Search

Synthesis of π‐conjugated crystalline two‐dimensional (2D) polymers remains largely unexplored due to limited synthetic methodology. Herein, we report the preparation of a 1,6‐anthrazoline (AZ)‐linked crystalline 2D polymer AZP via acid mediated Friedländer synthesis. The feasibility was examined first by two model reactions, followed by synthesis of three AZ‐based macrocycles MCn (n=5–7), in which hexagonal MC6 was isolated as the major product. The favorable macrocycle formation could be largely attributed to the dynamic feature of Friedländer synthesis, which involves both imine condensation and aldol condensation. The structure and crystallinity of AZP were confirmed by experiments and simulation. The skeletons of the macrocycles and polymer consist of all‐sp2 hybridized C/N atoms and are thus π‐conjugated and electro‐active. Our studies provide a rational way to access kinetically stable 2D crystalline polymers by combination of different dynamic covalent chemistries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of flexoelectricity on thickness-twist waves propagating in the nanoplates are analytically investigated. Detailed calculations are performed for nonpiezoelectric material using the method of reverberation-ray matrix (MRRM), by which the numerical instability usually encountered in the conventional methods can be successfully avoided. Based on the derived characteristic equation, the dispersion relations, phase velocity and group velocity of the structures with different geometry and material parameters are subsequently plotted and compared. The numerical results show that the flexoelectric effect is really essential and cannot be neglected to predict wave propagation behavior especially in the nanoscale structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A constant head permeability test of the coarse-grained soil of an earth-rockfill dam was carried out and the gradation of the tested soil was determined based on the continuous gradation equation. Based on the test results, an empirical formula of permeability coefficient considering the influence of gradation was established. The formula can be used to assess the influence of gradation on permeability coefficient with respect to the area under the gradation curve. The applicability of the formula was verified based on the results of the permeability test from other studies. It was found that the empirical formula of permeability coefficient based on gradation area was suitable for coarse-grained soil. This paper provides a new perspective for the study of permeation behavior of coarse-grained soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Weighted schatten- p norm regularization has been proposed for multichannel EEG signal recovery. • Welsch estimator has been used to retrain the impulsive noise which is included in the original signal. • An effect iterative optimization method is applied to exactly solve the resulting complicated optimization problem. • RCLR can achieve the superior performance compared with existing CS techniques in the open literature. Reducing noise is an urgent problem that solved in practical application, so designing robust signal recovery approach based on compressive sensing (CS) theory is critical for the multichannel electroencephalogram (EEG) signals. However, almost all the algorithms seldom regard noise or just take Gaussian noise emerged in transmission into account. When the original signal is affected by noise before compression and transmission, all these CS approaches will be out of effect. In order to abase the impact of impulsive noise, a new robust CS approach based on cosparse and low-rank priors is proposed to recover the clean original signal near perfectly. Specially, our model employs Welsch estimator to retrain the impulsive noise, and weighted schatten- p norm to efficiently utilize low-rank prior knowledge. Moreover, we present an iterative optimization strategy to reconstruct the signals. Experimental results have demonstrated that the proposed algorithm can exactly reconstruct the multichannel EEG signals under the impact of impulsive noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ganoderma (Lingzhi in Chinese) has shown good clinical outcomes in the treatment of insomnia, restlessness, and palpitation. However, the mechanism by which Ganoderma ameliorates insomnia is unclear. We explored the mechanism of the anti-insomnia effect of Ganoderma using systems pharmacology from the perspective of central-peripheral multi-level interaction network analysis. Methods: The active components and central active components of Ganoderma were obtained from the TCMIP and TCMSP databases, then screened to determine their pharmacokinetic properties. The potential target genes of these components were identified using the Swiss Target Prediction and TCMSP databases. The results were matched with the insomnia target genes obtained from the GeneCards, OMIM, DisGeNET, and TCMIP databases. Overlapping targets were subjected to multi-level interaction network analysis and enrichment analysis using the STRING, Metascape, and BioGPS databases. The networks analysed were protein-protein interaction (PPI), drug-component-target gene, component-target gene-organ, and target gene-extended disease; we also performed gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses. Results: In total, 34 sedative-hypnotic components (including 5 central active components) were identified, corresponding to 51 target genes. Multi-level interaction network analysis and enrichment analysis demonstrated that Ganoderma exerted an anti-insomnia effect via multiple central-peripheral mechanisms simultaneously, mainly by regulating cell apoptosis/survival and cytokine expression through core target genes such as TNF, CASP3, JUN, and HSP90αA1; it also affected immune regulation and apoptosis. Therefore, Ganoderma has potential as an adjuvant therapy for insomnia-related complications. Conclusion: Ganoderma exerts an anti-insomnia effect via complex central-peripheral multi-level interaction networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative studies of the multiple factors influencing the mountain-mass effect, which causes higher temperatures in mountainous than non-mountainous regions, remain insufficient. This study estimated the air temperature in the Yellow River Basin, which spans three different elevation ranges, using multi-source data to address the uneven distribution of regional meteorological stations. The differences in mountain-mass effect for different geomorphic regions at the same altitude were then compared. The Manner–Kendall nonparametric test was used to analyse time series changes in temperature. Moreover, we employed the geographically weighted regression (GWR) model, with MODIS land-surface and air-temperature data, station-based meteorological data, vertical temperature gradients corresponding to the 2000–2015 period, and elevation data, to estimate the correlation between monthly mean surface temperature and air temperature in the Yellow River Basin. The following major results were obtained. (1) The GWR method and ground station-based observations enhanced the accuracy of air-temperature estimates with an error of only ± 0.74°C. (2) The estimated annual variations in the spatial distributions of 12-month average temperatures showed that the upper Tibetan Plateau is characterised by low annual air temperatures with a narrow spatial distribution, whereas north-eastern areas upstream of the Inner Mongolia Plateau are characterised by higher air temperatures. Changes in the average monthly air temperature were also high in the middle and lower reaches, with a narrow spatial distribution. (3) Considering the seasonal variation in the temperature lapse rate, the mountain-mass effect in the Yellow River Basin was very high. In the middle of each season, the variation of air temperature at a given altitude over the Tibetan Plateau was higher than that over the Loess Plateau and Jinji Mountain. The results of this study reveal the unique temperature characteristics of the Yellow River Basin according to its geomorphology. Furthermore, this research contributes to quantifying mountain-mass effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ovarian cancer is an aggressive tumor in women with high mortality. Paclitaxel (PTX) can be used for the chemotherapy of ovarian cancer. Here, the roles of circular_0061140 (circ_0061140) in PTX sensitivity and malignant progression of ovarian cancer are unveiled. Methods: The expressions of circ_0061140, microRNA-136 (miR-136) and chromobox 2 (CBX2) mRNA were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Protein expression was determined by western blot. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of PTX was determined by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Cell proliferation was investigated by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and colony formation assays. Cell apoptosis was demonstrated by flow cytometry analysis. Cell migration and invasion were evaluated by transwell assay. The binding relationship between miR-136 and circ_0061140 or CBX2 was predicted by interactome or starbase online database, and identified by dual-luciferase reporter assay. The effects of circ_0061140 on tumor formation and PTX sensitivity in vivo were disclosed by tumor formation assay. Results: Circ_0061140 and CBX2 expressions were upregulated, while miR-136 expression was downregulated in PTX-resistant tissues and cells compared with control groups. Circ_0061140 knockdown repressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and promoted cell apoptosis and PTX sensitivity; however, these effects were restrained by miR-136 RNAi. Additionally, circ_0061140 was a sponge of miR-136, and miR-136 bound to CBX2. Furthermore, circ_0061140 knockdown inhibited tumor formation and improved PTX sensitivity in vivo. Conclusions: Circ_0061140 silencing repressed the progression and PTX resistance of ovarian cancer by downregulating CBX2 expression via sponging miR-136, which provided novel insight into studying the therapy of ovarian cancer with PTX. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A one-pot, base-mediated approach to Acanthus ilicifolius Linn alkaloid 2-benzoxazolinone derivatives is developed. Starting from trichloroacetic acid, o -aminophenol, substituted benzaldehydes and alkyl isocyanides, the desired 2-benzoxazolinone derivatives are obtained in good yields via a tandem Ugi condensation and intramolecular haloform cyclization at room temperature in the presence of Et3N. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

World is rich in unconventional oil and various alternatives to petroleum. However, conventional oil production declines so quickly that it is likely these unconventional oil resources cannot be put into production fast enough and thus will not be compensated sufficiently. We realize detecting rapid detection of water content in heavy oil. The waveguide consists of a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguide, rectangular cavity resonator, and crescent-shaped cavity resonator. The effects of the coupling distance, geometry of the crescent-shaped cavity resonator and its rotation angle, and length and width of the rectangular cavity resonator on the Fano resonance lines were numerically analyzed. Multiple Fano resonances can be produced as the rotation angle of the crescent-shaped cavity resonator is adjusted, and the sensor's refractive index sensitivity was found to be 935.71 nm / RIU . By measuring the water content in heavy oil, we found that the Fano resonance lines shift toward shorter wavelengths as the volume fraction of water content increases. The detection resolution in heavy oil 1.79 × 10 - 9 . The results presented here show that water content in heavy oil can be calculated using the measured change in the Fano resonance wavelength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The incidence of inborn errors of metabolism varies widely across countries. Very few studies have analyzed the incidence of these disorders in Mainland China. We aimed to estimate the overall and disease-specific incidences of inborn errors of metabolism in Chinese newborns and investigate the geographical distribution of these disorders. Methods: A national cross-sectional survey was conducted to investigate newborn inborn errors of metabolism screening by tandem mass spectroscopy in Mainland China between 2016 and 2017. A total of 246 newborn screening centers were surveyed using a standardized questionnaire. We examined the cumulative and disease-specific incidences of inborn errors of metabolism in Mainland China as a whole and in different geographical locations. Results: Over 7 million newborns were screened and 2747 were diagnosed with inborn errors of metabolism, yielding an overall incidence of 38.69 per 100,000 births (95% confidence interval: 37.27–40.17). The most common disorders were amino acid disorders (17.14 per 100,000 births, 95% confidence interval: 16.21–18.13), followed by organic acid disorders (12.39 per 100,000 births, 95% confidence interval: 11.60–13.24) and fatty acid oxidation disorders (9.16 per 100,000 births, 95% confidence interval: 8.48–9.89). The overall and disease-specific incidence rates differed significantly across geographical locations (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The overall incidence of inborn errors of metabolism in Chinese newborns is relatively high. It is urgent to establish the recommended uniform screening panel for inborn errors of metabolism to guide the national and regional tandem mass spectroscopy newborn screening programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fast estimation of volumes of landslide deposit has great significance for emergency rescue decision-making, such as deposit filling and excavation and road dredging. The existing methods for the volumes of landslide deposit estimation have the disadvantages of a long data acquisition cycle, poor timeliness and high cost. Therefore, this paper researches a fast estimation method of volumes of landslide deposit based on the 3D reconstruction of smartphone images. First, the improved algorithms of speeded up robust features (SURF) and oriented fast and rotated brief (ORB) algorithms are combined to realize the fast matching of landslide feature points. Second, the 3D scene sparse reconstruction of landslide deposit is realized through boundary constraints. Third, taking the steepest gradient into account, the interpolation of the bottom of the landslide deposit and the fast estimation of the volumes are carried out. Finally, a prototype system is developed, and a case study is performed. The experimental results show that the estimation results of the proposed method are between those of the commercial software ContextCapture, Metashape and Pix4Dmapper, which are commonly used in the field of 3D reconstruction, but the estimation speed is 1–2 times faster than that of the commercial software mentioned above. The proposed method can realize the low-cost and fast estimation of landslide deposit volumes and provide technical support for landslide emergency rescue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

circRNAs have been suggested to modulate NSCLC tumorigenesis and drug resistance. Whether circSNX6 affects NSCLC remains unclear. In this study, we aim to investigate the role of circSNX6 in drug resistance of NSCLC exposed to cisplatin. RT-qPCR method was used to investigate expression levels of circSNX6, miR-137 and CXCL12. MTT, cell colony formation and TUNEL assays were utilized to assess cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, respectively. Xenograft assay was conducted to examine in vivo tumor growth. circSNX6 overexpression caused enhanced cell viability and proliferation of H1299 and Calu-1, while it inhibited apoptosis under cisplatin treatment. miR-137 inhibitor greatly rescued cell viability, proliferation and apoptosis of circSNX6 knockdown H1299 cells. miR-137 mimic increased ROS generation, as well as reduced GSH and SOD levels, whereas miR-137 inhibitor exerted opposing effect. circSNX6 knockdown also enhanced ROS generation, as well as decreased GSH and SOD levels. CXCL12 partially restored miR-137 mimic-modulated cell viability, proliferation and apoptosis. Herein, our group proposes circSNX6 as key regulator for drug resistance of NSCLC. The findings provide solid groundings for understanding of NSCLC pathogenesis and development of therapeutics. • circSNX6 overexpression promoted chemoresistance of NSCLC cells. • miR-137 inhibitor rescued si-circSNX6-attenuated chemoresistance of NSCLC cells. • circSNX6 and miR-137 regulated ROS signaling. • CXCL12 acted as downstream effector for miR-137 in NSCLC cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the necessity of nonstructural or structural intraarticular bone grafting in atlantoaxial facet joints via a posterior approach and the influence by the presence of basilar invagination (BI). Methods: From November 2016 to October 2018, patients who underwent posterior atlantoaxial or occipitocervical arthrodesis surgery at one institute were retrospectively reviewed. Operation records, preoperative and postoperative clinical status, and radiological films were analyzed. Results: Thirty-three patients (19 without BI, 14 with BI) underwent posterior facet joint release followed by intraarticular bone grafting were enrolled finally. Twenty-four nonstructural (15 without BI, 9 with BI) and 9 structural (4 without BI, 5 with BI) grafting were performed. The average follow-up was 32.15±6.73 months (24–47 months). Among them, 1 (3.03%) implant failure occurred, and 32 (96.97%) achieved satisfactory neurological outcomes, including 28 (84.85%) complete and 4 (12.12%) acceptable reductions with complete fusion within 6 months. For patients without BI, structural and nonstructural grafting showed no significant difference in terms of reduction maintenance (100% vs 73.33%, p = 0.530), while for those with BI, structural grafting significantly increased the postoperative height of the joint space (5.67±1.22 mm vs 3.43±1.78 mm, p = 0.002) and maintained it much better than nonstructural grafting (88.89% vs 20.00%, p = 0.023), contributing notably to BI correction. Conclusion: Intraarticular structural bone grafting in atlantoaxial facet joints has the advantage of maintaining anterior column height in the case of lateral mass collapse or when BI correction is needed; otherwise, nonstructural bone grafting is enough. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virtual scenes can present rich and clear disaster information, which can significantly improve the level of public disaster perception. However, existing methods for constructing scenes of debris flow disasters have some deficiencies. First, the construction process does not consider public knowledge, which makes it difficult for the constructed scenes to meet the requirements of the public. Second, the scene representation emphasizes visual effects but lacks augmented visualization, leading to scarcity of semantic information and inefficient public perception. In this paper, the optimal selection of scene objects, semantic augmentation through the combination of various visual variables and dynamic augmented representation are discussed in detail. Finally, a debris flow that occurred Shuimo town is selected for experiment analysis. The experimental results show that most people are unaware of the risks posed by debris flow disasters. The public is more concerned about the consequences of a disaster than its spatiotemporal process, especially when the consequences are related to their own interests. Furthermore, an augmented representation can increase the amount of semantic information of scene objects, which is essential for enhancing public understanding of the causes, processes and effects of debris flows and thereby changing people's attitudes and enhancing their risk perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a networked multiaxis motion control task, faults in any motor will cause the performance degradation of cooperative operation, which may considerably affect the whole network and the quality of products. The main objective of this article is to propose an improved observer-based fault-tolerant tracking control approach for industrial multiagent systems. First, a group of new distributed intermediate estimators is presented, where the design structure is modified to enhance the feasibility of the estimation scheme. It is shown that both of the nominal distributed intermediate estimator and the traditional extended state observer are special cases of the proposed estimator. Second, the estimation performance can be improved significantly via an online reinforcement learning estimation strategy, whose core is an adaptive switching mechanism integrated with a function block of source fault mode localization. Benefiting from satisfactory estimation results, good fault-tolerant tracking control performance can be guaranteed despite of multiple faults and disturbances. The application to a networked multiaxis motion control system demonstrates the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: Rock mechanics; Loading rate; Water-weakening effects; Uniaxial compression strength (UCS); Dominant frequency EN Rock mechanics Loading rate Water-weakening effects Uniaxial compression strength (UCS) Dominant frequency 4347 4353 7 08/06/21 20210801 NES 210801 Introduction Water is one of the most important environmental factors affecting rock mechanical properties, because most rock masses in engineering practice are in the moist or saturated state (Fig. With an increase of loading rate, fewer micro-tensile failures induced by rate-dependence result in an increase in the UCS of dry rocks. For saturated rocks, the decrease in UCS at low loading rates is responsible to the dominant effect of rate-dependence. When the loading rate varies from 0.01 to 0.1 mm min SP -1 sp , the UCS increases rapidly, while when the loading rate reaches 0.5 mm min SP -1 sp it decreases as the loading rate increases. [Extracted from the article]

The propagation of extraordinary and upper-hybrid waves in spin quantum magnetoplasmas with vacuum polarization effect is investigated. Based on the quantum magnetohydrodynamics model including Bohm potential, arbitrary relativistic degeneracy pressure and spin force, and Maxwell's equations modified by the spin current and vacuum polarization current, the dispersion relations of extraordinary and upper-hybrid waves are derived. The analytical and numerical results show that quantum effects (Bohm potential, degeneracy pressure and spin magnetization energy) and the vacuum polarization effect modify the propagation of the extraordinary wave. Under the action of a strong magnetic field, the plasma frequency is obviously increased by the vacuum polarization effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigation effects of the combination use of epidural blockade and parecoxib in postoperative recovery of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. The present prospective single-blinded study included 186 CRC patients who received radical resection during April 2016 to December 2017. All patients were randomized into 3 different groups, the epidural blockade group, the combined-group with both epidural blockade and pre-intravenous injection of parecoxib, and the control group. The mean operative time, bleeding volume, the first out of bed activity time and hospital stay time were recorded. The mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score and Ramsay score were measured for cognitive function and the Visual Analog Score (VAS) was determined for the pain condition. The surgery time for the control group was significantly shorter than the other 2 groups (P < 0.05). The VAS scores were significantly lower in both the combined group and the epidural blockade group when compared with the control group and were dramatically lower in the combined group than the others 2 groups (all P < 0.05). The first out of bed activity time and hospital stay time were the shortest in the combined group, and the control group had the longest time (all P < 0.05). Both the Ramsay and MMSE scores were the highest in the combination group than other groups (all P < 0.05) and no significant difference was observed between the epidural blockade group and the control. The combination of epidural blockade and parecoxib could enhance the recovery process, as well as reduce the pain for the CRC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The visualization of flood disasters in virtual reality (VR) scenes is useful for the representation and sharing of disaster knowledge and can effectively improve users' cognitive efficiency in comprehending disaster information. However, the existing VR methods of visualizing flood disaster scenes have some shortcomings, such as low rendering efficiency and poor user experience. In this paper, a tunnel vision optimization method for VR flood scenes based on Gaussian blur is proposed. The key techniques are studied, such as region of interest (ROI) calculation and tunnel vision optimization considering the characteristics of the human visual system. A prototype system has been developed and used to carry out an experimental case analysis. The experimental results show that the number of triangles drawn in a flood VR scene is reduced by approximately 30%–40% using this method and that the average frame rate is stable at approximately 90 frames per second (fps), significantly improving the efficiency of scene rendering and reducing motion sickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the classical WENO schemes [27] might suffer from slight post-shock oscillations (which are responsible for the numerical residual to hang at a truncation error level) and the new high-order multi-resolution WENO schemes [59] are successful to solve for steady-state problems, we apply these high-order finite volume multi-resolution WENO techniques to serve as limiters for high-order Runge-Kutta discontinuous Galerkin (RKDG) methods in simulating steady-state problems. Firstly, a new troubled cell indicator is designed to precisely detect the cells which would need further limiting procedures. Then the high-order multi-resolution WENO limiting procedures are adopted on a sequence of hierarchical L 2 projection polynomials of the DG solution within the troubled cell itself. By doing so, these RKDG methods with multi-resolution WENO limiters could gradually degrade from the optimal high-order accuracy to the first-order accuracy near strong discontinuities, suppress the slight post-shock oscillations, and push the numerical residual to settle down to machine zero in steady-state simulations. These new multi-resolution WENO limiters are very simple to construct and can be easily implemented to arbitrary high-order accuracy for solving steady-state problems in multi-dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In light of the burgeoning electric vehicle market, the demand for lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) is on the rise. However, the supply of materials essential for LiBs is struggling to keep pace, posing a significant challenge in meeting the surging market demand. This study offers a viable solution to bolster the dependability of the material supply chain by prioritizing material suppliers who are deeply committed to sustainable practices and performance. We have developed a comprehensive system for evaluating sustainable performance, encompassing three vital dimensions: economic, social and environmental contexts. Then, we introduced a pioneering approach known as the multi-criteria material supplier selection (MCMSS) methodology which amalgamates multi-criteria decision-making techniques with artificial intelligence to effectively generate sustainability performance of suppliers and identify the most suitable supplier, out of all alternatives. Eventually, the supply of four key materials of LiBs is used as illustrative examples to verify the feasibility and rationality of the proposed MCMSS. This work carries significant implications for overseeing the LiB material industry. The MCMSS model offers a solution for the government to establish a comprehensive material supplier database to intelligently supervise the activities of material suppliers and foster collaboration between upstream and downstream enterprises within the LiB industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to observe the correlation between the visceral fat/subcutaneous fat area ratio (VSR) and peripheral blood monocyte/high-density lipoprotein ratio (MHR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and albuminuria. Based on the urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR), 89 T2DM patients were divided into normo-albuminuria group (n = 49, UACR <30 mg/g) and albuminuria group (n = 40, UACR ≥30 mg/g). Gender, age, body mass index (BMI), duration of T2DM, blood pressure, visceral fat area (VA), subcutaneous fat area (SA), biochemical indexes of blood serum and urinary were collected and compared between the two groups, and the relationship between VSR and MHR was analyzed in albuminuria group. No significant differences existed in gender, age, BMI, duration of diabetes, blood pressure, serum lipids, and hemoglobin Alc between the two groups. The levels of VA, VSR, MHR, and UACR were higher in the albuminuria group (P < 0.05). VSR was positively correlated with MHR (r = 0.39, P < 0.01), whereas VA was not significantly correlated with MHR in the albuminuria group. Compared with VA, VSR was significantly correlated with MHR, suggesting that VSR is more closely related to the occurrence of chronic inflammation in type 2 diabetics with albuminuria. • Type 2 diabetics with albuminuria showes higher visceral fat/subcutaneous fat area ratio compared to normo-albuminuria group. • Visceral fat/subcutaneous fat area ratio is more closely related with chronic inflammatory compared to visceral fat area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates a Fermi-level-reconfigurable terahertz wavefront modulator composed of a hybrid material comprising graphene, silver metal, and silicon dioxide. Through theoretical simulation, analysis, and experimental investigations, it is found that graphene plays a crucial role in enhancing the performance of the modulator. Specifically, the presence of graphene increases the limiting factor of the modulator by 0.281, reduces the normalized modal field area by 0.15, decreases the transmission loss, and lowers the gain threshold by 30097 cm−1, thereby improving the efficiency, reliability, and stability of the device. The silicon dioxide and silver metal in the structure act as the primary reflective materials, achieving the effect of a metallic lens and validating the modulator's capability for efficient defocusing. Further investigations reveal that the carrier concentration of graphene can be easily controlled, allowing for manipulation of its physical properties through Fermi-level modulation. When incident light passes through the graphene array, it induces phase variations, altering the transmission path of light and thereby affecting the position of the defocused focal point, enabling dynamic adjustability. Under low Fermi-level control, the modulator achieves a 2 π phase adjustment range with an average reflectivity of 75%. Thus, this provides potential for practical applications of more dynamic and tunable microdevices, particularly in the field of laser cutting technology and etching processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flood visualization plays a pivotal role in understanding and predicting flood disasters, as it aids in the development of effective disaster mitigation measures and emergency response strategies. However, traditional methods of flood computation and visualization often suffer from poor timeliness and subpar visualization effects, particularly in virtual reality (VR) scenarios. Panoramic data, inherently suitable for VR visualization, offers a low data volume attribute that significantly reduces the time cost of data processing. This allows for the real-time overlay of flood simulation results with the actual environment. We proposed a multi-scale flood simulation method which is subsequently integrated with panoramic images or videos through a dimensionality reduction process, enhancing visualization effects. We developed a prototype system to validate the proposed methodology, and the results demonstrated improved visualization outcomes, rendering efficiency, and user experience in VR panoramic flood simulations. • The CA-PBD method enhances the visualization of floods across multiple spatial scales. • The real-time fusion of 3D flood data with panoramic data improves the timeliness. • User interaction with panoramic videos or images represents a new approach to disaster perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding air quality requires a comprehensive understanding of its various factors. Most of the association rule techniques focuses on high frequency terms, ignoring the potential importance of low- frequency terms and causing unnecessary storage space waste. Therefore, a dynamic genetic association rule mining algorithm is proposed in this paper, which combines the improved dynamic genetic algorithm with the association rule mining algorithm to realize the importance mining of low- frequency terms. Firstly, in the chromosome coding phase of genetic algorithm, an innovative multi-information coding strategy is proposed, which selectively stores similar values of different levels in one storage unit. It avoids storing all the values at once and facilitates efficient mining of valid rules later. Secondly, by weighting the evaluation indicators such as support, confidence and promotion in association rule mining, a new evaluation index is formed, avoiding the need to set a minimum threshold for high-interest rules. Finally, in order to improve the mining performance of the rules, the dynamic crossover rate and mutation rate are set to improve the search efficiency of the algorithm. In the experimental stage, this paper adopts the 2016 annual air quality data set of Beijing to verify the effectiveness of the unit point multi-information coding strategy in reducing the rule storage air, the effectiveness of mining the rules formed by the low frequency item set, and the effectiveness of combining the rule mining algorithm with the swarm intelligence optimization algorithm in terms of search time and convergence. In the experimental stage, this paper adopts the 2016 annual air quality data set of Beijing to verify the effectiveness of the above three aspects. The unit point multi-information coding strategy reduced the rule space storage consumption by 50%, the new evaluation index can mine more interesting rules whose interest level can be up to 90%, while mining the rules formed by the lower frequency terms, and in terms of search time, we reduced it about 20% compared with some meta-heuristic algorithms, while improving convergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: A certain level of low‐density lipoprotein receptor activity is crucial for the efficacy of PCSK9i. Therapeutic strategies for familial hypercholesterolemia patients should consider drug efficacy, and genetic testing will be helpful. Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a serious autosomal dominant disorder. Managing blood lipids in FH patients poses greater challenges for clinicians. Drug therapy may not always yield satisfactory results, particularly in individuals with low‐density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) negative mutations. Herein, we report a young female harboring an LDLR frameshift mutation. This patient developed xanthomas at 7 months old and underwent several years of treatment involving four classes of lipid‐lowering drugs, including PCSK9i. However, the response to drug therapy was limited in this patient and eventually culminated in premature myocardial infarction. The efficacy of PCSK9i depends on the activity of LDLR. The inefficacy of PCSK9i may arise from the extensive mutations which leading to loss of LDLR activity. Therapy plans for these patients should take into account the efficacy of drug therapy. Early genetic testing is crucial for clinicians to make informed decisions regarding therapy options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a vinyl cyanation reaction of vinyl triflates and readily available 1,4‐dicyanobenzene through a nickel‐catalyzed reductive coupling process. The reaction is operated under mild conditions with remarkable functional‐group compatibility. Cyclic vinyl triflates with various ring sizes and substituents at different positions all reacted smoothly. The synthetic utility is demonstrated by the derivatization of pharmaceutical and natural compounds, a scale‐up synthesis, and various functional group transformations. Preliminary mechanistic studies demonstrate that vinyl triflates are more reactive than 1,4‐dicyanobenzene towards the oxidative addition to nickel catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been widely recognised that near-fault ground motions can be distinctly different from far-fault ground motions, in terms of their amplitudes and spectral characteristics, and there are a number of studies investigating the effects of near-fault ground motions on the structural response. However, only a few studies focus on underground tunnels, and most of them consider vertically incident seismic waves, neglecting the wave passage effect which is critical for long tunnels. This paper investigates the consequences of near-fault pulse-like ground motions on the seismic tunnel response, with an example of a tunnel embedded in saturated poroelastic soil. The input motions are represented by obliquely incident P1 waves, and the wave passage effect along the longitudinal direction is considered by a 2.5D modelling technique. The seismic tunnel response for near-fault pulse-like and far-fault ground motions is compared. Additionally, artificial ground motions, which have consistent acceleration response spectra with the near-fault pulse-like ground motions, but without velocity pulses, are generated to gain further insight into the contribution of velocity pulses. It is shown that the near-fault pulse-like ground motions can noticeably increase the tunnel internal forces, due to large seismic energy associated with the velocity pulses. For pulse-like ground motions with similar acceleration response spectra, the fling-step velocity pulse can be more detrimental to the tunnel than the forward-directivity velocity pulse. Moreover, the amplification effect of the near-fault pulse-like ground motions on the tunnel internal forces tends to be more prominent for large vertical angles of incidence, highlighting the significance of considering the oblique incidence case for seismic design. • Interaction of the tunnel and saturated poroelastic soil for obliquely incident seismic waves. • The longitudinal tunnel response due to the wave passage effect. • Near-fault pulse-like ground motions tend to increase internal forces in the tunnel lining. • Effects of forward-directivity and fling-step velocity pulses. • Influences of pulse-like ground motions are more prominent for large vertical angles of incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• As a multi-frequency optical switch. For the "on/off" state at 5.35 THz, the MD and IL are 95.6% and 0.315 dB. • Make band optical switch. The structures all maintain MD > 90% and IL < 0.35 dB in the 5.28–5.48 THz band. • The transmission plunge can exhibit a high refractive index sensitivity of 0.7 THz/RIU. A periodic metamaterial comprising three graphene-strips and four C-type graphene square-ring is proposed herein to realize plasmon-induced transparency (PIT). Based on the characteristics of graphene dynamic modulation, we effectively broaden of the transparent window the relative bandwidth to realize the broadband PIT. The influence of the polarized light angle on PIT is investigated, demonstrating that the polarization angle affects PIT significantly, the dynamic change from multiple plasma-induced transparency to single-PIT can be realized. By tuning the Fermi levels in the graphene, our proposed metamaterial structure allows preparing not only a multi-frequency optical switch with modulation degrees of the amplitude (MDA) up to 95.6% and insertion loss (IL) down to 0.315 dB at 5.35 THz but also preparing optical switches with MDA > 90% and IL < 0.35 dB in bands ranging from 5.28 to 5.48 THz. The refractive index sensitivity of metamaterials is also investigated, and the simulation results show that a sensitivity of 0.7 THz/RIU is achieved, meaning an excellent sensors can be prepared. Thus, the proposed structure provides a new idea for the design of terahertz multi-frequency switches and refractive index sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Significant modeling of the continuous biomethane yield from agricultural wastes. • Response surface methodology models were better than artificial neural networks. • Interaction effects between C/N ratio, total solids, and hydraulic retention time. • The optimal operational conditions were validated with errors lower than 2%. This study investigated the sequencing batch co-digestion (Co-AD) of poultry litter (PL) and wheat straw (WS) for continuous methane production as a renewable bioenergy resource. Response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN) were both used to model the methane content (MC, %) in the produced biogas and daily methane yield (DMY, mL CH 4 /g VS added) from the Co-AD process. The RSM models (R 2 = 0.9554, RMSE = 0.813; R 2 = 0.9618, RMSE = 4.940) were more accurate than the ANN models (R 2 = 0.9163, RMSE = 1.114; R 2 = 0.9037, RMSE = 7.847) in predicting MC and DMY, respectively. The optimal conditions for maximum DMY obtained by RSM were a C/N ratio of 22.73 (a mixing ratio of 0.46 g PL to 1.00 g WS on dry matter basis), total solids of 2.27%, and hydraulic retention time of 11.45 days, under which the validation trials showed MC of (58.37 ± 0.25)% and DMY of (184.36 ± 0.51) mL CH 4 /g VS added with the prediction errors by RSM (1.07% and 1.87%) being relatively lower than that by ANN (4.21% and 4.35%). The models and optimized parameters results could provide support for the operation and prediction of the continuous Co-AD of PL with WS for real bioenergy production applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) often causes irreversible vision impairment. Prevention of RGC degeneration can prevent or delay the deterioration of visual function. The present study aimed to investigate retinal metabolic profiles following optic nerve transection (ONT) injury and identify the potential metabolic targets for the prevention of RGC degeneration. Retinal samples were dissected from ONT group and non-ONT group. The untargeted metabolomics were carried out using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The involved pathways and biomarkers were analyzed using Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis and MetaboAnalyst 5.0. In the ONT group, 689 disparate metabolites were detected, including lipids and lipid-like molecules. A total of 122 metabolites were successfully annotated and enriched in 50 KEGG pathways. Among them, 'sphingolipid metabolism' and 'primary bile acid biosynthesis' were identified involved in RGC degeneration. A total of five metabolites were selected as the candidate biomarkers for detecting RGC degeneration with an AUC value of 1. The present study revealed that lipid-related metabolism was involved in the pathogenesis of retinal neurodegeneration. Taurine, taurochenodesoxycholic acid, taurocholic acid (TCA), sphingosine, and galabiosylceramide are shown as the promising biomarkers for the diagnosis of RGC degeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving the solar cell's ability to capture solar photons and enhancing its absorption of light have a significant impact on increasing the photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) of solar cells. In this study, we propose to embed a layer of light-trapping structure (LTS) utilizing Ti nanoparticles and their oxide TiO 2 periodically arranged in the window layer of GaAs thin-film solar cells. This structure improves the light absorption efficiency by increasing the optical range and surface plasmon resonance of light inside the cell, which in turn improves the PCE of the solar cell. Simulation results show that the GaAs solar cell proposed in this paper achieves an average absorptivity of 94.99% in the visible and near-infrared wavelength bands, and the PCE reaches 31.77%, which is close to the Shockley-Queisser limit level of the single-junction solar cell. And it realizes the characteristic of perfect absorption in the wavelength range of 555–800 nm. The cell structure proposed in this study is characterized by high bandwidth perfect absorption and high PCE, which is insensitive to the angle of incidence, and provides a new idea for the design of new high-efficiency thin-film solar cells. • With the effect of anti-reflection and surface plasmon resonance, the average absorption in the wavelength range of 400 nm–900 nm is 94.99%, among which in the wavelength range of 555 nm–800 nm, the absorption is greater than 99% and up to 99.99%, achieving perfect absorption in high bandwidth. • The performance parameters of the cell, short-circuit current (Jsc), open-circuit voltage (Voc), fill factor (FF) and photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE), reached 31.77 mA/cm2, 1.121 V, 89.19% and 31.77%, respectively. • We verified the sensitivity of the proposed structure to the angle of incidence of sunlight. It was found that the absorption of the cell remained at a high level with insensitivity to the angle of incidence of light for a wide range of incidence from 0° to 60°. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Against the backdrop of deep concern over the negative externalities of fossil fuel energy use and the continued growth of distributed renewable energy, traditional demand response (DR) mechanisms need to be transformed and to include energy-saving objectives. This study proposes a distributed energy price-based hybrid DR (DEPB-HDR) mechanism that combines real-time incentives, tariffs, and distributive energy procurement prices. Under DEPB-HDR, the grid administrator provides optimal real-time incentives for power distributors (PDs) and sets the optimal real-time procurement prices for power prosumers (PPs) to satisfy the objectives of minimum total cost and thermal power generation. PDs determine their optimal real-time tariffs based on their incentives. PPs play a dual role: the demand side adjusts their electricity purchases according to real-time tariffs, and the supply side changes their power sales according to real-time procurement prices. The proposed mechanism is analysed using a three-layer Stackelberg game, and a distributed algorithm is designed to account for privacy and information incompleteness. Finally, numerical simulations were conducted, and the results showed that DEPB-HDR could increase energy savings while ensuring participants' interests. [Display omitted] • Considering the role transformation of consumers due to renewable energy. • Proposing a novel distributed energy price-based hybrid demand response (DEPB-HDR) mechanism. • Modelling the behaviour and interactions of participants in the DEPB-HDR mechanism. • Presenting a distributed algorithm to address information privacy. • Estimating the strength and scalability of the DEPB-HDR mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Penetration depth of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) signals over a desert is a key parameter to understand the internal properties of the desert. Existing approaches for obtaining the penetration depth require good quality interferometric SAR (InSAR) data of very short temporal and long spatial baselines. Such data are often difficult to obtain in a highly dynamic desert. We propose a new machine learning (ML) based approach for inverting penetration depth of SAR signals over large desert areas by jointly using InSAR, polarimetric SAR (PolSAR) and optical remote sensing data. First, SAR scattering parameters and terrain properties are determined based on PolSAR and Landsat 5 TM multispectral data and a DEM. The penetration depth of SAR signals over a small desert area is obtained based on methods such as using a scattering model. A random forest model is then used to establish the relationship between the SAR scattering parameters and site features, and the penetration depth, and then is used to derive the penetration depth over a large desert area. The approach is applied to calculate the penetration depth of ALOS-1 PALSAR L-band signals for a large part of the Kufra Basin, an area of about 60, 000 km2. The penetration depths of four types of typical landforms in area (i.e., sandy plains, paleochannels, rocks and man-made features) are discussed in relation to the geological and climatic conditions. The average signal penetration depths over the paleochannels, sandy plains, and rocks and man-made features are 2.84 m, 1.97 m, 1.21 m, respectively. It is found that the backscattering coefficient, dielectric constant, surface roughness and mineral composition are the most important parameters in determining the signal penetration depths. An interesting point is that the existence of hematite in the sand can increase the dielectric dissipation of the sand medium and shorten the signal penetration depth. • Multi-source data used to invert L-band SPD in large desert areas. • RF models had good performance of R2 = 0.71 and RMSE = 0.28 m. • Dielectric constant, soil roughness and mineral content are critical in determining the SPD. • Effectively overcome the shortage of InSAR data in SPD inversion in deserts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Daily anaerobic sequencing batch reactor showed efficient methane production. • Multiple operation parameters were investigated by central composite design. • A significant model (p < 0.0001) was built for predicting biogas production rate. • Inhibitions due to chemical oxygen demand accumulation were relieved. This study performed co-digestion of poultry litter (PL) with wheat straw in the daily anaerobic sequencing batch reactor considering operation parameters of carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C/N, 11.6 to 28.4), total solids (TS, 2.6 to 9.4%), and hydraulic retention time (HRT, 7.6 to 24.4d). The inoculum with a diverse microbial community structure included 2% of methanogens (Methanosaeta) was chosen. Experimental performance by central composite design showed continuous methane production with the highest biogas production rate (BPR) obtained at C/N = 20, TS = 6%, and HRT = 7.6d, being (1.18 ± 0.14 L/L R /d). A significant modified quadratic model (p < 0.0001) for predicting BPR was built (R2 = 0.9724). The operation parameters and process stability both affected the release of nitrogen, phosphorus, and magnesium in the effluent. The results provided new support for the novel reactor operations for efficient bioenergy production from PL and agricultural wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

\nHIGHLIGHTSFlooding and drainage of paddy fields can induce the activation of soil cadmium (Cd)/arsenic (As), which will accumulate in rice grains and threaten human health. Mn oxides influence soil Cd and As availability, but few detailed studies have been reported on how Mn redox simultaneously affects Cd and As mobility during flooding and drainage. Two paddy soils with various Mn contents were incubated under three redox conditions, namely 30-d reduction, 30-d oxidation and 20-d reduction subsequent with 10-d oxidation, to investigate Cd and As migration. During reduction, the soil abundant in native Mn oxides possessed more high-valence Mn oxides, which promoted As oxidation and retarded the reductive dissolution of Fe (oxyhydro)oxides, thereby decreasing As mobility. Cd mobility mainly depended on the conversion between Fe-Mn oxides-bound Cd and exchangeable Cd. The high Mn content was conducive to decreasing Cd mobilization. Furthermore, the oxidation of As in soils was linked with a Fenton-like effect. The generated hydroxyl radicals (•OH) decreased with oxidation and the oxidation of Mn(II) by •OH inhibited As migration but promoted Cd activation. In summary, the mobility of Cd and As was lower in Mn rich soils, which may involve the immobilization, oxidation and catalytic effects of Mn oxides. Cd mobility mainly relied on the conversion between Fe-Mn oxides-bound Cd and exchangeable Cd.The redox dependence of Mn played a key role in controlling Cd and As migration in paddy soils.Soils containing higher content of Mn oxides possessed lower mobility of Cd and As.The oxidative effect of •OH on Mn(II) inhibited As mobility but promoted Cd activation.Cd mobility mainly relied on the conversion between Fe-Mn oxides-bound Cd and exchangeable Cd.The redox dependence of Mn played a key role in controlling Cd and As migration in paddy soils.Soils containing higher content of Mn oxides possessed lower mobility of Cd and As.The oxidative effect of •OH on Mn(II) inhibited As mobility but promoted Cd activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytoplasmic Dynein is a multiple-subunit macromolecular motor protein involved in the transport process of cells. The Dynein intermediate chain (DIC) is one of the subunits of Dynein-1. In our previous studies, we showed that Pt-DIC may play an important role in the nuclear deformation of spermiogenesis in Portunus trituberculatus. Lamin B is essential for maintaining nuclear structure and functions. Surprisingly, Pt-Lamin B was expressed not only in the perinucleus but also in the pro-acrosome during spermiogenesis in P. trituberculatus. Studies have also shown that Dynein-1 can mediate the transport of Lamin B in mammals. Thus, to study the relationship of Pt-DIC and Pt-Lamin B in the spermatogenesis of P. trituberculatus, we knocked down the Pt-DIC gene in P. trituberculatus by RNAi. The results showed that the distribution of Pt-DIC and Pt-Lamin B in spermiogenesis was abnormal, and the colocalization was weakened. Moreover, we verified the interaction of Pt-DIC and Pt-Lamin B via coimmunoprecipitation. Therefore, our results suggested that both Pt-DIC and Pt-Lamin B were involved in the spermatogenesis of P. trituberculatus, and one of the functions of Dynein-1 is to mediate the transport of Lamin B in the spermiogenesis of P. trituberculatus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-performance SERS chips via self-assembled hollow Ag octahedra on PDMS were employed to achieve the sensitive identification and detection of antibiotic residues. The developed SERS chips were successfully applied in the detection of ciprofloxacin (CIP), amoxicillin (AMX) and cefazolin (CZL) in wastewater and tap water samples, as well as enrofloxacin (ENR) in milk, demonstrating the sensitive determination of antibiotics in the real environment. From this perspective, these SERS chips are expected to expand the on spot sensitive detection and identification field of antibiotic residues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Message: Genome-wide identification of C2H2-ZF gene family in the poly- and mono-embryonic citrus species and validation of the positive role of CsZFP7 in sporophytic apomixis. The C2H2 zinc finger (C2H2-ZF) gene family is involved in plant vegetative and reproductive development. Although a large number of C2H2 zinc-finger proteins (C2H2-ZFPs) have been well characterized in some horticultural plants, little is known about the C2H2-ZFPs and their function in citrus. In this work, we performed a genome-wide sequence analysis and identified 97 and 101 putative C2H2-ZF gene family members in the genomes of sweet orange (C. sinensis, poly-embryonic) and pummelo (C. grandis, mono-embryonic), respectively. Phylogenetic analysis categorized citrus C2H2-ZF gene family into four clades, and their possible functions were inferred. According to the numerous regulatory elements on promoter, citrus C2H2-ZFPs can be divided into five different regulatory function types that indicate functional differentiation. RNA-seq data revealed 20 differentially expressed C2H2-ZF genes between poly-embryonic and mono-embryonic ovules at two stages of citrus nucellar embryogenesis, among them CsZFP52 specifically expressed in mono-embryonic pummelo ovules, while CsZFP7, 37, 44, 45, 67 and 68 specifically expressed in poly-embryonic sweet orange ovules. RT-qPCR further validated that CsZFP7 specifically expressed at higher levels in poly-embryonic ovules, and down-regulation of CsZFP7 in the poly-embryonic mini citrus (Fortunella hindsii) increased rate of mono-embryonic seeds compared with the wild type, indicating the regulatory potential of CsZFP7 in nucellar embryogenesis of citrus. This work provided a comprehensive analysis of C2H2-ZF gene family in citrus, including genome organization and gene structure, phylogenetic relationships, gene duplications, possible cis-elements on promoter regions and expression profiles, especially in the poly- and mono-embryogenic ovules, and suggested that CsZFP7 is involved in nucellar embryogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, new third-order finite volume unequal-sized weighted essentially non-oscillatory (US-WENO) Lagrangian schemes are designed to solve Euler equations in two and three dimensions. The spatial reconstruction procedures are implemented by using a convex combination of a quadratic polynomial with several linear polynomials specified on unequal-sized stencils, so the new US-WENO Lagrangian schemes can achieve the designed third-order accuracy and maintain an essentially non-oscillatory property near strong discontinuities in multi-dimensions. Unlike the traditional WENO reconstruction procedures specified on unstructured meshes, the linear weights of these new two-dimensional and three-dimensional US-WENO spatial reconstructions can be selected as any positive numbers as long as their summation equals one and they are not related to the local mesh topology or the location of quadrature points. Moreover, the linear weights do not have to be recalculated even if the grid moves with the fluid, avoiding the appearance of negative linear weights, thus improving computation efficiency and robustness in multi-dimensional Lagrangian numerical simulations. Finally, extensive benchmark numerical cases are employed to display the excellent capability of the presented US-WENO Lagrangian schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: People of Sub-Saharan African ancestry are at higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD), attributed to the Apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) gene risk alleles (RA) G1 and G2. The underlying mechanisms by which the APOL1-RA precipitate CKD remain elusive, hindering the development of potential treatments. Results: Using a Drosophila genetic modifier screen, we found that SNARE proteins (Syx7, Ykt6, and Syb) play an important role in preventing APOL1 cytotoxicity. Reducing the expression of these SNARE proteins significantly increased APOL1 cytotoxicity in fly nephrocytes, the equivalent of mammalian podocytes, whereas overexpression of Syx7, Ykt6, or Syb attenuated their toxicity in nephrocytes. These SNARE proteins bound to APOL1-G0 with higher affinity than APOL1-G1/G2, and attenuated APOL1-G0 cytotoxicity to a greater extent than either APOL1-RA. Conclusions: Using a Drosophila screen, we identified SNARE proteins (Syx7, Ykt6, and Syb) as antagonists of APOL1-induced cytotoxicity by directly binding APOL1. These data uncovered a new potential protective role for certain SNARE proteins in the pathogenesis of APOL1-CKD and provide novel therapeutic targets for APOL1-associated nephropathies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR), a pre‐dementia syndrome, is characterized by slow gait and subjective cognitive complaints among older adults. This study assessed the relationship between multimorbidity, its patterns, and MCR. Methods: Data for this study were obtained from three waves (2011, 2013, and 2015) of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Participants who were aged 60 years and older and had complete data at baseline as well as complete data about MCR at follow‐up were selected. Patients without MCR at baseline were selected for further analyses. Longitudinal associations between multimorbidity, its patterns, and MCR were examined using a Cox proportional hazards model. Multimorbidity patterns were classified using latent class analysis. Results: A total of 4923 respondents were included at baseline, 43.47% of whom had multimorbidity. Additionally, the prevalence of MCR at baseline was 12.61%. After adjusting for covariates, multimorbidity was positively associated with MCR (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.06–1.68). A higher number of multimorbidity was also significantly associated with an increased risk of developing MCR (HR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.02–1.19). Three multimorbidity patterns were selected: relatively healthy pattern, respiratory pattern, and cardiovascular pattern. Older adults with the cardiovascular pattern were 1.57 times more likely to develop MCR than those with the relatively healthy pattern (HR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.16–2.13). There was no significant difference between the relatively healthy pattern and the respiratory pattern (HR = 1.31, 95% CI = 0.91–1.92). Conclusions: MCR is highly prevalent among older Chinese adults. MCR may be exacerbated by multimorbidity. For older adults with multimorbidity (especially cardiovascular multimorbidity), attention should be paid to MCR to achieve early detection, diagnosis, and treatment. Key points: Multimorbidity was associated with motoric cognitive risk syndrome.The association between different multimorbidity patterns and motoric cognitive risk syndrome varies and cardiovascular multimorbidity deserves more attention.Multimorbidity in the elderly should be managed categorically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving photovoltaic efficiency is essential to the early realization of universal solar cell application, which has proven to be the most promising solution to the global energy transition. Therefore, we propose a thin-film GaAs solar cell with TiO 2 quantum dots, plasmonic Ag nanoparticles, and the AlGaAs window layer. First, we using the finite difference time domain method to simulate the electromagnetic wave propagation and the solar cell light absorption under set boundary conditions to test whether the TiO 2 quantum dots and plasmonic Ag nanoparticles can improve the cell light-trapping ability. The results show that the light absorption of the cell can be maintained above 95% in the visible wavelength range of 300–721 nm, with an average absorption of 97.7%. The photoabsorption effect is particularly prominent at 558 nm, with an absorption rate of 99.86%. The p-n junction doping concentration and the molar fraction of the AlGaAs window layer were optimized to obtain better photovoltaic performance parameters. The results show that AlGaAs reduces incident light loss and possesses a higher potential barrier in the emitter region because of its wider band gap, effectively lowering carrier recombination rate and consequently enhancing the photovoltaics characteristics of the cell. The short-circuit current density, open-circuit voltage, and photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) of the thin-film GaAs solar cell improved to 30.01 mA/cm2, 1.247 V, and 33.43%, respectively. Thus, this study provides an effective strategy for high-performance fabrication of the thin-film solar cells, demonstrating significant potential for broad applications in cost-effective solar cell usage and mitigating the climate change crisis. • the light absorption of the cell can be maintained above 95% in the visible wavelength range of 300–721 nm, with an average absorption of 97.7%. • The photoabsorption effect is particularly prominent at 558 nm, with an absorption rate of 99.86%. • The short-circuit current density, open-circuit voltage, and photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) of the thin-film GaAs solar cell improved to 30.01 mA/cm2, 1.247 V, and 33.43%, respectively. ls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Producing a low-cost catalyst by a low-cost method is one of the hottest topics in the field of catalytic oxidization of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In this work, a catalyst formula with a low-energy requirement was optimized in the powdered state, and verified in the monolithic state. An effective MnCu catalyst was synthesized at a temperature as low as 200 °C. Removals were all bigger than 88% for toluene, ethyl acetate, hexane, formaldehyde, and cyclohexanone at a low temperature of 240 °C. The MnCu catalyst was then loaded on a honeycomb cordierite, which was also effective for toluene removal at 240 °C. After characterizations, active phases were Mn 3 O 4 /CuMn 2 O 4 in both the powdered and monolithic catalysts. The enhanced activity was attributed to balanced distributions of low-valence Mn and Cu, as well as abundant surface oxygen vacancies. The obtained catalyst is produced by low energy and effective at low temperature, which suggests a perspective application. [Display omitted] • An effective MnCu catalyst is produced at a low temperature of 200 °C. • Removals for various VOCs were bigger than 88% at only 240 °C. • MnCu loaded honeycomb cordierite was also effective at 240 °C. • The activity was attributed to balanced distributions of low-valence Mn and Cu. • The activity was also attributed to abundant surface oxygen vacancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of bridge teaching is to provide students with knowledge of bridge construction and lay a solid foundation for further in-depth study and work practice. However, the current bridge teaching has the following limitations: (1) the "spoon-feeding" teaching is dominated by teachers; (2) the teaching material lacks intuitiveness, practice, and interactivity. Immersive virtual reality (IVR) enables the possibility of representing abstract bridge concepts in a 3D manner while stimulating student engagement and motivation in the learning process. In this article, we attempt to use IVR as a tool to improve the student's engagement and teaching communication. The automatic generation of bridge scenes in 3D, immersive interaction, and teaching communication evaluation are discussed in detail. Finally, a mega suspension bridge under construction is selected as a case for experiment analysis. The results of the experiment show that the combination of IVR and bridge teaching can effectively improve the students' learning interests and teaching communication. The percentages of students who were very satisfied and satisfied with the immersive bridge teaching were 39.6% and 54.2% respectively, which proves that IVR has great potential and positive outcomes in education. • An automatic generation method of bridge scenes in 3D with spatial constraints. • A novel and immersive learning environment for bridge teaching. • Immersive virtual reality is useful to enhance teacher–student communication. • The immersion and imagination have positive effects on students' learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining accurate PM2.5 pollution concentrations and understanding their dynamic patterns are crucial for scientifically informed air pollution control strategies. Traditional reliance on linear correlation coefficients for ascertaining PM2.5-related factors only uncovers superficial relationships. Moreover, the invariance of conventional prediction models restricts their accuracy. To enhance the precision of PM2.5 concentration prediction, this study introduces a novel integrated model that leverages feature selection and a clustering algorithm. Comprising three components—feature selection, clustering, and integrated prediction—the model first employs the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-III) to identify the most impactful features affecting PM2.5 concentration within air pollutants and meteorological factors. This step offers more valuable feature data for subsequent modules. The model then adopts a two-layer clustering method (SOM+K-means) to analyze the multifaceted irregularity within the dataset. Finally, the model establishes the Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) weak learner for each classification, integrating multiple weak learners using the AdaBoost algorithm to obtain a comprehensive prediction model. Through feature correlation enhancement, data irregularity exploration, and model adaptability improvement, the proposed model significantly enhances the overall prediction performance. Data sourced from 12 Beijing-based monitoring sites in 2016 were utilized for an empirical study, and the model's results were compared with five other predictive models. The outcomes demonstrate that the proposed model significantly heightens prediction accuracy, offering useful insights and potential for broadened application to multifactor correlation concentration prediction methodologies for other pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the lack of nationwide epidemiological studies, congenital hypothyroidism (CH) incidence in China has increased. We aimed to evaluate the trends of CH and the possible reasons behind them. Data from screened newborns from the Chinese Newborn Screening Information System from 2012 to 2019 was collected. We applied the Bayesian hierarchical Poisson regression model and meta-analysis to estimate incidence or proportion over the years. The estimated CH incidence increased from 4.01 per 10,000 births in 2012 to 5.77 per 10,000 births in 2019. The average annual growth rate (ARG) of CH incidence for all provinces varied from 0.59 to 20.96%. The most rapid rise in incidence was observed in cases with an initial thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) concentration of < 10 mIU/L. The meta-analysis results showed that the proportion of permanent CH increased by 0.024% (95%CI: 0.011%, 0.037%) annually. Each 1 mIU/L decrease in TSH cutoff value was associated with a 2.96% increase in CH incidence. In the same period, the proportion of premature CH cases increased from 6.60 to 9.10%, which was much higher than the increase in preterm births. A significant relationship was not found between provincial growth rates in screening coverage and provincial baseline incidences of CH. Conclusion: CH incidence has substantially increased in China. The slight adjustment of the TSH cutoff value and increasing preterm birth rate contribute to such a trend; however, the contribution is limited. What is Known: • An uptrend in congenital hypothyroidism (CH) incidence has been reported in many European and American countries in the last two decades; however, no studies have been conducted in China to explain the increased CH incidence. • We provide a detailed epidemiological report on the trends of CH during 2012–2019 in China, with an attempt to explore the reasons behind it. What is New: • This first-ever national-wide epidemiological report in China showed an uptrend in CH incidence with variations over regions and CH subtypes. The mild lowering of TSH cutoff values and the increasing preterm birth rate contributed to this uptrend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disease mapping is a research field to estimate spatial pattern of disease risks so that areas with elevated risk levels can be identified. The motivation of this article is from a study of dengue fever infection, which causes seasonal epidemics in almost every summer in Taiwan. For analysis of zero‐inflated data with spatial correlation and covariates, current methods would either cause a computational burden or miss associations between zero and non‐zero responses. In this article, we develop estimating equations for a mixture regression model that accommodates spatial dependence and zero inflation for study of disease propagation. Asymptotic properties for the proposed estimates are established. A simulation study is conducted to evaluate performance of the mixture estimating equations; and a dengue dataset from southern Taiwan is used to illustrate the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]