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Highlights A novel anisotropic sensor with oriented piezoelectric filaments was prepared, capable of detecting both the magnitude and direction of micro-deformations. Due to the efficient load transfer of continuous fibers and the formation of porous ferroelectrets, an ultra-low strain detection limit of 0.06% was achieved in the sensor. Given the sensor's ultra-low detection limit and deformation direction sensing capability, we developed the sensor for detecting micron-scale deformations in thin-film structures and for robotic tactile sensing applications.

Study region: Nine representative cities in Shandong Province, northern China Study focus: The analytical stochastic approach is computationally-efficient in green roofs (GRs)’ hydrologic performances. However, use of rainfall event separation methods and the resulting rainfall statistic affect the accuracy of this approach. This study integrates a Kernel distribution estimation (KDE)-based rainfall event separation method with the analytical stochastic model (ASM) developed for GRs. The proposed approach was tested for 198 design cases of GRs with considering different soil types and depths at 9 cities in the Shandong Province, northern China. New hydrologic insights for the region: Poisson and Kolmogorov–Smirnov tests can be performed to obtain the available pairs of minimum interevent time and threshold rainfall event depth. The optimal pairs of MIET-vt can be further determined based on the standardized procedure by the KDE-based rainfall event separation and characterization approach. Exponential distributions fit well the observed frequency distributions of rainfall event characteristics of the study area. ASM results using rainfall statistics obtained from a KDE-based method agree very well with those obtained from continuous simulations. The proposed integration of KDE-based rainfall statistics and ASM is accurate and useful for the planning, design and assessment of green roofs in regions of northern China.

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bars have been increasingly recognized in the field of civil engineering due to their advantages of light weight, high strength and excellent durability. FRP bars can replace steel bars in concrete beams and effectively improve the durability of beams. In this paper, the literature relevant to the short-term mechanical properties of FRP bars and FRP-reinforced concrete beams was reviewed based on previous studies and practical engineering application. Firstly, the mechanical properties of FRP bars were reviewed. Different types of fibers or steel and fibers can be combined to obtain hybrid fiber-reinforced polymer (HFRP) or steel-fiber composite bars (SFCB) with excellent mechanical performance, respectively. The bond performance and bond-slip model between FRP bars and concrete were discussed. Several common bond-slip models were usually used to study the bond performance between carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) bars or glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars and concrete, but changing the type of FRP bars will lead to larger dispersion. Then, the experimental studies, theoretical calculation methods and finite element simulation methods of flexural/shear behavior of FRP-reinforced concrete beams were presented. Finally, their applications in practical engineering were discussed and the prospects of further research were proposed. It is pointed out that FRP-reinforced ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) beams, FRP-reinforced geopolymer concrete (GPC) beams, engineered cementitious composites (ECC)-FRP-reinforced concrete beams, prestressed FRP-reinforced concrete beams and steel/FRP hybrid-reinforced concrete beams can effectively improve the deformation resistance and poor ductility of pure FRP-reinforced concrete beams.

BackgroundPostinduction hypotension (PIHO) is a hemodynamic abnormality commonly observed during the induction of general anesthesia. Etomidate is considered a safer drug for the induction of anesthesia because it has only minor adverse effects on the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems. Recent evidence indicates that the novel benzodiazepine remimazolam has minimal inhibitory effects on the circulation and respiration. However, the efficacy and safety of remimazolam versus etomidate in the induction of anesthesia are unclear. ObjectiveTo further understand the potential of remimazolam in anesthesia induction, it is necessary to design a meta-analysis to compare its effects versus the classic safe anesthetic etomidate. The aim of this study is to determine which drug has more stable hemodynamics and a lower incidence of PIHO. Our study will also yield data on sedation efficiency, time to loss of consciousness, time to awakening, incidence of injection pain, and postoperative nausea and vomiting with the two drugs. MethodsWe plan to search the Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang databases from the date of their creation until March 31, 2025. The language is limited to English and Chinese. The search terms are “randomized controlled trials,” “etomidate,” and “remimazolam.” The incidence of PIHO is the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcomes include depth of anesthesia after induction, sedation success rate, time to loss of consciousness, hemodynamic profiles, recovery time, incidence of injection pain, and postoperative nausea and vomiting. Reviews, meta-analyses, case studies, abstracts from conferences, and commentaries will not be included. The heterogeneity of the results will be evaluated by sensitivity and subgroup analyses. RevMan software and Stata software will be used for data analysis. We will evaluate the quality of included studies using version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. The confidence of the evidence will be assessed through the Grading of Recommendations, Assessments, Developments, and Evaluations system. ResultsThe protocol was registered in the international PROSPERO (Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews) registry in November 2023. As of June 2024, we have performed a preliminary article search and retrieval for further review. The review and analyses are expected to be completed in March 2025. We expect to submit manuscripts for peer review by the end of June 2025. ConclusionsBy synthesizing the available evidence and comparing remimazolam and etomidate, we hope to provide valuable insights into the selection of anesthesia-inducing drugs to reduce the incidence of PIHO and improve patient prognosis. Trial RegistrationPROSPERO CRD42023463120; https://tinyurl.com/333jb8bm International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)PRR1-10.2196/55948

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a common neurological complication in elderly patients after surgery and general anesthesia. The occurrence of POCD seriously affects the postoperative recovery of patients, and leads to prolonged hospital stay, reduced quality of life, increased medical costs, and even higher mortality. There is no definite and effective drug treatment for POCD. More evidence shows that perioperative non-pharmacological intervention can improve postoperative cognitive function and reduce the incidence of POCD. Therefore, our studies summarize the current non-pharmacological interventions of POCD from the aspects of cognitive training, physical activity, transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation, noninvasive brain stimulation, non-pharmacological sleep improvement, music therapy, environment, and multimodal combination Interventions, to provide more data for clinical application and research.

Abstract Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) are nature-based methods of managing urban stormwater runoff. Although they are widely used, some SuDS, such as highway filter drains (HFDs), are understudied with respect to sizing and performance. For the first time, we developed an analytical probabilistic model (APM) that can be used to design and estimate the hydrologic performance of HFDs. Unlike the conventionally used design-storm based or continuous simulation approaches, our APM can directly calculate the runoff capture ratios of HFDs using closed-form analytical equations. Validation of the APM presented here shows that it is robust and reliable. The relative differences between the APM-estimated and continuous simulation-determined runoff capture ratios for all the simulated design cases are less than 8.5%.

Macro-fiber composite actuators (MFCAs) suffer from strict restrictions on the utilization of lead-containing precursors due to growing environmental concerns. To address this issue, a novel lead-free MFCA based on potassium sodium niobate piezoceramics has been developed using the dice & fill method. The MFCA demonstrates large electric field-induced displacement (31.4 μm over -500‒1 500 V at 0.5 Hz), excellent frequency stability, and a strong linear relationship between the induced displacement and the external voltage amplitude. Meanwhile, unlike lead-based MFCA that requires superposition of a negative dc bias voltage to pursue higher output performance but risks depolarization, lead-free MFCA can achieve larger displacement by superimposing only a positive bias voltage. This device exhibits excellent reliability, maintaining a stable output over 105 electrical cycles. Additionally, a “back-to-back” coupled MFCA has been developed to regulate bidirectional displacement, making it suitable for various practical applications, including active vibration control. This approach has resulted in a 90% vibration reduction and provides new insights into the design of MFCAs, further facilitating their application in active vibration control systems.

Melanoma is a malignant skin cancer associated with high mortality rates and drug resistance, posing a significant threat to human health. The combination of chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy (PDT) represents a promising strategy to enhance antitumor efficacy through synergistic anti-cancer effects. Topical delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs and photosensitizers (PS) offers a non-invasive and safe way to treat melanoma. However, the effectiveness of these treatments is often hindered by challenges such as limited skin permeability and instability of the PS. In this study, transfersomes (TFS) were designed to facilitate transdermal delivery of the chemotherapeutic drug 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and the PS Imperatorin (IMP) for combined chemo-photodynamic therapy for melanoma. The cytotoxic and phototoxic effects of TFS-mediated PDT (TFS-UVA) were investigated in A375 cells and nude mice. The study also demonstrated that TFS-UVA generated intracellular ROS, induced G2/ M phase cell cycle arrest, and promoted cell apoptosis. In conclusion, this study indicated that 5-FU/ IMP-TFS serves as an effective transdermal therapeutic strategy for chemo-PDT in treating melanoma.

Microplastics (MPs) and antibiotics (ATs) have been detected in various aquatic environments and characterized as novel contaminants that have attracted worldwide attention. This review summarizes the characteristics of MPs and ATs, analyzes the sources of MPs and ATs in aquatic environments, reviews the concentration distribution of the two pollutants in China, and introduces the environmental effects of mixing MPs and ATs. Studies on single pollutants of MPs or ATs are well established, but the interactions between the two in aquatic environments are rarely mentioned. The physicochemical characteristics of MPs make them carriers of ATs, which greatly increase their risk of being potential hazards to the environment. Therefore, in this article, the interaction mechanisms between MPs and ATs are systematically sorted out, mainly including hydrophobic, electrostatic, intermolecular interactions, microporous filling, charge-assisted hydrogen bonding, cation-bonding, halogen bonding, and CH/π interactions. Also, factors affecting the interaction between ATs and MPs, such as the physicochemical properties of MPs and ATs and environmental factors, are also considered. Finally, this review identifies some new research topics and challenges for MPs and ATs, in order to gain deeper insight into their behavioral fate and toxic mechanisms.

BackgroundPostoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) and postoperative delirium (POD) are common post-surgical complications that often lead to prolonged hospitalization, reduced quality of life, increased healthcare costs, and increased patient mortality. We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of preoperative cognitive function training on postoperative cognitive function.MethodsPubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, VIP Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database were searched for randomized controlled trials comparing the effects of preoperative cognitive function training and conventional preoperative measures on postoperative cognitive function. The search period spanned from the establishment of the databases to March 31, 2023. The primary outcomes were the incidence of POCD and POD.ResultsEleven randomized controlled trials involving 1,045 patients were included. The results of the meta-analysis showed that, compared to the control group, preoperative cognitive function training significantly reduced the incidence of POCD (RR = 0.38, P < 0.00001), and there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of POD (P = 0.3). Cognitive function training significantly improved postoperative cognitive function scores compared with the control group (MD = 1.92, P = 0.001). In addition, two studies reported that 10% of the patients in the cognitive training group completed a pre-set training duration.ConclusionCognitive function training significantly reduced the incidence of POCD; however, there was no significant difference in the incidence of POD. Preoperative cognitive function training should be promoted and emphasized as a simple, economical, and practical method of improving postoperative cognitive function.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=396154

Abstract According to the research status of Software Defined Network (SDN) control layer traffic scheduling, we find the current common problems, including single path, easy congestion, Quality of Service (QoS) requirements and high delay. To solve these four problems, we design and implement a QoS-oriented global multi-path traffic scheduling algorithm for SDN, referred to as QOGMP. First, we propose a link weight calculation algorithm based on the idea of traction links and deep reinforcement learning, and conduct experimental verifications related to traction links. The algorithm considers QoS requirements and alleviates the problems of easy congestion and high delay. Then, we propose a traffic scheduling algorithm based on link weight and multi-path scheme, which also considers QoS requirements and solves the problem of single path. Finally, we combined the link weight calculation algorithm and the traffic scheduling algorithm to implement QOGMP, and carried out comparative experiments in the built simulation environment. The experimental results show that QOGMP is better than the two comparison algorithms in terms of delay and rescheduling rate.

Abstract Correct species identification is crucial for ensuring the quality, safety, and efficacy of herbal medicine. Market research indicates that Curculigo glabrescens Rhizoma (CGR) was the major counterfeit of the medicine Curculigo orchioides Rhizoma (COR). To accurately discriminate COR and CGR remains a challenge, and it becomes even more difficult when the herbs have been heavily processed into a powder. In this work, combined with high performance liquid chromatography analysis, a novel component in CGR was discovered, and two stable isotopes (N%, C%, δ15N, δ13C) and nineteen mineral elements were determined along with multivariate statistical analysis to distinguish the authentic COR samples and counterfeit CGR samples. The results showed that there were significant differences between the mean value of N%, δ15N and δ13C according to the botanical origins. In addition, these two species can be differentiated by principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) analysis. A linear discriminant analysis (LDA) model with a good classification rate (100%) and cross-validation rate (100%) was established. Hence, stable isotope and mineral element contents combined with chemometrics analysis could be considered as an effective and reliable method for discriminating the source species of COR and CGR.

A traditional thermal conductivity vacuum gauge mainly detects low pressure (the degree of vacuum) by measuring the temperature change of a filament heated by the electric current. We propose a novel pyroelectric vacuum sensor that utilizes the effect of ambient thermal conductivity on the pyroelectric effect to detect vacuum through the charge density of ferroelectric materials under radiation. The functional relationship between the charge density and low pressure is derived, which is validated in a suspended (Pb,La)(Zr,Ti,Ni)O3 (PLZTN) ferroelectric ceramic-based device. The charge density of the indium tin oxide/PLZTN/Ag device under 405 nm of 60.5 mW cm−2 radiation at low pressure reaches 4.48 μC cm−2, which is increased by about 3.0 times compared with that at atmospheric pressure. The vacuum can improve the charge density without increasing the radiation energy, confirming the important role of ambient thermal conductivity on the pyroelectric effect. This research provides a demonstration for ambient thermal conductivity effectively tuning pyroelectric performance, a theoretical basis for pyroelectric vacuum sensors, and a feasible route for further optimizing the performance of pyroelectric photoelectric devices.

In this study, the optimal conditions and effects of external factors on tetracycline adsorption by magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MMWCNTs) were established by a response surface methodology for the first time. Batch adsorption experiments showed that increasing the dosage and contact time effectively promoted the adsorption of tetracycline and maximum removal of 97.93–99.13% was achieved at pH 3–7. The pseudo-second-order model and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy spectra indicated that the mechanism of adsorption may be π–π electron interaction and cation–π electron bonding. Design Expert was utilized to develop a response surface methodology for the analysis and optimization of tetracycline adsorption by magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The Box–Behnken design (BBD) results showed that the optimization exhibited high significance and reliability. The main effect plots and Pareto chart indicated that pH exerted a significant individual effect on the regulation of adsorption, while 3D response surface plots and interaction effect plots exhibited a significant antagonistic interaction between pH and contact time. A maximum tetracycline removal of 99.16% was achieved under the optimal conditions of 12 mg adsorbent dosage at pH 5.43, with an adsorption time of 120 min. Mathematical and experimental results confirmed the accuracy of the established optimal conditions.

Abstract Background There is a huge controversy about whether xenograft or allograft in the “immune-privileged” brain needs immunosuppression. In animal studies, the prevailing sophisticated use of immunosuppression or immunodeficient animal is detrimental for the recipients, which results in a short lifespan of animals, confounds functional behavioral readout of the graft benefits, and discourages long-term follow-up. Methods Neuron-restricted neural progenitor cells (NPCs) were derived from human embryonic stem cells (ESCs, including H1, its gene-modified cell lines for better visualization, and HN4), propagated for different passages, and then transplanted into the brain of immunocompetent rats without immunosuppressants. The graft survivals, their cell fates, and HLA expression levels were examined over time (up to 4 months after transplantation). We compared the survival capability of NPCs from different passages and in different transplantation sites (intra-parenchyma vs. para- and intra-cerebroventricle). The host responses to the grafts were also investigated. Results Our results show that human ESC-derived neuron-restricted NPCs survive extendedly in adult rat brain parenchyma with no need of immunosuppression whereas a late-onset graft rejection seems inevitable. Both donor HLA antigens and host MHC-II expression level remain relatively low with little change over time and cannot predict the late-onset rejection. The intra-/para-cerebroventricular human grafts are more vulnerable to the immune attack than the intrastriatal counterparts. Prevention of graft hyperplasia by using hypoproliferative late passaged human NPCs further significantly extends the graft survival time. Our new data also shows that a subpopulation of host microglia upregulate MHC-II expression in response to the human graft, but fail to present the human antigen to the host immune system, suggestive of the immune-isolation role of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Conclusions The present study confirms the “immune privilege” of the brain parenchyma and, more importantly, unveils that choosing hypoproliferative NPCs for transplantation can benefit graft outcome in terms of both lower tumor-genic risk and the prolonged survival time without immunosuppression.

Abstract In the past century, ferroelectrics are well known in electroceramics and microelectronics for their unique ferroelectric, piezoelectric, pyroelectric, and photovoltaic effects. Nowadays, the advances in understanding and tuning of these properties have greatly promoted a broader application potential especially in energy and environmental fields, by harvesting solar, mechanical, and heat energies. For example, high piezoelectricity and high pyroelectricity can be designed by defect or microstructure engineering for piezo‐ and pyro‐catalyst, respectively. Moreover, highly piezoelectric and broadband (UV–Vis–NIR) light‐responsive ferroelectrics can be designed via defect engineering, giving rise to a new concept of photoferroelectrics for efficient photocatalysis, piezocatalysis, pyrocatalysis, and related cocatalysis. This article first summarizes the recent developments in ferroelectrics in terms of piezoelectricity, pyroelectricity, and photovoltaic effects based on defect and microstructure engineering. Then, the potential applications in energy generation (i.e., photovoltaic effect, H2 generation, and self‐powered multisource energy harvesting and signal sensing) and environmental protection (i.e., photo‐piezo‐pyro‐ cocatalytic dye degradation and CO2 reduction) are reviewed. Finally, the outlook and challenges are discussed. This article not only covers an overview of the state‐of‐art advances of ferroelectrics, but also prospects their applications in coping with energy crisis and environmental pollution.

Abstract For traditional piezoelectric sensors based on poled ceramics, a low curie temperature (T c) is a fatal flaw due to the depolarization phenomenon. However, in this study, we find the low T c would be a benefit for flexible piezoelectric sensors because small alterations of force trigger large changes in polarization. BaTi0.88Sn0.12O3 (BTS) with high piezoelectric coefficient and low T c close to human body temperature is taken as an example for materials of this kind. Continuous piezoelectric BTS films were deposited on the flexible glass fiber fabrics (GFF), self-powered sensors based on the ultra-thin, superflexible, and polarization-free BTS-GFF/PVDF composite piezoelectric films are used for human motion sensing. In the low force region (1–9 N), the sensors have the outstanding performance with voltage sensitivity of 1.23 V N−1 and current sensitivity of 41.0 nA N−1. The BTS-GFF/PVDF sensors can be used to detect the tiny forces of falling water drops, finger joint motion, tiny surface deformation, and fatigue driving with high sensitivity. This work provides a new paradigm for the preparation of superflexible, highly sensitive and wearable self-powered piezoelectric sensors, and this kind of sensors will have a broad application prospect in the fields of medical rehabilitation, human motion monitoring, and intelligent robot.

The bile acid transport system is a natural physiological cycling process between the liver and the small intestine, occurring approximately 6–15 times during the day. There are various bile acid transporter proteins on hepatocytes that specifically recognize bile acids for transport. Therefore, in this paper, a novel liposome, cholic acid-modified irinotecan hydrochloride liposomes (named CA-CPT-11-Lip), was prepared based on the “Trojan horse” strategy. The liposomes preparation process was optimized, and some important quality indicators were investigated. The distribution of irinotecan hydrochloride in mice was then analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the toxicity of liposomes to hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG-2) was evaluated in vitro. As a result, CA-CPT-11-Lip was successfully prepared. It was spherical with a particle size of 154.16 ± 4.92 nm, and the drug loading and encapsulation efficiency were 3.72 ± 0.04% and 82.04 ± 1.38%, respectively. Compared with the conventional liposomes (without cholic acid modification, named CPT-11-Lip), CA-CPT-11-Lip had a smaller particle size and higher encapsulation efficiency, and the drug accumulation in the liver was more efficient, enhancing the anti-hepatocellular carcinoma activity of irinotecan hydrochloride. The novel nanoliposome modified by cholic acid may help to expand the application of irinotecan hydrochloride in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and construct the drug delivery system mode of drug liver targeting.

Multi-path transmission can well solve the data transmission reliability problems and life cycle problems caused by single-path transmission. However, the accuracy of the routing scheme generated by the existing multi-path routing algorithms is difficult to guarantee. In order to improve the accuracy of the multi-path routing scheme, this paper innovatively proposes a multi-path routing algorithm for a wireless sensor network (WSN) based on the evaluation. First, we design and implement the real-time evaluation algorithm based on semi-supervised learning (RESL). We prove that RESL is better in evaluation time and evaluation accuracy through comparative experiments. Then, we combine RESL to design and implement the multi-path routing algorithm for wireless sensor networks based on semi-supervised learning (MRSSL). Then, we prove that MRSSL has advantages in improving the accuracy of the multi-path routing scheme through comparative experiments.

Rats have been widely used as an experimental organism in psychological, pharmacological, and behavioral studies by modeling human diseases such as neurological disorders. It is critical to identify and characterize cell fate determinants and their regulatory mechanisms in single-cell resolutions across rat brain regions. Here, we applied droplet-based single-nucleus assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (snATAC-seq) to systematically profile the single-cell chromatin accessibility across four dissected brain areas in adult Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats with a total of 59,023 single nuclei and identified 16 distinct cell types. Interestingly, we found that different cortex regions exhibit diversity in both cellular compositions and gene regulatory regions. Several cell-type-specific transcription factors (TFs), including SPI1, KLF4, KLF6, and NEUROD2, have been shown to play important roles during the pathogenesis of various neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), astrocytic gliomas, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and intellectual disabilities. Therefore, our single-nucleus atlas of rat cortex could serve as an invaluable resource for dissecting the regulatory mechanisms underlying diverse cortex cell fates and further revealing the regulatory networks of neuropathogenesis.

Retrograde monosynaptic tracing with EnvA-pseudotyped rabies virus has been employed to identify the afferent and efferent connectivity of transplanted human embryonic stem (hES) cell-derived neurons in animal models. Due to the protracted development of transplanted human neurons in host animals, it is important that those transplanted cells express avian leukosis and sarcoma virus subgroup A receptor (TVA) and rabies glycoprotein G (Rgp) for a period of up to several months to enable identification of the synaptic inputs from host neurons to grafted neurons through this rabies virus-based method. Here, we report the generation of an engineered hES cell line through CRISPR/Cas9-mediated targeting to the AAVS1 locus of an EnvA-pseudotyped rabies virus-based tool for retrograde monosynaptic tracing. This engineered hES cell line, named H1-CAG-GTRgp, expresses GFP, TVA and Rgp. Upon transplantation of H1-CAG-GTRgp-derived neural progenitor cells (NPCs) into the rat brain after traumatic injury, the grafted neurons derived from H1-CAG-GTRgp cells expressed GFP, TVA, and Rgp stably for up to 6 months post-transplantation and received robust synaptic inputs from host neurons in the target regions of the orthotopic neural circuitry. The retrograde monosynaptic tracing hES cell line provides an efficient approach to analyze transplant connectivity for the comprehensive assessment of host-donor cell innervation. Keywords: Neural progenitors, AAVS1 locus, EnvA-pseudotyped rabies virus, Retrograde monosynaptic tracing, Transplantation

In order to elucidate whether deep freezing could maintain the quality of snowflake beef, three different deep freezing temperatures (−18 °C, −40 °C, and −60 °C) were used in order to evaluate the changes in tissue structures, quality characteristics and spoilage indexes, and their comparative effects on the quality of snowflake beef. Compared to samples frozen at −18 °C, those stored at −40 °C and −60 °C took a shorter time to exceed the maximum ice crystallization zone (significantly reduced by 2–6 h). In terms of short-term storage, samples frozen at −40 °C and −60 °C had better tissue structure and lower drip loss rate than those frozen at −18 °C; significant differences between groups in drip loss were observed between −18 °C and −60 °C. Moreover, a better bright red color and lower shear force were maintained at −40 °C and −60 °C, with significant differences in shear force between the −18 °C group and the other two groups on day 60. Although there were significant effects on the inhibition of lipid and protein oxidation at −40 °C and −60 °C; no significant variation was observed between these two groups throughout storage. A similar phenomenon was found in flavor, with 1-pentanol identified as an important potential indicator of flavor change in snowflake beef during storage. This study demonstrated that −40 °C and −60 °C had favorable impacts on the quality maintenance of snowflake beef compared to −18 °C. These findings provide a theoretical basis for effective stability of snowflake beef quality during frozen storage.

To ensure the efficient operation of large-scale networks, the flow scheduling in the software defined network (SDN) requires the matching time and memory overhead of rule matching to be as low as possible. To meet the requirement, we solve the rule matching problem by integrating machine learning methods, including recurrent neural networks, reinforcement learning, and decision trees. We first describe the SDN rule matching problem and transform it into a heterogeneous integrated learning problem. Then, we design and implement an SDN flow forwarding rule matching algorithm based on heterogeneous integrated learning, referred to as RMHIL. Finally, we compare RMHIL with two existing algorithms, and the comparative experimental results show that RMHIL has advantages in matching time and memory overhead.

This study introduces the role of financial risk index and renewable energy electricity output along with financial development and human capital as new determinants of carbon emissions and uses updated time-series data from 1988–2018 for China, employing novel econometric approaches, i.e., Narayan and Popp unit root test with structural breaks, Maki cointegration, and frequency domain causality test for long, short, and medium run causality. The empirical outcome shows that improvement in human capital index and rising shares of renewable energy in electricity output help to limit carbon emissions. In contrast, gross domestic product, financial risk index, and structural break of 2001 increase carbon emissions. Moreover, structural break year of 2008 and financial development index reduces carbon emissions. The negative association between financial development and carbon emissions supports the positive school of thoughts of financial development which promotes sustainable environment. This study recommends promotion of quality human capital and green financial development along with increasing the shares of renewable energy in electricity for achieving China 2030 climate targets of reducing pollution.

A simple wide-bandgap conjugated polymer based on indoloquinoxaline unit (PIQ) has been newly designed and synthesized via cheap and commercially available starting materials. The basic physicochemical properties of the PIQ have been investigated. PIQ possesses a broad and strong absorption band in the wavelength range of 400~660 nm with a bandgap of 1.80 eV and lower-lying highest occupied molecular orbital energy level of −5.58 eV. Polymer solar cells based on PIQ and popular acceptor Y6 blend display a preliminarily optimized power conversion efficiency of 6.4%. The results demonstrate indoloquinoxaline is a promising building unit for designing polymer donor materials for polymer solar cells.

Abstract In recent years shape-memory polymers have been under intense investigation due to their unique mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties that could potentially make them extremely valuable in numerous engineering applications. In this manuscript, we report a polymer-template-assisted assembly manufacturing strategy used to fabricate graphite/silver nanowires/epoxy resin (PGSE) composite. In the proposed method, the porous polymer foams work as the skeleton by forming three-dimensional graphite structure, whereas the silver nanowires act as the continuous conductive network. Preliminary testing on hybrid foams after vacuum infusion showed high electrical conductivity and excellent thermal stability. Furthermore, the composites were found to recover their original shape within 60 seconds from the application of a 0.8 V mm−1 electric field. Notably, the reported shape-memory polymer composites are manufactured with readily-available raw materials, they are fast to manufacture, and are shape-controlled.

Threatening sounds can elicit a series of defensive behavioral reactions in animals for survival, but the underlying neural substrates are not fully understood. Here, we demonstrate a previously unexplored neural pathway in mice that projects directly from the auditory cortex (ACx) to the lateral periaqueductal gray (lPAG) and controls noise-evoked defensive behaviors. Electrophysiological recordings showed that the lPAG could be excited by a loud noise that induced an escape-like behavior. Trans-synaptic viral tracing showed that a great number of glutamatergic neurons, rather than GABAergic neurons, in the lPAG were directly innervated by those in layer V of the ACx. Activation of this pathway by optogenetic manipulations produced a behavior in mice that mimicked the noise-evoked escape, whereas inhibition of the pathway reduced this behavior. Therefore, our newly identified descending pathway is a novel neural substrate for noise-evoked escape and is involved in controlling the threat-related behavior.

Wheat straw was utilized in the preparation of polycarboxylate superplasticizer (PCS) to improve its performance as well as to reduce the production cost in this paper. The addition time and pretreatment time of wheat straw in the production of PCS were detected. Orthogonal experimental design was adopted to optimize the components of reactants, and the adding time of the initiator was also examined. The PCS produced with wheat straw in this paper kept a rather high water-reducing rate. In addition, the results of some physical characteristics showed there were no obvious differences between the PCS produced with and without wheat straw, while the PCS produced with wheat straw had the longer time of coagulation. At the same time, infrared spectrum implied that the addition of wheat straw made the side chain more abundant and had little influence on the main chain of the large molecules.

Mn-modified diatomite was prepared by wet impregnation and subsequent calcinations processes. It was used as catalyst for sonocatalytic degradation of antibiotics tetracycline. Characterizations by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction pattern showed that the morphology and crystal structure of the modified diatomite were similar to these of raw diatomite. Despite containing very limited amount of Mn oxides, the Mn-modified diatomite showed much higher sonocatalytic activity than the raw diatomite. The increases in both MnSO4 concentration of the wet impregnation solution and the catalyst dosage could enhance the degradation of antibiotics tetracycline significantly. Kapp values for ultrasonication, catalyst adsorption, and both processes combined (0.10 mol/L MnSO4-modified diatomite) were 1.22 × 10−4, 0.00193, and 0.00453 min−1, respectively, while the corresponding values of R2 were 0.956, 0.986, and 0.953, respectively. These results demonstrated the significant synergetic effect by combining ultrasonication and catalyst adsorption processes. The presence of isopropanol, KBr, and NaN3 quenched a series of reactive oxygen species sharply, indicating the dominant role of reactive oxygen species in the sonocatalytic process. In contrast, the addition of Fe(II) enhanced the degradation due to the generation of more OH∙ radicals in the concurrent Fenton reaction. All the results indicated that Mn-modified diatomite had the great potential for water treatment by sonocatalytic oxidation.

The convenient and feasible pretreatment method of alkali treatment is very common in the degradation process of wheat straw. However, its utilization in the pretreatment of wheat straw as alternative adsorbents for aqueous heavy metals remediation is rarely reported. The present study investigated the removal efficiency of Cu(II) ions using wheat straw with alkali pretreatment. The condition of alkali treatment on wheat straw was optimized with the adsorption capacity of Cu(II) as indicator using single-factor experiments. The influences of wheat straw dosages, pH values, contact time, and temperatures on adsorption performance for both untreated wheat straw (UWS) and alkali-treated wheat straw (AWS) were investigated. Results showed that the relatively large removal rate of Cu(II) could be obtained, and chemical behavior occurred during the adsorption process. Characteristic analysis found that the major function of alkali treatment to wheat straw was to introduce the hydroxy group, which resulted in the increase of -C-O- group. Although the adsorption capacity is not as high as the one of ligands supported adsorbents, the method is easy to operate and has a wide range of application; at the same time, it could realize both purposes of treating heavy metal pollution and solid wastes.

Background: Currently, direct conversion from somatic cells to neurons requires virus-mediated delivery of at least one transcriptional factor or a combination of several small-molecule compounds. Delivery of transcriptional factors may affect genome stability, while small-molecule compounds may require more evaluations when applied in vivo. Thus, a defined medium with only conventional growth factors or additives for cell culture is desirable for inducing neuronal trans-differentiation. Results: Here, we report that a defined medium (5C) consisting of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), N2 supplement, leukemia inhibitory factor, vitamin C (Vc), and β-mercaptoethanol (βMe) induces the direct conversion of somatic cells to cells with neuronal characteristics. Application of 5C medium converted mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) into TuJ+ neuronal-like cells, which were capable of survival after being transplanted into the mouse brain. The same 5C medium could convert primary rat astrocytes into neuronal-like cells with mature electrophysiology characteristics in vitro and facilitated the recovery of brain injury, possibly by inducing similar conversions, when infused into the mouse brain in vivo. Crucially, 5C medium could also induce neuronal characteristics in several human cell types. Conclusions: In summary, this 5C medium not only provides a means to derive cells with neuronal characteristics without viral transfection in vitro but might also be useful to produce neurons in vivo for neurodegenerative disease treatment.