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Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging is an important tool for mapping tissue microstructure and structural connectivity non‐invasively in the in vivo human brain. Numerous diffusion signal models are proposed to quantify microstructural properties. Nonetheless, accurate estimation of model parameters is computationally expensive and impeded by image noise. Supervised deep learning‐based estimation approaches exhibit efficiency and superior performance but require additional training data and may be not generalizable. A new DIffusion Model OptimizatioN framework using physics‐informed and self‐supervised Deep learning entitled "DIMOND" is proposed to address this problem. DIMOND employs a neural network to map input image data to model parameters and optimizes the network by minimizing the difference between the input acquired data and synthetic data generated via the diffusion model parametrized by network outputs. DIMOND produces accurate diffusion tensor imaging results and is generalizable across subjects and datasets. Moreover, DIMOND outperforms conventional methods for fitting sophisticated microstructural models including the kurtosis and NODDI model. Importantly, DIMOND reduces NODDI model fitting time from hours to minutes, or seconds by leveraging transfer learning. In summary, the self‐supervised manner, high efficacy, and efficiency of DIMOND increase the practical feasibility and adoption of microstructure and connectivity mapping in clinical and neuroscientific applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spread of the COVID-19 had profoundly affected the development of the air transportation. In order to determine the changes in air transportation volume associated with the development of the epidemic, this paper takes Southwest China as the study area. Monthly data and methods, such as the coefficient of variation, rank-size analysis and spatial matching index, were applied. The results found that: (1) during 2020–2022, there was a positive relationship between passenger volume and epidemic development, while freight volume increased for most airports in the first quarter of 2020–2022, particularly in the eastern region; (2) From the perspective of changes in air transportation volume under the development of the COVID-19, among various types of airports, the changes in transportation volume of main trunk airports were more significant than those of regional feeder airports in remote areas; (3) however, under the influence of the epidemic, main trunk airports still exhibited stronger attraction in passenger volume. That is to say, the passengers who chose to travel by air still tended to choose the main trunk airports and formed the agglomeration distribution pattern which around high-level airports in the provincial capital. Whereas the freight volume had a tendency of equalization among airports in Southwest China; (4) Over the course of time, the consistency of the spatial distribution of the number of cases and the passenger or freight volume in southwest China gradually increased. Among them, the spatial matching rate of the passenger volume and the number of COVID-19 cases was always higher than that of the cases and freight volume, which might indicate that there was a stronger correlation relationship. Therefore, it is proposed that the construction of multi-center airport system should be strengthened, the resilience of the route network for passenger transportation should be moderately enhanced, and the risk-resistant capacity of mainline airports and airports in tourist cities should be upgraded, so as to provide references for the orderly recovery of civil aviation and regional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nylon 514 is one of the new long-chain bio-based nylon materials; its raw material, 1,5-pentanediamine (PDA), is prepared by biological techniques, using biomass as the raw material. The high-performance monomer of nylon 514, 1,5-pentanediamine-tetradecanedioate (PDA-TDA) salt, was obtained through efficient crystallization methods. Here, two crystal forms of PDA-TDA, anhydrous and dihydrate, were identified and studied in this paper. From the characterization data, their crystal structures and thermal behaviors were investigated. Lattice energy was calculated to gain further insight into the relationship between thermal stability and crystal structures. The contribution of hydrogen bonds and other intermolecular interactions to the crystal structure stability have been quantified according to detailed Hirshfeld and IRI analyses. Additionally, the transformation mechanism of the anhydrate and dihydrate was established through a series of well-designed stability experiments, in which the temperature and water activity play a significant role in the structural stability of crystalline forms. Eventually, we obtained nylon 514 products with good thermal stability and low absorption using stable dihydrate powders as monomers. The properties of nylon 514 products prepared by different polymerization methods were also compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Morphology can give us a better understanding of amphibian adaptations to the environment, which are not well responded to by traditional morphological studies. Therefore, we used 3D scanning technology, combined with the analysis of environmental factors, to reveal the 3D morphological characteristics, spatial variation patterns, and driving factors of Bufo gargarizans in the Yellow River Basin. The results showed that the overall body size of B. gargarizans tended to become smaller with increasing altitude, confirming that the change in body size did not follow Bergman's law. We also found larger appendages and more complex bodies in high-elevation populations compared to low-elevation populations. In addition, altitude also had a strong influence on the morphogeometric patterns of B. gargarizans, and latitude and temperature was also closely related to their morphogeometric patterns. Morphology plays a crucial role in understanding the intricacies of biological forms. Traditional morphometric methods, focusing on one- or two-dimensional geometric levels, often fall short of accurately capturing the three-dimensional (3D) structure of organisms. The advent of 3D scanning techniques has revolutionized the study of organismal morphology, enabling comprehensive and accurate measurements. This study employs a 3D structured light scanning system to analyze the morphological variations in the Chinese toad (Bufo gargarizans Cantor, 1842) along the Yellow River Basin. The 3D digital model obtained from the scan was used to calculate various morphological parameters including body surface area, volume, fractal dimensions, and limb size. The research explores geographic variability patterns and identifies environmental drivers affecting the 3D phenotypic variation of B. gargarizans. Results reveal a bimodal pattern of variation in the toad population, with higher elevations exhibiting smaller body sizes, greater appendage proportions, and more complex body structures. Linear regression analyses highlight the influence of elevation and annual mean temperature on the morphological variation of B. gargarizans, with elevation playing a significant role. This study underscores the significance of 3D morphometric analysis in unraveling the intricacies of organismal morphology and understanding the adaptive strategies of species in diverse environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective imbalance between the taxi supply and demand exists in various areas of the city. Accurately predicting this imbalance helps taxi companies with dispatching, thereby increasing their profits and meeting the travel needs of residents. The application of Graph Convolutional Networks (GCNs) in traffic forecasting has inspired the development of a spatial–temporal model for grid-level prediction of the taxi demand–supply imbalance. However, spatial–temporal GCN prediction models conventionally capture only static inter-grid correlation features. This research aims to address the dynamic influences caused by taxi mobility and the variations of other transportation modes on the demand–supply dynamics between grids. To achieve this, we employ taxi trajectory data and develop a model that incorporates dynamic GCN and Gated Recurrent Units (GRUs) to predict grid-level imbalances. This model captures the dynamic inter-grid influences between neighboring grids in the spatial dimension. It also identifies trends and periodic changes in the temporal dimension. The validation of this model, using taxi trajectory data from Shenzhen city, indicates superior performance compared to classical time-series models and spatial–temporal GCN models. An ablation study is conducted to analyze the impact of various factors on the predictive accuracy. This study demonstrates the precision and applicability of the proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanism of PMS activation by the MPCBs/PMS system. [Display omitted] Magnetic carbon-based catalysts are promising materials for advanced oxidation processes, offering both high catalytic activity and environmental friendliness, and hold great potential in environmental remediation. In this work, Fe and Co zeolite imidazole frameworks (ZIFs) derived micron-sized magnetic porous carbon beads (MPCBs) were prepared by phase inversion and following the carbonization procedure, and the morphological and structural characteristics of the MPCBs were confirmed. The presence of pores and channels in the MPCBs provides a specific microenvironment for the for the catalysis of the core. Bisphenol A (BPA) was selected for the targeted pollutant, and the catalytic experiments confirmed that the effective catalytic activity of MPCBs in the presence of peroxymonosulfate (PMS), which could almost completely degrade BPA in 20 min with a reaction rate of 0.368 min−1. Furthermore, the MPCBs were used to effectively bacterial inactivation. Intermediate products of the BPA degradation process were validated and the toxicological studies showed a gradual decrease in toxicity, indicating effective reduction of potential hazards. The macroscopic preparation methods we developed for MPCBs that is promising for industrial applications and has the potential to cope with complex environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is very important for a thermistor to have linear electrical properties, which can effectively reduce the complexity of circuit design. Phase structure modulation through introducing a second phase is crucial to achieve high performance electronic ceramics. Herein, new linear high-temperature thermistors based on the x Al 2 O 3 -(1- x)CaMnO 3 ceramics were synthesized by the solid phase reaction method. With increasing Al 2 O 3 content, CaMn 2 O 4 and CaAl 2 O 4 phase were observed, which formed internal conducting network and induced linear electrical properties. The ceramics exhibited negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor characteristics in the temperature range of 523 K–1173 K. Their resistance-temperature (R - T) relationship displayed a good linear characteristic, especially for x = 0.3, which showed the highest linearity (R2: 0.9984) in the temperature range of 523 K–1173 K, covering medium to high temperature region. The mechanism of linear electrical properties was explained by a parallel conductive model in combination with complex impedance analysis. This approach could be generalized for designing linear high-temperature thermistors with a wide temperature range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses a combination of EDXRF and LA-ICP-MS to analyse the chemical components including major elements and REE composition of the accompanying celadon from four different periods of tomb at the Yutu Hill burial complex on the Xunyang city site for sourcing their provenance. The combination of the two analytical methods not only provides additional data and information to explore the provenance of the accompanying celadon in the burials, but also validates the data's accuracy. A comparison with the chemical composition of the products from several kiln sites producing celadon revealed that burials from the Eastern Han period (25–220 A.D) to the Tang dynasty (618–907 A.D) included celadon from the Hongzhou kiln, indicating the connection between the Xunyang city site and the Hongzhou kiln during these two periods. In addition, the REE composition of the accompanying celadon in tombs from the Six Dynasties (222–589 A.D) and the Sui dynasty (581–618 A.D) is very similar to that of Yue kiln celadon, despite their strikingly different appearance and shape. This paper deduces, based on the previous distribution of Yue kiln products in the Jiangxi region, that only the upper classes collected Yue kiln products during the initial period of their entry into Jiangxi during the Jin dynasty (266–420 A.D), but that during the later period of the Six Dynasties, the commoner classes also began to collect Yue kiln products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To assess the effectiveness and safety of intranasal tear neurostimulation in the treatment of dry eye disease. Methods: We performed a meta-analysis of four databases from their inception to October 2022 without language restrictions. Randomized controlled trials and non-randomized controlled trials meeting the inclusion criteria were included in this review and were quality appraised. The risk of bias was evaluated by two independent reviewers using the Cochrane Collaboration Tool and Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies. The random-effect model or fixed-effect model was adopted to estimate the pooled effect sizes. Results: Fifteen published studies consisting of 17 clinical trials with a total of 901 patients were analyzed. Schirmer II test scores were significantly higher after intranasal tear neurostimulation in patients with dry eye disease (mean difference = 14.12 mm, 95% confidence intervals (8.93, 19.31), P < 0.001). Intranasal tear neurostimulation increased the meibomian gland areas (mean difference = − 251.79 μm2, 95% confidence intervals (− 348.34, − 155.23), P < 0.001), but no significant difference was found in meibomian gland perimeters before and after stimulation (mean difference = 3.72 mm, 95% confidence intervals (− 22.14, 29.59), P = 0.78). All adverse events were mild or moderate, and no serious adverse events were reported. Conclusions: This meta-analysis provides promising evidence for the controversial effectiveness of intranasal tear neurostimulation in the treatment of dry eye disease, along with useful information for guiding intranasal tear neurostimulation in future clinical trials. Trial Registration: This meta-analysis was registered on the Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (CRD42021284214). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eucommia ulmoides staminate flowers (EUF), a newly approved functional food in China, have great potential for hormonal regulation. Herein, we aim to demonstrate the chemical composition and pharmacological activity of EUF in testosterone production and hormonal regulation. EUF extract and its components, kaempferol and geniposidic acid, exhibited a strong stimulating effect by increasing testosterone secretion, reducing ROS production, or promoting viability in Leydig cells. Meanwhile, the increased testosterone production was related to the upregulation of mRNA and protein expression of the steroidogenic pathway, such as steroidogenic acute-regulatory protein (StAR), 3β -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (HSD3B1), 17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase (CYP17A1), and nuclear receptor subfamily 5 group A member 1 (NR5A1). However, PKA inhibitor H89 or adenylyl cyclase inhibitor SQ22536 could block their effect. The results of transgenic yeast models showed the androgenic agonistic effects of kaempferol and naringenin and the estrogenic agonistic effects of rutin. These results indicated that the testosterone promotional effect of EUF was related to the activation of the steroidogenic pathway and potential hormonal regulation. Kaempferol and geniposidic acid might be the key active ingredients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The third author's name is spelled incorrectly. The correct name is: Yi Miao.The affiliation 1 for all the authors is incorrect. The correct affiliation 1 is: College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, Shandong, China.The correct citation is: Li Z, Deng X, Miao Y, Duan J (2024) Study on the temporal and spatial relationship between public health events and the development of air transport scale: A case of the Southwest China. PLoS ONE 19(4): e0301461. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0301461.By Zihan Li; Xiwen Deng; Yi Miao and Jinglong DuanReported by Author; Author; Author; Author [Extracted from the article]

The thermal error stands as a pivotal determinant, significantly impacting both the precision and its stability of gear hobbing processes. Thus far, conspicuous delays in compensation and insufficiencies in precision have been duly noted. To achieve a proficient and exceedingly precise thermal error compensation, an intricate mathematical correlation is expounded, delineating the connection between the spatial pose error of the hob and the inherent thermal error in the gear hobbing machine. In addressing the thermal error linked to the B-axis, a bidirectional-minimal gated unit network is harnessed to characterize long-term memory attributes. An advanced crystal structure algorithm is introduced, encompassing components such as the population initialization mechanism, the nonlinear convergence factor, the Gaussian perturbation mechanism, and an enhanced optimization equation. The weights of the bidirectional-minimal gated unit network are judiciously assigned via the self-attention mechanism. This innovation, recognized as the improved crystal structure algorithm-self-attention-bidirectional-minimal gated unit network, is introduced for the training of the thermal error model for the B-axis. Subsequently, thermal analysis models are formulated, yielding the thermal errors of the X- and Z- axes. An error control model and an error decoupling model are established, employing the thermal errors of the B-, X-, and Z- axes as their input. Ultimately, an intelligent error control system is crafted, in which the error control model, error decoupling model, and thermal error model are seamlessly integrated. The aim is to mitigate tooth flank errors. With the integration of the intelligent error control system, the levels of precision pertaining to gear helix deviation, maximum deviation of a single pitch, and cumulative total pitch deviation are elevated by one, one, and two levels, respectively. More significantly, the geometric error reduction of the tooth flank achieved by the meticulously designed intelligent error control system surpasses that of traditional pitch compensation by a substantial margin. Furthermore, the execution efficiency of the intelligent error control system, when operating within the machine-edge-fog-cloud framework, exhibits a remarkable improvement of 24.18%, 16.20%, and 57.84% when compared to the intelligent error control system operating within the machine-edge-cloud, machine-fog-cloud, and machine-cloud frameworks, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fiber-reinforced thermoplastic polymer composites are widely applied in engineering. The use of continuous fibers in these composites provides superior mechanical properties and material performance compared with those achieved when short fibers are used. In this study, pure poly(ethersulfone) (PES) and its continuous fiber-reinforced composites were manufactured using fused deposition modeling 3D printing technology. PES composite filaments reinforced with continuous basalt fiber (BF) were prepared. The method and temperature for printing the BF-reinforced PES, the strength of the interfacial bonding between the BF and the PES matrix, and the abrasiveness of the composite were all studied in detail. The results revealed that PES printed at 360 °C exhibits the highest tensile strength. Furthermore, the tensile and bending strengths of the PES/BF composite were found to be increased by 217.06 % and 87.96%, respectively, compared with those of pure PES. To improve the interfacial bonding properties between the fiber and resin matrix, the fiber was modified using a silane coupling agent. This decreased the mass wear and the wear scar width by 80% and 45%, respectively, compared with those for pure PES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2D) ferromagnetic materials have been discovered with tunable magnetism and orbital-driven nodal-line features. Controlling the 2D magnetism in exfoliated nanoflakes via electric/magnetic fields enables a boosted Curie temperature (T C) or phase transitions. One of the challenges, however, is the realization of high T C 2D magnets that are tunable, robust and suitable for large scale fabrication. Here, we report molecular-beam epitaxy growth of wafer-scale Fe3+XGeTe2 films with T C above room temperature. By controlling the Fe composition in Fe3+XGeTe2, a continuously modulated T C in a broad range of 185–320 K has been achieved. This widely tunable T C is attributed to the doped interlayer Fe that provides a 40% enhancement around the optimal composition X = 2. We further fabricated magnetic tunneling junction device arrays that exhibit clear tunneling signals. Our results show an effective and reliable approach, i.e. element doping, to producing robust and tunable ferromagnetism beyond room temperature in a large-scale 2D Fe3+XGeTe2 fashion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal–oxygen batteries have been growing rapidly as an energy storage technology in light of their high specific energy density. However, waste metal–oxygen batteries will raise many environmental issues; therefore, the recycling and reusing of the spent metal–oxygen batteries has attracted great attention. Herein, we report the 2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (PTIO) as a redox mediator for manganese–oxygen battery (MOB). Trace amounts of PTIO result in the discharge capacity of MOB increase to 2588 mAh g−1 and enhance the formation of manganese dioxide (MnO2) with toroidal appearance and high crystallinity on the cathode. After being used, the dismantled MnO2/carbon nanotube (CNT) cathode can be reused as an electrode for supercapacitor via simple calcining at mild temperature. The recycled free-standing MnO2/CNT electrode demonstrates an exceptional specific capacitance (253.86 F g−1) at a current density of 0.5 A g−1 in a 0.5 M Na2SO4 electrolyte. Moreover, we prepare an asymmetric supercapacitor fabricated with the recycled MnO2/CNT electrode and activated carbon (AC), which exhibits excellent energy density (32.00 Wh kg−1 at 413.70 W kg−1) with 78.26% retention over 6000 cycles. This work provides a promising strategy to derive high-quality and high-value MnO2/CNT electrode materials from the spent MOBs. It's the 2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (PTIO) as a redox mediator for manganese-oxygen battery (MOB). The recycled manganese dioxide (MnO2)/carbon nanotube (CNT) cathode can be reused as an electrode for supercapacitor via simple calcining at mild temperature. The recycled MnO2/CNT electrode shows the toroidal appearance and high crystallinity. Furthermore, the asymmetric supercapacitor fabricated with the MnO2/CNT free-standing electrode displays high specific capacitance, superior energy density, and good cyclic ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A decrease in population is an emerging challenge in China's urbanization trajectory. This study utilizes data from the Sixth and Seventh Population Censuses to identify Chinese cities experiencing population decline, focusing on prefecture-level cities. It employs 30 indicators relevant to nine Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) concerning urban areas and populations to evaluate the progress of these shrinking cities in 2010 and 2020. A novel metric, "SDG population elasticity", is introduced to quantify the association between population reduction and SDG indexes. The study employs K-means++ clustering for 130 shrinking cities. The findings reveal that out of the 130 cities, 63 exhibit a downward trend in SDG index scores, predominantly in China's northeast and western regions. The Northeast region has negative SDG population elasticity, indicating a lag in sustainable development compared to that in other areas. Additionally, the research categorizes China's shrinking cities into four groups: cities with strong population elasticity feedback-significantly declining SDGs, cities with weak population elasticity feedback-slightly regressing SDGs, cities with high population loss-negative SDGs in decline, and cities with smart population decline-steady SDGs growth. These findings offer a foundation for crafting bespoke policies in shrinking cities to ensure a balanced approach to sustainable development and monitor advancement toward achieving the SDGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3D hierarchical network ultralight RGOF/MoS 2 samples: design, production and their extraordinary comprehensive microwave absorption properties. [Display omitted] Using previous models and theories to construct and develop high-efficient microwave absorbers (MAs) should be a strategic and effective ways to optimize the electromagnetic wave attenuation. Herein, the ultralow density and flexible graphene oxide foam (GOF) and reduced graphene oxide foam (RGOF)/MoS 2 nanosheets were designed and fabricated by the method of chemical vapor deposition and hydrothermal reaction. The obtained GOF and RGOF/MoS 2 samples exhibited very excellent microwave absorption properties while their densities were merely 0.0082 and 0.0084 g•cm−3, respectively. More importantly, benefiting from the excellent synergistic effect between RGOF and MoS 2 , the designed RGOF/MoS 2 well inherited the combined advantages of GOF and MoS 2 in terms of strong absorption abilities, broad absorption bandwidth and thin matching thicknesses. The values of minimum reflection loss and effective frequency bandwidth for RGOF/MoS 2 sample could reach up to −62.92 dB with the matching thickness of 2.27 mm and 4.48 GHz with the matching thickness of 2.12 mm, which were very desirable for high-performance MAs. Moreover, the obtained results indicated that the microwave absorption properties of RGOF/MoS 2 sample could be further optimized by regulating the MoS 2 content. Therefore, a new and effective strategy was proposed to develop high efficiency MAs with ultra-lightweight, wide-band, thin thickness and strong absorption capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design and planning of railway alignments is the dominant task in railway construction. However, it is difficult to achieve self‐learning and learning from human experience with manual as well as automated design methods. Also, many existing approaches require predefined numbers of horizontal points of intersection or vertical points of intersection as input. To address these issues, this study employs deep reinforcement learning (DRL) to optimize mountainous railway alignments with the goal of minimizing construction costs. First, in the DRL model, the state of the railway alignment optimization environment is determined, and the action and reward function of the optimization agent are defined along with the corresponding alignment constraints. Second, we integrate a recent DRL algorithm called the deep deterministic policy gradient with optional human experience to obtain the final optimized railway alignment, and the influence of human experience is demonstrated through a sensitivity analysis. Finally, this methodology is applied to a real‐world case study in a mountainous region, and the results verify that the DRL approach used here can automatically explore and optimize the railway alignment, decreasing the construction cost by 17.65% and 7.98%, compared with the manual alignment and with the results of a method based on the distance transform, respectively, while satisfying various alignment constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we consider the existence of solutions to the Sturm–Liouville differential equation with random impulses and boundary value problems. We first study the Green function of the Sturm–Liouville differential equation with random impulses. Then, we get the equivalent integral equation of the random impulsive differential equation. Based on this integral equation, we use Dhage's fixed point theorem to prove the existence of solutions to the equation, and the theorem is extended to the general second order nonlinear random impulsive differential equations. Then we use the upper and lower solution method to give a monotonic iterative sequence of the generalized random impulsive Sturm–Liouville differential equations and prove that it is convergent. Finally, we give two concrete examples to verify the correctness of the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early orthodontic correction of skeletal malocclusion takes advantage of mechanical force to stimulate unclosed suture remodeling and to promote bone reconstruction; however, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear. Gli1+ cells in maxillofacial sutures have been shown to participate in maxillofacial bone development and damage repair. Nevertheless, it remains to be investigated whether these cells participate in mechanical force-induced bone remodeling during orthodontic treatment of skeletal malocclusion. In this study, rapid maxillary expansion (RME) mouse models and mechanical stretch loading cell models were established using two types of transgenic mice which are able to label Gli1+ cells, and we found that Gli1+ cells participated in mechanical force-induced osteogenesis both in vivo and in vitro. Besides, we found mechanical force-induced osteogenesis through inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R), and we observed for the first time that inhibition of Gli1 suppressed an increase in mechanical force-induced IP3R overexpression, suggesting that Gli1+ cells participate in mechanical force-induced osteogenesis through IP3R. Taken together, this study is the first to demonstrate that Gli1+ cells in maxillofacial sutures are involved in mechanical force-induced bone formation through IP3R during orthodontic treatment of skeletal malocclusion. Furthermore, our results provide novel insights regarding the mechanism of orthodontic treatments of skeletal malocclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early orthodontic correction of skeletal malocclusion takes advantage of mechanical force to stimulate unclosed suture remodeling and to promote bone reconstruction; however, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear. Gli1+ cells in maxillofacial sutures have been shown to participate in maxillofacial bone development and damage repair. Nevertheless, it remains to be investigated whether these cells participate in mechanical force-induced bone remodeling during orthodontic treatment of skeletal malocclusion. In this study, rapid maxillary expansion (RME) mouse models and mechanical stretch loading cell models were established using two types of transgenic mice which are able to label Gli1+ cells, and we found that Gli1+ cells participated in mechanical force-induced osteogenesis both in vivo and in vitro. Besides, we found mechanical force-induced osteogenesis through inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R), and we observed for the first time that inhibition of Gli1 suppressed an increase in mechanical force-induced IP3R overexpression, suggesting that Gli1+ cells participate in mechanical force-induced osteogenesis through IP3R. Taken together, this study is the first to demonstrate that Gli1+ cells in maxillofacial sutures are involved in mechanical force-induced bone formation through IP3R during orthodontic treatment of skeletal malocclusion. Furthermore, our results provide novel insights regarding the mechanism of orthodontic treatments of skeletal malocclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental Microorganism Data Set Fifth Version (EMDS-5) is a microscopic image dataset including original Environmental Microorganism (EM) images and two sets of Ground Truth (GT) images. The GT image sets include a single-object GT image set and a multi-object GT image set. EMDS-5 has 21 types of EMs, each of which contains 20 original EM images, 20 single-object GT images and 20 multi-object GT images. EMDS-5 can realize to evaluate image preprocessing, image segmentation, feature extraction, image classification and image retrieval functions. In order to prove the effectiveness of EMDS-5, for each function, we select the most representative algorithms and price indicators for testing and evaluation. The image preprocessing functions contain two parts: image denoising and image edge detection. Image denoising uses nine kinds of filters to denoise 13 kinds of noises, respectively. In the aspect of edge detection, six edge detection operators are used to detect the edges of the images, and two evaluation indicators, peak-signal to noise ratio and mean structural similarity, are used for evaluation. Image segmentation includes single-object image segmentation and multi-object image segmentation. Six methods are used for single-object image segmentation, while k-means and U-net are used for multi-object segmentation. We extract nine features from the images in EMDS-5 and use the Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier for testing. In terms of image classification, we select the VGG16 feature to test SVM, k-Nearest Neighbors, Random Forests. We test two types of retrieval approaches: texture feature retrieval and deep learning feature retrieval. We select the last layer of features of VGG16 network and ResNet50 network as feature vectors. We use mean average precision as the evaluation index for retrieval. EMDS-5 is available at the URL:https://github.com/NEUZihan/EMDS-5.git. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid waste recycling and reuse have attracted great interest as environmentally friendly modifiers for asphalt pavements in recent years, and phosphogypsum whiskers (PSWs) synthesized by phosphogypsum (PSP) wastes were used as the main modifying material to develop an environmentally friendly asphalt binder in this study. PSWs could significantly enhance the deformation resistance and fatigue performance of asphalt binder but were prone to cracking at low temperature. To alleviate this problem, the novel idea of developing a PSW composite modified asphalt binder was proposed in this study. The organic coating method was used to surface modify PSWs by using surfactants and ultrasonic vibrator to enhance the compatibility of PSWs with asphalt binder. Then a composite modifier containing modified PSW (MPSW) was developed by the uniform design method (UDM), and the preparation process of the modifier was investigated by response surface method (RSM) on this basis. The physical performance of modified asphalt binder was investigated by conventional performance tests; the high-temperature performance, rutting resistance, and fatigue performance were investigated by several rheological tests; and the low-temperature performance was evaluated by the force ductility test (FDT). The microstructure and modification mechanism were characterized by the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) test and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) test. The results showed that the self-developed modifier (MPGJ-I) could effectively reduce the negative effects of MPSW on conventional physical properties, and it exhibited a significant aging resistance compared with other commonly used modifiers. In addition, the modified asphalt binder showed a significant enhancement in high-temperature performance, rutting resistance, and fatigue performance. The MPGJ-I not only solved the adverse effect of MPSW on low-temperature performance, but also enhanced the low-temperature performance to a certain degree. The MPGJ-I was only physically mixed with asphalt binder and did not change its chemical structure. The MPGJ-I reduced the influence of MPSW on glass transition temperature (Tg) and improved the thermodynamic properties of asphalt binder at low temperatures. The comparison study revealed that the MPGJ-I could comprehensively enhance the service performance of virgin asphalt binder, and the recommended dosage of MPGJ-I was 6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A 3D construction printer with recycling material printing function was developed. • Mixes containing recycled materials exhibited adequate fluidity, printability and constructability in 3D printing. • A variable radian 3D printing nozzle was developed according to variable radian forming theory. • A substantial improvement in molding quality of nonlinear structure was reported in mixes incorporating new theory. 3D cement printing is an emerging technology that can construct building elements without formwork, which has broad application prospects in the field of constructing non-linear and complex building structures. However, the high-quality printing and molding of nonlinear structure has become one of the bottleneck technologies restricting the development of 3D building printing. In this paper, variable radian 3D printing nozzle is firstly developed to verify the controllability of extruded concrete material based on self-developed 3D building printer. Then, variable radian forming theory is presented and used to evaluate the mechanism material fracture and accumulation, and improve the molding quality of nonlinear structure. Finally, simulation analysis and experiments are designed to explore the controllable mechanism of variable radian molding and verify the consistency between the experimental results and the theoretical analysis. The research results can promote the application of 3D printing in the construction industry, and provide support for the utilization of building resources and green buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the reaction mechanism of sea salt solution (SSS) on asphalt binder was important for the development of perpetual asphalt pavements in coastal areas. For this, a novel modifier (MPGJ-I) was developed in this study using phosphogypsum whiskers (PSW) synthesized from phosphogypsum (PSP) wastes, then the prepared composite-modified asphalt binders and base asphalt binders were immersed in the SSS with six concentrations. Then, the surface free energy (SFE) test, rheological tests, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) test were used to investigate the function mechanism of SSS on the surface properties, rheological properties, and chemical structure. The results showed that the salt in SSS would gradually transfer to the inside of asphalt binder, and with the increase in SSS concentration, the mass accumulation rate of base asphalt binders increased by 0.84% and 0.72%, whereas the modified asphalt binders only increased by 0.64% and 0.61%, respectively. The MPGJ-I effectively alleviated the decline trend of surface properties, with the incorporation of MPGJ-I, the SFE and cohesive work of base asphalt binders increased by 29.14%–32.83% and 5.23%–48.63%, respectively. In addition, with the increase in SSS concentration, the rutting factor (G*/sinδ), and creep recovery rate (R) of base asphalt binders increased by 15.44%–57.69% and 7.58%–22.34%, respectively, and the fatigue life (Nf) decreased by 6.08%–47.24%. Whereas G*/sinδ and R of modified asphalt binders increased by 10.07%–50.77% and 2.15%–19.35%, respectively, and Nf decreased by 1.79%–8.89%, which meant that the incorporation of MPGJ-I effectively restrained the attack action of SSS on base asphalt binders. There was a chemical reaction between SSS and asphalt binder, and the peak intensity of the new characteristic peaks in asphalt binder was positively correlated with SSS concentration, the incorporation of MPGJ-I could reduce the increasing rate of peak intensity to a certain degree. In addition, the principal component analysis (PCA) model showed that the surface properties and fatigue performance were closely related to the SSS concentration, and this correlation was not affected by the modification effect of MPGJ-I. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schematic illustration of core@shell structure flower-like Fe 3 O 4 @MoS 2 NCs, the interfacial dipole and potential step in this designed NCs, their comparison diagrams with the recently representative related NCs and the tunable frequency position corresponding to strong MA capabilities. It is still a great challenge to develop high-performance microwave absorption materials (MAMs). Herein, we first proved the excellent synergistic effect of Fe 3 O 4 /MoS 2 heterostructure based on the theoretical calculations. To effectively utilize the synergistic effect and morphology, core and shell-interchangeable Fe 3 O 4 @MoS 2 and MoS 2 @Fe 3 O 4 nanocomposites (NCs) were elaborately constructed. By controlling the hydrothermal temperature, different MoS 2 morphologies and contents of Fe 3 O 4 @MoS 2 NCs were produced, which simultaneously displayed the optimal reflection loss (RL) values (~−50 dB), broad absorption bandwidth (⩾ 5. 0 GHz) and high chemical stabilities. With the synthesis temperature increasing from 170 °C to 200 °C, their outstanding microwave absorption (MA) capabilities moved towards the high frequency region and thin matching thickness. Impressively, the Fe 3 O 4 @MoS 2 obtained at 200 °C presented a minimum RL value of −50.75 dB with the thickness of 2.90 mm and an absorption bandwidth of 5.0 GHz with the thickness of 1.71 mm, and the excellent MA capabilities (RL values <−30 dB) with the low matching thicknesses (<2 mm) could be observed in the frequency range of X and Ku bands. Moreover, compared to the reverse structure MoS 2 @Fe 3 O 4 , the core@shell structure Fe 3 O 4 @MoS 2 exhibited evidently superior MA comprehensive properties in terms of low optimal RL value, broad absorption bandwidth and high chemical stability, which could be ascribed to the improved impedance matching and microwave attenuation characteristics. Generally, the proposed flower-like core@shell structure Fe 3 O 4 @MoS 2 NCs presented very extraordinary MA comprehensive properties, which were very attractive candidates for high-performance MAMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hexavalent chromium (Cr), one of the most common heavy metals, is widely found in contaminated soil and groundwater. Nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) is used to treat Cr(VI) in polluted groundwater. However, due to agglomeration, rapid sedimentation, and limited mobility of nanoparticles in the aquatic environment, nZVI is not widely used in groundwater treatment. In this study, we used sodium alginate (SA) to modify nZVI to generate dispersed SA-nZVI. SA-nZVI particles were found to embed in the polymer material and exist as an amorphous state with a diameter less than 100 nm. Compared with traditional nZVI and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-nZVI, SA-nZVI had better stability and higher absolute zeta potential. The presence of SA enhanced mobility of nZVI and effectively prevented sedimentation and aggregation. Furthermore, SA-nZVI had a higher Cr(VI) removal rate than (CMC)-nZVI under both acidic and alkaline conditions. XPS analysis showed that Cr(VI) was reduced to Cr(III) and formed Cr(OH) 3 as precipitates after treatment with SA-nZVI. In addition, NO 3 − had no effect on the final removal rate of Cr(VI) by SA-nZVI. These results suggest that SA-nZVI has high penetration and a high removal rate in Cr(VI) removal and can be used to stabilize nZVI to remediate Cr(VI)-contaminated groundwater in the future. • Sodium alginate was used to disperse nZVI to develop a new type nZVI material (SA-nZVI). • SA-nZVI has higher penetration and higher removal rate than traditional nZVI in chromium removal. • SA-nZVI is a promising material for Cr(VI) contaminated groundwater remediation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) systems can be operated intermittently through wetting-drying cycles to simultaneously improve the water supply and quality. Although MAR can naturally attenuate considerable amounts of nitrogen, the dynamic processes and control mechanisms of nitrogen removal by intermittent MAR remain unclear. This study was conducted in laboratory sandy columns and lasted for 23 d, including four wetting periods and three drying periods. The hydraulic conductivity, oxidation reduction potential (ORP), and leaching concentrations of ammonia nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen of MAR systems were intensively measured to test the hypothesis that hydrological and biogeochemical controls play an essential role in regulating nitrogen dynamics at different stages of wetting-drying cycles. Intermittent MAR functioned as a sink for nitrogen while providing a carbon source to support nitrogen transformations; however, it occasionally became a source of nitrogen under intense flushes of preferential flow. Nitrogen dynamics were primarily controlled by hydrological processes in the initial wetting phase and were further regulated by biogeochemical processes during the subsequent wetting period, supporting our hypothesis. We also observed that a saturated zone could mediate nitrogen dynamics by creating anaerobic conditions for denitrification and buffering the flush effect of preferential flow. The drying duration can also affect the occurrence of preferential flow and nitrogen transformations, which should be balanced when determining the optimal drying duration for intermittent MAR systems. • Intermittent managed aquifer recharge overall functioned as a sink for nitrogen. • Nitrogen dynamics and their controls vary with different stages of recharging. • Saturated zone can create an anerobic condition for denitrification. • Drying duration can mediate control mechanisms and thus nitrogen dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The edges of van der Waals materials exhibit unique physical and chemical properties, and they are promising for applications in many fields, such as optoelectronics, energy storage, and catalysis. Van der Waals material nanostructures with a controllable high density of edges are difficult to produce by current fabrication methods. In the present study, a simple nanomachining process to fabricate van der Waals nanowires with a high density of edges is proposed. This method used a linear-edge diamond tool to cut the basal plane of van der Waals film materials into a one-dimensional nanowire at the nanoscale. Experimental tests were performed to investigate the influences of the cutting thickness, film thickness, cutting direction, and material properties on the machining outcomes. The results showed that the van der Waals materials possessed low Young's moduli ranging from 24 to 238 GPa by cutting with a cutting thickness of larger than 30 nm, and the out-of-plane cutting direction led to the best machining quality and controllable preparation of van der Waals nanowires. To support the interpretation of the process outcomes, molecular dynamics simulation and transmission electron microscopy were performed to reveal the material-removal mechanism during nanocutting of van der Waals materials. From analysis of the chip-deformation process, interlayer slipping was found to dominate the plastic processing of the van der Waals materials, accompanied by intralayer bending and intralayer fracture in the out-of-plane cutting direction. By contrast, the brittle removal state occurred when cutting in the in-plane direction. This study provides important insights into the material-removal mechanism of van der Waals materials prepared by nanoscale mechanical cutting. [Display omitted] • A new method to fabricate van der Waals nanowires with exposed edges is proposed. • The observation of slip steps reveals the chip formation mechanism dominated by interlayer slip for the first time. • The brittle fragments induced by the crack propagation are the main deformation forms in the in-plane cutting direction. • High-quality nanowires can be formed with moderate Young's modulus, small slipping and large cleavage energy of materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A straightforward approach integrating a visco-plastic self-consistent (VPSC) model with a phenomenological dynamic recrystallization (DRX) criterion is proposed for coupling simulation of hot deformation and accompanying DRX. The phenomenological DRX nucleation and growth criteria are embedded into VPSC through a dislocation density based hardening model. The approach is validated and demonstrated by simulating compression of polycrystal copper at various conditions. The key characteristics of DRX during hot deformation of copper, in terms of mechanical response and microstructure evolution, are well reproduced and illustrated with the VPSC-DDRX coupling simulation approach. Furthermore, a series of numerical studies on the hot deformation behaviors corresponding to different loading paths and initial textures are carried out to explore their effects on dynamic recrystallization and further demonstrate the capability of the proposed method. The innovation of current work is establishing a relatively simple crystal plasticity based DRX simulation method that incorporates crystal information, deformation modes and grain population, and realizes integrated computation of deformation, texture and DRX process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article titled, "Gli1+ Cells Residing in Bone Sutures Respond to Mechanical Force via IP3R to Mediate Osteogenesis" [[1]], there is an error in Figure 3(d) which was introduced during production process. Graph: Figure 3 REFERENCES 1 Huang X., Li Z., Liu P., Wu M., Liu A.-q., Hu C., Liu X., Guo H., Yang X., Guo X., Li B., He X., Xuan K., Jin Y. Gli1+ cells residing in bone sutures respond to mechanical force via IP3R to mediate osteogenesis. [Extracted from the article]

Glaucoma is an acquired optic neuropathy, which can lead to irreversible vision loss. Deep learning(DL), especially convolutional neural networks(CNN), has achieved considerable success in the field of medical image recognition due to the availability of large-scale annotated datasets and CNNs. However, obtaining fully annotated datasets like ImageNet in the medical field is still a challenge. Meanwhile, single-modal approaches remain both unreliable and inaccurate due to the diversity of glaucoma disease types and the complexity of symptoms. In this paper, a new multimodal dataset for glaucoma is constructed and a new multimodal neural network for glaucoma diagnosis and classification (GMNNnet) is proposed aiming to address both of these issues. Specifically, the dataset includes the five most important types of glaucoma labels, electronic medical records and four kinds of high-resolution medical images. The structure of GMNNnet consists of three branches. Branch 1 consisting of convolutional, cyclic and transposition layers processes patient metadata, branch 2 uses Unet to extract features from glaucoma segmentation based on domain knowledge, and branch 3 uses ResFormer to directly process glaucoma medical images.Branch one and branch two are mixed together and then processed by the Catboost classifier. We introduce a gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-GAM) method to increase the interpretability of the model and a transfer learning method for the case of insufficient training data,i.e.,fine-tuning CNN models pre-trained from natural image dataset to medical image tasks. The results show that GMNNnet can better present the high-dimensional information of glaucoma and achieves excellent performance under multimodal data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to longitudinally investigate the correlation between choroidal morphologic and vascular parameters and postoperative visual outcome in different stages of idiopathic epiretinal membranes (iERMs). Methods: A prospective, observational, institutional case series of 102 consecutive patients diagnosed with unilateral iERMs were recruited at Peking University Third Hospital and were followed up for 12 months after surgical treatment with vitrectomy. Participants were classified into four stages according to current staging scheme. All eligible subjects underwent standardized imaging evaluation of choroidal parameters including subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), choroidal vascularity index (CVI), and choroidal capillary perfusion (CCP) at baseline and each follow‐up by enhanced depth optical coherence tomography (EDI‐OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA). Longitudinal follow‐up of choroidal parameters over 12 months was analysed, and their correlations with best‐corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were also assessed for predictive prognostic value. Results: CVI and CCP were significantly correlated with BCVA at each follow‐up examination (all p < 0.05). However, SFCT exhibited no variation among different stages of iERMs at baseline (p = 0.981) or during follow‐up (p = 0.520). The preoperative CVI correlated with 12‐month postoperative BCVA (p < 0.001) and its predictive prognostic effect on BCVA was validated in multiple regression analysis (p = 0.006). Conclusion: CVI varied among different stages of iERM and was significantly correlated with visual outcomes after the surgery. CVI could serve as a predictive prognostic marker in iERMs, which further indicates the underlying choroid should be taken into consideration in clinical evaluation of iERMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To decrease the thermally induced positioning error of machine tools, a novel approach for modelling and compensation is proposed in this study. The cause of this error is determined to be dynamic pitch error, and its manifestations are discussed in this study. The thermal expansion of a screw shaft under the influence of friction heat is analysed theoretically, and a mathematical model of the transient temperature of the screw with regard to time is developed. A temperature calculation method in the cases of cooling in the process of warming up and warming up after cooling is also introduced. To solve the problem of heat unevenly distributed of the entire screw shaft, the screw shaft is divided into several evenly distributed heat regions, and the established model is fit for each region. The synthetic model is established by superposition of all models of the regions. In addition, an external error compensation system is developed based on a function called external mechanical origin offset in Fanuc CNC systems. Six test pieces are machined to validate the accuracy of the model and the effectiveness of the error compensation system. The result indicates that the accuracy of the pieces is significantly improved compared with that obtained without error compensation. The synthetic model of the entire screw shaft is demonstrated to be an effective approach to improve the accuracy of machine tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accuracy of machine tools is significantly affected by the geometric defect and thermal deformation of the mechanical components. This paper intends to provide a comprehensive compensation method for the integrated geometric and thermal errors of machine tools. Firstly, a synthesized volumetric model is established with homogeneous transformation matrix method, considering both the geometric and thermal effects. Then, in order to improve the modeling accuracy and efficiency of the geometric error components, an automatic modeling algorithm is proposed with the Chebyshev polynomial-based orthogonal least squares regression. Also, to improve the robustness of the thermal error models for the feed axes and the spindle system, the thermal effects caused by external ambient variation and internal heat sources are identified and modeled separately. Finally, an intelligent virtual compensation system is developed for machine tools based on the function of external machine original coordinate shift and fast Ethernet data interaction technique, and compensation tests on a vertical machining center showed that the position accuracy of the machine tool could be significantly improved after compensation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effluents of textile industries caused serious environmental problem throughout the world. In this study, a total of 23 bacterial strains from five bacterial species were isolated from the dye effluent. Of these strains, a unique and novel Enterobacter aerogenes ES014 was utilized for dye decolourization and toxicity analysis. The selected strain could effectively decolourize three selected azo dyes. It showed the capability for decolourizing acid orange (82.3 ± 3.6%), methyl orange (78.2 ± 3.3%), and congo red (81.5 ± 3.2%). The selected bacterial strain significantly decolourized 100 mg/L acid orange at 35 °C, pH 7.5 with 6% sodium chloride concentration. Most of the tested nitrogen and carbon sources effectively enhanced decolourization process. It showed the ability to decolourize acid orange in the culture medium containing 1.5% glucose (100 ± 2.8%) and 0.8% beef extract (100 ± 3.1%). A laboratory-scale batch bioreactor was used to decolourize azo dye at optimized culture conditions. The decolourizing ability improved with 100 mL/h hydraulic retention time. The treated wastewater quality was improved due to sharp depletion of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), pH, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), alkalinity and sulphate concentration. The selected bacteria has the potential to produce dye degrading laccase. Laccase was detected during fermentation process in batch bioreactor as a key enzyme for decolourization produced by E. aerogenes ES014. Phytotoxicity and acute toxicity analysis were performed using Arachis hypogaea (pea nut) seed and first instar larvae of Artemia parthenogenetica (brine shrimp). The seed germination rate of treated wastewater was improved (94.3 ± 1.8%) and enhanced survival rate (91.7 ± 2.9%) in the first instar Artemia larvae treated with wastewater after 24 h. Overall, E. aerogenes ES014, might be a promising bacterial strain for the treatment of textile effluents with high azo dye concentrations. • Azo dye degrading bacteria were screened from the industrial dye effluent. • Isolated strains decolourized acid orange, methyl orange and congo red effectively. • The optimized culture conditions improved dye degrading potential. • Enterobacter aerogenes ES014 degraded azo dye and improved wastewater quality. • Laccase producing ability of this strain improved azo dye degrading ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal expansion of ball screw systems affects the machining accuracy of machine tools significantly. This paper intends to provide a comprehensive error compensation method for the time-varying positioning error of machine tools. To confirm the thermal deformation mechanism of ball screw systems, experiments have been designed to study the thermal behaviors of a ball screw system under varying temperature conditions. An exponential algorithm is proposed to predict the temperature variation pattern of the ball screw based on finite element analysis, and the actual thermal boundary conditions of the ball screw system are exactly defined according to the proposed algorithm and the experimental results. Then, a comprehensive compensation model is established based on the decomposition of the initial geometric error and thermal error components. Finally, a real-time error compensation system is developed for machine tools based on the function of external machine original coordinate shift and fast Ethernet data interaction, and satisfactory results have been achieved for the compensation experiments on a machining center. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large difference between in-plane and out-of-plane mechanical properties limits the application of traditional composite honeycombs in submersibles. In this work, the carbon fiber tube reinforced polymer composite (CTPC) which have lightweight characteristic and high hydrostatic strength is designed and manufactured. The combination between epoxy resin and carbon fiber tube inhibits the buckling failure and improves the bearing capacity of the tube. Resin binds carbon fiber tubes and forms a stable stress transmission path between them. The hydrostatic response of the CTPC has been investigated by simulation and test. The measured results show good agreement with the simulation. Due to its high hydrostatic bearing capacity and lightweight, the CTPC can be used as a new type of buoyancy material in submersibles. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A multistage morphology Ni-Fe-P-Ni 3 S 2 /NF heterogeneous electorcatalyst. • A simple synthesis method: electroless composite deposition. • A excellent electrocatalytic activity of HER and OER: 65 and 219 mV at 10 mA cm−2 in 1 M KOH. Exploring high-performance noble-metal-free bifunctional electrocatalysts is vitally crucial for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in water electrolysis. Herein, the defect-enriched multistage morphology Ni-Fe-P-Ni 3 S 2 heterogeneous catalyst growth on the Ni Foam (Ni-Fe-P-Ni 3 S 2 /NF) is synthesized for the first time through electroless composite plating. Attributed to the heterogeneous structure between Ni-Fe-P alloys and Ni 3 S 2 , abundant lattice defects, exposed highly open multistage skeleton morphology, the optimal Ni-Fe-P-Ni 3 S 2 /NF catalyst only requires 65 and 219 mV to reach the current density of 10 mA cm−2 towards HER and OER in alkaline solution, respectively. With regard to the overall water splitting, the alkaline electrolyzer assembled by Ni-Fe-P-Ni 3 S 2 /NF electrodes exhibits a low cell voltage of 1.5 V at 10 mA cm−2. This research provides a new perspective for the preparation of heterogeneous catalysts between alloys and sulfides for overall water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CRISPR-based nucleic acid detection systems have shown great potential for point-of-care testing of viral pathogens, especially in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. Here we optimize several key parameters of reaction chemistry and develop a Chemical Enhanced CRISPR Detection system for nucleic acid (termed CECRID). For the Cas12a/Cas13a-based signal detection phase, we determine buffer conditions and substrate range for optimal detection performance, and reveal a crucial role of bovine serum albumin in enhancing trans-cleavage activity of Cas12a/Cas13a effectors. By comparing several chemical additives, we find that addition of L-proline can secure or enhance Cas12a/Cas13a detection capability. For isothermal amplification phase with typical LAMP and RPA methods, inclusion of L-proline can also enhance specific target amplification as determined by CRISPR detection. Using SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus, we demonstrate CECRID has enhanced detection sensitivity over chemical additive-null method with either fluorescence or lateral flow strip readout. Thus, CECRID provides an improved detection power and system robustness, and helps to develop enhanced reagent formula or test kit towards practical application of CRISPR-based diagnostics. • Several key parameters behind Cas12a/Cas13a-based nucleic acid detection are determined and optimized. • Bovine serum albumin is a bona fide enhancer for CRISPR detection. • L-proline can greatly improve the performance for both target amplification phase and CRISPR detection phase. • An enhanced reagent formula and CRISPR-based nucleic acid detection system are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To effectively utilize the unique properties of layered transition metal dichalcogenide and the attractive morphology of hierarchical flower for the attenuation of electromagnetic wave, herein, high-efficiency flower-like core@shell structure FeSe 2 @MoSe 2 nanocomposites were firstly synthesized through a simple in situ hydrothermal reaction on the surfaces of Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles with the adequate amounts of Mo and Se sources. The obtained results indicated that the designed flower-like core@shell structure FeSe 2 @MoSe 2 nanocomposites with the filler loadings of 30 wt% and 40 wt% presented the optimal reflection loss (RL opt) value of −59.87 dB at 11 GHz with a matching thickness of 3.10 mm and −60.53 dB at 13.52 GHz with a matching thickness of 2.47 mm. And their corresponding effective frequency bandwidth (f b) values were up to 10.0 GHz with a thickness of 3.66 mm and 6.00 GHz with a thickness of 2.12 mm, respectively. It was worth pointing out that the as-prepared flower-like FeSe 2 @MoSe 2 nanocomposite with filler loading of 30 wt% could simultaneously present very extraordinary electromagnetic wave absorption capabilities and broad absorption bandwidth with the very thin matching thicknesses, which was desirable for high-efficient microwave absorbers. Therefore, a simple and effective strategy was proposed to produce flower-like core@shell structure MoSe 2 -based nanocomposites, which could be applied as the very desirable candidates for high-performance microwave absorption materials. [Display omitted] • Flower-like FeSe 2 @MoSe 2 nanocomposites as MAs were not reported previously. • Core@shell structure FeSe 2 @MoSe 2 nanocomposites were synthesized through a simple hydrothermal reaction. • Flower-like FeSe 2 @MoSe 2 displayed very extraordinary comprehensive microwave absorption properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Video synthetic aperture radar (VideoSAR) can detect and identify a moving target based on its shadow. A slowly moving target has a shadow with distinct features, but it cannot be detected by state-of-the-art difference-based algorithms because of minor variations between adjacent frames. Furthermore, the detection boxes generated by difference-based algorithms often contain such defects as misalignments and fracture. In light of these problems, this study proposed a robust moving target detection (MTD) algorithm for objects on the ground by fusing the background frame detection results and the difference between frames over multiple intervals. We also discuss defects that occur in conventional MTD algorithms. The difference in background frame was introduced to overcome the shortcomings of difference-based algorithms and acquire the shadow regions of objects. This was fused with the multi-interval frame difference to simultaneously extract the moving target at different velocities while identifying false alarms. The results of experiments on empirically acquired VideoSAR data verified the performance of the proposed algorithm in terms of detecting a moving target on the ground based on its shadow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular replacement is one of the most effective tools to solve cardiovascular diseases, but due to the limitations of autologous transplantation, size mismatch, etc., the blood vessels for replacement are often in short supply. The emergence of artificial blood vessels with 3D bioprinting has been expected to solve this problem. Blood vessel prosthesis plays an important role in the field of cardiovascular medical materials. However, a small-diameter blood vessel prosthesis (diameter < 6 mm) is still unable to achieve wide clinical application. In this paper, a response surface analysis was firstly utilized to obtain the relationship between the contact angle and the gelatin/sodium alginate mixed hydrogel solution at different temperatures and mass percentages. Then, the self-developed 3D bioprinter was used to obtain the optimal printing spacing under different conditions through row spacing, printing, and verifying the relationship between the contact angle and the printing thickness. Finally, the relationship between the blood vessel wall thickness and the contact angle was obtained by biofabrication with 3D bioprinting, which can also confirm the controllability of the vascular membrane thickness molding. It lays a foundation for the following study of the small caliber blood vessel printing molding experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of modern chemical technology had inevitably produced massive phosphogypsum (PSP), the accumulation and storage of PSP had caused serious economic losses and environmental pollution. As the secondary refining product of PSP, the application of phosphogypsum whisker (PSW) to asphalt pavement not only effectively mitigated the adverse impact of PSP on the economy and environment, but also promoted the resourceful utilization of solid waste. However, since PSW was an inorganic material, it was difficult to fuse well with asphalt. Therefore, to enhance the compatibility of PSW with asphalt, this study investigated the modification process of PSW by using four surfactants to modify PSW with organic coating. The effect of surfactants on the surface activity of PSW was evaluated by relevant tests, and the surface enhancement modification mechanism and microstructure of surfactants on PSW were investigated, and then the effect of surfactant-modified PSW (MPSW) on the service performance of asphalt was evaluated. The results showed that the surfactant covered the surface of PSW by intermolecular forces and chemical bonding, which enhanced the surface activity of PSW. The compatibility of PSW with asphalt was enhanced by surfactant, and the MPSW 10599was just physically blended with virgin asphalt. Although the brittleness of virgin asphalt was enhanced to a certain degree by MPSW, the thermophysical properties of virgin asphalt at low temperature was significantly improved, and the incorporation of MPSW enhanced the thermal stability and flame retardancy of virgin asphalt. The incorporation of MPSW would slightly increase the viscosity of virgin asphalt, but the viscous activation energy was reduced and the temperature sensitivity was improved. Furthermore, the low temperature performance of virgin asphalt was improved to a certain degree with the incorporation of MPSW, while the improvement effect was not significant once the temperature was close to the glass transition temperature. Finally, combined with the relevant test results, the recommended dosage of MPSW in asphalt was 10% in this study, and the surface modification of PSW by surfactant was a multifunctional method of powder modification. • The surface modification process of PSW was investigated. • The surface modification mechanism of PSW were characterized. • The effect of MPSW on the service performance of asphalt was studied. • The interaction mechanism of MPSW on asphalt was evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondrial dysmorphology/dysfunction follow global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (GCI/R) injury, leading to neuronal death. Our previous researches demonstrated that Levodopa (L-DOPA) improves learning and memory impairment in GCI/R rats by increasing synaptic plasticity of hippocampal neurons. This study investigates if L-DOPA, used in Parkinson's disease treatment, alleviates GCI/R-induced cell death by enhancing mitochondrial quality. Metabolomics and transcriptomic results showed that GCI/R damage affected the Tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle in the hippocampus. The results of this study show that L-DOPA stabilized mitochondrial membrane potential and ultrastructure in hippocampus of GCI/R rats, increased dopamine level in hippocampus, decreased succinic acid level, and stabilized Ca2+ level in CA1 subregion of hippocampus. As a precursor of dopamine, L-DOPA is presumed to improves mitochondrial function in hippocampus of GCI/R rats. However, dopamine cannot cross the blood-brain barrier, so L-DOPA is used in clinical therapy to supplement dopamine. In this investigation, OGD/R models were established in isolated mouse hippocampal neurons (HT22) and primary rat hippocampal neurons. Notably, dopamine exhibited a multifaceted impact, demonstrating inhibition of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mitoROS) production, stabilization of mitochondrial membrane potential and Ca2+ level, facilitation of TCA circulation, promotion of aerobic respiratory metabolism, and downregulation of succinic acid-related gene expression. Consistency between in vitro and in vivo results underscores dopamine's significant neuroprotective role in mitigating mitochondrial dysfunction following global cerebral hypoxia and ischemia injury. Supplement dopamine may represent a promising therapy to the cognitive impairment caused by GCI/R injury. [Display omitted] • GCI/R causes hippocampal mitochondrial respiratory dysfunction. • L-DOPA or dopamine stabilizes Ca2+ level, the mitochondrial structure and function in the hippocampus of GCI/R-injured rats. • L-DOPA or dopamine is a potential novel mitochondrial regulator. • Supplement dopamine may represent a promising therapy to the cognitive impairment caused by GCI/R injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interplay between bacteria and their host influences the homeostasis of the human immune microenvironment, and this reciprocal interaction also affects the process of tissue damage repair. A variety of immunomodulatory commensal bacteria reside in the body, capable of delivering membrane vesicles (MVs) to host cells to regulate the local immune microenvironment. This research revealed, for the initial time, the significant enhancement of mucosal and cutaneous wound healing by MVs secreted by the human commensal Lactobacillus reuteri (RMVs) through modulation of the inflammatory environment in wound tissue. Local administration of RMVs reduces the proportion of pro‐inflammatory macrophages in inflamed tissues and mitigates the level of local inflammation, thereby facilitating the healing of oral mucosa and cutaneous wounds. The elevated oxidative stress levels in activated pro‐inflammatory macrophages can be modulated by RMVs, resulting in phenotypic transformation of macrophages. Furthermore, 3‐hydroxypropionaldehyde present in RMVs can decrease the mitochondrial permeability of macrophages and stabilize the mitochondrial membrane potential, thereby promoting the conversion of macrophages to an anti‐inflammatory phenotype. This study pioneers the significance of commensal bacterial MVs in tissue injury repair and presents a novel concept for the repair of tissue damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanism of PMS activation by the FeCo/CNS/PMS system. [Display omitted] • FeCo/CNS is synthesized through a facile impregnation and followed by a pyrolysis process. • FeCo/CNS effectively activates PMS to degrade organic pollutants (BPA and TC) and demonstrates notable efficacy in bacterial inactivation. • Potential intermediates were identified through a combination of LC-MS and theoretical computational analysis. Magnetic carbon-based catalysts with environmental friendliness have exhibited prominent effects on advanced oxidation processes. Herein, a multi-level FeCo/ N -doped carbon nanosheet (FeCo/CNS) was synthesized by facile impregnation iron-cobalt salt onto cotton and followed by confined pyrolysis. We identified excellent advantages of the modified FeCo/CNS materials: (i) The convenience of the synthesis method and (ii) The dual effect of sterilization and contaminant degradation achieved through the FeCo/CNS-activated Peroxymonosulfate (PMS). The comparative experimental showed that FeCo/CNS could provide favorable catalytic performance, completely removing bisphenol A (BPA) and tetracycline (TC) within 5 min. Moreover, the potent sterilization properties against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were also verified. Analysis of the degradation pathway confirmed the existence of intermediates, and toxicological research demonstrated that the toxicity of the degradation intermediates of BPA gradually decreased over time. Our research provided an excellent application of FeCo/CNS in PMS oxidation and sterilization inactivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation plays a crucial role in triggering regeneration, while inadequate or chronic inflammation hinders the regenerative process, resulting in refractory wounds. Inspired by the ideal regeneration mode in lower vertebrates and the human oral mucosa, realigning dysregulated inflammation to a heightened and acute response provides a promising option for refractory wound therapy. Neutrophils play important roles in inflammation initiation and resolution. Here, a hybrid biomaterial is used to stimulate transiently heightened inflammatory responses by precise tempospatial regulation of neutrophil recruitment and apoptosis. The hybrid biomaterial (Gel@fMLP/SiO2‐FasL) is constructed by loading of formyl‐met‐leu‐phe (fMLP) and FasL‐conjugated silica nanoparticles (SiO2‐FasL) into a pH‐responsive hydrogel matrix. This composition enables burst release of fMLP to rapidly recruit neutrophils for heightened inflammation initiation. After neutrophils act to produce acids, the pH‐responsive hydrogel degrades to expose SiO2‐FasL, which induces activated neutrophils apoptosis via FasL‐Fas signaling triggering timely inflammation resolution. Apoptotic neutrophils are subsequently cleared by macrophages, and this efferocytosis activates key signalings to promote macrophage anti‐inflammatory phenotypic transformation to drive regeneration. Ultimately, Gel@fMLP/SiO2‐FasL successfully promotes tissue regeneration by manipulating inflammation in critical‐sized calvarial bone defects and diabetic cutaneous wound models. This work provides a new strategy for refractory wound therapy via inducing transiently heightened inflammatory responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]