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The aim of this article is to propose a novel method for estimating trans-ancestry genetic correlations in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) using genetically predicted observations. These correlations describe how genetic architecture of complex traits varies among populations. Our new estimator corrects for biases arising from prediction errors in high-dimensional weak GWAS signals, while addressing the ethnic diversity inherent in GWAS data, such as linkage disequilibrium (LD) differences. A distinguishing feature of our approach is its flexibility regarding sample sizes: it necessitates a large GWAS sample only from one population, while the secondary population may have a much smaller cohort, even in the hundreds. This design directly addresses the existing imbalance in GWAS data resources, where datasets for European populations typically outnumber those of non-European ancestries. Through extensive simulations and real data analysis from the UK Biobank study encompassing 26 complex traits, we validate the reliability of our method. Our results illuminate the broader implications of transferring genetic findings across diverse populations. for this article are available online, including a standardized description of the materials available for reproducing the work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery of mechanically soft solid‐state materials with fast Mg‐ion conduction is crucial for the development of solid‐state magnesium batteries. In this paper, novel magnesium gallium halide compounds are reported that achieve high ionic conductivity of 0.47 mS cm−1 at room temperature. These Mg‐ion conductors obtained by ball milling Mg and Ga salts exhibit clay‐like mechanical properties, enabling intimate contact at the electrode–electrolyte interface during battery cycling. With a combination of experimental and computational analysis, this study identifies that the soft‐clay formation is induced by partial anion exchange during milling. This partial anion exchange creates undercoordinated magnesium ions in a chlorine‐rich environment, yielding fast Mg‐ion conduction. This work demonstrates the potential of clay‐like halide electrolytes for all‐solid‐state magnesium batteries, with possible further extension to other multivalent battery systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alterations in glycosylation are associated with breast tumor formation and progression. Nevertheless, the specific functions and mechanisms of the human major UDP‐galactose transporter‐encoding gene solute carrier family 35 member A2 (SLC35A2) in breast invasive carcinoma (BRCA) have not been fully determined. Here, we report that SLC35A2 promotes BRCA progression by activating extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK). SLC35A2 expression and prognosis‐predictive significance in pan‐cancer were evaluated using public databases. The upstream non‐coding RNAs (ncRNAs) of SLC35A2 were analyzed, and their expression and regulations were validated in breast tissues and cell lines by a quantitative PCR and dual‐luciferase assays. We used bioinformatic tools to assess the link between SLC35A2 expression and immune infiltration and performed immunohistochemistry for validation. Cell Counting Kit‐8, 5‐ethynyl‐2′‐deoxyuridine, transwell, flow cytometer and western blotting were used to assess the proliferation, motility, cell cycle and apoptosis of BRCA cells in vitro. The xenograft models were constructed to assess the effect of SLC35A2 on BRCA tumor growth in vivo. The results indicated that SLC35A2 expression was upregulated and linked to an unfavorable prognosis in BRCA. The most likely upstream ncRNA‐associated pathway of SLC35A2 in BRCA was the AC074117.1/hsa‐let‐7b‐5p axis. SLC35A2 expression had positive correlations with the presence of Th2 cells, regulatory T cells and immune checkpoints. Knockdown of SLC35A2 could reduce BRCA cell proliferation, motility, and cause G2/M arrest and cell apoptosis via ERK signaling. Moreover, ERK activation can rescue the inhibitory effects of knockdown SLC35A2 in BRCA. In conclusion, AC074117.1/hsa‐let‐7b‐5p axis‐mediated high expression of SLC35A2 acts as a tumor promoter in BRCA via ERK signaling, which provides a potential target for BRCA treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetically replacing an essential residue with the corresponding photocaged analogues via genetic code expansion (GCE) constitutes a useful and unique strategy to directly and effectively generate photoactivatable proteins. However, the application of this strategy is severely hampered by the limited number of encoded photocaged proteinogenic amino acids. Herein, we report the genetic incorporation of photocaged glutamic acid analogues in E. coli and mammalian cells and demonstrate their use in constructing photoactivatable variants of various fluorescent proteins and SpyCatcher. We believe genetically encoded photocaged Glu would significantly promote the design and application of photoactivatable proteins in many areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deals with the numerical positivity, boundedness, convergence, and dynamical behaviors for stochastic susceptible-infected-susceptible (SIS) model. To guarantee the biological significance of the split-step backward Euler method applied to the stochastic SIS model, the numerical positivity and boundedness are investigated by the truncated Wiener process. Motivated by the almost sure boundedness of exact and numerical solutions, the convergence is discussed by the fundamental convergence theorem with a local Lipschitz condition. Moreover, the numerical extinction and persistence are initially obtained by an exponential presentation of the stochastic stability function and strong law of the large number for martingales, which reproduces the existing theoretical results. Finally, numerical examples are given to validate our numerical results for the stochastic SIS model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetically replacing an essential residue with the corresponding photocaged analogues via genetic code expansion (GCE) constitutes a useful and unique strategy to directly and effectively generate photoactivatable proteins. However, the application of this strategy is severely hampered by the limited number of encoded photocaged proteinogenic amino acids. Herein, we report the genetic incorporation of photocaged glutamic acid analogues in E. coli and mammalian cells and demonstrate their use in constructing photoactivatable variants of various fluorescent proteins and SpyCatcher. We believe genetically encoded photocaged Glu would significantly promote the design and application of photoactivatable proteins in many areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the numerical positivity, convergence and dynamical behaviors (including extinction and persistence) for stochastic SIS model. Compared with the existing numerical methods, a linearly backward Euler method with truncated Wiener process is introduced with a less computational cost and a better dynamic behavior. We discuss the numerical positivity by the truncated Wiener process, which is the basis for the investigation of convergence and dynamic behavior. The numerical dynamical behaviors (extinction and persistence) are obtained by an exponential representation for the nonlinear stochastic stability function and the large number theorem for martingale, which reproduces the existing theoretical results of exact solution. Finally, numerical examples are given to validate our numerical results for stochastic SIS model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the usefulness of management of sialocele formation and to evaluate the quality of life of patients under elective management post‐parotidectomy. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was performed including patients who underwent postoperative management with either compression therapy or observation. The self‐filled questionnaire method was used to assess the quality of life of participants who changed from compression therapy to observation. Demographic and operative data, variables regarding wound complications and scores for quality of life were documented and analysed. Results: A total of 86 patients met the eligibility criteria. The respective rates of sialocele formation within 1 month were 5.3% in the compression therapy group (2/38) and 16.0% in the observation group (4/25), but no significant difference was observed (p = 0.204). Meanwhile, both groups displayed comparable times of needle aspiration and time for sialocele resolution (p > 0.05). Based on 23 valid paired questionnaires, scores for physical and social‐emotional function before changing from compression therapy to observation were significantly lower than scores after the change (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The application of observation after partial superficial parotidectomy appears to have acceptable clinical outcomes and considerable improvements in quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the numerical positivity and almost surely exponential stability of the stochastic heat equation are discussed. The finite difference method and the split-step backward Euler are considered for spatial and temporal, respectively. Motivated from physical applications such as temperature, finance and so on, positivity has real significance, which is volatilized by some common numerical treatments. To this end the numerical positivity is obtained by the properties of M -matrix and the truncated random variables, which overcomes the unboundedness of the random variables. For the investigation of the almost surely exponential stability, a stochastic stability matrix is introduced, and then the stability analysis reduces to the estimation of the eigenvalues and martingales thorough a family of matrices and perturbation theorems. The stabilization ability of the multiplicative noise is verified again from a generalization of the stochastic heat equation. Finally, some numerical experiments are given to validate our numerical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This letter proposes an approximate analytical formulation for the shielding problem of a perfectly electric conducting disk against the low-frequency magnetic field produced by a circular current loop placed coaxially with the disk. First, this problem is related to a complementarity problem: The leakage of the magnetic field through a circular hole on a perfectly magnetic conducting plane of infinite extension. Then, for the complementarity problem, we develop the accurate analytical solution if only the distribution of the normal component of the unshielded magnetic field along the surface of the hole can be expressed as a polynomial function of radial distance. The analytical formulation is verified with finite element simulations and measured results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore whether early treatment with integrated Chinese and western medicine can prolong the survival time of patients with advanced digestive tract malignant tumors using a new statistical analysis method and real-world data. Methods Based on the left truncated data, the Copula model was used to construct a joint model of the time from stage IV diagnosis to treatment and the time to overall survival. The estimated value and significance of the Copula dependence parameter, η, were obtained to evaluate the dependence strength between the two event times of interest. Results The numerical simulation showed that this method performed well when the left truncation rate was 20%. The estimated Copula dependence parameter η), in the real data analysis was 0.279 (P<0.05), indicating that there was a significant correlation between times to treatment and overall survival. Gender, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score, targeted treatment, and metastatic site 1 were significant factors associated with overall survival. Conclusion The new statistical method provided valuable insights and analytical tools for the effectiveness of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine in treating patients with advanced digestive tract malignant tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the asymptotical mean-square stability of the linear θ-methods under variable stepsize and transformation approach for stochastic pantograph differential equations. A limiting equation for the analysis of numerical stability is introduced by Kronecker products. Under the condition which guarantee the stability of exact solutions, the optimal stability region of the linear θ-methods under variable stepsize is given by using the limiting equation, i.e. θ ∈ (1 2 , 1 ] , which is the same to the deterministic problems. Moreover, the linear θ-methods under the transformation approach are also considered and the result of the stability is improved for θ = 1 2 . Finally, numerical examples are given to illustrate the asymptotical mean-square stability under variable stepsize and transformation approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • PEI and APTES modified MfMCNs are prepared by pre-assembly experiment. • MfMCNs contains hydroxyl and amino groups to enhance the adsorption of CO 2. • The pore size of MfMCNs decreased to 0.53–0.55 nm, which enhanced screening of CO 2. • By adding MfMCNs, the phase interface defect is improved and the separation performance of MMMs is enhanced. Traditional two-dimensional (2D) membrane fillers are prone to interfacial defects such as agglomeration and phase separation in the membrane, limiting the separation performance of membrane. In this paper, microporous carbon nanoplates (MCNs) with controllable microporous structures were functionalized with two different amine carriers of low molecular weight polyethyleneimine (PEI) and 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES) to prepare multi-functionalized microporous carbon nanoplates (MfMCNs). It is worth noting that with the success of composite functionalization, the filling content of mixed matrix membranes is also high to a certain extent. To a certain extent, it has been demonstrated that interfacial compatibility between the polymer and the fillers has been improved. It was confirmed by characterization technology that the morphology of the fillers had not been changed, but the pore size of MfMCNs was declined to 0.53–0.55 nm because part of the amino carrier was immersed in the pore structure of MfMCNs. The gas permeability tests under dry gas and wet gas conditions show that the improvement of phase interface by MfMCNs is significant. Under the condition of a dry gas test, the CO 2 /N 2 selectivity of MfMCNs/Pebax-1.0 wt% MMMs is 76.3, which is 27 % higher than that of MCNs/Pebax-1.0 wt% MMMs. Under the moisture condition, the permeability and selectivity of MfMCNs/Pebax-1.0 wt% MMMs CO 2 are 287.72 Barrer and 79.1 separately. Compared with Pebax membrane, the permeability of CO 2 (176.6 Barrer) was rose by 62.9 %, and the selectivity of CO 2 (59.1) was rose by 33.84 %. Significantly, the best MMMs separation performance exceeds upper limit of Robeson. This provides a powerful strategy to strengthen the compatibility between inorganic materials and polymers and strengthen the performance of MMMs in CO 2 gas capture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hypertension is one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and its control rates remain low worldwide. The most effective strategy is that patients with hypertension should be diagnosed and treated early. Preliminary studies showed that the Bushen Jiangya granule (BSJY) could suppress ventricular hypertrophy and inflammatory responses, lower blood pressure, and protect the target organs of hypertension. We designed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of BSJY in patients with low-to-medium risk hypertension.Methods and Analysis: This trial is a one-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. A total of 260 participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to an experimental group (BSJY plus amlodipine) and a control group (placebo plus amlodipine). The trial cycle will last 8 weeks. The primary outcome is the change in 24-h average systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The secondary outcomes include heart rate variability, pharmacogenomic evaluation, improvement in TCM syndrome, and serum pro-inflammatory/anti-inflammatory cytokines between the two groups. The safety of medication will also be evaluated. All the data will be recorded in electronic case report forms and analyzed by SPSS V.22.0.Ethics and Dissemination: This study has been approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences in Beijing, China (No. 2019-186-KY-01). The participants are volunteers, understand the process of this trial, and sign an informed consent. The results of this study will be disseminated to the public through peer-reviewed journals and academic conferences.Discussion: We hypothesize that patients with low-to-medium-risk hypertension will benefit from BSJY. If successful, this study will provide evidence-based recommendations for clinicians.Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiMCTR1900002876. Registered in November 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose an approximate analytical model for magnetic field penetration through a circular aperture on a perfectly conducting plate. The magnetic field source is a circular loop current placed parallel to the plate and coaxial with the aperture. It is shown that the aperture is equivalent to a magnetic quadrupole normal to the plate when the field point is far from the aperture. The model is validated using numerical simulations and a minor disagreement with experimental data is explained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A detailed review of latest deep metric learning methods for few-shot image classification. • More than 60 methods published from 2018 to 2022 are surveyed. • Methods are divided according to three stages of deep metric learning. • Challenges and future directions of few-shot image classification are discussed. Few-shot image classification is a challenging problem that aims to achieve the human level of recognition based only on a small number of training images. One main solution to few-shot image classification is deep metric learning. These methods, by classifying unseen samples according to their distances to few seen samples in an embedding space learned by powerful deep neural networks, can avoid overfitting to few training images in few-shot image classification and have achieved the state-of-the-art performance. In this paper, we provide an up-to-date review of deep metric learning methods for few-shot image classification from 2018 to 2022 and categorize them into three groups according to three stages of metric learning, namely learning feature embeddings, learning class representations, and learning distance measures. Under this taxonomy, we identify the trends of transitioning from learning task-agnostic features to task-specific features, from simple computation of prototypes to computing task-dependent prototypes or learning prototypes, from using analytical distance or similarity measures to learning similarities through convolutional or graph neural networks. Finally, we discuss the current challenges and future directions of few-shot deep metric learning from the perspectives of effectiveness, optimization and applicability, and summarize their applications to real-world computer vision tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Detailed measurements and Modelica models are performed to evaluate the building heat flexibility. • Integrated heat flexibility of the low-energy building was analyzed numerically. • Heating control was optimized considering the energy and economy objectives. • The load shifting performance and the heat rebound effect were analyzed. • Actual occupancy and dynamic heat price were applied to analyze the flexibility. Along with the increasing application of the renewable energy in the energy systems, the future energy system will be more stochastic and fluctuated. Therefore, it is of great importance to effectively coordinate the energy supply and demand side considering their different dynamic characteristics. This study analyzes the impact of the integrated energy flexibility from the building mass and the storage tank on the heating system operation for a low-energy building connected to district heating (DH). According to the actual room occupancy and dynamic heat price, the strategy to unlock the energy flexibility is developed and optimized. The detailed thermal performance of the system is simulated by Modelica models. Compared to the reference case, the integrated energy flexibility is helpful to make better use of the low-price heat. Moreover, a variety of quantification indices were developed to evaluate the flexibility and rebound effect. The results show that the fully charged thermal mass of the low-energy building can help maintain the comfort indoor temperature for up to 43 h. Combined with the storage tank, the heat flexibility potential of the case building reaches 78 kWh and saves 1.1 DKK of the daily heat cost with the optimized heating strategy compared to the reference scenario. Moreover, the flexibility factor is improved by shifting the peak heat load to the low-price period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The optimal radiant floor configuration is investigated with different DH scenarios. • The control strategy was developed to optimized the comfort, energy and economy. • The heat flexibility potential of the radiant floor was analyzed numerically. • All cases reach flexibility factor of 1 for NZEB with acceptable thermal comfort. The radiant heating is cost effective way of space heating while providing favourable thermal comfort. Due to the large thermal flexibility, it is possible to utilize the pipe embedded radiant heating for low-temperature heating and demand management, thereby giving more access to the low-grade heat sources such as the renewable energy or the industrial waste heat. In this study, we investigate the optimal configuration of the radiant floor heating system considering different district heating (DH) scenarios. We propose the scheduled control strategy considering the comfort requirements, the occupancy and the dynamic energy price. Parametric simulations regarding the pipe spacing, the thickness of the concrete core, and the DH supply temperatures are performed by Modelica models. The critical levels of the radiant floor configurations of applying medium-temperature DH (MTDH), low-temperature DH (LTDH) and ultra-low temperature DH (ULTDH) are investigated. The indoor comfort, the thermal performances, the economy performances and the energy flexibility as the crucial factors of different cases are analysed and compared. The results show that the pipe spacing of 300 mm achieves better comfort and shorter charging time for all DH scenarios of the case nearly zero energy building (NZEB). The larger thickness of the concrete core can stabilize the indoor temperature variation and buffer the impact from the environmental disturbance more effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A statically balanced compliant mechanism using a bellow and balancer is designed. • Theoretical models to predict the strain energy of both components are derived. • The effects of geometric parameters are unveiled to facilitate the design. Statically balanced compliant mechanisms (SBCMs) have found applications in various engineering fields owning to their monolithic design and zero actuation force. Here in this paper we proposed a new SBCM system composed of a thin-walled bellow coaxially placed with a balancer inspired by the bendy straw. Theoretical models for both components were developed to predict the evolution of deformation and strain energy, which were then verified through numerical simulation and experiment. Furthermore, the effect of geometric parameters on the behavior of the balancer was studied, from which the key parameters that respectively determined the curve shape and magnitude of the strain energy were obtained. A case study indicated that by optimizing the geometry of the balancer, the compliant system achieved a nearly zero actuation force that was only 3.62% of the maximum force of the stand-alone bellow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compared the pre-, intra-, and postoperative characteristics among three groups of patients who underwent posterior vertebral column resection (PVCR) to clarify age-related characteristics and to guide patient management, surgical planning, and complication avoiding. We compared and analyzed the etiology, surgical events, outcomes, and complications among pediatric, adolescent, and adult patients who underwent PVCR in a single-center database retrospectively. Patients were categorized into pediatric (0–12 yr), adolescent (13–19 yr), and adult (>20 yr) cohorts. Demographics, surgical events, clinical and radiographic results, and major complications were compared between groups. A total of 87 patients with a mean follow-up 42 (24–96) months were identified. Pediatric group (14) had a high frequency of congenital vertebral and cardiac abnormal, adolescents (47) presented more intracanal malformations, and idiopathic was common in the adult group (26). Although pediatric patients had shorter fusion levels than adolescent and adult, their mean resected vertebrae (1.91), percentage of blood loss (estimated blood loss per total blood volume) (201.9%), and operative time were much higher. The coronal/sagittal correction rate was significantly higher in the pediatric group (73.6%/72.3%). Overall, surgical complications were more frequent in adults, particularly neuromonitoring alert and implant failure. However, more severe complications were noted in younger patients. For pediatric patients with PVCR, poor physiological conditions and frequent comorbidities indicated cautious patient selection and sufficient preoperative preparation. The higher correction rate may be due to the excellent compliance of the spinal cord. For adult patients, preoperative traction and adjusting the tension of the spinal cord during surgery could contribute to neurological safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: As the population in general is living longer, less invasive adult degenerative scoliosis (ADS) surgery that balances risks and benefits requires long‐term clinical outcomes to determine its strengths and weaknesses. We design a retrospective study to compare the postoperative mid‐ and long‐term outcomes in terms of efficacy, surgical complications, and reoperation rate of patients with ADS treated with two different surgical approaches (long‐segment complete reconstruction or short‐segment limited intervention). Methods: In this retrospective study, 78 patients with ADS (Lenke–Silva levels III or higher), who accepted surgical treatment at our hospital between June 2012 and June 2019 were included. These patients were assigned to the long‐segment radical group (complete decompression with deformity correction involves ≥3 segments) and the short‐segment limited group (symptomatic segment decompression involves <3 segments). In addition, general information such as age, gender, fixed segment number, efficacy, radiographic parameters, and reoperation rate of patients in the two groups were compared and analyzed. Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to gender, follow‐up time, long‐term surgical complications and reoperation rate (P > 0.05). The mean age of patients in the long‐segment strategy group was 57.1 ± 7.9 years, with a mean number of fixed segments of 7.9 ± 2.4. The mean age of patients in the short‐segment strategy group was 60.8 ± 8.4 years, with a mean number of fixed segments of 1.4 ± 0.5. At the final follow‐up visit, the long‐segment radical group showed better results than the short‐segment limited group with regard to coronal Cobb angle, lumbar lordosis angle and sagittal balance (P < 0.05). The long‐segment strategy group had a higher implant‐related complication rate (P = 0.010); the adjacent segment‐related complication in the two groups showed no significant difference (P = 0.068). Conclusion: Considering the risk, rehabilitation pathway and costs of long‐segment radical surgery, short‐segment limited intervention is a better strategy for patients who cannot tolerate the long‐segment surgery, improving symptoms and maintaining efficacy in the mid‐ and long‐term, and not increasing the reoperation rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a green concrete material, rubber granules have the potential to significantly reduce the environmental pollution caused by discarded tires. However, the compatibility between cementitious surfaces and rubber particles is limited, leading to a reduction in the mechanical properties of concrete. The purpose of this study is to enhance the mechanical characteristics of rubber concrete mortar by using the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA). The results show that the compressive and flexural strengths of cement mortar are reduced when EVA is added to macro-mechanical studies. However, increasing the amount of EVA will gradually lead to an improvement in the flexural strength, shear strength, and toughness index of the cement mortar. Microscopic experiments, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), demonstrate that the addition of EVA retards the hydration process of cement. Furthermore, as the amount of EVA increases, a membrane-like structure is formed on the surface of the cementitious matrix, enhancing the overall bond strength of the concrete. Molecular dynamics simulation results indicate that EVA primarily diminishes the interfacial effect by augmenting the inter-interfacial binding capacity through Ca-O ionic bonding and hydrogen bonding. [Display omitted] • Rubber is added to cement mortar to improve the characteristics of the concrete matrix and to reduce the brittleness of the cement mortar. • Considering the existence of gap between rubber and cement paste, the weak interface region is the main reason for the reduction of the strength of rubber mortar, so this study considers the addition of EVA to modify the weak interface. • The mechanism of action of modified rubber-cement mortar is investigated by combining macro, micro and nano scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) is a two-stage (pre-intentional and post-intentional) behavioral change model that distinguishes between motivation and volition in behavior change process. This study aims to develop HAPA-based assessments for smoking cessation among current smokers. The HAPA-based measures were developed and the draft measures included nine constructs, namely, risk perception in smoking-induced cancer, risk perception in smoking-induced systemic disease, positive outcome expectancy, negative outcome expectancy, self-efficacy in quitting smoking, self-efficacy in maintaining, self-efficacy in re-initiating, quitting planning and coping planning in smoking cessation, with a total of 26 items. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in China in 2022. Principal Component Analysis was used for Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). Cronbach's α coefficient was calculated to evaluate the internal consistency. Variables such as severity of smoking addiction were selected to evaluate the correlation between the HAPA scale and these variables. Of the 928 participants, 76.4% (709/928) were male and the median age was 35 years. Five factors were extracted by EFA. The factor loadings of each item were all greater than 0.60, and the cumulative variance contribution rate was 90.15%. The Cronbach's α coefficient of each HAPA-based subscales was 0.929–0.986. The HAPA-based measurements are comprehensive, reliable and valid in the assessment of smokers' smoking cessation cognition, which can be used to guide the design and implementation of intervention and the development of theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on wave impedance calculations employed in the transmission line analogy for the low-frequency magnetic shielding problem: a planar shield against a loop current source placed parallel to the shield. We present a unified formula for wave impedance calculations that is distinct from traditional definitions of the transverse E-field to H-field ratio, which is related to the ratio of the H-field components to its longitudinal derivative. The formula is relatively simple in terms of mathematical complexity when applied to derive a concrete wave impedance expression. For a circular loop, the formula produces the same wave impedance expression as the traditional definition for field points on the central axis of the loop. For field points off the axis, the formula more accurately predicts the shielding effectiveness relative to traditional definitions. Based on the proposed formula, we also obtain wave impedance expressions for rectangular, elliptical, and regular polygon loops under quasi-static assumptions. The effectiveness of these expressions is verified through comparisons with finite element simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy demand of the data center (DC) industry has accounted for 2% of the total global energy consumption, and its operating power consumption has reached 50 times that of the commercial buildings. Therefore, improving the thermal environment performance to reduce the energy cost is major trend to realize the energy savings of DC. It has become a positive measure to integrate smart technologies to improve the operating efficiency of HVAC systems, especially due to the development of informatization and intelligence. This study provides detailed overview of the dynamic thermal environment management technologies of the DCs. The requirements of thermal environment in DCs were reviewed by different levels, which are the basis of the design and operation. Accordingly, various dynamic prediction technologies were presented concerning the theoretical mechanics, the computation efficiency and the applicable circumstances. The performance of the PID, the model predictive control and the reinforcement learning in the dynamic thermal environment control of DC were analyzed. Moreover, the evaluation systems based on cooling capacity, exergy analysis and entransy analysis were introduced respectively to measure the performance of the thermal environment. By investigating the knowledge related to the "requirement, prediction, control, and evaluation" of the DC dynamic thermal environment, this study aims to provide reference and guidance for energy conservation, airflow organization and smart operation of DCs. [Display omitted] • Studies related to DC dynamic thermal environment management are reviewed. • The requirements of DC indoor environment of different countries are summarized. • Pros and cons of various prediction and control technologies are analyzed. • The evaluation system based on energy, exergy and entransy is introduced. • Systematical guidance for improving the modernized DC performance is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Definition and indicators of the local hotspots are clarified. • The main problems of weak airflow distribution are deeply analyzed. • Thermal management technologies are summarized by different scales for guidance. • Current limitations and future trend of hotspots elimination methods are discussed. The data centers consume a significant amount of energy, with cooling demand accounting for roughly 40% of the total energy usage. The primary reason for this is the presence of the local hotspots. To eliminate these hotspots, the standard approach is to lower the set point temperature of the whole computer room air conditioner (CRAC), resulting in overcooling and energy waste. This study provides an overview of the recent research on local hotspot management strategies, with a focus on the overheated servers as the most likely location of hotspots. To quantify the hotspots, this study provides a clear definition and summarizes the indicators from different aspects. It analyzes the correlation between the inlet and outlet air temperature and the overheating issues, which is often caused by high server loads or poor airflow distribution. And the most fundamental manifestation of the hotspots is hot air recirculation. This study analyzes potential solutions, such as optimizing airflow distribution and shortening the cold airflow path through design, control, and application. Additionally, the study discusses the limitations of the recent hotspots elimination research and proposes future perspectives. The aim of this review is to provide helpful knowledge on local hotspot elimination in the data centers, with consideration for integrated thermal and airflow distribution management strategies. The conclusion may assist in designing, operating, and retrofitting energy-efficient data centers in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amino groups are common in both natural and synthetic compounds and offer a very attractive class of endogenous handles for bioconjugation. However, the ability to differentiate two types of amino groups and join them with high hetero‐selectivity and efficiency in a complex setting remains elusive. Herein, we report a new method for bioconjugation via one‐pot chemoselective clamping of two different amine nucleophiles using a simple ortho‐phthalaldehyde (OPA) reagent. Various α‐amino acids, aryl amines, and secondary amines can be crosslinked to the ϵ‐amino side chain of lysine on peptides or proteins with high efficiency and hetero‐selectivity. This method offers a simple and powerful means to crosslink small molecule drugs, imaging probes, peptides, proteins, carbohydrates, and even virus particles without any pre‐functionalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amino groups are common in both natural and synthetic compounds and offer a very attractive class of endogenous handles for bioconjugation. However, the ability to differentiate two types of amino groups and join them with high hetero‐selectivity and efficiency in a complex setting remains elusive. Herein, we report a new method for bioconjugation via one‐pot chemoselective clamping of two different amine nucleophiles using a simple ortho‐phthalaldehyde (OPA) reagent. Various α‐amino acids, aryl amines, and secondary amines can be crosslinked to the ϵ‐amino side chain of lysine on peptides or proteins with high efficiency and hetero‐selectivity. This method offers a simple and powerful means to crosslink small molecule drugs, imaging probes, peptides, proteins, carbohydrates, and even virus particles without any pre‐functionalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

External therapy of traditional Chinese medicine and paraffin therapy are both traditional Chinese forms of treatment. In recent years, external use of traditional Chinese medicine combined with paraffin therapy, which involves combining meridians, acupoints, drugs, and hyperthermia, has demonstrated great effectiveness in treating certain conditions. An overview of traditional Chinese medicine paraffin therapy (TCMPT) is provided by this article. Additionally, this article describes a new classification of TCMPT, mechanism of action, clinical treatment, indications contraindications and adverse events reports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Although pembrolizumab is recommended as a first-line treatment for advanced recurrent/unresectable/metastatic (R/U/M) head and neck squamous carcinoma, the differences in its efficacy among different populations need to be investigated. Methods. We reviewed 15 consecutive patients with R/U/M oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) treated with pembrolizumab monotherapy at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University between February 2021 and May 2022. All the 15 patients had known programmed death-ligand 1 expression and received multiple cycles of pembrolizumab monotherapy as first-line treatment. We evaluated and analyzed patients' basic characteristics, time to first remission, the clinical efficacy of pembrolizumab monotherapy, and treatment-related adverse reactions. Results. The objective response rate of the 15 patients was 60%. Six patients (40.0%) achieved partial response, while three patients (20.0%) achieved complete response. In our study, the objective response status of the patients was observed in two to five cycles (mean, 3.6 cycles). For patients who responded well to immunotherapy, the mean Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score after treatment was significantly higher than that before treatment (P < 0.001). The progression-free survival rates were 66.9% and 50.1% at 6 months and 1 year, respectively. Eight adverse events were observed, comprising four cases of rash and one case each of hypothyroidism, interstitial pneumonia, cheilitis, and cerebral thrombosis. Conclusion. Our study suggests that pembrolizumab is beneficial to the most responsive patients with R/U/M OSCC in our single-center study and may shed light on the management of OSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Operando synchrotron X-ray study on Phosphorus and Platinum migration. • Graphene-related-material applied as interventional materials for comparison. • X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure applied to study chemical structural change. • Conducting mechanistic studies via the three-phase interface. • Performance and durability of high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells. The application of high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs) addresses challenges in water management, fuel purity, and overheating under high current density. However, phosphoric acid (PA) migration hinders their development. This study uses synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy to investigate PA and catalyst migration. Interventions with single-layer graphene and electrochemically exfoliated graphene oxide improve performance and durability. X-ray absorption spectroscopy provides insights into relevant mechanisms, advancing understanding of membrane electrode assembly preparation and the intricate influences of PA and catalyst migration on performance and durability in HT-PEMFCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A double-layered artificial composite adhesive is constructed by simple mold casting. • Controllable and rapidly switchable adhesion is achieved by controlling the modulus of the MRE bottom layer. • The adhesion reaches 40 kPa and a two-fold increase of the pull-off force at a magnetic field of 200 mT. • A fast switch between attach and detach is realized with the switching time within 1 s. Controllable and rapidly switchable adhesion is highly desired for a wide range of applications. Inspired by ladybug, a rapidly switchable double-layered adhesive is developed, which is composed of magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) as the bottom layer and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as the soft top layer. Controllable and rapidly switchable adhesion is achieved by controlling the modulus of the MRE bottom layer. Due to the magnetorheological effect, the transient response of MREs to magnetic field rapidly changes the modulus of the bottom layer and the ratio Δ G ' / G 0 reaches 21%, a two-fold increase of the pull-off force and a four-fold increase of the work of adhesion at a 200 m T magnetic field. More importantly, the fast response of the MRE to magnetic field ensures an attach-to detach switch within 1 s. The results provide a new reference for achieving the rapid precise control of soft gripping equipment and wall climbing robot, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • MMMs based on Pebax-1657 and microporous CNs were successfully prepared. • CO 2 permeability and CO 2 /N 2 selectivity were improved with CNs addition. • Microporous CNs with accessible inner channels provided low-resistance transport channels for CO 2. • The CNs-600(0.5 wt%)/Pebax MMMs showed the best CO 2 permeability and selectivity. We investigated the use of microporous carbon nanospheres (CNs) as fillers to prepare mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) for permeable and selective CO 2 separation. CNs with a uniform size of 650 nm and unique amorphous structure were characterized by SEM and XRD. The N content of CNs with different carbonization temperatures was determined by XPS. The surface area and micropore size of the samples could be easily adjusted by varying the carbonization temperature; in particular, increasing the carbonization temperature improved both parameters. At 600 °C, the particles (CNs-600) exhibited a higher N content and narrower micropores, which ensured higher affinity and enhanced capture of CO 2 molecules. Thus, CNs-600/Pebax MMMs exhibited superior CO 2 separation performances compared to other CNs-based MMMs. Furthermore, when the loading of CNs-600 was 0.5 wt%, the MMMs exhibited the best CO 2 /N 2 separation properties, with a 39.51% improvement compared to pristine Pebax membranes. These outstanding performances are attributed to the fact that microporous CNs with accessible inner channels can provide a low-resistance transport pathway to gas molecules. Moreover, the strong interaction between CO 2 and the pore walls, along with the high N content, enabled an effective separation of CO 2 from other gas molecules. Importantly, the CNs-600/Pebax MMMs displayed superior CO 2 /N 2 selectivity compared to previously reported Pebax-based MMMs with other fillers. The proposed CNs, with microporous structure and high N content, may represent a promising alternative for the fillers of MMMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a superconducting wiggler, its superconducting state is usually maintained by liquid helium at atmospheric pressure. Any heat load will vaporize the expensive liquid helium. Therefore, the cryostat, which can decrease the liquid helium consumption, has been pursued by researchers. However, the development of the 4.2 K liquid helium cryostat is a systematic project that depends on lots of key technologies, for instance, the cryocooler, the current lead, the heat insulation, the heat transfer, etc. In this paper, based on the previous investigations of the cryostat, some existing problems are summarized. For the superconducting wiggler at the High Energy Photon Source Test Facility (HPES-TF), a novel design scheme for its cryostat was put forward. In the scheme, the mechanical structure is simpler, the vacuum chamber is set at ambient temperature, and the excess cooling capacity is larger in theory. In the experiment, the superconducting magnet was charged with a current of 320 A, and the electron beam was set at 250 mA. The zero liquid helium consumption was realized with an excess cooling capacity of 0.65 W. The scheme is proven to be feasible and can be used as another typical solution for the superconducting wiggler cryostat in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The superconducting undulator (SCU) is a type of insertion device with great development potential. SCU can generate higher peak field than permanent magnet undulator at the same period length and vacuum gap. In the early stage of SCU development, it is necessary to test various winding schemes and coil parameters. A reliable cryogenic system is the precondition for superconductivity. To test SCU short prototypes in a compatible way, a convenient low-temperature platform is in high demand. In addition, due to the high cost and unpredictable availability of liquid helium, a helium-free platform is beneficial. In this paper, a successful low-temperature platform for the SCU short module test is introduced. It is compatible with different coil structures. Comprehensive design ingredients, such as the current leads, cold mass, thermal shield, etc., are described in detail. The platform performances in the module test are recorded and analyzed as well. The cold mass was cooled to about 2.9 K, and the maximum current of the superconductor was approximately 500 A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Thermal imbalance is the main factor which breaks the pressure stability of the subcooled liquid nitrogen circulation. • The more precise the thermal balance is, the more stable the pressure will be. • Bypass flow cooling method simplifies the circulation, which has much potential. • Peak-to-peak fluctuation can be less than ± 4.0 mbar and the RMS of the fluctuation less than 1.0 mbar. The High Energy Photon Source (HEPS) is a fourth generation radiation source, where lots of optical equipment are cooled down to the liquid nitrogen temperature for the better performance. The subcooled liquid nitrogen circulation is a very advantageous cooling method of monochromators and undulators, which are sensitive to fluid pressure fluctuations. Although the pressure stabilization matters a lot but it has rarely been studied. In this paper, the causes of pressure fluctuations are analyzed, and accordingly the principle of thermal balance is proposed. Based on the analysis, three pressure stabilization methods were suggested and tested. A partially liquid nitrogen filled tank was connected to the subcooled liquid nitrogen circulation serving as a pressure fluctuation buffer. The side effect is that the heat load of the tank raises the pressure gradually. Therefore, the cold source buffer and its induced heat load need good compromise. The tank heat load was cooled by saturated nitrogen, bypass liquid nitrogen and direct gas absorption: The saturated nitrogen reuses the sensible heat of cold gas; the bypass liquid nitrogen avoids the influence of circulation heat load variation and the gas absorption prevents the heat exchanger in the tank. The test results show that the peak-to-peak value of the pressure fluctuation can be controlled in the level of ± 4.0 mbar and the RMS value less than 1.0 mbar. The pressure affect factors were empirically studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydro-fracture geometry prediction is of great practical importance for optimizing construction parameters and evaluating stimulation effects. Existing physical simulation methods are computationally intensive. Deep learning-based methods offer fast model inference, yet typically require a large amount of field data for accurate model training and lack model interpretability in explaining the complex physical processes. This work presents a physics-informed surrogate modeling method for hydro-fracture geometry prediction. The proposed method encodes the hydro-fracture physical laws, in the form of partial differential equations, as a loss term to govern the training process of the surrogate model, aiming to alleviate the data requirement for model training. Experimental studies demonstrate that the proposed modeling method effectively reduces the training data requirement and improves model accuracy and interpretability. Hydraulic fracturing is a tremendous task, also is indispensable for oil/gas development. We propose a physics-informed surrogate model to predict HFG, i.e. width, length, and height of hydro-fracture during hydraulic fracturing. The proposed model incorporates the physical laws and demonstrates high data efficiency, model accuracy, and model interpretability. This work can help infield experts free from the high-cost numerical simulation and the lack of expensive infield data. [Display omitted] • Physics-informed surrogate modeling for hydraulic-fracture geometry prediction. • Leverage the physical laws in the form of PDEs to drive the model training. • Model with high data efficiency, prediction accuracy, and interpretability. • Timely and accurately support onsite optimization of hydraulic fracturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]