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This paper is concerned with reset controller design and $ \mathcal {L}_2 $ L 2 -gain stability of piecewise-affine systems under the framework of hybrid systems. Firstly, stability conditions of piecewise-affine systems under dynamic state-feedback control are established through bilinear matrix inequality conditions. Secondly, a reset controller with reset rules under the hybrid systems framework is proposed in the sense of Lyapunov and sufficient conditions for exponential and $ \mathcal {L}_2 $ L 2 -gain stability of the closed-loop systems are provided. Different from the piecewise-affine systems with the dynamic state-feedback controller, the reset controller is designed such that the $ \mathcal {L}_2 $ L 2 -gain performance of piecewise-affine systems can be enhanced. Thirdly, an LMI approach is proposed to avoid the difficulty of solving the bilinear matrix inequalities. Furthermore, robustness to inflations of the flow and jump sets is established, and robustness to the norm-bounded uncertainties is proposed. Finally, numerical simulations including a robot arm system, an inverted pendulum system and the Chua's circuit system are provided to illustrate the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon nitrides form a series of polymer semiconductors popular in photocatalysis. In the course of photoresponse, the separation of light-induced electron–hole pairs is one of the critical factors that affect the conversion rate from photoenergy to chemical substance. Exciton binding energy ( E b ) is treated as a classical parameter to evaluate the barrier of exciton dissociation. In this work, we study the electronic and optical nature of two specific members of the carbon nitride family, polymeric carbon nitride (melon) and crystallized poly(triazine imide) (PTI/Li+Cl−) by employing the photoluminescence spectra and density functional theory (DFT) calculations based on the Wannier-Mott exciton module. The results of self-consistent GW computation were applied. The measurement of photoluminescence spectra, by which exciton binding energies are estimated, is likewise discussed. Generally, compared with the results calculated by GW-BSE, the DFT results based on the Wannier-Mott model are closer to the experimental values. From a materials perspective, on the other hand, the exciton binding energy of the melon is lower than that of PTI/Li+Cl−. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial aggregation‐induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) have flourished in bio‐applications with the development of synthetic chemistry, which however are plagued by issues like singularity in structures and non‐renewability. The unique structures and renewability of biomass moieties can compensate for these drawbacks, but their properties are hard to design and regulate due to their confined structures. Therefore, it appears to be a reasonable approach to derive AIEgens from abundant biomass (BioAIEgens), integrating the bilateral advantages of both synthetic and natural AIEgens. In this work, the blue‐violet emissive coumarin with its lactone structure serving as a rare natural acceptor, is utilized to construct donor‐π‐acceptor typed BioAIE isomers incorporating the propeller‐like and electron‐donating triphenylamine (TPA) unit. The results show that Cm‐p‐TPA undergoes charge transfer with its keto form, emitting red light at 600 nm, which can be applied to monitor Cu2+ concentration during mitophagy using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy because of the excellent biocompatibility, photostability, and specific recognition to Cu2+. This work not only demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing positional isomerization to modulate excited‐state evolutions and resultant optical properties, but also provides evidence for the rationality of constructing biologically‐active BioAIEgens via a biomass‐derivatization concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The properties of KTiOPO4Mx (M = K, Na, and Li; x = 0.000–1.000) as an anode for potassium-ion batteries (PIBs), sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), and lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are investigated by density functional theory calculations. Our work reveals that the electrochemical performance of KTiOPO4 as an anode for PIBs is superior to that for SIBs and LIBs, in terms of average voltage and ion diffusion kinetics. The ab initio molecular dynamics simulations indicate that the KTiOPO4Mx anode exhibits high structural stability, and alkali ion intercalation contributes to accelerating ion diffusion during the charging process. Particularly, the low activation energy of 0.406 eV of K migration on surface KTP(210), obtained by the climbing-image nudged elastic band method, suggests a high-rate capability. The systematical comparison of the performance of KTiOPO4 as an anode for PIBs, SIBs, and LIBs on the theoretical perspective clarifies that a large channel is not always promising for small radius ion intercalation and diffusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies on cancer of unknown primary (CUP) mainly focus on treatment and prognosis in western populations and lacked clinical evaluation of different IHC markers, so this study aimed to evaluate characteristics of CUP and recommend a diagnostic strategy from a single center in China. Methods and results: Data of 625 patients with CUP were retrospectively collected and reviewed. The patients ranged in age from 20 to 91 years, with a female-to-male ratio of 1.3:1. The predominant histological type was poor or undifferentiated adenocarcinomas (308; 49.3%). The results of Canhelp-Origin molecular testing for the identification of the tissue of origin in 262 of 369 patients (71.0%) were considered predictable (similarity score > 45), with the most common predicted primary tumor site being the breast (57, 21.8%). Unpredictable molecular results correlated with more aggressive clinical parameters and poor survival. Thee positivity rates of several targeted antibodies (GATA3, GCDFP15, TTF1, Napsin A, and PAX8), based on the clinically predicted site, were lower than those reported for the corresponding primary tumors. Nonetheless, TRPS1 and INSM1 were reliable markers of predicted breast carcinoma (75.0%) and neuroendocrine tumors (83.3%), respectively. P16 expression, as well as HPV and EBER testing contributed significantly to the diagnosis of squamous cell carcinomas. Survival analysis revealed that older ages (> 57), ≥ 3 metastatic sites, non-squamous cell carcinomas, bone/liver/lung metastases, unpredictable molecular results, and palliative treatment correlated with poor overall survival. Conclusions: We recommend a CUP diagnostic strategy involving the use of targeted antibody panels as per histological findings that is potentially applicable in clinical practice. The markers TRPS1, INSM1, and P16 expression, as well as HPV and EBER testing are particularly valuable in this aspect. Molecular testing is also predictive of survival rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The blending state of virgin and aged asphalt is one of the key factors that influence the cracking resistance and fatigue performance of recycled asphalt mixtures. In this paper, the complex modulus of the virgin and aged double-layered asphalt samples was measured by DSR experiments, and the degree of blending (DOB) was calculated based on the complex modulus. The cracking resistance and fatigue performance of the mixture prepared under different blending conditions were tested and related to the DOB to obtain a prediction model. Results showed that the DOB and the complex modulus G* increased with blending time and temperature. The blending effect of modified asphalt was not as good as 70-pen asphalt. The contribution of blending time and temperature to DOB was 40% and 50%, respectively. The influence of DOB on cracking resistance and fatigue performance of recycled asphalt mixtures was consistent with DSR test. Good correlations between DOB, cracking resistance and fatigue performance were observed, which were 79.14% and 82.82%, respectively. Based on the DOB model, optimal blending temperature and blending time could be found according to the softening point difference between virgin and aged asphalt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploration of artificial aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) has garnered extensive interest in the past two decades. In particular, AIEgens possessing natural characteristics (BioAIEgens) have received more attention recently due to the advantages of biocompatibility, sustainability and renewability. However, the extremely limited number of BioAIEgens extracted from natural sources have retarded their development. Herein, a new class of BioAIEgens based on the natural scaffold of chromene have been facilely synthesized via green reactions in a water system. These compounds show regiostructure-, polymorphism- and substituent-dependent fluorescence, which clearly illustrates the close relationship between the macroscopic properties and hierarchical structure of aggregates. Due to the superior biocompatibility of the natural scaffold, chromene-based BioAIEgens can specifically target the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) via the introduction of tosyl amide. This work has provided a new chromene scaffold for functional BioAIEgens on the basis of green and sustainable 'in-water' synthesis, applicable regiostructure-dependent fluorescence, and effective ER-specific imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The blending state of virgin and aged asphalt is one of the key factors that influence the cracking resistance and fatigue performance of recycled asphalt mixtures. In this paper, the complex modulus of the virgin and aged double-layered asphalt samples was measured by DSR experiments, and the degree of blending (DOB) was calculated based on the complex modulus. The cracking resistance and fatigue performance of the mixture prepared under different blending conditions were tested and related to the DOB to obtain a prediction model. Results showed that the DOB and the complex modulus G* increased with blending time and temperature. The blending effect of modified asphalt was not as good as 70-pen asphalt. The contribution of blending time and temperature to DOB was 40% and 50%, respectively. The influence of DOB on cracking resistance and fatigue performance of recycled asphalt mixtures was consistent with DSR test. Good correlations between DOB, cracking resistance and fatigue performance were observed, which were 79.14% and 82.82%, respectively. Based on the DOB model, optimal blending temperature and blending time could be found according to the softening point difference between virgin and aged asphalt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MXene materials emerge as promising candidates for energy harvesting and storage application. In this study, the effect of the surface chemistry on the work function of MXenes, which determines the performance of MXene‐based triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), is elucidated. First‐principles calculations reveal that the surface functional group greatly influences MXene work function: OH termination reduces the work function with respect to that of bare surface, while F and Cl increase it. Then, work functions are experimentally determined by Kelvin probe force microscopy. The MXene prepared by gentle etching at 40 °C for 48 h (GE40/48) has the largest work function. Furthermore, an electron‐cloud potential‐well model is established to explain the mechanism of electron emission‐dominated charge transfer and assemble a triboelectric device to verify experimentally its conclusions. It is found that GE40/48 has the best performance with a 281 V open‐circuit voltage, 9.7 µA short‐current current, and storing 1.019 µC of charge, which is consistent with the model. Last, a patterned TENG is demonstrated for self‐powered human–machine interaction application. This finding enhances the understanding of the inherent mechanism between the surface structure and the output performance of MXene‐based TENG, which can be applied to other TENG based on 2D materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease. Recently, NLRP3 has been demonstrated to be closely related to RA. The objective of our research was to analyze the specific mechanism of NLRP3 in RA. The m6A levels of NLRP3 was detected with methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP) kit. The mRNA and protein levels of related genes were tested with RT-qPCR and Western blot. The inflammatory factors levels were detected with ELISA kits. The cell proliferative ability was measured with CCK-8 and EdU staining assays. NLRP3 levels was prominently in synovial tissues and fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) from RA patients. NLRP3 silencing suppressed FLS proliferation and inflammatory factor levels. Additionally, ALKBH5 was found to bind with NLRP3, and ALKBH5 silencing suppressed FLS proliferation and inflammatory factor levels while NLRP3 overexpressing neutralized the role of ALKBH5 in FLS. Furthermore, m6A modified induced by ALKBH5 suppressed NLRP3 mRNA level through YTHDC2 in RA, and NLRP3 is a hinge factor in RA progression. [Display omitted] • NLRP3 is elevated in RA. • NLRP3 silencing suppresses inflammatory factor levels and proliferation of FLS. • m6A modified induced by ALKBH5 suppressed NLRP3 mRNA level through YTHDC2 in RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses a robust stabilization problem of polynomial systems with input saturation. Firstly, based on the framework of hybrid systems, an event-triggered controller is designed to establish the local uniform asymptotical stability of the closed-loop polynomial system. Secondly, the semi-global robust stabilization of polynomial systems using the event-triggered control is analyzed. In particular, robustness is developed to general perturbations that reflect the state noise and unmodeled dynamics, as well as inflation of flow and jump sets. Finally, two examples are presented to verify the designed event-triggered control strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with reset control and L 2 -gain stability of piecewise-affine systems with input saturation and external disturbance under the framework of hybrid systems. Firstly, we present a reset controller and establish exponential stability conditions of piecewise-affine systems with input saturation under the reset controller. Secondly, sufficient conditions for L 2 -gain stability of the closed-loop systems with input saturation and external disturbance are provided and a reset controller is designed to enhance the L 2 -gain performance of piecewise-affine systems with input saturation. Furthermore, robustness to inflations of the flow and jump sets is established. Finally, a numerical simulation is provided to illustrate the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A smart sensing platform based on a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) possesses various advantages such as self-powering, convenience, real-time and biocompatibility. However, the detection limit of the TENG-based sensor is required to be improved. In this study, a high performance TENG-based glucose sensor was proposed by using the Ti3C2Tx (MXene)/graphene oxide (GO) composite electrode. The MXene and GO nanosheets are popular 2D materials which possessed high conductivity and a rich surface functional group. The MXene/GO thin films were prepared through electrostatic self-assembly technology, which can effectively impede the agglomeration of two nanoflakes. The as-prepared MXene/GO film presented outstanding mechanical property. To figure out the relationship between the nanostructure of MXene/GO film and the TENG, a series of MXene/GO-based TENG with different GO sizes was characterized. As a result, the TENG with 400 nm GO demonstrated the highest output performance. Subsequently, the optimized TENG was used in glucose detection application without the assistance of a glucose enzyme. This simple and flexible TENG shows promising potential in biosensors and non-invasive health monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cretaceous sandstones have weak cementation and high porosity while exhibit a high apparent brittleness. Compression and torsion (C-T) fractures are widely distributed in Cretaceous sandstones due to asymmetric tectonic convergence action. However, studies on C-T fracture formation and the mechanisms causing variability in Cretaceous sandstones containing no oil or gas are rare due to the challenges in sampling intact sandstone cores, despite their significance to mine shaft sinking. Therefore, this study used binder jetting-based 3D printing to prepare artificial Cretaceous sandstone and developed a real-time X-ray computed tomography- (CT-) aided torsion shear apparatus to test them. The test results showed that the 3D printed (3DP) sandstone had characteristic indexes that approached and even exceeded the lower limits of Cretaceous sandstone cores, thereby accurately representing the unavailable cores. Furthermore, the 3DP sandstones had anisotropic properties comparable to the sandstone cores. Under C-T action, the 3DP sandstone exhibited a pronounced strain gradient of 2.0 %/mm perpendicular to fracture inclination. The inclination angles of fractures formed under C-T action tended to increase as the cell pressure increased, and that approached the orientation angles of maximal principal stress. The maximal and minimal principal stresses exerted inclination-slip and width-stretching effects, respectively, on C-T fractures. But the effect of inclination-slip on the C-T fractures was stronger than that of width-stretching. This insight into C-T fracture formation will guide future studies on the fracture evolution and its disaster-dominating mechanisms arisen from disturbances by shaft sinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with model predictive control of piecewise affine systems with dead zone constraints based on the mixed logical dynamical modeling approach. A predictive control strategy based on a mixed logic dynamical model is proposed. The strategy contains two steps: the first step is to transform the piecewise affine systems into mixed logic dynamical models; the second step is to apply a predictive control scheme based on this model. Then, the optimal control sequence can be obtained by solving the constructed mixed‐integer quadratic/linear programming problem. Finally, two numerical examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Transposable element (TE) is prevalent in plant genomes. However, studies on their impact on phenotypic evolution in crop plants are relatively rare, because systematically identifying TE insertions within a species has been a challenge. Here, we present a novel approach for uncovering TE insertion polymorphisms (TIPs) using pan‐genome analysis combined with population‐scale resequencing, and we adopt this pipeline to retrieve TIPs in a Brassica rapa germplasm collection. We found that 23% of genes within the reference Chiifu‐401‐42 genome harbored TIPs. TIPs tended to have large transcriptional effects, including modifying gene expression levels and altering gene structure by introducing new introns. Among 524 diverse accessions, TIPs broadly influenced genes related to traits and acted a crucial role in the domestication of B. rapa morphotypes. As examples, four specific TIP‐containing genes were found to be candidates that potentially involved in various climatic conditions, promoting the formation of diverse vegetable crops in B. rapa. Our work reveals the hitherto hidden TIPs implicated in agronomic traits and highlights their widespread utility in studies of crop domestication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Synovial fibroblasts (SFs) play an important role in the development and progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the pathogenic mechanism of SFs remains unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate how neuropeptides and N6-methyladenosine (m6A) played an important role in the underlying pathogenic processes of SFs that contribute to the development of RA. Methods. Single-cell RNA sequencing data were examined using single-cell analysis and machine learning. SF subgroups were identified based on the clustering and annotation results of the single-cell analysis. Moreover, cell–cell communication was used to analyse neuropeptide-related receptor and ligand pairs on the surface of SF cell membranes. Machine learning was used to explore the m6A factors acting on these neuropeptide genes. Results. NPR3, GHR, BDKRB2, and CALCRL, four neuropeptide genes, were shown to be differently expressed among SF subgroups. Further investigation of receptor–ligand interactions found that NPR3 (in conjunction with NPPC, OSTN, NPPB, and NPPA) and GHR (in conjunction with GH1 and GH2) may have a role in SF interactions. As predicted by machine learning, IGFBP2 and METTL3 were identified as key factors regulating m6A of NPR3 and GHR. The expression levels and enrichment pathways of METTL3 and IGFBP2 were different among SF subgroups. Conclusions. Single-cell analysis and machine learning efficiently identified neuropeptide genes and m6A factors that perform important regulatory functions in RA. Our strategy may provide a basis for future studies to identify pathogenic cell subpopulations and molecular mechanisms in RA and other diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The effect mechanism of solution heating rate on grain structure of aviation Al-Li alloy was explained in detail. • The variation of texture intensity in aviation Al-Li alloy with various solution heating rates was revealed. • The mechanism of grain size on formation of dislocation structure and its effect on fatigue crack propagation behavior during fatigue loading were discussed in detail. • The linear relationship between the grain size and the initial ΔK entering the rapid propagation region was firstly revealed in aviation Al-Li alloy. In this study, the effects of grain structure on the fatigue crack propagation (FCP) behaviors in the aviation Al-Li alloy sheets prepared by varying solution heating rates are discussed systematically. The results reveal that both the intensity of Goss texture and grain dimensions are improved with the decreased solution heating rates. Upon an identical stress intensity factor range (ΔK), the increased Goss texture of the sample with a solution heating rate of 2 ℃/min (2HR) promotes crack deflection, causing a decrease in FCP rates compared to that of the sample with a solution heating rate of about 100 ℃/min (FHR). The dislocations clustered near grain boundaries are more significant with increasing grain size during cyclic loading, which intensifies the strain localization. The accumulation of dislocations increases the possibility of micro-voids formation and creates the conditions for crack deflection, which results in a decrease in FCP rate. Besides, based on the calculation of the reversible plastic zone (RPZ) size, the initial ΔK entering the rapid propagation region increases with decreasing solution heating rates and exhibits a strong linear relationship with grain size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To explore the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and evaluate the safety of dose escalation using hypofractionated simultaneous integrated boost intensity-modulated radiotherapy (SIB-IMRT) concurrent with chemotherapy for unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods: Four escalating radiation dose levels were used. This study included 25 patients with previously untreated NSCLC who received six concurrent weekly chemotherapy cycles comprising cisplatin and docetaxel. Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was defined as any acute toxicity that interrupted radiotherapy for more than 1 week. MTD was defined as the highest dose level that didn't induce DLT or grade 5 toxicity in two patients.Results: All 25 patients received the prescribed escalating radiation dose from the start dose up to LEVEL 4. Two patients experienced DLT at dose LEVEL 4. One patient died because of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage within 6 months after radiotherapy, whereas another patient among the additional five patients died because of grade 5 radiation pneumonitis within 2 months after radiotherapy. Dose LEVEL 3 was defined as MTD. The 1- and 2-year local controls were 82.8 and 67.8%, respectively. The median progression-free survival was 15.4 months, whereas the median overall survival was 27.3 months.Conclusions: Dose escalation was safely achieved up to LEVEL 3 [the planning gross target volume (PTVG) 60.5 Gy/22 Fx, 2.75 Gy/Fx; the planning clinical target volume (PTVC) 49.5 Gy/22 Fx] using SIB-IMRT concurrently with chemotherapy for unresectable stage III NSCLC, and the acute toxicities were generally well tolerated. Further prospective studies on long-term outcomes and late toxicities are warranted.Trial Registration: Retrospective registration, ChiCTR1900027290 (08/11/2019). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Neuroendocrine cervical carcinoma (NECC) is an uncommon malignancy of the female reproductive system. This study aimed to evaluate cancer-specific mortality and to construct prognostic nomograms for predicting the survival of patients with NECC.Methods: we assembled the patients with NECC diagnosed between 2004 to 2015 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Meanwhile, we identified other patients with NECC from the Wenling Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital between 2002 to 2017. Fine and Gray's test and Kaplan-Meier methods were used to evaluate cancer-specific mortality and overall survival (OS) rates, respectively. Nomograms were constructed for predicting cancer-specific survival (CSS) and OS for patients with NECC. The developed nomograms were validated both internally and externally.Results: a total of 894 patients with NECC were extracted from the SEER database, then classified into the training cohort (n = 628) and the internal validation cohort (n = 266). Besides, 106 patients from the Wenling Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital served as an external validation cohort. Nomograms for predicting CSS and OS were constructed on clinical predictors. The validation of nomograms was calculated by calibration curves and concordance indexes (C-indexes). Furthermore, the developed nomograms presented higher areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves when compared to the FIGO staging system.Conclusions: we established the first competing risk nomograms to predict the survival of patients with NECC. Such a model with high predictive accuracy could be a practical tool for clinicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the stabilisation problem of linear systems subject to saturated input and bounded disturbance via event-triggered control strategy. In a hybrid systems framework, both a state feedback law and a static output feedback law are proposed to design the event-triggered controllers, which provide solutions to the event-triggered control collaborative design problem. For the case of using static output feedback, an iterative linear matrix inequality algorithm is proposed to obtain the feedback gain. In addition, the local uniform ultimate boundedness of the closed-loop system is ensured. Finally, two examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed controllers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The structures and electronic properties of K-PHI and H-PHI are compared. • A systematic theoretical study of the structure, electronic and optical properties and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction activity of K-PHI and H-PHI loaded Pt cocatalysts was conducted. • The short-range induced dipole effect of K+ and the larger size of the Pt cocatalyst together promote the photocatalytic performance of carbon nitride. In the synthesis of highly crystalline carbon nitride, alkali metal halides are used as high-temperature solvents and structural guiding agents, but the effect of alkali metal ions on the catalytic activity of materials is still unclear. In addition, the shape and size of the cocatalyst also significantly affect the catalytic activity of the material. Therefore, we have carried out the density functional theory calculations to reveal the differences in the structure, electronic, and optical properties, as well as the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance of one kind of crystalline carbon nitride called potassium poly(heptazine imide) (K-PHI) and its proton-exchanged counterpart (H-PHI) loaded with different sizes of platinum cocatalysts. The results show that potassium ions have the effect of aggregation electrons in K-PHI, and potassium ions have short-range induced dipole effect on nearby Pt atoms, resulting in slightly better photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity at these reaction sites. Additionally, Pt cocatalyst with larger load size has better photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity than small size. This work provides a theoretical basis for the rational design of high-performance metal cocatalysts and exploration of the functionality of alkali metal ions in carbon nitrides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has become a promising candidate for wearable energy harvesting and self‐powered sensing systems. However, processing large amounts of data imposes a computing power barrier for practical application. Machine learning‐assisted self‐powered sensors based on TENG have been widely used in data‐driven applications due to their excellent characteristics such as no additional power supply, high sensing accuracy, low cost, and good biocompatibility. This work comprehensively reviews the latest progress in machine learning (ML)‐assisted TENG‐based sensors. The future challenges and opportunities are discussed. First, the fundamental principles including the working mode of ML‐assisted TENG‐based sensor and common algorithms are systematically and comprehensively illustrated, which emphasizes the algorithm definition and principle. Subsequently, the progress of ML methods in the field of TENG‐based sensors is further reviewed, summarizing the advantages and disadvantages of various algorithms in practical examples, and providing guidance and suggestions on how to choose the appropriate methods. Finally, the prospects and challenges of ML‐assisted TENG‐based sensors is summarized. Directions and important insights for the future development of TENG and AI integration is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coordination microenvironment modulation of single‐atom catalysts (SACs) based on p‐block metals holds promise for excavating their enormous potential in electrochemical CO2‐to CO conversion. Guided by the instructive theoretical calculations over serial asymmetric coordination microenvironments, herein, a novel Pb SAC with highly asymmetric coordination microenvironment (Pb‐N2SV) is developed. Namely, the Pb atom is coordinated with two N atoms, one S atom and one vacancy nearby. With the breaking of coordination symmetry, the obtained Pb‐N2SV shows excellent ECR performance with 97.3% Faradaic efficiency of CO at −0.47 V, and long‐term stability of 33 h, which exceeds the vast majority of main‐group SACs. More importantly, in situ spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) studies unveil that the S doping in Pb SAC can significantly improve electron localization around Pb sites to facilitate *COOH intermediate adsorption, while the introduction of vacancy defect nearby the Pb sites can function as a synergistic modulation on the electronic structure for favorable *CO intermediate desorption, which jointly contributes to achieve the suitable adsorption energy for reaction intermediates to boost the ECR process. As an expandability, this approach will be widely used to construct SACs with unique coordination microenvironment for other challenging catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Bulky TPA is favorable for photochromism in the crystalline state. • Bulky TPA can help to form amorphous materials during fast precipitation procedure. • Excited-state intramolecular proton transfer is inhibited in the amorphous state for inactive photochromism. • Distinguished photochromism is utilized for bimodal encryption-decryption. Multimodal encryption-decryption with photochromism has been proved to ensure information security with great feasibility and operability. However, most of the photochromic materials are applied in single-mode encryption-decryption and highly dependent on crystallization, requiring long manufacturing time and lacking of controllability. Hence, amorphous materials with simple preparation and bimodal encryption-decryption are of good alternates. Herein, we have succeeded in developing an aggregation-induced emission-active and photochromic ATPA-SAB with crystalline form via introduction of the propeller-like and bulky triphenylamine (TPA). Expectedly, the amorphous materials can be obtained by fast precipitation. Examining its amorphous structures, the intramolecular N‧‧‧H distances of around 4.000 Å is largely over the normal intramolecular hydrogen bond of circa 1.800 Å, impeding the intrinsic excited-state intramolecular proton transfer process (ESIPT) for the first time, hence prohibiting photochromism. This work not only provides a strategy to construct amorphous materials and inhibit ESIPT process with TPA, but also applies both crystalline and amorphous materials for bimodal encryption-decryption to upgrade information security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of VDAC1 in osteosarcoma is unclear. We explored the effect of VDAC1 on osteosarcoma development by combining bioinformatic analysis and experimental identification. This study suggested that VDAC1 is an independent prognostic factor for osteosarcoma. Patients with high VDAC1 expression have a poor survival rate. VDAC1 was overexpressed in osteosarcoma cells. After silencing VDAC1, the proliferation of osteosarcoma cells decreased, and the apoptosis rate increased. Gene set variation analysis and gene set enrichment analysis indicated that VDAC1 was associated with the MAPK signaling pathway. After VDAC1 siRNA, SB203580 (a p38 inhibitor), SP600125 (a JNK inhibitor) and α-pifithrin (a p53 inhibitor) treatment, the proliferative capacity was weaker in the si-VDAC1 group than in the si-VDAC1 + SB203580, si-VDAC1 + SP600125, and si-VDAC1 + α-pifithrin groups. In conclusion, prognosis-related VDAC1 can affect osteosarcoma cells' proliferative activity and apoptosis level. The MAPK signaling pathway mediates VDAC1 regulation of osteosarcoma cell development. • VDAC1 is an independent prognostic factor for osteosarcoma. • Osteosarcoma patients with high VDAC1 expression have a poor survival rate. • Silencing VDAC1 inhibits the proliferation and invasion of osteosarcoma cells. • VDAC1 affects osteosarcoma development by inhibiting p38, JNK, and p53 signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A simplified skeleton method for coarse aggregates analysis of asphalt mixtures was proposed. • The stress transfer paths and load transfer efficiencies of three typical gradations were studied. • Eff skeleton reflected the load transfer efficiency of the coarse aggregate skeleton under no-load conditions. • The DisP value reflected the load transfer efficiency of the coarse aggregate skeleton under a specific load. Studies on asphalt mixture skeletons have primarily focused on the statistical skeleton morphology while neglecting internal stress transfer. This study therefore proposed a simplified reconstruction-based coarse aggregate skeleton method for analyzing asphalt mixes using the force chain concept from granular matter mechanics. The stress transfer paths and load transfer efficiencies were investigated for three typical aggregate gradations (AC-13, SMA-13, and OGFC-13) and an analysis of their correlation with uniaxial penetration test results was performed. The AC-13 mixture exhibited the largest uniaxial penetration strength (3.30 kN on average) at the lowest failure displacement (4.1 mm on average). As the characteristics of the simplified skeleton were shown to be related to the number of contact points provided between large aggregate particles, the force chain morphology was closely linked to the mixture gradation. The ratio of strong to weak force chains in the AC-13 mixture was approximately 0.77, whereas those of the SMA-13 and OGFC-13 mixtures were significantly different at 0.90 and 1.13, respectively. The transfer efficiencies of the AC-13, SMA-13, and OGFC-13 specimen skeletons considering morphology alone (i.e., under the no-load condition) were 20.94 %, 62.34 %, and 73.57 %, respectively. However, the correlation between the load transfer efficiency of the coarse aggregate skeleton under a specific load and the observed penetration strength reached 0.9. Thus, the simplified skeleton analysis method proposed herein was shown to satisfactorily retain the skeletal characteristics of the mixes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our density functional theory calculations show that silicon doping in g-CN (SiC3N3) can improve the electrochemical performance of g-CN as an anode of alkali metal-ion batteries and solve the problems of too high adsorption ability and migration energy barrier commonly found in porous carbon nitride. The stability of SiC3N3 was verified by molecular dynamics simulations and phonon spectroscopy. Elastic constant calculations revealed that the Si doping in g-CN can improve its mechanical properties. Specifically, Li/Na/K has a suitable adsorption capability (−0.71/−0.52/−0.98 eV) and a lower migration barrier (0.73/0.43/0.21 eV) on SiC3N3, where the barrier of a single Li-ion is the lowest among the doped porous carbon nitride materials studied so far. Moreover, SiC3N3 exhibits a high theoretical capacity (253/1512/1512 mA h g−1) and a low open-circuit voltage (0.48/0.18/0.31 V) for Li/Na/K ion batteries. Compared with B-doped g-CN previously studied, Si doping can more effectively improve the electronic conductivity of g-CN owing to greater charge transfer between Si and g-CN; the migration energy barrier of alkali metal ions on SiC3N3 is reduced more significantly due to its puckered structure instead of a planar structure; and the capacity of SiC3N3 is nearly doubled for alkali metal ion batteries because it has more feasible adsorption sites for alkali metals. These results suggest that Si-doped g-CN can be a universal anode material for alkali metal ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diode‐rectifier (DR)‐based high‐voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission is regarded as a low‐cost alternative to the HVDC transmission for offshore wind farms (OWFs) integration. However, the DR would generate harmonic voltages in the offshore grid, which greatly affects the power quality. To solve this problem, this paper utilizes a parallel‐connected small‐capacity auxiliary converter to suppress the harmonic voltages and provide black‐start energy for the OWFs. In addition, the submodule branches (SMBs) of the auxiliary converter can be used as part of the HVDC chopper. On this basis, a coordinated grid fault ride‐through (FRT) strategy is proposed in this paper. After a grid fault occurs, the HVDC chopper constructed by the auxiliary converter is able to constrain the DC‐link voltage. At the same time, the OWFs are controlled to reduce the output active power. As a result, the cost of the FRT can be significantly reduced. The proposed harmonic voltage suppression and the FRT method are verified through the simulation model in Simulink. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Because the rigid alicyclic ring of dehydroabietic acid has the effect of restricting the molecular motion, we obtained two rosin-based BioAIEgens by combining DA with large chromophoric triphenylamine. • DAA-TPA obtained by connecting TPA with the aliphatic ring of DA has TICT-AIE, while the DAMBA-TPA obtained by connecting TPA with the aromatic ring of DA shows an atypical AIE. • Based on the TICT-AIE performance of DAA-TPA, we applied it to the detection of trace water in organic solvents. Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) luminogens have been widely used in various fields. Among them, BioAIEgens (AIEgens from natural resources) have been highly concerned by researchers because of their unique advantages. However, the number of BioAIEgens directly derived from nature is limited. Therefore, chemical modification on natural resources may be an effective way to obtain more BioAIEgens. In this paper, because the rigid alicyclic ring of dehydroabietic acid (DA) has the effect of restricting molecular motion, we successfully obtained two rosin-based BioAIEgens (DAA-TPA and DAMBA-TPA) by combining DA with triphenylamine. Interestingly, DAA-TPA obtained by connecting TPA with the aliphatic ring of DA has TICT-AIE and strong solid-state emission properties, while DAMBA-TPA obtained by connecting TPA with the aromatic ring of DA shows an atypical AIE and weak solid emission effect. Two control molecules were designed to investigate the influence of the introduction of aliphatic ring and aromatic ring on the photophysical properties of TPA. The results showed that DA containing both aliphatic ring and aromatic ring may be used as a precursor to construct BioAIEgens with different AIE properties. In addition, based on the fluorescence performance of DAA-TPA, we applied it to the detection of trace water in acetonitrile (ACN). Two rosin-based BioAIEgens with distinct fluorescence properties have been obtained on account of our design strategy of introducing large chromophoric triphenylamine into rigid rosin. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Packing plays a bridging role on the material design. • Both photochromic and mechanochromic properties are closely related to the packing modes. • The photochromic properties can be utilized for application in encryption-decryption. Current research shows that photophysical behaviors of fluorescent materials are used to be regulated by molecular design, but in fact it remains elusive to directly correlate molecular structures with the macroscopic properties at aggregate state. Herein, a series of natural alicycle-incorporated salicylideneanilines with aggregation-induced emission activity as well as their corresponding simple ones have been synthesized to fill the gap between molecular and aggregate level. Unexpectedly, the largely stronger emission of the simple salicylideneaniline with Br substituent over its alicycle-fused compound contrasts the previous molecular design strategy of rigidification effect via structural incorporation of alicycles, suggesting the influential effect of packing, which can be further verified by quenched emission of the simple Cl-substituted salicylideneaniline due to its compact packing. Moreover, comprehensive stimuli-responsive chromic investigations prove that the packing modes correlate well with the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer and cis to trans isomerization processes, enabling the Me-substituted simple salicylideneaniline with loosest packing photochromic, while the one (Cl group) with most compact packing mechanochromic. Hence, this work helps to bridge the gap between molecular structures and macroscopic properties via molecular packing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fluorescent polymer probe was developed by connecting tetraphenylethylene (TPE) with glucose via the formation of borate ester linkages. Based on the selective breaking of C–B bonds, the macroscopic and fluorescence detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vitro and in cells was successfully realized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanochromic materials have been attractive to researchers in recent years due to their wide applications. However, traditional petrochemical-based mechanochromic materials are probably faced with problems of non-renewability and poor sustainability. Hence, it is of great significance to develop mechanochromic materials from phytochemicals endowed with renewability and sustainability. Herein, after combining the tetraphenylethene motif with a rosin-originated phytochemical, dehydroabietic acid, two natural rosin-based aggregation-induced emission (BioAIE) luminogens, DAA-TPE and DAMBA-TPE , were separately obtained on distinct Schiff base reaction sites. Both compounds have AIE phenomena mainly due to the introduction of tetraphenylethene group. However, their other optical properties are totally different depending on the imine site. DAMBA-TPE (imine on the aromatic site of dehydroabietic acid) shows very weak fluorescence at aggregate state, while DAA-TPE (imine on the alkyl site of dehydroabietic acid) exhibits strong emission and high contrast mechanochromic behavior in the solid state. Via the introduction of naturally large alkyl substitution, the pristine powder can be illuminated with a red shift of 28 nm from blue (442 nm) to cyan (470 nm) upon grinding. While a structurally analogue with a small iso -butyl substitution does not possess mechanochromism. Moreover, the fluorescence of DAA-TPE can be reversibly switched, which is most probably attributed to the crystal form change before and after grinding. This property endows DAA-TPE with potential application in the manufacturing of rewritable paper. Last but not least, this work paves a way to the design of mechanochromic materials from naturally renewable resources via introduction of large alkyl groups on the TPE skeleton. Two rosin-derived BioAIEgens with distinct fluorescence and mechanochromic properties have been easily obtained via the introduction of naturally large DA moieties. [Display omitted] • Melding the large DA moiety on the TPE skeleton, two rosin-based BioAIEgens can be easily obtained. • DAA-TPE exhibits strong solid-state emission, while DAMBA-TPE is only weakly emissive in the aggregate state. • The introduction of DA can result in reversible mechanochromic property, leading to application as rewritable materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A three-dimensional (3D) multi-level architecture design (Cu@Cu NW@LDH) is achieved. • The introduction of Cu NWs provides abundant nucleation sites and high electron conductivity. • Cu@Cu NW@LDH shows strong alkaline resistance properties and excellent OER catalytic activity. • The zinc-air battery (ZAB) with Cu@Cu NW@LDH as air electrode delivers superior cycling stability. The sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and poor stability of oxygen electrocatalysts are main obstacles to the scale-up commercial application of rechargeable Zn-air battery. Herein, a three-dimensional (3D) multi-level architecture design is achieved by the confined growth of two-dimensional (2D) layer double hydroxides of nickel and iron (NiFe LDH) flakes on copper nanowires arrays (Cu NWs), which is epitaxially assembled on the surface of Cu foam (CF). The established Cu@Cu NW@LDH possesses stronger bonding strength between NiFe LDH and Cu NWs as well as Cu NWs and CF endowed by electroplating method. The introduction of Cu NWs not only provides abundant nucleation sites for the deposition of NiFe LDH flakes but also improves the electron conductivity of composite. The obtained Cu@Cu NW@LDH shows excellent OER catalytic activity with a potential of 1.44 V at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 and strong alkaline resistance properties in comparison with NiFe LDH on CF (Cu@LDH). As expected, the rechargeable zinc-air battery (ZAB) with Cu@Cu NW@LDH as air electrode delivers superior cycling stability (250 h at a current density of 10 mA cm−2). This work paves a new way to the design of 3D multi-level architecture catalysts for ZAB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To cope with the weak grid stability issue of grid-tied voltage source converters (VSCs), this article proposes an artificial neural network (ANN) based approach for online stabilization control of the grid-tied VSC with the pole-tracking feature. First, an ANN is adopted to establish the mapping between the control parameters and the closed-loop poles of the grid-VSC system, serving as a computationally light model surrogate that is favorable for real-time control applications. Then, an online parameter search algorithm enabling simultaneous tuning of multiple controllers and parameters is developed, by which the system's poles under a new grid condition can be pulled to the reference ones, i.e., achieving the pole-tracking-based stabilization control of this article. Finally, the efficacy of the proposed method along with its stabilization effect is verified by MATLAB simulations and experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mission profile emulation (MPE) for submodules (SMs) in the modular multilevel converter (MMC) is a crucial step before a full-scale system is put into field operation. Existing methods suffer from limitations of the testing accuracy due to the staircase-like arm voltages that result in distorted loading current and require large filter inductance. This is especially the case when a limited number of SMs are under test. In this article, an efficient MPE method is proposed to emulate the loading behaviors of multiple SMs in MMC. The testing circuit allows two arms of MMC with flexible SM number, operating in inverting and rectifying mode under nearest level modulation, to be tested simultaneously with reduced dc supply voltage. A common H-bridge circuit is introduced in the testing circuit, with each arm of the H-bridge circuit functioning as the voltage compensator by using feedforward control. In this way, the current distortion can be significantly suppressed, and testing accuracy can be guaranteed in a cost-efficient manner even though no large inductor is included in the testing circuit. The proposed method allows SMs under test to be loaded as in the actual back-to-back MMC system. Simulations and experimental measurements are given to validate the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high penetration of renewables has sparked new oscillatory concerns in hybrid AC/DC grids. Knowledge of the oscillation regarding its source and propagation mechanism, is crucial to system operation. In this respect, the frequency-domain modal analysis (FMA) provides a way (e.g., participation factor) to extract these oscillation properties, and has been widely applied in converter-based AC grids. Compared to AC grids, oscillation properties of hybrid AC/DC grids are much more complex. Such complexity mainly originates from the diversity of oscillation propagation behaviors in hybrid AC/DC grids, where a distinctive local-area oscillation will emerge. Therefore, a dedicated oscillation propagation analysis for hybrid AC/DC grids is desired, which is the main focus of this paper. First, the mechanism of the distinctive local-area oscillation is analyzed considering AC/DC coupled dynamics of converters. Then, a systematic method for the oscillation propagation analysis is presented, where indices for characterizing the local-area oscillation and its impact area are established. Finally, some propagation properties are discussed, by which a strategy for the online oscillation source locating is designed. Case studies are carried out in a typical hybrid AC/DC grid to validate the propagation analysis in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Increasing studies have revealed the participation of lncRNAs in the occurrence and development of cervical cancer. This study explored the influence of lncRNA LINC00649 in cervical cancer. Methods: Expression of LINC00649 and miR‐216a‐3p in cervical cancer was detected by reverse transcription quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR). The Kaplan–Meier curve and Cox regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the clinical value of LINC00649 in cervical cancer. The roles of LINC00649 in cervical cancer cells were detected by transfecting siRNA through cellular function assays. Results: LINC00649 expression was increased in cervical cancer tissues, especially in squamous histology, positive lymph node metastasis, and high‐FIGO stage tissues. The higher expression of LINC00649 predicted a shorter survival rate for patients. LINC00649 could bind directly with miR‐216a‐3p. Silence of LINC00649 could enhance the expression of miR‐216a‐3p and suppress the cervical cancer cell proliferation abilities, migration capacities, and invasion power. Whereas, transfection of miR‐216a‐3p inhibitor partially reverses the above cellular activities changes in cervical cancer cells. Conclusions: The LINC00649 expression may act as a prognostic predictor and may aggravate cervical cancer progression by targeting miR‐216a‐3p, providing potential therapeutic targets for patients with cervical cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The variation laws of mortar indicators were investigated by performance tests. • The correlation between mortar performance and mixture performance was analyzed. • Mixture with excellent anti-rutting and deformation performance was designed. • The design method can realize the coordination of rutting and crack resistance. The anti-rutting and anti-cracking performance of asphalt mixtures are a pair of contradictions that are difficult to coordinate. In order to ensure the rutting resistance of asphalt mixture to meet the requirements of the specification, while improving its deformation capacity and crack resistance. Based on the mortar performance, the Anti-rutting and High Ductility Asphalt Mixture with excellent anti-rutting performance and deformation performance was designed in this paper. With the filler-asphalt ratio as the control index, SBS modified asphalt and SHV modified asphalt was selected to design five asphalt mortars with different filler-asphalt ratios of 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0. Variation laws of mortar technical indicators were investigated by rotational viscosity test, cone penetration test, and BBR test. Asphalt mixtures were prepared and a rutting test and small beam bending test were carried out to ensure the consistency of the mixture skeleton state by grouting molding. The influence of the mortar performance index on the road performance of the mixture was evaluated by conducting correlation analysis, and then an anti-rutting and high-ductility asphalt mixture was proposed based on mortar performance. The obtained results showed that the technical indicators of asphalt mortar had a good correlation with the filler-asphalt ratio, and the developed regression model could be used to determine the correlation and design of the mortars. The technical performance index of mortar was found to be directly correlated with the road performance index of the mixture. The developed anti-rutting and high-ductility asphalt mixture not only had good anti-rutting performance but also had good deformation capacity and cracking resistance. Its anti-rutting performance could meet the specification requirements, and the maximum flexural strain could reach 7161 με. The performance of asphalt mortar determines the road performance of the mixture. The rutting resistance and cracking resistance of the mixture could be coordinated by designing asphalt mortar to improve its comprehensive road performance. To guarantee that the dynamic stability of the mixture met the required specifications and the deformation ability was good, the critical value of each technical index of asphalt mortar was recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The tangential elastic stiffness of new-new, old-old and new-old interface contact types were obtained. • The ks regression model established has high accuracy. • The shear modulus model takes into account the classification of contact points in the skeleton and the mechanical characteristics of aggregate interface. • There is a good correlation between the calculated results of the shear modulus model and the laboratory test results. The mechanical characteristics, quantity, and distribution of contact interfaces in the composite skeleton of recycled asphalt mixture affect the consistency of deformation of new and old aggregate composite skeleton, further affecting the macroscopic mechanical properties of material. To quantitatively analyze the effect of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) content on the mechanical characteristics of contact interface and shear performance of recycled asphalt mixture, the tangential elastic stiffness of interface of new-new, new-old, and old-old contact types is defined as k s n e w - n e w , k s n e w - o l d , and k s o l d - o l d , respectively; interfacial shear tests were carried out for new-new, new-old, and old-old contact types. Digital image technology and statistical analysis were used to obtain the proportion distribution of α n e w - n e w , α n e w - o l d , α o l d - o l d of three aggregate contact types under different RAP contents. Combined with the calculation results of interface tangential elastic stiffness and shear modulus with different RAP contents, an interface tangential elastic stiffness estimation model and a shear modulus calculation model were established, and the rationality of the model was verified. The results show that different interface contact types significantly affected the shear test results. The tangential elastic stiffness of old-old contact type is the highest, 0.3416 × 106 N/m. The tangential elastic stiffness of new-old and new-new contact types are 0.2254 × 106 N/m and 0.0992 × 106 N/m, respectively. The results of contact interface shear test of recycled asphalt mixture with different RAP contents show that the overall trend of shear curve is similar, and the peak value and mean value of shear force do not change consistently with the increase of RAP content. Using the least square mathematical analysis method for overdetermined equation, the goodness-of-fit of k s regression model with different RAP contents is 0.85. There is a good correlation between the shear modulus calculation results and uniaxial penetration test results, and the correlation coefficient is 0.80. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polysaccharides are a kind of biological macromolecule, which widely exists in plants, fungi, animals, microorganisms, and other organisms. Polysaccharides exhibit various biological activities such as immunological regulation, antioxidation, antitumor, antiinflammatory, regulating intestinal flora, and protecting liver. These biological activities depend on their structure and physicochemical properties including monosaccharide composition, molecular weight (Mw), spatial configuration, etc. However, biological activities of polysaccharides are hardly comparable to synthetic drugs due to their inherent physicochemical properties. Therefore, structural modification of polysaccharides is an effective way to enhance their biological activities and promote the presentation of bioactivity. At present, phosphorylation modification is a common chemical modification method, which can effectively improve the biological activities of polysaccharides. However, there are limited reports on the synthesis, structure identification, and biological activities of phosphorylated polysaccharides. In view of this, the synthesis methods, structure identification methods, and biological activities of phosphorylated polysaccharides are reviewed in this paper. The findings can provide useful guidance for the research, production, and application of phosphorylated polysaccharides in functional foods and therapeutic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In traditional Chinese medicine, You-Gui-Wan (YGW) is typically used to treat osteoporosis associated with kidney-yang deficiency. However, there have been few mechanistic studies on the effectiveness of kidney-yang deficiency-type osteoporosis with YGW. To further clarify the role of YGW in the effect of osteoporosis with kidney-yang deficiency, the study analyzed the therapeutic advantages of YGW by comparing the therapeutic effects of YGW and alendronate (ALN) on osteoporosis with kidney-yang deficiency. Methods: SPF female SD rats were randomly divided into control, osteoporosis, osteoporosis with kidney-yang deficiency, osteoporosis with kidney-yang deficiency + YGW and osteoporosis with kidney-yang deficiency + ALN groups. Except for the control group, osteoporosis was induced by the removal of bilateral ovaries. After 12 weeks, rats with osteoporosis in the kidney-yang deficiency group had kidney-yang deficiency syndrome triggered by hydrocortisone for 14 days. Rats were treated with YGW or ALN for 12 weeks. The weights of rats were recorded. Hematoxylin-eosin staining staining was used to observe pathological changes in bone trabeculae, liver, spleen, and kidneys of rats. Depletion of the growth plate cartilage of rats in different groups was observed by safranine-O staining. The expression of osteoclast key indices (ACP) and osteoblast key indices (ALP) in the bone tissue of rats in the different groups was observed by immunohistochemical staining. The expression of bone resorption-related indicators (TRAP and NXT-1), bone formation-related indicators (BALP, BGP, and P1NP), and major indicators of kidney-yang deficiency (ACTH, T3, T4, cAMP, and cGMP) were observed using an ELISA detection kit. The expression levels of the main indices of liver function (ALT and AST) were detected in different groups. Results: The differences between the osteoporosis with kidney-yang deficiency group and osteoporosis group were that the weight of rats and the expression of ACTH, T3, T4, and cAMP decreased significantly, and the expression of cGMP increased in the osteoporosis with kidney-yang deficiency group. Moreover, both YGW and ALN effectively improved the symptoms of osteoporosis, including the injury of bone trabeculae and growth plates, as well as the expression of bone metabolism-related indicators. However, unlike ALN, YGW simultaneously ameliorated the expression of key indicators of kidney-yang deficiency and prevented weight loss in rats. In addition, YGW caused no obvious damage to the liver, spleen, or kidney, whereas ALN led to liver cirrhosis. Conclusion: The results reveal that YGW plays a crucial part in osteoporosis with kidney-yang deficiency, increases bone mineral density, and improves bone metabolism indicators, and is safe and efficient for the efficacy of osteoporosis with kidney-yang deficiency. YGW might have a better therapeutic effect on osteoporosis in patients with kidney-yang deficiency. Therefore, alendronate should be used cautiously in patients with osteoporosis and poor liver function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the biomechanical characteristics of grafts from three different anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructive surgeries and to determine which method is better at restoring knee joint stability. Methods: A 31-year-old female volunteer was enrolled in the study. According to the magnetic resonance imaging of her left knee, a three-dimensional model consisting of the distal femur, proximal tibia and fibula, ACL, posterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament and lateral collateral ligament was established. Then, the ACL was removed from the original model to simulate the knee joint after ACL rupture. Based on the knee joint model without the ACL, single-bundle ACL reconstruction, double-bundle ACL reconstruction, and flat-tunnel ACL reconstruction were performed. The cross-sectional diameters of the grafts were equally set as 6 mm in the three groups. The bone tissues had a Young's modulus of 17 GPa and a Poisson's ratio of 0.36. The ligaments and grafts had a Young's modulus of 390 MPa and a Poisson's ratio of 0.4. Six probes were placed in an ACL or a graft to obtain the values of the equivalent stress, maximum principal stress, and maximum shear stress. After pulling the proximal tibia with a forward force of 134 N, the distance that the tibia moved and the stress distribution in the ACL or the graft, reflected by 30 mechanical values, were measured. Results: The anterior tibial translation values were similar among the three groups, with the double-bundle ACL reconstruction group performing the best, followed closely by the patellar tendon ACL reconstruction group. In terms of stress distribution, 13 out of 30 mechanical values indicated that the grafts reconstructed by flat bone tunnels had better performance than the grafts in the other groups, while 12 out of 30 showed comparable outcomes, and 5 out of 30 had worse outcomes. Conclusion: Compared with traditional single-bundle and double-bundle ACL reconstructions, flat-tunnel ACL reconstruction has advantages in terms of stress dispersion. Additionally, flat-tunnel ACL reconstruction falls between traditional double-bundle and single-bundle ACL reconstructions in terms of restoring knee joint stability and is superior to single-bundle ACL reconstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) modules with multiple chips have wide range of applications, and the correct estimation for the thermal behaviors inside IGBT modules is becoming crucial. Thermal impedance matrix is one of the most adopted approaches to describe the thermal-coupling effect of IGBT module. For simplicity of analysis, the heatsink or ambient temperature is typically chosen as the reference node for the thermal-coupling impedance term, while the case temperature is simplified or ignored. This letter provides a thermal coupling model enabling case temperature as reference node. This proposed model decouples the thermal coupling impedances of IGBT module itself and external cooling condition, so that the modeling of cooling conditions outside device and inside the power module, can be separately considered. The characterization method and advantages of the proposed model are verified by an experimental demonstration, and the potential applications are further discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • 1b and 1f showed 2.9 ∼ 4.5-fold more potent TRPV4 inhibition activity than RN9893. • The IC 50 s of 1b and 1f against TRPV4 are 0.71 ± 0.21 and 0.46 ± 0.08 μM, respectively. • 1b and 1f significantly alleviated acute lung injury symptoms in mice. • RN9893 analogues are potent TRPV4 inhibitors. RN-9893, a TRPV4 antagonist identified by Renovis Inc., showcased notable inhibition of TRPV4 channels. This research involved synthesizing and evaluating three series of RN-9893 analogues for their TRPV4 inhibitory efficacy. Notably, compounds 1b and 1f displayed a 2.9 to 4.5-fold increase in inhibitory potency against TRPV4 (IC 50 = 0.71 ± 0.21 μM and 0.46 ± 0.08 μM, respectively) in vitro , in comparison to RN-9893 (IC 50 = 2.07 ± 0.90 μM). Both compounds also significantly outperformed RN-9893 in TRPV4 current inhibition rates (87.6 % and 83.2 % at 10 μM, against RN-9893′s 49.4 %). For the first time, these RN-9893 analogues were profiled in an in vivo mouse model, where intraperitoneal injections of 1b or 1f at 10 mg/kg notably mitigated symptoms of acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). These outcomes indicate that compounds 1b and 1f are promising candidates for acute lung injury treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The thermal load could produce biaxial stress state and then reduce the load carrying capacity of stiffened panels. • The geometrical range of model is suggested extent half span/bay for reducing the influences of boundary conditions. • The ultimate strength of the stiffened panels would achieve during thermal load. • The residual thermal stress should be taken into account in the assessment of residual ultimate strength. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the influences of localised thermal stress on the load carrying capacity of stiffened panels under in-plane compression. The thermal loads and bending moment caused by extreme water wave seldom occur at the same time, hence, which are applied on ship structures in two load steps separately in the finite element (FE) analysis. Firstly, the stress state and structural responses of the stiffened panels under localised thermal loads with different heating zone ranges are discussed. Subsequently, the collapse behaviours of the stiffened panels under in-plane compression are simulated, in which the residual thermal stress due to the thermal loads is also included. The influences of residual thermal stress, areas of heating zone and boundary conditions on the collapse behaviours are investigated. It is found that the thermal loads could cause biaxial stress state that can reduce the load carrying capacity of the stiffened panels, which should be considered in the development of assessment formula of residual ultimate strength for ship structure design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional half bridge modular multilevel converter (MMC) system will suffer great over-current when there is a dc side fault. Therefore, topology study in sub-modules with dc side fault blocking capability have become one of the hotspots in MMC field. However, fault blocking topologies using conventional IGBT devices must employ more semiconductors than half bridge topology. The extra semiconductor devices employed in the topology will lead to the increase of cost and conduction loss. To reduce the conduction loss of the fault blocking topology, a novel sub-module topology is proposed in this paper. The proposed topology employs reverse blocking devices to form the low conduction loss path. Conduction loss analysis is conducted in this paper to show the priority of the proposed topology. Simulation and experiment results verified the dc fault blocking capability of the proposed topology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a modified LLC resonant converter with LC antiresonant circuit in parallel branch is proposed. The proposed converter is derived by placing LC antiresonant circuit on parallel branch. In comparison with LLC resonant converter, the equivalent inductance of parallel branch of the proposed converter decreases along with switching frequency within regulating frequency range. This advantageous property contributes for that the turn-off current and circulating conduction loss in the primary side can be reduced at unity voltage conversion ratio due to large impedance of LC antiresonant circuit. Moreover, by optimizing resonant parameters design of parallel branch based on time-domain analysis, the magnetizing current is in close proximity to a sine wave and the conduction loss in the secondary side will be reduced, especially in the light load. A higher voltage conversion ratio can be achieved at low switching frequency due to decreased impedance in parallel branch. In addition, a design flowchart and a design practical case are given to help to implement an efficiency optimization algorithm to decide five resonant design parameters. Finally, a 2 kW 250 V—400 V-input and 48 V-output prototype is built, and the main experimental results are provided to verify the feasibility of the proposed converter and compare with LLC resonant converter. Comparative state-plane trajectories are depicted to compare their characteristics and to verify the model-domain analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the genotyping by sequencing (GBS) protocol for fingerprinting Brassica rapa, and the data derived were more reliable than the re-sequencing data of B. rapa. Of the 10 enzyme solutions used to analyze the numbers of genotypes and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in B. rapa, five solutions showed better results, namely, A (HaeIII, 450–500 bp), E (RsaI+HaeIII, 500–550 bp), F (RsaI+HaeIII, 500–600 bp), G (RsaI+HaeIII, 'All' fragment), and J (RsaI+EcoRV-HF®, 'All' fragment). The five enzyme solutions showed less than 40% similarity in different individuals from various samples, and 90% similarity between two individuals from one sample. The E enzyme solution was the most suitable for fingerprinting B. rapa, revealing well-distributed SNPs in the whole genome. Of the 82 highly inbred lines and 18 F1 lines of B. rapa sequenced by GBS in the E enzyme solution, known parents of 10 F1 lines were verified, and male parents were discovered for 8 F1 lines that had only known female parents. This study provides a valuable method for screening parents for F1 lines in B. rapa for the efficient evaluation of GBS with varied library construction strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]