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[Display omitted] • A comprehensive study of naphtha separation by a series of adsorbents. • Influence of pore structure on the separation of real naphtha mixtures. • Influence of separation mechanism on the separation of naphtha mixtures. Naphtha separation is of significant importance for refineries to make full use of oil and to reduce the cost of refining. In the recent years, scientists have devoted great efforts to developing novel porous materials such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for the separation of naphtha. However, previous investigations have been limited to single-component or 3- to 5-component model systems. Separation of full range hydrocarbon mixture such as naphtha has rarely been explored. In this work, we carry out a comprehensive study on the separation of alkane isomers as well as full range naphtha mixture by a series of robust microporous MOFs, e.g., Zr-abtc, Al-bttotb, Co-fa, in comparison with representative zeolite materials, e.g., ZSM-5 and zeolite 5A. We find that Al-bttotb and Co-fa, which can separate monobranched and dibranched alkanes through complete molecular exclusion, show superior separation performance for naphtha mixtures. This work may shed light on strategies for developing adsorbents with optimal performance for naphtha separation and ultimately realizing the industrialization of MOF-based separation technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Ultra-thin CHA and FAU membranes were evaluated for desalination by pervaporation. • The observed water flux was 24 kg/(m2‧h) for CHA and 28 kg/(m2‧h) for FAU membranes. • The effect of the support was estimated using a mathematical model. • The water flux could be much higher without the effect of the support. In the present work, ultra-thin zeolite CHA and FAU membranes, with thicknesses of 600 and 500 nm, respectively, were evaluated for desalination by pervaporation at various temperatures. Single gas permeation experiments were employed to verify high quality of the membranes. At 90 °C, the observed water fluxes for CHA and FAU membranes were as high as 24 and 28 kg/(m2‧h), respectively. A mathematical model was used to estimate the effect of the support. The results showed that the mass transfer resistance of the support reduced the flux. The water flux corrected for the mass transfer resistance over the support was as high as 40 and 51 kg/(m2‧h) at 90 °C for CHA and FAU membranes, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, these are the highest reported water fluxes for desalination by zeolite membranes in a pervaporation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changing the shape of the blade trailing edge profile of a centrifugal pump is one of the effective means to improve the internal unsteady flow and pressure pulsation of a centrifugal pump. In this paper, the effect of four shapes of the blade trailing edge profile on the internal nonconstant pressure pulsation and internal flow of a multistage centrifugal pump is investigated by numerical simulation. The four types of blade trailing edges include prototype impeller (original trailing edge), pressure surface cut (ellipse on pressure side [EPS]), suction surface cut (ellipse on suction side [ESS]), and two‐side cut (ellipse on both sides). The results show that reasonable cutting of the trailing edge of the blade can reduce the pressure pulsation of the centrifugal pump. By comparing the pressure pulsation at fBPF, we found that the blade trailing edge profile can change the pressure pulsation. When the speed decreases, the periodicity of pressure pulsation becomes worse and the amplitude of pressure pulsation at fBPF decreases. The static pressure distribution at the trailing edge of the blade shows that EPS and ESS can effectively reduce the area of the high‐pressure gradient region at the trailing edge of the blade, and the dynamic–static interference effect is weakened, which leads to a lower pressure pulsation amplitude. The distribution of turbulent energy in different blade trailing edge centrifugal pumps corresponds to the distribution of static pressure in different blade trailing edge centrifugal pumps, further demonstrating the reliability of the static pressure distribution. The results of this study will further provide theoretical support for the optimization of the blade trailing edge profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: As one of the most malignant cancers, the mechanisms underlying the occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are complex, and the development of effective treatment strategies has been difficult. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) participate in HCC development in various ways. This review summarizes the latest research on EVs related to Wnt signaling in HCC and expounds on the underlying mechanisms, providing a reference for novel HCC treatment strategies. As the primary type of liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) causes a large number of deaths every year. Despite extensive research conducted on this disease, the prognosis of HCC remains unclear. Recently, research has largely focused on extracellular vesicles (EVs), and they have been found to participate in various ways in the development of various diseases, including HCC, such as by regulating cell signaling pathways. However, recent studies have reported the mechanisms underlying the regulation of Wnt signaling by EVs in HCC, primarily focusing on the regulation of the canonical pathways. This review summarizes the current literature on the regulation of Wnt signaling by EVs in HCC and their underlying mechanisms. In addition, we also present future research directions in this field. This will deepen the understanding of HCC and provide new ideas for its treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lepton charge asymmetry in W ± production in the nuclear collisions at s NN = 5. 0 2 TeV is investigated with a parton and hadron cascade model PACIAE. Recently published ALICE and the ATLAS data of lepton charge asymmetry are well reproduced. An interesting linear scaling behavior is observed in the lepton charge asymmetry as a function of the collision system valence quark number asymmetry among different sizes of nuclear collision systems at s NN = 5. 0 2 TeV. This linear scaling behavior may serve as an additional constraint on the PDF (nPDF) extractions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the analysis of two particular models, from deterministic and random perspective respectively, for spreading processes. With a proper encoding of propagation patterns, the spread rate of each pattern is discussed for both models by virtue of the substitution dynamical systems and branching process. In view of this, we are empowered to draw a comparison between two spreading processes according to their spreading models, based on which explanations are proposed on a higher frequency of a pattern in one model than the other. These results are then supported by the numerical evidence later in the article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) is one of the core materials which were widely used in the field of fuel cells (FCs). In recent years, the metal organic frameworks (MOFs) and polymer composite membranes as tunable proton-conducting materials have showed great potential in this field. Herein, a Cu(II)-based metal organic framework (Cu-MOF) with acid/base stability was introduced into poly(vinylpyrrolidone)/poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVP/PVDF, PP) to fabricate hybrid membranes(Cu-MOF@PP-X, where X is the % Cu-MOF content). The effects of Cu-MOF loading amounts on the conductive behavior of Cu-MOF@PP-X composites have been documented. It is worth noting that Cu-MOF@PP-50 exhibited the proton conductivity up to 4.36 ​× ​10−4 ​S ​cm−1 at 353 ​K and 98% relative humidity (RH). In addition, the value of proton conduction is about two orders of magnitude higher than that of the parent Cu-MOF (1.91 ​× ​10−6 ​S ​cm−1). This work contributes to driving further advances of MOF/polymer composites in proton-conducting apparatus. [Display omitted] • A Cu-MOF with acid/base stability was introduced into polymers (PVP/PVDF, PP) to fabricate hybrid membranes. • The effects of Cu-MOF loading amounts on the conductive behavior of Cu-MOF@PP-X composites have been documented. • Cu-MOF@PP-50 exhibited a super protonic conductivity up to 4.36 ​× ​10−4 ​S ​cm−1 at 353 ​K and 98% relative humidity (RH). • The value of proton conduction of Cu-MOF@PP-50 is about two orders of magnitude higher than that of the parent Cu-MOF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN), the most common primary renal disease, is characterized by abnormal IgA1 deposition. IgAN is caused by NOD-like receptor pyrin domain-containing-3 (NLRP3), which regulates innate immunity. Gubentongluo (GB) decoction, a traditional Chinese medicine, is an effective clinical treatment for IgAN in China. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms. In this study, IgA1, which is separated from patients with IgAN, together with GB decoction was applied to treat human mesangial cells (HMCs). CCK-8 and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to assess cell proliferation and the production of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), respectively. qPCR and Western blot were applied to detect the expression levels of NLRP3, IL-1β, and caspase-1. Our results showed that GB decoction inhibited IgA1-induced cell proliferation and IL-1β production. Furthermore, IgA1-induced upregulation of IL-1β, NLRP3, and caspase-1 was reduced after treatment with GB. Interestingly, MCC950, an NLRP3 inhibitor, showed similar effect as GB decoction. Additionally, NLRP3 overexpression stimulated cell proliferation, IL-1β secretion, and the expressions of IL-1β and caspase-1 in HMCs. But these effects could be alleviated by GB decoction. In conclusion, GB may play a protective role in IgAN cell model by inhibiting NLRP3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formyl peptide receptors (FPRs) may contribute to inflammation in Alzheimer's disease through interactions with neuropathological Amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides. Previous studies reported activation of FPR2 by Aβ1-42, but further investigation of other FPRs and Aβ variants is needed. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the interactions of mouse and human FPRs with different physiologically relevant Aβ-peptides using transiently transfected cells in combination with calcium imaging. We observed that, in addition to hFPR2, all other hFPRs also responded to Aβ 1-42, Aβ1-40, and the naturally occurring variants Aβ11-40 and Aβ17-40. Notably, Aβ11-40 and Aβ17-40 are very potent activators of mouse and human FPR1, acting at nanomolar concentrations. Buffer composition and aggregation state are extremely crucial factors that critically affect the interaction of Aβ with different FPR subtypes. To investigate the physiological relevance of these findings, we examined the effects of Aβ11-40 and Aβ17-40 on the human glial cell line U87. Both peptides induced a strong calcium flux at concentrations that are very similar to those obtained in experiments for hFPR1 in HEK cells. Further immunocyto-chemistry, qPCR, and pharmacological experiments verified that these responses were primarily mediated through hFPR1. Chemotaxis experiments revealed that Aβ11-40 but not Aβ17-40 evoked cell migration, which argues for a functional selectivity of different Aβ peptides. Together, these findings provide the first evidence that not only hFPR2 but also hFPR1 and hFPR3 may contribute to neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease through an interaction with different Aβ variants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has spread rapidly and significantly impacted most countries in the world. Providing an accurate forecast of COVID-19 at multiple scales would help inform public health decisions, but recent forecasting models are typically used at the state or country level. Furthermore, traditional mathematical models are limited by simplifying assumptions, while machine learning algorithms struggle to generalize to unseen trends. This motivates the need for hybrid machine learning models that integrate domain knowledge for accurate long-term prediction. We propose a three-layer, geographically informed ensemble, an extensive peer-learning framework, for predicting COVID-19 trends at the country, continent, and global levels. As the base layer, we develop a country-level predictor using a hybrid Graph Attention Network that incorporates a modified SIR model, adaptive loss function, and edge weights informed by mobility data. We aggregated 163 country GATs to train the continent and world MLP layers of the ensemble. Our results indicate that incorporating quantitatively accurate equations and real-world data to model inter-community interactions improves the performance of spatio-temporal machine learning algorithms. Additionally, we demonstrate that integrating geographic information (continent composition) improves the performance of the world predictor in our layered architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoparticles are widely used in biomedical applications and cancer treatments due to their minute scale, multi-function, and long retention time. Among the various nanoparticles, the unique optical property derived from the localized surface plasmon resonance effect of metallic nanoparticles is a primary reason that metallic nanoparticles are researched and applied. Copper and Iron nanoparticles have the potential to generate hydroxyl radicals in excess H2O2 via Fenton or Fenton-like reactions. On the other hand, gold nanoparticles equipped with a photosensitizer can transfer the energy of photons to chemical energy and enhance the production of singlet oxygen, which is suitable for cancer treatment. With the actions of these two reactive oxygen species in the tumor microenvironment, cell apoptosis can further be induced. In this work, we first synthesized dual metal nanoparticles with poly[styrene-alt-(maleic acid, sodium salt)(Cu ferrite oxide-polymer) by a simple one-step hydrothermal reduction reaction. Then, gold(III) was reduced and doped into the structure, which formed a triple metal structure, Au-doped Cu ferrite nanoparticles (Au/Cu ferrite oxide-polymer NPs). The metal ratio of the product could be controlled by manipulating the Fe/Cu ratio of reactants and the sequence of addition of reactants. The core–shell structure was verified by transmission electron microscopy. Moreover, the hydroxyl radical and singlet oxygen generation ability of Au/Cu ferrite oxide-polymer was proved. The chemodynamic and photodynamic effect was measured, and the in vitro ROS generation was observed. Furthermore, the behavior of endocytosis by cancer cells could be controlled by the magnetic field. The result indicated that Au/Cu ferrite oxide-polymer core–shell nanoreactor is a potential agent for chemodynamic/photodynamic synergetic therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-entropy alloys have been proved to be potential candidate materials in the biomedical field due to their balanced mechanical properties and excellent biocompatibility. The effects of atomic ratios on the as-cast microstructural evolution, mechanical properties, and electrochemical property of TiZrTaNbSn high-entropy alloys were studied systematically. The crystal structure of TiZrTaNbSn high-entropy alloys is single BCC phase, and the microstructural evolution is based on atomic ratio. The dendric structure, peritectic structure, pseudo eutectic and equiaxed grain, which are associated with element segregation, can be obtained by non-equal atomic ratio. Ti30Zr20Ta20Nb20Sn10 alloy demonstrates a high compressive strength and fracture strain, which are 2,571.8 MPa and 12%, respectively, and the fracture behavior is quasi-cleavage faults. The Ti45Z35Ta5Nb5Sn10, Ti30Zr20Ta20Nb20Sn10 and Ti35Zr25Ta15Nb15Sn10 alloys show excellent corrosion resistance according to Nyquist diagram, polarization curves and corrosion morphology. Compared with TiZrTaNbSn alloy, the corrosion rate of Ti45Zr35Ta5Nb5Sn10 alloy increases by about 98.9%. It can be concluded that non-equal atomic ratios are effective for microstructure control and performance optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helicopter rotor aerodynamic noise research has become essential as helicopters' reliability and comfort requirements have increased. Significant progress has been made in modeling the aerodynamically generated sound of helicopter rotors. The cyclostationary signal processing methods have been widely used for machine fault diagnosis, machinery system identification and mechanical source separation. However, the lack of a generally accepted formal definition of cyclostationarity based on the basic aerodynamic theory and wave propagation model limits cyclostationary methods' application to the helicopter rotor aerodynamic noise. A formal cyclostationary modeling process to the helicopter rotor aerodynamic noise based on aerodynamic and wave propagation theory is proposed in this paper for subsequent cyclostationary signal processing. The rotor blade noise is mathematically formulated as a cyclostationary process by imposing the periodic Green's function based on the Wold–Cramer decomposition form of the Ffowcs Williams–Hawkings (FW–H) equation, and the formal definition of the rotor blade noise cyclostationary process is derived. Then, the cyclostationarity is defined for both the tonal noise and the broadband noise of rotor aerodynamic noise, respectively. Furthermore, a periodic amplitude modulation (PAM) signal model is proposed to approximate the measured rotor aerodynamic noise signal. The proposed signal model is validated by the measurement in the wind tunnel test. • Cyclostationarity of the aerodynamically generated sound of helicopter rotors is proved. • A cyclostationary signal model is proposed for helicopter rotor aerodynamic noise. • The theory and signal model is validated by the measurement in the wind tunnel test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The SBL algorithm is used for sound source localization and quantification. • The SBL and IBF algorithms are compared in terms of effectiveness and robustness. • Advantages of SBL at low SNRs, low frequency are validated through experiments. The localization accuracy and acoustic quantification are the leading indicators of acoustic localization. It is difficult to reconstruct the acoustic field completely as the number of sources is larger than the number of microphones. To solve this problem, the sparse acoustic holography under the Bayesian framework is applied to acquire the phase and amplitude distribution of the acoustic field to achieve acoustic source localization. In this paper, a Sparse Bayesian Learning (SBL) algorithm is improved, which can not only perform acoustic localization quickly and accurately, but also quantize the sound source to achieve sparse acoustic holography. To verify the efficiency and robustness of the improved method, simulations and experiments with different sound sources and noise disturbances are performed in this paper to verify the superior performance of the SBL algorithm at low frequencies and low signal-to-noise ratios (SNR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Multiplicative scaling of concentration between unit cells. • Mapping shapes by a position-dependent rescaling of time. • Model to predict porosity evolution from pore-scale data. Upscaling methods are frequently used to derive transport equations at the macroscopic scale from more fundamental equations formulated at the pore scale. These methods typically give a suitable structure for the macroscopic equations and can also provide explicit expressions for the constitutive parameters, such as permeability and dispersion coefficients. Introducing chemical reactions complicates upscaling in at least two important ways. First, the interplay between chemical reactions and transport processes introduces a new length scale, which can be much smaller than the convective or dispersive length scales. A small reactive length scale breaks one of the key assumptions in upscaling; that there is a significant separation in length between the pore-scale and macro-scale processes. The second complication is that if reactions take place at mineral surfaces (dissolution or precipitation) then the pore space itself is evolving in time. In this paper we suggest ways in which these difficulties can be approached, based on analysis of pore-scale simulation data. First, we noticed that the concentration field in successive unit cells has an almost identical spatial variation, with a single scaling factor for each unit cell that is proportional to the incoming reactant flux. Using pore-scale simulations to determine the mass transfer coefficient in a few unit cells, we can calculate the concentration field in the whole domain, even when dissolution is entirely transport limited. Second, we have noticed a time-dependent mapping of the grain shapes from different unit cells. From these observations, we can deduce constitutive relations where the only time-varying parameter is the porosity. We show that a model based on these ideas can quantitatively account for the pore-scale simulation data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) possesses the advantage that directly detects target analytes in solution with high specificity and sensitivity without complicated pretreatment procedures. It remains a challenge in most practical applications to achieve molecule sensitivity in any highly diluted solutions. Here, we develop a robust and practical molecular enrichment strategy that can effectively confine analyte molecules and Au nanoparticles together in a short time into a small-sized sensitive region on a needle tip, based on the Leidenfrost phenomenon and capillary force. In this strategy, the Leidenfrost evaporation phenomenon maintains the analytes droplet in a Cassie state based on a levitating force, and at the same time, a hung needle tip anchors the droplet based on the capillary force. After 1–2 min quick evaporation, more than 98% Au nanoparticles and analytes can be condensed into an around 0.5 mm small size area on the needle tip. Due to the significant enrichment capability and reproducibility, the SERS measurement enables to achieve the limit of detection (LOD) down to 0.08 nM (at an S/N ratio of 3) for crystal violet (CV) molecules and to nM level for several types of pesticide molecules (glyphosate, carbendazim, thiram and choline) in ethanol solution. The strategy was also applied to the detection of CV molecules in mixture pigments solution, thiram in spiked environment water samples, with good selectivity and sensitivity. In addition, using the high thermal conductivity substrate without additional surface modification, this enrichment SERS detection may open the possibility of universal applications due to its facile and cost-effective. The accurate site of the needle tip offers great practical potentials for on-site identification by using a handheld Raman spectrometer. [Display omitted] • Combining the partial Leidenfrost evaporation and tip enrichment method, it can greatly accelerate the enrichment process. • The common flat substrates with good thermal conductivity are suitable for this method to reduce the operation difficulty. • The final enrichment tiny area of tip can be easily located under the laser spot to increase the sensitivity of detection. • The novel method exhibits a wide detection range with a LOD down to nM for the poorly soluble pesticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transformer discharge fault localization is important for the power supply reliability. The audible sound radiated by the transformer can reflect the extensive operation information. Thus, discharge faults can be localized by high spatial resolution acoustic imaging techniques to facilitate the inspection and maintenance of power equipment. In this paper, the grid-moving equivalent source method (GMESM) is proposed to visualize the discharge fault on a transformer, where the equivalent source grids can approach the discharge fault position adaptively. A probability framework is established in GMESM. The noise power can be firstly estimated by the Bayes rule to avoid an additional measurement of the background noise. Then, the expectation maximization algorithm is used to optimize the proposed model. Two experiment cases are used to validate the proposed method. It turns out that the proposed GMESM can visualize the discharge fault on the transformer with high spatial resolution and accuracy. • The transformer discharge fault is localized by audible acoustic array. • GMESM is proposed for high-resolution transformer discharge fault localization. • The background noise power is estimated to avoid an additional measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Therefore, the wording of the Methods, subsection "Construct drug similarity network based on side effects" closely resembles the method description in Reference 57 designed for symptom-based similarity detection, but this reference was not cited in this section. To construct drug similarity network based on side effects, the Authors used the data and the method reported by Zhou et al. whose paper is cited as Reference 57 in the Article. [Extracted from the article]

Abstract: The exploitation of plant volatile organic compounds as biofumigants to control postharvest decaying of agro-products has received considerable research attention. Our previous study reported that 1-nonanol, the main constituent of cereal volatiles, can inhibit Aspergillus flavus growth and has the potential as a biofumigant to control the fungal spoilage of cereal grains. However, the antifungal mechanism of 1-nonanol against A. flavus is still unclear at the molecular level. In this study, the minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum fungicidal concentration of 1-nonanol against A. flavus spores were 2 and 4 μL/mL, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the 1-nonanol can distort the morphology of A. flavus spore. Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining showed that 1-nonanol induced phosphatidylserine eversion and increased membrane permeability of A. flavus spores. Transcriptional profile analysis showed that 1-nonanol treatment mainly affected the expression of genes related to membrane damage, oxidative phosphorylation, blockage of DNA replication, and autophagy in A. flavus spores. Flow cytometry analysis showed that 1-nonanol treatment caused hyperpolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential and accumulation of reactive oxygen species in A. flavus spores. 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining showed that treatment with 1-nonanol destroyed the DNA. Biochemical analysis results confirmed that 1-nonanol exerted destructive effects on A. flavus spores by decreasing intracellular adenosine triphosphate content, reducing mitochondrial ATPase activity, accumulating hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anions, and increasing catalase and superoxide dismutase enzyme activities. This study provides new insights into the antifungal mechanisms of 1-nonanol against A. flavus.• 1-Nonanol treatment resulted in abnormal morphology of A. flavus spores.• 1-Nonanol affects the expression of key growth-related genes of A. flavus.• The apoptosis of A. favus spores were induced after exposed to 1-nonanol.Key points: The exploitation of plant volatile organic compounds as biofumigants to control postharvest decaying of agro-products has received considerable research attention. Our previous study reported that 1-nonanol, the main constituent of cereal volatiles, can inhibit Aspergillus flavus growth and has the potential as a biofumigant to control the fungal spoilage of cereal grains. However, the antifungal mechanism of 1-nonanol against A. flavus is still unclear at the molecular level. In this study, the minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum fungicidal concentration of 1-nonanol against A. flavus spores were 2 and 4 μL/mL, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the 1-nonanol can distort the morphology of A. flavus spore. Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining showed that 1-nonanol induced phosphatidylserine eversion and increased membrane permeability of A. flavus spores. Transcriptional profile analysis showed that 1-nonanol treatment mainly affected the expression of genes related to membrane damage, oxidative phosphorylation, blockage of DNA replication, and autophagy in A. flavus spores. Flow cytometry analysis showed that 1-nonanol treatment caused hyperpolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential and accumulation of reactive oxygen species in A. flavus spores. 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining showed that treatment with 1-nonanol destroyed the DNA. Biochemical analysis results confirmed that 1-nonanol exerted destructive effects on A. flavus spores by decreasing intracellular adenosine triphosphate content, reducing mitochondrial ATPase activity, accumulating hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anions, and increasing catalase and superoxide dismutase enzyme activities. This study provides new insights into the antifungal mechanisms of 1-nonanol against A. flavus.• 1-Nonanol treatment resulted in abnormal morphology of A. flavus spores.• 1-Nonanol affects the expression of key growth-related genes of A. flavus.• The apoptosis of A. favus spores were induced after exposed to 1-nonanol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Space-snapshot representation for acoustic imaging in a complex, noisy environment is investigated. • Low rank and Mixture of Gaussian modeling are proposed to achieve significant denoising performance. • Comparisons with other methods are made in simulations and experiments to verify the effect of the state-of-the-art methods. The microphone array can simultaneously obtain the multi-dimensional information (space-time-frequency) of sound sources, which is recognized as a fundamental and powerful tool in acoustic imaging. Acoustic Beamforming is one of the widely used methods in acoustic imaging. However, most of the applications of beamforming are based on the Gaussian noise assumption, which is not always accurate in on-site measurements. For example, shock noise with a skewed probability density function (PDF) may appear on the signal record when the turbulent eddies are not controlled. Thus, in this paper, the conventional Gaussian noise model is extended to a Gaussian mixture noise model, which can approximate any probability distribution of the noise in theory. The space-snapshot representation of microphone array measurements is further modeled as a combination of the low-rank matrix part (measurements from the sound sources) and a Gaussian mixture matrix part (measurement noise). The signal from the sources of interest is finally recovered by the Expectation–maximization algorithm, which iterates between the low-rank approximation of the sound sources and the estimation of the parameter of the Gaussian mixture model. The proposed method is further investigated with simulations and compared with robust principal component analysis (RPCA) and Gaussian-based probabilistic factor analysis (PFA). It is concluded that the proposed method outperforms the state-of-the-art denoising methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adsorption and mass transport of CO 2 and CH 4 in CHA zeolite were studied experimentally. First, large and well-defined CHA crystals with varying Si/Al ratios and morphologies ideal for adsorption studies were prepared. Then, adsorption isotherms were measured, and adsorption parameters were estimated from the data. In the next step, permeation experiments for pure components and mixtures were conducted for a defect-free CHA membrane with a Si/Al ratio of 80 and a thickness of 600 nm over a wide temperature range. A maximum selectivity of 243 in combination with a CO 2 permeance of 70 × 10−7 mol/(m2 s Pa) was observed for a feed of an equimolar CO 2 /CH 4 mixture at 273 K and 5.5 bar. Finally, a simple model accounting for adsorption and diffusion through the surface barriers and the interior of the pores of the membrane was fitted to the permeation data. The fitted model indicated that the surface barrier was a surface diffusion process at the pore mouth with higher activation energy than the diffusion process within the pores. The model also showed that the highly selective mass transport in the membrane was mostly a result of a selective surface barrier and, to a lesser extent, a result of adsorption selectivity. [Display omitted] • CHA crystals with various Si/Al ratios were studied for gas adsorption. • The adsorption were performed in a wide temperature range of 150–350 K. • Single gas and CO 2 /CH 4 permeation were measured over an ultra-thin CHA membrane. • Adsorption parameters were used to model mass transport through the CHA membrane. • High CO 2 /CH 4 selectivity is mostly due to high surface permeability selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suicidal ideation is a substantial clinical challenge in treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Recent work demonstrated promising antidepressant effects in TRD patients with no or mild suicidal ideation using a specific protocol termed intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS). Here, we examined the clinical effects of accelerated schedules of iTBS and continuous TBS (cTBS) in patients with moderate to severe suicidal ideation. Patients with TRD and moderate to severe suicidal ideation (n = 44) were randomly assigned to receive accelerated iTBS or cTBS treatment. Treatments were delivered in 10 daily TBS sessions (1800 pulses/session) for 5 consecutive days (total of 90,000 pulses). Neuronavigation was employed to target accelerated iTBS and cTBS to the left and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), respectively. Clinical outcomes were evaluated in a 4-week follow-up period. Accelerated cTBS was superior to iTBS in the management of suicidal ideation (p week 1 =.027) and anxiety symptoms (p week 1 =.01). Accelerated iTBS and cTBS were comparable in antidepressant effects (p <.001; accelerated cTBS: mean change at weeks 1, 3, 5 = 49.55%, 54.99%, 53.11%; accelerated iTBS: mean change at weeks 1, 3, 5 = 44.52%, 48.04%, 51.74%). No serious adverse events occurred during the trial. One patient withdrew due to hypomania. The most common adverse event was discomfort at the treatment site (22.73% in both groups). These findings provide the first evidence that accelerated schedules of left DLPFC iTBS and right DLPFC cTBS are comparably effective in managing antidepressant symptoms and indicate that right DLPFC cTBS is potentially superior in reducing suicidal ideation and anxiety symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), renowned for their porous and tunable functionalities, hold significant potential for enhancing perovskite photovoltaic. However, the influence of MOF, particularly those with balanced cations in the pores, on the conversion of bottom‐layer PbI2 and the distribution of MOFs within perovskite remains underexplored. Herein, a newly synthesized Yttrium (Y)‐MOF material is introduced, featuring dimethylamine (DMA) as balanced cations within its pores and strong absorption in UV regime, to modify perovskite films. Y‐MOF, rich in oxygen and nitrogen sites, and featuring DMA within its pores, can passivate uncoordinated Pb2+ in perovskite. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and grazing incidence wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (GIWAXS) analysis of the top and bottom surfaces for pristine and Y‐MOF‐assisted perovskite samples reveal that the presence of PbI2 in the Y‐MOF‐assisted perovskite films is negligible. In situ UV–vis analyses demonstrate that the incorporation of Y‐MOF decelerates the crystallization kinetics of perovskite, facilitating the development of larger perovskite grains. Moreover, GIWAXS experiments conducted at different angles reveal the predominant bottom distribution of Y‐MOF within the perovskite, which effectively mitigates the impact of ultraviolet light on the perovskite. Consequently, the Y‐MOF‐assisted devices to achieve an efficiency of 24.05% with improved stability especially the UV‐light stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coati Optimization Algorithm (COA) is a novel heuristic algorithm that simulates the intricate behavioral repertoire of coatis manifestations during their pursuit of iguanas as well as their evasive tactics against predators. Aiming to elevate the convergence characteristics regarding speed and precision of the original algorithmic process, and addressing the issue of susceptibility to local optima, an enhanced Coati Optimization Algorithm is suggested based on Cauchy mutation and chaotic maps. Firstly, the Cauchy mutation is embedded in the process of coatis hunting for iguanas. Subsequently, each of ten chaotic maps was incorporated into the probing phase of the COA, generating ten unique enhanced versions. This augments the algorithm's precision in optimization, bolsters the equilibrium between exploration and exploitation and enhances its itinerancy and non-redundancy. The enhanced optimization algorithm exhibiting the aggregated optimal performance is selected from ten types of different enhanced COA and used for subsequent comparisons with other algorithms for function optimization and engineering optimization. Thirty benchmark functions from the CEC-BC-2022 datasets were incorporated for evaluation on performance metrics of the improved COA with Cauchy mutation and ten types of chaotic maps, and then the performance of the Chebyshev map enhanced COA and other six swarm intelligent algorithms are compared for optimization purposes. Finally, optimization was performed on four distinct engineering design problems. The outcomes of the simulation experiment evidence that the advanced Cauchy mutation chaotic COA yields satisfactory outcomes in addressing both function optimization and engineering optimization. The algorithm exhibits superiority in balancing exploration and exploitation during the iterative procedure of optimization, thereby enhancing convergence precision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ammonia–methane (NH3–CH4) mixtures have potentials to serve as low-carbon fuels for gas turbines. Recent studies demonstrated that secondary air injection was an effective strategy to reduce NOx emissions from the combustion of NH3–CH4–air mixtures. However, the effects of secondary air injection on the performance of thermoacoustic instability of NH3–CH4–air flames remain unknown. To this end, this study experimentally investigated the thermoacoustic instability performance of a premixed, swirl-stabilized NH3–CH4–FF air combustor without and with secondary air injection. Without secondary air injection, thermoacoustic instabilities were widely detected at NH3 ratios below 50% (by volume). It was discovered that such instabilities were significantly suppressed by secondary air injection over a wider range of operating conditions. In conjunction with the analysis of the flame and flow dynamics, it was revealed that the secondary air injection suppressed the large amplitude axial oscillations of the flame and the flow field. Combined with the experimental results, it was inferred that the introduction of secondary air changed the velocity and pressure distribution downstream of the primary combustion zone, which in turn affected the formation and evolution of the vortex structures, thereby mitigating thermoacoustic coupling. Finally, emission measurements were discussed and the results indicated that the secondary air injection strategy reduced unburnt NH3 and CO emissions to a certain extent as well as decreased NOx emissions at specific equivalence ratios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Against the backdrop of a global paper resource shortage, there is a growing need to identify fast-growing tree species capable of producing long-lasting paper. Three plant species namely Broussonetia kazinoki, Broussonetia papyrifera and hybrid paper mulberry, belong to the Broussonetia genus, were collected from China to study their white bark suitability for pulp and papermaking. Their chemical composition revealed that the holocellulose content in Broussonetia kazinoki and Broussonetia papyrifera was more than 80%. The molecular weight distribution of several holocellulose/α-cellulose is observed by GPC, which allows us to better observe the changes of various components on the molecular weight. The yield, lignin, whiteness, and molecular weight of the pulps obtained by NaOH treatment were determined. Optical microscope was used to characterize the fiber length-width ratio and rigidity. Finally, the improvement of the fiber rigidity method based on the Kratky-Porod chain model makes it more theoretical and further reveals the influencing factors of fiber rigidity. This study demonstrates the high potentiality of these three species for papermaking applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and disease threaten shrimp farming. Here, we studied the beneficial properties of a phytogenic formulation, Shrimp Best (SB), in whiteleg shrimp. Functional studies showed that SB dose-dependently increased shrimp body weight and decreased feed conversion ratio. We found that SB protected against Vibrio parahaemolyticus as evidenced by survival rate, bacterial load, and hepatopancreatic pathology in shrimp. Finally, we explored the likely mechanism by which SB affects growth performance and vibriosis in shrimp. The 16S rRNA sequencing data showed that SB increased 6 probiotic genera and decreased 6 genera of pathogenic bacteria in shrimp. Among these, SB increased the proportion of Lactobacillus johnsonii and decreased that of V. parahaemolyticus in shrimp guts. To dissect the relationship among SB, Lactobacillus and Vibrio, we investigated the in vitro regulation of Lactobacillus and Vibrio by SB. SB at ≥ 0.25 μg/mL promoted L. johnsonii growth. Additionally, L. johnsonii and its supernatant could inhibit V. parahaemolyticus. Furthermore, SB could up-regulate five anti-Vibrio metabolites of L. johnsonii, which caused bacterial membrane destruction. In parallel, we identified 3 fatty acids as active compounds from SB. Overall, this work demonstrated that SB improved growth performance and vibriosis protection in shrimp via the regulation of gut microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Stocking density (SD) is an important issue in the poultry industry, which is related to the production performance, intestinal health and immune status. In the present study, the effects of SD on the metabolism and homeostasis of uric acid as well as the related functions of the liver and kidney in ducks were examined. Methods: A total of 360 healthy 56-day-old Shan-ma ducks were randomly divided into the low stocking density (n = 60, density = 5 birds/m2), medium stocking density (n = 120, density = 10 birds/m2) and high stocking density groups (HSD; n = 180, density = 15 birds/m2). Samples were collected in the 3rd, 6th, and 9th weeks of the experiment for analysis. Results: The serum levels of uric acid, lipopolysaccharide and inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1ß [IL-1ß], IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-a [TNF-a]) were increased significantly in the HSD group. Serious histopathological lesions could be seen in both the livers and kidneys in the HSD group in the 9th week. The mRNA expression levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-8 and TNF-a) and related pathway components (toll-like receptor 4, myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88, and nuclear factor-κB) were increased significantly in both the livers and kidneys in the HSD group. The mRNA expression levels of enzymes (adenosine deaminase, xanthine oxidase, phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate amidotransferase, and phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate synthetase 1) related to the synthesis of uric acid increased significantly in the livers in the HSD group. However, the mRNA expression level of solute carrier family 2 member 9, which plays an important role in the excretion of uric acid by the kidney, was decreased significantly in the kidneys in the HSD group. Conclusion: These results indicated that a higher SD could cause tissue inflammatory lesions in the liver and kidney and subsequently affect the metabolism and homeostasis of uric acid, and is helpful for guiding decisions related to the breeding and production of ducks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there has been an increasing focus on exploring the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and tumors. However, there is no consensus on the association between COVID-19 and lymphoma. In this study, genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary data sets for COVID-19 and lymphoma were obtained from the OPEN GWAS website. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected as genetic instrument variants for fulling P < 5 × 10−8 and linkage disequilibrium [LD] r2 < 0.001. Both palindromic and outlier SNPs were removed. Cochran's Q test, the MR‒Egger intercept test, and leave-one-out analysis were employed to assess the sensitivity of the effect of COVID-19 on lymphoma. The results showed that COVID-19 patients with very severe respiratory symptoms have an increased risk of developing diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (IVW, OR = 1.765, 95% CI 1.174–2.651, P = 0.006). There was no association between COVID-19 with very severe respiratory symptoms and Hodgkin's lymphoma or other types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. No horizontal or directional pleiotropy was observed in the Mendelian randomization analysis. In conclusion, SARS-CoV-2 infection with very severe respiratory symptoms may be a potential risk factor for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and follow-up studies with larger samples are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Algorithm for unmixing the flow spectra with partly known components. • Gauss model to fit the spectrum of the unknown component. • GA to optimize the parameters of the Gauss models. • Verify the algorithms by the simulated and experimental cyanobacteria data. Spectral unmixing algorithm is one of the key technologies for spectral flow cytometer in biology, chemistry and medicine. The proposed algorithm can separate the overlapping spectra automatically without the premeasured single stained or un-stained samples as the basic pure spectra. Genetic algorithm is adopted to search the optimal positions and peak sharps of the basic spectra derived from the unknown components, and then the concentration of each component can be estimated simultaneously by least squares method. Compared with conventional methods, the proposed algorithm has a wider application scope, such as the multi-stained samples with unknown components or the samples with auto-fluorescence. In the simulation, the convergence rate, accuracy and stability of the proposed algorithm are evaluated under the conditions of completely and partly unknown components. In the experiment, the flow spectra of cyanobacteria are processed, and the results demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tunable luminescent materials based on photochromic reactions have received considerable interest due to its potential applications in switches and optical memory devices. However, constructing such materials with ideal properties remains a challenge. In this context, two rare viologen-based host guest materials, 2[MV]·[Zn 6 (PMA) 4 (H 2 O) 4 ] (1), 2[PBM]·[Zn 2 (PMA) 2 (H 2 O) 6 ] (2), (MV·2NO 3 ​= ​1,1'-dimethyl-(4,4'-bipyridine)-1,1'-diium dinitrate; PBM·2NO 3 ​= ​4,4'-(1,4-phenylene)bis(1-methylpyridin-1-ium) dinitrate; H 2 PMA ​= ​pyromellitic acid), have been prepared by encapsulating viologen derivatives into the anionic metal-organic frameworks produced from pyromellitic acid ligands and zinc cations. Due to the presence of photoactive guest MV2+/PBM2+ and the short O⋯N+ distances between the oxygen atom of carboxylate groups and pyridine ring of guest, both complexes display fast-responsive reversible naked photochromism from colorless to blue or yellow upon UV–Vis irradiation At the same time, these host-guest materials exhibit good fluorescence emission behavior and their fluorescence can be reversible modulation under light irradiation. These are rare examples of fluorescence switching materials based on host-guest system that involve the electron-transfer photochromic process. Two novel MOF-based host-guest compounds were prepared by incorporating the photoactive viologen derivatives into the anionic framework, which exhibit photochromism upon UV–Vis light irradiation and photocontrolled luminescence. [Display omitted] ● Two host-guest complexes are prepared by incorporating the viologen derivatives into the anionic MOFs. ● Complexes 1 and 2 exhibit fast-responsive photochromism upon UV–Vis light irradiation. ● Complexes 1 and 2 show good luminescent emission and reversible luminescence switching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, single channel tubular zeolite CHA membranes with a length of 50 cm and a membrane area of 100 cm2 were evaluated by SEM and permeation experiments with single components and industrially relevant humid mixtures. The membranes comprised well-intergrown and smooth CHA films with a thickness of <500 nm supported on the inside of a highly porous tube. For single component permeation, a very low SF 6 permeance of 4.5 × 10−10 mol/(m2‧s‧Pa) was observed, which indicated nearly defect free membranes. On the contrary, the membranes displayed a very high CO 2 permeance of 128 × 10−7 mol/(m2‧s‧Pa), which illustrated the very high permeability of the CHA pores. Finally, the membranes displayed excellent selectivity for separation of industrially relevant CO 2 /CH 4 /H 2 O mixtures, which was attributed to selective interaction between the CO 2 molecules and the polar water molecules in the pores. The highest observed CO 2 /CH 4 separation selectivity was as high as 198 in combination with a CO 2 permeance of 14 × 10−7 mol/(m2‧s‧Pa) at a feed pressure of 600 kPa (including 2.2 kPa water) and 293K. The corresponding CO 2 flux was 0.39 mol/(m2‧s) and the corresponding CO 2 /CH 4 separation factor was 162. The observed membrane performance was reduced by concentration polarisation due to the limited feed flow in the experimental setup. The corresponding selectivity and CO 2 permeance corrected for concentration polarisation were as high as 236 and 16 × 10−7 mol/(m2‧s‧Pa), and the corrected CO 2 flux was 0.44 mol/(m2‧s) and corrected separation factor was 198. An estimate showed that even at a low feed pressure of 500 kPa, it would be sufficient with as few as 64 membranes for processing of a feed of 100 Nm3/h raw biogas, i.e. the capacity of a typical biogas plant at a large farm, to biomethane with high purity. These results illustrated that the membranes are promising candidates for industrial separation of CO 2 from e.g. natural gas and biogas. [Display omitted] • The first report described industrially relevant CHA membranes. • The membrane was a single channel tube with a membrane area of 100 cm2. • CO 2 single gas permeances was as high as 128 × 10−7 mol/(m2‧s‧Pa). • The highest observed CO 2 /CH 4 separation factor was 169. • Effect of concentration polarisation on separation was discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interface problems and the destruction of the continuity of the oxide film in the Al matrix usually reduce the corrosion resistance of the material. In this paper, the corrosion resistance of Al matrix composites (AMCs) was improved by introducing the silicon carbide skeletons (SiC3D) obtained with polymer replica technology. SiC3D/6061Al was fabricated by infiltrating molten 6061Al alloy in the oxidized SiC3D using the low-pressure casting method. The corrosion resistance performances of 6061Al and SiC3D/6061Al in NaCl solution were studied by electrochemical, neutral salt spray corrosion (NSS), and salt leaching (SL) tests. Results show corrosion resistance of SiC3D/6061Al is higher than that of 6061Al alloys by open circuit potential (OCP), potentio-dynamic polarization (PDP), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tests. However, NSS and SL tests show the corrosion resistance of SiC3D/6061Al is lower than that of 6061Al alloy. The reason is a corrosion resistant and anti-oxidation network macrostructure with large interface recombination, few concentrated interfaces, and a small specific area that formed in SiC3D/6061Al. SiC3D cannot damage the continuity of the Al2O3 passivating film, and the network macrostructure greatly improves the corrosion resistance performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The TGA and MD simulations are used to explore the influence of Na 2 O on the volatilization of fluoride. • The mechanism of the effect of Na 2 O on melt volatilization is analyzed in detail. • Providing a substantial theoretical and experimental basis for the volatilization of fluoride. Volatilization of fluorides is a common phenomenon and an environmental concern in metallurgy, welding, glass, and other industries. In order to understand the effect of Na 2 O on the volatilization behavior of fluorides in molten slags, thermogravimetric analysis together with molecular dynamic (MD) simulation was employed in the present study. The MD simulation results are consistent with the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). That is, the increase of Na 2 O promotes the volatilization of fluoride. Investigation of melt microstructure showed that the diffusion of Na+ plays a key role in the volatilization of fluoride. The main contributing microstructural factors to the diffusion coefficient of Na+ are the extent of polymerization in Si O and Ca F networks and the Na F clustering. Collectively, this research offered a thorough understanding of the microstructure and process of fluorine volatilization in molten slags. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• N-butanol can be used in spark ignition aviation piston engine in the full load range. • N-butanol improves CO and NOx emissions and brake thermal efficiency compared to gasoline. • The brake specific fuel consumption of n-butanol increased obviously. • N-butanol/kerosene was proposed as the fuel of spark ignition aviation piston engine. • The poor antiknock property of fuel of n-butanol/kerosene resulted in low engine efficiency. Spark ignition aviation piston engine which mainly equipped in light aircrafts is the important part of aviation power. Due to the particularity of operation conditions, spark ignition aviation piston engine still relies heavily on gasoline. The application of renewable alternative fuel is an effective way to reduce the carbon emissions of air transport industry. Meanwhile, the application of high flash point fuel is expected to improve the safety of aircraft. In this paper, n-butanol was proposed as fuel for spark ignition aviation piston engine to replace gasoline. The engine performance fueled with n-butanol were studied and compared to gasoline. N-butanol had shorter flame development duration and rapid combustion duration than gasoline. The heat release of n-butanol was more concentrated and n-butanol could achieve higher brake thermal efficiency. The CO and NOx emissions of n-butanol had significant advantages over gasoline. However, the application of n-butanol led to an obviously increase in fuel consumption. Then, n-butanol/kerosene mixed fuel with higher energy density were proposed to be the fuel of spark ignition aviation piston engine. Due to the combustion detonation, the knock limited spark timing of n-butanol/kerosene was quite delayed which resulted in the low engine efficiency. Improving the antiknock performance of n-butanol/kerosene based on high octane additives was the key to improve their performance in spark ignition aviation piston engine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The numerical model is proposed to investigate the micro-contact characteristics of asperity summits; moreover, the influence of groove area on the friction-wear properties of a Cu-based wet clutch is explored by the bench test. With the increase of rotating speed or applied pressure, the differences of the thermodynamic characteristics of clutches with different groove areas gradually narrow. However, reducing the groove area can reduce the wear of friction disc but increase the carbon black. The thermal environment is the worst in the middle of clutch, where friction components are most likely to fail. Therefore, the groove area should be designed based on the axial position of friction discs to optimize the friction-increasing and wear-reducing performance of the clutch. • The numerical model is proposed to study the micro-contact of asperity summits. • The thermodynamic differences of clutches with different groove areas decrease as the operating parameters increase. • Reducing the groove area can reduce the clutch wear but increase the carbon black. • The friction components in the middle of clutch pack are more prone to failure. • The groove area should be designed based on the axial position of friction discs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate postoperative complications and oncologic outcomes of prophylactic nephroureterectomy and/or cystectomy in dialysis patients with urothelial carcinoma (UC), we retrospectively reviewed the records of dialysis patients with UC and a final status of complete urinary tract extirpation (CUTE, i.e., the removal of both kidneys, ureters, and bladder) between January 2004 and December 2015. Patients undergoing dialysis after initial radical nephroureterectomy and/or cystectomy were excluded. Eighty-four and 27 dialysis patients, undergoing one-stage and multi-stage CUTE, were enrolled in this study, respectively. Demographic, medical, perioperative, and pathologic features were collected to determine variables associated with oncologic outcomes. Although there was no significant difference in mortality between the 2 groups (p = 0.333), all 5 (4.5%) patients with Clavien–Dindo grade 5 complications were from the one-stage CUTE group. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, advanced age (p = 0.042) and high Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) (p = 0.000) were related to postoperative major complications. Compared with multi-stage CUTE, one-stage CUTE had no overall, cancer-specific, and recurrence-free survival benefits (all p > 0.05). According to multivariate analysis with Cox regression, age > 70 years (HR 2.70, 95% CI 1.2–6.12; p = 0.017), CCI ≥ 5 (HR 2.16, 95% CI 1.01–4.63; p = 0.048), and bladder cancer stage ≥ 3 (HR 12.4, 95% CI 1.82–84.7; p = 0.010) were independent, unfavorable prognostic factors for the overall survival. One-stage CUTE is not associated with superior oncologic outcomes, and all perioperative mortalities in our series occurred in the one-stage CUTE group. Our data do not support prophylactic nephroureterectomy and/or cystectomy for uremic patients with UC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. In childhood and adolescence, the prevailing bone tumor is osteosarcoma associated with frequent recurrence and lung metastasis. This research focused on predicting the survival and immune landscape of osteosarcoma by developing a prognostic signature and establishing aging-related genes (ARGs) subtypes. Methods. The training group comprised of the transcriptomic and associated clinical data of 84 patients with osteosarcoma accessed at the TARGET database and the validation group consisted of 53 patients from GSE21257. The aging-related subtypes were identified using unsupervised consensus clustering analysis. The ARG signature was developed utilizing multivariate Cox analysis and LASSO regression. The prognostic value was assessed using the univariate and multivariate Cox analyses, Kaplan-Meier plotter, time-dependent ROC curve, and nomogram. The functional enrichment analyses were performed by GSEA, GO, and KEGG analysis, while the ssGSEA, ESTIMATE, and CIBERSORT analyses were conducted to reveal the immune landscape in osteosarcoma. Results. The two clusters of osteosarcoma patients formed based on 543 ARGs, depicted a considerable difference in the tumor microenvironment, and the overall survival and immune cell infiltration rate varied as well. Among these, the selected 23 ARGs were utilized for the construction of an efficient predictive prognostic signature for the overall survival prediction. The testing in the validation group of osteosarcoma patients confirmed the status of the high-risk score as an independent indicator for poor prognosis, which was already identified as such using the univariate and multivariate Cox analyses. Furthermore, the ARG signature could distinguish different immune-related functions, infiltration status of immune cells, and tumor microenvironment, as well as predict the immunotherapy response of osteosarcoma patients. Conclusion. The aging-related subtypes were identified and a prognostic signature was developed in this research, which determined different prognoses and allowed for treatment of osteosarcoma patients to be tailored. Additionally, the immunotherapeutic response of individuals with osteosarcoma could also be predicted by the ARG signature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background  Superficial temporal vessels have been used successfully as recipient vessels for head and neck reconstruction. This study evaluates the impact of several treatment variables on flap failure and take-back rate when using these recipient vessels. Methods  We conducted a retrospective study of all microsurgical reconstructions using superficial temporal vessels as recipient vessels in a period of 10 years. Variables collected included previous treatments (radiotherapy, chemotherapy, neck dissection, free flap reconstruction), type of flaps used (soft tissue, osteocutaneous), and vessel size discrepancy between donor and recipient vessels. Results  A total of 132 patients were included in the study. The flap success rate was 98.5%. The take-back rate was 10.6%. The most frequent reason for take-back was venous congestion secondary to thrombosis. None of the studied variables was associated with flap failure. Reconstructions using osteocutaneous flaps and vein diameter discrepancy (ratio ≥ 2:1) had significantly higher take-back rates. Conclusion  Flaps with a significant size discrepancy between donor and recipient veins (ratio ≥ 2:1) and fibula flaps (compared with soft tissue flaps) were associated with a higher risk of take-back. It is crucial to minimize venous engorgement during flap harvest and anastomosis, and limit vein redundancy during flap in-setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to compare the long-term behavior of a spread model before and after a type in the model becomes frozen, namely, a type of which an individual only produces individuals of the same type. By means of substitution dynamical systems and matrix analysis, the first result of this work gives the spread rates of a 1-spread model with one frozen symbol. Later, in the work, this is shown to hold under more general settings, which include generalized frozen symbols and frozen symbols in m -spread models. Numerical experiments are provided as supporting evidence for the theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large-scale populations in the world have been vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines, however, breakthrough infections of SARS-CoV-2 are still growing rapidly due to the emergence of immune-evasive variants, especially Omicron. It is urgent to develop effective broad-spectrum vaccines to better control the pandemic of these variants. Here, we present a mosaic-type trimeric form of spike receptor-binding domain (mos-tri-RBD) as a broad-spectrum vaccine candidate, which carries the key mutations from Omicron and other circulating variants. Tests in rats showed that the designed mos-tri-RBD, whether used alone or as a booster shot, elicited potent cross-neutralizing antibodies against not only Omicron but also other immune-evasive variants. Neutralizing antibody ID50 titers induced by mos-tri-RBD were substantially higher than those elicited by homo-tri-RBD (containing homologous RBDs from prototype strain) or the BIBP inactivated COVID-19 vaccine (BBIBP-CorV). Our study indicates that mos-tri-RBD is highly immunogenic, which may serve as a broad-spectrum vaccine candidate in combating SARS-CoV-2 variants including Omicron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large-scale populations in the world have been vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines, however, breakthrough infections of SARS-CoV-2 are still growing rapidly due to the emergence of immune-evasive variants, especially Omicron. It is urgent to develop effective broad-spectrum vaccines to better control the pandemic of these variants. Here, we present a mosaic-type trimeric form of spike receptor-binding domain (mos-tri-RBD) as a broad-spectrum vaccine candidate, which carries the key mutations from Omicron and other circulating variants. Tests in rats showed that the designed mos-tri-RBD, whether used alone or as a booster shot, elicited potent cross-neutralizing antibodies against not only Omicron but also other immune-evasive variants. Neutralizing antibody ID50 titers induced by mos-tri-RBD were substantially higher than those elicited by homo-tri-RBD (containing homologous RBDs from prototype strain) or the BIBP inactivated COVID-19 vaccine (BBIBP-CorV). Our study indicates that mos-tri-RBD is highly immunogenic, which may serve as a broad-spectrum vaccine candidate in combating SARS-CoV-2 variants including Omicron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the influence of the contact and friction for buckling deformation, a comprehensive model is proposed to study the timing-varying thermodynamic characteristics of the clutch. The mathematical model is developed to calculate the contact status of the post-buckling separate plate, which is testified by the finite element method and bench experiments. The post-buckling plate undergoes a five-stage deformation, and the radial contact pressure finally forms 'M/W′ shape during engagements. With the increasing buckling angle, the plate flattening threshold and pressure decay increase gradually; meanwhile, the radial temperature distribution is sculptured as 'W′ shape, creating larger thermal stress and thermal bending moment. Thus, the surface morphology is changed by the wear which related to the pressure and thermal distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates using an Iterated Bayesian Focusing Algorithm and out-duct array measurements to identify multiple broadband sources placed in a cylindrical duct. The problems of large main lobe and low resolution due to localization of sources using conventional methods are investigated in this paper. To solve these problems, an Iterated Bayesian Focusing (IBF) method is utilized to localize the broadband sources. To evaluate and confirm the efficacy of the method, simulation tests and experimental validation are performed. In our experiments, we used a 56-channel dobby spiral array for out-duct measurements and beamforming method, equivalent source method (ESM), deconvolution approach for the mapping of acoustic sources (DAMAS), and Iterated Bayesian Focusing (IBF) method to localize broadband sources inside the duct. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the Iterated Bayesian Focusing (IBF) method significantly reduces the main lobe width and minimizes the number of minor lobes. This leads to improved accuracy in localizing double sources. • Broadband localization of stationary sources in a cylindrical duct is investigated. • Investigated using an out-duct microphone array for localizing induct sound sources. • Localization of a single sound source versus two sources is investigated. • Iterated Bayesian Focusing (IBF) is applied to improve the resolution of the results from the conventional methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• V and Cr from V-Cr slag were separated using high-temperature heating without liquid contamination. • The reaction of Na 2 CO 3 with V-Cr slag results in the collection of volatile Na 2 CrO ' , NaCrO 2 , and other Cr compounds, achieving the separation. • The separation mechanism of V and Cr was clarified. A method to separate vanadium (V) and chromium (Cr) from vanadium-chromium (V-Cr) slag was developed to treat the hazardous substances effectively. This approach was achieved by heating V-Cr slag with Na 2 CO 3 in air within a temperature range of 30 °C to 1400 °C. Through TG-DSC, XRD, SEM-EDS and XPS tests, the results showed that Na 2 CO 3 reacted with V compounds at lower temperatures, producing NaVO 2 and Na 3 VO 4. At the high-temperature stage, Na 2 CO 3 reacted with Cr compounds, resulting in Na 2 CrO 4 and Cr 2 O 3 formation on the slag surface. As the temperature exceeded 1200 °C, volatiles (Na 2 CrO 4 , NaCrO 2 , and other Cr compounds) were generated from the residuals and collected by condensation to separate V and Cr. This method provides a novel strategy for eco-friendly resource utilization of V-Cr slag, which is highly efficient, minimizes hazardous wastes, and can be further promoted in the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Non-Synchronous Measurements is particularly effective at expanding the operating frequency range of a single microphone array. The completed cross-spectral matrix of the synthetic array, when combined with high-resolution imaging algorithms, can yield accurate sound source identification results. However, when matrix completion algorithms are applied to large synthetic arrays, their computational complexity increases significantly. Furthermore, existing integrations with high-resolution imaging algorithms often encounter difficulties in the presence of coherent sound sources. To address this problem, this paper introduces the accelerated gradient descent algorithm for the covariance matrix fitting by orthogonal least squares. The matrix completion model for non-synchronous measurements is initially simplified through matrix decomposition, thereby enabling the rapid completion of the cross-spectral matrix using the accelerated gradient descent algorithm. This is then followed by the application of the covariance matrix fitting by orthogonal least squares to achieve quick and precise identification of coherent sound sources employing the completed cross-spectral matrix. The performance of the algorithm is evaluated using numerical simulations and validated through loudspeaker experiments in an anechoic chamber. The results from these simulations and experiments reveal that the proposed algorithm not only improves matrix completion performance on large synthetic arrays but also accurately identifies the locations and correlation coefficients of coherent sound sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We showed the photo-corrosion process of TiO 2 nanosheet. • Facile photo-deposition method in aqueous solution was used. • TiO 2 -Au-4h(PVP) displayed the highest QE of 30.9 % and best stability. • This method can be generally valid for other nanosheet photocatalyst. Though TiO 2 was famous for good chemical stability, as an ultrathin flaky structure, TiO 2 nanosheet also got mired in photo-corrosion. Herein, we explored the inner mechanism of photo-corrosion phenomenon among nanosheet structure, and demonstrated the vital role of high specific surface area and perfect dispersity of nanosheet photo-catalyst in H 2 evolution reaction, rather than the heterophase junction of TiO 2 (B)/λ-Ti 3 O 5. Through exploring four different Conditions, we have confirmed the important modification of highly active metal co-catalyst and surfactant PVP for greatly promoted catalytic efficiency and excellent morphology, efficiency stability. In especial, sole addition of PVP not only stabilized the nanosheet morphology, also tripled the original TiO 2 (B) efficiency, while TiO 2 -Au-4h(PVP) displayed the highest QE of 30.9 %, and best stability. This work developed an excellent stable TiO 2 (B) nanosheet based catalyst, also established a possible strategy to settle photocorrosion for other nanosheet mateials under illuminated applications. Active Au and PVP modified TiO 2 (B) showed excellent morphology, efficiency stability and greatly promoted hydrogen generation. Thereinto, Au helped to transfer photo-produced electrons to proton, while PVP linked to nanosheets effectively reduced their surface energy, and protected nanosheets from restacking. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Titanium/steel laminated composites form a tooth-like interface. • Stress can induce interface element diffusion at room temperature. • Shear stress induce the formation of nanocrystalline/amorphous mixed interface. • Normal stress induce the formation of interfacial transition zone. Titanium/steel laminated composites form a tooth-like interface which is subjected to alternating shear/normal stresses during cold roll bonding process. Interfacial shear stress promotes atomic diffusion and gives birth to nano-grains, resulting in an interface mixed with nanocrystalline and amorphous region. Interfacial normal stress introduces high dislocation density, resulting in an interfacial transition zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]