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Abstract Purpose To conduct a head-to-head comparison between deep learning (DL) and radiomics models across institutions for predicting microvascular invasion (MVI) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to investigate the model robustness and generalizability through rigorous internal and external validation. Methods This retrospective study included 2304 preoperative images of 576 HCC lesions from two centers, with MVI status determined by postoperative histopathology. We developed DL and radiomics models for predicting the presence of MVI using B-mode ultrasound, contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) at the arterial, portal, and delayed phases, and a combined modality (B + CEUS). For radiomics, we constructed models with enlarged vs. original regions of interest (ROIs). A cross-validation approach was performed by training models on one center’s dataset and validating the other, and vice versa. This allowed assessment of the validity of different ultrasound modalities and the cross-center robustness of the models. The optimal model combined with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was also validated. The head-to-head comparison was based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results Thirteen DL models and 25 radiomics models using different ultrasound modalities were constructed and compared. B + CEUS was the optimal modality for both DL and radiomics models. The DL model achieved AUCs of 0.802–0.818 internally and 0.667–0.688 externally across the two centers, whereas radiomics achieved AUCs of 0.749–0.869 internally and 0.646–0.697 externally. The radiomics models showed overall improvement with enlarged ROIs (P 0.05 for all modalities, 1.6–2.1% differences in AUC for the optimal modality), whereas the radiomics models had relatively limited robustness across the two centers (12% drop-off in AUC for the optimal modality). Adding AFP improved the DL models (P 0.05). Conclusion Cross-institutional validation indicated that DL demonstrated better robustness than radiomics for preoperative MVI prediction in patients with HCC, representing a promising solution to non-standardized ultrasound examination procedures.

The study investigates the drying characteristics of carrots under different coupling forms of airflow and high-voltage electric fields (parallel flow, PF, and cross flow, CF) using heat pump-electrohydrodynamics (EHD) combined drying. The results show that, compared to single heat pump drying, the combined drying under PF mode reduces carrot drying time by 13.33 %–31.58 %, increases effective moisture diffusivity (Deff) by 17.80 %–32.32 %, increases specific moisture extraction rate (SMER) by 12.25 %–34.26 %. While the combined drying under CF mode reduces carrot drying time by 12.5 %–18.18 %, increases Deff by 7.27 %–13.14 %, increases SMER by 4.64 %–12.58 %. The improvements in parameters under the CF mode are weaker than those under the PF mode. Additionally, the β-carotene content under PF mode is consistently higher than under CF mode. Based on the experimental results, the Modified Page model was improved, yielding an updated model MR = aexp(-(kt)^n), with an R2 value of up to 0.9999–1, which provides theoretical guidance for optimizing the heat pump-EHD combined drying process.

BackgroundAcute postoperative urinary retention (POUR) is a common complication in patients with ischemic stroke following femoral artery puncture (FAP), leading to discomfort, delayed hospital discharge, and increased patient morbidity. The relevant risk factors are unclear; thus, a predictive tool is required to guide treatment decisions.ObjectiveTo develop and validate a nomogram to predict acute POUR in patients with ischemic stroke following FAP.MethodsWe retrospectively collected cases from 1729 patients with ischemic stroke from the electronic record system of Jiangmen Central Hospital from January 2021 to December 2023. A total of 731 patients were randomly divided into development (n = 511, 70%) and validation (n = 220, 30%) groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses with backward stepwise regression were used to select the predictive variables, and a nomogram was developed. The discrimination was evaluated based on the area under the curve (AUC). Calibration was assessed using calibration plots and the Hosmer–Lemeshow test. Clinical applications were evaluated using decision curve analysis (DCA).ResultsThe incidence of acute POUR was 12.72%. Preoperative statin use within 24 h, operation type, intraoperative infusion, postoperative water intake within 3 h, postoperative pain, and postoperative anxiety were included in the nomogram. The AUC values were 0.764 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.705–0.825] in the development group and 0.741 (95% CI: 0.615–0.856) in the validation group. The calibration plots showed good calibration. The p values in the Hosmer–Lemeshow tests were 0.962 and 0.315 for the development and validation groups, respectively. The DCA showed that patients could benefit from this nomogram.ConclusionA nomogram was developed to successfully predict acute POUR in patients with ischemic stroke following FAP. This nomogram is a convenient and effective tool for clinicians to aid in the prevention and early intervention of acute POUR.

While global marine science data sharing plays a crucial role in advancing scientific research and knowledge dissemination, it also brings with it two major ethical conflicts: those between individual interests and the public interest and those between data privacy and data sharing, which are rooted in conflict of interest. In the context of globalization and rapid technological progress, current ethical governance frameworks are inadequate in regulating these conflicts. On the one hand, governance cannot meet the needs of rapidly evolving technologies; on the other hand, the complexity and diversity of stakeholders involved in governance make it more difficult. By introducing the theory of legal hierarchy and innovatively proposing the theory of ethical hierarchy, which classifies the ethical principles to be followed according to their importance and applicability, the priority and scope of application between different ethical principles can be clearly defined so that various stakeholders can make the right ethical choices. Using research methods such as literature review, case studies, and comparative analysis, we propose to construct an ethical governance framework that consists of a stakeholder consultation and communication network in terms of governance structure and clarifies the ethical responsibilities of each party in data sharing in terms of governance measures. This framework not only provides a platform for communication and cooperation among different stakeholders but also helps to balance the interests of different stakeholders and improve the level and extent of global marine science data sharing.

Background: To construct and validate the CT-based radiomics model for predicting the tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) effects in osteosarcoma (OS) patients with pulmonary metastasis. Methods: OS patients with pulmonary metastasis treated with TKIs were randomly separated into training and testing cohorts (2:1 ratio). Radiomic features were extracted from the baseline unenhanced chest CT images. The random survival forest (RSF) and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were performed to construct and evaluate radiomics signatures (R-model-derived). The univariant and multivariant Cox regression analyses were conducted to establish clinical (C-model) and combined models (RC-model). The discrimination abilities, goodness of fit and clinical benefits of the three models were assessed and validated in both training and testing cohorts. Results: A total of 90 patients, 57 men and 33 women, with a mean age of 18 years and median progression-free survival (PFS) of 7.2 months, were enrolled. The R-model was developed with nine radiomic features and demonstrated significant predictive and prognostic values. In both training and testing cohorts, the time-dependent area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) of the R-model and RC-model exhibited obvious superiority over C-model. The calibration and decision curve analysis (DCA) curves indicated that the accuracy of the R-model was comparable to RC-model, which exhibited significantly better performance than C-model. Conclusions: The R-model showed promising potential as a predictor for TKI responses in OS patients with pulmonary metastasis. It can potentially identify pulmonary metastatic OS patients most likely to benefit from TKIs treatment and help guide optimized clinical decisions.

Obtaining high strength without sacrificing ductility in Mg alloys is of great importance. However, the hexagonal close-packed crystal structure critically limits the deformation of Mg alloys. In this work, novel Mg-1.5Zn-0.5Zr-0.5Sr (wt.%) alloys were fabricated through homogenization, direct extrusion (DE), and extrusion-shearing (ES) processes. The effects of three different processes on microstructures, texture, and mechanical properties were thoroughly investigated. The results show that the average grain size of the alloy was greatly refined after hot extrusion. The alloy after the DE process exhibited a typical bimodal microstructure with dynamic recrystallized (DRXed) grains showing a strong < 101‾0 > fiber texture parallel to extrusion direction (ED), while the small-sized unDRXed grains showed relatively weak basal texture. In addition, the strength was significantly improved, with the value of yield strength (YS) reaching ∼229 MPa and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) reaching ∼262 MPa. This is mainly attributed to grain boundary strengthening and dislocation strengthening. Compared to the DE-processed alloy, the basal texture intensity was significantly decreased and non-basal slip was activated after the ES process, which indicates that the shearing deformation during ES could improve the ductility, with the fracture elongation (FE) increased from ∼13.9 % to ∼21.4 %. This work aims to unveil the deformation mechanisms in Mg-1.5Zn-0.5Zr-0.5Sr alloy and provides an efficient way for preparing micro-alloying Mg alloys with low cost and significant improvement of comprehensive properties.

Fabricating SiC ceramics via the digital light processing (DLP) technology is of great challenge due to strong light absorption and high refractive index of deep-colored SiC powders, which highly differ from those of resin, and thus significantly affect the curing performance of the photosensitive SiC slurry. In this paper, a thin silicon oxide (SiO2) layer was in-situ formed on the surface of SiC powders by pre-oxidation treatment. This method was proven to effectively improve the curing ability of SiC slurry. The SiC photosensitive slurry was fabricated with solid content of 55 vol% and viscosity of 7.77 Pa·s (shear rate of 30 s−1). The curing thickness was 50 μm with exposure time of only 5 s. Then, a well-designed sintering additive was added to completely convert low-strength SiO2 into mullite reinforcement during sintering. Complex-shaped mullite-bond SiC ceramics were successfully fabricated. The flexural strength of SiC ceramics sintered at 1550 ℃ in air reached 97.6 MPa with porosity of 39.2 vol%, as high as those prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS) techniques.

BackgroundThe association between air pollution, lung function, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains inconclusive. Previous studies were not convincing due to confounding factors and reverse causality. We aim to investigate the causal relationship between air pollution, lung function, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and NAFLD using Mendelian randomization analysis.MethodsIn this study, univariate Mendelian randomization analysis was conducted first. Subsequently, Steiger testing was performed to exclude the possibility of reverse association. Finally, significant risk factors identified from the univariate Mendelian analysis, as well as important factors affecting NAFLD from previous observational studies (type 2 diabetes and body mass index), were included in the multivariable Mendelian randomization analysis.ResultsThe results of the univariable Mendelian randomization analysis showed a positive correlation between particulate matter 2.5, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and NAFLD. There was a negative correlation between forced expiratory volume in 1 s, forced vital capacity, and NAFLD. The multivariable Mendelian randomization analysis indicated a direct causal relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease (OR = 1.537, p = 0.011), type 2 diabetes (OR = 1.261, p

Leaves of Camellia sinensis plants are used to produce tea, one of the most consumed beverages worldwide, containing a wide variety of bioactive compounds that help to promote human health. Tea cultivation is economically important, and its sustainable production can have significant consequences in providing agricultural opportunities and lowering extreme poverty. Soil parameters are well known to affect the quality of the resultant leaves and consequently, the understanding of the diversity and functions of soil microorganisms in tea gardens will provide insight to harnessing soil microbial communities to improve tea yield and quality. Current analyses indicate that tea garden soils possess a rich composition of diverse microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) of which the bacterial Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Firmicutes and Chloroflexi and fungal Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Glomeromycota are the prominent groups. When optimized, these microbes’ function in keeping garden soil ecosystems balanced by acting on nutrient cycling processes, biofertilizers, biocontrol of pests and pathogens, and bioremediation of persistent organic chemicals. Here, we summarize research on the activities of (tea garden) soil microorganisms as biofertilizers, biological control agents and as bioremediators to improve soil health and consequently, tea yield and quality, focusing mainly on bacterial and fungal members. Recent advances in molecular techniques that characterize the diverse microorganisms in tea gardens are examined. In terms of viruses there is a paucity of information regarding any beneficial functions of soil viruses in tea gardens, although in some instances insect pathogenic viruses have been used to control tea pests. The potential of soil microorganisms is reported here, as well as recent techniques used to study microbial diversity and their genetic manipulation, aimed at improving the yield and quality of tea plants for sustainable production.

Abstract Due to γ‐Bi2MoO6 (BMO) has attracted considerable attention because of its unique layered perovskite structure and excellent electrical conductivity. However, the easy recombination of electron–hole pairs limits its practical application. To address this issue, we successfully prepared aliovalent Cd2+ doped BMO (Cd‐BMO) by using a simple hydrothermal method for the degradation of the sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) and Rhodamine B (RhB). The result found that the degradation efficiency of Cd‐BMO is significantly higher than that of BMO, despite an increase in the bandgap after the introduction of Cd2+. The superior degradation efficiency of 8% Cd‐BMO, with a smaller particle size and larger specific surface area, can be attributed to its fast charge separation efficiency, low charge transfer resistance, and low rate of electron–hole pair recombination. Repeated and ion spillover experiments prove that 8% Cd‐BMO shows good stability and environmental protection. Theoretical simulation demonstrates that Cd offers electrons to the BMO system due to the decreased binding energy of BMO. The 8% Cd‐BMO sample can provide a suitable electric band edge for generating dominant active radicals during degradation. This work not only provides a potential candidate of 8% Cd‐BMO for practical degradation but also sheds light on the design of superior photocatalysts.

Building segmentation has extensive research value and application prospects in high-resolution remote sensing image (HRSI) processing. However, complex architectural contexts, varied building morphologies, and non-building occlusions make building segmentation challenging. Compared with traditional methods, deep learning-based methods present certain advantages in terms of accuracy and intelligence. At present, the most popular option is to first apply a single neural network to encode an HRSI, then perform a decoding process through up-sampling or using a transposed convolution operation, and then finally obtain the segmented building image with the help of a loss function. Although effective, this approach not only tends to lead to a loss of detail information, but also fails to fully utilize the contextual features. As an alternative, we propose a novel network called NPSFF-Net. First, using an improved pseudo-Siamese network composed of ResNet-34 and ResNet-50, two sets of deep semantic features of buildings are extracted with the support of transfer learning, and four encoded features at different scales are obtained after fusion. Then, information from the deepest encoded feature is enriched using a feature enhancement module, and the resolutions are recovered via the operations of skip connections and transposed convolutions. Finally, the discriminative features of buildings are obtained using the designed feature fusion algorithm, and the optimal segmentation model is obtained by fitting a cross-entropy loss function. Our method obtained intersection-over-union values of 89.45% for the Aerial Imagery Dataset, 71.88% for the Massachusetts Buildings Dataset, and 68.72% for the Satellite Dataset I.

The structural, mechanical, electronic, kinetic, thermodynamic, optical and hydrogen storage properties of new perovskite hydrides XVH3 (X = Na, K, Rb, Cs) were investigated using density functional theory (DFT). The calculation of formation energy and elastic constants shows that the XVH3 compounds have thermodynamic and mechanical stability. The calculation of the B/G ratio revealed that these hydrides are brittle materials. Furthermore, the bonding type of these hydrides was found to be closer to ionic bonding. These compounds were found to be insulators with ferromagnetic properties in terms of their electronic properties. Furthermore, Bader partial charge analysis was utilized to investigate their charge transfer properties. The optical properties analysis demonstrated that these hydrides exhibit high absorption rates in ultraviolet region. The dynamic stability of these crystals was determined by analyzing their phonon dispersion curves, also their thermodynamic properties, including heat capacity, entropy, energy and free energy as a function of temperature, were studied. Furthermore, this study investigated the hydrogen storage capacity of XVH3 compounds. The results indicated that NaVH3, KVH3, RbVH3 and CsVH3 had hydrogen storage capacities of 3.78, 3.15, 2.12 and 1.59 wt%, respectively. This study is the first to explore XVH3 perovskite hydrides and provides new potential hydrogen storage material options.

Clinical handover is an important process in hospital settings, but it is often carried out inadequately, posing potentially serious consequences for the patients. This project aimed to increase the effectiveness of handover notes when patients were transferred between a general psychiatric ward and other wards in a tertiary psychiatric hospital. Effective handover notes in this project were defined to have the following five components: brief psychiatric history, reason for the patient to be transferred, significant risk issues, reason for psychotropic medication change and active medical issues. Baseline measurement obtained from audits revealed that the completion rate of effective handover notes was only 27.27%, which could potentially compromise patient safety and staff work efficiency. To address this problem, a series of plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles was implemented to improve the handover process. The interventions included education to junior doctors, reminders to complete effective handover notes and implementation of a handover template. Following each PDSA cycle, data were gathered to assess whether an effect had been achieved and to identify ways to enhance interventions to maximise impact. After the final PDSA cycle, the percentage of effective handover notes among all transfer cases reached 90.50%. Postintervention feedback from inpatient team indicated that effective communication between different teams was ensured, and staff satisfaction and time savings were improved. This study highlights the importance of employing PDSA cycles to assess and refine interventions and the usefulness of structuring the content of key components of handover notes to obtain measurable improvements.

During pregnancy, two fetomaternal interfaces, the placenta-decidua basalis and the fetal membrane-decidua parietals, allow for fetal growth and maturation and fetal-maternal crosstalk, and protect the fetus from infectious and inflammatory signaling that could lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes. While the placenta has been studied extensively, the fetal membranes have been understudied, even though they play critical roles in pregnancy maintenance and the initiation of term or preterm parturition. Fetal membrane dysfunction has been associated with spontaneous preterm birth (PTB, < 37 weeks gestation) and preterm prelabor rupture of the membranes (PPROM), which is a disease of the fetal membranes. However, it is unknown how the individual layers of the fetal membrane decidual interface (the amnion epithelium [AEC], the amnion mesenchyme [AMC], the chorion [CTC], and the decidua [DEC]) contribute to these pregnancy outcomes. In this study, we used a single-cell transcriptomics approach to unravel the transcriptomics network at spatial levels to discern the contributions of each layer of the fetal membranes and the adjoining maternal decidua during the following conditions: scheduled caesarian section (term not in labor [TNIL]; n = 4), vaginal term in labor (TIL; n = 3), preterm labor with and without rupture of membranes (PPROM; n = 3; and PTB; n = 3). The data included 18,815 genes from 13 patients (including TIL, PTB, PPROM, and TNIL) expressed across the four layers. After quality control, there were 11,921 genes and 44 samples. The data were processed by two pipelines: one by hierarchical clustering the combined cases and the other to evaluate heterogeneity within the cases. Our visual analytical approach revealed spatially recognized differentially expressed genes that aligned with four gene clusters. Cluster 1 genes were present predominantly in DECs and Cluster 3 centered around CTC genes in all labor phenotypes. Cluster 2 genes were predominantly found in AECs in PPROM and PTB, while Cluster 4 contained AMC and CTC genes identified in term labor cases. We identified the top 10 differentially expressed genes and their connected pathways (kinase activation, NF-κB, inflammation, cytoskeletal remodeling, and hormone regulation) per cluster in each tissue layer. An in-depth understanding of the involvement of each system and cell layer may help provide targeted and tailored interventions to reduce the risk of PTB.

Cavitation is a quasi-periodic process, and its non-stationarity leads to increasingly complex flow field structures. On the other hand, characterizing the flow field with greater precision has become increasingly feasible. However, accurately and effectively extracting the most representative vibration modes and spatial structures from these vast amounts of data has become a significant challenge. Researchers have proposed data-driven modal decomposition techniques to extract flow field information, which have been widely applied in various fields such as signal processing and fluid dynamics. This paper addresses the application of modal decomposition methods, such as dynamic mode decomposition (DMD), Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD), and Spectral Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (SPOD), in cavitation feature detection in hydraulic machinery. It reviews the mathematical principles of these three algorithms and a series of improvements made by researchers since their inception. It also provides examples of the applications of these three algorithms in different hydraulic machinery. Based on this, the future development trends and possible directions for the improvement of modal decomposition methods are discussed.

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Many providers share patients resulting in networks where clinical information is exchanged, and which can impact the quality and efficiency of care. Here we analyzed the network properties of a primary care service area (PCSA) in Harris County TX, motivating our ongoing analysis of how they are associated with disparities in cancer screening. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Data.All providers (n=731, Medicare 2018) from the PCSA with the most providers in Harris County TX, with gender, specialty, and the number of shared patients. Method. Modeled the data as a network consisting of provider nodes, connected in pairs by edges if they shared >11 patients (an empirically-determined threshold). Analyzed the network structure using (1) modularity maximization and its significance to identify densely-connected communities; (2) degree centralization to measure whether a few providers shared many patients, and betweenness centralization to measure whether a few providers connected densely-connected communities; and (3) chi-squared to measure if pairs of connected providers tended to be of the same gender compared to disconnected provider pairs. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: The results (Fig. 1, http://www.skbhavnani.com/DIVA/Images/Fig-1-SNA-Network.jpg [http://www.skbhavnani.com/DIVA/Images/Fig-1-SNA-Network.jpg]) revealed a fragmented network with 120 small components (connected subnetworks, not part of any larger connected subnetwork), and 1 large component. The large component (n=244) had strong and significant modularity (Q=0.73, z=53.13, P

IntroductionUnderstanding microbial communities in diverse ecosystems is crucial for unraveling the intricate relationships among microorganisms, their environment, and ecosystem processes. In this study, we investigated differences in the fungal community structure and diversity in soils from two contrasting climatic and vegetation conditions: the Xinjiang western China plateau and the Fujian southeastern coastal province.MethodsA total of 36 soil samples collected from two climatic regions were subjected to high-throughput ITS gene sequencing for fungal community analysis. In conjunction soil physicochemical properties were assessed and compared. Analyses included an examination of the relationship of fungal community structure to environmental factors and functional profiling of the community structure was using the FUNGuild pipeline.ResultsOur data revealed rich fungal diversity, with a total of 11 fungal phyla, 31 classes, 86 orders, 200 families, 388 genera, and 515 species identified in the soil samples. Distinct variations in the physicochemical properties of the soil and fungal community structure were seen in relation to climate and surface vegetation. Notably, despite a colder climate, the rhizosphere soil of Xinjiang exhibited higher fungal (α-)diversity compared to the rhizosphere soil of Fujian. β-diversity analyses indicated that soil heterogeneity and differences in fungal community structure were primarily influenced by spatial distance limitations and vegetation type. Furthermore, we identified dominant fungal phyla with significant roles in energy cycling and organic matter degradation, including members of the Sordariomycetes, Leotiomycetes, Archaeosporomycetes, and Agaricomycetes. Functional analyses of soil fungal communities highlighted distinct microbial ecological functions in Xinjiang and Fujian soils. Xinjiang soil was characterized by a focus on wood and plant saprotrophy, and endophytes, whereas in Fujian soil the fungal community was mainly associated with ectomycorrhizal interactions, fungal parasitism, and wood saprotrophy.DiscussionOur findings suggest fungal communities in different climatic conditions adapt along distinct patterns with, plants to cope with environmental stress and contribute significantly to energy metabolism and material cycling within soil-plant systems. This study provides valuable insights into the ecological diversity of fungal communities driven by geological and environmental factors.

Abstract Finding effective strategies to design efficient photocatalysts and decompose refractory organic compounds in wastewater is a challenging problem. Herein, by coupling element doping and constructing heterostructures, S‐scheme CdS QDs/La‐Bi2WO6 (CS/LBWO) photocatalysts are designed and synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. As a result, the RhB degradation efficiency of the optimized 5% CS/LBWO reached 99% within 70 min of illumination with excellent stability and recyclability. CS/LBWO shows improvement in the adsorption range of visible light and promotes electron–hole pair generation/migration/separation, attributing the superior degradation performance. The degradation RhB mechanism is proposed by a free radical capture experiment, electron paramagnetic resonance, and high‐performance liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry results, indicating that h+ and •O2– play a significant role during four degradation processes: de‐ethylation, chromophore cleavage, ring opening, and mineralization. Based on in situ irradiated X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Mulliken electronegativity theory, and the work function results, the S‐scheme heterojunction of CS/LBWO promotes the transfer of photogenerated electron–hole pairs and promotes the generation of reactive radicals. This work not only reports that 5% CS/LBWO is a promising photocatalyst for degradation experiments but also provides an approach to design advanced photocatalysts by coupling element doping and constructing heterostructures.

Water is considered to be an inhibitor of CO oxidation. The mechanism of retarding the reaction is thought to contribute to the practical application of CO oxidation, which is investigated by constructing the coupling of Au nanoparticles and defective CuO to form metal-support interactions (MSI) and oxygen vacancies (OVs). The introduction of Au forms a new CO adsorption site, which successfully solves the competitive adsorption problem of CO with H2O and O2. Due to the coupling of MSI and OVs, the reduced ability of catalyst and the activation and migration ability of oxygen are enhanced simultaneously. Au-CuO has the ability to oxidize CO at room temperature with high stability under a humid environment. Theoretical calculation confirmed the competitive adsorption and the influence of MSI and OVs coupling on the catalyst performance. The mechanism of water resistance in CO catalytic oxidation was also explained.

WC is an indispensable constituent when producing Ti(C, N)-based cermets, yet its role on microstructure and the mechanism remain blurred. Herein, based on the CALPHAD approach, we designed and synthesized the cermets containing unsaturated and supersaturated WC. Formation of a macro-gradient structure was observed, encompassing an undissolved WC area, a WC dissolution area, and a (Ti, W)(C, N) solid-solution area. Such a unique structure has not been reported in cermet systems, which originates from the denitrification-induced W solubility change in Ti(C, N), as clarified computationally. Thus, this work shows the usefulness of thermodynamic calculations in establishing composition-microstructure relationships in cermets.

Abstract Background Diclofenac diethylamine (DDEA) gel has demonstrated efficacy for treatment of ankle sprains in both the 1.16% four-times-daily (QID) and 2.32% twice-daily (BID) formulations. The objective of this study was to compare, for the first time, the efficacy of DDEA 2.32% gel BID and DDEA 1.16% gel QID. Methods This was a phase 3, randomized, double-blind, multicenter, active-controlled, parallel-group study conducted in China from October 2019 to November 2020, designed to determine the noninferiority of DDEA 2.32% gel BID relative to DDEA 1.16% gel QID for treatment of grade I–II ankle sprain. At study entry, patients must have had pain on movement (POM) ≥50 mm on a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS), and not received any pain medication. The primary efficacy endpoint was the noninferiority of DDEA 2.32% gel BID vs DDEA 1.16% gel QID for POM as assessed by the patient using the 100-mm VAS, conducted on day 5. Secondary endpoints included measures of ankle tenderness, joint function, swelling, and patient-reported pain intensity and pain relief. Results A total of 302 patients were randomized and 95.4% completed the study. The mean (SD) change in POM from baseline to day 5 using the 100-mm VAS was − 42.8 mm (19.7 mm) with DDEA 2.32% gel BID and − 43.1 mm (18.1 mm) with DDEA 1.16% gel QID for the per-protocol population. The least squares mean difference (DDEA gel 2.32% – DDEA gel 1.16%) at this timepoint was 1.11 mm (95% CI − 3.00, 5.22; P = 0.595), and the upper limit (5.22 mm) of the 95% CI was less than the noninferiority margin of 13 mm, demonstrating that DDEA 2.32% gel BID was noninferior to DDEA 1.16% gel QID. Similar trends were seen for the secondary efficacy endpoints. There was no significant difference in the incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events or adverse events adjudicated as being treatment related. All treatment-related adverse events were dermatological; one patient discontinued from the DDEA 2.32% gel BID arm due to application-site inflammation. Conclusions DDEA 2.32% gel BID offers a convenient alternative to DDEA 1.16% gel QID, with similar pain reduction and relief, anti-inflammatory effects, and tolerability. Trial registration NCT04052620.

The stability and electronic properties of the hydrogenated Janus MSiGeZ4 (M = Sc-Zn, Y–Ag, Hf–Au; Z = N, P) monolayers are predicted by the first-principles calculations. There are 12 energetically stable Janus MSiGeZ4 monolayers were selected from 104 candidates. Accordingly, 24 kinds of the semi/full hydrogenated Janus MSiGeZ4 (H-MSGZ) monolayers are predicted to be stable because of the suitable formation, binding and adsorption energy. Then, the electronic properties of semi-hydrogenated and fully hydrogenated Janus MSiGeZ4 were investigated. Based on the analysis of the band structure of the H-MSGZ monolayers, the forbidden band gaps decrease with the hydrogenation degree. Both the intrinsic and hydrogenated Janus MSiGeZ4 monolayers are indirect band gap semiconductors. Among the 12 Janus MSiGeZ4 monolayers, the intrinsic ZnSiGeN4 has the largest band gap of 2.20 eV. Comparing the hydrogenation processes, the band gap of ZnSiGeN4 decreases most dramatical, which change from 2.20 eV (intrinsic ZnSiGeN4) to 0.57 eV (semi-ZnSiGeN4) to 0 eV (full-ZnSiGeN4). Based on density of states analysis, there are many new doping peaks near the Fermi level after the hydrogenation process, and the positions of the peaks are changed, inducing the band gap decrease. The valence band edges of H-MSGZ monolayers are mainly contributed to the hybrid between TM d and N/P p states, while the conduction band edges are mainly contributed by TM d state. Then, the work functions are calculated and analyzed. In the process of hydrogenation, the greatest change of work function is ScSiGeN4, which changes from 6.67 eV (intrinsic ScSiGeN4) to 6.33 eV (semi-ScSiGeN4) and finally to 2.04 eV (full-ScSiGeN4). Overall, the work functions of Janus MSiGeZ4 showed a gradual decrease after hydrogenation because of the hydrogenation reduces the built-in electric field between the H atom and the MSiGeZ4 monolayer surface. Therefore, the hydrogenation can be effective in changing the properties of the material, and imply that H-MSGZ monolayers should have potential for applications in novel electronics, piezoelectric photovoltaics, and photocatalysts.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the impact of the different domains of intrinsic capacity (IC) and chronic disease burden on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and domain-specific HRQoL in Chinese community-dwelling older adults.DesignA cross-sectional observational study of a community-based cohort.ParticipantsWe evaluated Chinese older adults (n = 429, mean age, 72.91 ± 7.014 years; female proportion, 57.30%).MeasurementsIC contains five domains, namely locomotion, vitality, cognition, psychological, and sensory capacity. Locomotion dysfunction was defined as grip and/or gait decline. Vitality decline was defined if two of the following three parameters were present: fatigue, physical inactivity, and weight loss or overweight. Cognition was classified into normal cognition, pre-mild cognitive impairment (pre-MCI), and MCI according to the normative z-scores of the neuropsychological test battery. Psychological dysfunction was diagnosed based on depressive symptoms. Sensory dysfunction was defined as hearing and/or vision impairment. HRQoL was assessed using the AQoL-8D scale, which comprised physical (including independent living, senses, and pain) and psychosocial (including mental health, happiness, self-worth, coping, and relationships) dimensions. Low HRQoL (HRQoL score or subscores in the highest quintile) was used as a dependent variable in logistic regression analyses adjusted for demographic, health-related, and psychological confounders.ResultsSensory impairment was an independent determinant of senses, and locomotion impairment was significantly associated with overall HRQoL, independent living, and pain in the physical dimension of HRQoL. Cognition was an independent determinant of the senses. Vitality was independently associated with overall HRQoL, senses, and pain in the physical dimension and mental health and relationships in the psychological dimension of HRQoL. The psychological domain of IC was independently associated with overall and domain-specific HRQoL apart from senses after adjustment for all confounders. The number of multimorbidities mainly had a significant impact on independent living after adjustment for all confounders.ConclusionIC domains and chronic disease burden had heterogeneous influences on overall and domain-specific HRQoL. The impairment of sensory and locomotion domains had a synergistic impact on the overall and physical dimensions of HRQoL. The vitality and psychological domains of IC had more profound effects on HRQoL. Older people with high morbidity might have a higher risk of poor independent living.

IntroductionSpecies of Melanconiella include a diverse array of plant pathogens as well as endophytic fungi. Members of this genus have been frequently collected from the family Betulaceae (birches) in Europe and North America. Little, however, if known concerning the distribution of Melanconiella and/or their potential as pathogens of other plant hosts.MethodsFungi were noted and isolated from diseased leaves of Loropetalum chinense (Chinese fringe flower) and Camellia sinensis (tea) in Fujian Province, China. Genomic DNA was extracted from fungal isolates and the nucleotide sequences of four loci were determined and sued to construct phylogenetic trees. Morphological characteristics of fungal structures were determined via microscopic analyses.ResultsFour strains and two new species of Melanconiella were isolated from infected leaves of L. chinense and C. sinensis in Fujian Province, China. Based on morphology and a multi-gene phylogeny of the internal transcribed spacer regions with the intervening 5.8S nrRNA gene (ITS), the 28S large subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA (LSU), the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2), and the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (TEF1-α), Melanconiellaloropetali sp. nov. and Melanconiellacamelliae sp. nov. were identified and described herein. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, and a key to the known species of Melanconiella are provided.DiscussionThese data identify new species of Melanconiella, expanding the potential range and distribution of these dark septate fungi. The developed keys provide a reference source for further characterization of these fungi.

The characterization of natural fungal diversity impacts our understanding of ecological and evolutionary processes and can lead to novel bioproduct discovery. Russula and Lactarius, both in the order Russulales, represent two large genera of ectomycorrhizal fungi that include edible as well as toxic varieties. Based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses, including nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), the 28S large subunit of ribosomal RNA (LSU), the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2), the ribosomal mitochondrial small subunit (mtSSU), and the translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1-α) gene sequences, we here describe and illustrate two new species of Russula and one new species of Lactarius from southern China. These three new species are: R. junzifengensis (R. subsect. Virescentinae), R. zonatus (R. subsect. Crassotunicatae), and L. jianyangensis (L. subsect. Zonarii).

With the development of industry and the rapid growth of population, the current water treatment technologies face many challenges. Hydrodynamic cavitation as a green and efficient means of water treatment has attracted much attention. During the hydrodynamic cavitation, enormous energy could be released into the surrounding liquid which causes thermal effects (local hotspots with 4600 K), mechanical effects (pressures of 1500 bar) and chemical effects (hydroxyl radicals). These conditions can degrade bacteria and organic substance in sewage. Moreover, the combination of hydrodynamic cavitation and other water treatment methods can produce a coupling effect. In this review, we summarize the methods of hydrodynamic cavitation and the performance of water treatment for different types of sewage. The application of hydrodynamic cavitation reactors with different structures in water treatment are also evaluated and discussed. The design and optimization of high-performance hydrodynamic cavitation reactor are the most crucial issues for the application of hydrodynamic cavitation in water treatment. Finally, recommendations are provided for the future progress of hydrodynamic cavitation for water treatment. HIGHLIGHTS The cutting-edge understanding of hydrodynamic cavitation for water treatment is reviewed.; Effectiveness and conditions of various hydrodynamic cavitation reactors for sewage are assessed.; The state-of-the-art structures of hydrodynamic cavitation reactors are dicussed.;

Motivated by the recent experimental synthesis of a new hexagonal two-dimensional GeSe material, γ-GeSe, we systematically investigated the phonon transport properties of two-dimensional IV-VI compounds γ-GeS, γ-GeSe and γ-GeTe using first principles calculation and phonon Boltzmann transport equation. We discussed the basic phonon transport properties, including phonon spectra, group velocity, relaxation time, Grüneisen parameter, scattering phase space, phonon mean free path, potential energy change with respect to atomic displacement, and electron localization function of the three compounds. The intrinsic phonon thermal conductivities of γ-GeX (X = S, Se, Te) are quite low due to the low phonon velocity and large phonon scattering rates. Among the three compounds, γ-GeSe gives the lowest thermal conductivity (4.73 W/mK, at room temperature). The relative atomic mass difference between Ge atom and Se atom for γ-GeSe is the smallest which gives decreasing both the phonon relaxation time and phonon mean free path. This behavior is demonstrated by correlating the phonon dispersion and scattering mechanism of each compound. Besides, the potential energy change with respect to atomic displacement and the distribution of electron localization indicating the anharmonicity of γ-GeSe. This work reveals the low thermal conductivity of the two-dimensional γ-GeX (X = S, Se, Te), shedding light on future study and adding additional feature for thermal applications of two-dimensional IV-VI material.