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Characterizing the nature of hydrodynamical transport properties in quantum dynamics provides valuable insights into the fundamental understanding of exotic non-equilibrium phases of matter. Experimentally simulating infinite-temperature transport on large-scale complex quantum systems is of considerable interest. Here, using a controllable and coherent superconducting quantum simulator, we experimentally realize the analog quantum circuit, which can efficiently prepare the Haar-random states, and probe spin transport at infinite temperature. We observe diffusive spin transport during the unitary evolution of the ladder-type quantum simulator with ergodic dynamics. Moreover, we explore the transport properties of the systems subjected to strong disorder or a tilted potential, revealing signatures of anomalous subdiffusion in accompany with the breakdown of thermalization. Our work demonstrates a scalable method of probing infinite-temperature spin transport on analog quantum simulators, which paves the way to study other intriguing out-of-equilibrium phenomena from the perspective of transport. Quantum devices offer the potential to simulate quantum phenomena, which are otherwise computationally intractable. Here, Shi, Sun, Wang and coauthors use a superconducting quantum simulator to study spin-transport at infinite temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The giant river prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) is one of the most widely cultured crustacean species. In recent years, its aquaculture has faced challenges, including the degradation of germplasm resources and the emergence of viral diseases. Genomic information can be a valuable resource for developing molecular breeding programs for this important aquaculture species. Here we constructed a high-quality reference genome for M. rosenbergii by integrating Nanopore, Illumina, and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) technologies. The final genome assembly is 3.18 Gb in size, with scaffold N50 and contig N50 of 62.73 Mb and 8.92 Mb, respectively. Approximately 98.6% of the assembled sequences were anchored into 59 pseudo-chromosomes. Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs (BUSCO) benchmark of the genome assembly reached 94.5%. Repetitive sequences comprise 43.77% of the assembled genome, and 17,436 protein-coding genes were annotated. The high-quality genome of M. rosenbergii will empower molecular breeding efforts and provide invaluable resources for comparative genomic analysis of decapod species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) coating on Zr alloy was prepared, and the corrosion behavior was investigated under 400 °C/10.3 MPa steam condition. The surface morphology, roughness, element distribution, and microstructure of PEO coating after corrosion were analyzed. The results indicate that the PEO coating after corrosion presents the typical pores and pancake structure feature, and the surface roughness of PEO coating decreases after corrosion. The PEO coating corroded for 45 days shows the best electrochemical performance because the newly formed oxide gathers to repair the pores and cracks in the oxide/metal interface. The corrosion resistance of PEO coating decreases with the corrosion time increase because the microcrack in PEO coating is connected to generate a large transverse crack, and the corrosion media can access to oxidize the substrate through the crack during the long-term corrosion process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the significance of millimeter wave sensors has achieved a paramount role, especially in the non-invasive and ubiquitous analysis of various materials and objects. This paper introduces a novel IoT-based fake currency detection using millimeter wave (mmWave) that leverages machine and deep learning algorithms for the detection of fake and genuine currency based on their distinct sensor reflections. To gather these reflections or signatures from different currency notes, we utilize multiple receiving (RX) antennae of the radar sensor module. Our proposed framework encompasses three different approaches for genuine and fake currency detection, Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), k-nearest Neighbor (k-NN), and Transfer Learning Technique (TLT). After extensive experiments, the proposed framework exhibits impressive accuracy and obtained classification accuracy of 96%, 94%, and 98% for CNN, k-NN, and TLT in distinguishing 10 different currency notes using radar signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Although human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HU-MSCs) have attracted increasing attention because of their pivotal functions in the process of wound healing, the underlying molecular mechanisms have been poorly understood. It has been shown that the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway plays an important role in the process of scar formation. The present study focused on exploring whether HU-MSCs improve uterine incision healing after cesarean delivery in rats via the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. Study Design: Pregnant rats were randomly assigned to three groups, including the NP group, incision-injected group (HU-MSCs1 group), and tail vein-injected group (HU-MSCs2 group), and 30 days after cesarean section, sampling was carried out to further explore the specific mechanisms from tissue and protein levels. Results: HU-MSCs secretion could inhibit the fibrosis of scar tissue. We observed that the TGF-β induced expression of TGF-β1, Smad2, and Smad3 was attenuated upon HU-MSCs treatment in scar tissue, while the decrease in TGF-β3 expression was enhanced by HU-MSCs. Furthermore, HU-MSCs treatment accelerated wound healing and attenuated collagen deposition in a damaged uterine rat model, leading to the promoting of uterine incision scarring. In addition, the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (a-SMA) was enhanced by HU-MSCs treatment. Conclusion: HU-MSCs transplantation promotes rat cesarean section uterine incision scar healing by modulating the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine the immuntoxic effects of arsenic in the nervous system. Our results showed that arsenic increased corticocerebral and hippocampal weights (p < 0.05). Morris water maze tests revealed that arsenic significantly increased the time spent in latency to platform on the fourth day in 50 mg/L arsenic exposure and the fifth day in 25 and 50 mg/L arsenic exposure, as well as reduced the path length in target quadrant, time spent in target quadrant, and crossing times of the platform (p < 0.05). Hematoxylin–eosin staining showed that the vacuolated degeneration and pyknosis was found in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of arsenic-treated mice. The mRNA levels of corticocerebral and hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were decreased in the 50 mg/L arsenic-treated group (p < 0.05). In addition, immunofluorescence staining showed that 25 and 50 mg/L arsenic all increased the expression of CD11b and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus (p < 0.05). Arsenic markedly raised antigen-presenting molecule MHCII and CD40 mRNA levels in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus and upregulated the cell chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) and CCR7 mRNA levels in the cerebral cortex at the 50 mg/L arsenic group, and increased the CCR7 mRNA levels in the hippocampus at the 25 and 50 mg/L arsenic groups (p < 0.05). Arsenic activated the nucleotide-binding domain-like receptor protein-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, and enhanced its upstream promoter NF-κB protein level and downstream regulators IL-18 mRNA levels. Collectively, these results provide new evidences for the neuro-immune toxicity of arsenic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Removing high-risk and persistent contaminants from water is challenging, because they typically exist at low concentrations in complex water matrices. Electrified flow-through technologies are viable to overcome the limitations induced by mass transport for efficient contaminant removal. Modifying the local environment of the flow-through electrodes offers opportunities to further improve the reaction kinetics and selectivity for achieving near-complete removal of these contaminants from water. Here, we present state-of-the-art local environment modification approaches that can be incorporated into electrified flow-through technologies to intensify water treatment. We first show methods of nanospace incorporation, local geometry adjustment, and microporous structure optimization that can induce spatial confinement, enhanced local electric field, and microperiodic vortex, respectively, for local environment modification. We then discuss why local environment modification can complement the flow-through electrodes for improving the reaction rate and selectivity. Finally, we outline appropriate scenarios of intensifying electrified flow-through technologies through local environment modification for fit-for-purpose water treatment applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secondary epileptogenesis is characterized by increased epileptic susceptibility and a tendency to generate epileptiform activities outside the primary focus. It is one of the major resultants of pharmacoresistance and failure of surgical outcomes in epilepsy, but still lacks effective treatments. Here, we aimed to test the effects of low-frequency stimulation (LFS) at the subiculum for secondary epileptogenesis in a mouse model. Here, secondary epileptogenesis was simulated at regions both contralateral and ipsilateral to the primary focus by applying successive kindling stimuli. Mice kindled at the right CA3 showed higher seizure susceptibilities at both the contralateral CA3 and the ipsilateral entorhinal cortex and had accelerated kindling processes compared with naive mice. LFS at the ipsilateral subiculum during the primary kindling progress at the right CA3 effectively prevented secondary epileptogenesis at both the contralateral CA3 and the ipsilateral entorhinal cortex, characterized by decreased seizure susceptibilities and a retarded kindling process at those secondary foci. Only application along with the primary epileptogenesis was effective. Notably, the effects of LFS on secondary epileptogenesis were associated with its inhibitory effect at the secondary focus through interfering with the enhancement of synaptic connections between the primary and secondary foci. These results imply that LFS at the subiculum is an effective preventive strategy for extensive secondary epileptogenesis in temporal lobe epilepsy and present the subiculum as a target with potential translational importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inositol requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) is generally thought to control the most conserved pathway in the unfolded protein response (UPR). Two isoforms of IRE1, IRE1α and IRE1β, have been reported in mammals. IRE1α is a ubiquitously expressed protein whose knockout shows marked lethality. In contrast, the expression of IRE1β is exclusively restricted in the epithelial cells of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts, and IRE1β-knockout mice are phenotypically normal. As research continues to deepen, IRE1α was showed to be tightly linked to inflammation, lipid metabolism regulation, cell death and so on. Growing evidence also suggests an important role for IRE1α in promoting atherosclerosis (AS) progression and acute cardiovascular events through disrupting lipid metabolism balance, facilitating cells apoptosis, accelerating inflammatory responses and promoting foam cell formation. In addition, IRE1α was recognized as novel potential therapeutic target in AS prevention. This review provides some clues about the relationship between IRE1α and AS, hoping to contribute to further understanding roles of IRE1α in atherogenesis and to be helpful for the design of novel efficacious therapeutics agents targeting IRE1α-related pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: Si/C Composite and Nanostructure Engineering: Advanced Si/C composites and multidimensional nanostructures address key challenges in silicon anodes, like volume expansion and unstable SEI, enhancing LIBs performance. Artificial SEI, Prelithiation, and Binders: Focus on stable artificial SEI layers, efficient prelithiation, and cutting-edge binders to improve Coulombic efficiency and reduce capacity loss, enhancing Si anode durability and efficiency. Real-World Application and Scalability: Analysis of these strategies highlights scalability and commercial viability, transitioning Si-anode technologies to practical, high-performance LIBs applications. Silicon (Si) has emerged as a potent anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), but faces challenges like low electrical conductivity and significant volume changes during lithiation/delithiation, leading to material pulverization and capacity degradation. Recent research on nanostructured Si aims to mitigate volume expansion and enhance electrochemical performance, yet still grapples with issues like pulverization, unstable solid electrolyte interface (SEI) growth, and interparticle resistance. This review delves into innovative strategies for optimizing Si anodes' electrochemical performance via structural engineering, focusing on the synthesis of Si/C composites, engineering multidimensional nanostructures, and applying non-carbonaceous coatings. Forming a stable SEI is vital to prevent electrolyte decomposition and enhance Li+ transport, thereby stabilizing the Si anode interface and boosting cycling Coulombic efficiency. We also examine groundbreaking advancements such as self-healing polymers and advanced prelithiation methods to improve initial Coulombic efficiency and combat capacity loss. Our review uniquely provides a detailed examination of these strategies in real-world applications, moving beyond theoretical discussions. It offers a critical analysis of these approaches in terms of performance enhancement, scalability, and commercial feasibility. In conclusion, this review presents a comprehensive view and a forward-looking perspective on designing robust, high-performance Si-based anodes the next generation of LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The substantial amount of mercury emissions from coal-fired flue gas causes severe environmental contamination. With the Minamata Convention now officially in force, it is critical to strengthen mercury pollution control. Existing activated carbon injection technologies suffer from poor desulfurization performance and risk secondary-release risks. Therefore, considering the potential industrial application of adsorbents, we selected cost-effective and readily available activated coke (AC) as the carrier in this study. Four metal selenides—copper, iron, manganese, and tin—were loaded onto the AC to overcome the application problems of existing technologies. After 120 min of adsorption, the CuSe/AC exhibited the highest efficiency in removing Hg0, surpassing 80% according to the experimental findings. In addition, the optimal adsorption temperature window was 30–120 °C, the maximum adsorption rate was 2.9 × 10−2 mg·g−1·h−1, and the effectiveness of CuSe/AC in capturing Hg0 only dropped by 5.2% in the sulfur-containing atmosphere. The physicochemical characterization results indicated that the AC surface had a uniform loading of CuSe with a nanosheet structure resembling polygon and that the Cu-to-Se atomic ratio was close to 1:1. Finally, two possible Hg0 reaction pathways on CuSe/AC were proposed. Moreover, it was elucidated that the highly selective binding of Hg0 with ligand-unsaturated Se− was the key factor in achieving high adsorption efficiency and sulfur resistance in the selenium-functionalized AC adsorbent. This finding offers substantial theoretical support for the industrial application of this adsorbent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mn-based zinc ion battery has the advantages of low cost and high performance, which makes it the promising energy storage system. However, the poor conductivity and the agglomeration in the synthesis process of manganese-based materials restrict the performance of batteries. Herein, the Se-doped MnS/Ti3C2Tx (Se-MnS/Ti3C2Tx) composite material derived from Mn-based metal-organic framework is reported. Electrochemical tests show that Se-doped could generate S defects and enhance the electrochemical activity of MnS. At the same time, the introduction of Ti3C2Tx substrate is conducive to exposing more sulfur defects and improving the utilization rate of defects. In the mechanism study, it is found that Se-MnS/Ti3C2Tx is transformed into S/Se co-doped Mn3O4 at the first charge, which innovatively elucidated the behavior of S/Se during activation. In the electrochemical performance test, the specific capacity can reach 74.7 mAh·g−1 at 5.0 A·g−1. In addition, the Zn-Ti3C2Tx membrane electrode is prepared by vacuum filtration as the zinc-poor anode, which is assembled into the rocking chair full battery to avoid dendrite growth and exhibit excellent rate performance. The addition of Zn2+ weakens the electrostatic repulsion between the interlayers of MXene, and the formation of the folded morphology aids the penetration of the electrolyte. At 1.0 A·g−1, the capacity can reach 50.6 mAh·g−1. This work is helpful to promote the research and development of the reaction mechanism of manganese based rocking chair batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic lymphocytic inflammation with pontine perivascular enhancement responsive to steroids (CLIPPERS) is an inflammatory syndrome with characteristic clinical, radiological, and pathological features, and can be effectively treated with corticosteroid-based immunotherapies. The exact pathogenesis of CLIPPERS remains unclear, and specific diagnostic biomarkers are not available. According to the 2017 diagnostic criteria, probable CLIPPERS should be considered in middle-aged patients with subacute onset of pontocerebellar symptoms and typical punctuate and curvilinear gadolinium enhancement lesions ("salt-and-pepper" appearance) located in the hindbrain (especially pons) on magnetic resonance imaging. In addition, CLIPPERS-mimics, such as central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma, and several antibody-associated autoimmune CNS diseases (e.g., myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease, autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytopathy, and anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor encephalitis), should be extensively excluded. The prerequisite for definite CLIPPERS is the perivascular T-cell-predominant inflammatory infiltration observed on pathological analysis. A biopsy is strongly suggested when clinical/radiological red flags are present. Most patients with CLIPPERS respond well to corticosteroids and have a good prognosis. Long-term low-dose corticosteroid maintenance therapy or corticosteroids coupled with immunosuppressants are recommended to prevent the recurrence of the syndrome. The potential progression of CLIPPERS to lymphoma has been suggested in some cases; therefore, at least 2-year clinical and radiological follow-up is essential. Here, we critically review the recent developments and provided an update on the clinical characteristics, diagnostic criteria, differential diagnoses, and therapeutic management of CLIPPERS. We also discuss the current controversies in this context that can be resolved in future research studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Many studies have found that when the piezoelectric devices are with the sizes of micrometer/nanoscale level, another significant electromechanical coupling characteristic, namely the flexoelectric effect, also plays important role in the performance of devices. In order to investigate the effect of flexoelectricity on the thickness-shear vibration, a mathematical model of a finite piezoelectric plate with slowly varying thickness and elliptical crosssection is presented with the consideration of flexoelectric effect in this paper. Methods: The proposed model uses the first order McLaughlin series to approximate the elliptical geometric function and the its first derivative is ignored since we assume that the plate thickness varies slowly along the length. The displacement function we adopted is assumed to be antisymmetric through the thickness due to the thicknessshear vibration mode. In addition, regarding to the thin and long flexoelectric plate, only the shear strain gradient through the thickness is considered in the mathematical model. The nonlinear governing equations, which incorporate geometric nonlinearity, are converted into differential equations as function of time by the Galerkin method. The method of multiple scales is employed to obtain the solution of nonlinear governing equation with the first order approximation. The obtained frequencies of thickness-shear mode are expressed in terms of vibration amplitude, eccentricity and flexoelectric coefficients. Results and Conclusion: The results show that the nonlinear thickness-shear vibration is size dependent and flexoelectric effect has significant influence on the nonlinear thickness-shear vibration frequencies of micro thin plates. The eccentricity and geometric nonlinearity also have great influence on the nondimensional fundamental frequencies. Thus, for accurate design of nano/micro scale high precision and high frequency flexoelectric/piezoelectric devices with elliptical cross-section, flexoelectricity must be taken into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multifunctional materials with high electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness and thermal conductivity (TC) are an essential guarantee for the rapid advancement of next-generation electronic products. Herein, the three-dimensional porous conductive/thermal network of carbon nanotubes (CNT)/cellulose is prefabricated by "solution-gelation-solvent exchange-freeze drying". Using "impregnation and high-pressure compression molding", CNT/cellulose-boron nitride/polyvinyl alcohol (CNT/cellulose-BN/PVA) composite films with three-dimensional dual-continuous network structure are constructed to provide a perfect pathway for both electrons and phonons transportation. Comprehensive performance of the composites before and after hot-pressing including the microstructure, electrical conductivity, EMI shielding and thermal conductivity is investigated. Benefiting from the high-pressure compression molding process, the composite is densified and a close contact between fillers is achieved, which effectively improves the electrical and thermal conductivity. The finally obtained CNT/cellulose-BN/PVA composite film exhibits satisfactory EMI shielding performance, high in-plane and cross-plane TC, as well as excellent Joule heating performance, demonstrating enormous potential as high-performance EMI shielding and thermal management materials in practical applications. The significance of this work is to give an inspiration for improving the comprehensive performance of electromagnetic shielding and thermal conductive materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) are one of the most significant sources of mercury (Hg) emissions certified by the Minamata Convention, which has attracted much attention in recent years. In this study, we used the Web of Science and CiteSpace to analyze the knowledge structure of this field from 2000 to 2022 and then reviewed it systematically. The field of Hg emissions from coal-fired power plants has developed steadily. The research hotspots can be divided into three categories: (1) emission characterization research focused on speciation changes and emission calculations; (2) emission control research focused on control technologies; (3) environmental impact research focused on environmental pollution and health risk. In conclusion, using an oxygen-rich atmosphere for combustion and installing high-efficiency air pollution control devices (APCDs) helped to reduce the formation of Hg0. The average Hg removal rates of APCDs and modified adsorbents after ultra-low emission retrofit were distributed in the range of 82–93% and 41–100%, respectively. The risk level of Hg in combustion by-products was highest in desulfurization sludge (RAC > 10%) followed by fly ash (10% < RAC < 30%) and desulfurization gypsum (1% < RAC < 10%). Additionally, we found that the implementation of pollution and carbon reduction policies in China had reduced Hg emissions from CFPPs by 45% from 2007 to 2015, increased the efficiency of Hg removal from APCDs to a maximum of 96%, and reduced global transport and health risk of atmospheric Hg. The results conjunctively achieved by CiteSpace, and the literature review will enhance understanding of CFPP Hg emission research and provide new perspectives for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aero-engine casing, with its thin-walled complex structure, is a critical component that significantly influences machining quality due to its low-stiffness dynamic characteristics. In this study, we propose a multi-point flexible adaptive clamping technology to enhance the local stiffness of large-scale aero-engine casings. This approach aims to mitigate deformation during milling and drilling processes and improve precision throughout the multi-process machining procedure. Firstly, we analyze the milling and drilling processes involved in multi-process machining of aero-engine casings and construct a comprehensive error transfer model that considers both geometric errors and coupling effects caused by machining deformation. Furthermore, we elucidate the principles behind positioning using multi-point flexible clamping fixtures and controlling machining deformation. Finally, through simulation analysis of machining errors as well as actual machining experiments, we verify the effectiveness of our proposed multi-point flexible clamping fixture in suppressing deformation during milling and drilling processes. Our results demonstrate that this method effectively controls casing deformation during machining: it reduces flatness error at the casing mounting edge by 38.3%, while decreasing verticity error and position error at the casing mounting hole by 40.2% and 33.1%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Surgical strategy for second primary lung cancer (SPLC) may be more conservative due to influence of first primary lung cancer (FPLC). The optimal surgical method for SPLC warrants discussion. We aimed to explore a more suitable surgical approach for early-stage (T1-T2N0, ≤ 3 cm) SPLC and provide insights for clinical practice. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database between 2004 and 2018, and data of patients with early-stage SPLC who underwent secondary surgery were collected. Propensity score matching (PSM) reduced potential bias between lobar and sublobar resection groups. The effect of lobar and sublobar resection on overall survival (OS) was assessed in all patients and subgroups. Results: A total of 714 patients who met the study entry criteria were enrolled, including 476 patients in the sublobar resection group (66.67%) and 238 patients in the lobar resection group (33.33%). There was no difference in OS between the lobar and sublobar resection groups before and after PSM (P = 0.289) and (P = 0.608), respectively. Subgroup analyses showed that lobar resection achieved a significantly better OS than sublobar resection only in patients with an SPLC tumor size of 2–3 cm (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The OS of sublobar resection was not significantly different from that of lobar resection for early-stage SPLC. For SPLC with a 2–3 cm tumor size, lobar resection is more advantageous than sublobar resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) contribute to the intimal hyperplasia in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients after percutaneous coronary intervention. We aimed to investigate the role of lncRNA cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2B antisense RNA 1 (CDKN2B-AS1) in VSMC proliferation and migration, as well as the underlying mechanism. T2DM model mice with carotid balloon injury were used in vivo and mouse aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (MOVAS) stimulated by insulin were used in vitro to assess the role of CDKN2B-AS1 in VSMC proliferation and migration following vascular injury in T2DM state. To investigate cell viability and migration, MTT assay and Transwell assay were conducted. To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms, the methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction, RNA immunoprecipitation, RNA-pull down, co-immunoprecipitation, and chromatin immunoprecipitation were performed. In vivo, CDKN2B-AS1 was up-regulated in common carotid artery tissues. In vitro, insulin treatment increased CDKN2B-AS1 level, enhanced MOVAS cell proliferation and migration, while the promoting effect was reversed by CDKN2B-AS1 knockdown. CDKN2B-AS1 forms a complex with enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) and DNA methyltransferase (cytosine-5) 1 (DNMT1) to regulate smooth muscle 22 alpha (SM22α) methylation levels. In insulin-stimulated cells, SM22α knockdown abrogated the inhibitory effect of CDKN2B-AS1 knockdown on cell viability and migration. Injection of lentivirus-sh-CDKN2B-AS1 relieved intimal hyperplasia in T2DM mice with carotid balloon injury. Up-regulation of CDKN2B-AS1 induced by insulin promotes cell proliferation and migration by targeting SM22α through forming a complex with EZH2 and DNMT1, thereby aggravating the intimal hyperplasia after vascular injury in T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper revisits the classical Linear Quadratic Gaussian (LQG) control from a modern optimization perspective. We analyze two aspects of the optimization landscape of the LQG problem: (1) Connectivity of the set of stabilizing controllers C n ; and (2) Structure of stationary points. It is known that similarity transformations do not change the input-output behavior of a dynamic controller or LQG cost. This inherent symmetry by similarity transformations makes the landscape of LQG very rich. We show that (1) The set of stabilizing controllers C n has at most two path-connected components and they are diffeomorphic under a mapping defined by a similarity transformation; (2) There might exist many strictly suboptimal stationary points of the LQG cost function over C n that are not controllable and not observable; (3) All controllable and observable stationary points are globally optimal and they are identical up to a similarity transformation. These results shed some light on the performance analysis of direct policy gradient methods for solving the LQG problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have well-defined active sites, making them of potential interest for organic synthesis1–4. However, the architecture of these mononuclear metal species stabilized on solid supports may not be optimal for catalysing complex molecular transformations owing to restricted spatial environment and electronic quantum states5,6. Here we report a class of heterogeneous geminal-atom catalysts (GACs), which pair single-atom sites in specific coordination and spatial proximity. Regularly separated nitrogen anchoring groups with delocalized π-bonding nature in a polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) host7 permit the coordination of Cu geminal sites with a ground-state separation of about 4 Å at high metal density8. The adaptable coordination of individual Cu sites in GACs enables a cooperative bridge-coupling pathway through dynamic Cu–Cu bonding for diverse C–X (X = C, N, O, S) cross-couplings with a low activation barrier. In situ characterization and quantum-theoretical studies show that such a dynamic process for cross-coupling is triggered by the adsorption of two different reactants at geminal metal sites, rendering homo-coupling unfeasible. These intrinsic advantages of GACs enable the assembly of heterocycles with several coordination sites, sterically congested scaffolds and pharmaceuticals with highly specific and stable activity. Scale-up experiments and translation to continuous flow suggest broad applicability for the manufacturing of fine chemicals.Heterogeneous geminal-atom catalysts, which pair single-atom sites in specific coordination and spatial proximity, offer a new avenue for the sustainable manufacture of fine chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been previously found that individuals with internet gaming disorder (IGD) have a negative bias in recognizing facial micro-expressions (MEs). However, the underlying psychological mechanisms of this negative bias remain unknown. According to the signal detection theory (SDT), sensitivity to and response criterion for facial expressions may contribute to the explanation of this negative bias. Specifically, sensitivity (d′) reflects an individual's ability to detect a given emotional expression and a higher sensitivity indicates a better ability to detect a given emotional expression. Response criterion (c) reflects an individual's tendency to judge any given facial expression as a particular emotion and a lower response criterion indicates a stronger tendency to judge a facial expression as a particular emotion. It is unclear whether this negative bias in individuals with IGD is primarily due to a lower response criterion for negative MEs or to a higher sensitivity to such MEs. Thus, we used SDT and the Japanese and Caucasian Brief Affect Recognition Test to measure sensitivity to and response criterion for happy and angry MEs with an intensity of 30%, 50% or 70% among 60 individuals with IGD and 60 healthy controls. The results were as follows: (1) Compared with healthy individuals, individuals with IGD had a higher sensitivity (d′) to angry MEs than to happy MEs at the 50% (η2 = 0.05) and 70% intensities (η2 = 0.11). (2) Compared with healthy individuals, individuals with IGD had a lower response criterion (c) for angry MEs than for happy MEs (η2 = 0.29). These results suggest that the negative bias in ME recognition among individuals with IGD may stem from both their higher sensitivity to negative MEs (than to positive MEs) and their lower response criterion for negative MEs (than for positive MEs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quantum Hall effect, fundamental in modern condensed matter physics, continuously inspires new theories and predicts emergent phases of matter. Here we experimentally demonstrate three types of Chern insulators with synthetic dimensions on a programable 30-qubit-ladder superconducting processor. We directly measure the band structures of the 2D Chern insulator along synthetic dimensions with various configurations of Aubry-André-Harper chains and observe dynamical localisation of edge excitations. With these two signatures of topology, our experiments implement the bulk-edge correspondence in the synthetic 2D Chern insulator. Moreover, we simulate two different bilayer Chern insulators on the ladder-type superconducting processor. With the same and opposite periodically modulated on-site potentials for two coupled chains, we simulate topologically nontrivial edge states with zero Hall conductivity and a Chern insulator with higher Chern numbers, respectively. Our work shows the potential of using superconducting qubits for investigating different intriguing topological phases of quantum matter. Quantum simulations of topological matter with superconducting qubits have been attracting attention recently. Xiang et al. realize 2D and bilayer Chern insulators with synthetic dimensions on a programmable 30-qubit-ladder superconducting processor, showing bulk-boundary correspondence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early embryonic development is a dynamic process that relies on proper cell-cell communication to form a correctly patterned embryo. Early embryo development-related ligand-receptor pairs (eLRs) have been shown to guide cell fate decisions and morphogenesis. However, the scope of eLRs and their influence on early embryo development remain elusive. Here, we developed a computational framework named TimeTalk from integrated public time-course mouse scRNA-seq datasets to decipher the secret of eLRs. Extensive validations and analyses were performed to ensure the involvement of identified eLRs in early embryo development. Process analysis identified that eLRs could be divided into six temporal windows corresponding to sequential events in the early embryo development process. With the interpolation strategy, TimeTalk is powerful in revealing paracrine settings and studying cell-cell communication during early embryo development. Furthermore, by using TimeTalk in the blastocyst and blastoid models, we found that the blastoid models share the core communication pathways with the epiblast and primitive endoderm lineages in the blastocysts. This result suggests that TimeTalk has transferability to other bio-dynamic processes. We also curated eLRs recognized by TimeTalk, which may provide valuable clues for understanding early embryo development and relevant disorders. TimeTalk is a computational approach that uses time-course single-cell RNA-seq data to identify ligand-receptor pairs for studying cell-cell communications in early embryo development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Previous studies have found that poor social functioning is related to impaired facial expression recognition in individuals with Internet gaming disorder (IGD). However, these studies have focused on ordinary facial expression recognition and have not investigated micro-expression (ME) recognition. Thus, this study aimed to explore whether individuals with IGD have impairments in ME recognition and its psychological mechanism. In this study, 60 individuals with IGD and 60 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited to test their ME recognition ability using the Japanese and Caucasian Brief Affect Recognition Test (JACBART). Furthermore, their levels of IGD, depression, anxiety, and social anxiety were measured. The results were as follows: (1) the accuracy of recognizing MEs in individuals with IGD was significantly lower than that in HCs, and the reaction time (RT) in individuals with IGD was significantly longer than that in HCs; (2) the accuracy of recognizing happy MEs was significantly lower than that of recognizing angry MEs in individuals with IGD; (3) the score in the Interaction Anxiousness Scale was negatively correlated with the accuracy of recognizing happy MEs but positively correlated with the accuracy of recognizing angry MEs in individuals with IGD. These results implied that individuals with IGD had an overall impairment in ME recognition and a more significant impairment in the recognition of happy MEs; meanwhile, impairment in recognizing happy MEs was associated with social anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facilitated by reactive oxygen species (ROS)-involved therapies, tumor cells undergo immunogenic cell death (ICD) to stimulate long-term immunity response. However, it is hard to trigger abundant and large-scale ICD for satisfactory cancer immunotherapy. Herein, a multifunctional sonosensitizer that consists of Au single atoms and clusters anchored on TiO2 nanosheets (named AuS/C-TiO2) is reported for augmented sonodynamic therapy (SDT) and glucose depletion, which ultimately induce robust ICD due to the improved ROS generation and strong endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. The synergy effect between Au cluster/single atom with TiO2 nanosheets intensifies apoptosis and ICD pathways to inhibit 80% of tumor cells through in vivo analyses. Furthermore, immune cells in vivo analyses verify the effectiveness of AuS/C-TiO2 sonosensitizer towards the induction of antitumor immunity. This study thus reveals that simultaneous presence of ROS generation and strong ER stress can efficiently evoke a strong ICD-mediated immune response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous researches state vision as a vital source of information for movement control and more precisely for accurate hand movement. Further, fine bimanual motor activity may be associated with various oscillatory activities within distinct brain areas and inter-hemispheric interactions. However, neural coordination among the distinct brain areas responsible to enhance motor accuracy is still not adequate. In the current study, we investigated task-dependent modulation by simultaneously measuring high time resolution electroencephalogram (EEG), electromyogram (EMG) and force along with bi-manual and unimanual motor tasks. The errors were controlled using visual feedback. To complete the unimanual tasks, the participant was asked to grip the strain gauge using the index finger and thumb of the right hand thereby exerting force on the connected visual feedback system. Whereas the bi-manual task involved finger abduction of the left index finger in two contractions along with visual feedback system and at the same time the right hand gripped using definite force on two conditions that whether visual feedback existed or not for the right hand. Primarily, the existence of visual feedback for the right hand significantly decreased brain network global and local efficiency in theta and alpha bands when compared with the elimination of visual feedback using twenty participants. Brain network activity in theta and alpha bands coordinates to facilitate fine hand movement. The findings may provide new neurological insight on virtual reality auxiliary equipment and participants with neurological disorders that cause movement errors requiring accurate motor training. The current study investigates task-dependent modulation by simultaneously measuring high time resolution electroencephalogram, electromyogram and force along with bi-manual and unimanual motor tasks. The findings show that visual feedback for right hand decreases the force root mean square error of right hand. Visual feedback for right hand decreases local and global efficiency of brain network in theta and alpha bands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is an important risk factor for hypertension. We aimed to investigate the association between different obesity patterns and hypertension risk in a large male population in the US. Male participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (2007–2018) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Social demographic information, lifestyle factors, anthropometric measurements and biochemical measurements were collected. Three obesity patterns were classified according to the body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC), including overweight and general obesity, abdominal obesity, and compound obesity. We adopted multivariate logistic regression to investigate the associations between hypertension and different obesity patterns after adjusting for cofounding factors. Subgroup analysis, stratified by age, smoking, drinking and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), was also conducted to explore the associations between obesity patterns and hypertension risk among different populations. Moreover, the association between WC and hypertension among male individuals was also explored using restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was used to evaluate the discriminatory power of WC for screening hypertension risk. 13,859 male participants from NHANES survey (2007–2018) were enrolled. Comparing with the normal-weight group, the odds ratios (ORs) [95% confidence interval (CI)] for hypertension in individuals with overweight and general obesity, abdominal obesity and compound obesity were 1.41 [1.17–1.70], 1.97 [1.53–2.54] and 3.28 [2.70–3.99], respectively. Subgroup analysis showed that the effect of different obesity patterns on hypertension risk was highly stable among individuals with different clinical conditions. In addition, WC had a positive correlation with the risk of hypertension (OR: 1.43; 95% CI 1.37–1.52; P < 0.001) in fully adjusted multivariate logistic regression model. RCS analysis showed that the association between WC and hypertension risk was in a nonlinear pattern, and WC had a good discriminatory power for hypertension in ROC analysis. Different patterns of obesity have a great impact on the risk of hypertension among male individuals. Increment of WC significantly increased the hypertension risk. More attention should be paid to the prevention of obesity, especially abdominal obesity and compound obesity in male individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soft-tissue sarcomas (STSs) are a rare and diverse group of mesenchymal cancers plagued with aggression, poor response to systemic therapy, and high rates of recurrence. Although STSs generally have low mutational burdens, the most commonly mutated genes are tumor suppressors, which frequently acquire mutations inducing nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD). This suggests that STS cells may exploit NMD to suppress these anti-cancer genes. To examine the role that the NMD factor SMG7 plays in STS, we developed an inducible knockout mouse model in the Trp53−/− background. Here, we isolated a subcutaneous STS and identified it as a rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). We report that knockout of SMG7 significantly inhibited NMD in our RMS cells, which led to the induction of NMD targets GADD45b and the tumor suppressor GAS5. The loss of NMD and upregulation of these anti-cancer genes were concomitant with the loss of RMS cell viability and inhibited tumor growth. Importantly, SMG7 was dispensable for homeostasis in our mouse embryonic fibroblasts and adult mice. Overall, our data show that the loss of SMG7 induces a strong anti-cancer effect both in vitro and in vivo. We present here the first evidence that disrupting SMG7 function may be tolerable and provide a therapeutic benefit for STS treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although gut seasonal plasticity has been extensively reported, studies on physiological flexibility, such as water-salt transportation and motility in reptiles, are limited. Therefore, this study investigated the intestinal histology and gene expression involved in water-salt transport (AQP1, AQP3, NCC, and NKCC2) and motility regulation (nNOS, CHRM2, and ADRB2) in desert-dwelling Eremias multiocellata during winter (hibernating period) and summer (active period). The results showed that mucosal thickness, the villus width and height, the enterocyte height of the small intestine, and the mucosal and submucosal thicknesses of the large intestine were greater in winter than in summer. However, submucosal thickness of the small intestine and muscularis thickness of the large intestine were lower in winter than in summer. Furthermore, AQP1, AQP3, NCC, nNOS, CHRM2, and ADRB2 expressions in the small intestine were higher in winter than in summer; AQP1, AQP3, and nNOS expressions in the large intestine were lower in winter than in summer, with the upregulation of NCC and CHRM2 expressions; no significant seasonal differences were found in intestinal NKCC2 expression. These results suggest that (i) intestinal water-salt transport activity is flexible during seasonal changes where AQP1, AQP3 and NCC play a vital role, (ii) the intestinal motilities are attenuated through the concerted regulation of nNOS, CHRM2, and ADRB2, and (iii) the physiological flexibility of the small and large intestine may be discrepant due to their functional differences. This study reveals the intestinal regulation and adaptation mechanisms in E. multiocellata in response to the hibernation season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Quantifying grassland aboveground biomass and soil nutrient removal in response to harvest intensities is essential to balance productivity and conservation benefit. There is a lack of studies examining the harvest frequency-induced threshold that leads to abrupt decay in grassland functioning. Methods: Based on field experiments in a semiarid and a dry subhumid grassland, we tested threshold responses of aboveground biomass (AGB) and removed plant nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) to 9-harvest frequency gradients within-year (2017 and 2018); and the legacy effects of harvest on AGB and soil available N and P pools and stoichiometry following cessation (2019) of harvest. Results: In both grasslands, the plant AGB within-year were highest at the frequency of ~2-harvest; it abruptly decreased once the threshold was exceeded. Moreover, except for plant N at the semiarid site, the response patterns of the N and P removals to harvest frequency were similar to that of plant AGB. The increased removal of N was higher than P with harvest frequency, leading to decreased soil available N/P ratio excess of twice at the dry subhumid site. Following cessation, the previous harvest frequency had a negative legacy effect on both plant AGB and the ratio of graminoid to forb species. Conclusions: These results indicate that ≤2-harvest annually are applicable for optimal pastoral production; among which one harvest by the end of the growing season may be appropriate for conserving above- and below-ground parts and maintaining healthy grassland functions. Soil N/P condition should be considered as an indicator when determining a sustainable harvest frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following neonatal hypoxic–ischemia (HI) injury, it is crucial factor to reconstruct neural circuit and maintain neural network homeostasis for neurological recovery. A dynamic balance between the synthesis and degradation of synaptic protein is required for maintaining synaptic plasticity. Protein degradation is facilitated by autophagy. This study aimed to investigate the regulation of synaptic structural plasticity by the Notch pathway, by assessing changes in Notch pathway activation and their effects on synaptic proteins and autophagy after HI injury. The study involved 48 male newborn Yorkshire piglets, each weighing 1.0–1.5 kg and 3 days old. They were randomly assigned to two groups: the HI group and the Notch pathway inhibitor + HI group (n = 24 per group). Each group was further divided into six subgroups according to HI duration (n = 4 per group): a control subgroup, and 0–6, 6–12, 12–24, 24–48, and 48–72 h subgroups. The expression of Notch pathway-related proteins, including Notch1, Hes1, and Notch intracellular domains, increased following HI injury. The expression of autophagy proteins increased at 0–6 h and 6–12 h post-HI. The expression of synaptic proteins, such as postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) and synaptophysin, increased 6–12 h and 12–24 h after HI, respectively. Notably, the increased expression of these proteins was reversed by a Notch pathway inhibitor. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of autophagosome structures in synapses. These findings shed light on the underlying mechanisms of neurological recovery after HI injury and may provide insights into potential therapeutic targets for promoting neural circuit reconstruction and maintaining neural network homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum simulation enables study of many-body systems in non-equilibrium by mapping to a controllable quantum system, providing a powerful tool for computational intractable problems. Here, using a programmable quantum processor with a chain of 10 superconducting qubits interacted through tunable couplers, we simulate the one-dimensional generalized Aubry-André-Harper model for three different phases, i.e., extended, localized and critical phases. The properties of phase transitions and many-body dynamics are studied in the presence of quasi-periodic modulations for both off-diagonal hopping coefficients and on-site potentials of the model controlled respectively by adjusting strength of couplings and qubit frequencies. We observe the spin transport for initial single- and multi-excitation states in different phases, and characterize phase transitions by experimentally measuring dynamics of participation entropies. Our experimental results demonstrate that the recently developed tunable coupling architecture of superconducting processor extends greatly the simulation realms for a wide variety of Hamiltonians, and can be used to study various quantum and topological phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to promote the stability of a self-propelled capsule moving in digestive tract, the target moving speed, the minimal impact force and the minimal energy consumption are considered as the optimisation objectives simultaneously. The uncertainty of small intestine environment is described by varying the external friction coefficient of capsule. Under such circumstances, NSGA-II, Monte Carlo, and Six-Sigma algorithms are combined to conduct the multi-objective optimisation of both the control and structure parameters based on reliability analysis. Compared with the passive capsules which can only move in one direction relying on small intestine peristalsis, the bi-directional motion can be fulfilled by the self-propelled capsule via adjusting its optimisation parameters. According to the obtained optimisation result, the forward motion of the capsule can achieve a large scale of moving speeds; however, it is difficult for the capsule moving backward with high speed. The reliabilities of both the energy consumption and the impact force can reach 100% via reliability optimisations; however, the reliability of the target moving speed of capsule is hard to be promoted up to 90%. Both the optimisation method and the optimisation result introduced in the paper are expected to be benefit to the improvement of the self-propelled capsule system and its application in wireless endoscope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pinhole corrosion is difficult to discover through conventional ultrasonic guided waves inspection, particularly for micro-sized pinholes less than 1 mm in diameter. This study proposes a new micro-sized pinhole inspection method based on segmented time reversal (STR) and high-order modes cluster (HOMC) Lamb waves. First, the principle of defect echo enhancement using STR is introduced. Conventional and STR inspection experiments were conducted on aluminum plates with a thickness of 3 mm and defects with different diameters and depths. The parameters of the segment window are discussed in detail. The results indicate that the proposed method had an amplitude four times larger than of conventional ultrasonic guided waves inspection method for pinhole defect detection and could detect micro-sized pinhole defects as small as 0.5 mm in diameter and 0.5 mm in depth. Moreover, the segment window location and width (5−10 times width of the conventional excitation signal) did not affect the detection sensitivity. The combination of low-power and STR is more conducive to detection in different environments, indicating the robustness of the proposed method. Compared with conventional ultrasonic guided wave inspection methods, the proposed method can detect much smaller defect echoes usually obscured by noise that are difficult to detect with a lower excitation power and thus this study would be a good reference for pinhole defect detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asymmetric ring-opening of 7-oxabenzonorbornadienes is achieved via Co-catalyzed indole C–H functionalization. The utilization of chiral Co-catalyst consisting of a binaphthyl-derived trisubstituted cyclopentadienyl ligand resulted in high yields (up to 99%) and excellent enantioselectivity (>99% ee) for the target products with tolerance for diverse functional groups. Opposite diastereoselectivities are obtained with chiral Co-catalyst or Cp*CoI2CO. Combined experimental and computational studies suggest β-oxygen elimination being the selectivity-determining step of the reaction. Meanwhile, the reactions of 7-azabenzonorbornadiene could also be executed in a diastereodivergent manner. Asymmetric ring-opening (ARO) reactions, which can help quickly build molecular complexity, have not been extensively shown via β-oxygen elimination. Here, the authors report a cobalt(III)-catalyzed ARO reaction, providing mechanistic insights and the origins of the diastereo- and enantioselectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green credit policy is an essential external driver of green transformation for companies, while the performance gap is a vital decision-making foundation for innovative reform for managers. Both work together and influence corporate green technology innovation. Based on this, this research examines the influence of green credit on corporate green technology innovation under the assumptions of "cost compliance" and "innovation compensation" from the perspective of the performance gap. It shows that green credit policy inhibits green technology innovation among heavy polluting firms. Still, after considering the performance gap, the inhibiting effects are only found in firms with performance deficits. In contrast, green credit policy promotes green technology innovation when firms have a performance surplus. The heterogeneity analysis finds that the boosting effect of performance surplus is more significant in non-state, large-scale, and financially developed regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molten salt oxidation (MSO) is an advanced method for waste resins treatment; nevertheless, the research about gas product variations of resins under different stoichiometric air feed coefficient (α) is rare. The optimal working condition of hazardous waste disposal is obtained through thermodynamic equilibrium calculation, and the method to improve the treatment efficiency is found to guide the optimization of the actual experiment. In this paper, Fact Sage was used to calculate the oxidation products of cation exchange resins (CERs) at different temperatures and α, focusing on the similarities and differences through the contents of CO, CH4, CO2, and SO2 during the oxidation of CERs, the MSO of CERs, and the theoretical calculation. The results indicated that the gas products of the calculation and reality of the oxidation process of CERs are quite different, while the CO contents of CERs during MSO are close to the calculated values. The main reason for this consequence is that in the oxidation process of CERs, the S in the sulfonic acid group will form thermally stable C-S with the styrene–divinylbenzene skeleton. Moreover, the introduction of carbonate can promote the destruction of C-S and absorb SO2 as sulfate, weakening the influence of C-S on the oxidation products of CERs. The gas chromatograph results indicated that the SO2 content is reduced from 0.66% in the process of CERs oxidation to 0.28% in MSO of CERs. When 1.25 times stoichiometric air feed coefficient is fed, the sulfate content in the carbonate is the highest at 900 °C, which is 23.4%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the largest substructures in the nucleus, nucleoli are the sites of ribosome biogenesis. Increasing evidence indicates that nucleoli play a key role in the organization of 3D genome architecture, but systematic studies of nucleolus-associated chromatin interactions are lacking. Here, we developed a nucleolus Hi-C (nHi-C) experimental technique to enrich nucleolus-associated chromatin interactions. Using the nHi-C experiment, we identify 264 high-confidence nucleolus-associated domains (hNADs) that form strong heterochromatin interactions associated with the nucleolus and consist of 24% of the whole genome in HeLa cells. Based on the global hNAD inter-chromosomal interactions, we find five nucleolar organizer region (NOR)-bearing chromosomes formed into two clusters that show different interaction patterns, which is concordant with their epigenetic states and gene expression levels. hNADs can be divided into three groups that display distinct cis/trans interaction signals, interaction frequencies associated with nucleoli, distance from the centromeres, and overlap percentage with lamina-associated domains (LADs). Nucleolus disassembly caused by Actinomycin D (ActD) significantly decreases the strength of hNADs and affects compartment/TAD strength genome-wide. In summary, our results provide a global view of heterochromatin interactions organized around nucleoli and demonstrate that nucleoli act as an inactive inter-chromosomal hub to shape both compartments and TADs. Here the authors developed a nucleolus Hi-C technique (nHi-C) for enriching nucleolus-associated interactions, and revealed specific heterochromatin interaction patterns within and around nucleoli in human cells at high resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Runoff forecasting is one of the important non-engineering measures for flood prevention and disaster reduction. The accurate and reliable runoff forecasting mainly depends on the development of science and technology, many machine learning models have been proposed for runoff forecasting in recent years. Considering the non-linearity and real-time of hourly rainfall and runoff data. In this study, two runoff forecasting models were proposed, which were the combination of the bidirectional gated recurrent unit and backpropagation (BGRU-BP) neural network and the bidirectional long short-term memory and backpropagation (BLSTM-BP) neural network. The two models were compared with the gated recurrent unit (GRU), long short-term memory (LSTM), bidirectional gated recurrent unit (BGRU), and bidirectional long short-term memory (BLSTM) models. The research methods were applied to simulate runoff in the Yanglou hydrological station, Northern Anhui Province, China. The results show that the bidirectional models were superior to the unidirectional model, and the backpropagation (BP) based bidirectional models were superior to the bidirectional models. The bidirectional propagation was conducive to improving the generalization ability of the model, and BP neural network could better guide the model to find the optimal nonlinear relationship. The results also show that the BGRU-BP model performs equally well as the BLSTM-BP model. The BGRU-BP model has few parameters and a short training time, so it may be the preferred method for short-term runoff forecasting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We prove decomposition theorems for sparse positive (semi)definite polynomial matrices that can be viewed as sparsity-exploiting versions of the Hilbert–Artin, Reznick, Putinar, and Putinar–Vasilescu Positivstellensätze. First, we establish that a polynomial matrix P(x) with chordal sparsity is positive semidefinite for all x ∈ R n if and only if there exists a sum-of-squares (SOS) polynomial σ (x) such that σ P is a sum of sparse SOS matrices. Second, we show that setting σ (x) = (x 1 2 + ⋯ + x n 2) ν for some integer ν suffices if P is homogeneous and positive definite globally. Third, we prove that if P is positive definite on a compact semialgebraic set K = { x : g 1 (x) ≥ 0 , ... , g m (x) ≥ 0 } satisfying the Archimedean condition, then P (x) = S 0 (x) + g 1 (x) S 1 (x) + ⋯ + g m (x) S m (x) for matrices S i (x) that are sums of sparse SOS matrices. Finally, if K is not compact or does not satisfy the Archimedean condition, we obtain a similar decomposition for (x 1 2 + ⋯ + x n 2) ν P (x) with some integer ν ≥ 0 when P and g 1 , ... , g m are homogeneous of even degree. Using these results, we find sparse SOS representation theorems for polynomials that are quadratic and correlatively sparse in a subset of variables, and we construct new convergent hierarchies of sparsity-exploiting SOS reformulations for convex optimization problems with large and sparse polynomial matrix inequalities. Numerical examples demonstrate that these hierarchies can have a significantly lower computational complexity than traditional ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The turtle has survived for over several hundred million years and evolved excellent shell structure to resist high-stress repeated impact by stone and predators. Based on the impact resistance performance of turtle shell, a new bionic composite coating (BCC) was proposed and prepared, which is composed of porous micro-arc oxidation (MAO) inner layer, Si transition middle layer, and different-element (H, Si, and Cr)-doped diamond-like carbon (DLC) outer layer. This study aims to investigate the impact response, energy absorption, and damage characteristics of BCC in low-speed impact conditions. Results indicate that the impact behavior of BCC is superior to substrate and the BCC presents a lower peak force and higher energy absorption. Thus, the outer DLC layer could resist the impact force to reduce damage. The porous structure in MAO layer could act as a buffer and deform to absorb energy. The BCC-Si shows the best impact resistance with the lowest wear volume due to the Si-DLC layer with a good balance of toughness and hardness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]