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We obtain the through-thickness elastic stiffness coefficient (C33) in nominal 9 nm and 60 nm BaFe2As2 (Ba-122) thin films by using picosecond ultrasonics. Particularly, we reveal the increase in elastic stiffness as film thickness decreases from bulk value down to 9 nm, which we attribute to the increase in intrinsic strain near the film-substrate interface. Our density functional theory (DFT) calculations reproduce the observed acoustic oscillation frequencies well. In addition, temperature dependence of longitudinal acoustic (LA) phonon mode frequency for 9 nm Ba-122 thin film is reported. The frequency change is attributed to the change in Ba-122 orthorhombicity (a − b) / (a + b) . This conclusion can be corroborated by our previous ultrafast ellipticity measurements in 9 nm Ba-122 thin film, which exhibit strong temperature dependence and indicate the structural phase transition temperature Ts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cognitive offloading refers to our reliance on the external environment in order to reduce cognitive demand. For instance, people write notes on paper or smartphones in order not to forget shopping lists or upcoming appointments. A plausible hypothesis is that such offloading relies on metamemory - our confidence in our future memory performance. However, this hypothesis has not been directly tested, and it remains unclear when and how people use external sources to aid their encoding and retrieval of information. In four experiments, here we asked participants to learn word pairs and decide whether to offload some of the pairs by "saving" them on a computer. In the memory test, they had the opportunity to use this saved information on half of trials. Participants adaptively saved the most difficult items and used this offloaded information to boost their memory performance. Crucially, participants' confidence judgments about their memory predicted their decisions to use the saved information, indicating that cognitive offloading is associated with metacognitive evaluation about memory performance. These findings were accommodated by a Bayesian computational model in which beliefs about the performance boost gained from using offloaded information are negatively coupled to an evaluation of memory ability. Together our findings highlight a close link between metamemory and cognitive offloading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroelectric polarization screening is able to produce a room-temperature ferromagnetism at SrTiO 3 /PbTiO 3 interface via an electronic construction of Ti atom. It is surprising to find that this ferromagnetism can be reversibly switched to antiferromagnetism by applying a magnetic field. The localization of the itinerant electrons under a magnetic field is responsible for the suppression of magnetism. Oxide heterointerface is a platform to create unprecedented two-dimensional electron gas, superconductivity and ferromagnetism, arising from a polar discontinuity at the interface. In particular, the ability to tune these intriguing effects paves a way to elucidate their fundamental physics and to develop novel electronic/magnetic devices. In this work, we report for the first time that a ferroelectric polarization screening at SrTiO 3 /PbTiO 3 interface is able to drive an electronic construction of Ti atom, giving rise to room-temperature ferromagnetism. Surprisingly, such ferromagnetism can be switched to antiferromagnetism by applying a magnetic field, which is reversible. A coupling of itinerant electrons with local moments at interfacial Ti 3 d orbital was proposed to explain the magnetism. The localization of the itinerant electrons under a magnetic field is responsible for the suppression of magnetism. These findings provide new insights into interfacial magnetism and their control by magnetic field relevant interfacial electrons promising for device applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use cryogenic spatial–temporal photoluminescence (PL) imaging measurements down to 10 K and with short-wavelength, 405 nm laser excitation to study surface charge generation, trapping, and recombination at single bright and dark grains as well as their boundaries in model methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) polycrystalline thin films. These salient conditions are shown to be critical for identifying both the detrimental and cooperative roles of grain microstructures where the dark grains serve as the PL quenching center, while the grain boundaries are largely benign and may promote electron–hole separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Testing (i.e., retrieval practice) is one of the most powerful strategies to boost learning. A recent study observed an incidental finding that making judgments of learning (JOLs) following retrieval practice further enhanced learning of education-related texts to a medium extent (Cohen's d = 0.44) by comparison with retrieval practice itself, suggesting that making JOLs may serve as an easy-to-implement educational intervention to improve the benefits of testing. Three experiments (one pre-registered) were conducted to test the replicability of Ariel et al.'s incidental finding and to further determine whether making JOLs following retrieval practice reactively enhances the benefits of testing for text learning. The three experiments consistently provided Bayesian evidence supporting no reactivity effect of JOLs following retrieval practice, regardless of whether the replication experiments were conducted in a laboratory (Experiment 1) or online (Experiments 2 and 3), whether the stimuli were presented in the same language (Experiments 2 and 3) or not (Experiment 1), and whether participants were recruited from the sample pool (Experiment 2) or not (Experiments 1 and 3) as in the original study. These null findings imply that making JOLs cannot be utilized as a practical strategy to enhance the benefits of testing for learning of educationally related materials. Possible explanations for the null reactivity effect of JOLs following retrieval practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Practice testing is a powerful tool to consolidate long-term retention of studied information, facilitate subsequent learning of new information, and foster knowledge transfer. However, practitioners frequently express the concern that tests are anxiety-inducing and that their employment in the classroom should be minimized. The current review integrates results across 24 studies (i.e., 25 effects based on 3,374 participants) to determine the effect of practice tests (quizzes) on test anxiety (TA) and explore potential moderators of the effect. The results show strong Bayesian evidence (BF10 > 25,000) that practice tests appreciably reduce TA to a medium extent (Hedges’ g = -0.52), with minimal evidence of publication bias. Easy practice tests tend to be more effective in mitigating TA than difficult ones. These findings support a recommendation for instructors to incorporate quizzes into their curriculum. However, instructors should be aware that quizzes themselves may be more stressful than other learning activities. Methods to make quizzes less stressful and more enjoyable are discussed. Research on the effect of practice tests on TA is still in its infancy, and future research directions are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FAAP20 is a Fanconi anemia (FA) protein that associates with the FA core complex to promote FANCD2/FANCI monoubiquitination and activate the damage response to interstrand crosslink damage. Here, we report that FAAP20 has a marked role in homologous recombination at a DNA double-strand break not associated with an ICL and separable from its binding partner FANCA. While FAAP20's role in homologous recombination is not dependent on FANCA, we found that FAAP20 stimulates FANCA's biochemical activity in vitro and participates in the single-strand annealing pathway of double-strand break repair in a FANCA-dependent manner. This indicates that FAAP20 has roles in several homology-directed repair pathways. Like other homology-directed repair factors, FAAP20 loss causes a reduction in nuclear RAD51 Irradiation-induced foci; and sensitizes cancer cells to ionizing radiation and PARP inhibition. In summary, FAAP20 participates in DNA double strand break repair by supporting homologous recombination in a non-redundant manner to FANCA, and single-strand annealing repair via FANCA-mediated strand annealing activity. FAAP20 has roles in several homology-directed pathways of DNA double-strand break repair that are both independent and dependent on its binding partner FANCA and FANCA-mediated single strand annealing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At high current densities, gas bubble escape is the critical factor affecting the mass transport and performance of the electrolyzer. For tight assembly water electrolysis technologies, the gas diffusion layer (GDL) between the catalyst layer (CL) and the flow field plate plays a critical role in gas bubble removal. Herein, we demonstrate that the electrolyzer's mass transport and performance can be significantly improved by simply manipulating the structure of the GDL. Combined with 3D printing technology, ordered nickel GDLs with straight‐through pores and adjustable grid sizes are systematically studied. Using an in situ high‐speed camera, the gas bubble releasing size and resident time have been observed and analyzed upon the change of the GDL architecture. The results show that a suitable grid size of the GDL can significantly accelerate mass transport by reducing the gas bubble size and the bubble resident time. An adhesive force measurement has further revealed the underlying mechanism. We then proposed and fabricated a novel hierarchical GDL, reaching a current density of 2 A/cm2 at a cell voltage of 1.95 V and 80 °C, one of the highest single‐cell performances in pure‐water‐fed anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At high current densities, gas bubble escape is the critical factor affecting the mass transport and performance of the electrolyzer. For tight assembly water electrolysis technologies, the gas diffusion layer (GDL) between the catalyst layer (CL) and the flow field plate plays a critical role in gas bubble removal. Herein, we demonstrate that the electrolyzer's mass transport and performance can be significantly improved by simply manipulating the structure of the GDL. Combined with 3D printing technology, ordered nickel GDLs with straight‐through pores and adjustable grid sizes are systematically studied. Using an in situ high‐speed camera, the gas bubble releasing size and resident time have been observed and analyzed upon the change of the GDL architecture. The results show that a suitable grid size of the GDL can significantly accelerate mass transport by reducing the gas bubble size and the bubble resident time. An adhesive force measurement has further revealed the underlying mechanism. We then proposed and fabricated a novel hierarchical GDL, reaching a current density of 2 A/cm2 at a cell voltage of 1.95 V and 80 °C, one of the highest single‐cell performances in pure‐water‐fed anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Making judgments of learning (JOLs) can reactively change memory, a phenomenon termed the reactivity effect. The current study was designed to explore whether the reactivity effect transfers to subsequent learning of new information. Participants studied two blocks of words (Experiment 1) or related word pairs (Experiments 2 & 3). In Block 1, participants in the experimental (JOL) group made a JOL while studying each item, whereas the control (no-JOL) group did not make item-by-item JOLs. Then both groups studied Block 2, in which they did not make JOLs, and finally, they took a test on Blocks 1 and 2. Across Experiments 1 −3, the results showed superior Block 1 test performance in the JOL than in the no-JOL group, demonstrating a positive reactivity effect. Critically, there was minimal difference in Block 2 test performance between the two groups, implying little transfer of the positive reactivity effect to subsequent learning of new information. Furthermore, Experiment 3 demonstrated that the reactivity effect still failed to transfer even when participants explicitly appreciated the benefits of making JOLs. Educational implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spherical agglomerates of pharmaceuticals are desired in the manufacturing process, however, the current selection of the wetting liquid is still determined in a trial-and-error way. This work reports a method that combines theoretical prediction and experimental validation to select the proper wetting liquid for spherical agglomeration of cefotaxime sodium (CTX). The theoretical prediction is realized by calculating the adhesion free energy between the solid surfaces and the liquid. Various solvents have been screened and candidates with a negative adhesion free energy such as water, chloroform, ethylene glycol, hexane and heptane are selected as wetting liquid candidates. Results show that the adhesion free energy is a feasible tool for selecting a suitable wetting liquid to produce spherical agglomerates. Better-shaped and uniformed spherical agglomerates are obtained with the suitable wetting liquid via orthogonal experiments. Finally, the spherical agglomeration process is visualized and possible mechanism is proposed. Unlabelled Image • The proper wetting liquid for spherical agglomeration of cefotaxime sodium (CTX) is decided by theoretical prediction. • Spherical agglomerates of CTX are produced by spherical agglomeration using the predicted wetting liquids. • A possible mechanism for the SA process of CTX is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic achievement is one of the most important indicators for assessing students' performance and educational attainment. Family socioeconomic status (SES) is the main factor influencing academic achievement, but the relation between SES and academic achievement may vary across different sociocultural contexts. China is the most populous developing country with a large number of schooling students in the basic education stage. Chinese schools are unified and managed by the Ministry of Education, but the central and local governments in accordance with their responsibilities share the investment of educational funds. However, the strength of the relation between SES and academic achievement and possible moderators of this relation remain unclear. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis on the relation between SES and academic achievement based on 215,649 students from 78 independent samples in the basic education stage from mainland China. The results indicated a moderate relation between SES and academic achievement (r = 0.243) in general. Moderation analyses indicated that the relation between SES and academic achievement gradually decreased in the past several decades; SES has a stronger correlation with language achievement (i.e., Chinese and English) than science/math achievement and general achievement. These findings were discussed from the perspective of governmental policies on education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Permeability of tree-like branching networks with polygonal loops is studied. • Factors influencing the permeability of tree-like networks are analyzed in detail. • Good agreement between model predictions and numerical results is found. A novel tree-like branching network with polygonal loops is designed based on the network of leaf vein. In this study, analytical models are presented for the effective permeabilities through the undamaged and damaged tree-like branching networks with polygonal loops based on Hagen-Poiseuille equation and Darcy's law. These effective permeability models are explicitly related to the structural parameters and the damaged number (or points) of the tree-like branching networks. We have discussed quantitatively the influences of the length and diameter ratios of channels, Y-shaped bifurcation angle, total branching level number, and damaged number (or points) on the effective permeability. Besides, numerical simulations are performed, and compared with the model predictions. Good agreement indicates that the present models for the permeability are reasonable. These analyses of the networks may provide a basis for scientific and engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of new near-net shape forming process, powder metallurgy has been widely used in the manufacturing of automobiles and their parts. This paper proposes a novel integrated product and process development (IPPD) methodology for clutch hub via powder metallurgy, and the manufacturing-oriented design is carried out. The three-dimensional model of the hub is established and simulated by ANSYS. A Fe–C-Cu–Ni–Mo material system for the powder metallurgy clutch hub is created, and a corresponding process scheme is developed. Through material metallographic analysis and experimental verification, the results show that the powder metallurgy clutch hub developed by the IPPD technology can meet the requirements of automotive applications in terms of strength and durability. The IPPD methodology and new near-net shape forming technology can be widely applied to automotive parts such as gear flanges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been recently been increased interest in the plasticity of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UMSCs) and their potential in the treatment of neurological disorders. In this study, UMSCs were transdifferentiated into neural stem-like cells (uNSCL), these cells grow in neurosphere-like structures and express high levels of NSCs markers. Epigenetics-related gene screening was here used to assess the relationship between E1A-like inhibitor of differentiation 3 (EID3), a p300 inhibitor, and DNA methyltransferase 3 A (DNMT3A) during the transdifferentiation of UMSCs into uNSCL in vitro. Before transdifferentiation of UMSCs into uNSCLs, high levels of EID3 and low levels of DNMT3A were detected; after transdifferentiation, low levels of EID3 and high levels of DNMT3A were detected. The current work showed that EID3 and DNMT3A co-localized in cell nuclei and EID3 interacted directly with DNMT3A in uNSCL. In summary, these results suggest that DNMT3A is probably directly regulated by EID3 during UMSC transdifferentiation into uNSCLs. These findings indicated a novel mechanism by which EID3, a p300 acetyltransferase inhibitor, could directly affect DNMT3A, this enzyme possesses dual methylation and demethylation abilities. These studies may be helpful for understanding a complex regulation mode of DNMT3A, which is a unique member of the methyltransferase family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has demonstrated that metacognition accuracy is far from perfect. The accuracy of judgments of learning (JOLs) is of critical importance in self-regulated learning. To explore what factors constrain JOL accuracy, the current study focused on mindfulness, which is intimately related to metacognition and anxiety. A total of 203 undergraduates (198 valid samples) were recruited to determine the relationships among five dimensions of dispositional mindfulness, test anxiety, and relative accuracy of JOLs. Results revealed that the interaction term for acting with awareness and test anxiety significantly predicted JOL accuracy. Further analyses indicated that for individuals with high test anxiety, but not for those with low test anxiety, acting with awareness positively predicted JOL accuracy. Considering that dispositional mindfulness is modifiable, these results help to inspire researchers to further explore whether mindfulness training can be used as a remedy to improve JOL accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The challenge underlying superconducting quantum computing is to remove materials bottleneck for highly coherent quantum devices. The nonuniformity and complex structural components in the underlying quantum circuits often lead to local electric field concentration, charge scattering, dissipation and ultimately decoherence. Here we visualize interface dipole heterogeneous distribution of individual Al/AlOx/Al junctions employed in transmon qubits by broadband terahertz scanning near-field microscopy that enables the non-destructive and contactless identification of defective boundaries in nano-junctions at an extremely precise nanoscale level. Our THz nano-imaging tool reveals an asymmetry across the junction in electromagnetic wave-junction coupling response that manifests as hot (high intensity) vs cold (low intensity) spots in the spatial electrical field structures and correlates with defected boundaries from the multi-angle deposition processes in Josephson junction fabrication inside qubit devices. The demonstrated local electromagnetic scattering method offers high sensitivity, allowing for reliable device defect detection in the pursuit of improved quantum circuit fabrication for ultimately optimizing coherence times. To enhance the development of superior quantum circuits, the ability to detect defects accurately is crucial. The authors use broadband terahertz scanning near-field optical microscopy that enables the non-destructive and contactless identification of defective boundaries in nano-junctions employed in transmon qubits at an extremely precise nanoscale level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nearly 234 million patients undergo surgery each year, and 1.3 million among them develop complications. Patients undergoing major upper abdominal surgery (operation time > 2 h) have a really high incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs). The occurrence of PPCs seriously affects the outcomes of patients. High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is as effective as noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in preventing postoperative hypoxaemia and respiratory failure. Respiratory training using positive expiratory pressure (PEP) Acapella (Choice) has been shown to help patients with rapid recovery from postoperative atelectasis. However, no relevant randomized controlled studies have been conducted to clarify the effect of HFNC combined with respiratory training in the prevention of PPCs. This study aims to investigate whether the use of HFNC combined with respiratory training could reduce the incidence of PPCs within 7 days after major upper abdominal surgery compared to that with conventional oxygen therapy (COT). Methods: This is a randomized controlled single-centre trial. A total of 328 patients who undergo major abdominal surgery will be included. Subjects who fulfil the eligible criteria will be randomly assigned into the combination treatment group (Group A) or COT group (Group B) after extubation. The interventions will begin within 30 min of extubation. Patients in Group A will receive HFNC for at least 48 h and respiratory training three times a day for at least 72 h. Patients in Group B will receive oxygen therapy through a nasal catheter or mask for at least 48 h. Our primary endpoint is the incidence of PPCs within 7 days, and the secondary outcome measures include 28-day mortality, reintubation rate, length of hospital stay, and all-cause mortality within 1 year. Discussion: This trial would help provide evidence on the effectivity of applying HFNC combined with respiratory training for the prevention of PPCs in patients undergoing major upper abdominal surgery. The objective of this study is to determine the optimal treatment approach to improve the prognosis of patients undergoing surgery. Trial registration: ChiCTR2100047146. Registered on 8 June 2021. Retrospectively registered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of conjugated polymers with high semiconducting performance and high reliability is of great significance for flexible electronics. Herein, we developed a new type of electron‐accepting building block; i.e. non‐symmetric half‐fused B←N coordinated diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) (HBNDPP), for amorphous conjugated polymers toward flexible electronics. The rigid B←N fusion part of HBNDPP endows the resulting polymers with decent electron transport, while its non‐symmetric structure causes the polymer to exhibit multiple conformation isomers with flat torsional potential energies. Thus, it gets packed in an amorphous manner in solid state, ensuring good resistance to bending strain. Combined with hardness and softness, the flexible organic field‐effect transistor devices exhibit n‐type charge properties with decent mobility, good bending resistance, and good ambient stability. The preliminary study makes this building block a potential candidate for future design of conjugated materials for flexible electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of conjugated polymers with high semiconducting performance and high reliability is of great significance for flexible electronics. Herein, we developed a new type of electron‐accepting building block; i.e. non‐symmetric half‐fused B←N coordinated diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) (HBNDPP), for amorphous conjugated polymers toward flexible electronics. The rigid B←N fusion part of HBNDPP endows the resulting polymers with decent electron transport, while its non‐symmetric structure causes the polymer to exhibit multiple conformation isomers with flat torsional potential energies. Thus, it gets packed in an amorphous manner in solid state, ensuring good resistance to bending strain. Combined with hardness and softness, the flexible organic field‐effect transistor devices exhibit n‐type charge properties with decent mobility, good bending resistance, and good ambient stability. The preliminary study makes this building block a potential candidate for future design of conjugated materials for flexible electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Nucleus targeting is tremendously important in cancer therapy. Cationic carbon dots (CCDs) are potential nanoparticles which might enter cells and penetrate nuclear membranes. Although some CCDs have been investigated in nucleus targeting and applied in nuclear imaging, the CCDs derived from drugs, that are able to target the nucleus, bind with DNA and inhibit the growth of cancer cells have not been reported. In this project, 1, 2, 4, 5-benzenetetramine (Y15, a focal adhesion kinase inhibitor) derived cationic carbon dots (Y15-CDs) were prepared via a hydrothermal approach utilizing Y15, folic acid and 1,2-ethylenediamine as precursors. Based on the structural, optical, and morphologic characterizations, Y15-CDs possess rich amine groups and nitrogen in structure, an excitation-dependent photoluminescence emission, and a small particle size of 2 to 4 nm. The DNA binding experiments conducted through agarose gel electrophoresis, UV–vis absorption, fluorescence emission, and circular dichroism spectroscopies, prove that Y15-CDs might bind with DNA via electrostatic interactions and partially intercalative binding modes. In addition, the cell imaging and cytotoxicity studies in human foreskin fibroblasts (HFF), prostate cancer (PC3) and osteosarcoma cells (U2OS) indicate the nucleus targeting and anticancer abilities of Y15-CDs. Most interestingly, Y15-CDs exhibit a higher cytotoxicity to cancer cells (PC3 and U2OS) than to normal cells (HFF), inferring that Y15-CDs might be potentially applied in cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Anterior gradient protein 2 homolog (AGR) is a potential tumor biomarker and plays an important role in tissue development and regeneration. The intracellular detection of AGR is rarely reported. By conjugating the AGR aptamer with a cytosine base sequence as Ag cluster template, a highly fluorescent probe (MA@AgNCs) was synthesized for targeting intracellular AGR. The MA@AgNCs display a maximum fluorescence peak at 565 nm, and possess an excellent quantum yield (QY = 87.43%), small size, great biocompatibility, low toxicity, and good stability. Moreover, the as synthesized MA@AgNCs show high specificity on recognizing breast cancer cells. Graphical abstract Scheme 1 The sketch of synthesis process and fluorescence cell imaging. fx1 Highlights • The MA@AgNCs shows high quantum yield, excellent stability, and good thermostability with negligible cytotoxicity. • The MA@AgNCs imaged the AGR protein in MCF-7 cells with good selectivity between MCF-7 and Hela cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Systems with mission abort options are considered. • Tradeoff between the probabilities of mission success and system survival is demonstrated. • Influence of propagated failures on this tradeoff is analyzed. • Optimal mission abort policy for a given component activation sequence is solved. Abstract In many life-critical applications (e.g., spacecraft, aircrafts and chemical reactors), accomplishing a specified mission or aborting mission objectives in the case of certain condition being met to survive the system are both crucial. While conventional reliability models have typically focused only on evaluating the mission success probability, few of recent research addressed effects of mission aborts and studied system survivability. However, these works fail to consider propagated failures that can make significant contributions to the mission failure and may affect the optimal mission abort policy adopted for the system. In this paper, we suggest a numerical method for addressing effects of failure propagations in analyzing the mission success probability (MSP) and system survivability (SS) of 1-out-of- N warm standby systems subject to mission abort. The system may be heterogeneous, composed of components with different standby modes, and different performance and failure time distribution parameters. Both the activation sequence of those heterogeneous components and the adopted mission abort policy can affect the system performance metrics greatly. Therefore, we make further contributions by formulating and solving optimization problems that find the optimal mission abort policy for systems with any given component activation sequence or the optimal combination of mission abort policy and component activation sequence, maximizing the MSP while satisfying a desired SS level. Examples are provided to demonstrate influence of propagated failures on system performance and optimization solutions. Examples also show that the optimal abort policy determined can achieve a good balance between MSP and SS taking into account failure propagation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Flow behavior in the novel multistage bed exhibits new characterizations. • Gas–solid contact in the enlarged section is improved. • The variation of dynamics at different conditions is similar for two enlarged sections. Abstract A novel multistage fluidized bed for dry desulfurization was presented for the improvement of a gas–solid flow structure. Experiments based on pressure signal acquisition were performed under extensive operating conditions. To obtain a systematic understanding of flow behaviors in the multistage fluidized bed, we applied nonlinear analysis methods coupled with wavelet decompositions. Some interesting phenomena were observed. The chaotic extent in the enlarged sections of the multistage fluidized bed is more sensitive to gas velocity than the solid circulating rate. In comparison with the traditional conveying section, change in flow behavior was observed in the enlarged section according to the Hurst analysis results. Particle movements including inter-particle, gas–particle and particle–wall dominate dynamic behaviors in the fluidized bed under examined operating conditions. The gas–solid interaction in the enlarged section was more intensive than that in the traditional conveying section. Dynamic comparisons between the lower and upper enlarged sections were also conducted. High similarities at the aspect of variation trend of dynamic characterizations were observed along the bed height of each section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphitic-C3N4 quantum dots (g-C3N4 QDs) have been widely studied because of their excellent water solubility, high quantum yield and low toxicity. Herein, we propose a new pathway for the preparation of g-C3N4 QDs by a fast one-step method involving the disintegration of bulk g-C3N4 in water at high temperature. This method is facile and rapid in comparison with other procedures. The prepared g-C3N4 QDs have a size of about 3 nm and exhibit strong blue fluorescence under a 365 nm UV lamp. Further experiments demonstrate that the g-C3N4 QDs prepared by this method are suitable for application in two-photon imaging, suggesting that this one-step method may provide an innovative way for the preparation of environmentally friendly probes for two-photon imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Real-time computing system with checkpointing and rejuvenation is considered; • An algorithm for evaluating probability of timely task completion is presented; • A problem of joint optimal checkpointing and rejuvenation scheduling is formulated; • An illustrative example is presented. Abstract Performance of a software system can deteriorate from higher to lower levels due to software aging. To counteract the aging effect, software rejuvenation is widely implemented to restore the performance of a degraded system before the system crash actually takes place. To facilitate an effective system function restoration after each rejuvenation action, it is desirable to apply checkpointing to occasionally save the system state on a reliable storage so that the mission task can be resumed from the last saved checkpoint (instead of being restarted from the very beginning). As both rejuvenation and checkpointing procedures incur system overhead while bringing these benefits, it is significant to determine the optimal rejuvenation and checkpointing scheduling policy optimizing the system performance measures of interest. This paper makes new contributions by modeling and optimizing the joint maintenance policy involving state-based rejuvenation and periodic checkpointing schedule for software systems performing real-time computing tasks. The system can undergo multiple performance degradation levels or states, and transition time between different states can assume arbitrary types of distributions. The proposed solution methodology encompasses an efficient numerical algorithm for evaluating the probability of task completion (PTC) by a pre-specified deadline. The joint optimal rejuvenation and checkpointing policy is further determined to maximize the PTC of the considered real-time task. Examples are provided to illustrate applications of the proposed methodology as well as effects of system parameters on the optimization solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plant ROP/RAC protein belongs to a subfamily of Rho family GTPases that inimitably exists in plants. It is considered an all-powerful molecular switch that modulates various plant developmental processes and plant defense responses to multifarious stresses. However, their exact roles are currently not entirely clear. Herein, the role of GhRac6, a ROP/RAC member from Gossypium hirsutum, was explored in the plant defense response to aphid feeding using transgenic technology. The deduced sequence of the GhRac6 protein is highly homologous to that of ROP/RAC proteins from other plants. GhRac6 expression was significantly upregulated in cotton leaves after damage by cotton aphids or wounding. The results of choice and no-choice tests showed that the number of aphids on GhRac6-overexpressing transgenic Arabidopsis was more than that on wild-type plants, while the secreted quantity of aphid honeydew in transgenic Arabidopsis was less than that in wild-type plants. Furthermore, the soluble sugar content and the proline content were higher in transgenic than in wild-type Arabidopsis to a certain extent. The activity of PAL and CAT in transgenic Arabidopsis was also higher than that in wild-type plants. Callose deposits were more abundant in transgenic than in wild-type Arabidopsis. The expression of related defense genes in the salicylic acid signaling pathway was considerably higher in transgenic than in wild-type Arabidopsis. These results collectively demonstrated that the cotton ROP gene GhRac6 improved the plant defense response to aphid feeding by regulating some aphid resistance indexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the efficacy and commercial success of vaccines and therapeutic antibodies have been tremendous, designing and discovering new drug candidates remains a labor-, time- and cost-intensive endeavor with high risks. The main challenges of vaccine development are inducing a strong immune response in broad populations and providing effective prevention against a group of highly variable pathogens. Meanwhile, antibody discovery faces several great obstacles, especially the blindness in antibody screening and the unpredictability of the developability and druggability of antibody drugs. These challenges are largely due to poorly understanding of germline antibodies and the antibody responses to pathogen invasions. Thanks to the recent developments in high-throughput sequencing and structural biology, we have gained insight into the germline immunoglobulin (Ig) genes and germline antibodies and then the germline antibody features associated with antigens and disease manifestation. In this review, we firstly outline the broad associations between germline antibodies and antigens. Moreover, we comprehensively review the recent applications of antigen-specific germline antibody features, physicochemical properties-associated germline antibody features, and disease manifestation-associated germline antibody features on vaccine development, antibody discovery, antibody optimization, and disease diagnosis. Lastly, we discuss the bottlenecks and perspectives of current and potential applications of germline antibody features in the biotechnology field. [Display omitted] • Designing and discovering new vaccine and therapeutic antibody candidates remains a challenge. • The germline antibody features are associated with epitopes, antigens and disease manifestation. • Germline-targeting vaccines of HIV and influenza are tested in clinical trial. • The germline antibody features are applied in antibody discovery and optimization. • The bottlenecks and perspectives for applications of germline antibody features are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the spin–orbit charge transfer induced intersystem crossing (SOCT-ISC), Bodipy (BDP)–carbazole (Cz) compact electron donor/acceptor dyads were prepared. Charge transfer (CT) emission bands were observed for dyads showing strong electronic coupling between the donor and the acceptor (coupling matrix elements VDA, 0.06 eV–0.18 eV). Depending on the coupling magnitude, the CT state of the dyads can be either dark or emissive. Equilibrium between the 1LE (locally excited) state and the 1CT state was confirmed by temperature-dependent fluorescence studies. Efficient ISC was observed for the dyads with Cz connected at the meso-position of the BDP. Interestingly, the dyad with non-orthogonal geometry shows the highest ISC efficiency (ΦΔ = 58%), which is different from the previous conclusion. The photo-induced charge separation (CS, time constant: 0.7 ps) and charge recombination (CR, ∼3.9 ns) were studied by femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. Nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy indicated that the BDP-localized triplet state was exceptionally long-lived (602 µs). Using pulsed laser excited time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, the SOCT-ISC mechanism was confirmed, and we show that the electron spin polarization of the triplet state is highly dependent on the mutual orientation of the donor and acceptor. The dyads were used as triplet photosensitizers for triplet–triplet-annihilation (TTA) upconversion, and the quantum yield is up to 6.7%. TTA-based delayed fluorescence was observed for the dyads (τDF = 41.5 µs). The dyads were also used as potent photodynamic therapy reagents (light toxicity of IC50 = 0.1 µM and dark toxicity of IC50 = 70.8 µM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conjugated polymers with high charge mobilities have drawn increasing attention in organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs) in recent years. However, OFETs of conjugated polymers with high mobility and good device stability remain a challenge. In this article, we report a hyperbranched polymer approach to improve the charge mobility and device stability. Three hyperbranched diketopyrrolopyrrole‐based polymers were designed and synthesized via linear alkyl side‐chain linkers. The results show that 2D topological hyperbranched polymers form stable thin film microstructures, and thus improve the device stability, since the conjugated moiety is interconnected by linear alkyl chain. Besides, the incorporation of linear alkyl chain instead of branching alkyl one reduce steric hindrance, and improve the microstructure ordering as well as the charge mobility. Bar‐coated OFETs result demonstrates that the devices mobilities and operational stabilities (bias stability and bending resistance) are both improved. All these indicate that hyperbranched polymer is a potential candidate for future application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has consistently demonstrated that learners are strikingly poor at metacognitively monitoring their learning and comprehension of texts. The aim of the present meta-analysis is to explore three important questions about metacomprehension: (a) To what extent can people accurately discriminate well-learned texts from less well learned ones? (b) What are the (meta)cognitive causes of poor metacomprehension accuracy? and (c) What interventions improve the accuracy of metacomprehension judgments? In total, the meta-analysis integrated 502 effects and data from 15,889 participants across 115 studies to assess these questions. The results showed a weighted mean correlation of.178 for nonintervention effects. Many interventions were shown to be effective, such as delayed summary writing and delayed keyword generation. In addition, combining different interventions tended to generate additive benefits. The findings support the transfer-appropriate monitoring account, the situation model framework, and the poor-comprehension theory as explanations for why metacomprehension accuracy is typically poor. Practical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional methods of machine learning have been widely used to generate spatial prediction models because such methods can adaptively learn the mapping relationships among spatial data with limited prior knowledge. However, the direct application of these methods to build a global model without considering spatial heterogeneity cannot accurately describe the local relationships among spatial variables, which might lead to inaccurate predictions. To avoid these shortcomings, we have presented a unified framework for handling spatial heterogeneity by incorporating the geographically weighted scheme into machine learning methods. The proposed framework has the potential to extend the existing models of machine learning for analysing heterogeneous spatial data. Furthermore, geographically weighted support vector regression (GWSVR) has been introduced as an implementation of the proposed framework. Experimental studies on environmental datasets were used to test the ability of model predictions. The results show that the mean absolute percentage error, normalized mean square error, and relative error percentage of the GWSVR model are 0.436, 0.903, and 0.558, respectively, when analysing soil metal chromium (Cr) concentrations and 0.221, 0.287, and 0.206, respectively, when predicting PM2.5 concentrations; these values are lower than those obtained using support vector regression, geographically weighted regression (GWR), and GWR-kriging models. These case studies have proved the validity and feasibility of the proposed framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have found that making judgments of learning (JOLs) for verbal materials changes memory itself, a form of reactivity effect on memory. The current study explores the reactivity effect on visual (image) memory and tests the potential role of enhanced learning engagement in this effect. Experiment 1 employed object image pairs as stimuli and observed a positive reactivity effect on memory for visual details. Experiment 2 conceptually replicated this positive reactivity effect using pairs of scene images. Experiment 3 introduced mind wandering (MW) probes to measure participants' attentional state (learning engagement) and observed that making JOLs significantly reduced MW. More importantly, reduced MW mediated the reactivity effect. Lastly, Experiment 4 found that a manipulation that heightened learning motivation decreased the reactivity effect. Overall, the current study provides the first demonstration of the reactivity effect on visual memory, as well as support for the enhanced learning engagement explanation. Practical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Reconstruction plates (RPs) are commonly used in scapular neck fractures (SNFs): however, RPs have many defects. In this study, we evaluated a newly designed scapular neck anatomical locking compression plate (SNALCP). Methods: An SNF finite element model (Miller-type IIB) was constructed. Plates were subsequently implanted into the scapula and fixed with screws that were grouped according to the plate used: SNALCP (A) and RP (B). Finally, loads were applied to record and analyze performance. Results: Under lateral, anteroposterior, and vertical compression loads, the maximum von Mises stresses on the scapula and implants of group A were smaller than those of group B. There were some differences in stress distribution between the two groups. Conclusions: SNALCP can effectively reduce the stress of the scapula and implant, making stress distribution more uniform and continuous, and has mechanical conduction advantages. Compared to RP, it provides improved stability and more reliable fixation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Group blind signature (GBS) is the combination of group signature and blind signature (BS) concepts [1]. GBS allows any member of the group to generate a valid signature on behalf of the group, and the signer as a group member has no knowledge of the specific content of the message he or she is signing. In order to improve the suitability of group blind signatures for practical applications, it is significant to study GBS schemes that can flexibly add and remove group members. Therefore, in this article, we will propose a dynamic quantum group blind signature (QGBS) scheme based on four-particle cluster states. Cluster states are characterized by maximum connectivity and continuous entanglement. Some quantum technologies provide unconditional security for our scheme, such as quantum one-time pad (QOTP) and quantum key distribution protocol. If there is a dispute about who generated the signature, our scheme can identify the signer by opening the signature. And through security analysis, it can verify that our newly designed scheme satisfies the security characteristics of QGBS scheme as well as resists common attack. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New nanotechnologies for imaging molecules are widely being applied to visualize the expression of specific molecules (e.g., ions, biomarkers) for disease diagnosis. Among various nanoplatforms, nanozymes, which exhibit enzyme-like catalytic activities in vivo, have gained tremendously increasing attention in molecular imaging due to their unique properties such as diverse enzyme-mimicking activities, excellent biocompatibility, ease of surface tenability, and low cost. In addition, by integrating different nanoparticles with superparamagnetic, photoacoustic, fluorescence, and photothermal properties, the nanoenzymes are able to increase the imaging sensitivity and accuracy for better understanding the complexity and the biological process of disease. Moreover, these functions encourage the utilization of nanozymes as therapeutic agents to assist in treatment. In this review, we focus on the applications of nanozymes in molecular imaging and discuss the use of peroxidase (POD), oxidase (OXD), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) with different imaging modalities. Further, the applications of nanozymes for cancer treatment, bacterial infection, and inflammation image-guided therapy are discussed. Overall, this review aims to provide a complete reference for research in the interdisciplinary fields of nanotechnology and molecular imaging to promote the advancement and clinical translation of novel biomimetic nanozymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the curing process of carbon fiber/epoxy prepreg with autoclave, two kinds of unidirectional carbon fiber laminates with in-plane and out-of-plane waviness were fabricated by rolling prefabricated out-of-plane waviness and inserting prepreg strip, respectively. Fiber waviness defects in composites were characterized by waviness ratio. The specimens containing fiber waviness were successfully prepared with almost the same fiber content and low porosity. The influences of fiber waviness with different waviness ratio on tensile, compressive, and charpy impact properties of unidirectional laminates were studied, and the corresponding failure modes were observed. The mechanism of the effects of fiber waviness on mechanical properties was discussed. The experimental results show that tensile property and compressive property decrease by in-plane buckling and out-of-plane wrinkling, especially with large waviness ratio. Reduction of 33.0% of compressive strength with out-of-plane wrinkling is seen in the case of 0.037 waviness ratio, while 25.4% reduction is obtained for in-plane buckling under 0.038 waviness ratio. Charpy impact strength decreases by in-plane buckling, whereas increases by out-of-plane wrinkling. Failure morphologies of various specimens are changed by fiber waviness, which are consistent with the mechanical degradation. In addition, there are some differences on the sensitivity of mechanical properties to different types of fiber waviness. Tensile strength is more sensitive to in-plane buckling in comparison with out-of-plane wrinkling, and compressive property is more sensitive to out-of-plane wrinkling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal nanoclusters, with dimensions between atomic and nanoparticles, have attracted a great deal of attention due to their significantly unusual properties. Water-soluble palladium nanoclusters (Pd NCs) with blue-green fluorescence were synthesized by a water bath heating method, with methionine as a stabilizer and ascorbic acid as a reducing agent. We investigated the optimal synthesis conditions, stability, and pH response of the obtained products in detail. The synthesized materials were characterized by ultraviolet-absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. These experimental results showed that the Pd NCs had a small size of ~1.91 nm, with a uniform size distribution. Additionally, the Pd NCs emitted blue-green fluorescence under ultraviolet light with a quantum yield of 5.47%. Notably, both stabilizers and reducing agents used in this synthesis method are nutrients for humans, non-toxic, and harmless. This method could be viewed as a biologically friendly and green way of preparing fluorescent metal nanoclusters. The as-prepared fluorescent Pd NCs also possessed excellent fluorescence detection ability and were very sensitive to low concentrations of hemoglobin, with a linear response in the range of 0.25–3.5 μM and a detection limit of 50 nM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium methoxide ( CH 3 ONa) with glycerol pretreatment (CWGP) was performed to improve the enzymatic digestibility of sugarcane bagasse (SCB). Response surface methodology was utilized to optimize the CWGP parameters for pretreating SCB from the perspective of total fermentable sugar yield (TFSY) and total fermentable sugar concentration (TFSC). Under the optimal CWGP conditions, 0.5666 g/g of TFSY (0.82% CH 3 ONa, 1.11 h, 150 °C) and 17.75 g/L of TFSC (0.87% CH 3 ONa, 1.38 h, 149.27 °C) were achieved, corresponding to delignification of 79.05% and 79.34%, respectively. Compared the pretreatment using glycerol or CH 3 ONa alone, the CWGP has significant synergies to enhance the enzymatic efficiency of SCB. The physical and chemical characteristics of untreated and pretreated SCBs were analyzed using FT-IR, XRD, and SEM, and the results suggest that CWGP significantly increased the susceptibility of the substrates to enzymatic digestibility. Ultimately, CWGP might be a prospective candidate for the pretreatment process of enzyme-based lignocellulosic biorefineries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insecticide resistance has become an increasingly serious challenge for agriculture in the world. To reveal the mechanisms of insecticide resistance, majority of studies have been carried out on the insensitivity of insecticide targets and the metabolism of insecticides. However, the mechanism of the insecticide penetration resistance in insects remains unclear. This study aimed to reveal the mechanism underlying the penetration resistance of Drosophila larvae to insecticide avermectin (AVM). Levels of intercellular junction proteins (IJPs) in the larvae were determined by Western blotting analysis and immunofluorescence assay. The result showed that the expression of IJPs septate junction and adherens junction proteins increased in the AVM-resistant insects compared with those in the AVM-susceptible ones, and the upregulation of the IJPs was mediated by the activation of protein kinase C (PKC) pathway. That AVM induced the activation of PKC was found not only in the Drosophila larvae but also in Drosophila S2 cells. These findings revealed that AVM could activate PKC pathway in Drosophila larvae, which mediated the upregulation of the IJPs and then led to the resistance to AVM, suggesting that the chemicals that can disrupt PKC activation may potentially be used to circumvent the resistance to AVM in insects. [Display omitted] • The junction proteins are upregulated in avermectin-resistant Drosophila. • Upregulation of junction proteins leads to resistance of Drosophila to avermectin. • PKC activation mediates the upregulation of the junction proteins in the insects. • Avermectin induces the activation of PKCs and the upregulation of junction proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Yidun terrane which is located at the north of the Tethyan tectonic domain of Eastern Tibet, is an essential place for understanding the evolution of the Garze-Litang ocean and the eastern Tethys. In this study, we focus on the northern Yidun terrane, where a set of igneous-sedimentary rock assemblage is exposed, mainly consists of phyllites, siliceous rocks, limestones and mafic rocks composed of meta-gabbros and meta-basalts. Three stages of structural deformation were widely developed in this area. D1 is represented by thrust faults along NW-trending, NW/NNW-dipping foliation, rootless isoclinal folds with NW-trending axial plane and interlayer cleavages, all of which correspond to those in the Garze-Litang suture zone to the west. D2 and D3 is represented by N-S trending normal faults and E -W trending strike-slip faults plus NE-trending reverse faults, respectively. One gabbro yields a weighted U Pb zircon age of 256 ± 6.2 Ma, which is later than the initial expanding timing of the Garze-Litang oceanic basin but corresponds to the volcanic activity timing (ca. 260 Ma) of the Emeishan igneous province to the east. The gabbros and basalts show alkaline affinities and have variably low contents of SiO 2 (41.08–52.45 wt%) and variably high contents of MgO (3.17–14.62 wt%), Fe 2 O 3 (7.17–16.57 wt%), TiO 2 (1.12–3.93 wt%), Na 2 O (0.58–4.39 wt%) and K 2 O (0.07–2.08 wt%). They are characterized by enrichment of light rare earth elements (REEs), positive Ba anomalies, negative Zr and Hf anomalies with no obvious negative Nb and Ta anomalies, which are geochemically similar to those of typical ocean island basalt (OIB) and also show great similarity with the Emeishan flood basalts. It is suggested that their genesis was probably related to the Emeishan igneous activity during the late Permian. Our study indicates that the opening of the Garze-Litang ocean could not have been directly related to the Emeishan mantle plume, although, it has widely affected the eastern Paleo-Tethys tectonic domain during late Permian. • Three stages of structural deformation are identified in the northern margin of Yidun terrane. • Mafic rocks in the northern Yidun terrane dated at ca. 256 Ma were related to the Emeishan igneous activity. • The opening of the Garze-Litang ocean could not have been directly related to the Emeishan mantle plume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The level of phospholipid peroxidation in spinal cord is increased in ALS mouse model. • Anti-phospholipid peroxidation treatment reduces spinal motor neuron loss in ALS mice. • The expressions of GPX4 are decreased in lumbar spinal cords of ALS mice and patients. • Knockdown of Gpx4 results in loss of spinal motor neurons and abnormal neuromuscular connections. • Intrathecal injection of GPX4 -AAV to overexpress GPX4 alleviates the pathological phenomenon of ALS. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by oxidative stress that triggers motor neurons loss in the brain and spinal cord. However, the mechanisms underlying the exact role of oxidative stress in ALS-associated neural degeneration are not definitively established. Oxidative stress-generated phospholipid peroxides are known to have extensive physiological and pathological consequences to tissues. Here, we discovered that the deficiency of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), an essential antioxidant peroxidase, led to the accumulation of phospholipid peroxides and resulted in a loss of motor neurons in spinal cords of ALS mice. Mutant human SOD1 G93A transgenic mice were intrathecally injected with neuron-targeted adeno-associated virus (AAV) expressing GPX4 (GPX4 -AAV) or phospholipid peroxidation inhibitor, ferrostatin-1. The results showed that impaired motor performance and neural loss induced by SOD1 G93A toxicity in the lumbar spine were substantially alleviated by ferrostatin-1 treatment and AAV-mediated GPX4 delivery. In addition, the denervation of neuron-muscle junction and spinal atrophy in ALS mice were rescued by neural GPX4 overexpression, suggesting that GPX4 is essential for the motor neural maintenance and function. In comparison, conditional knockdown of Gpx4 in the spinal cords of Gpx4 fl/fl mice triggered an obvious increase of phospholipid peroxides and the occurrence of ALS-like motor phenotype. Altogether, our findings underscore the importance of GPX4 in maintaining phospholipid redox homeostasis in the spinal cord and presents GPX4 as an attractive therapeutic target for ALS treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study comprises two meta-analyses conducted to investigate relations between socioeconomic status (SES) and academic achievement, with a focus on macro-level, micro-level, and methodological moderating variables in primary and secondary education. The first meta-analysis is based on 326 empirical studies with 949,699 students from 47 countries and areas, and the second is based on three international large-scale assessments (i.e., PISA, TIMSS, and PIRLS) with 1230 independent samples of 5,095,283 students from 105 countries and areas. We found moderate correlations between SES and academic achievement across the world, rs =.22 ~.28. Moderation analyses revealed that (a) these relations have strengthened since the 1990s; (b) GDP per capita and economic equality did not affect the relations; (c) higher net enrollment ratio and longer duration of compulsory education did not weaken these relations; (d) the relations stayed stable or even strengthened across grades in concurrent and longitudinal designs. Taken together, our findings suggest that educational expansion that focuses on increasing educational opportunities does not seem to reduce inequalities in academic outcomes between high- and low-SES school children in educational systems on the national level. Quality indicators for educational expansion, however, should be considered in setting educational policy to achieve inclusive, equitable education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Internet search engines, which have powerful search/sort functions and ease of use features, have become an indispensable tool for many individuals. The current study is to test whether the short-term Internet search training can make people more dependent on it. Thirty-one subjects out of forty subjects completed the search training study which included a pre-test, a six-day’s training of Internet search, and a post-test. During the pre- and post- tests, subjects were asked to search online the answers to 40 unusual questions, remember the answers and recall them in the scanner. Un-learned questions were randomly presented at the recalling stage in order to elicited search impulse. Comparing to the pre-test, subjects in the post-test reported higher impulse to use search engines to answer un-learned questions. Consistently, subjects showed higher brain activations in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex in the post-test than in the pre-test. In addition, there were significant positive correlations self-reported search impulse and brain responses in the frontal areas. The results suggest that a simple six-day’s Internet search training can make people dependent on the search tools when facing unknown issues. People are easily dependent on the Internet search engines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature is an important environmental stressor that affects the metabolism and immunity of Chinese mitten crab. In this study, we investigated immune-related enzyme activity, metabolism-related substances in haemolymph and intestinal microbiota responses of Eriocheir sinensis assigned to the control (24 °C) and heat stress (32 °C) groups. Based on the data obtained, the levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase in the heat stress group exhibited a trend of increasing first and then decreasing, and all peaked at 12 h or 24 h. The metabolism-related substances in the haemolymph, including glucose, total cholesterol, and total protein, all showed significant differences between the control and heat stress groups from the mid to late period (P < 0.05). Under heat stress, the levels of alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase were both significantly higher than those of the control group from 12 h to 24 h and significantly lower at 72 h and 96 h (P < 0.05). The T-AOC of the heat stress group was significantly lower than that of the control group from 48 h to 96 h (P < 0.05). High-throughput 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequencing revealed that heat stress altered the composition of intestinal microbes of Eriocheir sinensis. Specifically, the abundance of the beneficial bacteria Candidatus , Hepatoplasma and Marinifilum decreased significantly, while the abundance of the pathogenic bacteria Rhodococcus and Morganella increased significantly (P < 0.05). The results revealed that acute heat stress exposure affected immune function and intestinal microbial community in E. sinensis. This work can help to uncover the mechanisms of heat stress responses in this species. • Metabolic substances content of E. sinensis was disturbed after heat exposure stress. • Heat exposure stress significantly affected immune enzymes activities of E. sinensis. • Heat exposure stress altered the gut microbial community of E. sinensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grain boundary diffusion of TbF3 can improve the magnetic properties and thermal stability of NdFeB sintered magnets. The reducing agent CaH2 can effectively release reducing gas at high temperature, improve the atmosphere in the furnace. In this paper, the diffusion behavior and coercivity enhancement by printing (TbF3 + CaH2) pastes on the sintered NdFeB magnets was investigated. After diffusion, the coercivity increased rapidly from 15.7 to 28.4 kOe. Tb atoms diffuse first to the surface and then to the interior of the magnet, forming a network of Tb-rich shells around the Nd2Fe14B grains. The higher magnetic crystal anisotropy (Nd,Tb)2Fe14B phase determines the coercivity enhancement. This analysis was confirmed by FE-SEM and EDS observations of the microstructure and element distribution of the magnet. In addition, the effect of grain boundary diffusion on the remanence and thermal stability of the magnet was also studied. The results of this study have certain guiding significance for the preparation of sintered NdFeB magnets with high coercivity by diffusion technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]