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Context: Based on the transition state theory, a molecular diffusion model in the narrow channels of Brewsterite zeolite was established. In this model, the molecular interaction at the potential barrier was simplified to only consider the repulsive potential, so that the analytical relationship between the diffusion coefficient and the temperature and the Lennard–Jones interaction parameter was derived. We used the molecular dynamics method to simulate the diffusion of four molecules, CF4, CH4, Ar, and Ne, in Brewsterite zeolite and evaluated the rationality of the model. The results show that the three molecules CF4, CH4, and Ar meet the predictions of the model, while the Ne molecule does not. At the same time, by analyzing the trend of the diffusion coefficient with the load, we further explain the reason for this difference. In short, this study reveals the diffusion mechanism of molecules in the narrow pores of Brewsterite zeolite. This provides new ideas for optimizing the performance of zeolite materials and applying them to catalysis and separation processes. Methods: The simulations were carried out with Refson's MOLDY code in the NVT ensemble. The short-range Lennard–Jones forces were calculated with the link cell method. A Nose–Hoover thermostat was used to realize the thermal equilibrium state of the samples. In the simulation, the time steps were 1 fs and the total simulation time was 51 ns. The initial temperature was set to 300 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Motion of organs in the abdominal and thoracic cavity caused by respiration is a major issue that affects a wide range of clinical diagnoses or treatment outcomes, including radiotherapy, high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation, and many generalized percutaneous needle interventions. These motions pose significant challenges in accurately reaching the target even for the experienced clinician. Methods: This review was conducted through comprehensive search on IEEE Explore, Google Scholar, and PubMed. Results: Diverse methods have been proposed to compensate for this motion effect to enable effective surgical operations. This review paper aims to examine the current respiratory motion compensation techniques used across the clinical procedures of radiotherapy, high-intensity focused ultrasound, and percutaneous needle procedures. Conclusion: The complexity of respiratory-induced organ motion and diversity of areas for which compensation can be applied allows for a variety of methods to be implemented. This review aims to serve as inspiration for the future development of new systems to achieve clinical relevance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-specific complication and there remains no effective treatment. Given the limitations on medication use during pregnancy, exploring natural, safe, and effective drugs for PE is worthwhile. We investigate the causal relationship between ferroptosis, inflammation, and PE, and determine the protective effects of quercetin (QCT), a representative compound that is classified as a flavanol, against endothelial dysfunction. Then, the target of QCT is predicted and verified. The prophylactic addition of a low dose of QCT rescues endothelial dysfunction, aiding in endothelial repair. Furthermore, QCT alleviates PE-like maternal manifestations and endothelial dysfunction in the placenta of the selective reduced uteroplacental perfusion (sRUPP) rat model through binding to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The potential applications of QCT are expanded, offering the possibility of further development as a safe and effective preventive molecule for PE. The flavanol quercetin rescues endothelial dysfunction and preeclampsia-like manifestations in a pre-clinical model via inhibition of ferroptosis and inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the hybrid reluctance actuator (HRA)-based stage (HRA-BS), the uncertainties can be divided into a repetitive part and a non-repetitive part. To this end, this paper proposes an improved adaptive sliding mode control (ASMC) method with an adaptive-iterative composite neural network (AICNN) compensator for the closed-loop control of HRA-BS. Firstly, an AICNN-ASMC structure is constructed, where a sliding mode control (SMC) is used for guaranteeing the closed-loop control performance, and an adaptive-iterative neural network (NN) compensator and an adaptive switching controller are used to tackle the repetitive and non-repetitive uncertainties, respectively. Secondly, composite kernel functions are designed for the NN to enhance the compensation ability for the repetitive uncertainty, where an inverse hysteresis operator (IHO) is incorporated into the kernel functions to characterize the hysteresis effect. Thirdly, a predictive error (PE) term is embedded into the iterative learning law to accelerate its convergence. The convergence of the closed-loop control system is analyzed by the Lyapunov theorem in the sense of the L 2 -norm with a composite energy function. Comparative experimental results show that the AICNN-ASMC method can guarantee high control performances for the HRA-BS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we develop a stabilized Gauge-Uzawa discontinuous Galerkin (DG) method with second-order time-accurate for the incompressible magnetohydrodynamic equations. The proposed scheme here possess the properties of the linearity, fully decoupling and unconditional energy stability, which is employed by combining a second-order projection-type Gauge-Uzawa method for the Navier–Stokes equations, a stabilization strategy for Maxwell’s equations, the implicit-explicit frameworks for the nonlinear coupling terms and the interior penalty DG method for the spatial approximation. We rigorously prove the unique solvability, unconditional energy stability and optimal error estimates of the proposed scheme. Finally, several numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the accuracy, stability, and efficiency of the proposed scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optimal error estimate that depends only on the polynomial degree of ε - 1 is established for the temporal semi-discrete scheme of the Cahn-Hilliard equation based on the scalar auxiliary variable (SAV) formulation. The key to our analysis is converting the structure of the SAV time-stepping scheme back to a form compatible with the original format of the Cahn-Hilliard equation, which makes it feasible to use spectral estimates to handle the nonlinear term. Based on the transformation of the SAV numerical scheme, the optimal error estimate for the temporal semi-discrete scheme which depends only on the low polynomial order of ε - 1 instead of the exponential order, is derived by using mathematical induction, spectral arguments, and the superconvergence properties of some nonlinear terms. Numerical examples are provided to illustrate the discrete energy decay property and validate our theoretical convergence analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore the underlying mechanism of neddylation in macrophage polarization during sepsis. A mouse model of sepsis was established by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). ELISA and Flow cytometry were performed to analyze the generation of pro-inflammatory factors and M1/M2 macrophage polarization, respectively. Western blotting was applied to detect NEDD8-mediated neddylation and glycolysis-related proteins. ECAR method was used to analyze the glycolysis level. HE staining was applied to detect the lung injury. The bacterial load in peritoneal cavity and peripheral blood was determined by counting the colony-forming units. The results showed the upregulated neddylation, M1 polarization and glycolysis of macrophage in patients with sepsis and CLP-challenged mice. NEDD8-mediated Cullin1 neddylation promoted M1 polarization and glycolysis to accelerate inflammation via NF-κB p65 pathway in E.coli-treated Raw264.7 cells. MLN4924 treatment alleviated sepsis by inhibiting neddylation to prevent M1 polarization in CLP-challenged mice. In summary, this study demonstrated that upregulation of NEDD8-mediated Cullin1 neddylation promotes glycolysis and M1 polarization of macrophage via NF-κB p65 pathway, accelerating inflammation in sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manipulation C-C coupling pathway is of great importance for selective CO2 electroreduction but remain challenging. Herein, two model Cu-based catalysts, by modifying Cu nanowires with Ag nanoparticles (AgCu NW) and Ag single atoms (Ag1Cu NW), respectively, are rationally designed for exploring the C-C coupling mechanisms in electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR). Compared to AgCu NW, the Ag1Cu NW exhibits a more than 10-fold increase of C2 selectivity in CO2 reduction to ethanol, with ethanol-to-ethylene ratio increased from 0.41 over AgCu NW to 4.26 over Ag1Cu NW. Via a variety of operando/in-situ techniques and theoretical calculation, the enhanced ethanol selectivity over Ag1Cu NW is attributed to the promoted H2O dissociation over the atomically dispersed Ag sites, which effectively accelerated *CO hydrogenation to form *CHO intermediate and facilitated asymmetric *CO-*CHO coupling over paired Cu atoms adjacent to single Ag atoms. Results of this work provide deep insight into the C-C coupling pathways towards target C2+ product and shed light on the rational design of efficient CO2RR catalysts with paired active sites. Manipulating the carbon-carbon coupling pathway in CO2 electroreduction is vital yet challenging. Here, by studying two model copper-based catalysts with distinct ethylene and ethanol selectivity, authors investigate the mechanistic origins for symmetric and asymmetric carbon-carbon coupling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition metal carbide shows excellent performance in selective hydrogenation of acetylene, however, the carburization of Pd-based intermetallic compounds remains infeasible. Here we report the successful synthesis of an unprecedented Pd3ZnCx intermetallic carbide, via co-infiltration of zinc and carbon in one-step carburization by syngas. Utilizing state-of-the-art in situ characterizations and theoretical calculation, we unveil the dynamic evolution of Pd3ZnCx during carburization, forming a Pd3Zn like cubic phase carbide structure. A unique transitional state (Pdt) with low content of Zn/C co-infiltration is clearly identified facilitating phase transition and sustain incorporation of carbon and zinc at elevated temperatures. The Pd3ZnCx carbide shows by far the best catalytic performance in the selective hydrogenation of acetylene with a high selectivity (>90%) even at a high H2/C2H2 ratio. Our results therefore provide a co-infiltration strategy and dynamic insights for the one-step synthesis of Pd based intermetallic carbides, towards high-performance intermetallic compound for selective hydrogenation of acetylene. Transition metal carbides exhibit outstanding performance in the selective hydrogenation of acetylene, but carburizing Pd-based intermetallic compounds has been challenging. Here, the authors present a successful synthesis of Pd3ZnCx intermetallic carbide for selective hydrogenation of acetylene through a one-step co-infiltration of zinc and carbon using syngas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean is an indispensable crop producing the majority of vegetative oils and proteins. China has been importing millions of ton of soy beans in recent years. Developing new varieties with favorable traits in both yield and resilience has great potential to meet the market needs in China. In this study, we bred a new variety (Xiangchun 37) which has been licensed by Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China in 2024. In the field tests, Xiangchun 37 showed medium maturity period (107.4 days from sowing to harvest), high yield (187.3 kg/667m2), and high seed oil content (22.19%). Overall assessment showed Xiangchun 37 had other favorable traits including the plant architecture and disease resistance. In conclusion, Xiangchun 37 is a new variety suitable for Hunan Province, China and has promising future for further genetic improvement as a germplasm with multiple favorable traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The maglev technology has been recently used for advanced semiconductor equipment. The stringent accuracy requirement of the semiconductor manufacturing processes has posed new challenges about modeling and control of maglev systems (MLSs). This paper presents a new sliding mode control (SMC) scheme, named as SMCLFF, to tackle the impacts of inherent non-linearities caused by leakage and fringing fluxes (LFF), and external disturbances caused by the gap measurement mismatch (GMM) and non-orthogonal force (NOF) on the control of the MLS. A dynamic separation model (DSM) is designed to model the LFF effects in both the current–flux density (I–B) relationship and the flux density–force (B–F) relationship. The system is linearized by the DSM firstly, and the residual LFF effects and the external disturbances are suppressed by adaptive RBF neural networks (NNs) in SMCLFF respectively. The stability of the closed-loop control system was analyzed. Experiments were performed on a one-dimensional MLS plant. Results show that the DSM can effectively compensate for the LFF effects, and SMCLFF can enable the MLS to obtain high performance in a closed-loop control system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Train trajectory optimization (TTO) is an effective way to address energy consumption in rail transit. Reinforcement learning (RL), an excellent optimization method, has been used to solve TTO problems. Although traditional RL algorithms use penalty functions to restrict the random exploration behavior of agents, they cannot fully guarantee the safety of the process and results. This paper proposes a proximal policy optimization based safety reinforcement learning framework (S-PPO) for the train trajectory optimization, including a safe action rechoosing mechanism (SARM) and a relaxed dynamic reward mechanism (RDRM) combining a relaxed sparse reward and a dynamic dense reward. SARM guarantees that the new states generated by the agent consistently adhere to the environmental security constraints, thereby enhancing sampling efficiency and facilitating algorithm convergence. RDRM makes it easier for agents to obtain successful samples by relaxing time constraints, which also offers a better balance between exploration and exploitation. The experimental results show that S-PPO can significantly improve performance and obtain better train operation trajectories than soft constraint methods, and the convergence process is smoother. Finally, it was demonstrated that S-PPO exhibits good adaptability across various speed limit tracks.Article Highlights: Discretize the train operation process based on distance and construct a Markov decision process model. A safety reinforcement learning framework based on PPO is proposed to maintain the learning process within the constraints of boundaries. A relaxed sparse reward which relaxes the constraint of train planned trip time is proposed to enhance the likelihood of agents completing tasks. A dynamic dense reward can balance the contributions of time and energy consumption and offer enhanced feedback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of urban rail transit, the issue of stray current due to incomplete insulation between the rail and the earth is attracting increasing attention. Stray current seriously affects the safe operation of urban rail transit, pipelines and power grids, and pose challenges to the development of urban energy security. However, there are significant differences among the various methods for the analysis and verification of stray currents, and existing research works thus lack a mature theoretical framework. To address this, this paper presents an in-depth review on the study of stray current including the mechanism, technical standards, modelling, simulation and mitigation technologies. Firstly, the principle and standards of stray current are introduced from multiple perspectives (i.e. metro side, pipeline side and grid side). Then, the typical modelling and simulation of stray current are summarized and compared in detail. The representative stray current mitigation measures, together with the stray current hardware simulation technologies, are also discussed. In conclusion, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of key technologies involved in the modelling and simulation of stray current, and highlights the valuable research direction in stray current mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an efficient fully-decoupled and fully-discrete numerical scheme with second-order temporal accuracy is developed to solve the incompressible hydrodynamically coupled Cahn-Hilliard model for simulating the two-phase fluid flow system. The scheme is developed by combining the finite element method for spatial discretization and several effective time marching approaches, including the pressure-correction projection method for dealing with fluid equations and the explicit-invariant energy quadratization (explicit-IEQ) approach for dealing with coupled nonlinear terms. The obtained scheme is very efficient since it only needs to solve several decoupled, linear elliptic equations with constant coefficients at each time step. We also strictly prove the solvability and unconditional energy stability of the scheme, and verify the accuracy and stability of the scheme through plenty of numerical examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of MYO3B on endometrial cancer (EC) proliferation and invasion. Methods: The expression of MYO3B in EC tissues and cells was analyzed using TCGA database, immunohistochemical staining, real-time PCR, and western blot (WB). Cell proliferation was detected by CCK8, Annexin V-APC/PI flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis, intracellular calcium ion (Ca2+) was detected by flow cytometry with Fluo-4 AM fluorescent probe, cell migration by scratch assay, and cell invasion by Transwell assay, and the expression of proteins related to Ca2+ homeostasis and RhoA/ROCK1 signaling pathway was detected by WB and immunofluorescence staining. Results: The expression of MYO3B was an influential factor in EC recurrence, and the expression of MYO3B was significantly up-regulated in EC tissues and cells, but down-regulated in KLE cells, and MYO3B knockdown inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of EC cells and promoted apoptosis, suggesting that MYO3B plays a tumor-promoting role in EC. Furthermore, MYO3B knockdown decreased Ca2+ concentration in EC cells and the RhoA/ROCK1 signaling pathway was inhibited, and the effect of MYO3B knockdown on RhoA/ROCK1 signaling was reversed by treatment with the Calmodulin agonist CALP-2, and the effects of MYO3B knockdown on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were reversed after treatment with the RhoA agonist U-46,619. Conclusion: MYO3B promotes the proliferation and migration of endometrial cancer cells via Ca2+-RhoA/ROCK1 signaling pathway. High expression of MYO3B may be a biomarker for EC metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy with a poor prognosis. It has been proven that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an essential role in regulating HCC progression. However, the involvement of LINC01094 in regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in HCC remains unclear. LINC01094 expression in HCC patients was retrieved from the Cancer Genome Atlas database. Overexpressing and downregulating LINC01094 were conducted to investigate its biological functions using Hep3B, SNU-387, and HuH-7 cells. Western blotting and morphological observation were performed to study the EMT in HCC cells. Transwell assay was adopted to determine the migration and invasion of HCC cells. The underlying mechanism of competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) was investigated using bioinformatics analysis, quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, and rescue experiments. Elevated LINC01094 expression was observed in HCC and associated with a poor prognosis. Knockdown of LINC01094 expression in SNU-387 and HuH-7 cells could inhibit migration, invasion, and EMT markers. Overexpression of LINC01094 indicated that LINC01094 promoted EMT via the TGF-β/SMAD signaling pathway. The bioinformatics analysis revealed that miR-122-5p was a target of LINC01094. The miRWalk database analysis showed that TGFBR2, SMAD2, and SMAD3 were downstream targets of miR-122-5p. Mechanically, LINC01094 acted as a ceRNA that facilitated HCC metastasis by sponging miR-122-5p to regulate the expression of TGFBR2, SMAD2, and SMAD3. Further, TGF-β1 could enhance the expression of LINC01094, forming a positive feedback loop. TGF-β1-induced LINC01094 expression promotes HCC cell migration and invasion by targeting the miR-122-5p/TGFBR2–SMAD2–SMAD3 axis. LINC01094 may be a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are a class of proteins that primarily function by interacting with different types of RNAs and play a critical role in regulating the transcription and translation of cancer-related genes. However, their role in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. In this study, we analyzed RNA sequencing data and the corresponding clinical information of patients with HCC to screen for prognostic RBPs. Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3) was identified as an independent prognostic factor for liver cancer. It is upregulated in HCC and is associated with a poor prognosis. Elevated IGF2BP3 expression was validated via immunohistochemical analysis using a tissue microarray of patients with HCC. IGF2BP3 knockdown inhibited the proliferation of Hep3B and HepG2 cells, whereas IGF2BP3 overexpression promoted the expansion of HuH-7 and MHCC97H cells. Mechanistically, IGF2BP3 modulates cell proliferation by regulating E2F1 expression. DNA hypomethylation of the IGF2BP3 gene may increase the expression of IGF2BP3, thereby enhancing cell proliferation in HCC. Therefore, IGF2BP3 may act as a novel prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: With the development of immunotherapy research, the role of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) in the treatment of cervical cancer has been emphasized, but many patients still can’t receive long-term benefits from ICB. Poly ADP ribose polymerase inhibitor (PARPi) has been proved to exert significant antitumor effects in multiple solid tumors. Whether cervical cancer patients obtain better benefits from the treatment regimen of PARPi combined with ICB remains unclear. Methods: The alteration of PD-L1 expression induced by niraparib in cervical cancer cells and its underlying mechanism were assessed by western blot and immunofluorescence and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT–PCR).The regulation of PTEN by KDM5A was confirmed using Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay and RNA interference. Analyzing the relationship between PD-L1 and immune effector molecules through searching online databases. Therapeutic efficacy of niraparib, PD-L1 blockade or combination was assessed in syngeneic tumor model. The changes of immune cells and cytokines in vivo was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and qRT–PCR. Results: We found that niraparib upregulated PD-L1 expression and potentiated the antitumor effects of PD-L1 blockade in a murine cervical cancer model. Niraparib inhibited the Pten expression by increasing the abundance of KDM5A, which expanded PD-L1 abundance through activating the PI3K-AKT-S6K1 pathway. PD-L1 was positively correlated with immune effector molecules including TNF-α, IFN-γ, granzyme A and granzyme B based on biological information analysis. Niraparib increased the infiltration of CD8+ T cells and the level of IFN-γ, granzyme B in vivo. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrates the regulation of niraparib on local immune microenvironment of cervical cancer, and provides theoretical basis for supporting the combination of PARPi and PD-L1 blockade as a potential treatment for cervical cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Heterotopic pancreas, an uncommon condition in children, can present with diagnostic and treatment challenges. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical features and treatment options for this disorder in pediatric patients. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis, including patients diagnosed with heterotopic pancreas at four tertiary hospitals between January 2000 and June 2022. Patients were categorized into symptomatic and asymptomatic groups based on clinical presentation. Clinical parameters, including age at surgery, lesion size and site, surgical or endoscopic approach, pathological findings, and outcome, were statistically analyzed. Results: The study included 88 patients with heterotopic pancreas. Among them, 22 were symptomatic, and 41 were aged one year or younger. The heterotopic pancreas was commonly located in Meckel's diverticulum (46.59%), jejunum (20.45%), umbilicus (10.23%),ileum (7.95%), and stomach (6.82%). Sixty-six patients had concomitant diseases. Thirty-three patients had heterotopic pancreas located in the Meckel's diverticulum, with 80.49% of cases accompanied by gastric mucosa heterotopia (GMH). Patients without accompanying GMH had a higher prevalence of heterotopic pancreas-related symptoms (75%). Treatment modalities included removal of the lesions by open surgery, laparoscopic or laparoscopic assisted surgery, or endoscopic surgery based on patient's age, the lesion site and size, and coexisting diseases. Conclusions: Only one-fourth of the patients with heterotopic pancreas presented with symptoms. Those located in the Meckel's diverticulum have commonly accompanying GMH. Open surgical, laparoscopic surgical or endoscopic resection of the heterotopic pancreas is recommended due to potential complications. Future prospective multicenter studies are warranted to establish rational treatment options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron ore tailings (IOTs) are an important solid waste in the mining industry, which can pollute the environment and endanger human health. However, the disposal and high value-added utilization of iron tailings have always been a challenge. Notably, superconducting high-gradient magnetic separation (S-HGMS) technology is a promising technology in mineral processing with the advantages of low carbon, green, high efficiency, and easy operation. This study used S-HGMS technology to separate and purify SiO2 concentrate from IOTs. Under the optimal conditions of magnetic flow ratio of 0.038 T s/m for the first magnetic separation, 0.085 T s/m for the second, pulp flow rate of 0.5 L/min, and pulp concentration of 50 g/L, increasing the SiO2 content from initial 61.38% to 95.23%, SiO2 recovery reached 38.51%. After the S-HGMS process, weak and non-magnetic particles realized effective separation, which created the conditions for the subsequent processing of SiO2 concentrate into high-purity silica. S-HGMS technology was used to extract SiO2 particles from IOTs, improving the utilization value of the tailings. This study provides an efficient and eco-friendly research direction for the industrial application of IOTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Either extracorporeal anastomosis (EA) or intracorporeal anastomosis (IA) could be selected for digestive reconstruction in laparoscopic right hemicolectomy (LRH). However, whether LRH with IA is feasible and beneficial for overweight right-side colon cancer (RCC) is unclear. This study aims to investigate the feasibility and advantage of IA in LRH for overweight RCC. Methods: Forty-eight consecutive overweight RCC patients undergoing LRH with IA were matched with 48 consecutive cases undergoing LRH with EA. Both clinical and surgical data were collected and analyzed. Results: The incidence of postoperative complications was 20.8% (10/48) in the EA group and 14.6% (7/48) in the IA group respectively, with no statistical difference. Compared to the EA group, patients in the IA group revealed faster gas (40.2 + 7.8 h vs. 45.6 + 7.9 h, P = 0.001) and stool discharge (4.0 + 1.2 d vs. 4.5 + 1.1 d, P = 0.040), shorter assisted incision (5.3 + 1.3 cm vs. 7.5 + 1.2 cm, P = 0.000), and less analgesic used (3.3 + 1.3 d vs. 4.0 + 1.3 d, P = 0.012). There were no significant differences in operation time, blood loss, or postoperative hospital stays. In the IA group, the first one third of cases presented longer operation time (228.4 + 29.3 min) compared to the middle (191.0 + 35.0 min, P = 0.003) and the last one third of patients (182.2 + 20.7 min, P = 0.000). Conclusion: LRH with IA is feasible and safe for overweight RCC, with faster bowel function recovery and less pain. Accumulation of certain cases of LRH with IA will facilitate surgical procedures and reduce operation time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accounting informatization is a crucial component of enterprise informatization, significantly impacting operational efficiency in accounting and finance. Advances in information technology have introduced automation techniques that accelerate the processing of accounting information cost-effectively. Integrating artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and edge computing is pivotal in streamlining and optimizing these processes. Traditionally, accounting informatization relied on system servers and local storage for data processing. However, the era of big data necessitates a shift to cloud computing frameworks for efficient data storage and processing. Despite the advantages of cloud storage, concerns arise regarding data security and the substantial data transactions between the cloud and source devices. To address these challenges, this research proposes a novel algorithm, Heterogeneous Distributed Deep Learning with Data Offloading (DDLO) algorithm. DDLO leverages the synergy between edge devices and cloud computing to enhance data processes. Edge computing enables rapid processing of large volumes of data at or near the data collection sites, optimizing day-to-day operations for enterprises. Furthermore, machine learning algorithms at edge devices enhance data processing efficiency, augmenting the computing environment's overall performance. The proposed DDLO algorithm fosters a hybrid machine learning approach for computing joint tasks and multi-tasking in accounting informatization. It enables dynamic resource allocation, allowing selected data or model updates to be offloaded to the cloud for complex tasks. The algorithm's performance is rigorously evaluated using key metrics, including computing time, offloading time, accuracy, and cost levels. By capitalizing on the strengths of edge computing, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence, the DDLO algorithm effectively addresses accounting informatization challenges. It empowers enterprises to process vast amounts of accounting data efficiently and securely while improving overall operational efficiency. Regarding time, using terasort in tasks offloading using DDLO consumes less milliseconds 0t 33 ms which is lesser than other techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to identify the target genes of tcon_00044595, elucidate its activation site, and provide novel insights into the pathogenesis and treatment of neonatal hypoxic–ischemic brain damage (HIBD). Through homologous blast analysis, we identified predicted target sequences in the neighboring regions of the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) tcon_00044595, suggesting that limd1 is its target gene. Starbase was utilized to identify potential candidate microRNAs associated with the lncRNA. The interaction between the candidate microRNAs and limd1 was investigated and validated using various experimental methods including in vitro cell culture, cell transfection, dual fluorescence reporter detection system, and real-time PCR. Homology alignment analysis revealed that the lncRNA tcon_00044595 exhibited a 246 bp homologous sequence at the 3' end of the adjacent limd1 gene, with a conservation rate of 68%. Analysis conducted on Starbase online identified three potential microRNA candidates: miR-3471, miR-883a-5p, and miR-214-3p. Intracellular expression of the limd1 gene was significantly down-regulated upon transfection with miR-3471, while the other two microRNAs did not produce noticeable effects. Luciferase reporter assays identified two interaction sites (UTR-1, UTR-2) between miR-3471 and the limd1 3ʹUTR, with UTR-1 exhibiting a strong influence. Further CCK8 assay indicated a protective role of miR-3471 during low oxygen stroke in HIBD. The potential regulatory relationship between lncRNA (tcon_00044595), miR-3471, and the target gene limd1 suggests their involvement in the occurrence and development of HIBD, providing new insights for investigating the underlying mechanisms and exploring targeted therapeutic approaches for HIBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Target tracking provides important location-based services in many applications. The main challenge of target tracking is to combat the severe degradation problem in Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) scenario. Most Deep Learning algorithms available in literature to address this issue belong to batch learning with high complexity. This paper proposes a novel online sequential learning algorithm, Improved Recurrent Extreme Learning Machine (IRELM), to solve the NLOS target tracking problem as a position series prediction task. IRELM is able to train Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) inputs one-by-one and adaptively update the input weight, hidden weight, feedback weight and output weight. Extensive simulations and experiments prove the superior tracking performance and feasible complexity of IRELM over the state-of-the-art Deep Learning methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Identification of superficial inguinal lymph nodes during low-risk penile cancer surgery using near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence to improve the accuracy of lymph-node dissection and reduce the incidence of missed micrometastases and complications. Methods: Thirty-two cases were selected, which were under the criteria of < T1, and no lymph-node metastasis was found with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detection. Two groups were randomly divided based on the fluorescence technique, the indocyanine green (ICG) group and the non-ICG group. In the ICG group, the ICG preparation was subcutaneously injected into the edge of the penile tumor 10 min before surgery, and the near-infrared fluorescence imager was used for observation. After the lymph nodes were visualized, the superficial inguinal lymph nodes were removed first, and then, the penis surgery was performed. The non-ICG group underwent superficial inguinal lymph-node dissection and penile surgery. Results: Among the 16 patients in the ICG group, we obtained 11 lymph-node specimens using grayscale values of images (4.13 ± 0.72 vs. 3.00 ± 0.82 P = 0.003) along with shorter postoperative healing time (7.31 ± 1.08 vs. 8.88 ± 2.43 P = 0.025), and less lymphatic leakage (0 vs. 5 P = 0.04) than the 16 patients in the non-ICG group. Out of 11, 3 lymph nodes that are excised were further grouped into fluorescent and non-fluorescent regions (G1/G2) and found to be metastasized. Conclusion: Near-infrared fluorescence-assisted superficial inguinal lymph-node dissection in penile carcinoma is accurate and effective, and could reduce surgical complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastic pollution is now pervasive in a wide range of environments as a potential threat to organisms and ecosystems. Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, as the third pole of the world and the water tower of Asia, there are few studies on microplastic pollution. This review summarizes the abundance, characteristics, sources, and transport of microplastics in surface water, sediment, soil, atmosphere, and glacier of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. The abundance of microplastics in surface water of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau ranged from 0 to 3050 items/m3, 10–2643.65 items/kg in sediment, 0–3660 items/kg in soil, and 0–36.09 items/L in glacier. Microplastics in surface water, sediment, atmosphere, and glacier of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau are dominated by fibers, with proportions of 48%, 47%, 92%, and 50% in that order. The sources of microplastic pollution in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau are mainly from local human activities, and atmospheric transport is a substantial source. The preliminary pollution load index (PLI) assessment indicates that ecological risks from microplastic concentration loads are at low levels in all environments of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. The polymer risk index (H) indicates that ecological risks from polymer toxicity of microplastics are at high levels in all environments of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Finally, we suggest future research directions and management measures for local microplastic pollution, which are necessary to alleviate the pollution problems in high altitude remote mountainous ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we develop fully discrete methods for two molecular beam epitaxial models on surfaces, where one has a fourth-order Ginzburg–Landau double-well potential, and the other has a logarithmic nonlinear potential. The main challenge is how to establish high-order spatiotemporal accurate schemes with the property of unconditional energy stability. The spatial numerical approach adopted in this paper is the recently developed isogeometric analysis framework based on loop subdivision technology, where it can provide an exact and elegant description for the surfaces with arbitrary topology, and subdivision basis functions can serve to represent the numerical solutions. The temporal discrete scheme is based on the "explicit-invariant energy quadratization" strategy. Its novelty is to introduce two auxiliary variables (one local and the other nonlocal) and then develop two specific ordinary differential equations that convert the original equations into their equivalent forms. The use of the nonlocal variable helps us avoid dealing with variable coefficients and solve only equations with constant coefficients, and the use of the local variable allows us to obtain linear schemes with energy-stable structures numerically. We further perform various numerical experiments on some well-known complex surfaces, such as the sphere, bubble, and splayed surface to verify the stability and accuracy of the developed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the composition, abundance, and diversity of gut microbes in full-term and late-preterm infants from a medical center in eastern China. A total of 144 genomes of stool samples were captured for 16S rRNA metagenomic analyses. A high abundance of commensal intestinal bacteria was detected in these samples such as Phocaeicola vulgatus, Escherichia coli, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, indicating a relatively consistent diversity of gut microbes in the present full-term infants aged 38–40 weeks. However, late preterm infants (n = 50) with mandatory antimicrobials feeding exhibited lower diversity but a higher composition of opportunistic pathogens such as Enterococcus species. Centralized on the situation, we explored the regulatory effect of Clostridium butyricum as probiotics on these late preterm infants. The consumption of C. butyricum did not restore the composition of gut microbes altered by antimicrobials to normal levels, although several opportunistic pathogens decreased significantly after probiotic therapy including Staphylococcus aureus, Sphingomonas echinoides, and Pseudomonas putida. We also compared the effects of day-fed versus night-fed probiotics. Intriguingly, the nighttime feeding showed a higher proportion of C. butyricum compared with probiotic day-feeding. Finally, fecal metabolome and metabolites were analyzed in late preterm infants with (n = 20) or without probiotic therapy (n = 20). The KEGG enrichment analysis demonstrated that vitamin digestion and absorption, synaptic vesicle cycle, and biotin metabolism were significantly increased in the probiotic-treated group, while MSEA indicated that a series of metabolism were significantly enriched in probiotic-treated infants including glycerolipid, biotin, and lysine, indicating the complex effects of probiotic therapy on glutathione metabolism and nutrients digestion and absorption in late preterm infants. Overall, this study provided metagenomic and metabolomic profile of the gut microbes in full-term newborns and late preterm infants in eastern China. Further studies are needed to support and elucidate the role of probiotic feeding in late preterm infants with mandatory antimicrobial treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional total mesorectal excision (TME) for rectal cancer requires partial resection of Denonvilliers' fascia (DVF), which leads to injury of pelvic autonomic nerve and postoperative urogenital dysfunction. It is still unclear whether entire preservation of DVF has better urogenital function and comparable oncological outcomes. We conducted a randomized clinical trial to investigate the superiority of DVF preservation over resection (NCT02435758). A total of 262 eligible male patients were randomized to Laparoscopic TME with DVF preservation (L-DVF-P group) or resection procedures (L-DVF-R group), 242 of which completed the study, including 122 cases of L-DVF-P and 120 cases of L-DVF-R. The initial analysis of the primary outcomes of urogenital function has previously been reported. Here, the updated analysis and secondary outcomes including 3-year survival (OS), 3-year disease-free survival (DFS), and recurrence rate between the two groups are reported for the modified intention-to-treat analysis, revealing no significant difference. In conclusion, L-DVF-P reveals better postoperative urogenital function and comparable oncological outcomes for male rectal cancer patients. Total mesorectal excision (TME) for rectal cancer can require partial resection of Denonvilliers' fascia (DVF). Here the authors report the secondary outcomes of a randomized trial to evaluate the safety and effect of DVF preservation during laparoscopic TME on postoperative urogenital function and oncological safety in male patients with mid-low rectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Metastatic bladder cancer (BC) has the highest somatic mutation frequency and recurrence rate of all tumors. However, the cellular and molecular characteristics of BC remain unclear. Methods: We performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on the samples of paracancerous normal tissue (PNT), primary tumor (PT) and lymph node metastasis (LNM). The proportions and gene expression profiles of different cell types in the tumor microenvironment (TME) were investigated. Results: In total, 50,158 cells were classified into six populations. Malignant cells of PT and LNM exhibited large mutant DNA fragments, while the cell phenotypes and gene expression profiles differed during differentiation. Metastasis was associated with a poorer prognosis than PT. Tumor-associated stromal cells and inhibitory immune cells were the main cell populations in PT and LNM. Cell-cell communication analysis revealed the roles of signaling pathways of inflammatory cancer-associated fibroblast (iCAF) and tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) in exhaustion of T cells. In addition, iCAF may recruit TAM to promote formation of the TME earlier than the differentiation of tumor cells. Conclusion: This study through scRNA-seq enhanced our understanding of new features about the cellular and molecular similarities and differences of high-grade and metastatic bladder cancer, which might provide potential therapeutic targets in future treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wide use of electronic equipment leads to ubiquitous electromagnetic wave (EMW) radiation pollution. Load-tolerant and oxidation-resistant EMW absorption materials must be developed. High-entropy oxide, (MgCoNiCuZn)O, exhibits a wide range of adjustable electrical properties and shows potential as an EMW absorption material. In this study, bulk (MgCoNiCuZn)O was synthesized via solid-state reaction at elevated temperatures ranging from 700°C to 1100°C. The phase transition and microstructure of the samples are analyzed through x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The pure (MgCoNiCuZn)O can be obtained at temperatures exceeding 900°C. After sintering at 1100°C, a dense bulk of (MgCoNiCuZn)O (density of 5.59 g/cm3, open porosity of 2.1%) is obtained with flexural strength and fracture toughness values of 122 ± 6 MPa and 2.3 ± 0.1 MPa m1/2, respectively. The EMW absorption properties of (MgCoNiCuZn)O bulk in the X-band were evaluated using a waveguide method with a vector network analyzer. The material exhibits EMW absorption properties, characterized by a low reflection loss of −41.35 dB and a wide effective absorption bandwidth of 2.92 GHz. The enhanced dipole polarization loss, which is mainly responsible for the EMW-absorbing ability of (MgCoNiCuZn)O, originates from intrinsic lattice distortion and Jahn–Teller distortion as well as oxygen vacancies generated during fabrication. Bulk (MgCoNiCuZn)O exhibits the potential to integrate structural load-bearing and electromagnetic wave-absorbing properties, rendering it a promising candidate for EMW absorption applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the overall sensitivity and specificity of indocyanine green (ICG)-near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging in the detection of sentinel lymph node metastasis (SLNM) in penile cancer. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library databases to identify manuscripts where ICG was intravenously administered prior to or during penile cancer surgery, with no restriction on language or publication status. The results extracted are presented as forest plots. Results: Seven studies were included in the analysis. The median sensitivity and specificity of ICG-NIR imaging for SLNM detection were 100 and 4%, respectively; the pooled sensitivity was 100.0% (95% confidence interval [CI] 97.0–100.0) and specificity was 2.0% (95% CI 1.0–3.0). There was no significant difference in the diagnostic results between different injection sites and doses in each experimental group. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this meta-analysis is the first to summarize the diagnostic performance of ICG-NIR imaging for SLNM detection in penile cancer. ICG is sensitive in the imaging of SLN tissue, which can consequently improve the accuracy of lymph node detection. However, the specificity is very low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microglia mediated inflammation plays a crucial role in cellular events and functional recovery post ischemic stroke. In the current study, we profiled the proteome changes of microglia treated with oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD). Bioinformatics analysis identified that differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were enriched in pathways associated with oxidate phosphorylation and mitochondrial respiratory chain at both 6h and 24h post OGD. We next focused on one validated target named endoplasmic reticulum oxidoreductase 1 alpha (ERO1a) to study its role in stroke pathophysiology. We showed that over-expression of microglial ERO1a exacerbated inflammation, cell apoptosis and behavioral outcomes post middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). In contrast, suppression of microglial ERO1a significantly reduced activation of both microglia and astrocyte, along with cell apoptosis. Furthermore, knocking down microglial ERO1a improved the efficacy of rehabilitative training and enhanced the mTOR activity in spared corticospinal neurons. Our study provided novel insights into the identification of therapeutic targets and the design of rehabilitative protocols to treat ischemic stroke and other traumatic CNS injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperloop has become one of the key reserve technologies for future high-speed rail transit. The gas in the tube is compressed and rubbed, leading to a strong aerodynamic heating effect. The research on the flow field characteristics and aerodynamic heating effect of hyperloop is in its infancy, and that on the flow field structure is lacking. In this study, the nozzle theory was used to make a preliminary judgment on the choked flow phenomenon in the hyperloop. Based on the flow results obtained under different working conditions, the identification basis of the choked flow phenomenon in the hyperloop was obtained. Furthermore, the effect of the choked/unchoked flow on the flow structure, temperature, and pressure distribution of the annular space in the tube was analyzed. Based on traditional high-speed railway aerodynamics, according to relevant theories and calculation in aerospace field, and combined with the model test data, the reliability verification analysis on the characteristics of the flow field are carried out. The structure of the flow filed in the tube can be divided into choked and unchoked. The judgment is dependent on whether the throat reaches the speed of sound. Under the choked flow, a normal shock wave is formed in front of the tube train. The temperature rise of the local flow field exceeds 50 K; the temperature rise of the stagnation region exceeds 88 K, and the pressure is approximately 1.7 times that of the initial pressure in the tube. When the flow is unchoked, differences arise in the distribution of the flow field corresponding to different incoming Mach numbers. When the incoming flow is supersonic, the flow field maintains a supersonic speed, and a bow-shaped shock wave is formed at the front of the tube train. Owing to the shock wave or expansion wave, the local flow field exhibits significant fluctuations in temperature and pressure. Conversely, when the incoming flow is subsonic, the flow field in the tube maintains a subsonic speed, and no shock wave structure is observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bladder cancer (BC) is one of the most often reported malignancies globally, with a high recurrence rate and associated morbidity and mortality, especially in advanced BC. There has been a surge in the number of molecular targets revealed for BC prognosis and treatment. However, there is still a great need to discover novel biomarkers. Consequently, the current study investigated biomarkers that might indicate the progression of bladder cancer. In this study, bioinformatics analysis was done on a single GEO dataset, and TCGA-BLCA information was connected with differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The levels of mRNA and protein expression were validated using qRT-PCR. According to our findings, CRYAB, ECM1, ALDOB, AOC, GPX3, IGFBP7, AQP2, LASS2, TMEM176A, GALNT1, and LASS2 were highly enriched in cell division, identical protein binding, and developmental process in bladder cancer patients. In addition, among the highly differentiated genes, ECM1, GALNT1, LASS2, and GPX3 showed significant molecular alterations in BC, which are crucial for marker identification. Moreover, the mRNA, CNVs, and protein levels of ECM1, GALNT1, LASS2, and GPX3 were significantly increased in BC patients. Our predictions and analysis studies stated that these four genes act as urine biomarkers and played a crucial role in disease prognosis and the therapeutic process of bladder cancer. Our outcomes showed that these four novel urine biomarkers have the potential to provide innovative diagnostics, early predictions, and disease targets, ultimately improving the BC patient's prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bismuth-based materials are prevalent catalysts for CO2 electroreduction to formate, enduring high hydrogen evolution reactions and inadequate activity and stability. Herein, we reveal that in-situ electrochemical transformation of Cu2BiSx solid solution into Bi/CuxSy heterointerfaces, which can stabilize the intermediates and achieve highly selective and consistent CO2 electroreduction. It shows over 85% Faraday efficiency (FE) of formate with a potential window of −0.8 to −1.2 VRHE (RHE: reversible hydrogen electrode) and a stability above 90% over 27 h in H-type cell at −0.9 VRHE. It maintains more than 85% of FEformate at the current density of −25 to −200 mA·cm−2, and has stability of about 80% of FEformate at least 10 h at −150 mA·cm−2 in flow cell. In-situ Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy measurement confirms that the preferred route of catalytic reaction is to generate *CO2− and *OCHO intermediates. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations illustrate that heterointerfaces facilitate the prior process of CO2 to HCOOH through *OCHO by additional Bi hybrid orbitals. This study is expected to open up a new idea for the design of CO2 electroreduction catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface heterogeneous catalysis in a high-enthalpy dissociated environment leads to a remarkable enhancement of aerodynamic heating into the thermal protection surface of hypersonic aircraft. To more accurately predict this catalytic heating, a kinetic catalytic model was constructed. This model involved four elementary reactions, the rates of which were determined on mean-field approximation and surface steady-state reaction assumption. By coupling this model into the viscous wall boundary condition of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solver, the influences of metal material catalytic properties on heat and mass transfer into thermal protection materials were numerically investigated. Numerical results showed that atomic oxygen recombination catalyzed by surface material accounts for a major contribution to aerodynamic heating and thus variation in recombination rates from different materials leads to the significant difference in surface heat fluxes. From a comparative analysis of various materials, the catalytic activity increases from the inert platinum (Pt) to nickel (Ni) and finally to the active copper (Cu). As a result, the catalytic heating on Cu surface was more than twice of that on Pt surface. Further parametrical research revealed that the proper layout of inert material at the nose of aircraft could prevent stagnation catalytic heating from thermal damage by carrying near-wall dissociated atoms from the stagnation zone downstream. The material-relied heterogeneous catalysis mechanism in this study provides some technical support for the thermal protection system design of hypersonic aircraft. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the most promising solid electrolytes, Li7La3Zr2O12(LLZO) has received great attention in the field of all solid-state lithium-ion batteries. However, LLZO, as a solid material, has far less contact with the electrode than original liquid electrolyte with wettable properties in practical applications. In this study, porous LLZO solid electrolytes were fabricated by both mechanical and dispersive mixing methods with modified kapok fibers as pore-forming agents. The results show that the pores of LLZO prepared by dispersive mixing are more homogeneous than that prepared by mechanical mixing, and the ionic conductivity of LLZO fabricated by dispersive mixing remains in the same order of magnitude as the ionic conductivity of the original LLZO solid electrolyte. At the same time, the formation of ordered pore channels for porous LLZO is conducive to increasing the contact area between the solid electrolyte and the electrode material, which lays a foundation for reducing the impedance of solid electrolyte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AN improved predictive method is presented to predict the local indentation of the sandwich panel with two types of gradient foam core under a spherical indenter, which are called positive gradient foam core and negative gradient foam core, respectively. Especially for the negative foam core, a gradient influence function is defined which is proposed to describe the effects of gradient change of foam cores on local deformational behavior of sandwich panels. The analytic solutions for the plastic deformation profile of upper face sheet and the indentation force of spherical indenter are obtained, which are validated using the existing theoretical model and finite element code ABAQUS®. Subsequently, the influences of the gradient change on indentation response and energy absorption of sandwich panels with gradient metallic foam core are also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, for the highly nonlinear hydrodynamically coupled elastic bending energy model of vesicle membranes, based on the discontinuous Galerkin (DG) method for spatial discretization, a linear, decoupled, and second-order time-accurate numerical scheme is constructed. The scheme combines several efficient approaches, including the scalar auxiliary variable (SAV) method for the linearization of the nonlinear energy potential, the implicit-explicit (IMEX) discretization method for dealing with the nonlinear coupling terms, and the projection method for the Navier–Stokes equations. We also rigorously establish the energy stability and optimal error estimates, and also carry out several numerical examples to demonstrate the accuracy, stability, and efficiency of the proposed fully discrete DG scheme, numerically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider the numerical approximations for a hydrodynamical model of Cahn-Hilliard-Darcy equations. We develop two linear, decoupled, energy stable, and second-order time-marching schemes based on the "Invariant Energy Quadratization" method for nonlinear terms in the Cahn-Hilliard equation, and the projection method for the Darcy equations. Moreover, we prove the well-posedness of the linear system and their unconditional energy stabilities rigorously. We also construct a linear, decoupled, energy stable, and second-order time marching scheme by using the "Scalar Auxiliary Variable" method. Various numerical tests are presented to illustrate the stability and the accuracy of the numerical schemes and simulate the process of coarsening in binary fluid and investigate the effect of the rotating and the gravity on the Hele-Shaw cell in 2D and 3D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkali metals have been widely used as promoters of metal catalysts in various applications, yet the atomic understanding of the promotional mechanism remains elusive. In this work, we for the first time report the significant promotional effect of potassium to the Co-N-C single-atom catalyst for the direct dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene. K cation was introduced by impregnation of Co-N-C with KCl followed by calcination at 600 °C, which resulted in the bonding of K to the Co-O moiety of the Co-N-C catalyst as revealed by X-ray absorption spectroscopy in combination with theoretical calculations. The formation of Co-O-K moiety led to the increase of electron density at the O atom due to electron transfer of K to O, and consequently facilitated the heterolytic cleavage of the C-H bond of ethylbenzene across the Co-O moiety. The promotional effect of K was found to be a volcano-function with the K/Co ratio and became the greatest at the K/Co ratio of 1.36, which resulted in the highest steady-state reaction rate of 9.7 mmolEB·gcat−1·h−1 reported thus far. Moreover, the catalyst exhibited excellent stability during 100 h time on stream. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The control performance of the reluctance actuator maglev system is seriously affected by inherent nonlinearities (e.g. hysteresis, eddy current, flux leakage, etc.) and external disturbances. To this end, this paper proposes an enhanced unknown system dynamics estimator (USDE)-based sliding mode control (USDE-SMC) method by a novel predictive-adaptive switching (PAS) controller (USDE-SMC-PAS). First, a USDE is incorporated into SMC to compensate for the uncertainties, including the external disturbance, the parametric uncertainty, and the model mismatch of inherent nonlinearities; second, an adaptive switching (AS) controller is used to reduce chattering; finally, the switching controller is modified by PAS to enhance the dynamic response ability and uncertainty rejection ability with reduced chattering. In the PAS controller, the switching gain comprises a filtered estimation error part and a residual error part, which are obtained by a first-order filter and an adaptive law, respectively. Consequently, the strong nonlinearity and uncertainty compensation ability, high levitation accuracy, high dynamic response, and reduced chattering property can be achieved simultaneously. The stability properties of USDE-SMC, USDE-SMC with an AS controller (USDE-SMC-AS), and USDE-SMC-PAS in the closed-loop system are investigated by the Lyapunov theorem. Simulations and experiments are provided to validate the effectiveness and superior performance of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tungsten (W) has become the most promising plasma-facing material (PFM) in fusion reactor, and W still faces performance degradation caused by low-temperature brittleness, low recrystallization temperature, neutron irradiation effects, and plasma irradiation effects. The modification of W/W-based materials in terms of microstructure manipulation is needed, and such techniques to improve the performance of materials are the topics of hot research. Researchers have found that refining the grain can significantly improve the strength and the irradiation resistance of W/W-based materials. In this paper, novel approaches and technique routes, including the “bottom-up” powder metallurgy method and “top-down” severe plastic deformation method, are introduced to the fabrication of nanocrystalline W/W-based materials. The formation mechanisms of nanocrystalline W/W-based materials were revealed, and the nanostructure stabilization mechanisms were introduced. The mechanical properties of nanocrystalline W/W-based materials were tested, and the irradiation behaviors and performances were studied. The mechanisms of their high mechanical properties and excellent irradiation-damage resistance were illustrated. This article may provide an experimental and theoretical basis for the design and development of high-performance novel nanocrystalline W/W-based materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Giant magnetostrictive actuators (GMAs) are increasingly being applied in ultra-precision motion platforms due to its high energy density, fast response and high displacement resolution. However, due to the inherent hysteresis nonlinearity of giant magnetostrictive materials, high-precision position tracking control of GMAs becomes very challenging. In this paper, a fractional-order sliding mode control (FSMC) strategy based on inverse Prandtl-Ishlinskii (PI) model (FSMC-PI) is proposed for GMAs. The inverse PI model is established to compensate for the hysteresis nonlinearity. Besides, based on the traditional sliding mode control (SMC), the proposed FSMC-PI introduces the fractional calculus term into the sliding surface, which ensures that the state converges to the fractional-order sliding manifold with fast response and small overshoot, and the position tracking performance of GMAs is enhanced. Moreover, as a feedback control method, FSMC can further effectively suppress the uncertainties and external disturbances that the inverse PI model cannot deal with. The stability of FSMC is analyzed and proved according to the Lyapunov Theorem. In addition, a double integrator is connected in series after the FSMC system, which can further improve the dynamic characteristics of the GMA system so as to guarantee the overall position tracking control performance. Finally, experiments are conducted on a GMA system with very low load, and the results demonstrate that the proposed approach can improve the position tracking performance and disturbance suppression capability more effectively, compared with four different control schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate at the link between gastrointestinal illness and urine phthalate metabolite concentrations in children and adolescents in the United States between 2005 and 2016. A total of 4008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) participants had urine samples obtained during the survey and self-reported their gastrointestinal functional status over the previous week. High performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS–MS) was used to identify twelve phthalate metabolites in urine samples. The link between PAE concentrations and gastrointestinal illnesses was investigated using logistic regression, which was controlled for possible confounders. The combined and independent effects of PAEs on gastrointestinal illnesses were investigated using Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) and quantile-based g-computation (qgcomp). In children and adolescents, the prevalence of gastrointestinal infection was 9.0%. One log-unit increase in urinary concentrations was associated with an increased risk of gastrointestinal infection for monocarboxyoctyl phthalate (MCOP) (adjusted odd ratio (aOR) = 1.36, 95 percent confidence interval (95%ci): 1.08, 1.62), mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) (aOR = 1.18, 95 percent CI: 1.05, 1.32) and mono(2-eth The mixed exposure model findings revealed that the combined effect of PAEs was substantially linked with gastrointestinal infection; exposure to the combination of PAEs was positively associated with the risk of gastrointestinal infection. In the BKMR model, the exposure to the mixture of PAEs was positively associated with the risk of gastrointestinal infection. In qgcomp, a substantial positive correlation between PAEs and gastrointestinal illnesses was identified (OR = 1.16, 95 percent CI: 1.05, 1.28). MCOP and MEHP may be the major contributors after controlling for other PAE homologs. These associations were more pronounced in overweight and obese children and adolescents. Mixed exposure to phthalates (PAEs) in children and adolescents was significantly associated with gastrointestinal infections, with MCOP and MEHP accounting for the major proportions. These associations were more pronounced in overweight and obese children and adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, rechargeable zinc-ion batteries have been considered as the future development direction of large-scale energy storage due to their low price, safety, environmental friendliness, and excellent electrochemical performance. However, high-capacity, long-cycle stable cathode materials that can meet the demand are still to be developed. Herein, the hollow mesoporous ZnMn2O4/C microsphere cathode material with carbon nanotubes embedded in the shell was prepared by spray pyrolysis for the first time. Its capacity remained at 209.71 mAh·g−1 after 150 cycles at a rate of 0.5 A·g−1, and still maintained a specific capacity of 100.06 mAh·g−1 at a rate of 1 A·g−1 after 1,000 cycles. The outstanding performance is attributed to the hollow structure that can effectively buffer large volume changes caused by ion intercalation and deintercalation, excellent porosity, cationic defects, and high electrical conductivity of carbon nanotubes and its strong adsorption to ZnMn2O4 nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]