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Abstract Bimetallic PdV/C nanoparticles have been synthesized by phase-transfer method for catalyzing the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline electrolytes. PdV/C nanoparticles with different V contents are spherical with a mean diameter of 3–4 nm, and the addition of V expands the lattice parameter of Pd as shown by XRD. XPS analysis indicated the binding energy of Pd0 3d peak increased by ca. 1 eV. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations results shows d-band center of Pd down-shift after V-doping. Based on the electrocatalytic results, introducing V can improve the catalytic activity for ORR, methanol crossover tolerance and stability. Especially, Pd 4 V/C shows higher initial potential (E onset = 1.027 V), excellent methanol crossover tolerance (98.03% retained) and long-term stability (81.30% retained), which are comparable with Pt/C JM. This work provides a new method of synthesizing PdV/C nanoparticles, which have the potential to be used as the cathode electrocatalysts for fuel cells. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Bimetallic PdV/C nanoparticle catalysts is synthesized by phase-transfer method for the first time. • In PdV/C, V changes the geometric and electronic properties of Pd. • The addition of V shifts down the d-band center of Pd. • Pd 4 V/C shows excellent ORR activity comparable to Pt/C JM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A multi-timescale voltage control model is formulated to control different timescale regulators. • The control variables of these regulators are assigned to multiple agents. Through centralized training and decentralized execution, these agents can obtain optimal coordinated control strategy. • A MADRL-based method is proposed to obtain the control strategy, which is based on the MADDPG algorithm and spplies Gumbel-Softmax distribution to solve discrete actions. Nowadays a large number of distributed generators and controllable elements connecting to the distribution network have resulted in higher requirements for voltage control. Existing voltage control methods require a specific physical model and are time-consuming with the complexity increasing. To overcome these challenges, this paper proposes a multi-timescale voltage control scheme using multi-agent deep reinforcement learning (MADRL). Firstly, considering the control requirements of different timescale regulators, a multi-timescale voltage control model is formulated. Then the control variables are assigned to multiple agents, and a MADRL-based voltage control scheme is proposed, which is based on the multi-agent deep deterministic policy gradient (MADDPG) algorithm and applies Gumbel-Softmax distribution to solve discrete actions. Through centralized learning and decentralized execution, this scheme can obtain the optimal coordinated control strategy of multiple regulators adaptively and achieve the effect of distributed control. Finally, case studies are conducted on the modified IEEE-123 bus system, and the performance of the proposed method is compared with the conventional model-based optimal voltage control scheme and other DRL-based methods. The results show that the MADRL-based method possesses better performance than other methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • GE + EE significantly improves glucose and lipid tolerance in normal C57BL/6J mice. • GE + EE remarkably inhibits intracellular lipid accumulation in OA-treated HepG2 cells. • GE + EE has a significant effect on protection against oxidative stress in OA-treated HepG2 cells. • GE + EE againsts OA-induced lipotoxicity by the pathways of AMPK- PPARα and Nrf2-Keap-1-HO-1. Obesity is associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases and affects the overall quality of life. Gardenia jasminoides (Ellis) fruit (GE) and Eucommia ulmoides leaves (EE) are traditional medicines reported to possess antioxidative, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hyperlipidemic, and anti-obesity activities. However, the synergistic effect of combining Gardenia and Eucommia remains unclear. This study aimed to test the combination via animal and cell experiments. GE extract mainly contains geniposide (52.5 %), whereas EE extract contains crocin (10.5 %) and chlorogenic acid (52.3 %). Copper soap analysis revealed that the combination of GE and EE induced greater pancreatic lipase activity. In C57BL/6J mice, this combination markedly improved hypertriglyceridemia and hyperglycemia in intravenous fat and intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests, respectively. In HepG2 cells with hyperlipidemia induced via oleic acid (OA), GE + EE reduced the accumulation of ectopic lipid and augmented the oxidative stress-related enzyme activities by elevating PPARα, AMPK, Nrf2, and HO-1 expression and attenuating Keap-1 expression. Thus, this combination protects against OA-induced lipid toxicity by targeting AMPK-PPARα and Nrf2- Keap-1-HO-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, Chinese Internet companies have experienced exponential growth. As the Internet industry increasingly commends tremendous financial resources, they also face growing stakeholder expectations for corporate social responsibility (CSR) actions. One way through which Chinese Internet companies conduct CSR is by building cross-sectoral collaborations with nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and governmental agencies. Aiming to understand Internet companies' strategic relationship building on CSR issues, the researchers drew from stakeholder influence theory and research on a network approach to stakeholder influence, and applied multilevel network analysis to model three networks related to Chinese Internet companies' CSR collaborations. Specifically, we found that power and urgency are significant predictors of the structure of Internet companies' cross-sector CSR alliance network. Organizations affiliated or endorsed by the central Chinese government are the most desirable CSR stakeholders. Additionally, the study also revealed that for Internet companies, devoting their attention to Internet-related social issues could increase their desirability as strategic stakeholders from other sectors and among Internet companies. • A multilevel network analysis was conducted to study Chinese Internet companies' CSR cross-sector relationship-building. • Power and urgency significantly predicted stakeholder salience in cross-sector CSR networks. • Organizations endorsed by the central government were the most desirable CSR stakeholders. • Internet companies devoted to Internet-related social issues were preferred CSR stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The molecular mechanism of AsA changes in Actinidia eriantha after bagging has been studied for the first time. • Through untargeted metabolomics and RNA-Seq of the A. eriantha 'Ganlv 1′ fruit after bagging were analyzed to reveal the metabolites changes and the underneath gene expression network changes. • Provide novel insights into the effects of bagging on changes in the intrinsic and appearance quality of A. eriantha fruit. Fruit bagging is an effective way of producing pollution-free fruit. However, the micro-environment provided by bagging for fruits could reduce the internal quality for most fruits in various degree. As a novel berry fruit, kiwifruit (Actinidia eriantha) has great potential for development. We found a change in fruit quality after fruit shading by bagging (FSB). In order to explore the regulatory mechanism of FSB on fruit quality, we used off-target metabolomics and transcriptomics to identify differential metabolites and differential genes, and focused on the molecular mechanism of the decrease in AsA content. We found that the contents of soluble solids (SSC), soluble sugar (SS), ascorbic acid (AsA), chlorophyll and carotenoid in the FSB fruit were significantly reduced. Through the non-targeted metabolome, a total of 160 metabolites showed significant differences in fruit tissue. There were 3,200 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between FSB and control by RNA-Seq and enriched in 118 KEGG metabolic pathways. The decrease of AsA content after FSB was mainly due to the decrease of DHAR gene, MDHAR gene, APX gene and the increase of MDHA metabolite during the AsA-GSH cycle process. The decrease of GalUR gene in d -galacturonic acid pathway and the decrease of GulLO gene and Myo-inositol metabolite in Myo-inositol pathway were the secondary reasons for the decrease of AsA content. This study would provide novel insights into the effects of FSB on changes in the intrinsic and appearance quality of A. eriantha fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Very few (hash)tags emerge as "core tags"-- the consensus choices. • Using core tags noticeably improves users' performance than does peripheral tags. • Core tags that are linguistically idiosyncratic particularly contribute to high performance. The informational and social impacts of tags on forming networked publics have drawn extensive scholarly attention. However, existing literature lacks systematic and longitudinal accounts of how trending tags garner community interest and facilitate the promotion of user-generated content. This study addresses this issue by explicating the structures and functions of social tagging, showing how users employed certain tags to improve performance. To provide empirical evidence, we tracked and analyzed social tagging activities in an online community from its early stage for seven years. Over this time frame, very few tags emerged as core tags--the consensus choices that both occurred and co-occurred frequently. Furthermore, the application of core tags, which can represent the tacit rules and platform vernaculars co-defined by the community members, improved performance noticeably more than using peripheral tags. Interestingly, among the core tags, those that possessed linguistic idiosyncrasies particularly contributed to high performance. The findings highlight the complex contingencies of social tagging structures and functions and provide practical implications for users and platforms to strategically manage tag-based networked publics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hypothesis is postulated that high content of hydrogen donors and acceptors, and basic amino acids cause the intracellular trapping of the H+ and Cl- ions, which increases cancer risks as local formation of HCl is mutagenic to DNA. Other cations such as Ca2+, and weak acids such as short-chain organic acids may attenuate the intracellular gathering of the H+ and Cl-, two of the most abundant ions in the cells. Current data on increased cancer risks in diabetic and obese patients are consistent with the assumption that hydrogen bonding propensity on glucose, triglycerides and other molecules is among the causative factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NGOs are important civil actors in societies' emergency and disaster responses, and they come together on social media to identify prominent issues and coordinate issue responses. This research explores how U.S. NGO form topic-driven communities on social media to discuss and build representational strategic networks around issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing from Issue Niche Theory, we examined how NGOs' networks and discourse evolved before and after the general public paid great attention to the COVID-19 issue and how such patterns changed across the whole issue niche and sub-issue niches. We analyzed the evolution of Twitter-based networks and discourse of 2,588 NGOs in the first five months of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States. Our analysis revealed important factors that shape tie formation patterns in the NGOs' communities in this novel issue niche. The findings show that NGOs' discourses help to orient the organizational community to identify most salient issues. Finally, changes in the discourse patterns reflected changes in the communication networks in the NGO community. • This research design combines network modeling and automated textual analyses. • During the COVID-19 pandemic, NGOs' discourse coevolved with network structures. • Health and economy were U.S. NGOs' most discussed sub-issue areas. • NGOs' community formation on social media reflects a topic-driven process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anti-reflection (AR) technology currently used in photovoltaic (PV) glass has reached its operational limit as the refractive index of existing materials cannot be lowered further. To overcome this, in this study, we selected formed methylsiloxane as an AR layer for PV glass. Its low refractive index (∼1.37) originates from the high content of methyl groups and the formation of voids during crosslinking. We acquired and compared the refractive index curves, conducted structural analyses, characterizations (optical, thermal, and surface), and performance evaluations to confirm the advantages of silicone as an AR layer for PV panels. The spreading and subsequent room-temperature self-curing characteristics of silicone considerably enhanced its applicability for upscaling and repair. The hydrophobic nature of the silicone AR layer imparted a new self-cleaning function to the solar panels; further, the methyl-silicone coating enhanced light transmission, resulting in electrical gain. Furthermore, the addition of the methyl-silicone layer created a refractive index gradient on the glass surface, making it fully compatible for use with the mainstream AR process, namely, the sol-gel method employed for PV glass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This research introduces a strategic-political perspective in understanding networked relationship management. • This study highlights the importance for firms to build cross-sector partnerships with NGOs, universities and research institutes, and government agencies. • There are two types of firms in China in terms of their interorganizational network portfolios. Firms maintaining robust cross-sector portfolios have more extensive relationships with organizations in the nonprofit and public sectors than firms maintaining limited cross-sector portfolios. • Ownership structure influences the type of network portfolios firms maintain in China. State-owned enterprises tend to develop limited cross-sector portfolios but multinational enterprises tend to develop robust cross-sector portfolios. • The findings of this study can guide public relations practitioners and organizational leaders to more effectively build relationships and manage their networks with multiple organization stakeholders. Although the amount of research on interorganizational networks has increased significantly in recent years, few studies have examined the antecedents to interorganizational network portfolios—organizations' configuration of their relationship networks with other organizations. To address this gap, this study examines how firms' interorganizational network portfolios vary across three types of ownership structures (i.e., state-owned, private, and multinational enterprises) in China. Cluster analysis of the data on 212 leading firms operating in China revealed two types of network portfolios firms maintain. Specifically, firms maintaining robust cross-sector portfolios had more extensive networks with organizations in the nonprofit and public sectors than firms maintaining limited cross-sector portfolios. Moreover, regression results suggested that firms across different ownership structures had distinct numbers and types of organizational partners, particularly nongovernmental organization (NGO) partners. Theoretical and practical implications are derived from the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on network portfolio literature and resource dependence theory, this study investigates how a nonprofit's N2B partnership portfolio configurations (i.e., size and industry diversification), reliance on individual donations, and reliance on government grants influence the nonprofit's transparency in disclosing N2B partnerships on Twitter. We manually coded the level of transparency reflected in 911 tweets sent by 81 leading COVID-19 NPOs mentioning 501 companies from March 1 to July 19, 2020. Social network analysis and regression models were performed to answer the research inquiries. Findings indicate that maintaining a large number of business connections is associated with lowered transparency in N2B communication on Twitter, whereas keeping diverse connections with different business industries relates to increased transparency in N2B communication. NPOs with a stronger reliance on government grants signaled more transparency in N2B parentships on Twitter, but the reliance on individual donations did not influence N2B transparency signaling. • This study identifies the influence of NPOs' partner selection and resource dependence on N2B communication on Twitter. • Results indicate that network portfolio size and diversity influence N2B transparency signaling on Twitter in different ways. • NPOs' reliance on government grants was found to be positively associated with N2B transparency signaling on Twitter. • This study evokes critical thinking regarding the impact of external stakeholder networks on N2B communication practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: China ranks 53rd in the list of 81 countries included in the Quality of Death and Dying Index 2021. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in China. Although the country is highly burdened with cancer, with 4·5 million new diagnoses and more than 3 million cancer deaths in 2020 alone, palliative care services in mainland China are extremely scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the attitudes of people towards palliative and hospice care, and to analyse the associations between attitudes and potential explanatory variables.Methods: A survey was done between July 10, 2021, and Sept 15, 2021. We used a multistage sampling strategy to recruit participants from 120 cities across mainland China. The questionnaire aimed to assess the willingness of respondents to receive palliative care. Survey data were analysed by multiple stepwise linear regression to establish the factors associated with willingness to receive palliative care. Sex, education level, possession of a house, perceived anxiety on the Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment scale, perceived pressure, social support (evaluated through the Perceived Social Support Scale), family health (evaluated through the Short-Form Family Health Scale), health literacy (evaluated through the Short-Form Health Literacy Questionnaire), personal sense of health (evaluated through the EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale), self-reported quality of life and sense of health (evaluated trough the EuroQol Five Dimensions Questionnaire), and access to medical insurance were analysed as potential explanatory variables affecting acceptance of palliative care. Standardised regression coefficients (β) were used in multiple stepwise linear regression to reflect the effect of variables on the results.Findings: 11 031 respondents completed the survey. The average willingness to accept palliative care was scored at 65·02 points in a visual analogue scale of 0-100 points. Men (β=-0·02) were more likely than women to decline having palliative care. Respondents holding a bachelor's degree or higher (β=0·04), owning more residential properties (two: β=0·02; three or more houses: β=0·01), self-reporting mild perceived anxiety (β=0·03), higher perceived pressure (moderate pressure: β=0·05; severe pressure: β=0·06), or higher scores on the Perceived Social Support Scale (β=0·10), the Short-Form Family Health Scale (β=0·12), the Short-Form Health Literacy Questionnaire (β=0·16), the EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale (β=0·21), the EuroQol Five Dimensions Questionnaire (β=0·05), or with access to medical insurance providing higher reimbursement (employee health insurance and commercial health insurance: β=0·03; government insurance: β=0·04) were more willing to accept palliative care.Interpretation: Sex, house ownership, perceived anxiety, perceived pressure, social support on the Perceived Social Support Scale, and health literacy were the main affecting factors on Chinese residents' acceptance level and attitudes towards palliative care identified by this study, in which we discuss the public acceptance of palliative care on the basis of a nationwide sample from China. Despite some substantial reported outcomes in palliative care, the study is limited by reporting bias and selection bias.Funding: The scientific research project of Shaanxi Provincial Education Department, 2021 (grant 21JZ017), and Youth Project of Key Research Bases of Philosophy and Social Sciences in the Sichuan Province (grant YF22-Q13). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to interpersonal social interaction in online communities, the dynamics between individuals and groups has received much less attention. This study seeks to address this gap by examining how ecological factors drive the dissolution of individual-group ties. Guided by the ecology theory, the logic of "jack of all trades", which argues diversification lowers success, can be applied to understand how individuals access group resources and how group boundaries are collectively constructed. Moreover, interpersonal networks, including within-group and cross-group ties, also affect individual-group interaction. Within the research context of an online gaming community, this study examines the relational dynamics of 8631 persistently active players and their affiliated 2292 groups over thirty-two months. The results show that ecological factors including individual niche width, group category contrast, interpersonal networks, tie age and group age affect the individual-group tie decay hazard. • Individuals' diverse resource allocation to groups increases affiliation decay. • Groups' fuzzy boundaries increase affiliation decay. • Individuals' within-/cross-group ties affect affiliation decay differently. • Higher tenure within groups lowers affiliation decay. • Affiliation decay is less likely for older groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The observable degree is significant for the airborne Position and Orientation System (POS), and is a key parameter that reflects accuracy and rapidity of filter. The conventional mathematical method based on singular value decomposition cannot analyze the impact mechanism of movement on observable degree, and is impracticable to determine the movement of observable degree improvement. To solve the problem, an instantaneous observable degree model based on movement measurement for airborne POS is proposed to demonstrate the relationship between instantaneous movement and observable degree. The instantaneous observability matrix in the model is established to reduce analytical complexity. Experiment results show that the proposed model is valid to determine how to improve observable degree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]