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This paper introduces an intelligent controlled cleaning tool for picking up underwater floating garbage. An inhalation-type garbage cleaning robot is designed not only to improve the efficiency of garbage collection but also to simplify the controller design. A fuzzy-based PID control strategy is proposed for the position control of the designed cleaning robot. At first, the dynamic model of the robot is built with its parameters estimated by empirical formulas and Fluent software. Then, a fuzzy logic controller is designed to achieve self-adjustment of the PID parameters according to the position error and error change ratio of the robot. On this basis, an incremental PID control technique integrated with the PID parameters given by the fuzzy controller is presented. Furthermore, the cascade PID and fuzzy logic control algorithms for the designed cleaning robot are also developed. Finally, numerical simulations are conducted for comparison with the cascade PID control, the fuzzy logic control, and the proposed fuzzy-based PID control. The simulation results are discussed from different perspectives, showing that the adaptability, robustness, and overall control performance of the robot under the fuzzy-based incremental PID control are better than those of the fuzzy logic control and the cascade PID control.

Currently, low-wind speed shutdown and medium-wind speed inefficiency are the main problems plaguing wind turbines. This paper presents a wind turbine with a real-time adaptive regulation (RAR) system. It includes a sensor subsystem, a variable structure generator, and mechanical centrifugal modules. The above components collaborate for adaptive control of the wind turbine. The sensor subsystem is used to obtain the wind speed and generator speed in real time. Using a fuzzy control method, the optimal number of accessed coils in the variable structure generator can be determined. The mechanical centrifugal modules realize the regulation process through centrifugal force. Theoretical analysis and simulation of the energy conversion efficiency are executed. A physical prototype is machined. Performance experiments are conducted on the prototype. The results show that the RAR system expanded the operating range of wind turbine by 32%. It also improved the energy conversion efficiency by up to 36%. Compared with normal wind turbines, the RAR wind turbine solves the problems of low-wind speed shutdown and medium-wind speed inefficiency. The combination of a fuzzy control method and mechanical centrifugal modules proposed in this paper provides an effective solution for improving energy utilization in large-scale wind farms.

The advancement of artificial intelligence has significantly enhanced the role of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) in various ocean engineering applications. Designing a controller for USV systems that ensures stability, high precision, and rapid convergence remains a complex challenge in intelligent control. In this paper, we begin by developing two high-order backward finite difference formulas (BFDFs) with a second-order truncation error. These formulas are used to approximate the second and third derivatives of smooth functions. Building on these innovative BFDFs, we introduce a second-order tracking controller utilizing a multiple zeroing neural network (ZNN) model with time delay to address the tracking control of the wave-adaptive modular vessel’s vertical motion dynamics (WAMV-VMD) system. The consistency of the proposed tracking controller is established through ordinary differential equation theory. We conduct a series of simulations, and the results demonstrate the effectiveness and advantages of our higher-order tracking controller based on the multiple ZNN model with time delay in managing the tracking control challenges of the WAMV-VMD system.

Background: Irritability, defined as proneness to anger, can reach a pathological extent. It is a defining symptom of disruptive mood dysregulation disorder and one of the most common reasons youths present for psychiatric evaluation and care. Aberrant responses to frustrative nonreward (FNR), the response to omission of expected reward, are central to the pathophysiology of irritability. FNR is a translational construct to study irritability across species. The development of preclinical FNR models would advance mechanistic studies of the important and relatively understudied clinical phenomenon of irritability. Methods: We used FNR as a conceptual framework to develop a novel mouse behavioral paradigm named alternate poking reward omission. Juvenile mice were exposed to alternate poking reward omission and then examined with a battery of behavioral tests to determine the behavioral effect of FNR. Results: FNR increased locomotion and aggression regardless of sex. These behavioral changes elicited by FNR resemble the symptoms observed in youth with severe irritability. FNR had no effect on anxiety-like, depression-like, or nonaggressive social behaviors. Conclusions: Our alternate poking reward omission paradigm effectively elevated aggression and locomotion in juvenile mice. These frustration effects are directly related to behavioral symptoms of youth with severe irritability. Our novel behavioral paradigm lays the groundwork for further mechanistic studies of frustration and irritability in rodents.

Abstract Background There is no evidence supporting the feasibility of laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) compared to open pancreatoduodenectomy (OPD) following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Methods The clinical data of consecutive patients with borderline resectable PDAC who received NACT and underwent either LPD or OPD between January 2020 and December 2022 at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center was prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed. Results The analysis included 57 patients in the OPD group and 20 in the LPD group. Following NACT, the LPD group exhibited a higher median CA19-9 decrease rate compared to the OPD group (85.3% vs. 66.9%, P = 0.042). Furthermore, 3 anatomically borderline PDACs in the LPD group and 5 in the OPD group were downstaged into resectable status (30.0% vs. 12.3%, P = 0.069). According to RECIST criteria, 51 (66.2%) patients in the entire cohort were evaluated as having stable disease. The median operation time for the LPD group was longer than the OPD group (419 vs. 325 min, P 3 cm before NACT (HR 2.185) and poor tumor differentiation (HR 1.805) were independent risk factors for recurrence-free survival, and a decrease rate of CA19-9 > 70% (OR 0.309) was a protective factor for early tumor recurrence and overall survival. Conclusions LPD for PDAC following NACT is feasible and oncologically equivalent to OPD. Effective control of CA19-9 levels is beneficial in reducing early tumor recurrence and improving overall survival.

Abstract Primary subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a type of acute stroke, accounting for approximately 10% of cases, with high disability and mortality rate. Early brain injury (EBI) is a critical factor in determining SAH mortality; however, there are no effective treatment interventions for EBI. Based on our results, the transmission of cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP) from neurons to microglia is a key molecular event that triggers type I interferon response, amplifies neuroinflammation, and leads to neuronal apoptosis. Abnormal intracytoplasmic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is the initiating factor of the cGAS-cGAMP-STING signaling axis. Overall, the cGAS-cGAMP-STING signaling axis is closely associated with neuroinflammation after subarachnoid hemorrhage. Targeting cGAS triggered by cytoplasmic mtDNA may be useful for comprehensive clinical treatment of patients after SAH. Further studies targeting cGAS-specific antagonists for treating SAH are warranted. Video Abstract

Abstract Timed-release encryption (TRE) is a cryptographic primitive that can control the decryption time and has significant application value in time-sensitive scenarios. To solve the reliability issue of nodes in existing TRE anonymous interaction schemes, we propose a blockchain-based TRE protocol for anonymous query time trapdoors. In our protocol, the recipient divides the encrypted trapdoor request information into n ciphertext fragments using secret sharing technology near the decryption time, and employs the idea of onion routing to perform layer-by-layer encryption, creating onion-type data transmitted through middlemen selected from the smart contract. After receiving the ciphertext fragments, the time server integrates them to obtain the trapdoor request information and returns the corresponding time trapdoor to the recipient. This allows the recipient to query any time trapdoor anonymously. Our protocol provides a normative design for the smart contract and specific constraints on the participants’ behavior. Compared with the related anonymous query trapdoor schemes, our protocol improves the probability of successful queries. Security analysis shows that our protocol can resist release-ahead attack, interruption attack, eavesdropping attack, and replacement attack. Performance analysis shows that our protocol outperforms related protocols regarding anonymity, efficiency, and flexibility, achieving highly efficient anonymous interactions. Finally, we conducted an experiment in the Ethereum Rinkeby test network. For the settings of ciphertext fragment number $$n=3$$ n = 3 and ciphertext fragment threshold $$t=2$$ t = 2 , the gas consumption for a user to execute the contract was $5.66, which was higher than the contract cost of related schemes, but the contract execution cost was within an acceptable range.

Abstract Background With the rapid development of China’s chemical industry, although researchers have developed many methods in the field of chemical safety, the situation of chemical safety in China is still not optimistic. How to prevent accidents has always been the focus of scholars’ attention. Methods Based on the characteristics of chemical enterprises and the Heinrich accident triangle, this paper developed the organizational-level accident triangle, which divides accidents into group-level, unit-level, and workshop-level accidents. Based on 484 accident records of a large chemical enterprise in China, the Spearman correlation coefficient was used to analyze the rationality of accident classification and the occurrence rules of accidents at different levels. In addition, this paper used TF-IDF and K-means algorithms to extract keywords and perform text clustering analysis for accidents at different levels based on accident classification. The risk factors of each accident cluster were further analyzed, and improvement measures were proposed for the sample enterprises. Results The results show that reducing unit-level accidents can prevent group-level accidents. The accidents of the sample enterprises are mainly personal injury accidents, production accidents, environmental pollution accidents, and quality accidents. The leading causes of personal injury accidents are employees’ unsafe behaviors, such as poor safety awareness, non-standard operation, illegal operation, untimely communication, etc. The leading causes of production accidents, environmental pollution accidents, and quality accidents include the unsafe state of materials, such as equipment damage, pipeline leakage, short-circuiting, excessive fluctuation of process parameters, etc. Conclusion Compared with the traditional accident classification method, the accident triangle proposed in this paper based on the organizational level dramatically reduces the differences between accidents, helps enterprises quickly identify risk factors, and prevents accidents. This method can effectively prevent accidents and provide helpful guidance for the safety management of chemical enterprises.

Cyperus difformis L. is a troublesome weed in paddy fields and has attracted attention due to its resistance to acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS) inhibitors. It was found that the amino acid mutation in AHAS was the primary cause for the resistance of Cyperus difformis. However, the effect of different mutations on AHAS function is not clear in Cyperus difformis. To confirm the effect of mutations on AHAS function, six biotypes were collected, including Pro197Arg, Pro197Ser, Pro197Leu, Asp376Glu, Trp574Leu and wild type, from Hunan, Anhui, Jiangxi and Jiangsu provinces, China and the function of AHAS was characterized. The AHAS in vitro inhibition assay results indicated that the mutations decreased the sensitivity of AHAS to pyrazosulfuron-ethyl, in which the I50 (the half maximal inhibitory concentration) of wild type AHAS was 0.04 μmol L–1 and Asp376Glu, Pro197Leu, Pro197Arg, Pro197Ser and Trp574Leu mutations were 3.98, 11.50, 40.38, 38.19 and 311.43 μmol L–1, respectively. In the determination of enzyme kinetics parameters, the Km and the maximum reaction velocity (Vmax) of the wild type were 5.18 mmol L–1 and 0.12 nmol mg–1 min–1, respectively, and the Km values of AHAS with Asp376Glu, Trp574Leu, Pro197Leu and Pro197Ser mutations were 0.38–0.93 times of the wild type. The Km value of the Pro197Arg mutation was 1.14 times of the wild type, and the Vmax values of the five mutations were 1.17–3.33-fold compared to the wild type. It was found that the mutations increased the affinity of AHAS to the substrate, except for the Pro197Arg mutation. At a concentration of 0.0032–100 mmol L–1 branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), the sensitivity of the other four mutant AHAS biotypes to feedback inhibition decreased, except for the Pro197Arg mutation. This study elucidated the effect of different mutations on AHAS function in Cyperus difformis and provided ideas for further study of resistance development.

Abstract Objective To study the effect of weight-bearing on lumbar facet joint during lateral bending in sitting position. Methods Ten normal healthy people (5 males and 5 females) aged 25–39 years (mean 32 ± 4.29 years) were recruited. CT scanning was used to reconstruct the lumbar spine model, and then dual fluoroscopic image system (DFIS) was used to restore the lumbar facet joint movement in sitting position. Finally, the lumbar facet joint translation distance and rotation angle were measured. Results In L3-4 level, the displacement of right facet joint in Y-axis was the smallest at 0.05 ± 0.40 mm, the displacement of 0 kg left facet joint in X-axis was the largest at 1.68 ± 0.85 mm, and the rotation angle was − 0.57 ± 1.43° to 5.66 ± 2.70° at 10 kg; in L4-5 level, the displacement of right facet joint in Y-axis was the smallest at 10 kg, − 0.13 ± 0.91 mm, and the displacement of left facet joint in Z-axis was the largest at − 2.11 ± 0.88 mm, and the rotation angle was 0.21 ± 2.14° to 7.89 ± 2.59° at 10 kg; in L5-S1 level, the displacement of right facet joint in Y-axis was the smallest at 10 kg, − 0.17 ± 1.10 mm, and the displacement of 0 kg left facet joint in X-axis was the largest at 2.19 ± 2.28 mm, and the rotation angle was 0.03 ± 2.02° to 3.98 ± 0.37°. Conclusion In sitting position, weight-bearing has certain influence on the displacement of facet joints during lumbar lateral bending movement, and this influence occurs simultaneously in translation and rotation; the left and right facet joints are not symmetrical during lumbar lateral bending movement.

The regulation of spermatogonial proliferation and apoptosis is of great significance for maintaining spermatogenesis. The single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis of the testis was performed to identify genes upregulated in spermatogonia. Using scRNA-seq analysis, we identified the spermatogonia upregulated gene origin recognition complex subunit 6 (Orc6), which is involved in DNA replication and cell cycle regulation; its protein expression in the human and mouse testis was detected by western blot and immunofluorescence. To explore the potential function of Orc6 in spermatogonia, the C18-4 cell line was transfected with control or Orc6 siRNA. Subsequently, 5-ethynyl-2-deoxyuridine (EdU) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assays, flow cytometry, and western blot were used to evaluate its effects on proliferation and apoptosis. It was revealed that ORC6 could promote proliferation and inhibit apoptosis of C18-4 cells. Bulk RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis indicated that Orc6 was involved in the activation of wingless/integrated (Wnt)/β-catenin signaling. Western blot revealed that the expression of β-catenin protein and its phosphorylation (Ser675) were significantly decreased when silencing the expression of ORC6. Our findings indicated that Orc6 was upregulated in spermatogonia, whereby it regulated proliferation and apoptosis by activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling.

Abstract Background The polymer-based facile and effective drug carrier approach was developed to treat superficial fungal infected retinopathy infections. Methods Here, biotin-glutathione (B-GHS) functionalized with chitosan grafted proline (CS-g-P) moieties were fabricated with the loading of fluconazole (FLZ) for the treatment of retinopathy. FT-IR and XRD techniques were used to characterize chemical structural and phase changes of the prepared carriers The SEM results show that the sphere morphology with interconnection particle nature. Results The particle diameter was found as ~ 6.5 and ~ 8.6 nm for CS-g-P/B-GHS and FLZ-loaded CS-g-P/B-GHS carriers, respectively. The negative surface charge was found as the values of CS-g-P/B-GHS and FLZ-loaded CS-g-P/B-GHS, such as -20.7 mV and − 32.2 mV, from zeta potential analysis. The in-vitro FLZ releases from the CS-g-P/B-GHS were investigated at pH 7.4 (PBS) as the tear fluid environment, and it was observed at 85.02% of FLZ release in 8 h reaction time. The sustained release was observed, leading to the necessity for prolonged therapeutic effects. The antifungal effect of the carrier was studied by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the percentage inhibition of viable fungal count against Candida albicans, and it observed 81.02% of the zone of inhibition by the FLZ carrier. Conclusion FLZ-loaded CS-g-P/B-GHS carrier could inhibit the biofilm formation in a concentration-dependent inhibition. Hence, A novel FLZ/B-GHS-CS-g-P carrier is a hopeful approach for effectively treating superficial fungal contaminations of the retina region.

The correction of sea surface brightness temperature is crucial for improving the accuracy of sea surface salinity (SSS) retrieval by L-band microwave radiometer. However, the traditional method of correcting brightness temperature using only wind speed and significant wave height (SWH) is inadequate, as sea surface roughness is affected by multiple factors. The Global Navigation Satellite System Reflectometer (GNSS-R) observables, which directly respond to sea surface roughness, have been preliminarily validated in ground-based experiments for their potential to correct sea surface brightness temperature. Compared with ground-based GNSS-R, spaceborne GNSS-R has a wider coverage and can better support the brightness temperature correction of spaceborne L-band microwave radiometers. This article has preliminarily verified the correlation between cyclone GNSS (CYGNSS) observables and brightness temperature variations, and found that the incidence angle of the observable needs to be taken into account when retrieving SSS jointly with soil moisture active and passive (SMAP) and CYGNSS. A multilayer perceptron (MLP) model was established to assess the SSS retrieval performance of SMAP combined with different parameters. The results show that the retrieval performance based on the MLP model is better than that based on the geophysical model function model. Compared with joint wind speed and SWH, joint CYGNSS observables performs better in retrieving SSS. The root mean square error of retrieval salinity decreased from 0.58 to 0.46 psu, and the correlation coefficient (R) increased from 0.83 to 0.90. This provides reference for future joint retrieval of SSS using L-band microwave radiometers and spaceborne GNSS-R.

A novel wireless local area network (WLAN) antenna with dual-polarized and beam-reconfigurable ability is developed for WLAN 2.4 GHz band application. The antenna is composed of a horizontally polarized (HP) antenna and a vertically polarized (VP) antenna. The radiation pattern of the HP antenna can be switched between an omnidirectional beam and four directional beams in the azimuth plane, while the VP antenna can generate an omnidirectional beam and eight directional beams. Then the antenna prototype is fabricated and measured. The directional beam gain of the HP antenna varies from 2.7 to 3 dBi, and that of the VP antenna varies from 2.5 to 3.5 dBi. The maximum difference between the measured and simulated directional beams is 0.9 dBi. The measured and simulated reflection coefficients of the antenna are below −10 dB for all the beam states, and the isolation between the two polarizations is less than −18 dB in the WLAN 2.4 GHz band. The measured results agree well with the simulated ones, showing a good application prospect in WLAN system in the future.

Wooden structures are prone to fire hazards, and studying their combustion properties is vital for their protection. Samples of fresh pine wood (FP) and pine subjected to artificially accelerated aging (treated at 240 circulation) were collected and prepared for analysis. The heat-release rate, smoke production, and yields of carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) from both types of pine were assessed using conical calorimetry to determine their combustion characteristics. A historic building in Xi’an was modeled using PyroSim to serve as a representative case. The experimentally obtained combustion characteristics of the two pine wood types were inputted into the model, and the Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) software was utilized to simulate the development of fire in both newly constructed and aging historic buildings. The results suggest that aging impairs the wood’s combustion properties and increases the susceptibility of pine to ignition. Consequently, this accelerates the spread of fire in wooden structures, leading to a rapid increase in temperature and swift smoke production during fires, thus amplifying the fire risk to historic wooden buildings.

C-S lyase is a crucial enzyme responsible for the formation of sulfur-containing flavor compounds in Lentinula edodes. We investigated the involvement of C-S lyase in the synthesis of ergothioneine (EGT) in L. edodes, a high-producing edible mushroom. Through experimental and computational approaches, we identified Lecsl2, a C-S lyase, as a key enzyme involved in EGT synthesis in L. edodes. We characterized the enzymatic catalytic mechanism of Egt1 and Egt2, the two enzymes primarily catalyzing EGT synthesis in fungi. The results showed that Egt1 interacted with His, SAM, and Cys to form the intermediate product Her-sul, while Egt2, a PLP-dependent enzyme, cleaved the C-S bond on Her-sul to produce EGT. However, our findings suggested that Egt2 in L. edodes might not form a covalent bond with PLP, unlike the previously reported catalytic mechanism of Egt2 involving covalent catalysis. The study provided new insights into the synthesis pathway of EGT in L. edodes and highlighted the need for further investigation into the catalytic mechanism of Egt2 in this species.

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are being pursued for applications in the maritime industry to meet stringent ship emissions regulations. Further basic research is needed to improve the performance of PEMFCs in marine environments. Assembly stress compresses the gas diffusion layer (GDL) beneath the ribs, significantly altering its pore structure and internal transport properties. Accurate evaluation of the PEMFC cathode’s electrochemical performance at the pore scale is critical. This study employs a three-dimensional multicomponent gas transport and electrochemical reaction lattice Boltzmann model to explore the complex interplay between GDL compression and factors such as overpotential, pressure differential, porosity, and porosity gradient on PEMFC performance. The findings indicate that compression accentuates the reduction in oxygen concentration along the flow path and diminishes the minimum current density. Furthermore, compression exacerbates the reduction in current density under varying pressure conditions. Increased local porosity near the catalyst layer (CL) enhances oxygen accessibility and water vapor exclusion, thereby elevating the mean current density. Sensitivity analysis reveals a hierarchy of impact on mean current density, ranked from most to least significant: overpotential, porosity, compression, porosity gradient, and pressure difference. These insights into the multicomponent gas transfer dynamics within compressed GDLs inform strategic structural design enhancements for optimized performance.

The Hebel-Slichter coherence peak, observed in the spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T_{1} just below the critical temperature T_{c}, serves as a crucial experimental validation of the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer pairing symmetry in conventional superconductors. However, no coherence peak in 1/T_{1} has been observed in unconventional superconductors like cuprates. In this study, an unconventional coherence peak is identified for the first time using nuclear quadrupole resonance on YBa_{2}Cu_{4}O_{8}, pointing to a distinctive pairing symmetry. The spin-lattice relaxation rate in nuclear quadrupole resonance and nuclear magnetic resonance with nuclear spin I>1/2 comprises the magnetic relaxation rate 1/T_{1}^{mag}, which probes magnetic fluctuations, and the quadrupole relaxation rate 1/T_{1}^{quad}, which probes charge fluctuations. By utilizing ^{63}Cu and ^{65}Cu isotopes, we successfully distinguish 1/T_{1}^{mag} and 1/T_{1}^{quad} of YBa_{2}Cu_{4}O_{8} and reveal the presence of the coherence peak in 1/T_{1}^{quad} but not in 1/T_{1}^{mag}, in contrast to conventional superconductors. Our finding demonstrates that unconventional superconductors do not exhibit a coherence peak in 1/T_{1} when the relaxation is due to fluctuations of the hyperfine field. Conversely, a coherence peak is expected when the relaxation is caused by electric field gradient fluctuations, due to the different coherence factors between charge and magnetic fluctuations. Our successful measurements of 1/T_{1} for the chains of YBa_{2}Cu_{4}O_{8} suggest that, should the conditions for predominant quadrupole relaxation be satisfied, this phenomenon could provide a novel approach to exploring the unconventional nature of the pairing mechanism in other superconductors.

In this study, an aptamer biosensor for detecting lactoferrin (LF) was developed using piezoelectric quartz-induced bond rupture sensing technology. The thiol-modified aptamer I was immobilized on the gold electrode surface of the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) through an Au-S bond to specifically bind LF. It was then combined with aptamer–magnetic beads to amplify the mass signal. The peak excitation voltage was 8 V at the resonance frequency for the 60 MHz gold-plated quartz crystal. When the molecular bond cracking process occurred, the aptamer–magnetic beads combined on the surface of the piezoelectric quartz were removed, which resulted in an increase in quartz crystal resonance frequency. Therefore, the specific detection of LF can be realized. Under optimized experimental conditions, the linear range for LF was 10–500 ng/mL, the detection limit (3σ) was 8.2 ng/mL, and the sample recoveries for actual milk powder samples ranged from 97.2% to 106.0%. Compared with conventional QCM sensing technology, the signal acquisition process of this sensing method is simple, fast, and easy to operate.

In order to study the influence of the difference between the center of mass and shear center position of the main girder cross-section on the coupled vibration response of a vehicle–bridge, and in accordance with the theory of finite element analysis, we derive the stiffness matrix of the spatial girder unit with the main girder cross-section mass–shear center heterocentricity, use finite element software to establish a bridge model, select a three-axle heavy vehicle, and solve the coupled vibration equation of the vehicle–bridge by the separation method. A large-span self-anchored suspension bridge is taken as the research object, and a self-programming program is used to calculate and analyze the influence of the main girder cross-section mass–shear center heterocentricity, driving lanes, and speed on the coupled vibration response of the vehicle–bridge. The results show the following: the main girder cross-section mass–shear center heterocentricity has a significant effect on the transverse dynamic response of the bridge, and the peak values of transverse displacement and acceleration in the main span are increased by about 87% and 136%; the outward shift of lanes has a greater effect on the transverse dynamic response of the bridge; and the vibration response of the bridge while considering mass–shear center heterocentricity is more affected under different vehicle speeds.

Traditional manual or semi-mechanized pesticide spraying methods often suffer from issues such as redundant coverage and cumbersome operational steps, which fail to meet current pest and disease control requirements. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop an efficient pest control technology system. This paper builds upon the Deep Q-Network algorithm by integrating the Bi-directional Long Short-Term Memory structure to propose the BL-DQN algorithm. Based on this, a path planning framework for pest and disease control using agricultural drones is designed. This framework comprises four modules: remote sensing image acquisition via the Google Earth platform, task area segmentation using a deep learning U-Net model, rasterized environmental map creation, and coverage path planning. The goal is to enhance the efficiency and safety of pesticide application by drones in complex agricultural environments. Through simulation experiments, the BL-DQN algorithm achieved a 41.68% improvement in coverage compared with the traditional DQN algorithm. The repeat coverage rate for BL-DQN was 5.56%, which is lower than the 9.78% achieved by the DQN algorithm and the 31.29% of the Depth-First Search (DFS) algorithm. Additionally, the number of steps required by BL-DQN was only 80.1% of that of the DFS algorithm. In terms of target point guidance, the BL-DQN algorithm also outperformed both DQN and DFS, demonstrating superior performance.

S-scheme Fe2O3/g–C3N4 heterojunctions were successfully fabricated by the ultrasonic assistance method to remove norfloxacin (NOR) under visible light irradiation. The synthesized catalysts were well studied through various techniques. The obtained Fe2O3/g–C3N4 heterojunctions exhibited an optimal photocatalytic degradation of 94.7% for NOR, which was 1.67 and 1.28 times higher than using Fe2O3 and g–C3N4 alone, respectively. In addition, the kinetic constant of NOR removal with Fe2O3/g–C3N4 composites was about 0.6631 h−1, and NOR photo-deegradation was still 86.7% after four cycles. The enhanced photocatalytic activity may be mainly attributed to the formation of S-scheme Fe2O3/g–C3N4 heterojunctions with built-in electric fields, which were beneficial to the separation and transfer of photostimulated charge carriers. Furthermore, a possible photo-degradation mechanism of NOR for S-scheme Fe2O3/g–C3N4 heterojunctions is described.

Tunable filters have many potential applications in diverse fields, including high-capacity communications, dynamic beam shaping and spectral imaging. Although providing a high-performance solution for actively tunable devices, metasurface combined with tunable materials faces the great challenges of limited tuning range and modulation depth. Here, we propose a far-infrared tunable band-stop filter based on Fabry-Perot (FP) resonators and graphene surface plasmons. By switching the wavelength of the critical coupling condition of the filter via the gate voltage applied on graphene, achieving the dynamically tunable band-stop filtering at the central wavelengths from 12.4 μm to 14.1 μm with a modulation depth of more than 99%. Due to the symmetry of the proposed meta-atoms, the filter is insensitive to the polarization direction of the incident light. And it can realize more than 85% filtering efficiency within 60° angle of incidence around the vertical direction. By adjusting the geometry of the meta-atoms structure, it is feasible to move the operational range from the near-infrared to terahertz bands.

To further understand the influence of n-heptane on the ignition process of ammonia, an isotope labeling method was applied in the current investigation to decouple the influence of the chemical effect, the thermal effect, and the effect of O radical from the oxidation of n-heptane on the ignition delay times (IDTs) of ammonia. An analysis of the time evolution of fuel, analysis of the time evolution of temperature, rate of consumption and production (ROP) analysis, and sensitivity analysis were conducted to gain a further understanding of the mechanism of the influence of the chemical effect, the thermal effect, and the effect of O radical on the ignition of ammonia. The results showed that the negative temperature coefficient (NTC) behavior of n-heptane is mitigated by the blending of ammonia, and this mitigated effect of ammonia is mainly due to the chemical effect. The IDTs of ammonia under low and medium temperatures are significantly shortened by the chemical effect at a n-heptane mass fraction of 10%. The promoting effect of the chemical effect decreases when the n-heptane mass fraction increases. The time evolution of n-heptane for NC7H16/ND3-G can be classified into three stages at 800 K, and the rapid consumption stage is mitigated by an increase in temperature. The rapid consumption stage is suppressed by the chemical effect of ammonia, while O radical has a promoting effect on the rapid consumption stage. The chemical effect will enhance the sensitivities of reactions associated with ammonia. As the n-heptane mass fraction increases, the sensitivities of reactions associated with n-heptane are enhanced. Correspondingly, the effect of reactions associated with ammonia is weakened. When the n-heptane mass fraction is 30%, only reactions related to n-heptane have a great influence on the ignition of ammonia/n-heptane fuel blends under the thermal effect + the effect of O radical or only the thermal effect.

Construction of S-scheme heterojunctions can effectively limit the recombination of photogenerated e− and h+, thus improving photocatalytic activity. Therefore, S-scheme ZnO/BiOCl (molar ratio = 1:2) n–n heterojunctions were synthesized via a hydrothermal–hydrolysis combined method in this study. The physical and chemical properties of the ZnO/BiOCl heterojunctions were characterized by XRD, XPS, SEM, TEM, DRS, N2 adsorption–desorption and ESR. Additionally, the photoelectric performances of ZnO/BiOCl heterojunctions were investigated with TPR, M–S plot and EIS. The results show that photocatalytic degradation of NOR by ZnO/BiOCl reached to 94.4% under simulated sunlight, which was 3.7 and 1.6 times greater than that of ZnO and BiOCl, respectively. The enhanced photodegradation ability was attributed to the enhancement of the internal electric field between ZnO and BiOCl, facilitating the active separation of photogenerated electrons and holes. The radical capture experiments and ESR results illustrate that the contribution of reactive species was in descending order of ·OH > h+ > ·O2− and a possible mechanism for the photodegradation of NOR over S-scheme ZnO/BiOCl heterojunctions was proposed.

The response of NO emission at 5.3 μm in the thermosphere to the geomagnetic storm on 24 April 2023 is analyzed using TIMED/SABER observations and TIEGCM simulations. Both the observations and the simulations indicate a significant enhancement in NO emission during the storm. Observations show two peaks around 50°S/N in the altitude–latitude distribution of NO emission and its relative variation. Additionally, the peak emission and enhancement are stronger on the nightside compared with the dayside. The peak altitude in the Northern Hemisphere is approximately 2–10 km higher than in the Southern Hemisphere; meanwhile, the peak altitude on the dayside is approximately 2–8 km higher than that on the nightside. Simulations reveal three peaks around 50°S, the equator, and 65°N, with peak altitudes at higher latitudes being slightly lower than those observed. In general, the altitude–latitude distribution structure of the relative variation in simulated NO emission matches observations, with two peaks around 50°S/N. TIEGCM simulations suggest that the increase in NO density and temperature during a geomagnetic storm can lead to an increase in NO emission at most altitudes and latitudes. Furthermore, the significant enhancement around 50°S/N is mainly attributed to the changes in NO density.

The tree peony (Paeonia ostii), a newly recognized woody oil plant endemic to China, is noteworthy for its high content of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), particularly alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Fatty acid desaturases (FADs) are integral to plant development and defense mechanisms. Nonetheless, there is limited understanding of (i) the molecular mechanism underlying FA biosynthesis in various varieties during seed maturation and (ii) a genome-wide analysis of FAD family genes within the tree peony. We selected three distinct cultivars of tree peony for transcriptome sequencing and performed an extensive analysis of PoFAD genes. In total, 67,542 unigenes were acquired and annotated with six protein databases available to the public. Forty-one differentially expressed genes (DEGs) pertinent to FA biosynthesis and lipid metabolism were identified in this study. Notably, genes such as PoFAD2, PoFAD6, and PoSAD were found to be significantly upregulated, contributing to a differential linolenic acid and linoleic acid content across the three cultivars. Herein, 24 PoFADs from the P. ostii genome were recognized and categorized into four distinct clusters according to their conserved structural features. The distribution of PoFADs was found to be random and uneven across five chromosomes, indicating a complex genomic architecture. Six colinear gene pairs were found between P. ostii and V. vinifera, indicating a potential link due to their close relationship. Together, these findings significantly enhance our knowledge of the molecular processes governing fatty acid synthesis, elucidate the functional roles of the FAD gene family, and lay the groundwork for using genetic manipulation to boost lipid levels.

This study examines the influence of fatigue and defensive pressure on the kinematic parameters of the three-point jump shot in basketball. Fourteen male collegiate basketball players (age: 21 ± 3 years old, body height: 186.35 ± 7.02 cm, body mass: 82.20 ± 10.99) participated in the study. Each participant performed three-point jump shots under four conditions: without defense, with defense, without defense after a fatigue protocol, and with defense after a fatigue protocol. Kinematic data were collected using the Xsens MVN inertial suit system and the OptoJump Next system. The analysis focused on various parameters including jump height, center of mass, release height, shoulder angle, and segment velocities. The repeated-measures ANOVA was used to observe the differences between each shot condition (fatigue, defense). Results indicated significant changes in the kinematic parameters due to both fatigue and defensive pressure. Fatigue notably changed shooting performance, affecting jump height and release mechanics. The defensive pressure altered shooting technique, leading to quicker ball release and higher release points. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating fatigue and defensive scenarios in training, suggesting that coaches develop more targeted training plans to improve performance under conditions of fatigue and defensive pressure.

In recent years, with the increasing consumption of resources around the world, motors in various industries are also urgently added to the ranks of energy saving and emission reduction. High-speed permanent magnet air compressor is widely used in various new energy vehicles. The study on its loss can provide reference for motor manufacturing industry. In this paper, the 27 kW, 90000 r/min high-speed permanent magnet air compressor is studied and analyzed. Taking 0.1 mm thick silicon steel sheet as an example, two different kinds of silicon steel sheet materials were compared and analyzed through the study of stator core loss. At the beginning of the design of the motor, the material was tested, and the good performance, low carbon and environmentally friendly material was used in the design and manufacture of the motor, which played a good role in the stable operation of energy saving and emission reduction and the motor. The high-speed motor uses frequency converter for power supply, and its characteristics of large harmonic content and high frequency lead to the increase of rotor eddy current loss. Therefore, the analytical calculation method of rotor eddy current loss is derived. This method establishes the physical model in polar coordinate system, and considers the sub domains such as air gap, sheath and permanent magnet. A prototype and an experimental platform were made to study the influence of harmonics on the motor. In this paper, the actual output current harmonics with IGBT and SIC as controllers are studied by comparative method. The actual output current is collected and applied as excitation to the 2D finite element model of motor for analysis and calculation. Finally, the influence of motor loss is analyzed comprehensively, which has reference value for each motor manufacturing enterprise.

With the advantages of large transmission capacity, low losses, rapid and flexible power regulation, and the ability to achieve non-synchronous networking, High Voltage Direct Current transmission systems are playing an increasingly important role in long distance transmission and grid interconnection. However, under certain circumstances, such as disturbances in the DC transmission system and sudden load changes, the converter based on PI control in DC transmission system suffer from slow response speed and poor stability. In order to improve the stability of the system and the response speed of DC voltage, this paper proposes an adaptive linear active disturbance rejection control (A-LADRC) method. The method is based on the analysis of the relationship between key bandwidth parameters and output quantities in linear active disturbance rejection control and enables adaptive adjustment of the controller bandwidth parameters for fast regulation of the DC voltage and to improve the stability of the DC voltage in the event of disturbances. Finally, the proposed control method is validated by simulation, and the results show that the proposed control method can effectively improve the response speed and robustness of the DC voltage, which has good practical engineering value.

Accurate prediction of short-term wind power plays an important role in the safe operation and economic dispatch of the power grid. In response to the current single algorithm that cannot further improve the prediction accuracy, this study proposes a combined wind power prediction model based on data processing, signal decomposition, and deep learning. First, outliers in the original data can affect prediction accuracy. This study detects the outliers by the Z-score method and fills them with cubic spline interpolation to ensure the integrity of the data. Second, for the volatility of wind power, the wind power time series is decomposed using the complete ensemble empirical modal decomposition with adaptive noise (CEEMDAN). The component complexity of the decomposition is calculated using the sample entropy (SE), and the components are reconstructed according to the SE size to improve the prediction accuracy. Finally, the traditional convolutional neural network (CNN) structure is improved and the bi-directional long short-term memory (BiLSTM) network is used to further extract the feature links between wind power data and superimpose the prediction results of each reconstructed component to obtain the final wind power prediction value. The experimental results demonstrate that the hybrid model proposed in this study has better performance in terms of prediction performance.

A cost-effective and sustainable noble-metal free catalyst system based on ubiquitously available Mn–Cu bimetallic oxides was served as efficient catalysts for furfural selective oxidation to furancarboxylic acid (FA). Interestingly, Mn2Cu1Ox exhibited an excellent furfural conversion of 99% with quantitative selectivity toward FA. Especially, we demonstrate the significant weakening of the Mn–O bonds with the incorporation of CuO into the Mn–Cu oxides, resulting in an improved OL reactivity of Mn2Cu1Ox, which brings about a higher catalytic activity for furfural oxidation. More importantly, Mn2Cu1Ox could exhibit YFA>90% over 5 cycles of reusability test. Through this study, the relationship between the morphology, surface chemistry, and catalytic activity of Mn–Cu bimetallic oxides are elucidated, providing a simple and environmentally friendly catalytic strategy and scientific basis for the development of Mn–Cu bimetallic oxides bioderived molecular aerobic oxidation materials.

Abstract Transfer payments play a crucial role in combating poverty in countries. However, the effectiveness of transfer payments in alleviating poverty remains controversial due to variations in environmental factors, economic development, and cultural contexts across different nations. In this study, we employ counterfactual causal inference to examine the influence of government transfer payments on poverty. By utilizing data from China, we present new evidence that sheds light on related issues. Our findings reveal that transfer payments have a negative impact on the overall income of rural poor households. This can be attributed to a decrease in labor supply among rural poor residents who receive such payments, resulting in reduced wage income. Additionally, transfer payments lead to decreased expenditure on food and increased spending on healthcare. These changes in total income and consumption patterns indicate that China’s current transfer payment policy has short-term efficacy by meeting the basic living security needs of rural poor residents and improving their health conditions. However, the lack of significant changes in education spending suggests that transfer payments have little long-term effect.

AbstractPoly (ether-ether-ketone) (PEEK) is one of the most promising engineering plastics in aerospace engineering because of their reliable mechanical properties under various conditions. However, next-generation engineering plastics also call for more comprehensive outputs, such as higher thermal conductivity and antiwear performances. Boron Nitride Nanotubes (BNNT) have been proven to have outstanding physical properties as additives to the resin of the composites. In this article, the influence of BNNT additives on the PEEK resin is studied to provide a more insightful understanding of the development of BNNT-reinforced engineering plastics in the future. It has been found that the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) between BNNT and PEEK is 151% higher than carbon nanotube reinforcements., and amino groups (–NH2) modified BNNT can further improve the IFSS value by 14%. This mechanical improvement is further evaluated, and the molecular mechanisms are explained with an atomistic resolution.

Based on rock mineral and geochemical analysis, microscopic observation, physical property measurement, and thin laminae separation test, etc., the characteristics of typical laminae of the Paleogene Shahejie Formation carbonate-rich shale in the Jiyang Depression were analyzed, and the organic matter abundance, reservoir properties, and oil-bearing properties of different laminae were compared. Typical shale reservoir-flow structures were classified, and the mobility of oil in different types of shale reservoir-flow structure was compared. The results show that the repeated superposition of mud laminae and calcite laminae are the main layer structure of carbonate-rich shales. The calcite laminae are divided into micritic calcite laminae, sparry calcite laminae and fibrous calcite vein. The mud-rich laminae are the main contributor to the organic matter abundance and porosity of shale, with the best hydrocarbon generation potential, reservoir capacity, and oil-bearing property. The micritic calcite laminae also have relatively good hydrocarbon generation potential, reservoir capacity and oil-bearing property. The sparry calcite laminae and fibrous calcite vein have good permeability and conductivity. Four types of shale reservoir-flow structure are developed in the carbonate-rich shale, and the mobility of oil in each type of reservoir-flow structure is in descending order: sparry calcite laminae enriched shale reservoir-flow structure, mixed calcite laminae enriched shale reservoir-flow structure, fibrous calcite vein enriched shale reservoir-flow structure, and micritic calcite laminae enriched shale reservoir-flow structure. The exploration targets of carbonate-rich shale in the Jiyang Depression Shahejie Formation are different in terms of reservoir-flow structure at different thermal evolution stages.

Abstract The current reliability criterion (RC) of the film capacitor (FC) is usually a fixed value, which does not consider the staged capacitance loss caused by moisture diffusion under high temperature and/or high humidity. The expected lifetime of capacitors would deviate far from the actual one. The moisture diffusion process of the encapsulated FC is analysed based on Fick's second law. In order to investigate the capacitance loss and moisture diffusion characteristics, 4 types of film capacitors are stressed with AC voltage under different temperatures and humidities. Based on the staged analysis of the capacitance and weight gain curves, the effect of moisture diffusion on capacitance loss is revealed. Results indicate that the linear stage of capacitance loss corresponds to the Fickian moisture diffusion stage of weight gain. The effect of voltage on FC aging is the most significant. The capacitance loss rate increases by 301% when the voltage rises by 30%. An RC calculation method of the FC is further proposed, which could also screen the encapsulation quality and shorten the aging test duration by at least 80%.

Abstract Background This work aimed to study natural humoral immune response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Methods Chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) was used to detect the neutralizing antibody (Nabs) and IgG. Results Nabs peaked on days 57–96 after symptom onset and remained detected on days 97–132. The Nabs in the 32 patients who were dynamically monitored showed four changing patterns. The titers of Nabs and IgG were correlated, and three modes of relationship were found between them. Conclusions Nabs showed a regular change in the course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The detection of Nabs is very important for monitoring the course of COVID-19 and predicting the strength of antibody protection.

Abstract In the study of brain functional connectivity networks, it is assumed that a network is built from a data window in which activity is stationary. However, brain activity is non-stationary over sufficiently large time periods. Addressing the analysis electroencephalograph (EEG) data, we propose a data segmentation method based on functional connectivity network structure. The goal of segmentation is to ensure that within a window of analysis, there is similar network structure. We designed an intuitive and flexible graph distance measure to quantify the difference in network structure between two analysis windows. This measure is modular: a variety of node importance indices can be plugged into it. We use a reference window versus sliding window comparison approach to detect changes, as indicated by outliers in the distribution of graph distance values. Performance of our segmentation method was tested in simulated EEG data and real EEG data from a drone piloting experiment (using correlation or phase-locking value as the functional connectivity strength metric). We compared our method under various node importance measures and against matrix-based dissimilarity metrics that use singular value decomposition on the connectivity matrix. The results show the graph distance approach worked better than matrix-based approaches; graph distance based on partial node centrality was most sensitive to network structural changes, especially when connectivity matrix values change little. The proposed method provides EEG data segmentation tailored for detecting changes in terms of functional connectivity networks. Our study provides a new perspective on EEG segmentation, one that is based on functional connectivity network structure differences.

Abstract Background CircRNA is recognized for its significant regulatory function across various cancers. However, its regulatory role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still largely uncharted. Methods Analysis based on public databases is completed using R software. circATP9A was identified by two circRNA datasets of NSCLC from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. To examine the impact of circATP9A on the phenotype of NSCLC, we conducted both in vitro and in vivo functional experiments. The mRNA and protein levels of specific molecules were determined through quantitative real-time PCR and western blot assays. RNA pulldown and RNA immunoprecipitation assays were performed to verify the interaction between RNA and protein. The functional role of extracellular vesicles (EVs)-circATP9A on tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) polarization was assessed using co-culture system and cell flow cytometry. Results Here, we elucidates the functional role of circATP9A in NSCLC. We demonstrated that circATP9A can foster the progression of NSCLC through in vivo and in vitro experiments. From a mechanistic standpoint, circATP9A can interact with the HuR protein to form an RNA–protein complex, subsequently amplifying the mRNA and protein levels of the target gene NUCKS1. Further, the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling was identified as the downstream pathways of circATP9A/HuR/NUCKS1 axis. More notably, hnRNPA2B1 can mediate the incorporation of circATP9A into EVs. Subsequently, these EVs containing circATP9A induce the M2 phenotype of TAMs, thereby facilitating NSCLC development. Conclusions Our discoveries indicate that circATP9A could serve as a promising diagnostic indicator and a therapeutic target for NSCLC.

An exceptional-point (EP) enhanced fiber-optic bending sensor is reported. The sensor is implemented based on parity-time (PT)-symmetry using two coupled Fabry-Perot (FP) resonators consisting of three cascaded fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) inscribed in an erbium-ytterbium co-doped fiber (EYDF). The EP is achieved by controlling the pumping power to manipulate the gain and loss of the gain and loss FP resonators. Once a bending force is applied to the gain FP resonator to make the operation of the system away from its EP, frequency splitting occurs, and the frequency spacing is a nonlinear function of the bending curvature, with an increased slope near the EP. Thus, by measuring the frequency spacing, the bending information is measured with increased sensitivity. To achieve high-speed and high-resolution interrogation, the optical spectral response of the sensor is converted to the microwave domain by implementing a dual-passband microwave-photonic filter (MPF), with the spacing between the two passbands equal to that of the frequency splitting. The proposed sensor is evaluated experimentally. A curvature sensing range from 0.28 to 2.74 m−1 is achieved with an accuracy of 7.56×10−4 m−1 and a sensitivity of 1.32 GHz/m−1, which is more than 4 times higher than those reported previously.

AbstractContext Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer (Araliaceae) is a tonic herb used in ancient Asia.Objective This study investigated the antifatigue effect of P. ginseng on chronic fatigue rats.Materials and methods Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control, model and EEP (ethanol extraction of P. ginseng roots) (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) groups (n = 8). The rats were subcutaneously handled with loaded swimming once daily for 26 days, except for the control group. The animals were intragastrically treated with EEP from the 15th day. On day 30, serum, liver and muscles were collected, and the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signalling pathway was evaluated.Results The swimming times to exhaust of the rats with EEP were significantly longer than that without it. EEP spared the amount of muscle glycogen, hepatic glycogen and blood sugar under the chronic state. In addition, EEP significantly (p

Abstract Online learning, as a pivotal element in modern education, is introducing fresh demands and challenges to the established teaching norms across various subjects. The adaptability of students to online learning and their sustained willingness to engage with it constitute two pivotal factors influencing the effective operation of online education systems. The dynamic relationship between these aspects may manifest unique traits within different academic disciplines, yet comprehensive research in this area remains notably scarce. In light of this, this study constructs an Adaptive Structural Learning and Technology Acceptance Model (ASL-TAM) with satisfaction towards online teaching as the mediating variable to investigate the impact and mechanism of online learning adaptivity on continuous usage intention for students from different disciplines. A total of 11,832 undergraduate students from 334 universities in 12 disciplinary categories in mainland China were selected, and structural equation modeling was used for analysis. The results showed that the ASL-TAM model could be fitted for all 12 disciplines. The perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and system environment adaptability dimensions of online learning adaptivity significantly and positively affect satisfaction towards online teaching and continuous usage intention. Satisfaction towards online teaching partially mediates the relationship between online learning adaptivity and continuous usage intention. There were significant differences in the results of the single-factor analysis of the observed variables for the 12 disciplines, and the path coefficients in the ASL-TAM model fitted for each discipline were also significantly different. Compared to the six disciplines under the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) category, six disciplines under the humanities category exhibited more significant internal differences in the results of the single-factor analysis of perceived usefulness and the path coefficients for satisfaction towards online teaching. This research seeks to bridge existing research gaps and provide novel guidance and recommendations for the personalized design and distinctive implementation of online learning platforms and courses across various academic disciplines.

Abstract Background As the first gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), nusinersen is supposed to be administrated via intrathecal injection regularly for a lifetime. However, for SMA patients with severe spinal deformities, bony fusion following posterior spinal instrumentation sets great obstacles for the application of nusinersen. Therefore, efforts have been devoted to the exploration of appropriate approach for nusinersen administration. This study aims to evaluate the safety and reliability of unilateral interlaminar fenestration on the convex side during spinal fusion surgery for intrathecal nusinersen injection in SMA. Results SMA patients receiving posterior spinal fusion and interlaminar fenestration in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2020 to October 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. 13 patients were included. Of the 13 patients, 10 were classified into SMA type II and 3 into SMA type III. Distal fusion to pelvis was undertaken in 11 patients; while L5 was selected as the lowest instrumented vertebra in the other 2 patients. All patients received interlaminar fenestration on the convex side only with an area of about 15 mm × 20 mm. Fenestration at L2–L3 level was performed in 6 patients; while L3–L4 level was selected for windowing in the remaining 7 patients. 9 of the 13 patients received lumbar puncture and intrathecal nusinersen administration during the 1-year follow-up, with an accumulative total of 50 times. All injections were performed successfully under ultrasound guidance, with no one transferred to radiographic assistance. No severe complications occurred after injection. Conclusions In SMA with severe scoliosis planning to receive posterior spinal fusion, unilateral lumbar interlaminar fenestration on the convex side provides a feasible and reliable access for intrathecal nusinersen administration after surgery.

Background: Synthesis of neural imaging information from many studies is valuable for identifying stable cortical targets for non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS). Typically, these targets are specified in Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) standard brain space. However, in practical NIBS applications, localizing MNI cortical targets often relies on the International 10–20 system or heuristic scalp approaches, which often lacks precision or applies only to specific targets. Objective/hypothesis: We aim to establish a probabilistic mapping from any cortical target in MNI space to continuous proportional coordinate (CPC) standard scalp space (MNI2CPC) and assess the performance of this mapping for NIBS targeting. Methods: The MNI2CPC mapping was calculated based on a large MRI dataset (n = 114). Its targeting error was evaluated via cross-individual validation using a leave-one-out approach, as well as through independent validation across race (n = 27) and across patient (n = 58) cohorts. Results: The cross-individual validation demonstrated targeting errors of 4.03 ± 0.69 mm on the scalp and 3.30 ± 0.59 mm in the cortex. For independent cohorts, targeting errors were 4.71 ± 0.81 mm (scalp) and 3.85 ± 0.64 mm (cortex) across race, and 4.66 ± 0.77 mm (scalp) and 3.77 ± 0.61 mm (cortex) across patient. We publish a free online tool to enable querying of the CPC coordinate for any given MNI cortical target. The resulting CPC coordinates enable rapid and accurate manual localization on the scalp in a user-friendly manner. Conclusions: The MNI2CPC mapping developed in this study allows for manual localization of any MNI cortical target, which improves the accessibility and ease of application of NIBS in diverse settings.

Aluminum/Polytetrafluoroethylene (Al/PTFE) is a representative energetic material, which can be used in many fields including defense weapon fragments, insensitive penetrator or oil-well perforation. However, the insufficient mechanical strength of traditional ingredient has seriously restricted its penetration ability, and traditional additives improve its compressive strength at the expense of reactivity. Hence, innovative component design and advanced manufacturing technology should be applied to Al/PTFE composite. In this investigation, TiH2 as a new reinforcement is introduced into Al/PTFE to improve both strength and reactivity. Quasi-static and dynamic compressive tests were conducted, and the impact reaction process was recorded by high-speed camera. The results shown Al/PTFE/TiH2 composites are all elasto-plastic materials, significant strain hardening and strain rate hardening phenomenon were observed. The compressive strength increased first and then decreased with increase in TiH2 content, reached the maximum of 185.1 MPa at the strain rate of 5000 s−1 when TiH2 content was 30 %, which increased by 30.4 % compared to traditional Al/PTFE. A newly-developed drop-weight device was used to quantitatively characterize reactivity, and the reaction efficiency reached 8.2 % when TiH2 content was 30 %, increased by 43.2 % compared to Al/PTFE. The formation of oriented PTFE nano-fibers was considered the important strengthening mechanism. The established Johnson–Cook model was agreed well with experimental results. Combining the results of thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) tests with X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of reaction residues, the reaction mechanism was clarified. The impact initiation reaction was in a mechano-chemical manner and the reactivity was speculated to be the results of multiple actions between Al/PTFE and TiH2.

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and choroid are located behind the human retina and have multiple functions in the human visual system. Knowledge of the RPE and choroid cells and their gene expression profiles are fundamental for understanding retinal disease mechanisms and therapeutic strategies. Here, we sequenced the RNA of about 0.3 million single cells from human RPE and choroids across two regions and seven ages, revealing regional and age differences within the human RPE and choroid. Cell–cell interactions highlight the broad connectivity networks between the RPE and different choroid cell types. Moreover, the transcription factors and their target genes change during aging. The coding of somatic variations increases during aging in the human RPE and choroid at the single-cell level. Moreover, we identified ELN as a candidate for improving RPE degeneration and choroidal structure during aging. The mapping of the molecular architecture of the human RPE and choroid improves our understanding of the human vision support system and offers potential insights into the intervention targets for retinal diseases.

ObjectiveTo examine car passenger safety behaviors and its associates among preschool children in a district of Beijing. MethodsUsing stratified cluster sampling and a self-designed questionnaire, we conducted an online anonymous survey among parents of 3 264 children aged 3 – 6 years recruited from 6 kindergartens in a district of Beijing during 27 – 31 December 2021. ResultsOf the 3 134 participants (96.29% of the parents recruited) with eligible responses, 38.56% reported using child safety seats for their kids in cars, followed by 31.88% and 21.16% reporting seat belt use and holding the kids in arms by caregivers while driving; taking no safety precautions at all was reported by 8.40% of the participants. Higher rates of child safety seat use were reported by parents of only children (43.75% vs. 34.05%), who were aware of child safety seat legislation (47.66% vs. 20.88%), had correct knowledge of child car passenger safety (47.58% vs. 28.54%), and always buckled up while driving contrasted with those reported by parents of two or more children, who were unaware of child safety seat legislation, had misconceptions about child car passenger safety, and did not always wear seat belt. Multivariate logistic regression analysis following promoting factors for the parents' child car passenger safety practices: having an only child (odds ratio [OR] = 1.376), with an annual household income 240 000 Chinese yuan and more (OR = 1.368), being aware of safety seat legislation (OR = 3.325), with correct knowledge of child car passenger safety (OR = 1.991), and always wearing seat belt while driving (OR = 5.231). ConclusionChild car passenger safety practice is at a relatively low level and influenced by parental demographic and economic status, awareness of knowledge about child car passenger safety, and safety driving behavior among the parents of preschool children in a district of Beijing, suggesting that relevant targeted interventions need to be promoted among the parents.

To break the narrow diversity bottleneck of the wheat D genome, a set of Aegilops tauschii-wheat introgression (A-WI) lines was developed by crossing Ae. tauschii accession T015 with common wheat elite cultivar Zhoumai 18 (Zhou18). A high-density genetic map was constructed based on Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) markers and 15 yield-related traits were evaluated in 11 environments for detecting quantitative trait loci (QTL). A total of 27 environmentally stable QTL were identified in at least five environments, 20 of which were derived from Ae. tauschii T015, explaining up to 24.27% of the phenotypic variations. The major QTL for kernel length (KL), QKl-2D.5, was delimited to a physical interval of approximately 2.6 Mb harboring 52 candidate genes. Three Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) markers were successfully developed based on nonsynonymous nucleotide mutations of candidate gene AetT093_2Dv1G100900.1 and showed that A-WI lines with the T015 haplotype had significantly longer KL than the Zhou18 haplotype across all 11 environments. Four primary valuable A-WIs with good trait performance and carrying yield-related QTL were selected for breeding improvement. The results will facilitate the efficient transfer of beneficial genes from Ae. tauschii into wheat cultivars to improve wheat yield and other traits.