. In the SEASum framework, the PTM-based semantic encoder encodes word sequence, while the GAT-based syntactic encoder captures explicit syntax, i.e., part-of-speech tags, parse trees, and dependency-based relative positions of source documents. A feature fusion module is introduced to incorporate encoded syntactic features into the summarization framework. Based on the proposed SEASum framework, we develop two summarization models: 1) parallel SEASum model, in which the semantic encoder and syntactic encoder work in parallel, a multi-head attention module fused two-stream features for the following decoding process; 2) cascaded SEASum model, which takes contextual word embeddings from semantic encoder as node embeddings for the syntactic encoder and employs highway networks to regulate information flow. Experimental results on CNN/DailyMail and Reddit-TIFU (short) datasets show our parallel SEASum model and cascaded SEASum model outperform state-of-the-art abstractive summarization approaches in the faithfulness measurement. The results also demonstrate that cascaded SEASum model is more effective than parallel SEASum model in boosting faithfulness. • A syntax-enhanced abstractive summarization framework, SEASum, is proposed. • SEASum incorporates syntactic features, i.e. dependency parse trees, POS tags, etc. • A parallel and a cascaded model are developed based on the SEASum framework. • Two SEASum-based models are tested on CNN/DM and Reddit-TIFU (short) datasets. • Both SEASum models achieve improvements on ROUGE and faithfulness metrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paraphrasing is used as a language activity to train students' comprehensive language use. Although its positive role has been commonly recognized, there is a lack of research on the construct and rating scale for paraphrase tasks. This study developed a five-level analytic rating scale and applied the scale to score one hundred and forty-three examinees' paraphrase responses. To validate the scale using an argument-based approach, the scores were analyzed by generalizability analysis and many-facets Rasch analysis, and the responses were coded by construct-related linguistic features. The results show that: (1) The analytic scores explained 35.5% of the variance, and the relative Coef_G met the confidence requirements for a rating scale validation study; (2) The task distinguished examinees' performance into different levels, the rater severity was consistent, and the rating dimensions were relatively independent with significant differences; (3) Construct components are reflected in the examinees' responses; (4) The rating scale is appropriate for score reporting and decision making, and has a positive effect on teaching and learning. The study will facilitate language teachers' assessment of students' performance and provision of effective feedback on paraphrase tasks. • Paraphrase task can be rated by restatement, meaning consistency and accuracy. • The analytic rating scale is feasible in rating practice. • Three rating dimensions are relatively independent without overlapping. • The rating is reliable and the rater severity is consistent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twin vertical axis helical hydrokinetic turbines (VAHHTs) are a type of renewable energy conversion device that can generate electricity from the kinetic energy of free flowing water. To optimize its hydrodynamic performance, a typical twin VAHHTs model with a NACA0020 blade profile, diameter (D) of 0.2 m, height (H) of 0.45 m, solidity ratio (σ) of 0.38, and enwinding ratio (ϖ) of 1.25 was tested. Based on the controllable open channel velocity, a test platform was built to study the effect of different rotational direction, spacing, inflow direction, and phase difference on the efficiency of twin VAHHTs. The results show that the torque measurement platform can accurately measure the torque (T), water velocity (V), and rotational speed (ω) simultaneously. When the rotational direction of the twin VAHHTs is not outward opposite (-+), the efficiency is more than 9.52% higher than that of a single VAHHT. The efficiency increases first, and then decreases with an increase of the spacing between the two turbines. The change of inflow direction angle has a large influence on the efficiency of the twin VAHHTs. The initial phase difference has little effect on the performance of the twin VAHHTs. The highest average efficiency of the twin VAHHTs is 0.2315, which is 10.24% higher than that of a single VAHHT. The results supplement the deficiencies of the measured data at high velocity and provide validation for the numerical calculation of the efficiency of twin VAHHTs. • Field tests on model efficiency of twin helical turbines are carried out. • The test can synchronously measure torque, water velocity, and rotational speed. • The influence of the factors on the efficiency of twin helical turbines is tested. • The efficiency of the twin helical turbines is 10.24% higher than that of single. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The α-MoO 3 -based materials have been intensively investigated as chemiresistive-type gas sensors due to their excellent sensing performances for gas sensing applications. However, there still remains formidable challenges for developing a simple and scalable approach to synthesize α-MoO 3 with controllable structures. Herein, we demonstrated a glucose-assisted combustion synthesis strategy for the synthesis of α-MoO 3 materials with controllable structures. They were obtained by heat treatment of the gels containing ammonium heptamolybdate tetrahydrate and glucose. Owing to the coordination interactions between glucose and heptamolybdate, α-MoO 3 -2 sample obtained by adding 1.8 g of glucose featured the highest oxygen vacancy concentration with an O/Mo atomic ratio of 2.61. The gas sensing measurements indicated that α-MoO 3 -2 had excellent sensing performances for detecting ethanol. Such ethanol sensor displayed the lowest detection concentration of 5 ppm ethanol, high response of 3.86 toward 20 ppm ethanol, and wide detection range of 5–100 ppm. This study sheds light on preparation of metal oxides with controllable structures on a scalable way for various applications. • A glucose-assisted combustion synthesis method have been developed to preparation of MoO3 samples. • The MoO3 sample thus obtained possesses high oxygen vacancy concentration and surface chemical-adsorbed oxygen species. • The MoO3 sample exhibits excellent sensing performances for ethanol sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease, with cognitive decline as the primary clinical feature. According to epidemiological statistics, 50 million people worldwide are currently affected by Alzheimer's disease. Although new drugs such as aducanumab have been approved for use in the treatment of AD, none of them have reversed the progression of AD. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small molecule RNAs that exert their biological functions by regulating the expression of intracellular proteins, and differential abundance and varieties are found between the central and peripheral tissues of AD patients and healthy controls. This article will summarise the changes of miRNAs in the AD process, and the potential role of diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets in AD will be explored. [Display omitted] • MicroRNAs regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally responsible for regulating more than 70% of human genes. • In Alzheimer's disease, microRNAs in serum, cerebrospinal fluid, and brain tissue have been studied. • MicroRNAs are involved in the pathological process of Alzheimer's disease. • MicroRNAs are innovative treatment and diagnosis markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel expansion and super long plasma plume at low vacuum conditions (200 Pa–10000 Pa) has been developed to deposit the ceramic thermal barrier coating (TBC) for aircraft engines. The maximum length of the Ar–He plasma plume is 1900 mm when the plasma torch operates at a chamber pressure of 200 Pa and an input power of 64 kW (I = 2000 A). Meanwhile, the radial expansion of the plasma plume is 90 mm in an axisymmetric plane at the same condition. The maximum substrate temperature ranges from 1100 °C to 1250 °C when the plasma plume impinges perpendicularly on the graphite substrate at the distance from 800 mm to 1500 mm. It is also found that the Mach number of the plasma flow is 3.4. The numerical simulation predicts the maximum velocity and temperature of the plasma plume are 6474.8 m/s and 12823.7 K, respectively. • A novel expansion and super long plasma plume at low vacuum are studied. • The maximum length of the Ar–He plasma plume is 1900 mm. • The length of the plasma plume increases with the decreasing of chamber pressure. • Mach number of the plasma flow at 200 Pa is 3.4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Long laminar plasma jet can reach and heat the substrate in-situ. • Fracture toughness is used to explain the erosion performance. • Coatings after in-situ heat treatment show bulk-like erosion performance. Laminar plasma has the characteristics of a long plasma jet, low velocity, and high temperature, which make it able to cover and heat the substrate during the spraying process. The results show that when the standoff distance is short, the coating is strengthened by in-situ heating of the plasma jet and shows higher erosion resistance at high erosion angles and bulk-like material tendency. When the standoff distance is long, the substrate temperature is low, the coating shows higher erosion resistance at a lower erosion angle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work conducts ablation experiments and multi-scale numerical simulations of C/SiC composite materials under CW laser action. The highest surface temperature, macroscopic and microscopic ablation morphology, and approximate ablation threshold for C/SiC composites at different power densities were obtained. A multi-scale ablation calculation method for C/SiC composite materials under CW laser action was established using the level-set method. At the meso-scale, a macro-mesoscopic cross-scale surface ablation model was established, taking into account factors such as solid heat transfer, heat exchange of chemical reactions, differential temperature rise process between internal fibers and matrix, and differences in ablation behavior of two-dimensional plain weave fabrics. The experimental and microscale simulation results indicate that different ablation behaviors (oxidation and sublimation) occur in different regions, resulting in "shoot tip" fibers and residual matrix pore morphology. This work can provide theoretical and experimental basis for the design and precision machining of C/SiC materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CPF-1 is based on (Mo 6 O 20) n isopolyoxomolybdate chains bonded together with CuO 4 tetrahedra into a 3D inorganic polymer. • CPF-1 has high stability and excellent heterogeneous catalytic activity, the synthesis of alkynes into bromotriazole with ∼99 % yield. • The possible cascade catalytic mechanisms of the click and bromination reactions catalyzed by CPF-1 were also proposed. The selective conversion of alkynes into bromotriazoles over a single-component catalyst is highly desirable but presents significant challenges. In this study, we developed a robust copper-bonded polyoxomolybdates-based framework [Cu 2 (Mo 6 O 20)]·2H 2 O (CPF-1), and it integrates the catalytic ability of Cu(I) site with the multielectron-transfer ability of polyoxometalates. As a result, CPF-1 exhibits favorable bifunctional catalytic activity for click chemistry and achieves 99% yield in the conversion of corresponding products to bromotriazoles. To our knowledge, CPF-1 represents the first heterogeneous catalyst that significantly enhances cascade reaction with excellent efficiency and sustainable recyclability. Additionally, the possible cascade catalytic mechanisms of these two reactions are also proposed. The copper-bonded polyoxomolybdates-based framework (CPF-1) exhibits highly efficient heterogeneous catalytic activities in tandem click and bromination reactions (yields of up to 99 %). Furthermore, CPF-1 can be easily recovered and reused without significant loss of activity after seven reaction cycles. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Image-to-image translation models have shown remarkable ability on transferring images among different domains. Most of existing work follows the setting that the source domain and target domain keep the same at training and inference phases, which cannot be generalized to the scenarios for translating an image from an unseen domain to another unseen domain. In this work, we propose the Unsupervised Zero-Shot Image-to-image Translation (UZSIT) problem, which aims to learn a model that can translate samples from image domains that are not observed during training. Accordingly, we propose a framework called ZstGAN: By introducing an adversarial training scheme, ZstGAN learns to model each domain with domain-specific feature distribution that is semantically consistent on vision and attribute modalities. Then the domain-invariant features are disentangled with an shared encoder for image generation. We carry out extensive experiments on CUB and FLO datasets, and the results demonstrate the effectiveness of proposed method on UZSIT task. Moreover, ZstGAN shows significant accuracy improvements over state-of-the-art zero-shot learning methods on CUB and FLO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various industrial fields use gas-liquid separation, but due to the variety of gas-liquid separation technologies, no comprehensive review has been conducted. This paper systematically reviews the separation mechanism, application ranges, research status, and development prospects of various separation techniques. The challenges associated with each gas-liquid separation technology are presented. This review indicates that future research should focus on the droplet-droplet and droplet-gas interaction mechanisms and the formation and breakup mechanisms of liquid films. Future experimental efforts should focus on investigating gas-liquid two-phase flow fields including droplet size distribution, phase distribution, and velocity distribution. A promising development direction is to combine several gas-liquid separation technologies to expand their range of applications. An increased knowledge of the relationship between the flow field and separation performance would guide the standardized design of the gas-liquid separators. [Display omitted] • The technical and application state of gas-liquid separation is systematically reviewed. • Phase separation laws for various separation technologies are summarized. • A promising development exists in combining a variety of gas-liquid separation technologies. • A detailed understanding of the relationship between the flow field and separation performance is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2-D SWE) has been proven to detect hyperlipidemia-induced elastic abnormality in the corpus cavernosum. This study investigated cytological factors affecting the elasticity of the corpus cavernosum in rabbits with hyperlipidemia using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). Male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into a hyperlipidemia group (high-cholesterol diet) and a control group (standard diet). Penile 2-D SWE was performed to detect the elastic abnormality in the corpus cavernosum. ScRNA-seq was performed to observe cellular changes in the corpus cavernosum of rabbits with hyperlipidemia. Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and histological examinations were conducted to verify the results of scRNA-seq. Two-dimensional SWE revealed that the Young's modulus of the corpus cavernosum was significantly greater in the hyperlipidemia group than that in the control group (p < 0.001). Histological findings revealed extracellular matrix accumulation within the corpus cavernosum, with stronger staining of collagen types I and Ⅲ. ScRNA-seq revealed that fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, and endothelial cells were the major cell types in the corpus cavernosum. A novel subtype of fibroblasts (myofibroblast) was discovered in the hyperlipidemia group, which was verified by immunofluorescence staining and gene ontology analysis. Fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells were three cellular sources for myofibroblasts. Myofibroblasts are activated and proliferate and secrete large amounts of collagen fibers in the corpus cavernosum during hyperlipidemia, leading to abnormal Young's modulus detected by 2-D SWE and their recognition as a new factor affecting the hyperlipidemia-induced elastic abnormality of the corpus cavernosum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electroactive hydrogels, which exhibit intelligent deformation in response to electric fields, have garnered significant attention as potential actuating materials for flexible sensors, smart devices, soft actuators, and artificial muscles. In the process of converting mechanical energy to electrical energy, electroactive hydrogels can achieve efficient energy conversion and charge transfer due to their porous structure, high water solubility, flexibility, and electrical conductivity. However, the limited performance of single-functional electroactive hydrogels severely hampers their development prospects. To expand the application areas of these gels in self-powered devices, smart response devices, and other directions, there is a need to design electroactive hydrogels with multiple properties. In this paper, we present a systematic review of the mechanism and preparation strategies of electroactive hydrogels in response to electric fields. We also discuss the design strategy for electroactive hydrogels with multiple properties and provide an overview of the current progress in their applications. Furthermore, we analyze the role and advantages of electroactive hydrogels. Finally, we address the existing problems in electroactive hydrogel research and offer suggestions to solve them, and we hope that this design idea will inspire readers and researchers in the field. The article reviews the mechanism behind the generation of electroactive hydrogels and the design strategy of electroactive hydrogels with different properties, and describes the current status and challenges of their application areas. [Display omitted] • Exploring the mechanism and preparation of electroactive hydrogels. • Discussing the significance of electroactive hydrogels in various applications. • Examining the challenges and potential opportunities of electroactive hydrogels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wave energy is considered to be a kind of promising renewable energy due to its high energy density and enormous reserves. This study aims at examining the hydrodynamic performance of the multi-degree of freedom oscillating-buoy Wave Energy Converter (WEC). A three-dimensional numerical wave tank was developed using Star-CCM + software to investigate the interaction of waves with WEC. A mathematical model is built based on the structure of the multi-degree of freedom oscillating-buoy WEC. This paper investigated the variation in the device's energy conversion efficiency for different wave periods and spectral analyses of the motion of the floater. The effect of different elastic and damping coefficients on the device's performance was compared. The results demonstrate that the surge motion is the leading cause of the periodic variation in amplitude of floater motion. Heave motion is the main contributor to energy capture. Wave height has an influence on the contribution of the elastic and damping coefficients to the energy conversion efficiency. • Hydrodynamic performance of the multi-degree of freedom oscillating-buoy wave energy converter (WEC) is investigated. • A mathematical model is built based on the structure of the multi-degree of freedom oscillating-buoy WEC. • The effect of floater motion on the performance of WEC is analyzed. • The influence of PTO Parameters and wave height on Energy Conversion Efficiency is investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, by means of numerical simulation and experimental analysis, the performance of the engulfment based annular coaxial powder feeding method and the particle behaviors were studied in the laminar plasma spraying process. First, numerical simulation methods are used to analyze the flow state of the laminar plasma jet and its interaction with the powder particles. Then, the laminar plasma spray was applied to deposit coatings based on the annular coaxial powder feeding method, and the performance of this method was evaluated by observing the coatings. The numerical simulation results show that the powder particles can be fed into the laminar plasma jet without affecting the flow state of the plasma jet, and can be sufficiently heated. The experimental results are consistent with the numerical simulation results. The surface morphologies of the coatings indicates that vapor phase deposition and liquid phase deposition occur simultaneously during the spraying process, and the laminar plasma spray - physical vapor deposition process has the potential to be applied in atmospheric environments. • Engulfment based annular coaxial powder feeding method is applied in laminar plasma spray. • The engulfment of the plasma jet was evaluated and the best feeding rate was confirmed. • The particle melting and evaporating behavior is numerically studied. • Vapor phase and cluster deposition structure can be observed in atmospheric environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the effective ways to improve the electrochemical performance of supercapacitors is to fabricate a combined electric double layer capacitor (EDLC)-pseudocapacitance system. In this study, we synthesized the composite material FeCo 2 O 4 @PC by hydrothermal method, which can enhance the electrochemical performance of supercapacitors by the synergetic effect of EDLC and pseudocapacitance mechanisms. A series of physical characterizations including X-ray diffractometer (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used to demonstrate the successful compositing of FeCo 2 O 4 @PC. And FeCo 2 O 4 @PC was used for the testing of supercapacitor and the electrochemical performance was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD). The results show that the composite FeCo 2 O 4 @PC-5 possesses larger specific capacitance and excellent rate capability. This further confirms that the composite of the two materials can overcome their respective shortcomings and improve the overall capacitive performance of the electrode. The composite electrode material FeCo 2 O 4 @PC has great application potential and prospects in the field of supercapacitors. [Display omitted] • In composite material FeCo 2 O 4 @PC, PC and FeCo 2 O 4 are tightly combined. • FeCo 2 O 4 @PC can enhance specific capacitance and rate capabilities of supercapacitor. • The C s of FeCo 2 O 4 @PC electrode is up to 1046.4 F g−1 at a current density of 2 A g−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past few years, protein hydrogels have attracted more and more attention due to their unique physical, chemical and biological properties. They have a more complex molecular structure than traditional polymer hydrogels, which leads to special properties like excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability and responsiveness. The proteins used to construct hydrogels have similar structure and function with proteins in human body, which is an excellent bio-derived material with potential biological activities. Therefore, through the study of the flexible and diverse assembly mechanism of protein hydrogels, we can understand their special properties. This allows it to be used to construct rich and diverse biomaterials with a wide range of application prospect. In this review, we summarized the research progress of protein hydrogels. The different assembly mechanisms were briefly described, including self-assembly and co-assembly. Then we introduced properties based on protein, including responsiveness, adhesion property, biocompatibility, conductivity, self-healing and mechanical property. In addition, the applications of protein hydrogels in wound dressings, drug delivery, bioadhesion, and biosensing were reviewed. Finally, we summarized the current challenges in the field of protein hydrogels. The future development prospects in biomedicine, tissue repair, biosensing and so on were also prospected. [Display omitted] • Different assembly mechanisms of protein hydrogels were introduced. • Properties of protein hydrogels were summarized in detail. • Biological applications of protein hydrogels were elaborated. • Superiority of protein hydrogels compared to other hydrogels was described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the CW laser is used as a local heat source to simulate the extreme thermal environment generated by shock wave interference at discontinuities in spacecraft. The ablation behavior of the thermal protection material (C/SiC) is investigated under the combined impact of high-temperature airflow and the local extreme heat source. A novel multi-field coupling numerical computation software was presented to examine this strong coupling process of fluid-solid-thermal-ablation. The program was modified using the ALE + umeshmotion ablation calculation method in the ABAQUS software to mimic the process of the material's ablative boundary retreating under the action of the CW laser until the target was perforated. ANSYS Fluent software was used to do the numerical analysis of the high-speed airflow. The results of wind tunnel experiments and numerical simulations indicate that, compared to the effect of local heat sources in static air, irregular ablation pits are formed on the material surface under the action of local heat sources in high-temperature flow fields, resulting in higher ablation rates due to mechanical denudation effects. Analysis of the localization characteristics of the flow field near the ablation pit reveals that the shock wave generated downstream of the ablation pit leads to an increase in gas temperature, pressure, and density. When the ablation amount reaches a certain threshold, the gas in the ablation pit forms vortices, leading to an increase in local heat flow and pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional conjugated aromatic polymer with S/P substitutions demonstrated significant balance of H 2 permeance and selectivities over CO 2 /CO/N 2 /CH 4 via the effects of pore size and gas-membrane interaction. [Display omitted] • High cohesive energies confirm high structural stabilities of CAP-1S/CAP-1P. • CAP-1P exhibits almost complete H 2 selectivity with high H 2 permeance. • S/P substitution creates large pore sizes and strong gas-membrane interactions. • The interaction and pore size render efficient H 2 purification jointly. Based on two-dimensional conjugated aromatic polymer (2D-CAP), CAP-1S/CAP-1P monolayers were designed by substituting N with S/P atoms for H 2 purification. By using MD and DFT approaches, the H 2 purification performance and separation mechanisms of CAP-1S/CAP-1P membranes were investigated. Results showed that ultrahigh H 2 permeances of 3.546 × 10−5 and 2.593 × 10−4 mol m−2 s−1 Pa−1 were obtained in CAP-1S/CAP-1P, which were almost 104–105 times larger than the industrially acceptable standard. The selectivities of H 2 over CO 2 /CO/CH 4 /N 2 ranged from 5.719 × 1018 to 3.683 × 1039 in CAP-1S and 4.554 × 1013 to 2.153 × 1033 in CAP-1P. From a statistic viewpoint, the CAP-1S/CAP-1P membranes exhibited complete selectivities of H 2 over CO 2 /CO/CH 4 /N 2. The cohesive energies confirmed the high stabilities of CAP-1S/CAP-1P membranes. The minimum energy pathways, energy profiles, electron density, and charge density difference were analyzed to illustrate the significant impact of precise pore size on the H 2 separation performance. From a statistic mechanics view, the interaction between gases and CAP-1S/CAP-1P membranes indicated that the long-range Coulomb interactions dominated the gas diffusion processes. Results of this work highlighted CAP-1P as a promising H 2 separation membrane and elucidated the promotion mechanism by fine-tunning pore size and interaction between gases and membranes to balance the H 2 permeance and selectivity jointly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oleylamine modified Fe(OH) 3 can be converted into α-Fe 2 O 3 in situ during the catalytic reaction and contribute to the viscosity reduction of Shengli extra heavy crude oil. [Display omitted] • Oleylamine modified ferric oxide and ferric hydroxide were synthesized. • The ratio of oleylamine to Fe3+ influences the crystal structure of the catalyst. • Oleylamine modifier contributes to the dispersing of the catalysts in heavy oil. • Oleylamine modified Fe(OH) 3 was converted into α-Fe 2 O 3 during the catalytic reaction. • In-situ formed α-Fe 2 O 3 exhibits higher activity for viscosity reduction of heavy oil. Cis-9-Octadecenylamine modified α-Fe 2 O 3 and Fe(OH) 3 nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by using a one-step synthetic method. XRD results revealed that lower ratio of oleylamine to Fe3+ introduce forming hematite phase but higher ratio introduce forming Fe(OH) 3 phase. FTIR, TGA, contact angle, and XPS results indicated that olelyamine were modified on the surface of α-Fe 2 O 3 or Fe(OH) 3. A larger amount of oleylamine modifier is conducive to the dispersion of the catalysts in heavy oil. Oleylamine modified Fe(OH) 3 can be transformed into α-Fe 2 O 3 in situ during the catalytic reaction and shows higher catalytic activity in the viscosity reduction of Shengli extra heavy crude oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydropower generation is an important part of global renewable energy development. The vertical axis hydrokinetic turbine (VAHT) is a typical device to capture the kinetic energy of water. The optimization of its hydrodynamic performance can improve power coefficient. In this study, the Taguchi method was used to optimize the typical parameters of the vertical axis turbine, i.e., airfoil (NACA), pitch angle (β), enwinding ratio (ϖ), solidity ratio (σ), and small shaft position (O). An orthogonal array with five parameters and four levels was established; then, sixteen runs were simulated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software. A signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio analysis of the CFD simulation results was carried out, and the hydrodynamic performance of the optimized VAHT was studied. The results show that the influence strength order of each parameter on the power coefficient of the VAHT is featured by the relation NACA > σ > O > ϖ > β. According to the S/N ratio, the optimal combination of the five factors is as follows: NACA = 0020, β = 0°, ϖ = 1.25, σ = 0.382, and O = 0.5. In comparison with the initial design, the optimized minimum self-starting torque coefficient of the turbine is increased by 15.9%, which means that the self-starting performance is optimized. The power coefficient (C P) of optimized turbine is 0.1951, which is 17.59% higher than in the initial design, and the power coefficient fluctuation is 87.56% lower. Finally, the research findings could provide a reference for the optimal design of vertical axis turbines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Naturally abundant seawater mineral was employed to engineer banana pseudostem and bamboo biochars through pyrolysis at different low temperatures for improving their adsorption capabilities for methylene blue (MB) and tetracycline (TC). The adsorption capabilities were greatly enhanced as the biochars were pyrolyzed at 300 °C with 50/1 (mL/g) dosage of seawater to biomass. For instance, the engineered banana pseudostem biochar exhibited 8.00 and 6.54 times higher adsorption capabilities than the corresponding pristine biochar for MB (447.79 mg/g vs 55.96 mg/g) and TC (100.59 mg/g vs 16.75 mg/g) at 25 °C, respectively. The characterization results indicated that a large number of carboxylates, lactone acid salts, and alkoxides were generated on the engineered biochar and a high cation exchange capacity was gained. The adsorption of MB was mainly attributed to cation exchange complying with hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction, whereas the adsorption of TC was realized by hydrogen bonding and complexation. [Display omitted] • Oxygen containing groups were regulated by seawater mineral-promoted pyrolysis. • Carboxylates, lactonic salts and alkoxides were massively generated. • High cation exchange capacity was obtained. • High adsorption capabilities were achieved for methylene blue and tetracycline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastric ulcer (GU) is the injury of the gastric mucosa caused by the stimulation of various pathogenic factors penetrating the deep mucosal muscle layer. An increasing number of studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is highly effective in treating GU due to its multitarget, multilevel, and multi-pathway effects. To review the latest research progress in the treatment of GU by TCM, including clinical and experimental studies, focusing on the target and mechanism of action of drugs and providing a theoretical basis for the treatment of GU by natural herbs. Electronic databases (PubMed, Elsevier, Springer, Web of Science, and CNKI) were searched using the keywords "gastric ulcer", "gastric mucosal lesion", "TCM" and or paired with "peptic ulcer" and "natural drugs" for studies published in the last fifteen years until 2023. TCM, including single components of natural products, Chinese patent medicines (CPM), and TCM decoction, is expected to treat GU by regulating various mechanisms, such as redox balance, inflammatory factors, angiogenesis, gastric mucosal protective factors, intestinal flora, apoptosis, and autophagy. We discussed and summarized the mechanism of TCM in the treatment of GU, which provided a sufficient basis for TCM treatment of GU. [Display omitted] • GU is a complex and multifactor process. • TCM has multitarget, multilevel, and multi-pathway effects in treating GU. • This review provided a sufficient basis for TCM treatment of GU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]