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Faradaic capacitive deionization (FCDI) with attractive ion‐capture capacity, outstanding durability, and potential compatibility in high‐salinity water has been recognized as the robust alternative to address the alarming freshwater scarcity. The further innovation of boosting electrode materials is the indispensable requisite for highly efficient FCDI application. Herein, a low‐crystalline nitrogen‐doped carbon quantum dots modified Mg2+‐pillar preintercalated V3O7 (i.e., NCQDs/Mg‐V3O7) heterostructure is assembled via an ingenious one‐spot hydrothermal avenue, and is investigated as the advanced FCDI electrode for desalination application. Taking advantages of the synergic effect of unique microstructure, improved electronic conductivity, and exceptional structural durability, the NCQDs/Mg‐V3O7 electrode delivers an admirable gravimetric adsorption capacity of 54.32 mg g−1 in a NaCl solution of 1500 mg L−1 and attractive cyclic durability. Further, density functional theory calculations verify the intense interface electron coupling interaction between tri‐components, enabling the significantly promoting Na+ capture capability. The synergy removal mechanism is clarified by ex‐situ X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and in‐situ Raman tests. Additionally, the average removal efficiency of hybrid electrode attains 93.75% in the simulated wastewater comprising the NaCl of 50 mg L−1 and diverse metal nitrates from 10 to 100 mg L−1 for each, certifying the great prospects for practical wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming to promote the control performance of traditional fixed-parameter model predictive control (MPC), a new longitudinal and lateral coupling path tracking control method for the autonomous vehicle is proposed. First, a dynamic model of the autonomous vehicle, which can describe the longitudinal and lateral motion states, is established. Secondly, both the tire side-slip angle and centroid side-slip angle constraints are introduced in the path tracking controller design, which improves the accuracy of the prediction model at high speed. Furthermore, the key parameters of the proposed path tracking controller are optimized. The simulation and experimental results show that compared with the traditional MPC tracking control method, the lateral error and directional error of the proposed optimized path tracking control method under high speed decrease by 19.17 % and 11.89 %, respectively, which improves the path tracking performance significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glass fibre-reinforced polyphenylene sulphide composites were prepared by hot-pressing glass fibre fabrics and polyphenylene sulphide resins. The effects of different polyphenylene sulphide resin forms on the properties of the composites were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, dynamic mechanical analyser, pendulum impact tester and universal testing machine. The results showed that different polyphenylene sulphide resin forms had nearly no effect on the glass transition temperature of the composites, which are all located at about 100 °C. Compared with other polyphenylene sulphide composites, the bending strength of polyphenylene sulphide film composites was the highest, reaching 314.58 MPa, and the impact strength of polyphenylene sulphide particle composites was the highest, reaching 245.4 KJ/m2. The bending strength and impact strength were calculated using a standard fraction, and the highest standard fraction was obtained when the ratio of polyphenylene sulphide film to particle was 1:2. The impact strength and bending strength could be obtained. The impact strength reached 229.8 KJ/m2, and the bending strength reached 284.16 MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The post-quantum security of electronic voting protocols such as lattice-based ones are based on the assumption of certain difficult computational problems, which cannot be solved by classical computers and have also not been solved by effective quantum algorithms until now. However, these voting protocols are still at risk of compromise with the development of quantum computing, and we call them passive defense voting protocols. By making use of the encrypted three-pass protocol configured by taking physical limits of quantum computing into account and the message authentication code with information theory security, we propose a new post-quantum voting (NPQV) protocol. The proposed protocol exhibits the following advantages: (1) The post-quantum security of NPQV protocol depends on the physical limits that are inherent to quantum computers, so NPQV remains secure with the development of quantum computing and thus we call it active defense voting protocol. NPQV is the first voting protocol with active defense capability. (2) NPQV protocol is suitable for voting with numerous candidates and voters and accommodates the situation in which multiple voters vote simultaneously. (3) NPQV satisfies all the seven security requirements for an electronic voting protocol, i.e. privacy, verifiability, completeness, robustness, eligibility, unreusability and fairness. Moreover, it remains secure under internal and external attacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CFRP sandwich plates are prepared by thermal expansion molding process. • The mechanical properties and failure mechanism of CFRP sandwish plates interfaces were analyzed. • The bending properties and failure modes of sandwich plates with different expansion rates were analyzed. • The optimum expansion rate of CFRP sandwich plate prepared is determined to be 4 times. Based on its ability to integrate foam expansion into rapid prototyping products, the Thermal Expansion Molding Process (TEMP) of foam sandwich composites has shown great application prospects. The influence of the Expansion Rate (ER) on the interfacial mechanical features and failure mechanism of foam sandwich composites has always been a crucial concern in product development during thermal expansion foam forming. Herein, Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) foam sandwich panels were fabricated via TEMP, using expansion ratios of 2x, 4x, 6x, and 8x. The relationship between the expansion ratio and mechanical performance of two key interfaces was investigated: The CFRP/foam interface (Interface I) and the fiber/foam interface within the foam (Interface II). The average peel strength of Interface I gradually decreased with increasing expansion ratio: 21.48 N·mm/mm (2×), 19.41 N·mm/mm (4×), 18.92 N·mm/mm (6×), and 17.30 N·mm/mm (8×). Furthermore, the Double cantilever beam-uneven bending moment (DCB-UBM) test revealed that the initial strain energy release rate of Interface II gradually decreased with increasing ER. Finally, a three-point bending test was performed to explore the failure mode of four kinds of ER foam sandwich panels. The findings revealed that the 4x ER was the most suitable for making foam sandwich composites via TEMP. This paper offers a vital reference for developing foam sandwich composite products using TEMP technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A versatile method for the in-situ growth of ZIF-67 from hydrocarbonate as a template for three-dimensional hierarchical nano-arrays. • The introduction of Fe3+ and 2-MIM optimizes the electronic structure of Ni/Co site. • The MIM@Fe 0.1 -CoNi CH/NF demonstrates excellent catalytic activity toward OER/UOR. • The MIM@Fe 0.1 -CoNi CH/NF exhibits highly efficient catalytic performance for (+)MIM@Fe 0.1 -CoNi CH/NF || Pt/C/NF(−) system. The design of efficient electrocatalysts for OER and UOR is essential for achieving sustainable hydrogen production and enabling simultaneous wastewater treatment. Here, a versatile fabrication method for the in-situ growth of ZIF-67 from hydrocarbonate as a template for three-dimensional hierarchical nano-arrays. This strategy provides an opportunity for controllably tuning the interfacial assembly of MOFs materials on precursor template nanomaterials. The obtained MIM@Fe 0.1 -CoNi CH/NF exhibited enhanced electrocatalytic performance as an electrocatalytic anode for the OER and UOR. The MIM@Fe 0.1 -CoNi CH/NF required only 194 mV and 285 mV overpotentials to achieve the current densities of 10 and 100 mA·cm−2 in the electrolyte of 1.0 M KOH, and the overpotentials in the 1.0 M KOH + 0.5 M Urea electrolyte requires only 1.31 V (vs.RHE) to achieve a current density of 10 mA·cm−2. Notably, (+)MIM@Fe 0.1 -CoNi CH/NF || Pt/C/NF(−) achieves 10 mA·cm−2 in urea-assisted electrolysis at only 1.36 V (vs.RHE). The excellent catalytic performance was attributed to the modification of the CoNi CH/NF template by Fe3+ and 2-MIM, which modulated the Ni2+ and Co2+ electronic structures and optimised the adsorption behaviour of the OER/UOR intermediates. Overall, this work provides a strategy for preparing desirable catalysts for clean energy and wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An individualized application of water management was proposed. • Pinus koraiensis with strong plasticity showed different water use patterns in different habitats. • Sand content was the key factor for Pinus koraiensis water use pattern in Changbai Montain. Plant water uptake plays a crucial role in regulating the water balance for the stability of ecosystems. Previous studies on plant water uptake, focused on arid and semi-arid regions due to water scarcity in these areas, leaving gaps in understanding the strategies and factors affecting plant water uptake in temperate semi-humid regions, where there is a high sensitivity to climate change To assess water uptake patterns through stable isotopes (δD and δ18O), we chose Pinus koraiensis , a dominant species in the broadleaf Korean pine forest, poplar–birch forest and spruce–fir forest of the Changbai Mountain. Our findings indicated that soil water served as the direct water source for Pinus koraiensis , while precipitation, river water, and groundwater indirectly contributed via replenishing soil moisture and subsequently supporting plant water uptake. Within the broadleaf Korean pine forest and poplar–birch forest, Pinus koraiensis primarily extracted soil water from depths of 0–10 cm, accounting for approximately 49.6 % and 54.5 % of its total water uptake, respectively. In contrast, within the spruce–fir forest, Pinus koraiensis primarily extracted soil water from depths 40–50 cm, representing approximately 31.9 % of its total water uptake. In addition, through the partial correlations and variation partitioning analyses, the results revealed that sand content was the driver of the plant water uptake pattern, which affected the fine root distribution by determining the field capacity and bulk density to drive the plant water uptake. Future forest conservation management endeavours will primarily concentrate on protecting soil integrity, reducing soil erosion, maintaining regional water balance, and preserving plant diversity in the Changbai Mountain region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunoglobulins are affected by sex, age and region, so it is necessary to establish suitable reference intervals (RIs) for clinical diagnosis. Various statistical methods were used to calculate RIs, but there has been a lack of comparison among the methods. Research based on immunoglobulin RIs establishment with various methods would provide a methodological basis for further research. A total of 16,525 individuals were enrolled in the study. Individuals were selected in the medical examination center of First Hospital of Jilin University from 2014 to 2020. The lambda-mu-sigma (LMS) method was performed to evaluate the dynamic changes in analytes. RIs were calculated by parametric, non-parametric, Hoffman method and Bhattacharya method. Sex and age partitions were found for immunoglobulins G and immunoglobulin M. The levels of IgM showed no difference with age in males, but showed differences after 50 years of age in females. Circulating immunoglobulin A concentrations showed an increasing trend with age, and immunoglobulin M showed a fluctuating trend with age. Obvious difference (>5%) was commonly found among the four methods, however, the RIs established by the four methods all passed the verification with a high passing rate. Sex and age differences should be considered for immunoglobulins G and immunoglobulin M in clinical practice. The feasibility of the four indirect methods was proven, which would provides a methodological reference for further studies and benefit the application of clinical data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Load balancing is of great significance to extend the longevity of wireless sensor networks, due to the inherent imbalanced energy overhead in such networks. However, existing solutions cannot balance the load distribution in partially disconnected wireless sensor networks. For example, if a network is partitioned into several segments with different area sizes, some areas have much more traffic load than other areas. In this article, we propose a load-balanced routing scheme, which aims to balance energy consumption within each segment and among different segments. First, we adopt unequal transmission distances to build initial routing for intrasegment load balancing. Second, we adopt the genetic algorithm to build extra routing between different segments for intersegment load balancing. The unique character of our work is twofold. On one hand, we investigate partitioned wireless sensor networks where there are several isolated segments. On the other hand, we pursue load balancing from a global perspective rather than from a local one. Some simulations verify the effectiveness and the advantages of our scheme in terms of extra deployment cost, system longevity, and load balancing degree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A new structure of omnidirectional levelling system is proposed. • The sensitivity analysis of the structural parameters for levelling system is carried out. • The structural parameter optimization based on NSGA-Ⅱ algorithm is completed. • A new QBP-PID levelling control algorithm is presented. To address the challenges posed by significant body inclination, suboptimal work quality, and safety concerns during agricultural machinery operations in hilly terrains, this study presents the design of an omnidirectional levelling system tailored for hilly crawler work machines. Initially, a structural configuration for an articulated omnidirectional levelling system employing a "three-layer frame" is proposed. Subsequently, the hydraulic circuit for levelling and its operational principles are elucidated. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis is performed on the crucial structural parameters affecting omnidirectional levelling performance. To optimize these parameters, a multi-objective genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) is devised. Next, a novel composite control algorithm, denoted as QBP-PID (combining Q-learning, a BP neural network, and PID control), is proposed to enhance the adaptability of the PID controller. Real-time updates of PID control parameters are achieved through the BP neural network, with the incorporation of a Q-learning algorithm for online adjustment of neural network connection weights. The simulation results indicate that under QBP-PID control, the levelling time is reduced to 2.8 s for 20° lateral levelling and 3.2 s for 25° longitudinal levelling, with no observable overshoot compared to that of the PID and BP-PID controls. Finally, an omnidirectional levelling performance test is conducted, where the static test results align with the simulation findings. In dynamic test, the maximum body inclination angle of the crawler work machine is notably reduced, enabling swift levelling. The body inclination angle can be maintained within ± 1.5° on flat ground and after levelling, meeting the performance criteria for hilly areas and affirming the efficacy of the omnidirectional levelling system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To develop and evaluate machine learning models using baseline and restaging computed tomography (CT) for predicting and early detecting pathological downstaging (pDS) with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer (AGC). Methods: We collected 292 AGC patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. They were classified into (a) primary cohort (206 patients with 3–4 cycles chemotherapy) for model development and internal validation, (b) testing cohort I (46 patients with 3–4 cycles chemotherapy) for evaluating models' predictive ability before and after the complete course, and (c) testing cohort II (n = 40) for model evaluation on its performance at early treatment. We extracted 1,231 radiomics features from venous phase CT at baseline and restaging. We selected radiomics models based on 28 cross-combination models and measured the areas under the curve (AUC). Our prediction radiomics (PR) model is designed to predict pDS outcomes using baseline CT. Detection radiomics (DR) model is applied to restaging CT for early pDS detection. Results: PR model achieved promising outcomes in two testing cohorts (AUC 0.750, p =.009 and AUC 0.889, p =.000). DR model also showed a good predictive ability (AUC 0.922, p =.000 and AUC 0.850, p =.000), outperforming the commonly used RECIST method (NRI 39.5% and NRI 35.4%). Furthermore, the improved DR model with averaging outcome scores of PR and DR models showed boosted results in two testing cohorts (AUC 0.961, p =.000 and AUC 0.921, p =.000). Conclusions: CT-based radiomics models perform well on prediction and early detection tasks of pDS and can potentially assist surgical decision-making in AGC patients. Key Points: • Baseline contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT)-based radiomics features were predictive of pathological downstaging, allowing accurate identification of non-responders before therapy. • Restaging CECT-based radiomics features were predictive to achieve pDS after and even at an early stage of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. • Combination of baseline and restaging CECT-based radiomics features was promising for early detection and preoperative evaluation of pathological downstaging of AGC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Angiogenesis plays a pivotal role in tissue development and regeneration, but few safe and efficient pro-angiogenic factors are available for long-term clinical therapy. Although stem cell-derived exosomes exhibit excellent biocompatibility and considerable pro-angiogenic capacity, their low yield extremely limits their clinical potential. Exosome-mimetics (EMs) employ similar features to exosomes and can be produced in a higher yield. In this study, the HY-EMs were produced to enhance in vitro and in vivo pro-angiogenic ability from hypoxia-preconditioned bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) using a serial extrusion method. The yield of EMs was over 10 times greater than that of exosomes. Furthermore, compared with the EMs group, the tube number of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro doubled in the HY-EMs treated group, and the number of blood vessels increased by 186% in subcutaneously implanted scaffold with HY-EMs. More importantly, the HY-EMs effectively promoted vascularized osteogenesis in a critical-sized cranial defect model, with the new bone volume and vessel number in regenerated bone increased to 120% and 175%, respectively. Consequently, our current work provides a promising strategy to customize and mass-produce functional EMs for vascularized osteogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advancement of laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) for aluminum alloys, developing novel lightweight Al–Li alloy systems present enormous potential for aerospace applications. Conventional Al–Mg–Li alloys exhibit low densities but suffer from poor strength due to the lack of inherent strengthening phases. In the present work, a novel lightweight Al–Mg–Li–Ag-Sc-Zr alloy was developed for LPBF after optimizing the processing parameters. The as-built alloy featured a bimodal microstructure consisting of fine equiaxed grains and columnar grains. The submicron primary Al 3 (Sc, Zr) phases with a cubic L 1 2 structure served as inoculants for grain refinement and exhibited good coherency with the α-Al matrix. Besides, submicron spherical quasicrystalline T-Mg 32 (Al, Ag) 49 phases of and nanometer rod-shaped S 1 –Al 2 MgLi phases were scattered inside the grains. These results produced a yield strength (σ y) of 286 ± 8 MPa, ultimate tensile strength (σ UTS) of 406 ± 3 MPa, and elongation at fracture (ε f) of 12.5 ± 0.3%. The direct aging at 325 °C for 12 h led to an increase in hardness to a peak value of 170 HV. The secondary phases at the grain boundaries were breached and a large amount of submicron T and S 1 phases within the grains were prominently increased. Besides, spherical Al 3 (Sc, Zr, Li) and tiny δ′-Al 3 Li precipitates were observed in the α-Al matrix. A considerably enhanced σ y of 375 ± 12 MPa and σ UTS of 469 ± 4 MPa were achieved mainly due to the particle strengthening but decreased ε f to 5.8 ± 0.2%. The alloys in both states exhibited a moderate work-hardening capability. The feasibility of LPBF for lightweight Al–Li alloy was successfully established but required further optimization of the alloy composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Honeycomb-like porous Pt/SnO 2 nanosheets were prepared via a facile two-step method. • The Pt/SnO 2 exhibited better sensing properties to TEA compared with pristine SnO 2. • The response value of 1%-Pt/SnO 2 based sensor was 3700 to 100 ppm TEA at 200 °C. • The enhanced TEA sensitivity mechanism of Pt/SnO 2 was discussed detailed. In this paper, honeycomb-like porous Pt-modified SnO 2 nanocomposites were synthesized via a two-step method. The three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical porous structure was assembled from numerous SnO 2 nanosheets with an average thickness of 16 nm. The gas sensing performance of the sensors based on pristine SnO 2 and Pt/SnO 2 nanocomposites was systematically investigated. The results indicated that decorating of Pt nanoparticles could significantly improve the sensitivity of SnO 2 sensors to triethylamine (TEA), but could also reduce the optimal working temperature from 250 °C to 200 °C. In particular, the Pt/SnO 2 based sensor with a Pt content of 1 at% exhibited the maximum response value, shortest response time, and excellent stability, implying its great application prospect for TEA detection. The significant improvement of TEA sensing performance of Pt-modified SnO 2 sensors were attributed to the unique hierarchical porous structure and sensitizing actions of Pt nanoparticles. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solar thermoelectric generator (STEG) is regarded as a promising energy conversion technology to convert solar heat into electricity. Considering the real solar irradiance, impedance matching, and interface contacts, a comprehensive three-dimensional transient thermal-electric numerical model for the STEG is established to evaluate its dynamic response and energy recovery potential. The transient performance prediction of the STEG during the whole daytime is completed for the first time. Due to the temperature limitation of thermoelectric materials, the allowable concentration ratio for the Bi 2 Te 3 -based STEG is 150 suns, corresponding to the average daytime output power of 13.16 W and the average daytime conversion efficiency of 6.15%. Dynamic responses of output voltage and conversion efficiency present the same changing trend as solar irradiance. However, the steady-state numerical model underestimates the output power by 6.91% and overestimates the conversion efficiency by 1.85%, due to the ignorance of thermal inertia during thermal diffusion. The established transient model can predict more reasonable results and is well verified via transient experiments. It is obtained that the STEG can produce 491.4 kJ of electricity a day and 49.79 kW h a year, and the theoretical cost-recovery cycle for the cost of the thermoelectric generator module is 1.61 years. • A three-dimensional transient thermal-electric model of the STEG is established. • The transient performance prediction of the STEG during the whole daytime is completed. • The steady-state model underestimates output power and overestimates efficiency. • The STEG can produce 491.4 kJ of electricity a day and 49.79 kW h a year. • Analysis for the energy recovery potential of the STEG is performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wireless image sensor networks (WISNs) collect surveillance images, resulting in copious quantities of data requiring processing and transmission within the network. To reduce and balance energy expenditure during in-network image data processing and transmission, this study introduces an energy-saving strategy based on image super-resolution for WISNs assisted by cloud. The strategy constructs an image data processing and transmission system for WISNs, leveraging cloud infrastructure. By utilizing image quality feedback, the adaptive adjustment of image node sensing resolution is facilitated, minimizing image data transmission volume while ensuring high-quality super-resolution reconstructed image. The establishment of low-overhead, multipath transmission routes enables image nodes to transmit data in blocks, contingent upon neighboring transmission node statuses, thereby equalizing energy consumption for image data transmission. Cloud servers are employed to reconstruct high-resolution images and provide users with surveillance images that satisfy quality requisites. Empirical findings demonstrate that the proposed approach extends the lifetime of WISNs, furnishes users with superior-quality surveillance images, and markedly enhances network monitoring efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For Sc-containing Al-Li alloys, Al 3 Sc precipitates exhibited inhomogeneous distribution due to limited solid solubility, segregation and sluggish diffusion of Sc. Laser rapid melting (LRM) with its merit of increasing the solubility of alloying elements during solidification represents a pivotal technique for exploring new alloy compositions. In this study, microstructure evolution and aging precipitation behavior of a novel Al-Li-Cu-Mg-Ag-Sc alloy fabricated by LRM were investigated during a systematically optimized T6 heat treatment. No primary Al 3 Sc particles were formed during the rapid solidification, but coherent Al 3 Sc nanoparticles were precipitated in the subsequent cooling process. Maximum hardness of 202 HV was achieved after aging at 175 °C/18 h due to combined precipitation strengthening of the Al 3 Sc, δ', Al 3 (Li, Sc) and T 1 phases. Coherent Al 3 Sc was concerned with a sequence of atomic displacement modulations that led to varying degrees of {002} Al planar collapse, while interfacial dislocations were emitted from the interface of Al 3 Sc with coherency lost. The existing Al 3 Sc phases were available to be acted as nucleation sites for δ′ and T 1 to form composite phases. These results can provide indispensable information for compositional design of novel Al-Li alloy specifically for laser additive manufacturing. • A novel Al-Cu-Li-Mg-Ag-Sc alloy was fabricated by laser rapid melting. • The maximum hardness achieved 202 HV for the peak-aged alloy. • The precipitates of peak-aged alloy were Al 3 Sc, δ', Al 3 (Li, Sc) and T 1 phases. • Al 3 Sc was formed by atomic displacement modulations inducing {002} Al plane collapse. • Al 3 Sc would act as the nucleation sites for δ′ and T 1 to form composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel Al-Cu-Li-Mg-Ag-Sc alloy was fabricated by direct energy deposition. • Dual-phase strengthening of Al 3 Sc and T 1 phases can be achieved with a single-stage T6 heat treatment. • The excellent compressive yield strengths achieved 512, 345 and 227 MPa at 20, 200 and 300 °C, respectively. • Al 3 Sc and T 1 phases can maintain strong pinning effects on dislocations. In this work, precipitation and deformation behavior of a novel Al-Cu-Li-Mg-Ag-Sc alloy fabricated by direct energy deposition (DED) were investigated in detail. Dual-phase strengthening of Al 3 Sc and T 1 (Al 2 CuLi) phases can be achieved with a single-stage T6 heat treatment compared to normal double-aging. The excellent compressive yield strengths achieved 512, 345 and 227 MPa at 20, 200 and 300 °C, respectively. Al 3 Sc and T 1 phases can maintain strong pinning effects on dislocations, suggesting a good work hardening ability during deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the ride comfort and handling stability performance of an articulated dumper truck (ADT). Considering the influence of the hydropneumatic suspension (HPS) with gas–oil emulsion on the ADT, a comprehensive ADT dynamic model is proposed. Also, on the basis of the nonlinear programming quadratic line (NLPQL) algorithm, an integrated multi-objective optimization method regarding the HPS with gas–oil emulsion is proposed to improve the comfort and stability and ensure enough suspension working space. The body acceleration, roll angle and pitch angle of HPS are optimized to a higher degree by 17.2%, 18.4% and 23% (with no load) and 18.3%, 17.7% and 23.1% (with full load) under random excitation input. The simulation results show that the NLPQL optimization method not only increases the ride comfort and handling stability performance of ADT with reasonable suspension working space, but also helps to guide the design of the ADT's HPS system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel fluid-thermal-electric multiphysics numerical model is presented to predict the performance of a thermoelectric generator system applied in automobile waste heat recovery. The model considers the complete geometry, temperature-dependent material properties, topological connection among thermoelectric modules, and impedance matching, which can simulate the actual working conditions. Numerical simulations are carried out on the COMSOL platform combined with the exhaust temperature and exhaust mass flow rate under different vehicle speeds. In addition, the detailed physical field distribution characteristics of the automobile thermoelectric generator system, as well as the variations of output power, conversion efficiency, power losses, and net power with vehicle speed, are obtained. The position of thermoelectric modules on the hot side heat exchanger plays an important role in output uniformity, and the higher the vehicle speed is, the more uniform the output will be. At the vehicle speed of 120 km h−1, the output power and conversion efficiency of the automobile thermoelectric generator system are 38.07 W and 1.53% respectively. Considering the weight power loss and coolant pumping power loss, the net power is 23.66 W. This work fills the gap in evaluating the performance of automobile thermoelectric generator systems at different vehicle speeds comprehensively. • A fluid-thermal-electric multiphysics numerical model for automobile TEG systems is proposed. • Complete physical field distribution characteristics of the automobile TEG system is obtained. • Performance of the automobile TEG system under different vehicle speeds is investigated. • The effect of TEM location on the output performance is studied. • The net power analysis under different vehicle speeds is performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Al–Li alloys containing scandium serve as excellent lightweight materials. However, the number of Al 3 Sc phases is extremely less due to the minor addition of Sc, resulting in deficient microhardness. Laser rapid melting has the advantage of enhancing solid solubility of alloying elements during rapid solidification, which becomes a critical technique to explore new components of alloys. This study aims to investigate the effects of major Sc content (0, 1, 3 and 5 wt%) on microstructure and microhardness of Al–Cu–Li-xSc alloys fabricated by laser rapid melting. The primary Al 3 Sc particles could greatly refine grains in Al–Cu–Li-1Sc alloy. With the increase of Sc content, more clustered Al 3 Sc particles nucleated during the latter stage of solidification but the grain refinement effect was not obvious. The growth restriction factor (Q) was calculated to determine the degree of constitutional supercooling (Δ T CS) that served as segregation of Sc during solidification. The spiculate T 1 (Al 2 CuLi) precipitates heterogeneously nucleated on the Al 3 Sc dispersoids. The maximum value of microhardness is 167 HV obtained in aged Al–Cu–Li-5Sc alloys. The novel Al–Cu–Li-xSc alloys can be designed as gradient hard Al–Li alloy materials. • The Al–Cu–Li- x Sc alloys were fabricated by laser rapid melting technology. • The degree of constitutional supercooling is quantified by growth restriction factor. • The Al 3 Sc-T 1 composite phases are found after aging treatment. • The microhardness is promoted with the increasing Sc contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal expansion molding process (TEMP) is a sophisticated molding technique for creating complex sandwich composites. The core key of TEMP is a high‐performance, thermally expandable resin film. In this study, the epoxy resin is used to create a specific crosslinking network that can provide the support force required for the stable molding of the vesicles during the expansion process of the foaming agent. The curing process of the resin was determined by analyzing the change in the exothermic amount of the epoxy resin during the curing process and the flow behavior of the resin. The pore size distribution of the epoxy foam was investigated, and the expansion force of the thermally expandable resin was tested. The TEMP molding process was compared with the vacuum bag press molding (VBPM) process. The TEMP molding technique increased tensile and compressive strength by about 25%, flexural strength by 34.5%, and shear strength by 54.5%. Finally, the section on microanalysis of the comparative materials and the short beam bending experiments of the sandwich structure provides a theoretical foundation for developing complicated sandwich structures. Highlights: Preparation of thermally expandable epoxy prepregs with stabilized foaming by means of pre‐curing.The effects of curing temperature, foaming agent content and expansion multiplicity on the thermal expansion force of epoxy prepreg adhesives were investigated.Thermally expandable epoxy prepreg molding composites with different expansion multiplicities and analysis of the mechanical properties of the composites.Preparation of foam core sandwich composites by thermal expansion in‐mold monolithic molding process and their verification by bending experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moloney leukemia virus 10 protein (MOV10) is an IFN-inducible RNA helicase implicated in antiviral activity against RNA viruses, yet its role in herpesvirus infection has not been investigated. After corneal inoculation of mice with herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), we observed strong upregulation of both MOV10 mRNA and protein in acutely infected mouse trigeminal ganglia. MOV10 suppressed HSV-1 replication in both neuronal and non-neuronal cells, and this suppression required the N-terminus, but not C-terminal helicase domain of MOV10. MOV10 repressed expression of the viral gene ICP0 in transfected cells, but suppressed HSV-1 replication independently of ICP0. MOV10 increased expression of type I IFN in HSV-1 infected cells with little effect on IFN downstream signaling. Treating the cells with IFN-α or an inhibitor of the IFN receptor eliminated MOV10 suppression of HSV-1 replication. MOV10 enhanced IFN production stimulated by cytoplasmic RNA rather than DNA. IKKε co-immunoprecipitated with MOV10 and was required for MOV10 restriction of HSV-1 replication. Mass spectrometry identified ICP27 as a viral protein interacting with MOV10. Co-immunoprecipitation results suggested that this interaction depended on the RGG box of ICP27 and both termini of MOV10. Overexpressed ICP27, but not its RGG-Box deletion mutant, rendered MOV10 unable to regulate HSV-1 replication and type I IFN production. In summary, MOV10 is induced to restrict HSV-1 lytic infection by promoting the type I IFN response through an IKKε-mediated RNA sensing pathway, and its activity is potentially antagonized by ICP27 in an RGG box dependent manner. Author summary: Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is a ubiquitous DNA virus that can cause various human diseases. Upon HSV-1 invasion, the host elicited the type I interferon (IFN) response as the first line of defense, in which numerous host factors are induced to restrict viral infection, yet our knowledge about these restriction factors remains limited. Here we show that during HSV-1 acute infection Moloney leukemia virus 10 protein (MOV10) was induced to restrict HSV-1 productive infection. MOV10 restricted HSV-1 replication by promoting type I IFN production through an IKKε-mediated RNA sensing pathway. Moreover, we identified ICP27 as a viral protein that can interact with MOV10 and antagonize its antiviral activity. Thus we establish MOV10 as a host restriction factor against a herpesvirus for the first time and expand our knowledge about how viral and host proteins modulate the IFN response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

O‐linked N‐acetylglucosamine (O‐GlcNAcylation) is a ubiquitous post‐translational modification of proteins that is essential for cell function. Perturbation of O‐GlcNAcylation leads to altered cell‐cycle progression and DNA damage response. However, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we develop a highly sensitive one‐step enzymatic strategy for capture and profiling O‐GlcNAcylated proteins in cells. Using this strategy, we discover that flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1), an essential enzyme in DNA synthesis, is a novel substrate for O‐GlcNAcylation. FEN1 O‐GlcNAcylation is dynamically regulated during the cell cycle. O‐GlcNAcylation at the serine 352 of FEN1 disrupts its interaction with Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) at the replication foci, and leads to altered cell cycle, defects in DNA replication, accumulation of DNA damage, and enhanced sensitivity to DNA damage agents. Thus, our study provides a sensitive method for profiling O‐GlcNAcylated proteins, and reveals an unknown mechanism of O‐GlcNAcylation in regulating cell cycle progression and DNA damage response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

O‐linked N‐acetylglucosamine (O‐GlcNAcylation) is a ubiquitous post‐translational modification of proteins that is essential for cell function. Perturbation of O‐GlcNAcylation leads to altered cell‐cycle progression and DNA damage response. However, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we develop a highly sensitive one‐step enzymatic strategy for capture and profiling O‐GlcNAcylated proteins in cells. Using this strategy, we discover that flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1), an essential enzyme in DNA synthesis, is a novel substrate for O‐GlcNAcylation. FEN1 O‐GlcNAcylation is dynamically regulated during the cell cycle. O‐GlcNAcylation at the serine 352 of FEN1 disrupts its interaction with Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) at the replication foci, and leads to altered cell cycle, defects in DNA replication, accumulation of DNA damage, and enhanced sensitivity to DNA damage agents. Thus, our study provides a sensitive method for profiling O‐GlcNAcylated proteins, and reveals an unknown mechanism of O‐GlcNAcylation in regulating cell cycle progression and DNA damage response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine resources in unique marine environments provide abundant, cost-effective natural biomaterials with distinct structures, compositions, and biological activities compared to terrestrial species. These marine-derived raw materials, including polysaccharides, natural protein components, fatty acids, and marine minerals, etc., have shown great potential in preparing, stabilizing, or modifying multifunctional nano-/micro-systems and are widely applied in drug delivery, theragnostic, tissue engineering, etc. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the most current marine biomaterial-based nano-/micro-systems developed over the past three years, primarily focusing on therapeutic delivery studies and highlighting their potential to cure a variety of diseases. Specifically, we first provided a detailed introduction to the physicochemical characteristics and biological activities of natural marine biocomponents in their raw state. Furthermore, the assembly processes, potential functionalities of each building block, and a thorough evaluation of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of advanced marine biomaterial-based systems and their effects on molecular pathophysiological processes were fully elucidated. Finally, a list of unresolved issues and pivotal challenges of marine-derived biomaterials applications, such as standardized distinction of raw materials, long-term biosafety in vivo, the feasibility of scale-up, etc., was presented. This review is expected to serve as a roadmap for fundamental research and facilitate the rational design of marine biomaterials for diverse emerging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study investigated the proteomic characteristics of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in patients with varicella zoster virus (VZV) meningitis to understanding the pathogenesis of central nervous system (CNS) infection by reactivated VZV. Method: We used data‐independent acquisition model to analyze the CSF proteomic differences of 28 patients with VZV meningitis and 11 herpes zoster (HZ) patients. According to the clinical manifestations at discharge, 28 VZV meningitis patients were divided into favorable outcome group and unfavorable outcome (UO) group and their differences in CSF proteome were also analyzed. Results: Compared with the HZ group, the proteins (CXCL10, ELANE, IL‐1RN, MPO, PRTN3, etc.) related to inflammation and immune cell activation were significantly upregulated in the VZV meningitis group (p <.01). The protein related to the nerve function and energy metabolism (CKMT1B, SLITRK3, Synaptotagmin‐3, KIF5B, etc.) were significantly downregulated (p <.05). The levels of a pro‐inflammatory factor, IL‐18, in CSF were significantly higher in patients in the UO group as compared to patients with favorable prognosis (p <.05). Conclusion: Inflammatory immune response is an important pathophysiological mechanism of CNS infection by VZV, and the CSF IL‐18 levels might be a potential prognostic indicator of the outcomes of VZV meningitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The winding tension of the dry-wound forming process is uniform, the process is easy to control and the structure and performance of the prepared vehicle-mounted hydrogen composite pressure vessels are stable. Since the vehicle-mounted hydrogen pressure vessels must be subjected to rigorous fire experiments, the flame-retardant epoxy prepreg yarn technology is currently monopolized by foreign countries. The development of flame-retardant prepreg yarn with good processing properties is of great significance to the promotion and application of hydrogen pressure vessels. Here, a flame-retardant additive hexaphenoxy cyclotriphosphazene (HPCTP) was synthesized and dissolved in epoxy resin of prepreg yarn named P/N-EP. Then, the flame-retardant prepreg yarn was made by the solution impregnation method. Curing behavior, thermal analysis combustion behavior and mechanical properties of P/N-EP and tensile properties of flame-retardant prepreg yarn were investigated. Experimental results showed that the LOI value reached 36.4% at 10 phr and reached the V-0 level of the UL-94 test. The results about thermal stability of the P-N/EP resin system showed that with the increase of P-N content, T5% (temperature at 5% weight loss) and CY600 (carbon residue rate) both increased. The microstructure of carbon residue after UL-94 test was studied by electron microscope and laser Raman spectrometer. The results showed that with the increase of P-N content, the carbon layer structure became denser and the ID/IG decreased significantly, to achieve the flame-retardant effect by the condensed phase mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a dicyclopentadiene monomer/Grubbs 2 catalyst was added to a mixture of epoxy oligomers and methyl nadic anhydride to obtain a poly‐dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) modified epoxy cross‐linked network via sequential curing. The hybrid resin was used as a matrix for preparing carbon fiber composites. The results indicated that the addition of DCPD monomers significantly reduced the viscosity of the epoxy resin. The toughness and heat resistance of the co‐cured resin was improved without significant loss of strength, which was attributed to the high compatibility between epoxy and the modifier polymer. Regarding the composites, the flexural strength of the hybrid resin‐derived composite first increased and then diminished slightly. Meanwhile, the mode‐I interlaminar fracture toughness continued to increase with the increase of PDCPD content compared to the non‐modified composites. Generally, the change trend of the above properties in the composites was consistent with the change trend of the strength and toughness exhibited in the bulk resin with increasing PDCPD contents, while the change extent was inconsistent due to factors such as fiber volume content and interfacial bonding. Highlights: The epoxy/PDCPD hybrid resin system was obtained via sequential curing.The PDCPD as modifier can reduce the viscosity of the epoxy curing system.The toughness and heat resistance of the PDCPD modified epoxy resin was improved.The loss in flexural strength of the hybrid resin system was insignificant.The GIC of the epoxy composites modified with PDCPD improved appreciably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating global navigation satellite systems (GNSSs) with inertial navigation systems (INSs) has been widely recognized as an ideal solution for autonomous vehicle navigation. However, GNSSs suffer from disturbances and signal blocking inevitably, making the performance of GNSS/INSs degraded in the occurrence of measurement outliers. It has been proven that the sigma points-based Kalman filter (KF) performs better than an extended KF in cases where large prior uncertainty is present in the state estimation of a GNSS/INS. By modifying the sigma points directly, the resampling-free sigma point update framework (SUF) propagates more information excepting Gaussian moments of prescribed accuracy, based on which the resampling-free cubature Kalman filter (RCKF) was developed in our previous work. In order to enhance the adaptivity and robustness of the RCKF, the resampling-free SUF depending on dynamic prediction residue should be improved by suppressing the time-varying measurement outlier. In this paper, a robust observability-constrained RCKF (ROCRCKF) is proposed based on adaptive measurement noise covariance estimation and outlier detection, where the occurrence of measurement outliers is modelled by the Bernoulli variable and estimated with the state simultaneously. Experiments based on car-mounted GNSS/INSs are performed to verify the effectiveness of the ROCRCKF, and result indicates that the proposed algorithm outperforms the RCKF in the presence of measurement outliers, where the heading error and average root mean square error of the position are reduced from 1.96° and 6.38 m to 0.27° and 5.95 m, respectively. The ROCRCKF is robust against the measurement outliers and time-varying model uncertainty, making it suitable for the real-time implementation of GNSS/INSs in GNSS-challenged environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ratooning rice is an essential rice-planting method. However, mechanical harvesting of the primary rice crop, while increasing efficiency, can negatively affect the yield of ratooning rice. Therefore, it is crucial to find ways to improve the grain yield of ratooning rice after the mechanical harvest of the primary rice. A two-year field experiment was conducted; the grain yield of ratooning rice was assessed by stubble righting after mechanical harvesting of primary rice. The study used two popular rice cultivars, YLiangyou911 and Kenliangyou801, as experimental materials. The experimental treatments included three groups: one without righting after rolling rice stubble (CK), another with mechanized righting after rolling rice stubble (T1), and a third one without rolling rice stubble by the machine (T2). The results of the study demonstrate that stubble righting after the mechanical harvest of primary rice (T1) had a substantial impact on the grain yield of ratooning rice. It led to grain yields similar to ratooning rice without mechanical rolling of the rice stubble (T2) and significantly outperformed the treatment without stubble righting after the mechanical harvest of primary rice (CK). The study observed significant effects of the year of the experiment (Y), the treatment applied (T), and the interaction between year and treatment (Y×T) on grain yield. Additionally, the treatment showed a significant influence on the yield components. Specifically, in 2021, the T1 and T2 treatments showed remarkable grain yield increases in YLiangyou911 by 107.41% and 147.97%, respectively, compared to CK. For Kenliangyou801 in 2021, the T1 and T2 treatments also resulted in notable improvements in grain yield by 45.85% and 114.26%, respectively. Similarly, in 2022, the grain yield increased by 6.99% for T1 and 23.87% for T2 in YLiangyou911, and by 77.23% for T1 and 187.13% for T2 in Kenliangyou801, compared to CK. The study also detected enhancements in several aspects, including biomass accumulation, solar radiation and photosynthetic characteristics, antioxidant response and nitrogen metabolism, and bud-regeneration capacity due to T1 and T2 treatments. Furthermore, correlation analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between grain yield and the investigated parameters. In conclusion, stubble righting after the mechanical harvest of primary rice resulted in significantly improved grain yield for ratooning rice. This improvement can be attributed to enhanced biomass accumulation, solar radiation and photosynthetic characteristics, antioxidant response and nitrogen metabolism, and increased bud-regeneration capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large tow carbon fiber (LTCF) has excellent performance and low cost. However, there are still many difficulties in the application of LTCFs, among which the problem of interfacial penetration is mainly solved. Building interfaces with sizing structures of fiber composites is an effective approach to achieve high performance. In this article, a water-based epoxy sizing agent suitable for LTCF fiber thermoset composites was studied. A comparison of the five LTCFs in this study shows that the wettability and contact angle of the sized LTCFs are significantly improved. In addition, the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) and interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) increased from 52.3 to 71.0 MPa (35%) and 36.4 to 54.6 MPa (50%), respectively. Compared with other imported LTCFs, domestic large-size LTCFs have a wide variety and a large number of surface functional groups, thereby improving their wettability and covalent bonding with the resin matrix. This work has reference significance for the practical application and industrial production of LTCFRP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibacterial photodynamic therapy (APDT) has received considerable attention owing to its superiority. ZIF‐8 was used to address the poor stability of the photosensitizer Rose Bengal (RB) encapsulation to synthesize RB@ZIF‐8 NPs, which were doped into a composite film with poly (ϵ‐caprolactone) (PCL) and polyvinyl alcohol‐quaternary ammonium chitosan (PVA‐QCS) as substrates to form composite films (PQZ). The composite films exhibited excellent photodynamic sterilization and good resistance to bacterial adhesion. The tensile strength of the film increased to 43.4 MPa, which was approximately 1.8 times that of the PCL film. With the addition of SiO2 and RB@ZIF‐8 NPs, the film exhibited water repellency and UV‐blocking properties. RAW264.7 cells were selected using the MTT method to confirm that the composite films had excellent biocompatibility and had no significant inhibitory effect on cell growth and reproduction. PQZ multifunctional composite films show potential as novel APDT antimicrobial materials for food packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an intelligent vehicle (IV) path tracking control method based on curvature optimisation is proposed to reduce the comprehensive performance conflict of the system. This system conflict is caused by the mutual restriction between the path tracking accuracy and the body stability during the movement of the intelligent automobile. First, the working principle of the new IV path tracking control algorithm is briefly introduced. Then, a three-degrees-of-freedom vehicle dynamics model and a preview error model considering vehicle roll are established. In addition, a path tracking control method based on curvature optimisation is designed to solve the deterioration of vehicle stability even when the path tracking accuracy of the IV is improved. Finally, the effectiveness of the IV path tracking control system is validated through simulations and the Hardware in the Loop (HIL) test with various conditions forms. Results clearly show that the optimisation amplitude of the IV lateral deviation is up to 84.10%, and the stability is improved by approximately 2% under the vx = 10 m/s and ρ = 0.15 m−1 condition; the optimisation amplitude of the lateral deviation is up to 66.80%, and the stability is improved by approximately 4% under the vx = 10 m/s and ρ = 0.2 m−1 condition; the body stability is improved by 20–30% under the vx = 15 m/s and ρ = 0.15 m−1 condition, and the boundary conditions of body stability are triggered. The curvature optimisation controller can effectively improve the tracking accuracy of the fuzzy sliding mode controller. The body stability constraint can also ensure the smooth running of the vehicle in the optimisation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research highlights the function of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in white matter integrity in CNS diseases. Approaches that expand the number of Tregs have been utilized to improve stroke recovery. However, it remains unclear if Treg augmentation preserves white matter integrity early after stroke or promotes white matter repair. This study evaluates the effect of Treg augmentation on white matter injury and repair after stroke. Adult male C57/BL6 mice randomly received Treg or splenocyte (2 million, iv) transfer 2 h after transient (60 min) middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO). Immunostaining showed improved white matter recovery after tMCAO in Treg-treated mice compared to mice received splenocytes. In another group of mice, IL-2/IL-2 antibody complexes (IL-2/IL-2Ab) or isotype IgG were administered (i.p) for 3 consecutive days starting 6 h after tMCAO, and repeated on day 10, 20 and 30. The IL-2/IL-2Ab treatment boosted the number of Tregs in blood and spleen and increased Treg infiltration into the ischemic brain. Longitudinal in vivo and ex vivo diffusion tensor imaging analysis revealed an increase in fractional anisotropy 28d and 35d, but not 14d, after stroke in IL-2/IL-2Ab-treated mice compared to isotype-treated mice, suggesting a delayed improvement in white matter integrity. IL-2/IL-2Ab also improved sensorimotor functions (rotarod test and adhesive removal test) 35d after stroke. There were correlations between white matter integrity and behavior performance. Immunostaining confirmed the beneficial effects of IL-2/IL-2Ab on white matter structures 35d after tMCAO. IL-2/IL-2Ab treatment starting as late as 5d after stroke still improved white matter integrity 21d after tMCAO, suggesting long-term salutary effects of Tregs on the late-stage tissue repair. We also found that IL-2/IL-2Ab treatment reduced the number of dead/dying OPCs and oligodendrocytes in the brain 3d after tMCAO. To confirm the direct effect of Tregs on remyelination, Tregs were cocultured with lysophosphatidyl choline (LPC)-treated organotypic cerebella. LPC exposure for 17 h induced demyelination in organotypic cultures, followed by gradual spontaneous remyelination upon removal of LPC. Co-culture with Tregs accelerated remyelination in organotypic cultures 7d after LPC. In conclusion, Boosting the number of Tregs protects oligodendrocyte lineage cells early after stroke and promotes long-term white matter repair and functional recovery. IL-2/IL-2Ab represents a feasible approach of Treg expansion for stroke treatment. • Regulatory T cells (Tregs) promote white matter repair after stroke. • Tregs provide protection to OPCs and oligodendrocytes early after stroke. • Boosting the number of Tregs improves long-term functional recovery after stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, a resin film of the MAM/EP blend curing system containing the triblock copolymer polymethyl methacrylate- b -poly-n-butyl acrylate- b -polymethyl methacrylate (MAM) was prepared. Such resin film was inserted into the interlaminar of rapid-curing composites to simultaneously improve both mode I, mode II fracture toughness and impact resistance. Both the Mode I and Mode II interlaminar fracture toughness of the composites were carefully investigated as a function of MAM content of the MAM/EP resin film (0, 20 and 40 phr@50 μm). A maximum improvement up to 109% and 70.2% on Mode I and Mode II fracture toughness, respectively was obtained with the introduction of the 40 phr@50 μm compared to the laminates with the introduction of the 0 phr@50 μm. Analysis of the fracture surfaces of the laminates elucidated that the distinctive improvement of the interlaminar fracture toughness could be attributed to the characteristic interlaminar structures of MAM in epoxy resin by self-assembly. The interleaved laminates also displayed an increase of 26.7% for the compression after impact (CAI) properties, and showed excellent impact resistance. The interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of the composite was thereafter explored, which indicated slight enhancements to the strengths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weak interfacial bonding properties between thermoplastic liners and carbon fiber‐reinforced composites (CFRP) can easily lead to debonding failure, which is a major challenge in development of type IV composite hydrogen storage vessels. We optimized Box–Behnken design atmospheric‐pressure plasma process parameters for maximizing interfacial bonding properties between thermoplastic liner (PA11 liner) and CFRP using Design‐Expert software. From various designs, plasma process parameters, including time (t), nozzle‐to‐specimen distance (d) and gas flow rate (r) of treatment were selected for optimization to assess the effects of their interactions on climbing drum peel (CDP), flatwise tensile (FWT) and asymmetric double cantilever beams (ADCB). The CDP strength, FWT strength and strain energy release rate (GADCB) of untreated samples were 4.2 N·mm/mm, 0.26 MPa and 87.2 J/m2, respectively. After the plasma treatment, optimum process parameters of t = 200 s, d = 12.5 mm, and r = 700 L/h were used to achieve 33.8 N·mm/mm, 2.97 MPa and 1008.4 J/m2, respectively, which were 8.0, 11.4 and 11.6 times that of untreated PA11 surface, respectively. This method has the potential for guiding thermoplastic liner surface treatment of type IV hydrogen storage vessels before winding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of hydrogen fuel cells has been paralleled by increased demand for lightweight type IV hydrogen storage vessels with high hydrogen storage density, which raises the performance requirements of internal plastic liners. An appropriate manufacturing process is important to improve the quality of polymer liners. In this paper, DSC, WAXD, a universal testing machine and a differential pressure gas permeameter were used to investigate the effect of the cooling rate of the rotational molding polyamide 11 on the thermal, crystallization, mechanical and barrier properties. The cooling rate is formulated according to the cooling rate that can be achieved in actual production. The results suggest that two PA11 liner materials initially exhibited two-dimensional (circular) growth under non-isothermal crystallization conditions and shifted to one-dimensional space growth due to spherulite collision and crowding during the secondary crystallization stage. The slower the cooling process, the greater the crystallinity of the specimen. The increase in crystallinity significantly improved the barrier properties of the two PA11 liner materials, and the gas permeability coefficient was 2-3-fold higher than at low crystallinity. Moreover, the tensile strength, the tensile modulus, the flexural strength, and the flexural modulus increased, and the elongation at break decreased as the crystallinity increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, glass fiber fabric reinforced polyphenylene sulfide composites were prepared by hot pressing. The effects of glass fibre modification and hot pressing temperature on the properties of the composites were investigated using a scanning electron microscope, infrared spectrometer, universal testing machine, and DIGEYE digital imaging colour measurement system. The results show that after the treatment with a silane coupling agent, the silane coupling agent was more uniformly distributed on the surface of the glass fibres, and the bonding effect between the glass fibre fabric and polyphenylene sulphide was significantly improved. The strength of the composites increased and then decreased with the increase of hot pressing temperature, and the surface colour of the composites became darker and darker. When the hot-pressing temperature is 310 °C, the mechanical properties of glass fabric-reinforced polyphenylene sulfide composites are at their best, the tensile strength reaches 51.9 MPa, and the bending strength reaches 78 MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study optimized the laminate structure of a composite cylinder under the constraint of minimum layup thickness. Based on the progressive damage theory, a finite element model of the cylinder was established, and the NOL ring tensile test was used to verify the accuracy of the damage theory. The winding angle, the number of layers, and the helical/hoop ratio (the stacking sequence) were selected as the optimization factors, and the burst pressure value was used to evaluate the quality of the laminate structure. Then the orthogonal experiments were designed by RSM. Combined with FEA, the function model of the burst pressure of the gas cylinder and each optimization factor was established to obtain the optimal layering scheme, satisfying the minimum burst pressure. In addition, finite element analysis was used to verify the optimal scheme, demonstrating that the error of the burst pressure predicted by the quadratic model established by the response surface design was not more than 5%. This study provides a faster and more efficient optimization method for the optimization design of composite gas cylinder layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The twinned nanotip of the Au nanoflower and the large lattice mismatch between Au and Cu can induce formation of twin defects during the growth process, resulting in asymmetric deposition of Cu atoms. [Display omitted] The metallic Janus nanoparticle is an emerging plasmonic nanostructure that has attracted attention in the fields of materials science and nanophotonics. The instability of the Cu nanostructure leads to very complex nucleation and growth kinetics, and synthesis of Cu Janus nanoparticle has challenges. Here, we report a new method for synthesis of Au–Cu Janus nanojellyfish (JNF) by using twinned tips of Au nanoflower (NF) as seeds. The twinned nanotip of the Au NF and the large lattice mismatch between Au and Cu can induce formation of twin defects during the growth process, resulting in asymmetric deposition of Cu atoms. The symmetry-breaking using different sizes of Au NF and Cu nanodomains within the Au–Cu JNF can controllably change the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) modes. The asymmetric Au–Cu JNF can induce plasmon coupling between dipolar and multipolar modes, which leads to clear electric-field enhancement in the near-infrared region. An Au–Cu JNF with multiple LSPR modes was chosen to simultaneously match the excitation and emission bands of the lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs). A 5000-fold enhancement of the upconversion luminescence was achieved by using single plasmonic Au–Cu JNF. The Au–Cu JNF can also provide a guide for new metallic Janus nanoparticles in the fields of plasmonic, photothermal conversion, and nanomotors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A self-powered electromagnetic vibration suppression and absorption system integrated with a magnetorheological damper and a linear motor is designed to attenuate the negative effect of vertical vibration caused by the increased unsprung mass for in-wheel motor electric vehicles in this article. The magnetorheological damper is used as a suspension damper to suppress body vibration, and linear motor is used as a dynamic vibration absorber, namely, linear electromagnetic dynamic vibration absorber, to absorb tire vibration, and regenerates the vibration power to drive the magnetorheological damper, realizing self-power. Based on power flow theory, the power transfer mechanism of the vertical vibration for in-wheel motor electric vehicles and the regeneration potential are analyzed. The negative effect on the dynamic performance of in-wheel motor electric vehicles is analyzed through the root mean square of dynamic responses. Moreover, the specific structure scheme of the self-powered electromagnetic vibration suppression and absorption system is provided. The influence of system mass, stiffness, and damping of the linear electromagnetic dynamic vibration absorber on the dynamic performance is analyzed, and these parameters are optimized by particle swarm optimization. Simulation results show that in comparison with a passive damper, the self-powered electromagnetic vibration suppression and absorption system can reduce the body acceleration by 17.05%, which is better than the magnetorheological damper (10.08%). The self-powered electromagnetic vibration suppression and absorption system increases the tire dynamic load by 5.62%, but it is 8.68% less than the magnetorheological damper. Additionally, the regenerated power can offset the consumed power adequately to realize self-power. Finally, a bench test is conducted to verify the effectiveness and feasibility of the self-powered electromagnetic vibration suppression and absorption system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Low serum adiponectin level can predict hypertension development, and adiponectin gene (ADIPOQ) polymorphisms have been reported to be linked with hypertension risk. Whereas, the interaction between ADIPOQ polymorphisms and environmental factors on the susceptibility of hypertension remained unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship of ADIPOQ polymorphisms with hypertension risk and their interaction with lipid levels in coal miners. Methods: A matched case-control study with 296 case-control pairs was performed in a large coal mining group located in North China. The participants were questioned by trained interviewers, and their ADIPOQ genotype and lipid levels were determined. Logistic regression, stratified analysis, and crossover analysis were applied to evaluate the effects of rs2241766, rs1501299, and rs266729 genotypes and gene–lipid interaction on hypertension risk. Results: In this matched case-control study, the genotypes of rs2241766 TG+GG, rs1501299 GT+TT, and rs266729 CG+GG were marginally related to hypertension risk. Individuals with high total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level were susceptible to hypertension (TC: odds ratio [OR] = 1.807, 95% confidence intervals [95%CI] = 1.266–2.581; LDL-C: OR = 1.981, 95%CI = 1.400–2.803; HDL-C: OR = 1.559, 95%CI = 1.093–2.223). Antagonistic interactions were detected between rs2241766 and TC, rs1501299 and TC, rs2241766 and LDL-C, and rs1501299 and HDL-C (rs2241766 and TC: OR = 0.393, 95%CI = 0.191–0.806; rs1501299 and TC: OR = 0.445, 95%CI = 0.216–0.918; rs2241766 and LDL-C: OR = 0.440, 95%CI = 0.221–0.877; rs1501299 and HDL-C: OR = 0.479, 95%CI = 0.237–0.967). Stratified analysis showed that hypertension risk was high for the subjects with rs2241766 TG+GG or rs1501299 GG under the low lipid level but low for those under the high lipid level. In the case group, the TC and LDL-C levels for rs2241766 TG+GG were lower than those for rs2241766 GG, and the TC and HDL-C levels for rs1501299 GT+TT were higher than those for rs1501299 GG. Conclusions: Although the effects of ADIPOQ polymorphisms alone were not remarkable, an antagonistic interaction was observed between ADIPOQ polymorphisms and lipid levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Quasi-crystalline T 2 phase precipitates for 2A97 Al-Li alloy produced by laser additive manufacturing. • Under influence of thermal cycle, T 2 phase transforms into face-centered cubic Y phase. • T 2 phase turns into O phase with orthorhombic at 515 °C for 1.5 h during solution treatment. Precipitated phases of 2A97 Al-Li alloy fabricated by laser additive manufacturing with thermal input are mainly composed of quasicrystal T 2 phase gathered around grain boundary and T B phase in grain interior. Diffraction patterns of quasi-crystalline T 2 phase show two-fold, three-fold and five-fold symmetry, respectively. Under condition of thermal cycling, T 2 phase transforms into a face-centered cubic Y phase with a lattice constant of 2 nm. Y phase can grow into twins, and the twin plane is (1 1 1). After solution treatment at 515 °C for 1.5 h, δ' phase, T 1 phase and T B phase are completely dissolved in matrix, while quasi-crystalline T 2 phase transforms into orthorhombic O phase. The size of O phase is similar to that of T 2 , with length of about 400 nm and rougher surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The road condition is complex and variable during driving; hence, the suspension system cannot easily suppress the vertical vibration of the vehicle. To effectively improve the vehicle dynamic performance under different road conditions, this study proposes a switching control strategy for the semi-active suspension based on the road profile estimation. First, the mapping relationship between different driving conditions and requirements of vehicle dynamic performances is studied. Then, a switching controller with multiple sub-controllers is designed on the basis of the modified skyhook control. The optimal control gains are obtained by adopting the cuckoo search algorithm. In addition, to realise the automatic switching of the controller under different road conditions, an online road profile estimation method, including road disturbance estimation and road roughness classification, is developed. Bench test results show that the proposed control algorithm has an obvious effect on improving the vehicle ride comfort and handling performance, which verifies the effectiveness of the road estimation results and the superiority of the switching control strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to develop an injectable hydrogel based on furfuryl amine-conjugated hyaluronic acid (FA- conj -HA) and evaluate the in vivo anti-4 T1 tumor activity of doxorubicin-loaded hydrogel (DOX@FA- conj -HAgel). The cargo-free hydrogel (FA- conj -HAgel) was fabricated through a Diels-Alder reaction at 37 °C with FA- conj -HA as a gel material and four armed poly(ethylene glycol)2000-maleimide (4-arm-PEG2000-Mal) as a cross-linker. The bio-safety of FA- conj -HAgel were assessed, and the in vivo antitumor activity of DOX@FA- conj -HAgel was also investigated. Many 3D network structures were observed from scanning electron microscope (SEM) photograph, confirming the successful preparation of FA- conj -HAgel. The absence of cytotoxicity from FA- conj -HAgel was proved by the high viability of 4 T1 cells. In vivo bio-safety studies suggested that the obtained FA- conj -HAgel did not induce acute toxicity or other lesions in treated mice, confirming its high bio-safety. The reduced tumor volumes, hematoxylin-eosin staining (H&E), and TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) analysis indicated the potent in vivo anti-4 T1 tumor effects of DOX@FA- conj -HAgel. In conclusion, the favorable bio-safety and potent antitumor activity of DOX@FA- conj -HAgel highlighted its potential application in oncological therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work proposes a novel fluid-thermal-electric multiphysics numerical model to predict the performance of thermoelectric generator systems applied to fluid waste heat recovery, with the consideration of multiphysics coupling effects of fluid, thermal, and electric fields. The comprehensive numerical simulations of the thermoelectric generator system are performed via COMSOL coupled solver. Besides, the effect of the neglect of parasitic heat on the output performance is investigated through the comparison with numerical results predicted by ANSYS and COMSOL separate solver, wherein the fluid-thermal field is computed first, then the thermal-electric field. The results show that the output power predicted by COMSOL separate solver is 8.52% lower than that predicted by COMSOL coupled solver at the inlet air temperature of 550 K and inlet air velocity of 30 m/s due to the neglect of parasitic heat. The output performance of the TEG system predicted by ANSYS is less affected by inlet air boundary conditions than that predicted by COMSOL. Finally, the experimental results show that the fluid-thermal-electric multiphysics model solved by the COMSOL coupled solver shows the lowest output power deviation of 2.81%. The proposed model can guide the numerical modeling of the thermoelectric generator system applied to fluid waste heat recovery. Based on the proposed fluid-thermal-electric multiphysics numerical models, we investigated the performance of a thermoelectric generator (TEG) system using exhaust gas as the heat source and investigated the effect of the neglect of parasitic heat on the output performance. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The community-associated Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain (CA-MRSA) is highly virulent and has become a major focus of public health professionals. Phenol-soluble modulins (PSM) are key factors in its increased virulence. δ-Toxin belongs to PSM family and has copious secretion in many S. aureus strains. In addition, δ-toxin exists in the S. aureus culture supernatant as both N-terminus formylated δ-toxin (fδ-toxin) and deformylated δ-toxin (dfδ-toxin) groups. Although δ-toxin has been studied for more than 70 years, its functions remain unclear. We isolated and purified PSMs from the supernatant of S. aureus MW2, and found fibrils and oligomers aggregates by Size Exclusion Chromatography. After analyzing PSM aggregates and using peptide simulations, we found that the difference in the monomer structure of fδ-toxin and dfδ-toxin might ultimately lead to differences in the aggregation ability: fδ-toxin and dfδ-toxin tend to form fibrils and oligomers respectively. Of note, we found that fδ-toxin fibrils enhanced the stability of biofilms, while dfδ-toxin oligomers promoted their dispersal. Additionally, oligomeric dfδ-toxin combined with PSMα to form a complex with enhanced functionality. Due to the different aggregation capabilities and functions of fδ-toxin and dfδ-toxin, we speculate that they may be involved in the regulation of physiological activities of S. aureus. Moreover, the dfδ-toxin oligomer not only provides a new form of complex in the study of PSMα, but also has significance as a reference in oligomer research pertaining to some human amyloid diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The use of naturally aged rice seeds for research is more realistic. • Determination of rice seed viability using Near-infrared hyperspectral imaging. • Establish the CNN model with real data, fake data, mixed real data and fake data. • Based on DCGAN, The SAM-GAN for spectral data generation is proposed. Viability is a significant indicator of rice seeds, affecting rice yield and quality. Existing viability determination methods cannot meet the requirements of rapidity, non-destructive and accuracy. In this study, near-infrared hyperspectral imaging was used to detect the viability of natural aging seeds. Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) is the main means of coping with Few-shot learning. Considering that natural aging seed samples were difficult to obtain and the number was scarce, this study used Spectral Angle Mapper Generative Adversarial Network (SAM-GAN) to generate rice seed spectral data based on the spectra of obtained natural aging seeds to solve the problem of sample scarcity. SAM-GAN is based on Deep Convolution GAN (DCGAN), introduced by SAM. SAM-GAN was compared with Wasserstein Generative Adversarial Nets with Gradient Penalty (WGAN-GP) and DCGAN, and the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model was established by three modeling methods: real data modeling, fake data modeling and mixed modeling of real data and fake data. The experimental results show that the accuracy of the CNN model established by mixing real data with fake data generated by SAM-GAN reaches nearly 100%. This study provides an effective method for rapid, non-destructive and accurate determination of rice seed viability with a limited sample number. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]