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The cables of long-span cable-stayed bridges are subjected to substantial tension during long-term service and are more susceptible to corrosion and fatigue failure than concrete structures. Most existing structural health monitoring (SHM) systems do not have monitoring equipment to directly measure cable length, and long-term monitoring of the change in cables is less involved. The displacement response of a bridge is induced by the combination of dynamic effects (wind and highways) and quasi-static effects (temperature). In this paper, the dynamic responses were eliminated by averaging the displacement data for 10 min, and the relationship between temperature and displacement was studied. Based on the monitoring data, the distribution of the thermal field for the bridge was studied and the time variability of the tower displacement was investigated. The correlation was analyzed to study the relationship between the temperature and the tower displacements, the north tower–south tower distance and the tower–girder distances. A strong linear relationship between the temperature and quasi-static responses of the displacements was observed. The thermal expansion coefficient of the effective length of cables was proposed as a quantitative index for long-term cable monitoring. The error in the cable effective length is proposed as the warning index for performance warning research. The results show that the proposed performance warning method can monitor cables and perform warnings when the cable is damaged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adjuvant radiotherapy following surgery reduces the local recurrence and improves the prognosis. However, a considerable part of patients developed digestive reaction in daily treatment. In order to explore the correlation between breast radiotherapy and gastric toxicity, we investigated the clinic symptoms and stomach dose during DIBH or FB mode while left-sided breast cancer patients (LSBCP) receiving radiotherapy.Methods: In the study, 124 LSBCP received adjuvant radiotherapy after surgery at our department were analyzed clinical characteristics and enquired about gastrointestinal side effects after treatment. Moreover, dosimetric parameters were assessed.Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in age, T staging, N staging, hormone receptors, human epidermal receptor-2 (HER2), surgical methods, fractionated regimen, and chemotherapy conditions. However, larger stomach volumes and higher fractionated dose (Dmax/F) were associated with a statistically significantly greater risk for acute radiotherapy toxicity. In addition, the use of the DIBH gating technique (FB/DIBH) reduced the incidence of digestive reactions.Conclusion: In order to cut down gastric side effects after breast radiotherapy, large meals should be avoided before treatment. DIBH treatment should be implemented in centers where conditions are satisfied to reduce radiotherapy side effects. Furthermore, dose limitation in stomach should be considered when the radiotherapy plan was formulated, especially for the patients treated with hypofractionated radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focus on passivity and passive control for a cascade nonlinear system consisting of two switched systems. The asymptotic stability criterion for the cascade system is developed without requiring passivity of subsystem in the whole state interval. Passivity and stabilisation of the closed-loop system are achieved by co-designing an output feedback control law and a state-dependent switching signal if the full output information is measurable. While the output information of the first switched system are not available, the sampled integral stabilisation (SIS) technique which only adopts the output information and common energy function of the second one, is exploited to achieve passive control of two switched systems connected in a cascade way. Then, a particular case of cascade system where only one passive switched system exists is stabilised via SIS technique. Finally, the validity of the developed results is demonstrated via a plane articulation arm example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the effect of the thickness of superconducting layer on the competition between ferromagnetism and superconductivity. The epitaxial bilayer systems consisting of GdBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x (GdBCO) with varying thickness and La 0.7 Sr 0.3 MnO 3 (LSMO) were grown on (001) SrTiO 3 (STO) substrate. From the spectroscopic measurements, we observed an existence of a possible structural coupling between the GdBCO and the LSMO layers. The structural coupling is found to depend on the GdBCO thickness and to induce different types of strain on both layers, leading to the competition between the ferromagnetic and the superconducting orders. With respect to the flux pinning, an additional pinning contribution besides magnetic pinning induced by LSMO is emerged by the structural coupling, which is attributed to local atomic disorder. Controlling the thickness of GdBCO modifies the structural coupling and consequently, the degree of additional pinning contribution aroused by disorder on the CuO 2 plane can be adjusted. An appropriate structure with a certain thickness amplifies the hybrid effect of magnetic pinning and additional pinning, resulting in an enhancement of the critical current density at high magnetic fields. Our findings suggest a possibility of controlling complex flux pinning through an optimization of structural coupling between the GdBCO and the LSMO layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shading and blocking factor plays a significant role in the design of a heliostat field. It is the most computationally expensive task during the optimization process of a heliostat field. Over time, different methods have been developed to calculate the extent of the optical losses associated with shading and blocking. This paper focuses on the famous center point projection method and its implementation using Matlab. This work provides detailed procedures from the perspective of programming and simulation of central receiver systems. The underlying assumptions, the algorithm's strengths, and weaknesses are highlighted. The procedure and simulation parameters will help in developing optimization algorithms for designing high-efficiency heliostat fields. A dense radial staggered heliostat field is used for testing the performance of the algorithm. The field efficiency is calculated at different design points. The results show that the shading loss of the field changes with time, whereas there is negligible variation in the blocking loss. The instantaneous shading loss of a dense radial staggered field on December 21, noontime is 2.12%, whereas the blocking loss is 1.52%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is significant to identify the moldy status of stored maize by fungi infection in the early stage. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) combined with the sparse auto-encoders (SAE) and convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithms was used to classify the moldy grades of maize kernels. The HSI data were obtained in the range of 400–1000 nm, and four grades from health to heavy mildew were distinguished using the measured fungal spores of maize. The depth spectral features were represented using SAE and the image features were extracted by CNN. K nearest neighbors, support vector machine (SVM), and partial least squares discriminant analysis classifiers were combined with the spectral and image features to establish classification models to identify the different moldy grades of maize kernels. The comparison results indicated that the fusion of SAE and CNN combined with the SVM classifier to construct the SAE-CNN-SVM model had the most satisfactory identification result with high correct recognition rates of 99.47% and 98.94% for the training and testing sets, respectively, and the values of sensitivity and specificity were 0.95–1. The moldy grades were presented intuitively on the maize image based on pixels or kernel-wise. Therefore, the HSI with the SAE-CNN-SVM model had good recognition ability for the early detection of moldy maize kernels, which could potentially provide technical support for the development of online detection of moldy maize kernels during storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multifunctional luminescent materials have attracted intensive interest. However, the mechanisms behind them are still to be explored. In this work, three Zn(II) complexes based on Schiff bases (HL1 and HL2) that contain rotatable aromatic rings were designed and prepared. They exhibited different mechanochromic luminescence (MCL) and acidochromism. The polymorphous ZnL12 and ZnL1a2 crystallize in different crystal systems with different conformations. The ligands in ZnL12 adopt a more twisted conformation than those in ZnL1a2. ZnL12 exhibits MCL with high contrast, while ZnL1a2 exhibits a negligible MCL property. This may be due to the looser packing of the complex induced by the more twisted conformation of the ligand HL1. ZnL12 could undergo crystal phase transformation into ZnL1a2 by grinding/fuming cycles. To increase the flexibility of the ligand, a methylene group was introduced to result in HL2, which can improve the mechanochromic luminescence effect of the Zn(II) complex with high color contrast. The ligands involved in coordination generally adopt a more twisted conformation than those free ligands due to the steric hindrance, resulting in more obvious MCL for complexes. By comparing the luminescence of ligands and their complexes under acid–base stimulation, it is found that the acidochromic properties could be attributed to the generation of ligands at the surface of complexes via the gaseous HCl-solid Zn(II) complex reaction. The high contrast mechanochromic and acidochromic luminescence properties would lead to promising potential applications of these complexes in smart fluorescent materials, and would also provide some ideas for the design of multi-stimuli responsive molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anisotropic mechanical and acoustic emission characteristics of oil shale from room temperature to 600 °C were studied using a real-time high-temperature uniaxial rock testing machine independently developed by the Taiyuan University of Technology and an acoustic emission test system. The results indicate that the elastic modulus and compressive strength of the oil shale perpendicular to bedding direction first decrease and then increase with increasing temperature from room temperature to 600 °C and reach their minimum values at 400 °C, showing the characteristics of first softening and then hardening. The threshold temperature of oil shale mechanical parameters in the direction perpendicular to bedding direction is 400 °C. The strength of oil shale parallel to the bedding direction decreases sharply at 100 and 400 °C due to free water evaporation and kerogen pyrolysis, respectively. The threshold temperatures of oil shale mechanical parameters parallel to bedding direction are 100 and 400 °C. The micro-SEM and CT analyses conclude that the transformation of the mineral structure changes the mechanical parameters of oil shale perpendicular to bedding, and the evolution of the fracture structure dominates the change in the mechanical parameters of oil shale parallel to bedding. The results of this study can provide a theoretical data basis for elucidating the in situ pyrolysis of oil shales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emulation of photonic synapses through photo‐recordable devices has aroused tremendous discussion owing to the low energy consumption, high parallel, and fault‐tolerance in artificial neuromorphic networks. Nonvolatile flash‐type photomemory with short photo‐programming time, long‐term storage, and linear plasticity becomes the most promising candidate. Nevertheless, the systematic studies of mechanism behind the charge transfer process in photomemory are limited. Herein, the physical properties of APbBr3 perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) on the photoresponsive characteristics of derived poly(3‐hexylthiophene‐2,5‐diyl) (P3HT)/PQDs‐based photomemory through facile A‐site substitution approach are explored. Benefitting from the lowest valance band maximum and longest exciton lifetime of FAPbBr3 quantum dot (FA‐QDs), P3HT/FA‐QDs‐derived photomemory not only exhibits shortest photoresponsive characteristic time compared to FA0.5Cs0.5PbBr3 quantum dots (Mix‐QDs) and CsPbBr3 quantum dots (Cs‐QDs) but also displays excellent ON/OFF current ratio of 2.2 upon an extremely short illumination duration of 1 ms. Moreover, the device not only achieves linear plasticity of synapses by optical potentiation and electric depression, but also successfully emulates the features of photon synaptic such as pair‐pulse facilitation, long‐term plasticity, and multiple spike‐dependent plasticity and exhibits extremely low energy consumption of 3 × 10−17 J per synaptic event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the image space analysis is applied to investigate a vector equilibrium problem using improvement sets and with matrix inequality constraints. First, a nonlinear scalar regular weak separation function is constructed by using the oriented distance function and the norm function. Then, a global saddle-point condition for a generalized Lagrange function is investigated. It is shown that the existence of a saddle point is equivalent to a nonlinear separation of two suitable subsets in the image space. Furthermore, a gap function and an error bound are obtained in terms of the nonlinear scalar regular weak separation function under suitable assumptions. As applications, an optimality condition, a gap function and an error bound for a strategic game with vector payoffs are also given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A wide axial-ratio beamwidth (ARBW) and half-power beamwidth (HPBW) circularly polarized (CP) antenna is realized by arranging two curved patch dipole pairs orthogonally in a cruciform contour that conforms with a hemispheric shell. First, two orthogonal curved dipole pairs are designed via step-by-step investigation of the evolution of traditional crossed dipoles. Then, an antenna with a wide CP working bandwidth and wide ARBWs and HPBWs is developed by enlarging the diameter of the curved arms, replacing the narrow arms with the wide patches and making these patches conformal with the shell surface; this improves the impedance bandwidth (IBW) and further reduces the antenna’s size. Finally, a prototype with reduced dimensions of $0.52\times 0.52\times0.15$ ($\lambda _{0}^{3}$) is designed, fabricated, and measured. The resulting antenna exhibits a −10 dB IBW of 55.8% (1.06–1.89 GHz) and a 3 dB AR bandwidth of 70.9% (1–2.1 GHz), within which the ARBW and HPBW reach maximum values of 202°/196° and 113°/111° in the two orthogonal principal planes at 1.602 and 1.268 GHz, respectively. Furthermore, a 3 dB ARBW exceeding 100°, an HPBW exceeding 96°, and efficiency exceeding 60% are acquired within the 1.252–1.89 GHz (40.6%) target service coverage band. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Recurrence of endometrial cancer after initial treatment can be complex and difficult to treat. The current main treatment modalities for patients with recurrent endometrial cancer (REC) include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, which vary according to the individual patient. However, REC is often associated with a poor prognosis, and it is therefore important to investigate the risk factors affecting REC prognosis and to explore appropriate treatment modalities to improve the prognosis and treatment strategies for patients with REC. Methods. Totally, 100 patients with REC admitted to our hospital from January 2013 to January 2018 were chosen to be research objects. Their pathological data were analyzed, including age, disease-free interval (DFI), recurrence site, and treatment plan after relapse (definitive local therapy (DLT) and palliative chemotherapy (PC)). According to these parameters, univariate and multivariate factors affecting the prognosis of REC patients and the curative effect of PC were analyzed, and the 3-year overall survival (OS) curve and progression-free survival (PFS) curve were drawn. Results. After 3 years of follow-up, 30 patients had a poor prognosis and 70 had a good prognosis, according to which a single multifactorial analysis was performed for different prognoses, where the results of the single-factor analysis showed significant differences between patients with different prognoses in terms of pathomorphology, pathological grading, TFI, and treatment modality after relapse. Further multifactorial analysis showed that TFI and treatment modality after recurrence were independent factors affecting poor prognosis in REC patients. The 3-year OS and 3-year PFS of REC patients were 74.00% and 70.00%, respectively. Patients whose DFI was less than 12 months or treated with PC after relapse were notably associated with lower levels of 3-year OS and 3-year PFS. In addition, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, DFI, and chemotherapy plan after primary surgery were independent risk factors that affected the PC efficacy of REC patients. Conclusion. DFI and treatment mode after relapse are independent factors affecting the prognosis of REC patients. DLT can obviously improve the prognosis of REC patients. For patients who can only choose PC, chemoradiotherapy and DFI after primary surgery are helpful to predict the chemotherapy effect, and the combination of paclitaxel and platinum drugs should be the first choice for chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because drainage network data is unavailable in many urban areas, the accuracy of urban flood simulation may be reduced. A linear reservoir method is proposed to characterize the drainage capacity of a pipe network, and a high-resolution hydrodynamic model of an urban surface and drainage pipe network is developed. Remote sensing satellites, design specifications, and other methods were combined with actual surveys to identify storm wells and generalize underground drainage systems. A high-resolution digital elevation model (DEM) that can represent the microscopic characteristics of the urban surface was used as an input. The process of water accumulation was investigated in the study area, and the results were validated with measured data. The results show that the simulated data agree well with the measured data. Overall, the model and method can quickly and accurately simulate large-scale high-resolution urban rainfall-runoff processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider a set optimization problem with a partial order relation, which is defined by Minkowski difference. By using the image space analysis, we establish the relationships among the set optimization problem, a vector optimization problem and a set-valued optimization with vector criterion related to the image of the set optimization problem. In addition, two nonlinear regular weak separation functions are proposed for the set optimization problem. Based on the two nonlinear regular weak separation functions, saddle point sufficient optimality conditions, gap functions and error bounds for the set optimization problem, are obtained. Finally, we explore some applications of the obtained results to investigate robust multi-objective optimization problems and verify the validity of the results in shortest path problems with data uncertainty and multi-criteria traffic network equilibrium problems with interval-valued cost functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active learning is a unique abstraction of machine learning techniques where the model/algorithm could guide users for annotation of a set of data points that would be beneficial to the model, unlike passive machine learning. The primary advantage being that active learning frameworks select data points that can accelerate the learning process of a model and can reduce the amount of data needed to achieve full accuracy as compared to a model trained on a randomly acquired data set. Multiple frameworks for active learning combined with deep learning have been proposed, and the majority of them are dedicated to classification tasks. Herein, we explore active learning for the task of segmentation of medical imaging data sets. We investigate our proposed framework using two datasets: 1.) MRI scans of the hippocampus, 2.) CT scans of pancreas and tumors. This work presents a query-by-committee approach for active learning where a joint optimizer is used for the committee. At the same time, we propose three new strategies for active learning: 1.) increasing frequency of uncertain data to bias the training data set; 2.) Using mutual information among the input images as a regularizer for acquisition to ensure diversity in the training dataset; 3.) adaptation of Dice log-likelihood for Stein variational gradient descent (SVGD). The results indicate an improvement in terms of data reduction by achieving full accuracy while only using 22.69% and 48.85% of the available data for each dataset, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bifunctional fluorescence probe (PCT) based on 2‐Hydroxy‐1‐naphthaldehyde and thiosemicarbazide was developed. The probe PCT can selectively detect Ag+ and Al3+ with two clear fluorescence color changes from colorless to yellow and blue violet, respectively. According to the Job's plots and mass spectrum, the binding stoichiometry of the probe PCT with Ag+ and Al3+ was 1 : 1, respectively. Moreover, the detection limit values of PCT for Ag+ and Al3+ in neutral solutions were 1.97 and 1.63 nM and these values were remarkably lower than allowed Ag+ and Al3+ concentrations in potable water determined by the World Health Organization (WHO). The distinct different binding mode were elucidated in this paper. Finally, the probe PCT has been used successfully for the detection of Ag+ and Al3+ in real water samples, logic gate and test paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although common variants in a large collection of patients are associated with increased risk for bipolar disorder (BD), studies have only been able to predict 25%‐45% of risks, suggesting that lots of variants that contribute to the risk for BD haven't been identified. Our study aims to identify novel BD risk genes. Methods: We performed whole‐exome sequencing of 27 individuals from 6 BD multi‐affected Chinese families to identify candidate variants. Targeted sequencing of one of the novel risk genes, SERINC2, in additional sporadic 717 BD patients and 312 healthy controls (HC) validated the association. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed to evaluate the effect of the variant to brain structures from 213 subjects (4 BD subjects from a multi‐affected family, 130 sporadic BD subjects and 79 HC control). Results: BD pedigrees had an increased burden of uncommon variants in extracellular matrix (ECM) and calcium ion binding. By large‐scale sequencing we identified a novel recessive BD risk gene, SERINC2, which plays a role in synthesis of sphingolipid and phosphatidylserine (PS). MRI image results show the homozygous nonsense variant in SERINC2 affects the volume of white matter in cerebellum. Conclusions: Our study identified SERINC2 as a risk gene of BD in the Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microarray cancer data obtained by DNA microarray technology play an important role for cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. However, predicting the different types of tumors is a challenging task since the sample size in microarray data is often small but the dimensionality is very high. Gene selection, which is an effective means, is aimed at mitigating the curse of dimensionality problem and can boost the classification accuracy of microarray data. However, many of previous gene selection methods focus on model design, but neglect the correlation between different genes. In this paper, we introduce a novel unsupervised gene selection method by taking the gene correlation into consideration, named gene correlation guided gene selection (G3CS). Specifically, we calculate the covariance of different gene dimension pairs and embed it into our unsupervised gene selection model to regularize the gene selection coefficient matrix. In such a manner, redundant genes can be effectively excluded. In addition, we utilize a matrix factorization term to exploit the cluster structure of original microarray data to assist the learning process. We design an iterative updating algorithm with convergence guarantee to solve the resultant optimization problem. Experimental results on six publicly available microarray datasets are conducted to validate the efficacy of our proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing deployment of wide-area monitoring systems (WAMS) and phasor measurement units (PMUs), along with artificial neural network (ANN) and highperformance distributed computation technique for smart grid and smart metering environment, online dynamic security assessment (DSA) plays a key role for early unstable event detection on power system security. It is especially important at a post-fault operation that the timing by DSA to detect an unstable event is critical to emergency remedial control action. However, excessive update training is one of the constraints for ANN to be effectively performed at pre-fault and post-fault operations on online DSA. This paper describes how transfer learning is successfully employed to shorten the training time for online DSA. It also helps to improve the validation accuracy if the training dataset of scratch ANN model is insufficient. Besides, a new approach of using the densely connected convolutional network with kernel principal component analysis (KPCA) is proposed to eliminate the traditional step of dimensionality reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Bridge influence surface is an important tool to study the bridge responses under the moving loads, which contains tremendous structural information. The structural deterioration during the service life would induce the variation of the bridge influence surface, which makes it essential to identify the influence surface exactly from the field measured data under moving vehicle loads. This paper firstly summarizes current development of bridge influence surface identification methods and classifies the methods in which the vehicle is respectively equivalent to line loads and concentrated loads. After that, the actual spatial distribution of the vehicle load is considered, based on which a new identification method is presented to solve the boundary problem of current influence surface identification methods. Then a numerical slab model with two fixed ends is illustrated to prove the validity of the method, and the accuracy and identifiable region of different methods in this condition are compared with the other methods. Influence factors of identification accuracy including noise level, axle number of vehicle and loading point are analyzed. Finally, laboratory verification using the same slab model is prepared to verify the effectiveness of the proposed identification method. Results of this study provide an effective identification method of bridge influence surface with very high identification accuracy, which can be used to full bridge influence surface test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Performing deep neural network (DNN) inference in real time requires excessive network resources, which poses a big challenge to the resource-limited industrial Internet of things (IIoT) networks. To address the challenge, in this paper, we introduce an end-edge-cloud orchestration architecture, in which the inference task assignment and DNN model placement are flexibly coordinated. Specifically, the DNN models, trained and pre-stored in the cloud, are properly placed at the end and edge to perform DNN inference. To achieve efficient DNN inference, a multi-dimensional resource management problem is formulated to maximize the average inference accuracy while satisfying the strict delay requirements of inference tasks. Due to the mix-integer decision variables, it is difficult to solve the formulated problem directly. Thus, we transform the formulated problem into a Markov decision process which can be solved efficiently. Furthermore, a deep reinforcement learning based resource management scheme is proposed to make real-time optimal resource allocation decisions. Simulation results are provided to demonstrate that the proposed scheme can efficiently allocate the available spectrum, caching, and computing resources, and improve average inference accuracy by 31.4 % compared with the deep deterministic policy gradient benchmark. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early prediction of acute kidney injury (AKI) after liver transplantation (LT) facilitates timely recognition and intervention. We aimed to build a risk predictor of post-LT AKI via supervised machine learning and visualize the mechanism driving within to assist clinical decision-making.Methods: Data of 894 cases that underwent liver transplantation from January 2015 to September 2019 were collected, covering demographics, donor characteristics, etiology, peri-operative laboratory results, co-morbidities and medications. The primary outcome was new-onset AKI after LT according to Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes guidelines. Predicting performance of five classifiers including logistic regression, support vector machine, random forest, gradient boosting machine (GBM) and adaptive boosting were respectively evaluated by the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC), accuracy, F1-score, sensitivity and specificity. Model with the best performance was validated in an independent dataset involving 195 adult LT cases from October 2019 to March 2021. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method was applied to evaluate feature importance and explain the predictions made by ML algorithms.Results: 430 AKI cases (55.1%) were diagnosed out of 780 included cases. The GBM model achieved the highest AUC (0.76, CI 0.70 to 0.82), F1-score (0.73, CI 0.66 to 0.79) and sensitivity (0.74, CI 0.66 to 0.8) in the internal validation set, and a comparable AUC (0.75, CI 0.67 to 0.81) in the external validation set. High preoperative indirect bilirubin, low intraoperative urine output, long anesthesia time, low preoperative platelets, and graft steatosis graded NASH CRN 1 and above were revealed by SHAP method the top 5 important variables contributing to the diagnosis of post-LT AKI made by GBM model.Conclusions: Our GBM-based predictor of post-LT AKI provides a highly interoperable tool across institutions to assist decision-making after LT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global stabilization problem for a more extensive class of switched nonlinear systems is studied, in which control vector fields are allowed to vanish at some point, even for all the subsystems at the same time. The main work of this article is to design a control vector fields‐dependent switching law and a bounded switching controller to stabilize the switched nonlinear systems. First, a sufficient condition ensuring the global stabilization of such a class of switched nonlinear systems is developed by the dual design of controllers and a switching law. In some special cases, the designed switching law can rule out Zeno behavior. Then, as a verification of the proposed control design method, the global stabilization of switched strict‐feedback nonlinear systems with gk(x) vanishing at some points is obtained by the codesign of the control vector fields‐dependent switching law and the bounded switching controller. Finally, a switched RCL circuit system example is also provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining atomic structure of intercalated metallic layer under graphene is a hot-topic due to the potential applications in electronic engineering. In this study, Pb-intercalated graphene (PbG) is fabricated on SiC substrate and the atomic structure and electronic properties of the intercalated Pb atoms underneath graphene are investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS). As the crystal facet of intercalated Pb atoms can be arranged in (111) (unit cell, 0.35 nm × 0.35 nm) and (110) (unit cell, 0.61 nm × 0.35 nm), mottled moiré pattern (period, 2.5 nm) and striated moiré pattern (period, 2.1 nm) are formed. Atomic arrangement of the intercalated Pb is sensitive to tip scanning resulting in the conversion of the two moiré patterns. Nevertheless, the crystal orientation of moiré patterns is always aligned with zigzag direction of graphene. As revealed by STS, PbG performs the similar electronic states to those of free-standing graphene due to the shielding effects of Pb intercalation. The crystallographic relationship between graphene and Pb atoms is also confirmed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The study provides crucial for understanding the structure of intercalated Pb atoms underneath a graphene layer, which may enable the development of new 2D materials capped by graphene. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the main strategic port governance tools, port integration has been witnessed worldwide to facilitate regional port development. To examine whether the "interest balance" pattern observed in Chinese coastal region is also followed by the inland ports, this paper extends the work of Chen et al. (2020) by focusing on the implementations of port integration in the six inland provinces along the Yangtze River. A two-step methodological approach is adopted, including a descriptive analysis and an explanatory analysis. The findings suggest that a diversified implementation of port integration indeed exists on the Yangtze River and that inland ports follow the "interest balance" pattern. Specifically, institutional flexibility enables tailored implementations, which are characterized by diversity. The market structure and power distribution are recognized as the determinants that lead to the specific trajectories of port integration implementations. Notably, we also find that the geographical distance and the outside-in development model of inland ports can also affect inland port integration. This finding further enriches the "interest balance" pattern. Based on these findings, several general policy implications are proposed for inland port integration in different contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a simple coaxial‐feed filtering patch antenna based on stub‐loaded resonator is investigated and analyzed. Owning to the addition of a pair of parasitic stubs, the original rectangular patch antenna acquires a new resonance point and an out‐side radiation null beyond the upper band edge. Then, by establishing a transverse path (introducing connected stubs), the radiating and filtering responses at lower band have been enhanced accordingly. In short, it operates like a three‐order filter with two‐constrained radiation nulls along the passband outside. The novel design has been verified by machining and testing, which meets the expected lately. A fractional bandwidth of 28% and a stable realized gain of 5.8 dBi in‐band are finally measured, and more it also reaches a higher radiation efficiency of 83%. Besides, it exhibits a unidirectional radiation pattern with a low‐cross polarization less than −20 dB in the boresight direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work aimed to assemble a simple, portable and economical L-junction microfluidic device to realize the adjustment and tunability of homogeneous round-shaped particles synthesis. In this study, we synthesize two kind of microparticles, including magnetic alginate microparticles (MAM) and chitosan-coated magnetic alginate (CMAM) used for controlling the drug release under a mild condition. Comparing to the traditional method, the MAM synthesized via this microfluidic approach has uniform size distribution, adjustable diameter as well as tunable magnetism. By exploring the amoxicillin as model drug, the MAM displays excellent pH-sensitive release, the effect of particle size on the drug release rate was investigated as well. The results show the smaller particles (220 μm) show a faster release rate than the bigger materials (1000 μm) due to their larger specific area, providing more frequency to interact with the reaction solution. The positive polyelectrolyte, chitosan, coated on the magnetic alginate surface endows CMAM time extension in drug release by two times, successfully achieving drug controlled and sustained release via the kinetics analysis. In summary, this microfluidic approach provides a convenient and efficient fluidic design for the well-controlled synthesis of micro-and nanoscale particles, which is a potential choice used for controlled and sustained drug release. • A simple but efficient L-junction microfluidics for particulate materials synthesis • CMAM with uniform size, tunable diameter, magnetism and homogenous morphology • CMAM synthesized here fulfilled the controlled and sustained-release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen-doped porous carbon possesses widespread applications in energy-related fields due to its unique properties. However, preparation of porous carbon (specific surface area > 3000 m2 g–1) with high nitrogen content (> 10 wt%) remains great challenges because of high synthesis temperature. Herein, a covalent triazine polymer was innovatively designed by cyclotrimerization of tetracyanoethylene, and used to produce the high nitrogen-doped porous carbon. The as-prepared porous carbon (HNPC-900) possesses a high nitrogen content (14.2 wt%) and large specific surface area (3210 m2 g–1). When HNPC-900 was applied as the air-cathode for zinc–air batteries, it shows a high specific capacity (797 mAh g zn –1) and stable rechargeability (more than 380 h over 960 cycles at 5 mA cm–2), outperforming the cathode composed of RuO 2 and 20 wt% Pt/C. This ingenious design provides a feasible strategy to prepare high nitrogen-doped porous carbon, giving extensive application prospects of porous carbon for catalysis and energy storage fields. [Display omitted] • Tetracyanoethylene is used for preparing a new covalent triazine polymer (CTP). • HNPC derived from CTP possesses dual-superiority in N content and porosity. • HNPC exhibits excellent bifunctional electrocatalytic performances. • HNPC shows the recyclable ability for zinc–air battery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crystal and electronic structures, and magnetic properties of polycrystalline tantalum substituted manganites CaMn 1- x Ta x O 3 (x = 0.00, 0.03, 0.06, 0.09 and 0.12) were studied by x-ray diffraction, x-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES) at Mn K -edge, and by magnetization measurements. Large changes of cell volume and magnetic transition temperature, in addition to shift of Mn K -edge spectra and change of shape of XANES spectra, indicate the existence of Mn3+ as well as Mn2+ species induced by the substitution of Mn4+ by Ta5+. Cell parameters and cell volume increase with increasing x because the Mn3+, Mn2+ and Ta5+ ions are larger that substituted Mn4+ ion. According to XANES results, at least the x = 0.00 sample is oxygen deficient. The negative magnetization was observed in the CaMnO 3-δ sample, and a possible explanation of the phenomenon is given considering two canted (almost antiferro)magnetic sublattices and a shielding current, associated with the itinerant e g electrons, induced by the oxygen vacancies. • Negative magnetization (NM) and divalent manganese are observed in CaMn 1−x Ta x O 3-δ. • NM caused by canted antiferromagnetic (AFM) states and e g electron shielding current. • AFM state and shielding current originate from Ta- and/or oxygen vacancy- content. • Large decrease in T C and change in shape of XANES spectra due to Mn2+ are observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Mott-Schottky heterojunction is reported to boost the peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation in Fenton-like reaction through a non-radical path. The heterojunction with Co nanoparticles encapsulated by nitrogen-doped graphitized carbon (N-GC) shell was synthesized via pyrolysis of ZIF67 @ZIF8 and subsequent acidic treatment. Benefiting from Mott-Schottky effect, the electrons were transferred from Co nanoparticles to the N-GC shell, leading to the rearranged electron density on N-GC surface and improvement of the PMS activation. The PMS activation efficiency of heterojunction (86.0%) was much higher than the reference catalyst without Mott-Schottky effect (35.3%), and even comparable to Co2+ (86.2%). 85.0% of tetracycline (TC) removal efficiency was realized after only 10.0 s. Moreover, the intrinsic advantages of non-radical path were well inherited by Mott-Schottky heterojunction, including high anti-interfere property toward various anions, cations and organics, high catalytic activity in a wide pH range, low metal leaching, and high magnetic recyclability. [Display omitted] • Electrons flow from Co NPs to N-GC and arranged in Mott-Schottky heterojunction. • PMS activation efficiency is comparable to Co2+ and 85.0% of TC is removed at 10 s. • Electrons play crucial role among ROSs, and PMS activation follows non-radical path. • Mechanism of Mott-Schottky effect on enhanced degradation performance is revealed. • EP-ZIF67 @ZIF8 is high environmental adaption, wide applicable pH, low leaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the saccharification efficiency of bulrush, the supplementary of metal chlorides in pretreatment of lignocellulose had been researched. The effect of metal chloride type and dosage on the ability of deep eutectic solvent (DES ChCl: Gly) pretreatment was evaluated by composition analysis of biomass, characterization analysis [scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infra spectra, X-ray diffraction, accessibility of cellulose (Direct red dye adsorption experiment), surface area of lignin (Azure B dye adsorption experiment)], and enzymatic saccharification. One-pot pretreatment of bulrush using the AlCl 3 /ChCl:Gly (molar ratio, 1:2:0.06) with the solid liquid ratio of 1:10 (w:w), lignin (70.8%) and hemicellulose (87.7%) could be effectively removed, and the enzymatic saccharification yield could reach 90.1%, much higher than that of raw bulrush (21.4%). AlCl 3 /ChCl:Gly pretreated bulrush showed an apparent reduction in lignin surface area due to lignin removal. The correlations between the Azure B dye adsorption data and delignification [Y (delignification) = 0.29 × X (surface area of lignin) + 226.9, R2 = 0.90] and glucose yield [Y (glucose yield) = −0.31 × X (surface area of lignin) + 247.9, R2 = 0.93] were observed during the AlCl 3 /ChCl:Gly pretreatment. This constructed pretreatment system could improve the bioconversion efficiency of bulrush, which had potential application in biorefinery of lignocellulose. [Display omitted] • The effects of metal chloride-assisting ChCl: Gly pretreatment were evaluated. • AlCl 3 /ChCl:Gly could efficiently remove lignin and hemicellulose. • Enzymatic hydrolysis of bulrush was clearly enhanced by AlCl 3 /ChCl:Gly treatment. • The yield of enzymatic saccharification reached 90.1%. • A linear correlation between cellulose accessibility and glucose yield was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise of short video applications such as TikTok has brought new opportunities to maximize student learning experiences in online learning environments. Meanwhile, literature that explores its potential to foster student engagement is scarce. To understand the effect of short video applications on students' learning engagement, we take Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok) as an example to include user experience variables (i.e., playfulness, satisfaction, anxiety) and technology features variables (i.e., interactivity and virtual reward). Five hundred-two valid questionnaire responses were collected from Chinese undergraduates. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM) to test the hypothesis. Overall, learning anxiety has a negative effect on learning engagement, whereas learning satisfaction has a positive effect. Virtual reward has a negative moderating effect on the relationship between interaction and anxiety. Still, it positively moderates the relationship between satisfaction and learning engagement. In addition, both years of using a mobile phone and TikTok positively influence learning engagement. Collectively, the proposed model was supported and provided empirical evidence regarding the importance of user experience and product features (such as Intelligent recommendation and virtual reward) on student engagement. Implications for theories and teaching practice and limitations were discussed. • We investigated the impacts of short video platforms (i.e., TikTok) on learning behavior. • A model to forecast students' learning engagement was tested. • Anxiety, virtual reward, and interactivity are crucial in short-video-supported learning. • Perceived playfulness and intelligent recommendation lead to satisfaction. • Our study provides insights into how short video platforms enhance the learning experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Projections indicate increasing coastal hazards in the Yellow Sea region owing to relative sea-level rise. Accordingly, regional studies of such change over the Holocene timescale could be helpful in mitigating these threats. Here, we describe the Holocene record of relative sea-level change in the Gochang-Yeonggwang area of South Korea. We compared this record with that of other sites around the coast of the Yellow Sea, including Bohai Bay (China), the Tando Estuary and Gunsan Bay (South Korea), and sites on the east coast of the South Sea and Toyo-oka Basin, Japan. The findings are based on a multi-proxy study, including lithostratigraphy combined with radiocarbon dating and analyses of grain size distribution, magnetic susceptibility, and geochemistry, which facilitated the generation of 89 paleo-sea-level points reconstructed from 28 borehole cores. The early Holocene transgression was found to start later at Gochang-Yeonggwang than at Gunsan Bay, although the distance between them is only 150 km. This result was inferred from substantial differences in sediment delivery owing to Holocene differences in river basin size, topography, and tectonic context. Before ∼7 ka, the slope and highstands from the predicted mean sea-level models at Bohai Bay, Tando Estuary, and Gochang-Yeonggwang were steeper and lower, respectively, from north to south in the Yellow Sea, approaching the slope of the glacio-eustatic sea-level curve. Therefore, the levering effect of transgression in the early Holocene decreased southward in the Yellow Sea. The slight fluctuation in mean sea-level points of the late Holocene resulted from the formation of storm deposit layers in the coastal area, erosion and redeposition in the channel, and geomorphic effects. A partial difference occurred between the relative sea levels at Gochang-Yeonggwang and Toyo-oka. Future relative sea-level research at the southernmost part of the east coast of the Yellow Sea would further improve understanding of the coastal evolution of the region. • The RSL curve slope at ∼8 ka was the steepest among the Yellow Sea east coast sites. • Highstand on RSL is lower than any other east coast site of the Yellow Sea. • Early Holocene transgression levering effect decreased southern of the Yellow Sea east coast. • RSL in the late Holocene was influenced by glacio-eustatic sea-level change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Pressure resistant, sublethal injury and viable but non-culturable cells existed during the HPP treatment. • The pressure resistant property of different species was positively correlated with the sublethal injury cell count. • The pressure resistant property of different species was negatively correlated with the VBNC cell count. • The combination of HPP with CO 2 or Nisin could reduce the formation of pressure resistant, sublethal injury and VBNC cells. This study aimed to analyze and reduce the pressure resistance (PR), sublethal injury (SLI), and viable but non-culturable (VBNC) populations during HPP. Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus , Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum were selected for evaluation of PR, SLI and VBNC cell counts and proportions during HPP. The results revealed that the bactericidal efficiency against these strains gradually improved as the processing pressure increased. However, viable bacteria could still be detected, suggesting that there may involve the presence of resistant population that difficult to be killed or revived from SLI. Further detecting the quantity and proportion of PR, SLI and VBNC bacteria found that these state of cells were present during whole HPP treatment. Additionally, the more resistant a bacterial species was to high pressure, the fewer SLI and more resuscitable VBNC (RVBNC) populations it generated, and vice versa. Therefore, correlation analysis was also employed to make the relationship between log reduction, SLI and RVBNC population ratios clearer. The results demonstrated that the log reduction was highly positive correlation with SLI population ratios, and negative correlation with RVBNC population within our detected species at 500 MPa. Furthermore, CO 2 and Nisin were employed to combined with HPP to reduce these survivors. Comparing with 233, 218, 241 and 259 MPa for HPP treatment, it took 37, 89, 135 and 229 MPa for HPP + CO 2 , and 189, 161, 199 and 292 MPa for HPP + Nisin to the first decimal reduction for E. coli , S.aureus , B. amyloliquefaciens and L. plantarum , respectively. The results indicated that HPP combined with CO 2 or Nisin could significantly reduce the quantity of PR, SLI, and RVBNC cells during HPP, and provide better bactericidal effects. In conclusion, we quantified the presence of PR, SLI, and VBNC bacteria after high pressure treatment and investigate the effectiveness of HPP combined with CO 2 or Nisin to enhance the inactivation of bacteria and reduce the occurrence of PR, SLI, and RVBNC bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel combined H 2 SO 4 -ChCl/Gly pretreatment of reed stalks was developed. • Synergistic effect of H 2 SO 4 and ChCl/Gly eliminated xylan and lignin effectively. • H 2 SO 4 -ChCl/Gly-treated reed stalk was converted to glucose in a high yield of 91.1%. • High saccharification was due to enhanced accessibility and reduced lignin surface. In this study, an efficient combination of pretreatment solvents involving Choline chloride/Glycerol (ChCl/Gly) and H 2 SO 4 was firstly developed to assess the pretreatment performance and determine optimal pretreatment conditions. The results illustrated that the H 2 SO 4 -[ChCl/Gly] combination efficiently removed lignin (52.6%) and xylan (80.5%) from the pretreated reed stalk, and subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis yielded 91.1% of glucose. Furthermore, several characterizations were conducted to examine the structural and morphological changes of the reed stalk, revealing apparently enhanced accessibility (128.4 to 522.6 mg/g), reduced lignin surface area (357.9 to 229.5 m2/g), and substantial changes on biomass surface. Based on the aforementioned study, possible mechanisms for the H 2 SO 4 -[ChCl/Gly] pretreatment of reed stalks were proposed. The comprehensive understanding of combined H 2 SO 4 -[ChCl/Gly] pretreatment system for enhancing the saccharification of the reed stalk was interpreted in this work. Overall, this novel approach could be efficiently applied to pretreat and saccharify reed stalks, empowering the biomass refining industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Idiopathic pneumoperitoneum has an unknown etiology despite exploratory laparotomy. However, it may occur without definite abdominal symptoms; thus, adequate management could be in clinical dilemma. We experienced three cases of idiopathic nonsurgical pneumoperitoneum in healthy individuals during a health check-up. Their cases were not accompanied by any relevant etiology or definite abdominal symptoms. All of the three cases exhibited a benign clinical course. The three patients underwent an abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan as part of a health check-up program, which incidentally revealed free air in the right paracolic gutter without evidence of visceral perforation or inflammation. Among the three cases, two patients underwent colonoscopy before abdominal CT, whereas one patient did not. Two cases were completely asymptomatic and were observed without any treatment in the outpatient clinic. Only the third case with minimal symptoms was treated conservatively for a short time. If a small amount of free air typically located in the right paracolic gutter is detected in the absence of perforation during colonoscopy, close observation without unnecessary treatment would be sufficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Drought is an important factor restricting the development of agriculture. In recent years, plant growth regulators have achieved more results in improving crop stress resistance. The physiological mechanism of exogenous application of mepiquat chloride on soybean seedlings has undergone significant changes under drought stress. Methods: In order to study the effect of exogenous chlorine on the physiology of soybean under drought stress., 'Heinong 65' was used as the experimental material, 15% PEG-6000 was used to simulate drought stress and different concentrations of mepiquat chloride solution (100, 300, 500, 700 mg/L) were sprayed at the three-leaf stage of soybean growth by pot method. The dry matter accumulation, auxin (IAA), zeatin (ZA), gibberellin (GA3), abscisic acid (ABA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity of soybean were determined. Result: The results showed that the activities of antioxidant enzymes SOD, POD, CAT and APX in soybean leaves under drought stress were significantly increased by the treatment of appropriate concentration of mepiquat chloride solution. IAA, GA3 and ZA endogenous hormone levels increased, dry matter accumulation increased, root-shoot ratio and ABA endogenous hormone levels decreased significantly. It can be seen that mepiquat chloride treatment can improve the antioxidant capacity, promote the growth of soybean seedlings under drought stress and effectively alleviate the inhibition of drought stress on soybean growth and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy (SICM) is common complication in septic patients with a high mortality and is characterized by an abnormal inflammation response, which was precisely regulated by endogenous specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs). However, the metabolic changes of cardiac SPMs during SICM and the roles of SPMs subset in the development of SICM remain unknown. In this work, the SPMs concentration was assessed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) of SICM mice and SICM patients. The cardiac function was measured by echocardiography after the treatment of a SPMs subset, termed Resolvin D2 (RvD2). Caspase-11−/−, GSDMD−/− and double deficient (Caspase-11−/−GSDMD−/−) mice were used to clarify the mechanisms of RvD2 in SICM. We found that endogenous cardiac SPMs were disorders and RvD2 was decreased significantly and correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and β-BNP, cTnT in Lipopolysaccharide/Cecum ligation and puncture (CLP) induced SICM models. Treatment with RvD2 attenuated lethality, cardiac dysfunction and cardiomyocytes death during SICM. Mechanistically, RvD2 alleviated SICM via inhibiting Caspase-11/GSDMD-mediated cardiomyocytes pyroptosis. Finally, the plasma levels of RvD2 were also decreased and significantly correlated with IL-1β, β-BNP, cTnT and LVEF in patients with SICM. Of note, plasma RvD2 level is indicator of SICM patients from healthy controls or sepsis patients. These findings suggest that decreased cardiac RvD2 may involve in the pathogenesis of SICM. In addition, treatment with RvD2 represents a novel therapeutic strategy for SICM by inhibiting cardiomyocytes pyroptosis. [Display omitted] • Endogenous cardiac RvD2 was decreased and correlated with cardiac function in SICM. • Resolvin D2 ameliorates SICM via inhibiting Caspase-11/GSDMD dependent pyroptosis. • Plasma RvD2 level is indicator of SICM from healthy controls or sepsis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: As demand for lamb is increasing, shortening the growth cycle and increasing meat production in lambs are major concerns today. Protein and energy are the two nutrients that most directly drive meat production in animals. In lambs, however, too few applications are available through nutrient combinations. We believe it is feasible to encourage animals to improve meat production performance by regulating the simplest nutrients in feed. In this experiment, we investigated the effects of three dietary ingredients with protein-to-fat ratios on growth, slaughter performance, fat deposition and meat quality of Small-Tail Han lambs. The aim of the current research was to gain insights/provide ideas for enhancing nutrient combination effects to improve animal production performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of feed ingredients with different protein-to-fat ratios on growth, slaughter performance and meat quality of Small-Tail Han lambs. Forty-five Small-Tail Han lambs (♂) (BW = 34.00 ± 2.5 kg, age = 120 ± 9 d) were randomly divided into groups with three different experimental treatments: (1) PF 5, with the ratio of protein to fat (CP:EE) of 50 to 5; (2) PF10, CP: EE = 50:10; (3) PF20, CP: EE = 50:20. Each treatment group had 15 lambs, and each sheep was a repeat. This experiment lasted for 65 days, with feed intake recorded daily, and animals being weighed on days 0, 30, and 65. At the conclusion of the experiment, eight lambs from each group were slaughtered to assess slaughter performance and meat quality. The results showed that the average daily gain (ADG) of the three groups were 315.27, 370.15 and 319.42 g/d, respectively. The PF10 group had the highest ADG (370.15 g) (p < 0.05). Forestomach weights (1216.88 g) of the PF10 group were significantly higher than those of the other groups (p < 0.05). There were no differences (p > 0.05) in fat percentages in various parts of body among treatments. Feed conversion of the PF10 group was higher (p < 0.05) than that of PF 5 and PF 20 groups. Furthermore, the PF10 group had a higher (p > 0.05) carcass weight and slaughter rate and there were few differences between the other groups in terms of dry matter intake, meat quality, organ weight, and fat deposition (p > 0.05). The protein–energy supplement with protein-to-fat ratio, PF10 appeared to be more desirable to promote the growth and development in Small-Tail Han Lambs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent years, accelerated transcranial magnetic stimulation (aTMS) has been developed, which has a shortened treatment period. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and long-term maintenance effects of aTMS in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: We systematically searched online databases for aTMS studies in patients with MDD published before February 2023 and performed a meta-analysis on the extracted data. Results: Four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 10 before-and-after controlled studies were included. The findings showed that depression scores significantly decreased following the intervention (SMD = 1.80, 95% CI (1.31, 2.30), p < 0.00001). There was no significant difference in antidepressant effectiveness between aTMS and standard TMS (SMD = -0.67, 95% CI (-1.62, 0.27), p = 0.16). Depression scores at follow-up were lower than those directly after the intervention based on the depression rating scale (SMD = 0.22, 95% CI (0.06, 0.37), p = 0.006), suggesting a potential long-term maintenance effect of aTMS. Subgroup meta-analysis results indicated that different modes of aTMS may have diverse long-term effects. At the end of treatment with the accelerated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (arTMS) mode, depressive symptoms may continue to improve (SMD = 0.29, 95% CI (0.10, 0.49), I2 = 22%, p = 0.003), while the accelerated intermittent theta burst stimulation (aiTBS) mode only maintains posttreatment effects (SMD = 0.01, 95% CI (-0.45, 0.47), I2 = 66%, p = 0.98). Conclusions: Compared with standard TMS, aTMS can rapidly improve depressive symptoms, but there is no significant difference in efficacy. aTMS may also have long-term maintenance effects, but longer follow-up periods are needed to assess this possibility. Trial registration: This article is original and not under simultaneous consideration for publication. The study was registered on PROSPERO (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/) (number: CRD42023406590). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TEM image of Au-In 2 O 3 -co-decorated WS2 NSs; Selectivity pattern of Au-IN 2 O 3 -co-decorated WS 2 gas sensor to various gases under fixed 6.2 V applied voltage to 50 ppm. [Display omitted] • Co-decoration of Au and In 2 O 3 NPs on WS 2 nanosheets. • CO gas sensing at different applied voltages in self-heating mode. • Co-decorated gas sensor showed a response of 3.24 to 50 ppm CO gas at 6.2 V. • Explanation of the underlying sensing mechanism. Two-dimensional materials such as WS 2 nanosheets (NSs) have unique merits such as high surface area, good conductivity at low temperatures and good chemo-physical stability. In this study, we co-decorated In 2 O 3 and Au NPs on WS 2 NSs for CO gas sensing studies. The fabricated sensors were used in self-heating mode of operation at 25 °C, which can significantly decrease the power consumption. It was found that co-decorated gas sensor not only operates at a lower applied voltage, but also exhibits a higher sensing performance (sensitivity and selectivity), relative to bare WS 2 NSs. On one hand, generation of In 2 O 3 -WS 2 heterojunctions acted as notable sources of the resistance modulation and on the other hand, Au with its catalytic effect, significantly enhanced the dissociation of oxygen molecules and also offers many favorable adsorption sites for CO molecules. Therefore, we believe that co-decoration of WS 2 is a reliable strategy to enhanced the sensing features in self-heating mode, which is highly demanded for devices with reduced power consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The mechanical properties of the bolt connection of a newly engineered bamboo – LFB were investigated by experiment study and finite element simulation. • Based on Johansen's yield theory, a theoretical calculation equation for the bolted LFB connection's bearing capacity was proposed. • A theoretical calculation equation for the load-slip relation of the bolted LFB connection was proposed. This paper investigated the mechanical performance of the bolted steel-laminated-flattened-bamboo (LFB)-steel connection under compression parallel to grain using experimental and finite element (FEM) methods, focusing on the bolt diameter and the thickness of the main member. Results showed that increasing the bolt diameter significantly enhanced the connection's bearing capacity and initial stiffness. However, the strength of the connection no longer increased when the main member's thickness exceeded 75 mm. Two ductile failure types were identified for the bolted steel-LFB-steel connection: bearing failure of the main member beneath the bolt and bending yield failure of the bolt. Based on Johansen's yield theory, a theoretical calculation equation for the connection's bearing capacity was proposed considering the transition of connection behaviour and the development of friction force between the main member and steel plate surface. A theoretical calculation equation for the load-slip curve of the bolted connection was proposed, assuming the strain of the LFB material beneath the bolt was linearly distributed, which could predict the behaviour in the elastic and yielding stage of the load-slip curve. Finally, another multilinear model for the load-slip curve was proposed based on the proposed theoretical equation and test results, which could better demonstrate the strengthening stage of the load-slip behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Bulrush (BR) was effectively treated at 100 ℃ for 1 h (severity factor LogR o = 1.8). • NaOH-ChCl:Gly could remove lignin (80.1%) and xylan (66.8%) in BR. • The accessibility was greatly increased to 0.6 g/g BR via NaOH-ChCl:Gly treatment. • Treated BR had low hydrophobicity (1.56 L/g) and lignin surface area (417 m2/g). • The enzymatic digestibility of cellulose reached 87.9% after NaOH-ChCl:Gly treatment. Glycerol (Gly) was selected as hydrogen-bond-donor for preparing ChCl-based DES (ChCl:Gly), and the mixture of ChCl:Gly (20 wt%) and NaOH (4 wt%) was utilized for combination pretreatment of bulrush at 100 °C for 60 min (severity factor LogR o = 1.78). The effects of DES pretreatment on the chemical composition, microstructure, crystal structure, and cellulase hydrolysis were explored. NaOH-ChCl:Gly could remove lignin (80.1%) and xylan (66.8%), and the enzymatic digestibility of cellulose reached 87.9%. The accessibility of bulrush was apparently increased to 645.2 mg/g after NaOH-ChCl:Gly pretreatment. The hydrophobicity and lignin surface area were reduced to 1.56 L/g and 417 m2/g, respectively. The crystallinity of cellulose was increased from 20.8% to 55.6%, and great changes in surface morphology were observed, which explained the improvement of enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency. Overall, DES combined with alkali treatment could effectively promote the removal of lignin and xylan in bulrush, thus the relative saccharification activity was greatly affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An NDI-based compound (2-NDI) with 2-butyric acid attached at imide N atoms was intelligently constructed. 2-NDI exhibits 2-NDI − monomer (low concentration) and 2-NDI − excimer (high concentration) emission state in different solvents after 365 nm illumination, forming multi-color radical fluorescence. It shows dynamic free radical emission in DMF solvent with rare white light emission. Theoretical calculations show that the fluorescence is derived from the D n -D 0 vertical emission of 2-NDI − monomer and 2-NDI − excimer. Finally, 2-NDI is made into PMMA film, which is successfully applied to information anti-counterfeiting and dynamic information encryption systems. [Display omitted] • 2-NDI was synthesized and showed different free radical emission colors in different solvents. • The dynamic fluorescence of 2-NDI in DMF solution changed with the irradiation time. • 2-NDI shows different free radical fluorescence emission types at different concentrations. • DFT shows that the free radical fluorescence is the vertical emission of D n -D 0. • 2-NDI PMMA film can be used for dynamic information encryption and anti-counterfeiting. Developing innovative materials with environmentally stable 1,4,5,8-Naphthalene diimide radicals (NDI −) emissions is significant. In this work, we have successfully constructed an NDI-based material 2-NDI (N, N′-bis(2-butyric acid)-1,4,5,8-naphthalene diimide) that emits strong fluorescence in solvents and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) upon irradiation. The radical 2-NDI − exhibits multi-color emission in different solvent systems, and the fluorescence emission is concentration-dependent. It is worth noting that it exhibits a rare dynamic fluorescence in DMF solvent, with the fluorescence color changing from yellow-green to orange and finally to white. Theoretical calculations show that the fluorescence is derived from the D n -D 0 vertical emission of 2-NDI − monomer and excimer. Owing to the outstanding free radical fluorescence emission properties, various films (PMMA systems) based on 2-NDI in different solvents have been successfully made to be applied in multiple dynamic information anti-counterfeiting and encryption. This work achieved simple and stable fluorescence emission based on NDI −, making it a potential candidate for practical applications and providing a new platform for the future design of NDI-based photochromic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The theoretical relationship between the vehicle load and vehicle-induced cable force sums (VICFS) is derived through mechanical analysis and the specific expression is given for the first time. • An anomaly-sensitive warning index that directly reflects the service performance of stay cables is established based on the derived theoretical relationship and the detailed calculation procedures are given in this paper. • A new anomaly diagnosis method for stay cables is proposed by combining the established warning index with the X-bar control chart to solve the complex analysis problems caused by the transverse position of the vehicle on the bridge deck. • A new cable force decoupling method based on local generalized extreme value (GEV) distribution is presented to eliminate temperature trends from the raw data and obtain VICFS dataset. • The numerical simulations and an engineering application to an in-service cable-stayed bridge are carried out to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method. Stay cables are one of the most critical load-carrying components for cable-stayed bridges. Cable damage or performance degradation can affect the normal operation of bridges. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate the service performance of cables in real time to ensure bridge safety. In this paper, an anomaly diagnosis method for stay cables based on vehicle-induced cable force sums (VICFS) of cable pairs (defined as two symmetric cables upstream and downstream) is proposed. First, the theoretical relationship between the vehicle load and VICFS was derived through mechanical analysis. Second, a new anomaly-sensitive warning index was established based on the above derivation, and the anomaly diagnosis for stay cables was achieved by combining it with the X-bar control chart. Then, according to finite element simulation, the variations in VICFS in different cases were analyzed to verify the rationality of the theoretical derivation and the established warning index. Finally, an engineering application to an in-service cable-stayed bridge was carried out to validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the anomaly diagnosis method. The results show that the proposed method can accurately detect and locate damaged cables, which can be successfully applied to monitor the long-term performance of stay cables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a debilitating psychiatric disorder which is common and endangers human physical and mental health. Studies have shown that hesperidin could improve the symptoms of depression with unclear mechanisms. In this study, hesperidin was administered to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) depressed mice before behavioral test, network pharmacology analysis, RNA expression microarray analysis, pathway validation and molecular docking experiments. we found that hesperidin intervention could significantly improve the depressive symptoms and downregulate the expression level of pyroptosis pathway including caspase 1 (Casp1), interleukin 18 (IL18), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3). In addition, we found that hesperidin could possibly bind to NLRP3. Our study demonstrated that hesperidin had huge potential as anti-depressive neuroprotectant, and may play a role in treating MDD by regulating NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preferential use of a scalpel (SCT) or puncture techniques (PCT) for cricothyrotomy remains a controversial topic. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing puncture cricothyrotomy with scalpel cricothyrotomy using overall success rate, first-time success rate, and time taken to perform the procedure as the primary outcome together with complications as a secondary outcome. Pubmed databases, EMBASE databases, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, from 1980 to October 2022. A total of 32 studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. It also showed that PCT was close to SCT in terms of overall success rate (82.2% vs. 82.6%, Odd Ratios OR = 0.91, [95%CI: 0.52–1.58], p = 0.74) as well as first-performance success rate (62.9% vs. 65.3%, OR = 0.52, [0.22–1.25], p = 0.15). PCT does not compare favorably with SCT in terms of required time for the procedure (the mean time required for PCT versus SCT incision in the intervention groups was 0.34 standard deviations higher (Mean Difference MD = 17.12, [3.37–30.87], p = 0.01) as well as complications (21.4% vs. 15.1%, Relative Risk RR = 1.49, [0.80–2.77], p = 0.21). The results show that SCT has an advantage over PCT in terms of time required for the procedure, while there is no difference in overall success rate, first-time success rate after training, and complications. The superiority of SCT may be the result of fewer and more reliable procedural steps. However, the level of evidence is low (GRADE). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]