Search

As train speeds increase, the aerodynamic effects generated during the passage of high-speed trains in tunnels become more pronounced. This article investigates the influence of line spacing on the aerodynamic forces during the passage of high-speed trains in tunnels at different speeds. The research methodology is based on the three-dimensional transient compressible Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations and the k-ω Shear Stress Transport (SST) turbulence model, using overset grid technology to simulate the train passing process in the tunnel. The results show that the aerodynamic drag, lateral force, and lift experienced by the train increase as the line spacing decreases and as the speed increases. line spacing has the greatest impact on aerodynamic lift, followed by lateral force, with drag having the smallest impact. Compared to line spacing, speed has a much larger effect on aerodynamic forces. The aerodynamic forces experienced by the train during tunnel passage are proportional to the square of the train's speed and have an exponential relationship with the line spacing during train passage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrasonic vibration systems are widely used in the field of material processing, their performance and stability are crucial for practical applications. The effect of force load on the output amplitude of ultrasonic vibration systems directly impacts the system's efficiency and stability. This study aims to explore the influence of force load on output amplitude during processing. Firstly, an electromechanical equivalent model of the ultrasonic vibration system under force load was established to determine the key parameters in the output amplitude model. Subsequently, the electromechanical conversion process of the ultrasonic vibration system was studied, and a model of the system's output amplitude under force load was developed. Finally, parameters of the equivalent model were determined through ultrasonic cutting load simulation experiments, and the output amplitude model was validated. The experimental results indicate that the effect of force load on the system's equivalent circuit is mainly reflected in the dynamic resistance R1, and the established amplitude model shows a high degree of agreement with the experimental values, verifying the model's accuracy. This study provides important guidance for optimizing the design of ultrasonic vibration systems, improving their performance and stability, and advancing the development of ultrasonic technology in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Prior research show that relative deprivation can decrease individuals' psychological well-being. However, the underlying mechanism between relative deprivation and psychological well-being remains unclear. To explore the mediating effects of self-efficacy and self-control on the relationship between relative deprivation and psychological well-being. 426 undergraduate students submitted the online survey that assessed their psychological well-being, relative deprivation, self-efficacy and self-control. Students experienced high levels of psychological well-being, moderate to high levels of relative deprivation and moderate levels of self-efficacy and self-control. Parallel mediators of self-efficacy and self-control on the relationship between relative deprivation and psychological well-being were significant (each p < 0.01). This study explores the underlying mechanism between relative deprivation and psychological well-being by identifying the parallel mediators of self-efficacy and self-control. Effective interventions should be taken to alleviate students' relative deprivation and promote their self-efficacy, self-control and psychological well-being during future pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum networks provide a prospective paradigm to connect separated quantum nodes, which relies on the distribution of long-distance entanglement and active feedforward control of qubits between remote nodes. Such approaches can be utilized to construct nonlocal quantum gates, forming building blocks for distributed quantum computing and other novel quantum applications. However, these gates have only been realized within single nodes or between nodes separated by a few tens of meters, limiting the ability to harness computing resources in large-scale quantum networks. Here, we demonstrate nonlocal photonic quantum gates between two nodes spatially separated by 7.0 km using stationary qubits based on multiplexed quantum memories, flying qubits at telecom wavelengths, and active feedforward control based on field-deployed fibers. Furthermore, we illustrate quantum parallelism by implementing the Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm and the quantum phase estimation algorithm between the two remote nodes. These results represent a proof-of-principle demonstration of quantum gates over metropolitan-scale distances and lay the foundation for the construction of large-scale distributed quantum networks relying on existing fiber channels. Full-fledged quantum communication networks would allow distributed quantum computing across multiple remote nodes, but typical implementations are stuck at meters-scale distances. Here the authors demonstrate teleportation-based nonlocal CNOT gates, distributed Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm and quantum phase estimation across 7 km space separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chewing areca nuts is popular in China. Areca alkaloids are the major toxic compounds in areca nuts. In this study, the levels of four areca alkaloids (i.e. arecoline, arecaidine, guvacoline and guvacine) in 119 areca nut samples were analyzed and 3030 areca nut consumption questionnaires were collected to investigate the exposure to areca alkaloids in the Chinese populations through areca nut chewing. The levels of arecoline, arecaidine, guvacoline and guvacine in different areca nut products were 0.46–4.97 mg/g, 0.57–7.51 mg/g, 0.08–1.44 mg/g and 0.03–8.48 mg/g, respectively. Chewing fresh areca fruits was the main source of arecoline and the total areca alkaloids exposure. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of arecoline and the total areca alkaloids for the Chinese populations were 1.126 and 2.625 mg/kg BW/day for average exposure, 4.411 and 9.739 mg/kg BW/day for high exposure (P95th). The EDI varied with age and gender. The young male population (≤ 34 years) had the highest EDI than other populations. Concentrated and focused efforts are required to educate the general public, especially the young male population, about the risks of areca nut chewing to reduce exposure to areca alkaloids of the Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the effects of Huxin formula (HXF) in curtailing atherosclerosis and its underlying mechanism. Methods: According to random number table method, 24 specific pathogen free male ApoE-/- mice were randomly divided into model group, HXF low-dose (HXF-L) group (8.4 g/kg daily), HXF high-dose (HXF-H) group (16.8 g/kg daily), and pravastatin (8 mg/kg daily) group in Experiment I (n=6 per group). C57BL/6J mice served as the control group (n=6). ApoE-/- mice in HXF-L, HXF-H, pravastatin groups were fed a Western diet and administered continuously by gavage for 12 weeks, while C57BL/6J mice in the control group were fed conventional lab mouse chow for 12 weeks. Further, Tregs were depleted by weekly intraperitoneal injection of purified anti-mouse CD25 antibody (PC61, 250 µg per mouse) for 4 weeks in Experiment II (n=6 per group). Oil Red O and Masson staining were used to evaluate the plaque area and aortic root fibrosis. The CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg counts in the lymph nodes and spleen cells were detected using flow cytometric analysis. The transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), interleukin (IL)-10, and IL-6 serum levels were examined by MILLIPLEX® MAP technology. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot were utilized to assess the expression of TGF-β mRNA and protein in the aorta. The expression of CD4+T lymphocytes, macrophages and smooth muscle cells in the aortic root were detected by immunofluorescence staining. Results: HXF reduced plaque area in ApoE-/- mice (P<0.01). HXF increased the Treg counts in the lymph nodes and spleen cells (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Moreover, HXF alleviated inflammatory response via elevating IL-10 and TGF-β 1 serum levels (P<0.05), while decreasing the IL-6 serum levels in ApoE-/- mice (P>0.05). Also, HXF upregulated the expression of TGF-β mRNA and protein in the aorta (P<0.05). Additionally, HXF attenuated CD4+T lymphocytes, macrophages and smooth muscle cells in aortic root plaque (P<0.01). Furthermore, the depletion of Tregs with CD25 antibody (PC61) curtailed the reduction in plaque area and aortic root fibrosis by HXF (P<0.01). Conclusion: HXF relieved atherosclerosis, probably by restraining inflammatory response, reducing inflammatory cell infiltration and attenuating aortic root fibrosis by increasing Treg counts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Service-learning is globally recognized as an impactful pedagogical approach in higher education. This study reviews literature from the past two decades on university course-based, credit-bearing academic service-learning in the Chinese mainland. It reveals a steady growth in service-learning courses across all regions of the Chinese mainland since 2006, with fifty-two courses documented in the academic literature by 2023. The courses span various disciplines and service populations and have shown positive impacts on university students' cognitive skills, peer and community connectedness, development of self, disciplinary, and career identities, as well as social responsibility. The study observes the presence of heterogeneous research designs, incomplete reporting of course information, variability in writing styles, structure, and content across different journals and disciplines, indicating an early stage in the field's development. This underscores the need for systematic documentation of course designs and processes and outcome evaluation with research rigor. The paper discusses the implications for the local development of service-learning practices and the advancement of research in this domain in light of the growing global interest in this educational approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel metal–organic framework (MOF) denoted as CJLU-L1 has been successfully synthesized and characterized. This MOF was assembled by dicooper paddle-wheel Secondary Building Units (SBUs) and a ligand incorporating a phosphorous group. The structure was solved and analyzed through single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD), revealing a framework with two types of cages with diameters of 5.79 and 6.20 Å. The void volume of CJLU-L1 is calculated to be 8130.5 Å3 per unit cell, which is 66% of the total crystal volume (12,321.4 Å3), as calculated by PLATON after remove of guest solvent in the pores. The Brunauer − Emmett − Teller (BET) surface areas also simulated by poreblazer software to be 1557 m2/g. The CJLU-L1 exhibits high hydrogen adsorption capacity at 77 K and 1 bar. This observation underscores the practical significance of CJLU-L1 in gas adsorption. Additionally, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and infrared spectrum (IR) were performed to prove the phase purity of the CJLU-L1, and thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) was conducted to analyzed to the thermal stability of the CJLU-L1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The high groundwater level coal mining areas have a long history of mining and are mainly located in east-central region of China. Subsidence caused by coal mining occur in several different periods. However, the subsidence change regularity in each periods remains unclear. This study aimed to reveal the subsidence change regularity in high groundwater level coal mining areas during different periods. The Juye coal mine, located in Heze City, Shandong Province, China, was selected for the study. Firstly, 55 Sentinel-1A radar satellite images from August 2018 to July 2020 were acquired for this research. The "two-track method" of D-InSAR technology was employed to process the images. Secondly, based on subsidence velocity of 1.7 mm/day, the subsidence process was divided into three periods: initial, active and weakening. Thirdly, elevation data of ground levelling points were used to check the accuracy of subsidence monitoring using Sentinel-1A data. At last, the subsidence change process in different periods was analyzed and the change regularity was summarized. The results are shown as follows: (1) the monitoring accuracy of different periods is high, and R2range from 0.961 to 0.983. (2) The subsidence characteristics are not obvious in initial period. The subsidence funnel begin to form and the mean maximum subsidence in center is greater than 1400 mm in active period. The subsidence velocity gradually decrease and eventually stabilize in weakening period. (3) Appearance of subsidence, development of subsidence funnels and formation of subsidence basins are spatial period characteristics of coal mining-induced subsidence. The results can provide an important basis for land conservation in mining areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuroinflammation is being increasingly recognized as a vital factor in the development of various neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases. Lipopolysaccharides (LPS), an outer membrane component of gram-negative bacteria, can trigger innate immune responses, resulting in neuroinflammation and subsequent cognitive deficits. The expression of glutamate receptors (GluRs) on glial cells can induce glial activation. Therefore, we hypothesized that repeated LPS exposure can increase GluR levels, promoting microglial activation and ultimately affecting synaptic plasticity and cognitive function. In this study, C57/BL6 mice were repeatedly exposed to LPS to construct a neuroinflammation animal model. The levels of GluRs, inflammatory cytokines, ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1, postsynaptic density protein 95, synaptophysin 38, NMDA receptor 2 A, and NMDA receptor 2B (GluN2B) were measured in the hippocampi. Furthermore, dendritic spine density in the CA1 hippocampal region was determined. Repeated LPS exposure induced cognitive impairments and microglial activation and increased GluR1 and GluR2 levels. This was accompanied by a significant decrease in GluN2B expression and dendritic spine density in the hippocampi. However, CFM-2, an α-amino-3- hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate receptor antagonist, reversed these anomalies. Furthermore, minocycline, a microglial inhibitor, reversed these anomalies and downregulated GluR2 but not GluR1 expression. In summary, we demonstrated that GluR2 plays an essential role in microglia-induced neuroinflammation, resulting in synaptic plasticity and cognitive impairment induced by repeated exposure to LPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the outcomes of Oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF)combined with anterolateral screw fixation (AF) and Stress Endplate Augmentation(SEA) versus OLIF-AF in the treatment of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS)with osteoporosis (OP). Methods: 30 patients underwent OLIF-AF-SEA (SEA group) were matched with 30 patients received OLIF-AF (control group), in terms of sex, age, body mass index (BMI) and bone mineral density (BMD). Clinical outcomes including visual analog scale (VAS) score of the lower back pain (VAS-LBP), leg pain (VAS-LP), and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were evaluated at different postoperative intervals and comparedwith their preoperative counterparts. Radiographic outcomes such as disk height (DH), slip distance (SD), lumbar lordosis (LL), segmental lordosis (SL), cage subsidence (CS) rate and fusion rate were evaluated at different postoperative intervals and compared with their preoperative counterparts. Results: SEA group presented to be better at 3-month and 12-month follow-up, the VAS-LBP, VAS-LP and ODI scores of the SEA group were significantly lower than the control group (3-month SEA vs control: 2.30±0.70 vs 3.30±0.75, 2.03±0.72 vs 2.90±0.76,15.60±2.36 vs 23.23±3.07, respectively, all p<0.05. VAS-LBP and ODI 12-month SEA vs control: 1.27±0.74 vs 1.93±0.58, 12.20±1.88 vs 14.43±1.89,respectively, all p<0.05). At 24-month follow-up, both groups showed no difference in fusion rate (83.33% vs 90.00%, p=0.45), while SEA group showed a lower CS rate (13.33% vs 53.33%, p<0.05). Conclusion: OLIF-AF-SEA was safe with no adverse effects and resulted in lower CS rate and better sagittal balance. OLIF-AF-SEA is a promising surgical method for treating patients with DLS-OP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Wearable devices are becoming increasingly popular, diverse, and accessible. To put it in perspective, in 2022 alone, more than 490 million wearable devices were sold. The diversity of wearables is beneficial to users but poses challenges for mobile forensic investigators. These devices track, utilize, and collect a wide range of user information, generating a wealth of data that can potentially be used or presented in court as evidence. To keep up with these innovations, mobile forensic investigators must continuously monitor and update their knowledge. In particular, smart rings are gaining popularity, with the Oura Ring Gen 3 being one of the most anticipated within the community. This study provides an initial look at the Oura Ring Generation 3 application, known as Oura, from a mobile forensic perspective. The artifacts presented in this article are derived from three different platforms: Android, iOS, and Cloud. The study reveals the exact paths of the data points and their locations. The data uncovered in this study could be significant for digital forensics investigators in various scenarios and inform users about the personal information that is stored. Information such as heart rate, various activities performed, user ID, and other user details could prove valuable in multiple instances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how subtle structural differences between macrocyclic conformational isomers impact their properties and separation has garnered increasing attention in the field of supramolecular synthetic chemistry. In this work, a series of tetraphenylene (TPE)-embedded butterfly bis-crown ether macrocycles (BCE[n], n = 4–7), comprising two crown ether side rings and a TPE core, are synthesized through intramolecular McMurry coupling. Unexpectedly, the presence of flexible oligoethylene chains with varying lengths are found to influence molecular conformation via multiple intramolecular interactions, resulting in the formation of two stabilized conformers with specific semi-rigid symmetric/asymmetric structures (sym-BCE[n] and asym-BCE[n], n = 5, 6). Moreover, it is noteworthy that neither symmetric nor asymmetric conformers are present in the more rigid BCE[4] or the more flexible BCE[7]. Interestingly, these conformers display distinct fluorescence properties and host-guest binding abilities, and only sym-BCE[5] can serve as a host for chiral polymer binding, resulting in the formation of chiral supramolecular assemblies through host-guest interaction induced chirality. Moreover, both circular dichroism and circularly polarized luminescence signals of the obtained assemblies can be switched off by the addition of sodium ion, suggesting potential applications in the field of dynamic chiral materials. Understanding how structural differences impact the properties of macrocyclic conformational isomers has garnered attention in the field of supramolecular chemistry. Here, the authors synthesize tetraphenylene-embedded butterfly bis-crown ether macrocycles with conformers that display distinct fluorescence properties and host-guest binding abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the reentrant Hawking–Page transition in the grand canonical ensemble of Gauss–Bonnet AdS spacetime. We find that the four-dimensional Gauss–Bonnet hyperbolic AdS black hole always has a reentrant Hawking–Page transition in the range of electric potential 0 < Φ < Φ tr , accompanied by the appearance of the triple point. However, once the potential exceeds a certain upper limit Φ tr , i.e. Φ > Φ tr , the Hawking–Page transition disappears. In the spacetime of five and higher dimensional Gauss–Bonnet hyperbolic AdS black hole, the reentrant Hawking–Page transition is solely observed to occur when the electric potential Φ lies between two specific thresholds ( Φ c < Φ < Φ tr ). In scenarios where the electric potential is below Φ c ( Φ < Φ c ), only the standard Hawking–Page transition as in the the Einstein gravity is observed. Similar to the four-dimensional case, the Hawking–Page transition is negated when the electric potential exceeds Φ tr ( Φ > Φ tr ). We give the coexistence line, the triple point and critical point of the Hawking–Page transition in the phase diagram of the Gauss–Bonnet hyperbolic AdS black hole. The observed reentrant Hawking–Page transitions and triple points in the context of Gauss–Bonnet hyperbolic AdS black holes may correspond to the phase transitions and triple points in QCD phase diagrams, following the spirit of the AdS/CFT correspondence. To be a complete research, the Hawking–Page transition of d-dimensional charged spherical Gauss–Bonnet-AdS black hole in the grand canonical ensemble is also study in the Appendix, for which there exists a standard Hawking–Page transition with the transition temperature depending on the Gauss–Bonnet constant α . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The grain structure evolution and nanomechanical behavior of cold-sprayed Al coating on Ti substrate with friction stir spot processing (FSSP) were studied by the electron backscatter diffraction and nanoindentation methods. The low-angle boundaries (LAGBs) fraction and the density of the geometrically necessary dislocations (GNDs) decreased from the base zone (BZ) to the stir zone (SZ). The average grain size, the LAGBs fraction and the density of the GNDs were various in different locations of the SZ, which can be attributed to the variety of local shear strain and temperature gradient during FSSP. The B/ B - component, the C component, and the A*1/ A*2 component were mainly developed in the SZ. The highest intensity of the B/ B - component appeared in the 3/8D of the SZ, indicating that the plasticized materials flowed downward experienced the highest shear strain. The materials in the heat affected zone (HAZ) underwent static recrystallization, while the continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX) and the geometric dynamic recrystallization (GDRX) occurred in the thermo-mechanically affected zone (TMAZ) and SZ. The nano-hardness and elastic modulus of the cold-sprayed Al coating after FSSP were comparable to those of pure Al bulk. The grain size and dislocation density were the main factors affecting the nano-hardness in the SZ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Renal anemia is a common complication of chronic kidney disease. Currently, recombinant human erythropoietin and roxadustat are the main treatments. In China, diabetic kidney disease is the primary cause of chronic kidney disease. However, high-quality evidence on the efficacy of roxadustat in patients with non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease and diabetes mellitus is scarce. This study aimed to assess the clinical effect of roxadustat in such patients. Methods: Patients with non-dialysis-dependent anemia and diabetes mellitus who received roxadustat or recombinant human erythropoietin for ≥ 4 weeks were enrolled. We compared baseline characteristics, including age, gender, hypertension, and hemoglobin level, and then employed a 1:3 ratio propensity score matching. The primary efficacy outcomes were changes in hemoglobin levels. After propensity score matching, 212 patients were analyzed, including the roxadustat (n = 53) and recombinant human erythropoietin (n = 159) groups. Baseline characteristics were comparable, including hemoglobin level, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and glycated hemoglobin A1c (p > 0.05). Results: After 4, 12, and 24 weeks of treatment, the median hemoglobin levels in the roxadustat group were 97.5 g/L, 104 g/L, and 106.5 g/L, respectively, significantly surpassing the corresponding levels in the recombinant human erythropoietin group at 91 g/L, 94.5 g/L, and 94.5 g/L (p = 0.002, p = 0.025, p = 0.006, respectively). Additionally, subgroup analysis demonstrated better treatment efficacy of roxadustat patients with elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and low albumin levels. Conclusion: In Chinese patients with anemia and diabetes not on dialysis, roxadustat efficiently and rapidly improved and maintained hemoglobin levels unaffected by elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and low albumin levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In prevailing p-i-n perovskite solar cells (PSCs), solution-processible fullerene molecules are widely used as electron-transporting layers (ETLs) but they typically suffer from poor uniformity and undesirable stability issues. Additionally, a separate bathocuproine (BCP) layer is needed to block hole transfer, increasing fabrication complexity and cost. Here, we address these limitations by developing a novel polymeric ETL (named PFBCP) synthesized by polymerizing C60 with BCP. This innovative material achieves both efficient electron transport and hole blocking, while its excellent uniformity minimizes interface recombination and enhances stability. Consequently, our blade-coated PSCs utilizing PFBCP achieve a high power conversion efficiency exceeding 22% and retain 91% of initial efficiency after 1200 h of light exposure. This development not only paves the way for commercially viable PSCs but also opens avenues for future ETL design to realize even more efficient and stable PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bipolar plates are an important component of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), and their production is crucial for the commercialization of PEMFCs. Therefore, phenolic resin/carbon black/graphite composite bipolar plates were prepared using different molding temperatures (150, 160, 170, 180 °C). The electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, corrosion resistance and mass loss of the composite bipolar plates were measured according to the applicable standards. Among the four composite plates, the composite bipolar plate prepared at 170 °C had a compressive strength of 68 MPa, a flexural strength of 45.3 MPa, an electrical conductivity of 331 S/cm, and the best properties. The electrical conductivity, flexural strength and mass loss of the composite plate prepared at 170 °C after being corroded in acid solution for 20 days are maintained in a relatively stable state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Successful recognition is generally thought to be based on both recollection and familiarity of studied information. Recent studies found that making judgments of learning (JOLs) can reactively facilitate recognition performance, a form of reactivity effect on memory. The current study aimed to explore the roles of recollection and familiarity in the reactivity effect on recognition performance. Experiment 1 replicated the positive reactivity effect on recognition performance. Experiment 2 used the sequential remember/know (R/K) procedure, Experiment 3 utilized the simultaneous R/K procedure, and Experiment 4 inserted a long study-test interval (i.e., 24-h) to determine the roles of recollection and familiarity in the reactivity effect. These three experiments converged in demonstrating that making JOLs reactively facilitated recognition performance through enhancing both recollection and familiarity. Furthermore, there was minimal difference between the reactive influences on recollection and familiarity. The documented findings imply that the JOL reactivity effect on recognition is supported by two underlying mechanisms: greater recollection induced by enhanced distinctiveness, and superior familiarity induced by enhanced learning engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employment of appropriate study strategies is crucial for academic success. Previous findings on whether use of specific strategies is related to academic performance in real educational settings were inconsistent, and their participant samples were largely restricted to undergraduate students. The current study recruited a large sample (i.e., 4,331 participants) of elementary school students to explore the association between use of specific strategies and academic performance by using multilevel linear regression models, in which two potential confounding variables (i.e., SES and gender) are controlled for. The results showed that after controlling for SES, gender and other study strategies, use of spaced study, rereading and help-seeking positively related to academic performance in elementary school students. However, use of self-testing, highlighting/underlining, note-taking, summarizing, making diagrams, making study plans and studying with friends did not positively correlate with academic performance in elementary school children. Instructors and parents are suggested to encourage children to study by using the effective study strategies, and teach them how to maximize the benefits of these strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dark photon is a new gauge boson beyond the Standard Model as a kind of dark matter (DM) candidate. Dark photon dark matter (DPDM) interacts with electromagnetic fields via kinetic mixing, implicating an approach to give a constraint with extragalactic very high energy (VHE) sources. In this work, we attempt to constrain the kinetic mixing from the photon-dark photon scattering process in the host galaxy of blazar, the intergalactic medium and the Milky Way. The VHE photons from a blazar would pass through a dense DM spike around the supermassive black hole where the absorption from DPDM is dramatically enhanced. The kinetic mixing is constrained to be ϵ ∼ 10 - 7 at a 95 % confidence level with m D ∼ 0.03 - 1 eV mass range from the observations of Markarian (Mrk) 421 and Mrk 501. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While the accurate prediction of the overall survival (OS) in patients with submandibular gland cancer (SGC) is paramount for informed therapeutic planning, the development of reliable survival prediction models has been hindered by the rarity of SGC cases. The purpose of this study is to identify key prognostic factors for OS in SGC patients using a large database and construct decision tree models to aid the prediction of survival probabilities in 12, 24, 60 and 120 months. Materials and methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Result (SEER) program. Demographic and peri-operative predictor variables were identified. The outcome variables overall survival at 12-, 24-, 60, and 120 months. The C5.0 algorithm was utilized to establish the dichotomous decision tree models, with the depth of tree limited within 4 layers. To evaluate the performances of the novel models, the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were generated, and the metrics such as accuracy rate, and area under ROC curve (AUC) were calculated. Results: A total of 1,705, 1,666, 1,543, and 1,413 SGC patients with a follow up of 12, 24, 60 and 120 months and exact survival status were identified from the SEER database. Predictor variables of age, sex, surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, tumor histology, summary stage, metastasis to distant lymph node, and marital status exerted substantial influence on overall survival. Decision tree models were then developed, incorporating these vital prognostic indicators. Favorable consistency was presented between the predicted and actual survival statuses. For the training dataset, the accuracy rates for the 12-, 24-, 60- and 120-month survival models were 0.866, 0.767, 0.737 and 0.797. Correspondingly, the AUC values were 0.841, 0.756, 0.725, and 0.774 for the same time points. Conclusions: Based on the most important predictor variables identified using the large, SEER database, decision tree models were established that predict OS of SGC patients. The models offer a more exhaustive evaluation of mortality risk and may lead to more personalized treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

T8 steel was selected as the experimental material for the pulse detonation-plasma technology (PDT) treatment. The hardness and wear resistance of the PDT treated samples were tested and found to be 2.57 times harder and 72.1% more wear resistant than the matrix part, respectively. To investigate the reasons for this increase in hardness and wear resistance performance, the phase composition and histomorphology of the treated samples were examined using x-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscopy, and field transmission electron microscopy. The surface of the samples showed melting and the formation of tungsten (W) droplets. The surface layer changed from lamellar pearlite to a mixture of fine-grained martensite and residual austenite, and the W elements penetrated the modified layer, with many dislocations and lattice distortions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scarcity of water resources and environmental pollution in the coal mining areas of western China severely restricts high-quality mine development and construction there. Treating mine water as a valuable unconventional water resource for large-scale processing and efficient utilization is a crucial approach. This paper discusses the current status of mine water treatment technology in this region and provides a systematic comparison and analysis of common and emerging treatment technologies for mine water containing suspended solids, high salinity, and fluoride. The paper extensively elaborates on the fundamental principles, process routes, and technical features of these technologies, citing typical engineering cases. It also outlines the challenges that mine water treatment in the coal mining areas of western China is likely to face in the future. Based on the current status of mine water resource utilization in China, various pathways forward are clarified. Finally, this paper presents a scientific reflection and proposed solutions for mine water treatment technology and resource utilization in the coal mining areas of western China, concluding with a prospective outlook on the future development of this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many mental processes are reactive – they are altered as a result of introspection and monitoring. It has been documented that soliciting trial-by-trial confidence ratings (CRs) reactively improves decision accuracy and lengthens response times (RTs), but the cognitive mechanisms underlying CR reactivity in decision-making remain unknown. The current study conducted two experiments and employed the drift-diffusion model (DDM) to explore why reporting confidence reactively alters the decision-making process. The results showed that CRs led to enhanced decision accuracy, longer RTs, and higher response thresholds. The findings are consistent with an increased conservatism hypothesis which asserts that soliciting CRs provokes feelings of uncertainty and makes individuals more cautious in their decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of English Teaching & Learning is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Practice testing (i.e., practice retrieval) has been established as an effective learning strategy. Uncovering potential factors influencing self-testing usage is a prerequisite to promote its practical use. The present study reports five experiments exploring whether test anxiety (TA) and test stake (1) affect self-testing usage (Experiments 1–5) and (2) influence learning performance through their negative effects on self-testing usage (Experiments 1, 4, and 5). Experiment 1 analyzed data from 459 high school students collected via a survey and found both that TA negatively predicted students’ daily use of self-testing and that self-testing usage mediated the negative association between TA and academic performance. The negative association between TA and self-testing usage was further replicated in a laboratory experiment (Experiment 2). Another quasi-experiment (Experiment 3) showed that students were less likely to test themselves when preparing for a high-stake than a low-stake exam. Experiment 4 replicated this finding and additionally demonstrated that a high-stake test led to poorer learning via its negative influence on self-testing usage. Experiment 5 demonstrated that a high-stake test provoked high state anxiety, which then induced avoidance of self-testing and ultimately impaired learning. Overall, these findings demonstrate a negative effect of TA on self-testing usage, in turn leading to poor learning. Practical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A major challenge is to construct ceramic membranes with tunable structures and functions for water treatment. Herein, a novel corrosion-resistant polymer-derived silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) ceramic membrane with designed architectures was fabricated by a phase separation method and was applied in organic removal via adsorption and oxidation for the first time. The pore structure of the as-prepared SiOC ceramic membranes was well controlled by changing the sintering temperature and polydimethylsiloxane content, leading to a pore size of 0.84–1.62 μm and porosity of 25.0–43.8%. Corrosion resistance test results showed that the SiOC membranes sustained minimal damage during 24 h exposure to high-intensity acid–base conditions, which could be attributed to the chemical inertness of SiOC. With rhodamine 6G (R6G) as the model pollutant, the SiOC membrane demonstrated an initial effective removal rate of 99% via adsorption; however, the removal rate decreased as the system approached adsorption saturation. When peroxymonosulfate was added into the system, efficient and continuous degradation of R6G was observed throughout the entire period, indicating the potential of the as-prepared SiOC membrane in oxidation-related processes. Thus, this work provides new insights into the construction of novel polymer-derived ceramic membranes with well-defined structures and functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the use of evidence-based research (EBR) approach in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture-related therapies for primary dysmenorrhea (PD). Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, Chinese Biomedical Database, and China Science and Technology Journal Database were searched from January 2013 to December 2022 for RCTs of acupuncture on PD. The full text and references of each RCT were read to assess whether systematic reviews (SRs) or other types of studies with similar research questions and end-users' perspectives were cited to justify and design the trial. In addition, the discussion section were analyzed to evaluate whether trials placed the new result in the existing SRs to draw a conclusion. Multivariable logistic regression was used to find variables that associated with 3 aspects of EBR approach: (1) citing clinical studies for justification, (2) citing relevant studies that obtain the perspectives of end users, and (3) citing clinical studies for results discussion. Results: Of 473 RCTs included, 45.67% (216) of the trials cited relevant similar studies, 21.56% (102) referenced to the studies that collected end-users' perspectives, and 10.99% (52) placed result in the context of the previous research. Few RCTs appropriately applied EBR approach. Among all the included studies, 3.17% (15) of the trials used SRs to inform study questions but none of them used updated SRs with acceptable quality; 1.05% (5) of the trials cited SRs of end-user's perspectives in the justification and design of the study, and only 1 trial added results in existing SR to draw a conclusion. Year of publication, language, funding, registration, ethical approval and number of sites were significantly associated with 1 of the 3 aspects of EBR approach. Conclusions: Few RCTs in acupuncture-related therapies for PD used the EBR approach to minimize research redundancy. Researchers, research institutes, funding agencies, ethics committees, journals and peer reviewers in acupuncture should make efforts to use and promote the EBR approach to ensure the value of new trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Understanding water saturation levels in tight gas carbonate reservoirs is vital for optimizing hydrocarbon production and mitigating challenges such as reduced permeability due to water saturation (Sw) and pore throat blockages, given its critical role in managing capillary pressure in water drive mechanisms reservoirs. Traditional sediment characterization methods such as core analysis, are often costly, invasive, and lack comprehensive spatial information. In recent years, several classical machine learning models have been developed to address these shortcomings. Traditional machine learning methods utilized in reservoir characterization encounter various challenges, including the ability to capture intricate relationships, potential overfitting, and handling extensive, multi-dimensional datasets. Moreover, these methods often face difficulties in dealing with temporal dependencies and subtle patterns within geological formations, particularly evident in heterogeneous carbonate reservoirs. Consequently, despite technological advancements, enhancing the reliability, interpretability, and applicability of predictive models remains imperative for effectively characterizing tight gas carbonate reservoirs. This study employs a novel data-driven strategy to prediction of water saturation in tight gas reservoir powered by three recurrent neural network type deep/shallow learning algorithms—Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU), Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Support Vector Machine (SVM), K-nearest neighbor (KNN) and Decision tree (DT)—customized to accurately forecast sequential sedimentary structure data. These models, optimized using Adam's optimizer algorithm, demonstrated impressive performance in predicting water saturation levels using conventional petrophysical data. Particularly, the GRU model stood out, achieving remarkable accuracy (an R-squared value of 0.9973) with minimal errors (RMSE of 0.0198) compared to LSTM, RNN, SVM, KNN and, DT algorithms, thus showcasing its proficiency in processing extensive datasets and effectively identifying patterns. By achieving unprecedented accuracy levels, this study not only enhances the understanding of sediment properties and fluid saturation dynamics but also offers practical implications for reservoir management and hydrocarbon exploration in complex geological settings. These insights pave the way for more reliable and efficient decision-making processes, thereby advancing the forefront of reservoir engineering and petroleum geoscience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supramolecular systems feature dynamic, reversible and stimuli-responsive characteristics, which are not easily achieved by molecular entities. The last decade has witnessed tremendous advances in the investigations of supramolecular systems for various bioapplications, which include drug delivery, anticancer therapy, antibacterial therapy, photodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy, combination therapy, antidotes for residual drugs or toxins, and bioimaging and biosensing. Host-guest chemistry has played a key role in the development of such bioactive supramolecular systems, and natural macrocycles (such as cyclodextrins), synthetic macrocycles (such as calixarenes, cucurbit[n]urils, and pillararenes), and porous framework polymers (such as supramolecular organic frameworks and flexible organic frameworks) have been most successfully used as hosts to build different kinds of host-guest systems for attaining designed biofunctions. The self-assembly of rationally designed amphiphilic molecules, macromolecules and polymers represent another important approach for the construction of supramolecular architectures with advanced biofunctions. In this review, we summarize the important contributions made by Chinese researchers in this field, with emphasis on those reported in the past five years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering corrosion on mechanical property of Mg alloy in simulated body fluid, cold-sprayed Zn coating was prepared onto Mg alloy substrate in order to improve its tensile strength after immersion in stimulated body fluid. Tensile strength and corrosion behaviors of bare and Zn-coated Mg alloy were investigated after different immersion time. Results show that comparing with deep and large corrosion pits on bare samples after immersion, Zn-coated Mg alloys exhibited shallow and small corrosion scars on Zn coating, and the Zn coating effectively delayed the corrosion attacks on Mg alloy substrates. The pH increment and Mg ion release in immersion medium for Zn-coated samples were lower than that of bare samples due to the corrosion protection of cold-sprayed Zn coating. Zn-coated Mg alloys after immersion of 28 days exhibited an ultimate tensile strength of 247.2 ± 9.2 MPa and yield strength of 181.7 ± 6.8 MPa, which was higher than that of bare Mg alloys by 11.9% and 16.7%. The main fracture mechanism of the bare and Zn-coated Mg alloys during tensile testing transformed from ductile fracture to brittle fracture after immersion, which can be attributed to stress concentration caused by localized corrosion pits. Improvement in tensile strength of Zn-coated Mg alloy after immersion was discussed from the viewpoint of corrosion attacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper innovatively proposes the Black Kite Algorithm (BKA), a meta-heuristic optimization algorithm inspired by the migratory and predatory behavior of the black kite. The BKA integrates the Cauchy mutation strategy and the Leader strategy to enhance the global search capability and the convergence speed of the algorithm. This novel combination achieves a good balance between exploring global solutions and utilizing local information. Against the standard test function sets of CEC-2022 and CEC-2017, as well as other complex functions, BKA attained the best performance in 66.7, 72.4 and 77.8% of the cases, respectively. The effectiveness of the algorithm is validated through detailed convergence analysis and statistical comparisons. Moreover, its application in solving five practical engineering design problems demonstrates its practical potential in addressing constrained challenges in the real world and indicates that it has significant competitive strength in comparison with existing optimization techniques. In summary, the BKA has proven its practical value and advantages in solving a variety of complex optimization problems due to its excellent performance. The source code of BKA is publicly available at . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most gastric cancers arise in the setting of chronic inflammation which alters gland organization, such that acid-pumping parietal cells are lost, and remaining cells undergo metaplastic change in differentiation patterns. From a basic science perspective, recent progress has been made in understanding how atrophy and initial pyloric metaplasia occur. However, pathologists and cancer biologists have long been focused on the development of intestinal metaplasia patterns in this setting. Arguably, much less progress has been made in understanding the mechanisms that lead to the intestinalization seen in chronic atrophic gastritis and pyloric metaplasia. One plausible explanation for this disparity lies in the notable absence of reliable and reproducible small animal models within the field, which would facilitate the investigation of the mechanisms underlying the development of gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM). This review offers an in-depth exploration of the current state of research in GIM, shedding light on its pivotal role in tumorigenesis. We delve into the histological subtypes of GIM and explore their respective associations with tumor formation. We present the current repertoire of biomarkers utilized to delineate the origins and progression of GIM and provide a comprehensive survey of the available, albeit limited, mouse lines employed for modeling GIM and engage in a discussion regarding potential cell lineages that serve as the origins of GIM. Finally, we expound upon the myriad signaling pathways recognized for their activity in GIM and posit on their potential overlap and interactions that contribute to the ultimate manifestation of the disease phenotype. Through our exhaustive review of the progression from gastric disease to GIM, we aim to establish the groundwork for future research endeavors dedicated to elucidating the etiology of GIM and developing strategies for its prevention and treatment, considering its potential precancerous nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Advances in Atmospheric Sciences is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical, imaging, and outcome characteristics of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) caused by structural vascular lesions. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from a prospective observational cohort study of patients with spontaneous ICH admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between May 2016 and April 2021. Good outcome was defined as modified Rankin Scale score of 0–3 at 3 months. The clinical and imaging characteristics were compared between primary ICH and ICH caused by structural vascular lesions. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to test the associations of etiology with clinical outcome. Results: All patients enrolled in this study were Asian. Compared with patients with primary ICH, those with structural vascular lesions were younger (48 vs. 62 years, P < 0.001), had a lower incidence of hypertension (26.4% vs. 81.7%, P < 0.001) and diabetes (7.4% vs. 16.2%, P = 0.003), and had mostly lobar hemorrhages (49.1% vs. 22.8%). ICH from structural vascular lesions had smaller baseline hematoma volume (8.4 ml vs. 13.8 ml, P = 0.010), had lower mortality rate at 30 days and 3 months (5.8% vs. 12.0%, P = 0.020; 6.7% vs. 14.8%, P = 0.007), and are associated with better functional outcome at 3 months (88% vs.70.3%, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Compared with primary ICH, ICH due to vascular lesions has smaller hematoma volume and less severe neurological deficit at presentation and better functional outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivated by a discrete-time process intended to measure the speed of the spread of contagion in a graph, the burning number b(G) of a graph G, is defined as the smallest integer k for which there are vertices x1,...,xk such that for every vertex u of G, there exists i ∈ {1,...,k} with dG(u, xi) ≤ k − i, and dG(xi, xj) ≥ j − i for any 1 ≤ i < j ≤ k. The graph burning problem has been shown to be NP-complete even for some acyclic graphs with maximum degree three. In this paper, we determine the burning numbers of all short barbells and long barbells, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RC double-column medium height bents (DCMBs) are widely applied in the mountain areas as the substructure of highway bridges, and the two columns are normally connected by RC link beams to enhance the lateral stability. However, serious damage and/or large residual displacement were repeatedly observed in the DCMBs after many major earthquakes, which may make the bridges lose functionality and have to be demolished and rebuilt. In order to improve the seismic performance of the bridges, a novel self-centering variable friction dissipation brace (SCVFB) using SMA plates is developed to replace the traditional RC link beams in the DCMBs in this study. The mechanical properties of the shape memory alloy (SMA) plate were investigated experimentally. Then, the analytical model of the DCMBs with inverted-V SCVFBs (DCMB-SVFB) is built, and the corresponding design philosophies of the SCVFB in the DCMB are proposed based on the concept of structural fuse. Subsequently, the hysteretic behaviors of the DCMB-SCVFB in the transverse direction are analyzed, and the dynamic responses of the whole bridge under near-field ground motions are also investigated. For comparison, the seismic behaviors of the bridges with original bents (the bridges with and without link beams) and the bridges retrofitted with buckling restrained braces (BRBs) are also presented. The results show that the SCVFB has stable energy dissipation capability and excellent self-centering ability, even without the need of prestressing. Compared with the original bridge, the bridges with SCVFBs and BRBs are featured by higher strength, larger stiffness, better energy dissipation capacity, and less damage. In particular, the SCVFB can effectively reduce the residual displacement of the bridge and quickly restore the traffic capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interrupted tensile tests were conducted on FSWed AZ31 Mg alloy to reveal the non-uniform tensile deformation and underlying deformation mechanisms along welding joint. During tensile test, plastic deformation is inhomogeneous along tensile sample. Tensile deformation concentrates at the welding joint, especially at the intermediate zone between NZ and TMAZ. Depending on texture variation, different deformation mechanisms are concluded to be responsible for such inhomogeneous deformation. The activation stress of each deformation mechanism changes gradually from advancing side to retreating side. { 10 1 ¯ 2 } Twinning, prismatic slip and basal slip are the dominating deformation mechanisms in TMAZ, NZ and their intermediate zones, respectively. Thus, inhomogeneous deformation was found along the center line of welding joint, and producing different working hardening. It is verified through micro-hardness distribution along the center line where the intermediate zone has the highest micro-hardness improvement. The results presented in this study give a clear exposition on deformation mechanisms induced inhomogeneous deformation in Mg alloy welding joint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]