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Density–density correlation analysis is a convenient diagnostic tool to reveal the hidden order in the strongly correlated phases of ultracold atoms. We report on a study of the density–density correlations of ultracold bosonic atoms which were initially prepared in a Mott insulator (MI) state in one-dimensional optical lattices. For the atomic gases released from the deep optical lattice, we extracted the normalized density–density correlation function from the atomic density distributions of freely expanded atomic clouds. Periodic bunching peaks were observed in the density–density correlation spectra, as in the case of higher-dimensional lattices. Treating the bosonic gas within each lattice well as a subcondensate without quantum tunneling, we simulated the post-expansion density distribution along the direction of the 1D lattice, and the calculated density–density correlation spectra agreed with our experimental observations.

Variations in the tumor genome can result in allelic changes compared to the reference profile of its homogenous body source on genetic markers. This brings a challenge to source identification of tumor samples, such as clinically collected pathological paraffin-embedded tissue and sections. In this study, a probabilistic model was developed for calculating likelihood ratio (LR) to tackle this issue, which utilizes short tandem repeat (STR) genotyping data. The core of the model is to consider tumor tissue as a mixture of normal and tumor cells and introduce the incidence of STR variants (φ) and the percentage of normal cells (Mxn) as a priori parameters when performing calculations. The relationship between LR values and φ or Mxn was also investigated. Analysis of tumor samples and reference blood samples from 17 colorectal cancer patients showed that all samples had Log10(LR) values greater than 1014. In the non-contributor test, 99.9% of the quartiles had Log10(LR) values less than 0. When the defense’s hypothesis took into account the possibility that the tumor samples came from the patient’s relatives, LR greater than 0 was still obtained. Furthermore, this study revealed that LR values increased with decreasing φ and increasing Mxn. Finally, LR interval value was provided for each tumor sample by considering the confidence interval of Mxn. The probabilistic model proposed in this paper could deal with the possibility of tumor allele variability and offers an evaluation of the strength of evidence for determining tumor origin in clinical practice and forensic identification.

In the face of escalating global climate challenges, effective carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture techniques remain at the forefront of mitigating anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. This comprehensive review elucidates the latest advancements in CO₂ capture, emphasizing two predominant methodologies: absorption and adsorption. We delve into the mechanisms underlying each process, highlighting the novel materials and technologies that have emerged over recent years. For absorption, the focus is placed on the material design strategy, and identifying new materials in the class of amines, ionic liquids (ILs) and nanofluids for enhanced CO2 capture capacities and reduced energy requirements. In the realm of adsorption, the synthesis of innovative adsorbents, such as metal organic framework (MOF), organic polymers, inorganic adsorbents, silicon-based adsorbents, and biochar and byproducts from biomass with superior selectivity and stability, is explored. Additionally, the review addresses the challenges associated with each method, offering insights into potential avenues for further research. By providing a holistic overview of the current landscape of CO₂ capture, this article serves as a pivotal resource for researchers and industry professionals aiming to advance sustainable solutions to combat climate change.

With the development of product miniaturization in aerospace and other fields, nickel-based superalloy thin sheets with excellent comprehensive properties have become crucial materials for micro-components in these fields. Due to the complexity of the initial microstructure and strengthening mechanism, there is a lack of in-depth research on the mesoscale formability of nickel-based superalloys under the coupled effects of multiple factors such as feature size (i.e., the ratio of specimen thickness to grain size, t/d), particle size and volume content of the precipitated phase. In this paper, a test platform was constructed for the application of high-precision strain measurements to the analysis of the mesoscale forming limit, and the mechanisms for the influences of feature size and precipitation on the mesoscale forming limit of a nickel-based superalloy were studied. The results showed that feature size influenced the forming limit of the nickel-based superalloy thin sheet at the mesoscopic scale, and the formability decreased with decreasing t/d and increasing γ′′/γ′ particle size and volume content. Based on surface layer theory and ductile fracture theory, the influences of t/d and γ′′/γ′ phases on the forming limit of nickel-based superalloy thin sheets at the mesoscopic scale were revealed. The coupled effects of surface roughening caused by free surface grains and hindered dislocation movement induced by precipitated phases resulted in strain localization and reduced the forming properties of nickel-based superalloy thin sheets at the mesoscopic scale.

Nickel-based superalloys have become essential materials due to their excellent comprehensive properties as the miniaturization of products in the aerospace and energy fields develops. The complex microstructure and various strengthening mechanisms of nickel-based superalloys make the plastic deformation behavior extremely complicated at the mesoscopic scale. In this paper, compression experiments of nickel-based superalloy samples with different feature sizes (i.e. the sample diameter to grain size ratio, D/d) and different aging times at the mesoscopic scale were carried out. The coupling effect of feature size and δ phase on the compressive deformation behavior was studied. The results show that the δ phase plays a role in precipitation strengthening during compressive deformation at the mesoscopic scale. When D/d is in the range of 9.7–10.9, the flow stress decreases significantly with the increase of grain size, and a “smaller is weaker” size effect appears. When D/d is less than 9.7, the flow stress increases with the grain size, and a “smaller is stronger” size effect appears. Considering grain boundary strengthening, solid solution strengthening, and precipitation strengthening, a size effect model of flow stress was established. The calculated values were in good agreement with the experimental values. The inhomogeneity of the end surface and side surface increases with the decrease of feature size and the decrease of aging time. The presence of the δ phase reduces the inhomogeneous deformation of nickel-based superalloys during compressive deformation at the mesoscopic scale.

This paper investigates the use of fractional-slot concentrated windings (FSCWs) in large-scale (MW level) offshore wind generators. It focuses specifically on a power rating of 3 MW and uses an existing direct-drive synchronous PM machine (DD-SPM) with 480s/160p and dual three-phase integer-slot winding (ISW) as a baseline. A multiple of the common 12s/10p FSCW machine is used that matches the electrical frequency of the ISW machine, yielding a 192s/160p dual three-phase machine. The hybrid star–delta connection has grown increasingly popular owing to its unique harmonic cancellation properties, which can help reduce rotor and PM eddy current losses in FSCW machines. In this paper, two dual three-phase star–delta-wound machines are scaled to 3 MW and included in the investigation. Specifically, a 384s/160p dual three-phase and dual star–delta winding machine, which is a multiplication of the 24s/10p machine, and a 192s/176p dual three-phase and dual star–delta winding machine, which is a multiplication of the 24s/22p machine, are used. These machines are investigated using finite element analysis (FEA) and compared on the basis of their air-gap flux density harmonics, open-circuit electro-motive force (EMF), torque performance, and losses and power. It is found that the proposed 384s/160p dual star–delta winding machine has the best electromagnetic performance of all, with a stator power that is 1.2% greater than that of the baseline ISW machine. However, this machine has a coil pitch of 2 and so loses the manufacturing and fault-tolerant advantage of having concentrated windings. If concentrated windings are desired, then the proposed 192s/176p dual star–delta winding machine is the best choice, with the stator power only 2.6% less than that of the baseline ISW machine, but unfortunately still has significant rotor and PM eddy current losses.

Wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) technology enables the fabrication of functionally graded materials (FGMs) by adjusting the wire feed speed of different welding wires in a layer-by-layer manner. This study aimed to produce SS 316L/Inconel 625 FGMs with varying transition compositions using dual-wire arc additive manufacturing (D-WAAM). An optimization strategy for transition gradients was implemented to exclude component regions that are prone to defect formation (notably cracking), as well as to retain other component regions, thereby enhancing the overall mechanical properties of FGMs. The study revealed grain boundary cracking and demonstrated the lowest microhardness and tensile properties within a 20 wt.% Inconel 625 transition gradient zone, which negatively impacts the overall mechanical properties of FGMs. Then, as the content of Inconel 625 in the first transition region increased, cracks disappeared, microhardness increased and better tensile properties were obtained. The most optimal mechanical properties were enriched at 50 wt.% Inconel 625 content. In conclusion, the compositional gradient optimization strategy proves efficacious in eliminating component regions with poor mechanical properties and microdefects, ensuring excellent overall mechanical characteristics of FGMs.

SHP2, a pivotal component downstream of both receptor and non-receptor tyrosine kinases, has been underscored in the progression of various human cancers and neurodevelopmental disorders. Allosteric inhibitors have been proposed to regulate its autoinhibition. However, oncogenic mutations, such as E76K, convert SHP2 into its open state, wherein the catalytic cleft becomes fully exposed to its ligands. This study elucidates the dynamic properties of SHP2 structures across different states, with a focus on the effects of oncogenic mutation on two known binding sites of allosteric inhibitors. Through extensive modeling and simulations, we further identified an alternative allosteric binding pocket in solution structures. Additional analysis provides insights into the dynamics and stability of the potential site. In addition, multi-tier screening was deployed to identify potential binders targeting the potential site. Our efforts to identify a new allosteric site contribute to community-wide initiatives developing therapies using multiple allosteric inhibitors to target distinct pockets on SHP2, in the hope of potentially inhibiting or slowing tumor growth associated with SHP2.

Abstract Due to increasing morbidity worldwide, fractures are becoming an emerging public health concern. This study aimed to investigate the effect of metformin on the healing of osteoporotic as well as normal fractures. Type H vessels have recently been identified as a bone-specific vascular subtype that supports osteogenesis. Here, we show that metformin accelerated fracture healing in both osteoporotic and normal mice. Moreover, metformin promoted angiogenesis in vitro under hypoxia as well as type H vessel formation throughout fracture healing. Mechanistically, metformin increased the expression of HIF-1α, an important positive regulator of type H vessel formation, by inhibiting the expression of YAP1/TAZ in calluses and hypoxia-cultured human microvascular endothelial cells (HMECs). The results of HIF-1α or YAP1/TAZ interference in hypoxia-cultured HMECs using siRNA further suggested that the enhancement of HIF-1α and its target genes by metformin is primarily through YAP1/TAZ inhibition. Finally, overexpression of YAP1/TAZ partially counteracted the effect of metformin in promoting type H vessel-induced angiogenesis-osteogenesis coupling during fracture repair. In summary, our findings suggest that metformin has the potential to be a therapeutic agent for fractures by promoting type H vessel formation through YAP1/TAZ inhibition.

Abstract A general analytical model is developed in a concise block matrix form for surface‐mounted permanent magnet (SPM) machines with series‐parallel coil connections under inter‐turn short circuit (ITSC) fault. In the model, branch currents are used as state variables and inductances of different series‐parallel coil connections are calculated using an analytical method, namely winding function approach (WFA) together with slot permeance method. Based on the characteristics of the calculated inductances and the developed fault model, the multiphase Clarke transformation has been proposed to simplify the fault model. In the process of model simplification, the healthy machine model using branch currents as state variables have been proven to be equivalent to that using 3‐phase currents as state variables. The proposed fault models of a 3kW 96‐slot 32‐pole SPM machine with different series‐parallel coil connections have been built in Matlab/Simulink and validated by time‐stepping 2D FE simulations. Simulation results show that different series‐parallel coil connections have little influence on the amplitude of the ITSC current. Finally, a small scale 24‐slot 8‐pole SPM machine prototype has been built to further validate the accuracy of the proposed fault model.

With the development of urban engineering construction, the issue of construction engineering accidents has become more and more prominent. The geotechnical parameter interval obtained by using the traditional methods cannot meet the needs of actual engineering. Based on the idea of unsupervised learning, the peaty soil with the worst engineering properties is considered, and 8 physical indexes are selected as the input set. The principal component analysis (PCA) algorithm is used to realize the dimensionality reduction of multi-sample and multi-parameter decoupling, and the correlation and sensitivity of each physical index is obtained. Combined with its correlation and sensitivity, the comprehensive evaluation value of physical indexes of peat soil with different buried depths is given. The k-means clustering is used to analyze the relationship among physical index, and comprehensive evaluation value and engineering characteristics of peaty soil provide a theoretical basis for the selection of geotechnical parameters. The supervised learning method-BP neural network algorithm is used to analyze the unsupervised results and verify the accuracy of the (PCA—k-means) algorithm model. The normal samples obtained by clustering analysis are optimized by a variety of truncation methods to obtain a reliable value range, and the value results are compared with the actual engineering values to verify the rationality of the model engineering parameters. The algorithm model is of good engineering application value. The research results can provide references for engineering investigation, design and construction parameter values, and also provide a new analysis method for geotechnical parameter value analyses.

To address the challenges associated with preparing thin strips of difficult-to-deform materials – such as low processing efficiency and yield, poor shape, and subpar performance – our research team developed an on-line warm rolling experimental machine featuring hydraulic tension. We used the Ti–6Al–4V alloy as our experimental material and conducted warm rolling experiments at various temperatures, thoroughly examining the intricate relationship between microstructure evolution and mechanical properties. Our findings indicate that warm rolling causes a clear refinement of the α phase and β phase microstructures, while intensifying dislocation entanglement. These changes significantly enhance the strength of the Ti–6Al–4V alloy, though Total Elongation Limit (TEL) decreases. After evaluating mechanical properties, surface quality, and energy consumption associated with warm rolling, we determined the optimal warm rolling temperature for the Ti–6Al–4V alloy to be 650 °C. At this temperature, the Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS), Yield Strength (YS), and TEL were 1325 MPa, 1164 MPa, and 8.0%, respectively, maintaining good ductility. The impressive performance of the Ti–6Al–4V alloy sheet is mainly attributed to the strengthening effects of fine grain and dislocation, while the introduction of some fine recrystallization enhances ductility. High-performance Ti–6Al–4V alloy thin strip was successfully prepared by on-line warm rolling with hydraulic tension, which provided a new idea for the preparation of thin strip of difficult-to-deform materials.

Objective To derive the paternity index （PI） calculation formula of the alleged father （AF） when the AF is a relative （parent/child， siblings， grandparent/grandchild， uncle/nephew， first cousins） of the child’s biological mother. Methods For the case when the AF is related to the child’s biological mother， the existence of the relationship in the numerator and denominator hypothesis of PI was considered. The genotype frequency of the AF was calculated by using the frequency formula in which the mother’s genotype was considered， while the random male in the denominator was substituted as another relative of the mother’s same rank. The PI calculation formula was derived to eliminate the effect of the relationship between AF and the child’s biological mother. Results When the AF and the biological mother have first， second and tertiary kinship， a more conservative PI was obtained from the PI calculation formula derived in this study compared with the PI calculation method which did not consider kinship. Conclusion The calculation method provided in this study can eliminate the effect of the relation of the AF and mother on the PI in incest cases， to obtain more accurate and conservative identification conclusions.

Abstract Previous studies have shown that Ogt-mediated O-GlcNAcylation is essential for neuronal development and function. However, the function of O-GlcNAc transferase (Ogt) and O-GlcNAcylation in astrocytes remains largely unknown. Here we show that Ogt deficiency induces inflammatory activation of astrocytes in vivo and in vitro, and impairs cognitive function of mice. The restoration of O-GlcNAcylation via GlcNAc supplementation inhibits the activation of astrocytes, inflammation and improves the impaired cognitive function of Ogt deficient mice. Mechanistically, Ogt interacts with NF-κB p65 and catalyzes the O-GlcNAcylation of NF-κB p65 in astrocytes. Ogt deficiency induces the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway by promoting Gsk3β binding. Moreover, Ogt depletion induces the activation of astrocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells. The restoration of O-GlcNAcylation inhibits the activation of astrocytes, inflammation and reduces Aβ plaque of AD mice in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, our study reveals a critical function of Ogt-mediated O-GlcNAcylation in astrocytes through regulating NF-κB signaling pathway.

Cottonseed protein concentrate is a sustainable fishmeal alternative in aquafeed. A 10-week experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of a cottonseed protein concentrate-based diet with and without multi-strain yeast fractions (MsYF) on growth, bile acid metabolism, and health in largemouth bass. Four hundred fish (54.0 ± 0.0 g) were casually distributed into 16 tanks (4 replicates/diet). Fish were fed with 4 iso-nitrogen and iso-energetic diets 3 times daily, including a fishmeal diet (FM), a soy protein concentrate-based diet (SPC; replacing 81% fishmeal protein), a cottonseed protein concentrate-based diet (CPC; replacing 81% fishmeal protein), and a CPC diet supplemented with 800 mg/kg MsYF (CPCY). Results showed that the survival of SPC was the lowest, i.e., 48%, with no apparent diet effect among other treatments; we omitted the SPC in additional analyses. Fish fed cottonseed protein concentrate-based diets showed lower growth than FM (P

Abstract Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is widely used as phase change materials (PCM) due to their versatile working temperature and high latent heat. However, the low molecular weight of PEG prevents from the formation of flexible microfibers, and the common leakage problem associated with solid–liquid PCM further hinders their applications in various fields. To address these challenges, polyethylene oxide (PEO) is incorporated as the supporting matrix for PEG, leading to a successful electrospinning of fibrous mats. Due to the similar chemical nature of both PEG and PEO, the blended composites show great compatibility and produce uniform electrospun fibers. The thermal properties of these fibers are characterized by DSC and TGA, and supercooling for the PEG(1050) component is effectively reduced by 75–85%. The morphology changes before and after leakage test are analyzed by SEM. Tensile and DMA tests show that the presence of PEG(1050) component contributes to plasticization effect, improving mechanical and thermomechanical strength. The ratio of PEO(600K):PEG(1050) at 7:3 affords the optimal performance with good chemical and form‐stability, least shrinkage, and uniformity. These fibrous mats have potential applications in areas of food packaging, flexible wearable devices, or textiles to aid in thermal regulation.

Traceability links between issues and commits (issue-commit links recovery (ILR)) play a significant role in software maintenance tasks by enhancing developers’ observability in practice. Recent advancements in large language models, particularly pre-trained models, have improved the effectiveness of automated ILR. However, these models’ large parameter sizes and extended training time pose challenges in large software projects. Besides, existing methods often overlook the association and distinction among artifacts, leading to the generation of erroneous links. To mitigate these problems, this paper proposes a novel link recovery method called MTLink. It utilizes multi-teacher knowledge distillation (MTKD) to compress the model and employs an adaptive multi-task strategy to reduce information loss and improve link accuracy. Experiments are conducted on four open-source projects. The results show that (i) MTLink outperforms state-of-the-art methods; (ii) The multi-teacher knowledge distillation maintains accuracy despite model size reduction; (iii) The adaptive multi-task tracing method effectively handles confusion caused by similar artifacts and balances each task. In conclusion, MTLink offers an efficient solution for ILR in software traceability. The code is available at https://zenodo.org/records/10321150.

Methanol-based alternative energy sources are critical to maintaining energy security, reducing the need for oil imports, and safeguarding the environment in China. However, the use of methanol-based fuels in the field of thermal combustion has not been thoroughly investigated. Therefore, an evaluation of the costs, emissions, and usage of methanol boilers is necessary. The study finds that methanol heaters and air source heat pumps have comparable annual cost values. Methanol heating furnaces emit the least amount of NOx and produce no SO2. After the refurbishment, the boiler's emissions and energy consumption have significantly decreased upon conversion of coal-fired steam boilers to methanol-based fuel hot water boilers. Nevertheless, the economy has also somewhat declined. Additionally, 5499 tce (standard coal) less energy will be used during the heating season, and 1.8 million CNY less will be spent on dust removal and desulfurization. Unfortunately, the economic benefits of methanol are only apparent when the cost of methanol fuel is less than 1900 CNY/t. The research presented in this paper provides an essential technological foundation for the development of methanol-fueled fuel burners and for the renovation of small and medium-sized coal-fired boilers.

Background. The need for minimally invasive Bentall surgery for the treatment of aortic lesions with aortic insufficiency is increasing; however, comparative studies on the safety of the minimally invasive Bentall procedure and sternotomy Bentall procedure are lacking. Methods. Clinical data of 56 patients who underwent the Bentall procedure performed by the same surgical team at our center between December 2018 and December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed and followed up for 6 months after discharge. After dividing the patients into a right anterior chest minimally invasive Bentall surgery (RAT-Bentall) group (n = 13) and a conventional sternotomy Bentall surgery (C-Bentall) group (n = 43), intraoperative and early postoperative clinical data and echocardiography at 6 months after discharge were compared. Results. Compared with the C-Bentall group, the RAT-Bentall group had a lower postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score [(3.00 ± 2.08) VS (5.77 ± 1.84), P

Zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) is a versatile candidate for next-generation electronics owing to its adjustable lattice and physicochemical properties. However, the utilization of ZIF-8 for the fabrication of solid-state electronics and circuit components, such as field-effect transistors (FETs), has not been realized thus far, primarily due to ongoing debates surrounding its electrical properties. In this work, we fabricated n-type FETs using ZIF-8@ZnO nanorod arrays. A significant hysteresis behavior was observed. It was demonstrated that this hysteresis cannot be assigned to the well-established ferroelectric effect but rather to the polarization of ZIF-8, wherein the electric field of the gate aligns the dipole of 2-methylimidazole through molecular orientation rotation. It was clarified that the process of annealing in air can result in the chemisorption of oxygen on methylimidazole, leading to a limitation in the rotation of methylimidazole. This restriction ultimately causes the depolarization of ZIF-8, resulting in the erasure of hysteresis. This study unfolds the tunable hysteresis behavior of ZIF-8 and its sensibility to oxygen, thereby highlighting the potential applications of ZIF-8 in FETs, nonvolatile memories, and gas sensors.

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at higher risk for urinary tract infections (UTIs), which greatly impacts their quality of life. Developing a risk prediction model to identify high-risk patients for UTIs in those with T2DM and assisting clinical decision-making can help reduce the incidence of UTIs in T2DM patients. To construct the predictive model, potential relevant variables were first selected from the reference literature, and then data was extracted from the Hospital Information System (HIS) of the Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital for analysis. The data set was split into a training set and a test set in an 8:2 ratio. To handle the data and establish risk warning models, four imputation methods, four balancing methods, three feature screening methods, and eighteen machine learning algorithms were employed. A 10-fold cross-validation technique was applied to internally validate the training set, while the bootstrap method was used for external validation in the test set. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the performance of the models. The contributions of features were interpreted using the SHapley Additive ExPlanation (SHAP) approach. And a web-based prediction platform for UTIs in T2DM was constructed by Flask framework. Finally, 106 variables were identified for analysis from a total of 119 literature sources, and 1340 patients were included in the study. After comprehensive data preprocessing, a total of 48 datasets were generated, and 864 risk warning models were constructed based on various balancing methods, feature selection techniques, and a range of machine learning algorithms. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the performances of these models, and the best model achieved an impressive AUC of 0.9789 upon external validation. Notably, the most critical factors contributing to UTIs in T2DM patients were found to be UTIs-related inflammatory markers, medication use, mainly SGLT2 inhibitors, severity of comorbidities, blood routine indicators, as well as other factors such as length of hospital stay and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Furthermore, the SHAP method was utilized to interpret the contribution of each feature to the model. And based on the optimal predictive model a user-friendly prediction platform for UTIs in T2DM was built to assist clinicians in making clinical decisions. The machine learning model-based prediction system developed in this study exhibited favorable predictive ability and promising clinical utility. The web-based prediction platform, combined with the professional judgment of clinicians, can assist to make better clinical decisions.

Bone regeneration heavily relies on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). However, recruiting endogenous BMSCs for in situ bone regeneration remains challenging. In this study, we developed a novel BMSC-aptamer (BMSC-apt) functionalized hydrogel (BMSC-aptgel) and evaluated its functions in recruiting BMSCs and promoting bone regeneration. The functional hydrogels were synthesized between maleimide-terminated 4-arm polyethylene glycols (PEG) and thiol-flanked PEG crosslinker, allowing rapid in situ gel formation. The aldehyde group-modified BMSC-apt was covalently bonded to a thiol-flanked PEG crosslinker to produce high-density aptamer coverage on the hydrogel surface. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that the BMSC-aptgel significantly increased BMSC recruitment, migration, osteogenic differentiation, and biocompatibility. In vivo fluorescence tomography imaging demonstrated that functionalized hydrogels effectively recruited DiR-labeled BMSCs at the fracture site. Consequently, a mouse femur fracture model significantly enhanced new bone formation and mineralization. The aggregated BMSCs stimulated bone regeneration by balancing osteogenic and osteoclastic activities and reduced the local inflammatory response via paracrine effects. This study's findings suggest that the BMSC-aptgel can be a promising and effective strategy for promoting in situ bone regeneration.

Abdominal vascular compression syndrome (AVCS) is caused by the compression of abdominal blood vessels by adjacent structures or the compression of abdominal organs by neighboring blood vessels. Such compressions can result in a variety of clinical symptoms. They are not commonly seen in ultrasound practices, and their presence may have been underrecognized and underdiagnosed. This article reviews the clinical features, ultrasound characteristics, and diagnostic criteria of four types of AVCS, namely, celiac artery compression syndrome, renal vein compression syndrome, iliac vein compression syndrome, and superior mesenteric artery syndrome to increase awareness of these conditions among ultrasound practitioners. The ultrasound criteria for AVCS are primarily based on studies with small sample sizes, and therefore, it is important to exercise caution if these criteria are used.

Facing extreme plasma loads, the structural integrity of the tungsten divertor is crucial for ITER, an engineering marvel in nuclear fusion reactors, to achieve its fusion performance targets. Induced by repeated transient heating from plasmas, the thermal fatigue damage of tungsten–typically accompanied by the formation of surface relief–has been identified as a critical issue but an in-depth understanding is still lacking. Here, we report the formation of amorphous and anisotropic surface relief on ITER-grade tungsten surfaces under ITER-relevant hydrogen plasma loads. Measured by both electron backscatter diffraction over large fields of view and transmission Kikuchi diffraction of site-specific lamellae, such surface relief preferentially forms on grains with {110} planes parallel to the surface. This cannot be explained by the orientation-dependent resolved shear stress according to the Schmid law, threshold displacement energy anisotropy, or oxidation anisotropy. Furthermore, surface relief amorphization is revealed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy imaging and selected area electron diffraction analysis, and is explained by a novel vacancy-induced amorphization mechanism. The results provide new insights into the thermal fatigue behavior of tungsten for fusion applications.

Background: Real-time assessment of high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) remains a challenge. Probe-based confocal laser microscopy (pCLE) allows a real-time in vivo visualization of the alveoli. This study aimed to develop a new non-invasive method for analyzing microscopic images in a canine model of HAPE using pCLE. Materials and methods: This was a prospective, controlled animal study in adult male beagle dogs randomized to control and HAPE groups. The HAPE group was exposed to a high altitude of 6000 m for 48 h. The blood gas levels, lung morphological changes, infectious factors, and lung wet-to-dry ratio were analyzed in different groups. The pCLE images were described based on the volume air index (VAI), which applies an integral over specific signal intensities. Results: The lung wet-to-dry weight ratio and injury scores in the HAPE group were significantly increased compared with those of the control group. The levels of infectious factors interleukin-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-6 were significantly increased in the HAPE group compared with those in the control group. VAI was significantly decreased in the HAPE group. Conclusion: pCLE is a potential adjudicative bronchoscopic imaging technique for assessing HAPE. VAI may be acquired from quantitative parameters in the analysis of images.

ABSTRACT Conventional von Neumann architecture is insufficient in establishing artificial intelligence (AI) in terms of energy efficiency, computing in memory and dynamic learning. Delightedly, rapid developments in neuromorphic computing provide a new paradigm to solve this dilemma. Furthermore, neuromorphic devices that can realize synaptic plasticity and neuromorphic function have extraordinary significance for neuromorphic system. A three-terminal neuromorphic transistor is one of the typical representatives. In addition, human body has five senses, including vision, touch, auditory sense, olfactory sense and gustatory sense, providing abundant information for brain. Inspired by the human perception system, developments in artificial perception system will give new vitality to intelligent robots. This review discusses the operation mechanism, function and application of neuromorphic transistors. The latest progresses in artificial perception systems based on neuromorphic transistors are provided. Finally, the opportunities and challenges of artificial perception systems are summarized.

Being an environmentally friendly technology, Microbially Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation (MICP) has become a popular research topic in the field of geotechnical and environmental engineering, among which island microbial technology is a promising direction. This paper systematically summarizes the basic principles of microbial mineralization and the progress made in the use of MICP in construction work done on islands, such as the reinforcement of calcareous sand, protection of island slopes from erosion, and reinforcement of pile foundations, and the numerical modeling performed in island engineering. The following conclusions can be drawn: MICP produces calcium carbonate, which is the same as calcareous sand, and thus MICP can be used to meet the ecological reinforcement requirements of islands. The temperature and soil pH of the islands are suitable for MICP. Urease activity in soil nonlinearly increases as environmental temperature increases in the range from 5 ℃ to 40 ℃, and the soil pH influences pore solution concentrations, which in turn affects the deposition rate, yield, and morphology of calcium carbonate. The optimal pH value required for the mineralization caused by Sporosarcina pasteurii is approximately 9. However, the influence of the special environmental characteristics of islands, such as radiation, waves and currents, on MICP requires further study. Island microbial technology can be used to greatly enhance the strength and stiffness of calcareous sand in islands, the bearing capacity of pile foundations constructed in islands, and the erosion resistance of island slopes against waves and currents. The verification of the applicability of MICP in an island environment and the determination of the efficiency of bacterial urease activity, morphology and deposition rate of calcium carbonate in calcareous sand, physical and mechanical properties and uniformity of cemented calcareous sand layers in that environment require in-situ reinforcement tests. Most of the previous research on MICP is laboratory experiments. The spatiotemporal evolutions of the chemical substances used in various processes of MICP cannot be determined in real-time. The labor and other resources used in field experiments, which are highly dependent on field conditions, are expensive. Therefore, a reliable numerical model is highly important to understand the biochemical processes associated with MICP. However, research on MICP numerical models is still in its infancy, and currently, the MICP models are verified mainly using element and model tests. The development of a numerical model for the multiple processes of MICP suitable for the environmental conditions, such as temperature, soil pH, waves, and currents, of an island and verification of the accuracy of the model based on in situ reinforcement tests is extremely important. The findings can provide a reference for soil reinforcement in an island environment using MICP.

In order to meet the application requirements of polymer composite coating under high temperature conditions and promote the practical application of polymer organic composite coating in the field of high temperature protection, polyimide (PI) was selected as the resin matrix, and the heat resistance was modified and enhanced by adding nano-Si3N4. Moreover, the effects of silane coupling agent KH550 and different content of Si3N4 on the surface state and heat resistance of the coating were studied. Results showed that the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the composite coating with 10% (mass fraction) Si3N4 increased to 495 ℃, which was higher than that of pure PI coating (483 ℃). After the addition of KH550, on one hand, KH550 introduced amino functional groups on the Si3N4 surface to cross-link it with the PI molecular chain; on the other hand, KH550 directly interacted with PI molecules to enhance the viscosity of the coating, so that the dispersion of Si3N4 and the binding force of the coating and the substrate were significantly improved. Besides, the PI composite coatings with different contents of Si3N4 were prepared for comparison, and it could be found that the PI composite coating with 10% Si3N4 exhibited the optimal heat resistance and surface quality.

Abstract The influences of slot/pole number combinations on electromagnetic performances, including flux linkage, inductance, and torque ripple harmonic components etc., resulting from unbalanced characteristics between north and south poles in concentrated winding permanent magnet (PM) machines with symmetrical and asymmetric rotor pole shaping methods are theoretically analysed and experimentally validated in this paper. It shows that for the PM machines with odd number of coils per phase per submachine, including consequent pole (CP) and surface‐mounted PM (SPM) machines, the influences of unbalanced pole characteristics can lead to additional torque ripple harmonics due to additive effects in windings, but can be cancelled in other machines. Compared with symmetrical pole shaping method, asymmetric pole shaping method can result in lower torque ripple for CPPM machines with odd number of coils per phase per submachine, while symmetrical and asymmetric pole shapes have similar effects on torque ripple reduction for other CPPM machines and all the SPM machines. The findings have been validated by finite element analyses on 12‐slot/8‐pole, 12‐slot/10‐pole, 9‐slot/6‐pole, and 12‐slot/14‐pole machines, and by experiments with 12‐slot/8‐pole and 12‐slot/10‐pole CPPM prototypes.

In order to study the corrosion behavior of weathering high strength bolted steel in typical industrial atmospheric environment，samples compared with 35 VB bolts were taken from the industrial trial production of 10.9 grade weathering bolts to carry out the simulated periodic infiltration accelerated corrosion tests of typical industrial atmospheric environment for 24，48，96，168，and 216 hours.The corrosion behavior of high strength bolted steel with weathering resistance in simulated industrial atmosphere was studied by means of corrosion weight loss，XRD，SEM and electrochemical test.Results showed that the corrosion weight loss of both grade 10.9 and 35VB bolted steels increased with the prolongation of corrosion cycle，and the weight loss of grade 10.9 weathering bolted steel was significantly lower than that of grade 35VB bolted steel.With the prolongation of corrosion period，the diffraction peak strength of the corrosion products of the 10.9 grade weathering bolted steel and 35VB bolted steel increased，and the α-FeOOH phase diffraction peak was stronger in the 10.9 grade weathering bolted steel under the same corrosion period.Under the same period，compared with 35VB bolted steel，the self-corrosion potential of 10.9 grade weathering bolted steel was more positive，the self-corrosion current density was smaller，and the capacitance resistance arc was larger.The results indicated that the 10.9 grade weathering bolted steel with the addition of Cu，Cr and Ni alloy elements possessed excellent corrosion resistance in typical industrial atmospheric environment.

Abstract Background Metschnikowia bicuspidata is a pathogenic yesst that can cause disease in many different economic aquatic animal species. In recent years, there was a new disease outbreak in ridgetail white prawn (Exopalaemon carinicauda) in coastal areas of Jiangsu Province China that was referred to as zombie disease by local farmers. The pathogen was first isolated and identified as M. bicuspidata. Although the pathogenicity and pathogenesis of this pathogen in other animals have been reported in some previous studies, research on its molecular mechanisms is still very limited. Therefore, a genome-wide study is necessary to better understand the physiological and pathogenic mechanisms of M. bicuspidata. Result In this study, we obtained a pathogenic strain, MQ2101, of M. bicuspidata from diseased E. carinicauda and sequenced its whole genome. The size of the whole genome was 15.98 Mb, and it was assembled into 5 scaffolds. The genome contained 3934 coding genes, among which 3899 genes with biological functions were annotated in multiple underlying databases. In KOG database, 2627 genes were annotated, which were categorized into 25 classes including general function prediction only, posttranslational modification, protein turnover, chaperones, and signal transduction mechanisms. In KEGG database, 2493 genes were annotated, which were categorized into five classes, including cellular processes, environmental information processing, genetic information processing, metabolism and organismal systems. In GO database, 2893 genes were annotated, which were mainly classified in cell, cell part, cellular processes and metabolic processes. There were 1055 genes annotated in the PHI database, accounting for 26.81% of the total genome, among which 5 genes were directly related to pathogenicity (identity ≥ 50%), including hsp90, PacC, and PHO84. There were also some genes related to the activity of the yeast itself that could be targeted by antiyeast drugs. Analysis based on the DFVF database showed that strain MQ2101 contained 235 potential virulence genes. BLAST searches in the CAZy database showed that strain MQ2101 may have a more complex carbohydrate metabolism system than other yeasts of the same family. In addition, two gene clusters and 168 putative secretory proteins were predicted in strain MQ2101, and functional analysis showed that some of the secretory proteins may be directly involved in the pathogenesis of the strain. Gene family analysis with five other yeasts revealed that strain MQ2101 has 245 unique gene families, including 274 genes involved in pathogenicity that could serve as potential targets. Conclusion Genome-wide analysis elucidated the pathogenicity-associated genes of M. bicuspidate while also revealing a complex metabolic mechanism and providing putative targets of action for the development of antiyeast drugs for this pathogen. The obtained whole-genome sequencing data provide an important theoretical basis for transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolic studies of M. bicuspidata and lay a foundation for defining its specific mechanism of host infestation.

Abstract Shufeng Jiedu Capsule (SFJDC), composed of eight herbs, is a big brand traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the treatment of different respiratory tract infectious diseases with good clinical efficacy and few side effects. It is clinically applied to acute upper respiratory tract infection(URI), influenza, acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD), community-acquired pneumonia(CAP) and other diseases, due to its antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory and antipyretic activities. In particular, it has shown good clinical effects for COVID-19, and was included in the fourth to tenth editions of the ‘Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol for COVID-19 (Trial)’ by the National Health Commission. In recent years, studies on the secondary development which focus on the basic and clinical application of SFJDC have been widely reported. In this paper, chemical components, pharmacodynamic material basis, mechanisms, compatibility rule and clinical application were systematically summarized, in order to provide theoretical and experimental basis for further research and clinical application of SFJDC.

Abstract In general, perovskite solar cells (PSC) with a sensitized or thin-film architecture absorb light from a single-side illumination, and carrier separation and transport only take place inside the active layer of the perovskite film. Herein, we demonstrated a dual-irradiation PSC system in which light passes through both the fluorinated tin oxide (FTO) side and the Au electrode side, resulting in much faster interfacial charge carrier extraction and transportation than that in a single-irradiation system, in which light passes through from either the FTO or semitransparent Au electrode side. This dual-irradiation PSC system with a configuration of FTO/Cl-TiO2/Mp-TiO2/mixed perovskite/spiro-OMeTAD/Au/ITO can form two quasi-interfacial p-n junctions, which occur separately at the interfaces of TiO2/perovskite and perovskite/spiro-OMeTAD. When the PSC device was illuminated simultaneously from both the FTO and Au/ITO sides, the PSC achieved a total power conversion efficiency (PCE) as high as 20.1% under high light intensity (1.4 sun), which is higher than PCE (18.4%) of a single-irradiation system. The time of flight (TOF) photoconductivity, small perturbation transient photovoltaic (TPV), finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) optical simulations, and dual illumination-side-dependent impedance spectroscopy (ISD-IS) were used to authenticate the presence of two quasi-interfacial p-n junctions in the PSC, creating more charge carriers than only one quasi p-n junction, and thus leading to a fast recombination process.

Abstract Background and Aims Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the main death‐leading malignant tumors which deserve in‐depth explorations to uncover the underlying molecular mechanisms. Plenty of proofs have revealed that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in malignancy and progression of HCC. Nevertheless, the definite role of lncRNA‐SNHG4 in HCC remains vague. Methods To figure out the role of SNHG4 in HCC, the bioinformatics analysis and functional assays and in vivo assay were performed. Results Our findings demonstrated that the data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) displayed that the higher expression of lncRNA SNHG4 was detected in HCC tissues, which predicted the poor prognosis. The upregulation of SNHG4 was positively associated with worse clinicopathological characteristics. The functional experiments were performed to identify the role of SNHG4 in HCC. We found that SNHG4 enhanced the proliferative, migratory and invasive capacities of HCC cell line, and facilitated the tumor growth in vivo. A series of follow‐up studies have shown that SNHG4 promoted the progression and malignancy of HCC through upregulating CREB5 via sponging miR‐211‐5p. Conclusion Collectively, the above findings suggest that SNHG4 promotes HCC malignancy through the SNHG4/miR‐211‐5p/CREB5 axis, providing potential therapeutic targets and prognostic factors for HCC. Highlights SNHG4 is overexpressed in HCC and correlated with the poor clinical characteristics SNHG4 promotes the malignant progression of HCC by reducing miR‐211‐5p expression MiR‐211‐5p inhibits CREB5 expression in HCC The oncogenic effect of SNHG4 in HCC can be reversed by CREB5 silencing

The additive manufacturing (AM) of Ni-based superalloys has attracted extensive interest from both academia and industry due to its unique capabilities to fabricate complex and high-performance components for use in high-end industrial systems. However, the intense temperature gradient induced by the rapid heating and cooling processes of AM can generate high levels of residual stress and metastable chemical and structural states, inevitably leading to severe metallurgical defects in Ni-based superalloys. Cracks are the greatest threat to these materials’ integrity as they can rapidly propagate and thereby cause sudden and non-predictable failure. Consequently, there is a need for a deeper understanding of residual stress and cracking mechanisms in additively manufactured Ni-based superalloys and ways to potentially prevent cracking, as this knowledge will enable the wider application of these unique materials. To this end, this paper comprehensively reviews the residual stress and the various mechanisms of crack formation in Ni-based superalloys during AM. In addition, several common methods for inhibiting crack formation are presented to assist the research community to develop methods for the fabrication of crack-free additively manufactured components.

Aluminum–magnesium (Al–Mg) alloys, known for their lightweight properties, are extensively utilized and crucial in the advancement of wire and arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) for direct high-quality printing—a focal point in additive manufacturing research. This study employed 1.2 mm ER5356 welding wire as the raw material to fabricate two sets of 30-layer thin-walled structures. These sets were manufactured using two distinct welding modes, speed-twin pulse (STP) and twin pulse (TP). Comparative evaluations of the surface quality, microstructures, and mechanical properties of the two sets of samples indicated that both the STP and TP modes were suitable for the WAAM of Al–Mg alloys. Analyses of grain growth in the melt pools of both sample sets revealed a non-preferential grain orientation, with a mixed arrangement of equiaxed and columnar grains. The STP mode notably achieved a refined surface finish, a reduced grain size, and a slight increase in tensile strength compared to the TP mode. From the comparison of the tensile data at the bottom, middle, and top of the two groups of samples, the additive manufacturing process in the STP mode was more stable.

High-performance electrochromic (EC) and electrofluorochromic (EFC) materials have garnered considerable interest due to their diverse applications in smart windows, optoelectronics, optical displays, military camouflage, etc. While many different EC and EFC polymers have been reported, their preparation often requires multiple steps, and their polymer molecular weights are subjected to batch variation. In this work, we prepared two triphenylamine (TPA)-based and two tetraphenylethylene (TPE)-based derivatives functionalized with terminal styryl groups via direct Suzuki coupling with (4-vinylphenyl)boronic acid and vinylboronic acid pinacol ester. The two novel TPE derivatives exhibited green–yellow aggregation-induced emission (AIE). The EC and EFC properties of pre- and post-thermally treated derivatives spin-coated onto ITO–glass substrates were studied. While all four derivatives showed modest absorption changes with applied voltages up to +2.4 V, retaining a high degree of optical transparency, they exhibited obvious EFC properties with the quenching of blue to yellow fluorescence with IOFF/ON contrast ratios of up to 7.0. The findings therefore demonstrate an elegant approach to preparing optically transparent, heat-induced, cross-linkable styryl-functionalized EFC systems.

The large-sized Tarangaole uranium deposit and its neighboring Daying and Nalinggou deposits, located in the northeastern margin of the Ordos Basin, constitutes a major uranium resource base in northern China. In order to further clarify the sedimentary material source, uranium source and regional sediment–tectonic setting of the uranium-fed clastic rocks (i.e., Zhiluo Formation(J2z)) in the district, this paper carried out whole-rock geochemistry, heavy minerals composition and in situ U-Pb dating of detrital zircons for sandstones from the lower section of the Zhiluo Formation. The results have shown that the average chemical differentiation index (CIA) for the host rocks is 73.16 and the chemical weathering degree is moderate. Heavy minerals are mainly composed of ilmenite, garnet, chlorpyrite, zircon, pyrite, apatite, hematite, etc. The U-Pb dating of detrital zircon generally indicates three age peaks, i.e., 260~Ma, 1850~Ma and 2450~Ma, respectively. In conclusion, the source rocks may have been formed at active continental margins, e.g., in a continental margin arc environment. The sedimentary materials mainly come from khondalite series, TTGs, granulite, and mafic–ultramafic intrusive rocks distributed among the Daqing–Ula Mountains and adjacent areas, etc. The Late Paleozoic U-rich intermediate and acidic magmatic rocks spreading over the eastern part of the Ula–Daqing and Wolf mountains have provided the main uranium sources for the formation of major U deposits in the northern Ordos Basin.

Cardiomyocytes rely on proper mitochondrial homeostasis to maintain contractility and achieve optimal cardiac performance. Mitochondrial homeostasis is controlled by mitochondrial fission, fusion, and mitochondrial autophagy (mitophagy). Mitophagy plays a particularly important role in promoting the degradation of dysfunctional mitochondria in terminally differentiated cells. However, the precise mechanisms by which this is achieved in cardiomyocytes remain opaque. Our study identifies GRAF1 as an important mediator in PINK1-Parkin pathway-dependent mitophagy. Depletion of GRAF1 (Arhgap26) in cardiomyocytes results in actin remodeling defects, suboptimal mitochondria clustering, and clearance. Mechanistically, GRAF1 promotes Parkin-LC3 complex formation and directs autophagosomes to damaged mitochondria. Herein, we found that these functions are regulated, at least in part, by the direct binding of GRAF1 to phosphoinositides (PI(3)P, PI(4)P, and PI(5)P) on autophagosomes. In addition, PINK1-dependent phosphorylation of Parkin promotes Parkin-GRAF1-LC3 complex formation, and PINK1-dependent phosphorylation of GRAF1 (on S668 and S671) facilitates the clustering and clearance of mitochondria. Herein, we developed new phosphor-specific antibodies to these sites and showed that these post-translational modifications are differentially modified in human hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and dilated cardiomyopathy. Furthermore, our metabolic studies using serum collected from isoproterenol-treated WT and GRAF1CKO mice revealed defects in mitophagy-dependent cardiomyocyte fuel flexibility that have widespread impacts on systemic metabolism. In summary, our study reveals that GRAF1 co-regulates actin and membrane dynamics to promote cardiomyocyte mitophagy and that dysregulation of GRAF1 post-translational modifications may underlie cardiac disease pathogenesis.

Salinity and alkali stresses are a major abiotic stress negatively affecting crop productivity around the globe. Therefore, it is mandatory to develop the effective measures to mitigate the adverse impacts of these stresses for ensuring sustainable crop productivity and food security. Therefore, a pot experiment determined the effects of brassinolide application, inoculation with AM fungi (Funneliformis mosseae) and their combined use on the growth, photosynthesis and antioxidant system of Leymus chinensis under saline-alkali stress (0, 150 mmol/L). The mechanism of the two to alleviate the saline-alkali stress of L. chinensis was explored. The physiological and biochemical indexes of Leymus chinensis were significantly affected under saline-alkali stress (150 mmol/L). Inoculation of AM fungi and application of brassinolide effectively increased the biomass accumulation in the upper part (∼ 25-40%) and root (15-35%) system of L. chinensis under saline-alkali stress. Further AMF also improved photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b), photosynthetic rate (Pn), Intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), stomata conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (Tr), chlorophyll fluorescence antioxidant enzymes (SOD: superoxide dismutase. CAT: catalase APX: ascorbate peroxidase, GR: Glutathione reductase) activity, and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA: ∼ 40-50%) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2: ∼ 30-40%) accumulation. Therefore, under saline-alkali stress conditions, the combination of brassinolide and AM fungi proved better to mitigate their toxic effects.