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Exposure to organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) has been reported to be associated with renal impairment and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Nevertheless, the research results thus far have exhibited inconsistency, and the effect of lifestyle on their association is not clear. In this study, we assessed the correlation between serum OCPs/PCBs and CKD and renal function indicators including estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) among 1721 Chinese adults. In order to further investigate the potential impact of lifestyle, we conducted joint associations of lifestyle and OCPs/PCBs on CKD. We found a negative correlation between p,p′-DDE and eGFR, while logistic regression results showed a positive correlation between PCB-153 and CKD (OR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.21, 3.06). Quantile g-computation regression analyses showed that the association between co-exposure to OCPs/PCBs and CKD was not significant, but p,p′-DDE and PCB-153 were the main contributors to the negative and positive co-exposure effects of eGFR and CKD, respectively, which is consistent with the regression results. Participants with both relatively high PCB-153 exposure and an unhealthy lifestyle had the highest risk of CKD, in the joint association analysis. The observed associations were generally supported by the FAS-eGFR method. Our research findings suggest that exposure to OCPs/PCBs may be associated with decreased eGFR and increased prevalence of CKD in humans, and a healthy lifestyle can to some extent alleviate the adverse association between PCB-153 exposure and CKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to develop and internally validate a nomogram model for assessing the risk of intraoperative hypothermia in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) lobectomy. This study is a retrospective study. A total of 530 patients who undergoing VATS lobectomy from January 2022 to December 2023 in a tertiary hospital in Wuhan were selected. Patients were divided into hypothermia group (n = 346) and non-hypothermia group (n = 184) according to whether hypothermia occurred during the operation. Lasso regression was used to screen the independent variables. Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of hypothermia during operation, and a nomogram model was established. Bootstrap method was used to internally verify the nomogram model. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the discrimination of the model. Calibration curve and Hosmer Lemeshow test were used to evaluate the accuracy of the model. Decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to evaluate the clinical utility of the model. Intraoperative hypothermia occurred in 346 of 530 patients undergoing VATS lobectomy (65.28%). Logistic regression analysis showed that age, serum total bilirubin, inhaled desflurane, anesthesia duration, intraoperative infusion volume, intraoperative blood loss and body mass index were risk factors for intraoperative hypothermia in patients undergoing VATS lobectomy (P < 0.05). The area under ROC curve was 0.757, 95% CI (0.714–0.799). The optimal cutoff value was 0.635, the sensitivity was 0.717, and the specificity was 0.658. These results suggested that the model was well discriminated. Calibration curve has shown that the actual values are generally in agreement with the predicted values. Hosmer–Lemeshow test showed that χ2 = 5.588, P = 0.693, indicating that the model has a good accuracy. The DCA results confirmed that the model had high clinical utility. The nomogram model constructed in this study showed good discrimination, accuracy and clinical utility in predicting patients with intraoperative hypothermia, which can provide reference for medical staff to screen high-risk of intraoperative hypothermia in patients undergoing VATS lobectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to comprehensively pool the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis by birth weight, gestational age, and size for gestational age. PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Ovid PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library were searched up to December 22, 2021. We pooled data using the random-effects model and quantified heterogeneity using the I2 statistic. Of 66 643 records initially identified, 75 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence estimates of ASD diagnosis are as follows: very-low-birth weight, 3.1% (912 ASD/66,445 individuals); low-birth weight, 2.3% (5672 ASD/593,927 individuals); normal-birth weight, 0.5% (17,361 ASD/2,378,933 individuals); high-birth weight, 0.6% (4505 ASD/430,699 individuals); very preterm, 2.8% (2113 ASD/128,513 individuals); preterm, 2.1% (19 672 ASD/1 725 244 individuals); term, 0.6% (113,261 ASD/15,297,259 individuals); postterm, 0.6% (9419 ASD/1,138,215 individuals); small-for-gestational-age, 1.9% (6314 ASD/796,550 individuals); appropriate-for-gestational-age, 0.7% (21,026 ASD/5,936,704 individuals); and large-for-gestational-age, 0.6% (2607 ASD/635,666 individuals). Compared with the reference prevalence (those in normal-birth weight, term, and appropriate-for-gestational-age individuals), the prevalence estimates of ASD diagnosis in very-low-birth weight, low-birth weight, very preterm, preterm, and small-for-gestational-age individuals increased significantly, while those in high-birth weight, postterm, and large-for-gestational-age individuals did not change significantly. There were geographical differences in the prevalence estimates. This meta-analysis provided reliable estimates of the prevalence of ASD diagnosis by birth weight, gestational age, and size for gestational age, and suggested that low-birth weight (especially very-low-birth weight), preterm (especially very preterm), and small-for-gestational-age births, rather than high-birth weight, postterm, and large-for-gestational-age births, were associated with increased risk of ASD diagnosis. However, in view of marked between-study heterogeneity in most conditions, unknown effects of certain important confounders associated with ASD due to limited information in original articles, and included studies from a relatively small number of countries, the findings of this study should be interpreted with caution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reevesia is an eastern Asian-eastern North American disjunction genus in the family Malvaceae s.l. and comprises approximately 25 species. The relationships within the genus are not well understood. Here, 15 plastomes representing 12 Reevesia species were compared, with the aim of better understanding the species circumscription and phylogenetic relationships within the genus and among genera in the family Malvaceae s.l. The 11 newly sequenced plastomes range between 161,532 and 161, 945 bp in length. The genomes contain 114 unique genes, 18 of which are duplicated in the inverted repeats (IRs). Gene content of these plastomes is nearly identical. All the protein-coding genes are under purifying selection in the Reevesia plastomes compared. The top ten hypervariable regions, SSRs, and the long repeats identified are potential molecular markers for future population genetic and phylogenetic studies. Phylogenetic analysis based on the whole plastomes confirmed the monophyly of Reevesia and a close relationship with Durio (traditional Bombacaceae) in subfamily Helicteroideae, but not with the morphologically similar genera Pterospermum and Sterculia (both of traditional Sterculiaceae). Phylogenetic relationships within Reevesia suggested that two species, R. pubescens and R. thyrsoidea, as newly defined, are not monophyletic. Six taxa, R. membranacea, R. xuefengensis, R. botingensis, R. lofouensis, R. longipetiolata and R. pycnantha, are suggested to be recognized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A three-roll rotary piercing process (TRPP) with severe plastic deformation was conducted to fabricate stainless steel seamless tubes with high mechanical properties. To address production issues such as front stuck (FS) where the front end of the tube blank cannot be accessed, back stuck (BS) where the back end of the tube blank cannot be penetrated and steel-heaping, the process parameters were optimized through simulation and testing in this study. Additionally, a novel structure for the three-roll piercing machine was designed and developed. The changes in roll feed angle and plug advance were systematically analyzed for defects in the tubular billet. Numerical simulations of the TRPP were performed using commercially available Finite Element Method (FEM) software (Simufact Forming) to analyze the stress, strain, temperature, friction stress and contact pressure distributions in the pierced tubes. Experimental analysis was conducted on seamless tubes with different diameter defects, leading to the discovery of optimal rules. Based on the experimental and numerical investigations, it was found that optimizing plug advance and roll feed angle can enhance the forming quality of the tubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Desmoplastic fibroma (DF) is an uncommon intermediate bone tumor rarely involving the skull with unidentified pathogenesis. We report the first case of pediatric temporoparietal cranial desmoplastic fibroma (DF) with a CTNNB1 gene mutation and review the previous literature. Case presentation: A 3-year-old boy had a firm, painless mass on the right temporoparietal region for 22 months. The cranial CT scan showed isolated osteolytic destruction in the outer plate and diploe of the right temporoparietal bone. Gross total resection of the lesion and cranioplasty were performed. After that, a growing epidural hematoma was observed so another operation was performed to remove the artificial titanium plate. Postoperative pathology indicated a DF diagnosis and molecular pathology suggested a missense mutation in exon 3 of the CTNNB1 gene (c.100G > A,p.Gly34Arg). Conclusion: Pediatric cranial DF is rare and easy to be misdiagnosed before operation. For cranial DF, lesion resection can be performed and perioperative management should be strengthened. Mutations in the CTNNB1 gene might be one of the molecular pathologic features of DF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Botulinum toxin type A (BTXA) has the potential to treat androgenetic alopecia (AGA); however, its impact on the apoptosis of dermal papillary cells (DPCs) is not yet fully understood. Noncoding RNAs play a crucial role in AGA. In this study, we investigated the potential mechanism by which BTXA alleviates apoptosis induced by dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in DPCs. We assessed the mRNA levels of circ_0135062, miR-506-3p, and Bax using qRT–PCR. Binding interactions were analyzed using RNA pulldown and dual-luciferase assays. Cell viability was determined using a cell counting kit-8 assay, and cell apoptosis was assessed using flow cytometry, TUNEL assays, and western blotting. Our findings revealed that BTXA inhibited the apoptosis of DPCs treated with DHT. Moreover, circ_0135062 overexpression counteracted the protective effect of BTXA on DHT-treated DPCs. MiR-506-3p was found to interact with Bax and inhibit apoptosis in DPCs by suppressing Bax expression in response to DHT-induced damage. Furthermore, circ_0135062 acted as a sponge for miR-506-3p, thereby inhibiting the targeting of Bax expression by miR-506-3p. In conclusion, BTXA exhibited an antiapoptotic effect on DHT-induced DPC injury via the circ_0135062/miR-506-3p/Bax axis. Level of Evidence II This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were extensively employed for in-situ detection sulfadiazine (SDZ) residues, yet current synthesis methods suffer from complex procedures, reagent pollution of the environment, and low particle quality. This study presents a novel synthesis method using discarded longan seed extract as a reducing agent to synthesized high-quality AuNPs, and then can be used for in-situ SDZ detection. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize synthesis parameters, which resulted in five optimal combinations that enhanced the flexibility of synthesis. These AuNPs, ranging in size from 18.26 nm to 33.8 nm with zeta potentials from − 29.5 mV to − 14.3 mV, were successfully loaded with functional groups from longan seed extract. In the detection of SDZ, the colorimetric aptasensor demonstrated excellent sensitivity and selectivity over other antibiotics with a limit of detection and quantification at 70.98 ng·mL−1 and 236.59 ng·mL−1 in the concentration range of 200–800 ng·mL−1. Recoveries of spiked SDZ samples ranged from 97.90% to 106.7%, with RSD values below 9.25%. Meanwhile, the aptasensor exhibited exceptional diagnostic efficacy (AUC: 0.976) compared to UV absorption methods in the ROC evaluation. In conclusion, this study highlights the potential of using AuNPs synthesized from longan seed extract coupled with aptamer technology as a straightforward detection method for SDZ in river water, offering promising applications in environmental monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of International Business Studies 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.)

Achieving high water repellency, good breathability, and anti-reflection on a metal substrate in an economical and efficient method has always been a significant challenge. This study addresses these challenges by using laser ablation on porous steel followed by heat treatment to address these challenges. By analyzing surface structure, wetting properties, and droplet behavior, this study reveals the optimal performance through laser and heat treatment parameters. Higher laser power and smaller laser spacing result in porous nested structures with larger aspect ratios and greater depth. This promotes the transition from the liquid–solid interface to the gas–liquid-solid interface, enhances the stability of the Cassie-Baxter state, improves the surface hydrophobicity, and increases the contact area with air, thereby enhancing the capillary permeability coefficient. Moreover, the intricate porous nested structure acts as a complex "light trap," whereby the reflectivity of the superhydrophobic porous steel surface can be less than 15% across a wide wavelength range (200–1800 nm). Due to its resistance to water corrosion, anti-reflection properties, and excellent breathability, the treated porous steel can be an ideal shell material for various cross-medium navigation devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing stable, high-performance chloride-ion storage electrodes is essential for energy storage and water purification application. Herein, a P, S co-doped porous hollow nanotube array, with a free ion diffusion pathway and highly active adsorption sites, on carbon felt electrodes (CoNiPS@CF) is reported. Due to the porous hollow nanotube structure and synergistic effect of P, S co-doped, the CoNiPS@CF based capacitive deionization (CDI) system exhibits high desalination capacity (76.1 mgCl– g–1), fast desalination rate (6.33 mgCl– g–1 min–1) and good cycling stability (capacity retention rate of > 90%), which compares favorably to the state-of-the-art electrodes. The porous hollow nanotube structure enables fast ion diffusion kinetics due to the swift ion transport inside the electrode and the presence of a large number of reactive sites. The introduction of S element also reduces the passivation layer on the surface of CoNiP and lowers the adsorption energy for Cl– capture, thereby improving the electrode conductivity and surface electrochemical activity, and further accelerating the adsorption kinetics. Our results offer a powerful strategy to improve the reactivity and stability of transition metal phosphides for chloride capture, and to improve the efficiency of electrochemical dechlorination technologies. P, S co-doped porous nanotube arrays on carbon felt (CoNiPS@CF) enhance chloride-ion storage for energy and water purification. This structure provides a short ion diffusion pathway, and improves activity of adsorption sites, promoting conductivity and activity for efficient chloride capture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Ni0.4−xMnxCu0.3Zn0.3Fe1.98O4 ferrites were fabricated using a solid-state reaction method. The microstructures and magnetic properties of the samples were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), impedance spectroscopy, and conductivity tests. The XRD patterns showed the ferrite structures of the samples. According to the SEM images, an appropriate increase in the Mn2+ content yields large grains and lattice distortions on the sample surface. The dielectric constants and magnetic properties of the ferrites at room temperature were also investigated. The addition of 1.5-wt% Bi2O3 to the samples reduced the sintering temperatures of the ferrites, which effectively promoted the growth and enhanced the density of the grains. The replacement of Ni2+ by Mn2+ affected the microstructure, permeability, saturation magnetization, and dielectric constant of the ferrite sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In China, the application of nitinol Tubridge flow diverter (TFD) has become popular for treating intracranial aneurysms (IAs). In this study, we investigated the safety outcomes of the application of TFD for treating IAs in real-world scenarios. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed aneurysms treated with TFD in 235 centers throughout China between April 2018 and April 2020. The primary endpoint was the event-free survival rate at 12 months, defined as the occurrence of morbidity (spontaneous rupture, intraparenchymal hemorrhage (IPH), ischemic stroke, and permanent cranial neuropathy) or death. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the risk factors. A good outcome was defined as a modified Rankin Score (mRS) of 0–2. Results: We included 1281 unruptured aneurysms treated with TFD. The overall neurological morbidity and death rates after 12 months were 5.4 and 2.8%, respectively. Ischemic strokes were the most common complication (4.2%, P < 0.001). Cranial neuropathy, IPH, and spontaneous rupture occurred in 0.3%, 0.3%, and 0.5% of aneurysms, respectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that the male gender, older age, larger aneurysm diameter, and aneurysm located on BA were the independent risk factors for neurologic events. Aneurysm located on BA was the independent risk factor for ischemic strokes. Most patients (1222) had access to the mRS, and 93.2% of them achieved good outcomes. Conclusion: Treatment of IAs with TFD was associated with low morbidity and mortality, most of which were ischemic events. Large posterior aneurysms might be associated with a higher complication rate. Trial Registration: Retrospectively registered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conventional preparation process for Phosphor bronze typically involves high-temperature long-duration solid solution treatment to address the issue of decreased workability caused by the precipitation of brittle Sn-rich phases during solidification. However, this solid solution treatment consumes significant energy and lowers production efficiency, which should be avoided. Herein, we propose a magnetic-controlled short process preparation technique that eliminates the need for solid solution treatment. This technique utilizes electromagnetic stirring to refine the grains, dendrites, and brittle Sn-rich phases simultaneously, aiming to relax the stress concentration during plastic deformation and then greatly enhance its workability. This resulting structure refinement offers additional grain refinement strengthening and dislocation strengthening during subsequent thermomechanical processing, thereby compensating for the lack of solid solution strengthening caused by the absence of solid solution treatment. As a result, the samples prepared by the magnetic-controlled short process and conventional process have comparable strength. Furthermore, because of the absence of solid solution treatment in the magnetic-controlled short process, the electrical conductivity of the samples exceeds that of those prepared by the conventional process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long bristles facilitate seed dispersal and protect seeds from herbivores. Early domesticated Setaria italica cultivars had long bristles, but most of the modern cultivars have short bristles. Little is known about the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying the bristle length trait of S. italica. We generated a segregating population derived from a cross between a long bristle (Z-45) and a short bristle (Z-47) cultivars. A quantitative trait locus (QTL) was identified at 35–40 Mb on chromosome 1 using QTL-seq. In addition, we found that 351-bp transposable element insertion in the Seita.1G316900 promoter was linked to the short bristle trait, which can be used in marker-assisted selection in crop breeding. In addition, some evidences were also found for Seita.1G338900 to play a role in regulation of bristle length. In summary, we hypothesize that Seita.1G316900 and Seita.1G338900 could be candidate genes for bristle length in S. italica. But further functional analysis of these genes are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study involved collecting 30 groups of groundwater samples from Longkou Bay (LKB) in order to analyze the water chemical characteristics, water quality, and the risk of nitrate (NO3−) to human health in this area. Various methods such as hydrochemical analysis, water quality index (WQI), USSL and Wilcox diagrams, as well as health risk modeling were employed for this purpose. The results revealed that the cationic composition of LKB groundwater followed the order: Ca2+ > Na+ > Mg2+ > K+, while the anionic composition was described as HCO3− > Cl− > NO3− > SO42−. The majority of hydrochemical types in LKB, accounting for 43.33%, were categorized as Cl·HCO3-Ca·Na, Cl·HCO3-Ca, and HCO3·Cl-Ca·Na facies. The hydrochemical characteristics of LKB groundwater are primarily influenced by rock weathering, including the dissolution of silicate and carbonate minerals, as suggested by ion ratio analysis and Gibbs plots. However, the impact of cation exchange adsorption was found to be weak. In terms of drinking suitability, 46.67% of groundwater samples in the LKB area were deemed unsuitable due to poor quality. However, these samples were still suitable for agricultural irrigation. Only 23.33% of the samples were suitable for both drinking and agricultural irrigation. Furthermore, the quality of LKB groundwater was found to be unsuitable for direct industrial use. Regarding the health risk, the hazard index (HI) of NO3− exposure through drinking water and skin contact showed a pattern of higher risks for Women, followed by Children, and then Men. Additionally, areas with intensive agricultural activity had higher HI values compared to those with industrial and residential activities. The results of these studies indicate that land use information and anthropogenic factors have a strong influence on the chemical characteristics of groundwater, and therefore, there is a need to improve groundwater extraction and agricultural practices in the LKB area in order to improve groundwater quality and mitigate potential health hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dose verification of treatment plans is an essential step in radiotherapy workflows. In this work, we propose a novel method of treatment planning based on nanodosimetric quantity-weighted dose (NQWD), which could realize biological representation using pure physical quantities for biological-oriented carbon ion-beam treatment plans and their direct verification. The relationship between nanodosimetric quantities and relative biological effectiveness (RBE) was studied with the linear least-squares method for carbon-ion radiation fields. Next, under the framework of the matRad treatment planning platform, NQWD was optimized using the existing RBE-weighted dose (RWD) optimization algorithm. The schemes of NQWD-based treatment planning were compared with the RWD treatment plans in term of the microdosimetric kinetic model (MKM). The results showed that the nanodosimetric quantity F3 − 10 had a good correlation with the radiobiological effect reflected by the relationship between RBE and F3 − 10. Moreover, the NQWD-based treatment plans reproduced the RWD plans generally. Therefore, F3 − 10 could be adopted as a radiation quality descriptor for carbon-ion treatment planning. The novel method proposed herein not only might be helpful for rapid physical verification of biological-oriented ion-beam treatment plans with the development of experimental nanodosimetry, but also makes the direct comparison of ion-beam treatment plans in different institutions possible. Thus, our proposed method might be potentially developed to be a new strategy for carbon-ion treatment planning and improve patient safety for carbon-ion radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of the direct current (DC) on the solidification structure in the directional solidification of Al–15Sn–1Cu alloy under 10 T magnetic field was investigated experimentally and numerically. The experimental results show that coarse columnar grains are observed when no DC is applied. However, the microstructure transforms from columnar dendrites to irregular dendrites, and the columnar-to-equiaxed transition (CET) occurs with the application of DC. The numerical results show that the Lorentz force acting on the dendrites can be increased by the application of DC. Additionally, the torque created by the Lorentz force results in the stress concentration at the roots of dendrites arms. The stress increases with the DC when it is larger than the thermoelectric current. Consequently, the dendrites break into fragments when the stress exceeds a certain value and CET occurs. The results indicate that the application of DC facilitates CET at higher withdrawal speeds. Furthermore, this work may initiate a novel method for CET via applying the DC in directional solidification under 10 T magnetic field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In multi-objective optimization problems in engineering applications, machine learning (ML) methods have been widely used together with multi-objective evolutionary algorithms. However, the performance of traditional ML-based optimization algorithms may no longer satisfy the practical requirement of expensive and time-consuming engineering optimization problems. Therefore, an active learning algorithm is proposed to update the radial basis function neural network by considering the Pareto set, design space, and boundary information, thereby driving the multi-objective optimization algorithm to search accurate non-dominated solutions. The effectiveness of the proposed active learning algorithm was first demonstrated through six mathematical multi-objective benchmark problems. The proposed active learning performed better in terms of inverted generation distance, spread, hypervolume, and convergence rate than two conventional algorithms. Then, the proposed active learning algorithm was applied to the crashworthiness design of thin-walled structures, namely, an S-shaped rail and a front rail in a full-car 100% frontal impact. The Pareto fronts obtained by active learning for the two practical problems showed better distribution and diversity, and the optimized structures had lower peak force and higher energy absorption while achieving significant weight reduction. [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.)

Electrocaloric1,2 and electrostrictive3,4 effects concurrently exist in dielectric materials. Combining these two effects could achieve the lightweight, compact localized thermal management that is promised by electrocaloric refrigeration5. Despite a handful of numerical models and schematic presentations6,7, current electrocaloric refrigerators still rely on external accessories to drive the working bodies8–10 and hence result in a low device-level cooling power density and coefficient of performance (COP). Here we report an electrocaloric thin-film device that uses the electro-thermomechanical synergy provided by polymeric ferroelectrics. Under one-time a.c. electric stimulation, the device is thermally and mechanically cycled by the working body itself, resulting in an external-driver-free, self-cycling, soft refrigerator. The prototype offers a directly measured cooling power density of 6.5 W g−1 and a peak COP exceeding 58 under a zero temperature span. Being merely a 30-µm-thick polymer film, the device achieved a COP close to 24 under a 4 K temperature span in an open ambient environment (32% thermodynamic efficiency). Compared with passive cooling, the thin-film refrigerator could immediately induce an additional 17.5 K temperature drop against an electronic chip. The soft, polymeric refrigerator can sense, actuate and pump heat to provide automatic localized thermal management.We report on a near-zero-power flexible heat pump that uses both electrocaloric and electrostrictive properties of a tailored polymer to create a chip-scale refrigerator device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study investigated the value of whole tumor apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) histogram parameters and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) semantic features in predicting meningioma progesterone receptor (PR) expression. Materials and methods: The imaging, pathological, and clinical data of 53 patients with PR-negative meningiomas and 52 patients with PR-positive meningiomas were retrospectively reviewed. The whole tumor was outlined using Firevoxel software, and the ADC histogram parameters were calculated. The differences in ADC histogram parameters and MRI semantic features were compared between the two groups. The predictive values of parameters for PR expression were assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves. The correlation between whole-tumor ADC histogram parameters and PR expression in meningiomas was also analyzed. Results: Grading was able to predict the PR expression in meningiomas (p = 0.012), though the semantic features of MRI were not (all p > 0.05). The mean, Perc.01, Perc.05, Perc.10, Perc.25, and Perc.50 histogram parameters were able to predict meningioma PR expression (all p < 0.05). The predictive performance of the combined histogram parameters improved, and the combination of grade and histogram parameters provided the optimal predictive value, with an area under the curve of 0.849 (95%CI: 0.766–0.911) and sensitivity, specificity, ACC, PPV, and NPV of 73.08%, 81.13%, 77.14%, 79.20%, and 75.40%, respectively. The mean, Perc.01, Perc.05, Perc.10, Perc.25, and Perc.50 histogram parameters were positively correlated with PR expression (all p < 0.05). Conclusion: Whole tumor ADC histogram parameters have additional clinical value in predicting PR expression in meningiomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

O3-Na0.9Li0.1Mn0.9O2/MgO compounds were synthesized as cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries by high-temperature solid-state and wet chemical methods. The effects of different MgO coating amounts on the crystal structure, surface morphology, and electrochemical properties of O3-Na0.9Li0.1Mn0.9O2 materials were investigated. The results showed that the appropriate amount of MgO coating had a positive effect on the cyclic and rate performance. This is attributed to the fact that the MgO layer inhibits harmful side reactions of the electrode material with the electrolyte, which improves structural stability and reduces interfacial transport resistance. Meanwhile, the doped Mg2+ can effectively inhibit the irreversible phase transition. Particularly, the sample of Na0.9Li0.1Mn0.9O2 coated with 2 wt% MgO exhibits high initial discharge specific capacity of 164.9 mAh/g at 0.1C and maintains 83.7% capacity retention after 100 cycles at 0.1C, suggesting enhanced electrochemical performance. Therefore, the surface modification of the material by MgO provides a new strategy for designing high-rate cathode materials for SIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Circβ-catenin, our first reported circRNA, has been reported to mediate tumorigenesis in various cancers. However, its biological functions and underlying mechanisms in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain unknown. Methods: The qRT-PCR examination was used to detect the expression of circβ-catenin, miR-197-3p, and CTNND1 in cells and human tissues. Western blot was conducted to detect the protein expression levels. The biological function of circβ-catenin was verified by MTT, colony formation, wound healing, and transwell assays. The in vivo effects of circβ-catenin were verified by nude mice xenograft and metastasis models. The regulatory network of circβ-catenin/miR-197-3p/CTNND1 was confirmed via dual-luciferase reporter and RIP assays. Results: In the present study, circβ-catenin was found to promote CRC cell proliferation and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, circβ-catenin served as miRNA decoy to directly bind to miR-197-3p, then antagonized the repression of the target gene CTNND1, and eventually promoted the malignant phenotype of CRC. More interestingly, the inverted repeated Alu pairs termed AluJb1/2 and AluY facilitated the biogenesis of circβ-catenin, which could be partially reversed by EIF4A3 binding to Alu element AluJb2. Conclusions: Our findings illustrated a novel mechanism of circβ-catenin in modulating CRC tumorigenesis and metastasis, which provides a potential therapeutic target for CRC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt efflorescence is one of the critical problems for the preservation of immovable silicate relics. Salt efflorescence mainly comes from continuous cycles of crystallization/dissolution or hydration/dehydration of salts in confined pores in silicate relics. Many protocols have been developed in attempts to alleviate possible salt damages with minor success because of endless water and salt feed from underground. In this study, we propose and design a novel technique for salt damage prevention and protection of immovable relics. Materials with higher water-absorbing ability than matrix are applied to control the water and salt migration direction in simulated sand samples. The distribution of moisture content on the surface of sand is followed by hyperspectral imaging. It appears that water and salt molecules will preferentially transport towards positions containing higher water-absorbing material. Both organic and inorganic high water-absorbing materials show effective in controlling the water and salt migration direction, which provides a new approach for the prevention and protection of salt efflorescence in silicate cultural relics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we discuss the quantum circuit implementations of the lightweight authenticated encryption algorithm ASCON by using the NOT gates, CNOT gates, Toffoli gates, measurements, and the dynamic quantum circuits. Firstly, the quantum circuit of addition of constants is realized by adding the NOT gates according to the position of 1 in round constants. Secondly, the quantum circuit of S-box of the permutation is synthesized according to the classical circuit diagram of S-box. Then the linear layer functions are expressed in matrix form, and their quantum circuits are synthesized according to Gaussian elimination. Finally, we synthesize the whole quantum circuits according to the general diagrams of the authenticated encryption algorithm ASCON. The correctness of the quantum circuits of the S-box and the linear layer was verified by the Aer simulator of the IBM Quantum platform. As far as we know, this is the first implementation of the quantum circuits for the Authenticated Encryption with Associated Data (AEAD) of ASCON in-place. The maximum quantum resources for the three ASCON authenticated encryption algorithms were estimated. The quantum circuit of ASCON-128 uses a total of 320 qubits, 30,639 NOT gates, 128,814 CNOT gates, 8064 Toffoli gates, 10,752 measurements, and 5376 dynamic quantum circuits. The quantum circuit of ASCON-128a uses a total of 320 qubits, 23,558 NOT gates, 98,144 CNOT gates, 6144 Toffoli gates, 8192 measurements, and 4096 dynamic quantum circuits. The quantum circuit of ASCON-80pq uses a total of 320 qubits, 30,736 NOT gates, 128,814 CNOT gates, 8064 Toffoli gates, 10,752 measurements, and 5376 dynamic quantum circuits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium‐ion batteries with fast-charging/discharging properties are urgently needed for the mass adoption of electric vehicles. Here, we show that fast charging/discharging, long-term stable and high energy charge-storage properties can be realized in an artificial electrode made from a mixed electronic/ionic conductor material (Fe/LixM, where M = O, F, S, N) enabled by a space charge principle. Particularly, the Fe/Li2O electrode is able to be charged/discharged to 126 mAh g−1 in 6 s at a high current density of up to 50 A g−1, and it also shows stable cycling performance for 30,000 cycles at a current density of 10 A g−1, with a mass-loading of ~2.5 mg cm−2 of the electrode materials. This study demonstrates the critical role of the space charge storage mechanism in advancing electrochemical energy storage and provides an unconventional perspective for designing high-performance anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries with fast-charging properties are urgently needed for wide adoption of electric vehicles. Here, the authors show a fast charging/discharging and long-term stable electrode made from a mixed electronic/ionic conductor material enabled by a space charge mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SM4 cryptographic algorithm is a block cipher algorithm issued by China's state cryptographic administration and has become an international standard. We implement the quantum circuits of SM4 block cipher by optimizing the number of qubits and the value of depth-times-width. The quantum circuits of the S-box are first studied. According to the algebraic structure of the S-box, four kinds of improved quantum circuits of S-box are presented for different phases in SM4 based on composite field arithmetic. In order to optimize the number of qubits, we implement the quantum circuit of SM4 by connecting the quantum subcircuits in series. The implemented quantum circuit of SM4 only uses 260 qubits, which is the least number of qubits used not only in implementing the SM4 quantum circuit, but also in implementing the block cipher algorithms with 8-bit S-box, 128-bit plaintext and 128-bit secret key. When optimizing the value of depth-times-width, we achieve it through parallel implementation. The trade-off quantum circuit uses a total of 288 quantum bits, and the Toffoli depth is 1716. The depth-times-width is 49,4208, which is less than the existing best value 82,5792. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The northernmost area influenced by the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) is named the EASM northern marginal zone (ENMZ). The ENMZ is an important area lying in northern and northeastern China with scarce precipitation and a vulnerable environment. However, the existing monsoon indices have weaknesses in characterizing the ENMZ precipitation variability, which limits our ability to understand and forecast local climate changes. In this study, a new index, named the ENMZ index (ENMZI), is proposed to represent the variability in ENMZ summer precipitation. The ENMZI is defined by the meridional shear of 200-hPa zonal wind anomalies, expressing the meridional displacement of the East Asian jet and the trough anomaly over Lake Baikal. The ENMZI serves as a regional monsoon index complementing the existing monsoon indices and representing the variabilities in the EASM northward advance and rainfall over northern and northeastern China. The higher the ENMZI is, the higher latitude the EASM reaches, and the more rainfall the ENMZ has. The physical mechanism for the ENMZI representing the ENMZ precipitation variability is explicated by anomalous vorticity and temperature advection associated with the ENMZI and positive feedback between vertical motion and diabatic heating anomalies. The variability of ENMZI is jointly modulated by variabilities in air–sea coupling modes from the North Atlantic, tropical Pacific, and North Indian Ocean and in atmospheric wave trains over Eurasia. Thus, the ENMZI can be a reliable benchmark for studies in climatically sensitive areas in northern and northeastern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of Guanxin Danshen Dripping Pill (GXDSDP) in treating anxiety and depression in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods: A total of 1,428 patients diagnosed with CHD screened for anxiety, depression, and quality of life (QOL) at baseline received 0.4 g of GXDSDP treatment 3 times per day and returned for monthly reassessment. Patients were recruited after stable treatment for CHD and received assessment of General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) for evaluating anxiety, depression, and QOL. Patients were followed up 3 times, once every 4 weeks, during outpatient visits for 12 weeks. Results: At the third follow-up (F3), the anxiety symptom of 63.79% (673/1,055) of the patients improved to sub-clinical level, and the GAD-7 score improved significantly (8.11 vs. 3.87, P<0.01); 57.52% (585/1,017) patients' depressive symptoms improved to sub-clinical level, with a significant improvement in PHQ-9 score (8.69 vs. 4.41, P<0.01) at F3. All aspects of QOL significantly improved at the end of treatment compared to those at baseline (all P<0.01) as assessed by SAQ: physical limitation (31.17 vs. 34.14), anginal stability (2.74 vs. 4.14), anginal frequency (8.16 vs. 9.10), treatment satisfaction (13.43 vs. 16.29), and disease perception (8.69 vs. 11.02). Conclusions: A fixed dosage of GXDSDP may be a potential treatment option for CHD patients comorbid with anxiety or depression. (Registration No. ChiCTR2100051523) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rough surface of the pellet and the particle size effect limit better application of pressed pellet sample preparation to wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (WDXRF) for determination of multi-element composition in cobalt-rich crust samples. This paper explored the technique for preparing ultrafine powder of cobalt-rich crust samples by wet grinding, and an ultrahigh-pressure system was used to prepare pellets for WDXRF. Ultrafine cobalt-rich crust samples having 99% of the particle size < 4 μm (D99 < 4 µm) with narrow size distribution were successfully prepared. The advantages of the new approach were investigated and the developed WDXRF method was validated. Results showed that the detection limit and precision of the proposed method for major components were improved. The detection limit of the method was within the interval from 7.0 to 1704 μg/g, and the results of precision test showed that the relative standard deviation of the measured values of components was improved to between 0.2% and 1.6%. The present method was applied to determine major, trace and rare earth components in cobalt-rich crust samples, a good agreement was achieved between the reference and measured values with relative percentage difference not more than 6.7%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to fulfill the urgent requirements of functional products, circuit integration of different functional devices are commonly utilized. Thus, issues including production cycle, cost, and circuit crosstalk will get serious. Neuromorphic computing aims to break through the bottle neck of von Neumann architectures. Electronic devices with multi-operation modes, especially neuromorphic devices with multi-mode cognitive activities, would provide interesting solutions. Here, pectin/chitosan hybrid electrolyte gated oxide neuromorphic transistor was fabricated. With extremely strong proton related interfacial electric-double-layer coupling, the device can operate at low voltage of below 1 V. The device can also operate at multi-operation mode, including bottom gate mode, coplanar gate and pseudo-diode mode. Interestingly, the artificial synapse can work at low voltage of only 1 mV, exhibiting extremely low energy consumption of ∼7.8 fJ, good signal-to-noise ratio of ∼229.6 and sensitivity of ∼23.6 dB. Both inhibitory and excitatory synaptic responses were mimicked on the pseudo-diode, demonstrating spike rate dependent plasticity activities. Remarkably, a linear classifier is proposed on the oxide neuromorphic transistor under synaptic metaplasticity mechanism. These results suggest great potentials of the oxide neuromorphic devices with multi-mode cognitive activities in neuromorphic platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contact of an elastic quarter- or eighth-space is studied under the condition that the movement of the side surface of the quarter-space is constrained: It can slide freely along the plane of the side surface but its normal movement is blocked (for example, by a rigid wall). The solution of this contact problem can be easily achieved by additionally applying a mirrored load to an elastic half-space. Non-adhesive contact and the Johnson-Kendall-Roberts (JKR)-type adhesive contact between a rigid sphere and an elastic quarter-space under such a boundary condition is numerically simulated using the fast Fourier transform (FFT)-assisted boundary element method (BEM). Contacts of an elastic eighth-space are investigated using the same idea. Depending on the position of the sphere relative to the side edge, different contact behavior is observed. In the case of adhesive contact, the force of adhesion first increases with increasing the distance from the edge of the quarter-space, achieves a maximum, and decreases further to the JKR-value in large distance from the edge. The enhancement of the force of adhesion compared to the half-space-contact is associated with the pinning of the contact area at the edge. We provide the maps of the force of adhesion and their analytical approximations, as well as pressure distributions in the contact plane and inside the quarter-/eighth-space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cost-effective separation of ethylene (C2H4), ethyne (C2H2), and ethane (C2H6) poses a significant challenge in the contemporary chemical industry. In contrast to the energy-intensive high-pressure cryogenic distillation process, zeolite-based adsorptive separation offers a low-energy alternative. This review provides a concise overview of recent advancements in the adsorptive separation of C2H4, C2H2, and C2H6 using zeolites or zeolite-based adsorbents. It commences with an examination of the industrial significance of these compounds and the associated separation challenges. Subsequently, it systematically examines the utilization of various types of zeolites with diverse cationic species in such separation processes. And then it explores how different zeolitic structures impact adsorption and separation capabilities, considering principles such as cation-π interaction, π-complexation, and steric separation concerning C2H4, C2H2, and C2H6 molecules. Furthermore, it discusses methods to enhance the separation performance of zeolites and zeolite-based adsorbents, encompassing structural design, modifications, and ion exchange processes. Finally, it summarizes current research trends and future directions, highlighting the potential application value of zeolitic materials in the field of C2H4, C2H2, and C2H6 separation and offering recommendations for further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanododecahedral ZIF-67 crystals were successfully synthesized by a simple coprecipitation method at room temperature and constructed with graphene oxide (GO) and Nafion as an electrochemical sensing platform for Cu2+. The properties of the electrode and the modified materials were analysed by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), square wave stripping voltammetry (SWSV), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The experimental results show that the ZIF-67/GO/Nafion/GCE sensor platform has a stronger adsorption effect on Cu2+. It has high sensitivity (101.29 μA·μM−1) and a low detection limit (7.55 nM) in the linear range of 0.01 to 1.0 μM, as well as long-term stability, good repeatability and selectivity. The recovery rate was between 95.7 and 102.7% for real water samples. The method can be used for the trace analysis of Cu2+, which is valuable for the detection of trace metal ions in real water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) for radical distal gastrectomy needs to be improved urgently. We investigated the effects of probiotic compounds (including Lactobacillus plantarum, L. rhamnosus, L. acidophilus, and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp.lactis) on enhance recovery after gastrectomy. Methods: The patients in this prospective study were divided into probiotic group (PG group, n = 36) and placebo group (CG group, n = 38), taking corresponding capsule according to the protocol during the perioperative period. We compared the trends in perioperative hematologic findings and the postoperative outcomes. Patients' feces were collected for bacterial 16S rRNA sequencing. Patients were followed up at 1 month postoperatively. Results: After the application of probiotics, the patients' postoperative inflammatory response level was reduced, and the trend of postoperative NLR decrease was significantly faster in the patients of the PG group than in the CG group (P = 0.047, partial η2 = 0.054). The trend of postoperative increase in serum albumin concentration in the patients of the PG group was significantly better than that in the CG group (P = 0.016, partial η2 = 0.078). In addition, patients in the PG group met discharge criteria earlier postoperatively and had fewer medical expenses. The quality of life of PG group was improved postoperatively. Postoperative inflammation-related markers, including the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes, were increasing in untreated patients. In addition, the postoperative microbial diversity and abundance in the PG group remained stable. Conclusions: Probiotic compounds can reduce the inflammatory response after gastrectomy and enhance the recovery of the DGC patients by maintaining the stability of the gut microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the exponential stability issue of stochastic impulsive neutral neural networks driven by Lévy noise is explored. By resorting to the Lyapunov-Krasovskii function that involves neutral time-delay components, the properties of the Lévy process, as well as various inequality approaches, some sufficient exponential stability criteria in non-Lipschitz cases are obtained. Besides, the achieved results depend on the time-delay, noise intensity, and impulse factor. At the end of the paper, two numerical examples with simulations are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the addressed results [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plant microbes are an integral part of the host and play fundamental roles in plant growth and health. There is evidence indicating that plants have the ability to attract beneficial microorganisms through their roots in order to defend against pathogens. However, the mechanisms of plant microbial community assembly from below- to aboveground compartments under pathogen infection remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the bacterial and fungal communities in bulk soil, rhizosphere soil, root, stem, and leaf of both healthy and infected (Potato virus Y disease, PVY) plants. The results indicated that bacterial and fungal communities showed different recruitment strategies in plant organs. The number and abundance of shared bacterial ASVs between bulk and rhizosphere soils decreased with ascending migration from below- to aboveground compartments, while the number and abundance of fungal ASVs showed no obvious changes. Field type, plant compartments, and PVY infection all affected the diversity and structures of microbial community, with stronger effects observed in the bacterial community than the fungal community. Furthermore, PVY infection, rhizosphere soil pH, and water content (WC) contributed more to the assembly of the bacterial community than the fungal community. The analysis of microbial networks revealed that the bacterial communities were more sensitive to PVY infection than the fungal communities, as evidenced by the lower network stability of the bacterial community, which was characterized by a higher proportion of positive edges. PVY infection further increased the bacterial network stability and decreased the fungal network stability. These findings advance our understanding of how microbes respond to pathogen infections and provide a rationale and theoretical basis for biocontrol technology in promoting sustainable agriculture. Key points: • Different recruitment strategies between plant bacterial and fungal communities. • Bacterial community was more sensitive to PVY infection than fungal community. • pH and WC drove the microbial community assembly under PVY infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intense magnetic field surrounding the electronic system in the ITER Tokamak necessitates the use of magnetic field shielding to protect electronic devices from failure. To ensure that the components installed in these areas can withstand ITER's magnetic environment, they must be tested beforehand for magnetic field tolerance. This paper presents a magnetic shielding design for the Radial X-ray Camera (RXC) electronic system in ITER, silicon steel sheet is used as shielding material. The design scheme was simulated and analyzed using Ansys Maxwell software, and the shield shell was designed and optimized to reduce the magnetic induction intensity from 120 mT to less than 60 mT. To determine whether the magnetic field tolerance capability of the shield and electronic system meets ITER's requirements, tests were conducted. Based on the experimental results, it has been observed that the shield is effective in shielding the magnetic field to 50–60 mT. Furthermore, the electronic system has been tested under a magnetic field intensity of 140 mT and 180 mT, and it has been found to be functioning normally, thereby meeting the requirements of ITER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the most abundant polyester materials used in daily life and it is also one of the culprits of environmental pollution. ICCG (F243I/D238C/S283C/Y127G) is a quadruple mutant of leaf-branch compost cutinase (LCC) displaying outstanding performance in hydrolyzing PET and holding a great potential in further applications. Substrate concentration is one of the important factors affecting the catalytic degradation efficiency. The conventional fast equilibrium theory holds that the degradation rate reaches the maximum and tends to be stable with the increase of substrate concentration, however, in practice, too much substrate will inhibit the catalytic reaction. In this study, the substrate inhibitory effect of PET plastic particles with different particle sizes on ICCG was evaluated. Combined with kinetic constant analysis, the optimal PET particle size was determined to be 300 μm. Meanwhile, several mutants (Y95K, M166S and H218S) of ICCG were obtained by site-directed mutagenesis. The effect of substrate concentration on mutant was studied under the condition of optimal reaction particle size. This study provides a strategy for obtaining high-efficiency PET degradation mutants and a new possibility of environmentally friendly plastic degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Aims] The goal was to evaluate the effect of phosphorus mining on the endophytic bacterial community of surrounding crops and vegetables and screen beneficial bacteria. [Methods] 16S rRNA sequencing was used to assess endophytic bacterial diversity, community, and metabolic function variations in surrounding plants, including Glycine max, Triticum aestivum, and Lactuca sativa. [Results] The results showed that phosphorus mining caused a decline in the endophytic bacterial diversity of plants, including the Shannon and Simpson indices (P < 0.05). Rhizobium was significantly enriched in lettuce, soybean, and wheat roots in the phosphate mining area compared with corresponding samples from a nonphosphate mining area (P < 0.05). The metabolic function prediction based on Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States showed that endophytic bacteria in lettuce, soybean, and wheat roots developed various strategies to cope with phosphorus mining stress. We further isolated 11 endophytic bacteria from the three plant types, of which Enterobacter sp. P35, Pseudomonas aeruginosa P33, and Rhizobium pusense P25 showed strong resistance to multiple heavy metals. Several endophytic bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa P33, Sphingomonas panni P15, and Bacillus cereus P3, showed multiple growth-promoting properties for plants. [Conclusions] To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the effects of phosphate mining on endophytic bacteria in human food sources (vegetables and crops), providing a comprehensive understanding of the ecological effects of phosphate mining. The results also highlight the need to pay attention to the easily neglected effect of phosphorus mining on the microecology and provide a basis for screening bacteria for remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to consider the fractional delayed evolution equation of order γ ∈ (1 , 2) in ordered Banach space. In the absence of assumptions about the compactness of cosine families or related sine families, the existence results of positive solutions are studied by using some fixed point theorems and monotone iterative method under the conditions that nonlinear function satisfies the non-compactness measure conditions and some appropriate growth conditions or order conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper pays close attention to the stabilization issue for delayed uncertain semi-Markovian jumping complex-valued networks via sliding mode control. The concerned corresponding transition rates depend on a positive constant, i.e., sojourn-time, which is not required to obey the general exponential distribution. Combine the generalized Dynkin’s formula with Lyapunov stability theory as well as the characteristics of cumulative distribution functions, a few sufficient criteria are proposed to ascertain the stochastic stability of the obtained sliding mode dynamical system. In addition, design a novel sliding mode controller to ensure all state trajectories of the potential closed-loop system can reach the synthesized sliding mode switching surface in a finite time and maintain there in the subsequent time. In the end of paper, one simple example is presented to verify superiority and feasibility of the provided controller design scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Lidocaine microspheres can prolong the analgesic time to 24–48 h, which still cannot meet the need of postoperative analgesia lasting more than 3 days. Therefore, we added Fe3O4 to the lidocaine microspheres and used an applied magnetic field to attract Fe3O4 to fix the microspheres around the target nerves, reducing the diffusion of magnetic lidocaine microspheres to the surrounding tissues and prolonging the analgesic time. Methods: Fe3O4–lidocaine–PLGA microspheres were prepared by the complex-emulsion volatilization method to characterize and study the release properties in vitro. The neural anchoring properties and in vivo morphology of the drug were obtained by magnetic resonance imaging. The nerve blocking effect and analgesic effect of magnetic lidocaine microspheres were evaluated by animal experiments. Results: The mean diameter of magnetically responsive lidocaine microspheres: 9.04 ± 3.23 μm. The encapsulation and drug loading of the microspheres were 46.18 ± 3.26% and 6.02 ± 1.87%, respectively. Magnetic resonance imaging showed good imaging of Fe3O4–Lidocain–PLGA microspheres, a drug-carrying model that slowed down the diffusion of the microspheres in the presence of an applied magnetic field. Animal experiments demonstrated that this preparation had a significantly prolonged nerve block, analgesic effect, and a nerve anchoring function. Conclusion: Magnetically responsive lidocaine microspheres can prolong analgesia by slowly releasing lidocaine, which can be immobilized around the nerve by a magnetic field on the body surface, avoiding premature diffusion of the microspheres to surrounding tissues and improving drug targeting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]