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The COVID-19 pandemic has forced higher education to enter into a phase of blended learning that combines in-person and mandatory online learning. This new combination has presented great challenges in promoting academic wellbeing. Anchored by the conservation of resources theory, this study undertakes to explore the contributions of personal resources to academic wellbeing. A total of 1934 undergraduates at a public university in China voluntarily participated in a survey during the 2022 spring semester. They were asked to rate their psychological capital (PsyCap) in general. They were also asked to rate their learning burnout, learning engagement, and academic buoyancy on the course level (namely through a course with English as a foreign language). Partial least squares structural equation modelling was used for the data analysis. The results confirm a direct positive association between PsyCap and students' learning engagement. In particular, the contribution of PsyCap to learning engagement is partially mediated by learning burnout. The moderation estimation reports that the positive effect of PsyCap on learning engagement is stronger for Chinese undergraduates with a higher academic buoyancy and that the negative link of learning burnout with either PsyCap or learning engagement is stronger for Chinese undergraduates with a lower academic buoyancy. This research is the first one to explore the beneficial joint roles of PsyCap and academic buoyancy in promoting academic wellbeing. The findings of this research offer novel and subtle insights into why and how PsyCap and academic buoyancy has contributed to easing learning burnout and boosting learning engagement in blended learning environments during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The term “health poverty trap” describes a vicious cycle in which developing countries or regions become trapped in low levels of health and poverty during the process of modernization. Although significant progress has been made in alleviating poverty in China, there is still a need to further enhance the living conditions of its impoverished population. Methods: This research utilizes the data of the three national representative panel surveys from 2014 to 2020. The primary objective is to gain a better understanding of the intricate relationship between health and poverty. To examine the self-reinforcing effects of the cumulative cycle between health and poverty, we employ unconditional quantile regression analysis. Result: The low-income group exhibits lower overall health status compared to the average level. Economic constraints partially hinder the ability of low-income individuals to access healthcare resources, thereby reinforcing the cyclical relationship between health and poverty. Additionally, the unique psychological and behavioral preferences of individuals in health poverty act as indirect factors that further strengthen this cycle. Health poverty individuals can generate endogenous force to escape the “health poverty trap” by enhancing their confidence levels and digital literacy. Conclusions: The research examines the coexistence of health gradients and economic inequality among Chinese residents. Additionally, the study explores the endogenous force mechanism of escaping the health poverty trap from psychological and behavioral perspectives. This research also offers insights into optimizing government poverty alleviation programs to effectively address this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The healthcare utilization inequality among middle-aged and older adults has been a serious concern shared in the aging process. Successful policy implementation regarding the supply of medical resources and the targeted welfare is an important means to alleviate the healthcare utilization inequalities. However, the effectiveness of the current efforts remains unclear. This study employed self-organizing map and concentration index to explore inequalities in healthcare utilization between age subgroups in similar healthcare settings. The results suggest that utilization inequalities in rich-medical resource regions are not necessarily smaller than those in poor-medical resource regions, which the inpatient and preventive care utilization support the idea. And inequalities of healthcare utilization in rich-medical resource regions show age-lag compared with that in poor-medical resource regions, which indicates a higher level of accessibility to rich medical resources. But rich medical resources still fail to better protect the adults aged 70 and above. The economy, education, and health status, as key contributing factors to the unequal utilization of healthcare, may exacerbate their contribution to inequality in rich-medical resource regions. So a rich supply of healthcare does not necessarily have a one-way positive impact on alleviating inequality in the healthcare utilization. It needs to be combined with other factors to better alleviate inequality. Welfare policy with targeted groups needs to be wary of whether it will lead to greater inequalities. It also called for popularizing free seminar, comprehensive outpatient health management, and serious illness insurance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, information technology has penetrated into various fields of universities, and the development of information technology in teaching, scientific research, management, and services has become a catalyst for promoting changes in universities. In terms of teaching informatization, the Internet provides a powerful tool for knowledge dissemination and a huge platform for learning and communication between university teachers and students. Knowledge sharing has become easier, and the era of mutual interaction between teachers and students has arrived. University teachers need to quickly face this challenge, adapt to the new teaching and learning environment, improve their own literacy, enhance their information-based teaching ability, change their teaching behavior, and thereby improve the quality of university education and meet the needs of society for talent cultivation. The informationization teaching ability evaluation of university teachers is a classical MAGDM problems. Recently, the Exponential TODIM(ExpTODIM) and (grey relational analysis) GRA method has been used to cope with MAGDM issues. The interval neutrosophic sets (INSs) are used as a tool for characterizing uncertain information during the informationization teaching ability evaluation of university teachers. In this manuscript, the interval neutrosophic number Exponential TODIM-GRA (INN-ExpTODIM-GRA) method is built to solve the MAGDM under INSs. In the end, a numerical case study for informationization teaching ability evaluation of university teachers is given to validate the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, recombinant Escherichia coli that secretes the multifunctional ɑ-amylase Amy19 was constructed and the induction conditions were optimized. The optimal induction condition obtained by orthogonal experiment was addition of 1.5% glycine for 24 h at 10 ℃. The extracellular secreted multifunctional Amy19 showed the ability to degrade seaweed (Gracilaria verrucosa) waste directly. The reducing sugar concentration increased gradually with degradation time, reaching a maximum (1.047 ± 0.0058 mg mL−1) at 60 h. HPLC showed that the higher degree of polymerization of oligosaccharides decreased gradually, while the content of galactose and 3,6-anhydro-L-galactose gradually increased with time. In the cucumber seed germination experiments, root lengths and seed germination percentages after treatment with enzymatic hydrolysates of seaweed at 5% and 10% concentrations were much greater than after treatment with water or water extracts of seaweed. This may be due to the presence of polysaccharides and oligosaccharide in EHS. In addition, seeds treated with enzymatic hydrolysates of seaweed at lower concentrations showed higher germination indexes and germination energy levels, which were associated with lower mean germination times. Thus, the use of the lower concentrations of enzymatic hydrolysates of seaweed may result in more rapid germination of seeds. This study provides important information for the efficient preparation of recombinant enzyme extracellular secretion and the agricultural applications of seaweed waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The OI135.6 nm radiation intensity and the associated change with solar activity are very complex, and this is particularly the case during November 2020. In this paper, we investigated the OI135.6 nm radiation intensity in the low-latitude ionosphere during a quiet geomagnetic period. The Ionospheric Photometer (IPM) instrument onboard the FY-3(D) meteorological satellite was employed to measure the OI135.6 nm night airglow at 02:00 LT (local time) and its response to the solar activity. The results showed there is a statistically significant correlation between the intensity of the equatorial ionospheric anomaly (EIA) and solar activity after midnight. The EIA at 02:00 LT and before midnight shared the same climatological characteristics—strong in equinoxes and weak in solstices. In November 2020, when the F10.7 flux significantly increased, the OI135.6 nm radiation intensity in the EIA region recorded a 100–200% increase compared to the previous month, which was much higher than in the same period in the preceding two years. A similar phenomenon was observed at the same time by the Global-scale Observations of Limb and Disk (GOLD), which makes continuous observations of ionospheric structure variation in global patterns. Data analysis suggests that the EIA at 02:00 LT was due to the attenuation of the EIA before midnight after the disappearance of the eastward electric field. The magnetic latitude of the EIA crest (hereafter denoted by θ m l F 2 ) indicates a range-and-seasonal rule of hemispherical asymmetry: closer to the geomagnetic equator in equinoxes and farther away from the geomagnetic equator in solstices. Further studies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of setting up variable guidance lanes is to ease the traffic pressure on lanes with more traffic under the condition of ensuring the traffic capacity of the intersection. This study proposes a bi-level model-interactive relationship between variable guidance lane design and signal control and carry out a case study for a road in Wuhan, China. The design plan for the goal, combined with the design plan of the variable guidance lane, optimizes the signal timing plan of the intersection. A real case is modeled in VISSIM to simulate the design scheme of variable guidance lanes to verify the reliability and effectiveness of the bi-level model. The results showed that the average vehicle delay at the intersection was reduced by 20.65% after the bi-level model was optimized. The average error between model calculation results and simulation results is 9.88%. Moreover, the influencing factors of the proposed model are also carried out. The results show that when the traffic flow is greater than 1,000 pcu/h, the optimization effect of the model is more significant. When the traffic capacity gradually increases, the average vehicle delay calculated by the model is smaller. The design scheme and signal timing scheme proposed by the bi-level model can ensure the overall traffic efficiency of the intersection, improve the traffic efficiency of the traffic-stressed lanes, and further promote the space-time resource utilization of the intersection, optimize the space-time resources of the road network, and provide a scientific basis and new ideas and methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer with limited therapeutic options. Eupalinolide O (EO) was reported to inhibit tumor growth. This study is aimed at exploring the role of EO on TNBC both in vivo and in vitro. Methods. In in vitro experiments, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and clonogenic assay were conducted to measure the impact of EO on TNBC cell growth at different concentrations and time points. Flow cytometry was conducted to evaluate cell apoptosis. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) loss, caspase-3 activity, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation were assessed. The expressions of apoptosis-related mRNAs and Akt/p38 MAPK signaling pathway-related proteins were measured. In in vivo experiments, by injecting TNBC cells into the nude mice to induce xenograft tumor, mice were treated with EO for 20 days. Then, in vivo bioluminescence imaging system was utilized to monitor the growth and distribution of TNBC cells. Tumor volume and weight were also recorded. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and ELISA assay were applied to observe tumor tissue morphology and ROS levels. Furthermore, western blotting was conducted to observe the expression of apoptosis-related proteins and Akt/p38 MAPK signaling pathway-associated proteins. Results. EO inhibited the cell viability and proliferation of TNBC cells but not normal epithelial cells. Furthermore, EO induced apoptosis, decreased MMP, and elevated caspase-3 activity and ROS content in TNBC cells. Meanwhile, the expression of apoptosis-related mRNAs and Akt/p38 MAPK pathway-related proteins was regulated by EO treatment. Besides, in vivo experiments demonstrated EO not only suppressed tumor growth, Ki67 expression, ROS generation, and Akt phosphorylation but also upregulated caspase-3 expression and p-38 phosphorylation. Conclusion. EO may induce cell apoptosis in TNBC via regulating ROS generation and Akt/p38 MAPK pathway, indicating EO may be a candidate drug for TNBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited field investigations have evaluated the impact of traffic on the snow melting capacity of salts. This paper will describe an extensive field study that includes 1,200 tests that are conducted during 100 snow events over three winter seasons (2012, 2013, and 2014) to quantify the traffic impact on snow melting capacity. The tests will be conducted in an active parking lot, and on parking stalls and driveways, which could increase the applicability of the results to real-world scenarios. The deicing performance of salt will be compared between both areas with different traffic patterns for bare pavement regain time (BPRT). The developed model quantified the reduction in BPRT from 21% for a low traffic volume of 5 vehicles/h to an 86% reduction for a high traffic volume of 50 vehicles/h. The deicing performance models that were calibrated for parking stalls and driveways could be directly used to determine the most cost-effective application rates to treat parking lots and sidewalks based on specific weather, facilities, and traffic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cold and high altitude Tibetan area (hereinafter referred to as Tibetan area) is a special geographical area in western China. Whether the local economic development and EE (ecological environment) are coordinated or not directly affects the sustained and healthy economic and social development of the whole Tibetan area. Firstly, this paper discusses the relationship between economic growth and EE on the basis of existing related theoretical research. Then, 15 indicators of economic system and environmental system were selected, and the coupling degree model and coupling coordination degree model were constructed to quantitatively analyze the dynamic model of regional economic and EE coupling and coordinated development in Tibetan areas from 2010 to 2020. The research found that in the past 11 years, the comprehensive index of EE of four regions in Tibetan areas has changed from 0.5 to 0.6, and the comprehensive index of the economy of four regions in Tibetan areas has changed from 0.51 to 0.74. On the whole, the coordination degree and coordinated development degree of green development in Tibetan areas have changed at the same time compared with the years, and since 2016, both of them have had the same trend and both of them are beginning to develop in a good direction. Since 2017, the economic development has been relatively advanced, while the EE has lagged behind, showing a fluctuating state, while the level of coordinated development has been continuously improved. This study has certain reference value for promoting ecological protection and green development in Tibetan areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ionospheric Photometer (IPM) is carried on the Feng Yun 3-D (FY3D) meteorological satellite, which allows for the measurement of far-ultraviolet (FUV) airglow radiation in the thermosphere. IPM is a compact and high-sensitivity nadir-viewing FUV remote sensing instrument. It monitors 135.6 nm emission in the nightside thermosphere and 135.6 nm and N 2 Lyman–Birge–Hopfield (LBH) emissions in the dayside thermosphere that can be used to invert the peak electron density of the F 2 layer (NmF 2) at night and the O/N 2 ratio in the daytime, respectively. Preliminary observations show that the IPM could monitor the global structure of the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) structure around 02:00 LT using atomic oxygen (OI) 135.6 nm nightglow. It could also identify the reduction of O/N 2 in the high-latitude region during the geomagnetic storm of 26 August 2018. The IPM-derived NmF 2 agrees well with that observed by four ionosonde stations along 120 ∘ E with a standard deviation of 26.67 %. Initial results demonstrate that the performance of IPM meets the design requirements and therefore can be used to study the thermosphere and ionosphere in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient synthesis of indolizines with a thioether group is developed through employing [4+2]-annulation of N-substituted pyrrole-2-carboxaldehydes and prop-2-ynylsulfonium salts, forming a wide variety of target compounds with various substituents and functionalities in moderate to good yields. The success of this transformation makes it an alternative approach to previous protocols, and pharmaceutical and biomedical applications of the investigated compounds are expected with further development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncultured microbes are an important resource for the discovery of novel enzymes. In this study, an amylase gene (amy2587) that codes a protein with 587 amino acids (Amy2587) was obtained from the metagenomic library of macroalgae-associated bacteria. Recombinant Amy2587 was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) and was found to simultaneously possess α-amylase, agarase, carrageenase, cellulase, and alginate lyase activities. Moreover, recombinant Amy2587 showed high thermostability and alkali resistance which are important characteristics for industrial application. To investigate the multifunctional mechanism of Amy2587, three motifs (functional domains) in the Amy2587 sequence were deleted to generate three truncated Amy2587 variants. The results showed that, even though these functional domains affected the multiple substrates degrading activity of Amy2587, they did not wholly explain its multifunctional characteristics. To apply the multifunctional activity of Amy2587, three seaweed substrates (Grateloupia filicina, Chondrus ocellatus, and Scagassum) were digested using Amy2587. After 2 h, 6 h, and 24 h of digestion, 121.2 ± 4 µg/ml, 134.8 ± 6 µg/ml, and 70.3 ± 3.5 µg/ml of reducing sugars were released, respectively. These results show that Amy2587 directly and effectively degraded three kinds of raw seaweeds. This finding provides a theoretical basis for one-step enzymatic digestion of raw seaweeds to obtain seaweed oligosaccharides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new approach to address the problem of allocating federal resources and identifying upgrading projects for improving the safety of at-grade crossings in Canada. The proposed approach is unique in two key aspects. First, a risk-based network screening process is adopted to identify the priority sites for providing a justifiable basis for distributing the total budget at a regional level as well as narrowing the search space in the subject optimization step. Secondly, a mathematical programming approach is applied to formalize the resource allocation process with explicit consideration of the expected benefits – risk reduction and the costs of implementing the projects. This approach is expected to improve the process of identifying the optimal set of upgrading projects within each region, thus maximizing the return on investment. A full-scale case study from the Canadian crossing network is conducted to demonstrate the application of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium oxide has been considered a promising candidate for Schottky-type diode application. In this paper, an alternative approach for improving electrical properties of TiO x -based Schottky-type diode has been demonstrated. Compared with the Ag/TiO x /Ti structure Schottky-type diode, by embedding an extra ZrO2 insulating layer between the Ag/TiO x interface, an extremely high rectifying ratio of 109 can be obtained in the Ag/ZrO2/TiO x /Ti structure device. The improvement of the electrical properties in the Ag/ZrO2/TiO x /Ti structure device can be attributed to the localized formation of Ag metal conductive filaments in ZrO2 layer after switching on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent progressive disorder. Moxibustion has found widespread use in clinical practice for OA, while its underlying mechanism remains elusive. To investigate whether moxibustion can ameliorate OA by influencing the metabolic processes in OA and to elucidate the specific metabolic mechanisms involved. C57BL/6J WT mice were randomly assigned to one of three groups: the SHAM group, the ACLT group, and the ACLT+M group. In the ACLT+M group, mice underwent moxibustion treatment at acupoints Shenshu (BL23) and Zusanli (ST36) for a continuous period of 28 days, with each session lasting 20 min. We conducted a comprehensive analysis to assess the impact of moxibustion on OA, focusing on pathological changes, intestinal flora composition, and serum metabolites. Moxibustion treatment effectively mitigated OA-related pathological changes. Specifically, moxibustion treatment resulted in the amelioration of articular cartilage damage, synovial inflammation, subchondral bone sclerosis when compared to the ACLT group. Moreover, 16S rDNA sequencing analysis revealed that moxibustion treatment positively influenced the composition of the flora, making it more similar to that of the SHAM group. Notably, moxibustion treatment led to a reduction in the abundance of Ruminococcus and Proteobacteria in the intestine. In addition, non-targeted metabolomics analysis identified 254 significantly different metabolites between the groups. Based on KEGG pathway analysis and the observed impact of moxibustion on OA-related inflammation, moxibustion therapy is closely associated with the cAMP-related signaling pathway. Moxibustion can relieve OA by regulating intestinal flora and via impacting cAMP-related signaling pathway. [Display omitted] • Moxibustion mitigates cartilage destruction, synovial inflammation, and subchondral bone sclerosis. • Metabolomics analysis were used to investigate the effective mechanisms of Moxibustion in treating OA. • Moxibustion promote cartilage protection via impacting cAMP-related signaling pathway. • Our results provide a theoretical basis for OA treatment through the application of Moxibustion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass-based energy systems are gaining popularity as a clean and renewable source of energy, and have the potential to be a major contributor to the transition towards a sustainable energy future. In this regard, a novel multi-generation energy system is developed based on the biomass combustion. Wood chip and rice straw biomass is combusted with air agent and triggers an integrated system comprises a gas turbine cycle, a proton exchange membrane electrolyzer, a supercritical carbon dioxide Brayton cycle, and a humidification-dehumidification desalination system. The performances of wood chip and rice straw in triggering the system are compared from environmental and energy indicators viewpoints. The system fueled by wood chip emits lower carbon dioxide emission compared to the system fueled by rice straw (8.294 g/kWh compared to 10.41 g/kWh). However, the rice straw-fueled system results in higher efficiency than the wood chip-fueled system (69.9% compared to 69.1%). The system fueled by wood chip produces 2.68 kg/h of hydrogen while this value if 1.96 kg/h for the system fueled by rice straw. The research validated the possibility of utilizing energy systems that incorporate wood chip and rice straw biomass across various generations and showed the superiority of the wood chip in most cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep reinforcement learning has found great successes in addressing many challenging control problems; however, real-world implementations are still scarce if not non-existent. This is primarily due to three main challenges pertaining to the implementation, the stability, the optimal settings, and a lack of knowledge on methods that can be applied to field settings. This research attempts to address these issues with an adaptive simulation-based control framework proposed specifically for the training and evaluation. The control framework has implemented simulation models to conduct an extensive sensitivity analysis on the effects of key design variables, including rewarding schemes, state spaces, and model training parameters. The feasibility of transfer learning as a training strategy is also studied on scenarios with different layouts and different driver behavior models. Complex scenarios are also evaluated and used as test cases, including multiphase ring-and-barrier control and multi-intersection control. The research has contributed a significant amount of evidence on several critical design and implementation-related questions such as input representation, data (technology) requirements, training methods, and model transferability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, road weather information systems (RWISs) have gained in popularity with road maintenance authorities. However, RWIS stations only provide point measurements that are often unrepresentative of distant surrounding areas. To address such limitations, this study employs a hybrid geostatistical interpolation method, regression kriging (RK), to fill in the large spatial gaps at unmonitored locations. Road surface temperature (RST) data collected by an automated vehicle system along selected interstate highways were used to model the RST spatial variation patterns via semivariograms, which were then used to interpolate the conditions in between RWIS stations. Cross-validation results indicated that RK successfully captured the spatial variation of RST along the highway segment. The nugget-to-sill ratio obtained from semivariograms was further utilized to characterize the weather events, and the results implied that stronger winds and heavier rainfalls were likely to form a stronger spatial dependence within RST. The findings of this research contribute to better understanding of the influences of meteorological factors in RST as well as improved models for inferring the road surface conditions between RWIS stations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate photometric redshift (photo- z) estimation requires support from multiband observational data. However, in the actual process of astronomical observations and data processing, some sources may have missing observational data in certain bands for various reasons. This could greatly affect the accuracy and reliability of photo- z estimation for these sources, and even render some estimation methods unusable. The same situation may exist for the upcoming Chinese Space Station Telescope (CSST). In this study, we employ a deep learning method called generative adversarial imputation networks (GAIN) to impute the missing photometric data in CSST , aiming to reduce the impact of data missing on photo- z estimation and improve estimation accuracy. Our results demonstrate that using the GAIN technique can effectively fill in the missing photometric data in CSST. Particularly, when the data missing rate is below 30 per cent, the imputation of photometric data exhibits high accuracy, with higher accuracy in the g, r, i, z , and y bands compared to the NUV and u bands. After filling in the missing values, the quality of photo- z estimation obtained by the widely used easy and accurate Zphot from Yale (eazy) software is notably enhanced. Evaluation metrics for assessing the quality of photo- z estimation, including the catastrophic outlier fraction (f out), the normalized median absolute deviation (⁠|$\rm {\sigma _{NMAD}}$|⁠), and the bias of photometric redshift (bias), all show some degree of improvement. Our research will help maximize the utilization of observational data and provide a new method for handling sample missing values for applications that require complete photometry data to produce results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The question of radio dichotomy in active galactic nuclei (AGNs) is still in debate, even though it has been discussed for more than 40 years. In order to solve this old riddle, we collect a sample of AGNs with optical B band and radio 6 cm wavelength data to analyze the radio loudness log  R. Our results indicate a separation of log  R = 〈1.37 ± 0.02〉 between radio-loud (RL) AGNs and radio-quiet (RQ) AGNs, suggesting the existence of an RL/RQ dichotomy. For the first time, we suggest combining radio luminosity and radio loudness as a double criterion to divide AGNs into RLs and RQs to avoid misclassification problems that may happen in the single-criterion scenario; we propose the double-criterion dividing line log  L 6 cm = −2.7log  R + 44.3 by using a machine-learning method. In addition, the key point of the RL/RQ dichotomy is the origin of radio emission for the two classes, and we suggest the radio emission from RLs and RQs share the same origin, e.g. jets and mini-jets (aborted-jet or outflow), through a correlation study between radio 6 cm luminosity and optical B -band luminosity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Radiotherapy (RT) following breast-conserving surgery (BCS) for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) reduces ipsilateral breast event rates in clinical trials. This study assessed the impact of DCIS treatment on a 20-year risk of ipsilateral DCIS (iDCIS) and ipsilateral invasive breast cancer (iIBC) in a population-based cohort.Methods: The cohort comprised all women diagnosed with DCIS in the Netherlands during 1989-2004 with follow-up until 2017. Cumulative incidence of iDCIS and iIBC following BCS and BCS + RT were assessed. Associations of DCIS treatment with iDCIS and iIBC risk were estimated in multivariable Cox models.Results: The 20-year cumulative incidence of any ipsilateral breast event was 30.6% (95% confidence interval (CI): 28.9-32.6) after BCS compared to 18.2% (95% CI 16.3-20.3) following BCS  +  RT. Women treated with BCS compared to BCS + RT had higher risk of developing iDCIS and iIBC within 5 years after DCIS diagnosis (for iDCIS: hazard ratio (HR)age < 50 3.2 (95% CI 1.6-6.6); HRage ≥ 50 3.6 (95% CI 2.6-4.8) and for iIBC: HRage<50 2.1 (95% CI 1.4-3.2); HRage ≥ 50 4.3 (95% CI 3.0-6.0)). After 10 years, the risk of iDCIS and iIBC no longer differed for BCS versus BCS + RT (for iDCIS: HRage < 50 0.7 (95% CI 0.3-1.5); HRage ≥ 50 0.7 (95% CI 0.4-1.3) and for iIBC: HRage < 50 0.6 (95% CI 0.4-0.9); HRage ≥ 50 1.2 (95% CI 0.9-1.6)).Conclusion: RT is associated with lower iDCIS and iIBC risk up to 10 years after BCS, but this effect wanes thereafter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultra-long-distance and high-precision lightning location technology is an important means to realize low-cost and wide-area lightning detection. This paper carried out research on the high-precision location technology of very-low-frequency (VLF) lightning electromagnetic pulse based on the Asia-Pacific Lightning Location Network (APLLN) deployed in 2018. Two key technologies are proposed in this paper: one is the calculation method of signal arrival time using very-low-frequency lightning electromagnetic pulse waveform, and the other is the compression transmission technology of lightning electromagnetic pulse waveform based on a signal principal component analysis. The results of a comparison and evaluation of the improved APLLN with the ADTD system show that the APLLN has a relative location efficiency of 69.1% and an average location error within the network of 4.5 km. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate estimation of photometric redshifts (photo- z) is crucial in studies of both galaxy evolution and cosmology using current and future large sky surveys. In this study, we employ Random Forest (RF), a machine learning algorithm, to estimate photo- z and investigate the systematic uncertainties affecting the results. Using galaxy flux and colour as input features, we construct a mapping between input features and redshift by using a training set of simulated data, generated from the Hubble Space Telescope Advanced Camera for Surveys (HST-ACS) and COSMOS catalogue, with the expected instrumental effects of the planned China Space Station Telescope (CSST). To improve the accuracy and confidence of predictions, we incorporate inverse variance weighting and perturb the catalogue using input feature errors. Our results show that weighted RF can achieve a photo- z accuracy of |$\rm \sigma _{NMAD}=0.025$| and an outlier fraction of |$\rm \eta =2.045\ \hbox{per cent}$|⁠ , significantly better than the values of |$\rm \sigma _{NMAD}=0.043$| and |$\rm \eta =6.45\ \hbox{per cent}$| obtained by the widely used Easy and Accurate Zphot from Yale (EAZY) software, which uses template-fitting method. Furthermore, we have calculated the importance of each input feature for different redshift ranges and found that the most important input features reflect the approximate position of the break features in galaxy spectra, demonstrating the algorithm's ability to extract physical information from data. Additionally, we have established confidence indices and error bars for each prediction value based on the shape of the redshift probability distribution function, suggesting that screening sources with high confidence can further reduce the outlier fraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Multiband Ultraviolet Spectrum Imager (MUSI) is an optical remote sensing instrument scheduled to launch on the Fengyun‐4C meteorological satellite in 2024. MUSI is designed to measure the airglow emissions between ∼120 and 160 nm above the East Asia and Pacific region from a geostationary orbit to infer ionospheric parameters. Here we develop a lookup‐table algorithm for retrieving the peak electron density (nmF2) and the Total Electron Content (TEC) from nighttime observations of the OI 135.6 nm emission. The algorithm takes into account the north‐south asymmetry of the equatorial ionization anomaly and the atmospheric variations with solar activity and local time. Analysis of synthetic observations shows that the assumptions made in the algorithm only lead to ∼2%–4% uncertainties in the retrievals under the modeled ionospheric conditions. The algorithm is verified by retrieving nmF2 and TEC from the Global‐Scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) mission and comparing with coincided radio measurements. The comparison indicates almost negligible systematic differences (typically less than ∼3%) between the GOLD and the ionosonde nmF2, which are within the error limit of the GOLD retrievals. The accuracy of the GOLD TEC retrievals is shown to be comparable to (or in some sense even better than) that of the measurements from the Global Navigation Satellite System. Several simplified yet robust retrieval methods are also developed, which can be readily implemented for both existing and upcoming missions. Our results promote far ultraviolet (FUV) remote sensing to be a key technology for accurate determination of the ionospheric state. Key Points: We develop a lookup‐table algorithm for ionosphere retrieval with the FUV spectral imager on the Fengyun‐4C geostationary satelliteAssumptions made in the algorithm lead to only ∼2%–4% uncertainties in the nmF2 and Total Electron Content (TEC) retrievals under the modeled ionospheric conditionsThe algorithm is verified by retrieving nmF2 and TEC from the Global‐Scale Observations of the Limb and Disk observations and comparing with external radio measurements [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An alginate lyase gene aly644 encoding a member of polysaccharide lyase family 6 was obtained from a metagenome of Antarctic macroalgae-associated microbes. The gene was expressed heterologously in Escherichia coli, and the recombinant protein was purified using a Ni-NTA His Tag Kit. With sodium alginate as the substrate, recombinant Aly644 exhibited an optimum reaction temperature of 50°C and an optimum reaction pH of 7.0. The Vmax and Km values of Aly644 toward sodium alginate were 112.36 mg/mL·min and 16.75 mg/mL, respectively. Substrate specificity analysis showed that Aly644 was a bifunctional alginate lyase that hydrolyzed both polyguluronic acid and polymannuronic acid. The hydrolysis products of Aly644 with sodium alginate as the substrate were detected by thin-layer chromatography, and were mainly di- and trisaccharides. The oligosaccharides produced by degradation of sodium alginate by Aly644 inhibited the mycelial growth of the plant pathogens Phytophthora capsici and Fulvia fulva; the 50% maximal effective concentration (EC50) values were 297.45 and 452.89 mg/L, and the 90% maximal effective concentration (EC90) values were 1341.45 and 2693.83 mg/L, respectively. This highlights that Aly644 is a potential candidate enzyme for the industrial production of alginate oligosaccharides with low degree of polymerization. Enzyme-hydrolyzed alginate oligosaccharides could support the development of green agriculture as natural antimicrobial agents. Key points: • An alginate lyase was obtained from a metagenome of Antarctic macroalgae-associated microbes. • Aly644 is a bifunctional alginate lyase with excellent thermostability and pH stability. • The enzymatic hydrolysates of Aly644 directly inhibited Phytophthora capsici and Fulvia fulva. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: In the present study, the ι‐carrageenase gene, Car1293, was obtained from the genome of Microbulbifer sp. YNDZ01, which was isolated from the surface of macroalgae. To date, there are few studies on ι‐carrageenase and the anti‐inflammatory activity of ι‐carrageenan oligosaccharides (CGOS). To enhance our perspective on ι‐carrageenase and ι‐carrageen oligosaccharides, the sequence, protein structure, enzymatic properties, enzymatic digestion products and anti‐inflammatory activity of the gene were investigated. RESULTS: The gene length of Car1293 is 2,589 bp, encoding an enzyme with 862 amino acids, which shares 34% similarity with any previously reported ι‐carrageenase. The spatial structure of Car1293 consists of many α‐helices with a β‐fold binding module located at its terminus, and eight binding sites were found in the binding module as a result of docking with CGOS‐DP4 ligand. The optimum temperature and pH for the activity of recombinant Car1293 toward ι‐carrageenan were 50 °C and 6.0, respectively. The hydrolysates of Car1293 are mainly degree of polymerization (DP)8, with minor products showing DP2, DP4, and DP6. The enzymatic hydrolysates CGOS‐DP8 showed prominent anti‐inflammatory activity, which was greater than that of the positive control l‐monomethylarginine in lipopolysaccharide‐induced RAW264.7 macrophages. It inhibited nitric oxide production, as well as significantly inhibited tumor necrosis factor‐α and interleukin‐6 secretion. CONCLUSION: The ι‐carrageenase sequence encoded by Car1293 is novel and can hydrolyze carrageenan into CGOS‐DP8 that has a significant anti‐inflammatory effect. The present study fills a gap in the research on the biological activity of oligosaccharides in ι‐carrageenan and provides promising data for the development of natural anti‐inflammatory agent. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A series of dihydroquinoxalinone derivatives targeting EGFRL858R/T790M were designed, synthesized and evaluated. • Compound 29 exhibited excellent kinase inhibitory activities. • Compound 29 displayed potent antiproliferative activities against H1975 cells. • Compound 29 strongly suppressed the growth of xenograft tumors. To overcome or delay the drug-resistance of first-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase inhibitors and non-selectivity toxicity mediated by second-generation inhibitors, splicing principle was employed to design and synthesize a series of Osimertinib derivatives containing dihydroquinoxalinone (8 – 30) as the novel third-generation inhibitors against double mutant L858R/T790M in EGFR. Among them, compound 29 showed excellent kinase inhibitory activity against EGFRL858R/T790M with an IC 50 value of 0.55 ± 0.02 nM and potent anti-proliferative activity against H1975 cells with an IC 50 value of 5.88 ± 0.07 nM. Moreover, the strong down-regulation effect of EGFR-mediated signaling pathways and the promotion of apoptosis in H1975 cells confirmed its potent antitumor activities. Compound 29 was also demonstrated with good ADME profile in various in vitro assays. Further in vivo studies confirmed that compound 29 could suppress the growth of xenograft tumors. These results verified that compound 29 would be a promising lead compound for targeting drug-resistant EGFR mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macroalgae and macroalgae-associated bacteria together constitute the most efficient metabolic cycling system in the ocean. Their interactions, especially the responses of macroalgae-associated bacteria communities to algae in different geographical locations, are mostly unknown. In this study, metagenomics was used to analyze the microbial diversity and associated algal-polysaccharide-degrading enzymes on the surface of red algae among three remote regions. There were significant differences in the macroalgae-associated bacteria community composition and diversity among the different regions. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria had a significantly high relative abundance among the regions. From the perspective of species diversity, samples from China had the highest macroalgae-associated bacteria diversity, followed by those from Antarctica and Indonesia. In addition, in the functional prediction of the bacterial community, genes associated with amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, energy metabolism, metabolism of cofactors and vitamins, and membrane transport had a high relative abundance. Canonical correspondence analysis and redundancy analysis of environmental factors showed that, without considering algae species and composition, pH and temperature were the main environmental factors affecting bacterial community structure. Furthermore, there were significant differences in algal-polysaccharide-degrading enzymes among the regions. Samples from China and Antarctica had high abundances of algal-polysaccharide-degrading enzymes, while those from Indonesia had extremely low abundances. The environmental differences between these three regions may impose a strong geographic differentiation regarding the biodiversity of algal microbiomes and their expressed enzyme genes. This work expands our knowledge of algal microbial ecology, and contributes to an in-depth study of their metabolic characteristics, ecological functions, and applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS) accounts for 20–25% of all new breast cancer diagnoses. DCIS has an uncertain risk of progression to invasive breast cancer and a lack of predictive biomarkers may result in relatively high levels (~ 75%) of overtreatment. To identify unique prognostic biomarkers of invasive progression, crystallographic and chemical features of DCIS microcalcifications have been explored. Samples from patients with at least 5-years of follow up and no known recurrence (174 calcifications in 67 patients) or ipsilateral invasive breast cancer recurrence (179 microcalcifications in 57 patients) were studied. Significant differences were noted between the two groups including whitlockite relative mass, hydroxyapatite and whitlockite crystal maturity and, elementally, sodium to calcium ion ratio. A preliminary predictive model for DCIS to invasive cancer progression was developed from these parameters with an AUC of 0.797. These results provide insights into the differing DCIS tissue microenvironments, and how these impact microcalcification formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is known that the blazar jet emissions are dominated by nonthermal radiation, while the accretion disk jets are normally dominated by thermal emission. In this work, our aim is to study the connection between the two types of emission by investigating the correlation between the blazar emission-line intensity property, which embodies the nature of an accretion disk, and the γ -ray flux property, which is the representative of jet emission. We compiled a sample of 656 blazars with available emission-line equivalent widths (EWs), the GeV γ -ray flux, and the spectral energy distribution (SED) information from the literature. In this work, we found 55 previous blazar candidates of uncertain types (BCUs) that are now identified as flat-spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs), and found 52 “changing-look” blazars based on their EWs, 45 of which are newly confirmed. These changing-look blazars have a larger accretion ratio ( M ̇ / M ̇ Edd ) than BL Lacertae (BL Lac) objects. In addition, we suggest that the lower synchrotron peak blazars (LSPs) could be the source of changing-look blazars because 90.7% of the changing-look blazars in this work are confirmed as LSPs. An anticorrelation between EW and continuum intensity, the so-called global “Baldwin effect” (BEff), has been confirmed. We suggest that the steeper global BEff observed for the blazar than for radio-quiet active galactic nuclei (RQ-AGNs) is caused by the inverse Compton scattering of broad-emission-line photons. This interpretation is further supported by the positive correlation between the emission-line EW and intrinsic inverse Compton luminosity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound (LIPUS) holds therapeutic potential in promoting skeletal muscle regeneration, a biological process mediated by satellite cells and myoblasts. Despite their central roles in regeneration, the detailed mechanistic of LIPUS influence on satellite cells and myoblasts are not fully underexplored. In the current investigation, we administrated LIPUS treatment to injured skeletal muscles and C2C12 myoblasts over five consecutive days. Muscle samples were collected on days 6 and 30 post-injury for an in-depth histological and molecular assessment, both in vivo and in vitro with immunofluorescence analysis. During the acute injury phase, LIPUS treatment significantly augmented the satellite cell population, concurrently enhancing the number and size of newly formed myofibers whilst reducing fibrosis levels. At 30 days post-injury, the LIPUS-treated group demonstrated a more robust satellite cell pool and a higher myofiber count, suggesting that early LIPUS intervention facilitates satellite cell proliferation and differentiation, thereby promoting long-term recovery. Additionally, LIPUS markedly accelerated C2C12 myoblast differentiation, with observed increases in AMPK phosphorylation in myoblasts, leading to elevated expression of Glut4 and PGC-1α, and subsequent glucose uptake and mitochondrial biogenesis. These findings imply that LIPUS-induced modulation of myoblasts may culminate in enhanced cellular energy availability, laying a theoretical groundwork for employing LIPUS in ameliorating skeletal muscle regeneration post-injury. Utilizing the cardiotoxin (CTX) muscle injury model, we investigated the influence of LIPUS on satellite cell homeostasis and skeletal muscle regeneration. Our findings indicate that LIPUS promotes satellite cell proliferation and differentiation, thereby facilitating skeletal muscle repair. Additionally, in vitro investigations lend credence to the hypothesis that the regulatory effect of LIPUS on satellite cells may be attributed to its capability to enhance cellular energy metabolism. • LIPUS promotes skeletal muscle regeneration by enhancing the activity of satellite cells and myoblasts. • Early LIPUS intervention can promotes long-term recovery by facilitating satellite cell proliferation and differentiation. • LIPUS treatment markedly accelerates C2C12 myoblast differentiation by enhancing cellular energy availability. • The study lay a theoretical foundation forthe clinical application of LIPUS in improving skeletal muscle recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accuracy of galaxy photometric redshift (photo- z) can significantly affect the analysis of weak gravitational lensing measurements, especially for future high-precision surveys. In this work, we try to extract photo- z information from both galaxy flux and image data expected to be obtained by China Space Station Telescope (CSST) using neural networks. We generate mock galaxy images based on the observational images from the Advanced Camera for Surveys of Hubble Space Telescope (HST -ACS) and COSMOS catalogues, considering the CSST instrumental effects. Galaxy flux data are then measured directly from these images by aperture photometry. The multilayer perceptron (MLP) and convolutional neural network (CNN) are constructed to predict photo- z from fluxes and images, respectively. We also propose to use an efficient hybrid network, which combines the MLP and CNN, by employing the transfer learning techniques to investigate the improvement of the result with both flux and image data included. We find that the photo- z accuracy and outlier fraction can achieve σNMAD = 0.023 and |$\eta = 1.43{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$| for the MLP using flux data only, and σNMAD = 0.025 and |$\eta = 1.21{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$| for the CNN using image data only. The result can be further improved in high efficiency as σNMAD = 0.020 and |$\eta = 0.90{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$| for the hybrid transfer network. These approaches result in similar galaxy median and mean redshifts 0.8 and 0.9, respectively, for the redshift range from 0 to 4. This indicates that our networks can effectively and properly extract photo- z information from the CSST galaxy flux and image data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of novel non-covalent peptidomimetic proteasome inhibitors possessing bulky group at the C-terminus and N -alkylation at the N -terminus were designed with the aim to increase metabolic stabilities in vivo. All the target compounds were screened for their inhibitory activities against human 20S proteasome, and most analogs exhibited notable potency compared with the positive control bortezomib with IC 50 values lower than 10 nM, which also displayed potent cytotoxic activities against multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines and human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. Furthermore, whole blood stability and in vivo proteasome inhibitory activity experiments of selected compounds were conducted for further evaluation, and the representative compound 43 (IC 50 = 8.39 ± 2.32 nM, RPMI-8226: IC 50 = 15.290 ± 2.281 nM, MM-1S: IC 50 = 9.067 ± 3.103 nM, MV-4-11: IC 50 = 2.464 ± 0.713 nM) revealed a half-life extension of greater than 9-fold (329.21 min VS 36.79 min) and potent proteasome inhibitory activity in vivo. The positive results confirmed the reliability of the metabolism guided optimization strategy, and the analogs discovered are potential leads for exploring new anti -MM drugs. [Display omitted] • A series of non-covalent proteasome inhibitors with bulky group and N -alkylation were synthesized and evaluated. • Compounds 43 and 53 exhibited excellent proteasome inhibitory activities. • Compounds 43 and 53 displayed potent antiproliferative activities against RPMI-8226, MM-1S and MV-4-11 cell lines. • Compound 43 showed high metabolic stability in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a sample of 16 likely strong gravitational lenses identified in the VST Optical Imaging of the CDFS and ES1 fields (VOICE survey) using convolutional neural networks (CNNs). We train two different CNNs on composite images produced by superimposing simulated gravitational arcs on real Luminous Red Galaxies observed in VOICE. Specifically, the first CNN is trained on single-band images and more easily identifies systems with large Einstein radii, while the second one, trained on composite RGB images, is more accurate in retrieving systems with smaller Einstein radii. We apply both networks to real data from the VOICE survey, taking advantage of the high limiting magnitude (26.1 in the r band) and low PSF FWHM (0.8 arcsec in the r band) of this deep survey. We analyse ∼21 200 images with magr < 21.5, identifying 257 lens candidates. To retrieve a high-confidence sample and to assess the accuracy of our technique, nine of the authors perform a visual inspection. Roughly 75 per cent of the systems are classified as likely lenses by at least one of the authors. Finally, we assemble the LIVE sample (Lenses In VoicE) composed by the 16 systems passing the chosen grading threshold. Three of these candidates show likely lensing features when observed by the Hubble Space Telescope. This work represents a further confirmation of the ability of CNNs to inspect large samples of galaxies searching for gravitational lenses. These algorithms will be crucial to exploit the full scientific potential of forthcoming surveys with the Euclid satellite and the Vera Rubin Observatory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The origin of jets is one of the most important issues concerning active galactic nuclei, yet it has remained obscure. In this work, we made use of information from emission lines, spectral energy distributions, and Fermiâ€"LAT Îł -ray emission to construct a blazar sample that contains 667 sources. We note that jet power originations are different for BL Lacertae objects (BL Lacs) and flat-spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs). The correlation between jet power P jet and the normalized disk luminosity L Disk/ L Edd shows a slope of âˆ'1.77 for BL Lacs and a slope of 1.16 for FSRQs. The results seem to suggest that BL Lac jets are powered by extracting black hole (BH) rotation energy, while FSRQ jets are mostly powered by accretion disks. Meanwhile, we find the accretion ratio M ̇ / M ̇ Edd increases with the normalized Îł -ray luminosity. Based on this, we propose a dividing line, log (L BLR / L Edd) = 0.25 log (L Îł / L Edd) âˆ' 2.23 , to separate FSRQs and BL Lacs in the diagram of L BLR/ L Edd against L Îł / L Edd using a machine-learning method; the method gives an accuracy of 84.5%. In addition, we propose an empirical formula, M BH / M ☉ ≃ L Îł 0.65 / 21.46 , to estimate BH mass based on a strong correlation between Îł -ray luminosity and BH mass. Strong Îł -ray emission is typical in blazars, and the emission is always boosted by a Doppler-beaming effect. In this work, we generate a new method to estimate a lower limit of Doppler factor δ and give δ BL Lac = 7.94 and δ FSRQ = 11.55. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A transition-metal-free, facile and efficient method for the synthesis of 3-alkynylpyrrole-2,4-dicarboxylates from methylene isocyanides and propiolaldehyde with moderate to good yields has been developed. The direct transformation process and good tolerance of various substituents make it an alternative approach to previous protocols, and potential applications of these investigated compounds are expected with or without post-modifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a real-time winter road surface condition (RSC) monitoring solution that automatically generates descriptive RSC information in terms of snow and ice coverage by using images from fixed traffic and weather cameras. Several state-of-the-art pre-trained deep neural networks are customized and fine-tuned to address a specific domain, classifying the amount of snow coverage on a road surface. A thorough evaluation is conducted to identify and select the best model. This evaluation uses an extensive set of experiments to test the accuracy and generalization of each model and uses transfer-learning to fine-tune each of the pre-trained models on independent images from different traffic and weather cameras. The transferability of each model, relationship between model performance and data size, and the system settings of each model are then examined. Lastly, three online weight calibration methods are proposed to automatically update the model in new environments. The result shows that re-training the model using images from a mixed set of cameras has the most promising results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A cleaner vanadium extraction process with ultrasonic-H 2 O 2 synergistic acid leaching was developed. • Under the new process, vanadium recovery and H 2 O 2 decomposition rate increased by 63.30% and 106.38%. • The ultrasonic process requires only 50% of the energy consumption of conventional conditions. Residual vanadium accounts for about 1% of calcification roasted-acid leaching tailings after industrial vanadium extraction. Vanadium pollution is primarily induced by the stacking of tailings. In this study, the conventional leaching process based on sulfuric acid is compared with the ultrasound-H 2 O 2 synergistic enhanced process in the extraction of residual vanadium from calcification roasted-acid leaching tailings. Besides, the experimental process parameters are also optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the vanadium leaching rate increases by 63.64%, and the energy consumption decreases by 50%. The experimental enhancement mechanism is clarified by exploring the decomposition patterns of H 2 O 2 under ultrasound in combination with the characterization results based on electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Under the action of ultrasound, H 2 O 2 is effectively decomposed into •OH radicals to provide higher oxidation potential, which accelerates the reaction process. Through the characterization and analysis of the samples before and after the experiment, it is found that H 2 O 2 enhances the cavitation effect of ultrasound. This effectively destroys the composite oxide structure on the surface of tailing particles, thus increasing the reaction area. In conclusion, the ultrasound-H 2 O 2 synergistic vanadium leaching process exhibits broad application prospects in the management and recovery of industrial tailings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypervirulent carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (hv-CRKP) has been widely reported and poses a global threat. However, the comprehensive genetic structure of ST11-KL64 hv-CRKP and the possible evolutionary mechanisms from a genetic structure perspective of this high-risk clone remain unclear. Here, a bla KPC-2 - bla NDM-1 -positive ST11-KL64 hv-CRKP isolate was obtained from a human bloodstream infection (BSI). Whole-genome sequencing and bioinformatics analyses revealed that it contained a fusion plasmid, pKPTCM2–1. pKPTCM2–1 is a conjugative plasmid composed of an oriT -positive pLVPK-like virulence plasmid and a type IV secretion system-produced bla NDM-1 -bearing IncX3 plasmid mediated by IS 26 -based co-integration. This progress generated 8-bp target site duplications (TGAAAACC) on both sides. The fusion plasmid possessed self-transferability and could be transferred to bla KPC-2 -harboring ST11-KL64 CRKP to form the ST11-KL64 hv-CRKP clone. The pLVPK-like-positive ST11-KL64 strain exhibited virulence levels similar to those of the typical hypervirulent K. pneumoniae NTUH-2044. The mutation, Tet(A) (A276S), which was believed to lead to tigecycline resistance was observed. Overall, this high-risk clone has emerged as a tremendous threat in fatal BSIs and thus, targeted surveillance is an urgent need to contain the hv-CRKP clones. • One bla KPC-2 - bla NDM-1 -positive ST11-KL64 hv-CRKP in human bloodstream infection. • oriT -positive pLVPK-like virulence plasmid and bla NDM-1 -bearing IncX3 plasmid fusion. • One mutation of Tet(A) (A276S) maybe lead to tigecycline resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An integrated framework is proposed to predict lane-changing risk. • Driving intentions are recognized using LSTM neural network. • LGBM algorithm achieves a higher lane-changing risk prediction accuracy. • Feature importance analysis is conducted using LGBM classifier. Proactive lane-changing (LC) risk prediction can assist driver's LC decision-making to ensure driving safety. However, most previous studies on LC risk prediction did not consider the driver's intention recognition, which made it difficult to guarantee the timeliness and practicability of LC risk prediction. Moreover, the difference in driving risks and its influencing factors between LC to left lane (LCL) and LC to right lane (LCR) have rarely been investigated. To bridge the above research gaps, this study proposes a proactive LC risk prediction framework which integrates the LC intention recognition module and LC risk prediction module. The Long Short-term Memory (LSTM) neural network with time-series input was employed to recognize the driver's LC intention. The Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LGBM) algorithm was then applied to predict the LC risk. Feature importance analysis was lastly conducted to obtain the key features that affect the LC risk. The highD trajectory dataset was used for framework validation. Results show that the recognition accuracy of the driver's LCL, LCR and lane-keeping (LK) intentions based on the proposed LSTM model are 97%, 96% and 97%, respectively. Meanwhile, the LGBM algorithm outperforms other machine learning algorithms in LC risk prediction. The results from feature importance analysis show that the interaction characteristics of the LC vehicle and its preceding vehicle in the current lane have the greatest impact on the LC risk. The proposed framework could potentially be implemented in advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) or autonomous driving system for improved driving safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A hybrid deep learning model was developed for delay propagation patterns. • Train timetables were modeled as images. • A cost-sensitive technique was used to address the data imbalance challenge. • The proposed model shows satisfactory performance on different situations. As a vital component of train operational control, train delay propagation pattern discovery is critically important for both railway controllers and passengers. In this study, we present a carefully designed deep learning model, called FCF-Net, that comprises fully connected neural networks (FCNN) and convolutional neural networks (CNN) for train delay propagation pattern recognition in railway systems. FCF-Net first uses a CNN component that handles train timetables as images to capture interactions of train events and an FCNN component to capture the influence of non-operational features separately; then it uses another FCNN component to combinedly learn the dependencies between operational and non-operational features. In addition, considering the imbalance of train delay data, a cost-sensitive technique that assigns different misclassification costs for different class was used to better deal with the imbalanced data. The main goal of the FCF-Net is to realize efficient and accurate train delay propagation pattern recognition by mining potential knowledge from train operation data. The predictive and computational performance of the model was tested and evaluated on data from two high-speed railway lines with different operational features in China. The results show that FCF-Net, once trained with sufficient data, outperforms conventional deep learning with common loss and other state-of-the-art deep learning models for train delay propagation pattern recognition, indicating its capability in knowledge discovery from train operation data. In addition, the computational results show that FCF-Net exhibits more efficient training process than existing state-of-the-art deep learning models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predicting the population density of key areas of the city is crucial. It helps reduce the spread risk of Covid-19 and predict individuals' travel needs. Although current researches focus on using the method of clustering to predict the population density, there is almost no discussion about using spatial-temporal models to predict the population density of key areas in a city without using actual regional images. We abstract 997 key areas and their regional connections into a graph structure and propose a model called Word Embedded Spatial-temporal Graph Convolutional Network (WE-STGCN). WE-STGCN is mainly composed of the Spatial Convolution Layer, the Temporal Convolution Layer, and the Feature Component. Based on the data set provided by the DataFountain platform, we evaluate the model and compare it with some typical models. Experimental results show that WE-STGCN has 53.97% improved to baselines on average and can commendably predicting the population density of key areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]