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Loop formation in complex environments is crucially important to many biological processes in life. In the present work, we adopt three-dimensional Langevin dynamics simulations to investigate passive and active polymer looping kinetics in crowded media featuring polymer–crowder attraction. We find polymers undergo a remarkable coil–globule–coil transition, highlighted by a marked change in the Flory scaling exponent of the gyration radius. Meanwhile, looping time as a function of the crowder's volume fraction demonstrates an apparent non-monotonic alteration. A small number of crowders induce a compact structure, which largely facilitates the looping process. While a large number of crowders heavily impede end-to-end diffusion, looping kinetics is greatly inhibited. For a self-propelled chain, we find that the attractive crowding triggers an unusual activity effect on looping kinetics. Once a globular state is formed, activity takes an effort to open the chain from the compact structure, leading to an unexpected activity-induced inhibition of looping. If the chain maintains a coil state, the dominant role of activity is to enhance diffusivity and, thus, speed up looping kinetics. The novel conformational change and looping kinetics of both passive and active polymers in the presence of attractive crowding highlight a rather distinct scenario that has no analogy in a repulsive crowding counterpart. The underlying mechanism enriches our understanding of the crucial role of attractive interactions in modulating polymer structure and dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkali metal dosing has nowadays been extensively used in angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) for the in situ surface electron doping of materials to provide access to the unoccupied states. This technique also gives rise to nontrivial physical phenomena, such as the appearance of quantum well states and effects due to alkali metal intercalation. Here, we uncovered a previously unobserved type of electronic behavior induced by alkali metal dosing. By employing ARPES to study the evolution of the electronic structure of the Ti2O3 thin film upon rubidium (Rb) dosing, we found that the electron chemical potential of the system remains unchanged throughout the process. Interestingly, a series of electron-like band dispersions first appear with Rb dosing. A further increase in the Rb dosage leads to the eventual disappearance of the electron-like bands and the emergence of a set of hole-like bands. Our finding enriches the phenomenology brought about by alkali metal surface dosing, suggesting a novel functionality of this popular surface doping technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Realization of planar tetracoordinate arrangements of nitrogen atoms is challenging because their preference for localized bonding (caused by its high electronegativity) makes them typically tricoordinate. This is especially true for the more electronegative oxygen atoms. Herein, we computationally designed two clusters NBe4H4− and OBe4H4; they contain a planar tetracoordinate nitrogen (ptN) and planar tetracoordinate oxygen (ptO) atom, respectively. Remarkably, the former is a dynamically stable global minimum, while the latter is not. The bonding analysis proves that planar tetracoordination in NBe4H4− favors over tricoordination because of the presence of multicenter delocalized bonds. In contrast, the planar tricoordination dominates due to its weak delocalized bonding ability of oxygen in the OBe4H4 cluster. Moreover, the 6σ/2π double aromaticity due to multicenter delocalized bonds allows the NBe4H4− cluster to obtain additional stability. This cluster is a promising synthetic due its dynamic and thermodynamic stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indium tin oxide (ITO) film, which is the most commonly used transparent conductive film (TCF), has traditionally been believed to be transparent in the visible spectrum but to reflect infrared (IR) light beyond the plasma wavelength (λp). However, our theoretical analysis challenges this notion by demonstrating that an ultrathin ITO TCF that is thinner than the light's penetration depth can overcome the transmission barrier at λp. To validate the theoretical modeling, we have successfully fabricated ultrathin ITO films that, despite having λp ≈ 1 μm, remain transparent from 400 nm to 20 μm. This represents the broadest transparency range ever reported for any In2O3-based TCF. The 10-nm-thick ITO TCFs have high visible transmittance (91.0% at 550 nm), low resistivity (5 × 10−4 Ω cm), and good IR transmittance (averaging 60% over 1.35–18.35 μm). Their IR transparency facilitates radiative cooling of the underlying circuitry. When an operational resistor is enclosed by commercial ITO TCFs that are 140 nm thick, its temperature increases. However, using 10-nm-thick ITO TCFs instead of the commercial ones can completely avoid this temperature rise. Moreover, attaching a silver grid to a 10-nm-thick ITO TCF can reduce the effective sheet resistance to ∼10 Ω/□ at the expense of only ∼3% transmittance. This development paves the way for large-scale applications that require low sheet resistance and far-IR transparency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of social mode virtualization and electronic component technology, the application of data science and Internet of Things (IoT) technology in the field of e-commerce is gradually increasing. This study aims to explore how these emerging technologies can enhance the advantage of Chinese e-commerce companies in international competition. By comprehensively analyzing the massive data generated by online social networking and the application of IoT sensor technology in logistics and enterprise management, this paper proposes a decision support model based on data analysis. Research methods include data collection, data analysis and case studies. The results of the study show that data analytics and IoT technologies can effectively improve the efficiency of e-commerce operations and customer experience. The conclusion is that these technologies not only contribute to the domestic development of e-commerce enterprises, but also play a non-negligible role in international competition. This research has important implications for understanding the practical applications and potential of new technologies in the field of e-commerce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we will look at the well known interlacing problem, but here we consider the result for Hermitian matrices in the Minkowski space, an indefinite inner product space with one negative square. More specific, we consider the n × n matrix A = [ J u − u ⁎ a ] with a ∈ R , J = J ⁎ and u ∈ C n − 1. Then A is H -selfadjoint with respect to the matrix H = I n − 1 ⊕ (− 1). The canonical form for the pair (A , H) plays an important role and the sign characteristic coupled to the pair is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ATP plays a crucial role in cell energy supply, so the quantification of intracellular ATP levels is particularly important for understanding many physio-pathological processes. The intracellular quantification of this non-electroactive molecule can be realized using aptamer-modified nanoelectrodes, but is hindered by the limited quantity of modification and electroactive tags on the nanosized electrodes. Herein, we developed a simple but effective electrochemical signal amplification strategy for intracellular ATP detection, which replaces the regular ATP aptamer-linked ferrocene monomer with a polymer, thus greatly magnifying the amounts of electrochemical reporters linked to one chain of the aptamer and enhancing the signals. This ferrocene polymer–ATP aptamer was further immobilized onto Au nanowire electrodes (SiC@C@Au NWEs) to achieve accurate quantification of intracellular ATP in single cells, presenting high electrochemical signal output and high specificity. This work not only provides a powerful tool for quantifying intracellular ATP but also offers a simple and versatile strategy for electrochemical signal amplification in the detection of broader non-electroactive molecules involved in different kinds of intracellular physiological processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diamond‐like (DL) metal chalcogenides have attracted significant attention in recent years because of their complex structural compositions and exceptional nonlinear optical (NLO) capabilities in the infrared (IR) range. Despite notable advancements in this field, there is still a lack of systematic research on high‐performance and simply composed IR‐NLO chalcogenides with DL structures. In this study, the insightful structural characteristics and IR‐NLO properties of a ternary Ag‐based chalcogenide Ag2GeS3 are investigated for the first time at both experimental and theoretical levels. The compound belongs to the non‐centrosymmetric Cmc21 space group (No.36) and displays a 3D DL structure comprising highly oriented [AgS4] and [GeS4] tetrahedra. Due to its distinct structure, the compound may produce significant second harmonic generation (SHG) response (5.6 × AgGaS2 at 2050 nm), the biggest value reported among Ag‐based IR‐NLO chalcogenides to date, and phase matchability in the IR range with a calculated birefringence of Δn = 0.09 at 2050 nm. According to theoretical calculations, the combined impacts of the distorted [AgS4] and [GeS4] NLO‐active motifs inside the 3D DL framework provide the SHG tensor d24 of Ag2GeS3 at 51.9 pm V−1 at 2050 nm. The prospective uses of Ag2GeS3 in the field of IR‐NLO are highlighted in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sows commonly experience insulin resistance in late gestation and lactation, causing lower feed intake and milk production, which can lead to higher mortality rates in newborn piglets. The probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) is known to improve insulin resistance. However, whether supplementing LGG can improve insulin sensitivity in sows and enhance lactation performance, particularly the early survival of offspring remains unclear. Hence, we explored the effects and mechanisms of supplementing LGG during late gestation and lactation on sow insulin sensitivity, lactation performance, and offspring survival. In total, 20 sows were randomly allocated to an LGG (n = 10) and control group (n = 10). Results: In sows, LGG supplementation significantly improved insulin sensitivity during late gestation and lactation, increased feed intake, milk production and colostrum lactose levels in early lactation, and enhanced newborn piglet survival. Moreover, LGG treatment significantly reshaped the gut microbiota in sows, notably increasing microbiota diversity and enriching the relative abundance of insulin sensitivity-associated probiotics such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Bacteroides. Serum metabolite and amino acid profiling in late-gestation sows also revealed decreased branched-chain amino acid and kynurenine serum levels following LGG supplementation. Further analyses highlighted a correlation between mitigated insulin resistance in late pregnancy and lactation by LGG and gut microbiota reshaping and changes in serum amino acid metabolism. Furthermore, maternal LGG enhanced immunity in newborn piglets, reduced inflammation, and facilitated the establishment of a gut microbiota. Conclusions: We provide the first evidence that LGG mitigates insulin resistance in sows and enhances offspring survival by modulating the gut microbiota and amino acid metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Borates have garnered a lot of attention in the realm of solid‐state chemistry due to their remarkable characteristics, in which the synthesis of borates with isolated [BO3] by adding rare‐earth elements is one of the main areas of structural design study. Five new mixed‐metal Y‐based rare‐earth borates, Ba2ZnY2(BO3)4, KNa2Y(BO3)2, Li2CsY4(BO3)5, LiRb2Y(BO3)2, and RbCaY(BO3)2, have been discovered using the high‐temperature solution approach. Isolated [BO3] clusters arranged in various configurations comprise their entire anionic framework, allowing for optical anisotropy tuning between 0.024 and 0.081 under 1064 nm. In this study, we characterize the relative placements of their [BO3] groups and examine how their structure affects their characteristics. The origin of their considerable optical anisotropy has been proven theoretically. This study unequivocally demonstrates that even a slight alteration to borates′ anionic structure can result in a significant improvement in performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spasticity is a potentially debilitating symptom of various acquired and congenital neurologic pathologies that, without adequate treatment, may lead to long-term disability, compromise functional independence, and negatively impact mental health. Several conservative as well as non-nerve targeted surgical strategies have been developed for the treatment of spasticity, but these may be associated with significant drawbacks, such as adverse side effects to medication, device dependence on intrathecal baclofen pumps, and inadequate relief with tendon-based procedures. In these circumstances, patients may benefit from nerve-targeted surgical interventions such as (i) selective dorsal rhizotomy, (ii) hyperselective neurectomy, and (iii) nerve transfer. When selecting the appropriate surgical approach, preoperative patient characteristics, as well as the risks and benefits of nerve-targeted surgical intervention, must be carefully evaluated. Here, we review the current evidence on the efficacy of these nerve-targeted surgical approaches for treating spasticity across various congenital and acquired neurologic pathologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) pose a significant challenge in diabetes care. Yet, a comprehensive understanding of the underlying biological disparities between healing and non-healing DFUs remains elusive. We conducted bioinformatics analysis of publicly available transcriptome sequencing data in an attempt to elucidate these differences. Our analysis encompassed differential analysis to unveil shifts in cell composition and gene expression profiles between non-healing and healing DFUs. Cell communication alterations were explored employing the Cellchat R package. Pseudotime analysis and cytoTRACE allowed us to dissect the heterogeneity within fibroblast subpopulations. Our findings unveiled disruptions in various cell types, localized low-grade inflammation, compromised systemic antigen processing and presentation, and extensive extracellular matrix signaling disarray in non-healing DFU patients. Some of these anomalies partially reverted in healing DFUs, particularly within the abnormal ECM-receptor signaling pathway. Furthermore, we distinguished distinct fibroblast subpopulations in non-healing and healing DFUs, each with unique biological functions. Healing-associated fibroblasts exhibited heightened extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and a robust wound healing response, while non-healing-associated fibroblasts showed signs of cellular senescence and complement activation, among other characteristics. This analysis offers profound insights into the wound healing microenvironment, identifies pivotal cell types for DFU healing promotion, and reveals potential therapeutic targets for DFU management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adhesives can intimately connect humans to machines, seamlessly bond diverse tissues in the human body, and manage various diseases. However, the precise spatial control of wet and tough adhesion of biocompatible hydrogels on biological tissues remains a major challenge. Inspired by the bioglue secreted by sandcastle worms, the design of printable tough adhesives (PTAs) is proposed, a supramolecular hydrogel that can be printed into defined structures, in situ mechanically reinforced into a tough matrix with physiologically relevant benign triggers, and strongly adhere to diverse substrates. With carefully selected polymer components and ratios, it is discovered that the 3D printed PTAs can achieve a marked increase in toughness, tensile strength, and stiffness after being immersed in water/saline solution or attached to biological tissues. To assess the robust toughening mechanism triggered by the supramolecular interactions, the effects of polymer content and pH on the mechanical performance of PTAs and the kinetics of their triggered reinforcement are thoroughly investigated. The potential of PTAs is further demonstrated for manufacturing tough connective tissue mimetics, controlling patterned bioadhesion, and designing programmable 4D soft robotics. The bioinspired, printable, benignly triggerable, and adhesive supramolecular PTAs are expected to find broad applications in engineering and medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Methods Results Conclusion Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) has gained extensive application in the treatment of lymphoma and multiple myeloma (MM). Plenty of studies demonstrate that peripheral blood indicators could be considered potential predictive biomarkers for hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) collection efficiency, including white blood cell count (WBC), monocyte count (Mono), platelet count (PLT), hematocrit, and hemoglobin levels. Currently, clinically practical predictive models based on these peripheral detection indicators to quickly, conveniently, and accurately predict collection efficiency are lacking.In total, 139 patients with MM and lymphoma undergoing mobilization and collection of ASCT were retrospectively studied. The study endpoint was successful collection of autologous HSCs. We analyzed the effects of clinical characteristics and peripheral blood markers on collection success, and screened variables to establish a prediction model. We determined the optimal cutoff value of peripheral blood markers for predicting successful stem cell collection and the clinical value of a multi‐marker prediction approach. We also established a prediction model for collection efficacy.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that the mobilization regimen, Mono, PLT, mononuclear cell count (MNC), and peripheral blood CD34+ cell count (PB CD34+ counts) were significant predictors of successful collection of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC). Two predictive models were constructed based on the results of multivariate logistic analyses. Model 1 included the mobilization regimen, Mono, PLT, and MNC, whereas Model 2 included the mobilization regimen, Mono, PLT, MNC, and PB CD34+ counts. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the PB CD34+ counts, Model 1, and Model 2 could predict successful HSCs collection, with cutoff values of 26.92 × 106/L, 0.548, and 0.355, respectively. Model 1 could predict successful HSCs collection with a sensitivity of 84.62%, specificity of 75.73%, and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.863. Model 2 could predict successful HSCs collection with a sensitivity of 83.52%, specificity of 94.17%, and AUC of 0.946; thus, it was superior to the PB CD34+ counts alone.Our findings suggest that the combination of the mobilization regimen, Mono, PLT, MNC, and PB CD34+ counts before collection has predictive value for the efficacy of autologous HSCs collection in patients with MM and lymphoma. Using models based on these predictive markers may help to avoid over‐collection and improve patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anion exchange membrane fuel cell (AEMFC) is an emerging and promising technology that can help realize a carbon‐neutral, sustainable economy. Also, compared to the proton exchange membrane counterpart, AEMFC can achieve comparable cell outputs with lower costs due to the applicability of non‐platinum group metal electrocatalysts for the reaction on the electrodes’ surfaces. However, the wide application of the AEMFCs has been impeded by the unsatisfactory stability and performance of the hydroxide‐conductive membranes in the past. Recently researchers have made breakthroughs using polyarylene (PA)‐based AEMs. This article summarizes the recent advances of a class of AEMs with aromatic backbone without ether bonds, mainly synthesized by Friedel–Crafts polycondensation. Such PA‐based AEMs showed high chemical/mechanical stabilities and ionic conductivity, and even the fuel cell with those AEMs showed impressive peak power density of up to 2.58 W cm−2. In this concept article, we classify major strategies for making PA‐based AEMs to show the recent trends, highlight synthesis, characterization, and properties, and provide a brief outlook. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sand rice (Agriophyllum squarrosum (L.) Moq.), an annual psammophyte, is a promising wild plant for de novo domestication. Although many related studies have been documented recently, a basic phenological scale describing its growth stages is lacking. To address this gap, we have defined nine principal growth stages, each subdivided into several secondary stages according the international BBCH coding system. The growth stages mainly include seedling emergence, leaf development, formation of the primary branches, main stem elongation, inflorescence emergence, flowering, fruit development, ripening and senescence. Importantly, the growth sequence of sand rice reveals a distinctive stage, coded as BBCH21, characterized by the elongation of the first pair of primary branches, which occurs prior to main stem visible (BBCH30). This branch priority phenotype in sand rice strongly challenges the generally recognized growth pattern of ‘apical dominance’ in dicotyledons. The sequential and chronological progression of principal growth stages of sand rice was further determined in an experimental field with a representative genotype from the Tengger desert of Northwest China in 2023. The establishment of BBCH scale of sand rice lays a methodological foundation for morphological assessment among different germplasms and between wild‐type and mutant plants. This will accelerate the de novo domestication process of sand rice using natural selection and artificial mutagenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We proposed an ultra-compact neural network based on inversely designed photonic kernels, which has the advantages of a small footprint, high computing speed, and low power consumption. The core layers of the neural network, composed of automatically optimized photonic multiplication kernels and addition kernels, can perform arbitrary photonic computations at the speed of the light wave, offering more advantages than their electronic counterparts. Furthermore, the convolution, pooling, and fully-connected layers can be realized by the appropriate permutation of the proposed optical kernels. We constructed an all-optical convolutional neural network with a high accuracy of 97.7% for recognizing handwritten digits. Our results could significantly promote the inverse design of photonic neural networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgae-bacteria consortium for wastewater treatment has great potential for use in nutrient removal and biodiesel acquisition. In this study, the effect of four different light/dark regimes (6/18 h , 12/12 h , 18/6 h , 24/0 h) on biomass production and pollutant degradation during the treatment of oilfield wastewater by the algae-bacteria consortium was investigated. The maximum algal biomass (0.2 g/L) and total chlorophyll content (812.76 μgmg−1 cell dry weight−1) were obtained due to an appropriate illumination cycle (18 hlight/6 h dark) with enhanced dissolved oxygen content (5.87 mg/L), thus improving bacterial biomass (0.31 g/L). The ratio of microalgae to bacteria was essentially constant under different light/dark cycles. In addition, the highest removal rates of chemical oxygen demand (55.32%), ammonia nitrogen (50.75%), total nitrogen (64.53%), and total phosphorus (65.97%) were also obtained at the 18/6 h cycle, significantly different from the results of other light/dark cycles. The degradation efficiency of ammonia nitrogen by bacteria increased and then decreased with increasing light duration, while the removal rate of ammonia nitrogen by algae showed the opposite trend. The results indicated that the light and dark regimes had an important influence on the growth of the microalgae-bacteria consortium and their performance in treating oilfield wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China, the world's largest CO2 emitter, has pledged to reduce its carbon intensity by 18% by 2025, which requires accurate forecasting of its emissions and their drivers. However, existing gray models have limitations in dealing with fluctuating data or long-time series data, and they often suffer from overfitting and poor generalization ability. Moreover, there is a lack of research and judgment on the future changes of emission drivers. To address these issues, this study proposes a fractional order gray adaptive rolling model (RFAGM(1,1)) that optimizes the background generation and incorporates the rolling mechanism. We apply RFAGM(1,1) to forecast China's emissions, GDP, population, and consumption of raw coal, crude oil, and natural gas from 2020 to 2025. Our results show that RFAGM(1,1) achieves significantly higher accuracy than standard gray models, except for population. The projections indicate that China will meet the 18% carbon intensity reduction target by 2025. Furthermore, the LMDI decomposition reveals that economic growth and population changes have positive cumulative impacts on emission growth (245.68% and 11.95%, respectively), while energy intensity and structural changes have negative cumulative impacts (−151.60% and −6.02%, respectively). The improved forecast enables the evaluation of climate policies, while the factor analysis provides valuable insights for developing evidence-based strategies to achieve China's carbon peaking and neutrality goals by 2030/2060. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To reveal the overall sperm retrieval rate (SRR) and range in patients with azoospermia factor c (AZFc) microdeletion azoospermia by microdissection testicular sperm extraction (mTESE) and discuss the differences of preoperative patient factors among studies with various SRRs. Patients and Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science and Embase until February 2023. All studies reporting SRRs by mTESE and required parameters of patients with AZFc microdeletions were included. The primary outcome was the SRR and, if available, the pregnancy rate (PR) and live‐birth rate (LBR) after intracytoplasmic sperm injection were also investigated as secondary outcomes. Results: Eventually 11 cohort studies were included in this review. A total number of 441 patients underwent mTESE and in 275 of them sperm was obtained, reaching an overall SRR of 62.4%. The SRRs among studies had a wide range from 25.0% to 85.7%. The studies reporting higher SRRs generally had older mean ages, and higher follicle‐stimulating hormone and testosterone levels. Only four studies provided practical data on pregnancies and live‐born children of patients with AZFc microdeletions, so the overall PR and LBR were unavailable. Conclusions: The overall SRR of patients with AZFc microdeletion azoospermia was 62.4%. The effect of patient factors in SR needs further evidence in future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biphasic Li 2 TiO 3 –Li 4 SiO 4 ceramics have been proposed as advanced tritium breeder for solid-type breeding blankets of fusion reactors. However, the mechanism of tritium release from biphasic Li 2 TiO 3 –Li 4 SiO 4 ceramics remains to be elucidated. In this study, an integrated numerical model for tritium release from biphasic Li 2 TiO 3 –Li 4 SiO 4 ceramics was constructed for the first time. In the proposed model, besides the mass transfer steps for tritium release from single-phase ceramics (e.g. Li 2 TiO 3 and Li 4 SiO 4), a mass transfer step between the interfacial layers of Li 2 TiO 3 and Li 4 SiO 4 was also included to take into account the effect of two-phase interface in Li 2 TiO 3 –Li 4 SiO 4 ceramics. By using this model, numerical simulations of tritium release from Li 2 TiO 3 –Li 4 SiO 4 ceramics with different phase ratio and grain size were performed. The simulation results showed that the mass transfer of tritium atoms between the interfacial layers of Li 2 TiO 3 and Li 4 SiO 4 can effectively enhance tritium release from Li 4 SiO 4 in biphasic Li 2 TiO 3 –Li 4 SiO 4 ceramics. Furthermore, increasing phase ratio of Li 2 TiO 3 and decreasing grain size of Li 2 TiO 3 were both beneficial to tritium release from biphasic Li 2 TiO 3 –Li 4 SiO 4 ceramics at lower temperature. The modeling work consolidated the presumption that the two-phase interface could play an important role in the tritium release process of biphasic Li 2 TiO 3 –Li 4 SiO 4 ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents experimental and numerical studies on the local stability and compression resistances of laser-welded stainless-steel T-section stub columns. A testing program was first conducted, including material coupon tests, residual stress measurements, and 20 stub column tests. The testing program was supplemented by a numerical modeling program, in which finite-element models were developed and validated against the test results. The finite-element models were afterward used to perform parametric studies to obtain additional numerical data. The test and numerical data were adopted to evaluate the main design rules in the American and European standards and the continuous strength method. The evaluation results indicate that the American and European standards yield conservative resistance predictions, especially for nonslender T-sections, owing to no consideration of material strain hardening, while the continuous strength method is shown to provide greatly improved design accuracy and consistency over the American and European standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Elat/Timna area in Southern Israel provides an unparalleled opportunity for geological field studies due to its unique geology, spanning from the Neoproterozoic to the Holocene. The well-exposed rocks document the variability and evolution of three major processes: the creation of the Arabian-Nubian Shield during the Neoproterozoic, the accumulation of the Cambrian to Eocene sedimentary sequence, and the Miocene to Recent evolution of the Dead Sea Transform, an active plate boundary. The area's geological diversity and extensive documentation of its geology have made it a particularly important study site for geoscience students. Recently the Geological Survey of Israel published new 1:50,000 scale geological maps of the area, updated by additional fieldwork and presented in a series of reports. This paper presents a brief geological overview and a description of six key locations, complete with maps and photos that are a showcase document to the area's geological uniqueness as an excellently-exposed window into 800 million years of Neoproterozoic to Holocene evolution at the NE African plate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cluster spacing optimization in non-uniform stress field, with the optimal stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) as target, which is critical for deep shale gas fracturing performance. A non-uniform stress field characterization model and a fracture network propagation model were constructed. The diagrams of the optimal cluster spacing were drawn based on the fault development in the Y1-01 well area. The results showed that the horizontal well should be deployed at a distance of between 2,000 and 4,000 m from the first-level fault, 1,500 and 2,500 m from the second-level fault, 700 and 1,200 m from the third-level fault, and an acceptable distance from the fourth-level fault. The shorter the distance to the fault for first-level faults, the bigger difference in horizontal stress, which was not conducive for fracture network propagation, and the smaller the optimal cluster spacing. For second-level, third-level, and fourth-level faults, when the fault strike was less than 50°, the closer to the fault, the bigger the difference in horizontal stress and the smaller the optimal cluster spacing. When the fault strike was greater than 50°, the farther away from the fault, the bigger the difference in horizontal stress, and the smaller the optimal cluster spacing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is a heterogeneous clinical syndrome characterized by low cardiac output leading to end-organ hypoperfusion. Organ dysoxia ranging from transient organ injury to irreversible organ failure and death occurs across all CS etiologies but differing by incidence and type. Herein, we review the recognition and management of respiratory, renal and hepatic failure complicating CS. We also discuss unmet needs in the CS care pathway and future research priorities for generating evidence-based best practices for the management of extra-cardiac sequelae. The complexity of CS admitted to the contemporary cardiac intensive care unit demands a workforce skilled to care for these extra-cardiac critical illness complications with an appreciation for how cardio-systemic interactions influence critical illness outcomes in afflicted patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Core-rim structure has distinct advantage to improve the performances of KNN-based piezoceramics. Whereas the state of the core-rim structure is difficult to control during sintering. Here, the core-rim structured 0.96(K 0.51 Na 0.47 Li 0.02)(Nb 0.8 Ta 0.2)O 3 -0.04CaZrO 3 (KNLNT) ceramics were both obtained by conventional sintering (CS) and rapid sintering (RS). KNLNT ceramics prepared by rapid sintering exhibit more outstanding controllability on grain growth and core-rim structure and can hold the core/rim size ratio in a stable and favorable level due to extended effective range of grain boundary diffusion in densification. Benefiting from the controllable microstructure, the RS method prepared samples show excellent performance. The unipolar strain value of RS-1240 (S max =0.252%) is 2.07 times as much as CS-1110 (S max =0.122%). Large strain, low hysteresis and low dielectric permittivity features make the core-rim structured KNLNT ceramics a potential material for pulse drive applications and demonstrate that the manual precise control of core-rim structure could create many possibilities on materials design. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• AEP acting as an effective Cr(VI) reducing agent. • Cr(VI) toxicity in rice was significantly alleviated with AEP application. • AEP promoted Cr adsorption to the root cell walls and limited the Cr transport. • AEP application actively triggered the expression of Cr defense-related genes in rice. Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is a toxic element that has negative impacts on crop growth and yield. Using plant extracts to convert toxic Cr(VI) into less toxic Cr(III) may be a more favorable option compared to chemical reducing agents. In this study, the potential effects and mechanisms of using an aqueous extract of Psidium guajava L. leaves (AEP) in reducing Cr(VI) toxicity in rice were comprehensively studied. Firstly, the reducing power of AEP for Cr(VI) was confirmed by the cyclic voltammetry combined with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) assays. The highest Cr(VI) reduction efficiency reached approximately 78% under 1.5 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/mL of AEP and 10 mg/L Cr(VI) condition. Additionally, Cr(VI) stress had a significant inhibitory effect on rice growth. However, the exogenous application of AEP alleviated the growth inhibition and oxidative damage of rice under Cr(VI) stress by increasing the activity and level of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. Furthermore, the addition of AEP restored the ultrastructure of root cells, promoted Cr adsorption onto root cell walls, and limited the translocation Cr to shoots. In shoots, AEP application also triggered the expression of specific genes involved in Cr defense and detoxification response, including photosynthesis pathways, antioxidant systems, flavonoids biosynthesis, and plant hormone signal transduction. These results suggest that AEP is an efficient reduction agent for Cr(VI), and exogenous application of AEP may be a promising strategy to mitigate the harm of Cr(VI) on rice, ultimately contributing to improved crop yield in Cr-contaminated environments. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the characteristics and marketing tactics of double-roll coal crushers. Coal processing is in high demand in the mining market in China. To empower the mining market's competitiveness, product quality and technical level should be improved persistently. According to the absolute advantage compared with other mining corporations and analysis based on the Boston Matrix, the marketing strategy that should be adopted by the company can be described as 'the missionary selling method' which is very aggressive. In addition to adopting these marketing strategies, there is an opportunity for the interaction between current technological progress and current market demand, which can be seized by the company. We aim to illustrate the advantages and marketing opportunities of double-roll coal crushers and what kind of marketing tactic is suitable for this mining equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The merging of transition metal catalysis with electrochemistry has become a powerful tool for organic synthesis because catalysts can govern the reactivity and selectivity. However, coupling catalysts with alkyl radical species generated by anodic oxidation remains challenging because of electrode passivation, dimerization, and overoxidation. In this study, we developed convergent paired electrolysis for the coupling of nickel catalysts with alkyl radicals derived from photoinduced ligand-to-metal charge-transfer of cyclic alcohols and iron catalysts, providing a practical method for site-specific and remote arylation of ketones. The synergistic use of photocatalysis with convergent paired electrolysis can provide alternative avenues for metal-catalyzed radical coupling reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, collaborative distribution models have not reached the optimal state of carbon emissions. The cost of additional low-carbon expenditures and the problem of carbon data verification have led to the lack of motivation for reducing emissions among collaborative distribution enterprises. Therefore, how to incentivize them to adopt the low-carbon model is crucial for achieving low-carbon goal. By relying on a government-led digital platform, this paper designs a dual low-carbon incentive strategy to encourage enterprise-alliance to adopt a low-carbon distribution model. In this paper, we first construct an evolutionary game model of the government, enterprise-alliance and end-users; then we explore the conditions of the three-party equilibrium evolution strategy by solving the model and analyzing the stability; and finally, we conduct simulation validation and results analysis with the help of MATLAB. In summary, we found that government punishment is more effective at regulating enterprise-alliance than reward. End-users' behavior is affected by the costs they need to bear, and they no longer support enterprise-alliance to carry out collaborative low-carbon distribution above a certain threshold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum loop and dimer models are prototypical correlated systems with local constraints, which are not only intimately connected to lattice gauge theories and topological orders but are also widely applicable to the broad research areas of quantum materials and quantum simulation. Employing our sweeping cluster quantum Monte Carlo algorithm, we reveal the complete phase diagram of the triangular-lattice fully packed quantum loop model. Apart from the known lattice nematic (LN) solid and the even Z 2 quantum spin liquid (QSL) phases, we discover a hidden vison plaquette (VP) phase, which had been overlooked and misinterpreted as a QSL for more than a decade. Moreover, the VP-to-QSL continuous transition belongs to the (2 + 1)D cubic* universality class, which offers a lattice realization of the (fractionalized) cubic fixed point that had long been considered as irrelevant towards the O(3) symmetry until corrected recently by conformal bootstrap calculations. Our results are therefore of relevance to recent developments in both experiments and theory, and facilitate further investigations of hidden phases and transitions. By using the sweeping cluster quantum Monte Carlo algorithm, the authors reveal the complete ground-state phase diagram of the triangular-lattice fully packed quantum loop model. They discover a hidden vison plaquette phase between the known lattice nematic solid and the even Z 2 quantum spin liquid (QSL) phase, which had been previously misinterpreted as the QSL, and explain how to detect it experimentally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractMetaphorical auditory displays are increasingly recognized for data presentation and self-reflection. This article presents the design and evaluation of RainMind, a web-based soundscape application that represents physiological data with dynamic natural sounds for daily stress reflection. Based on different combinations of auditory display with visualization, we identified three modes: the Visual-Aided Mode (VAM), the Audio-Aided Mode (AAM), and the Audio-Visual Mode (AVM). Through a within-subject study involving 30 participants, we conducted a mixed-methods evaluation to assess the task load, engagement, and user experience among the three modes. The findings indicated that the combination of dynamic natural soundscapes with visualization (AVM) contributes to a lower task load compared to the other two modes. Moreover, dynamic natural soundscapes as metaphors for stress data significantly enhanced engagement and user experience of self-reflection compared to static natural sounds. Based on our study, we discuss the potential of leveraging dynamic natural soundscapes as a new way of data-driven self-reflection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Methods Results Conclusions The aim of this work is to present a new protocol for implant surgical planning which involves the combined use of artificial intelligence (AI) and mixed reality (MR).This protocol involves the acquisition of three‐dimensional (3D) patient data through intraoral scanning (IOS) and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). These data are loaded into AI software which automatically segments and aligns the patient's 3D models. These 3D models are loaded into MR software and used for planning implant surgery through holography. The files are then exported and used to design surgical guides via open‐source software, which are 3D printed and used to prepare the implant sites through static computer‐assisted implant surgery (s‐CAIS). The case is finalized prosthetically through a fully digital protocol. The accuracy of implant positioning is verified by comparing the planned position with the actual position of the implants after surgery.As a proof of principle, the present protocol seems to be to be reliable and efficient when used for planning simple cases of s‐CAIS in partially edentulous patients. The clinician can plan the implants in an authentic 3D environment without using any radiology‐guided surgery software. The precision of implant placement seems clinically acceptable, with minor deviations.The present study suggests that AI and MR technologies can be successfully used in s‐CAIS for an authentic 3D planning. Further clinical studies are needed to validate this protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Directly using aluminum (Al) foil as anode material offers a streamlined manufacturing process by eliminating the need for conductive additives, binders, and casting procedures. Nonetheless, monolithic Al foil anodes often suffer from mechanical failure and poor cyclability, posing challenges for practical adoption. In this study, a high‐concentration ether‐based electrolyte is employed to boost the durability of the Al foil anode. In contrast to traditional low‐concentration electrolytes, the use of 5 m lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide in 1,2‐dimethoxyethane promotes the priority decomposition of anions, leading to the creation of a fluoride‐rich solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer with exceptional structural modulus and high ion conductivity. These outcomes, coupled with Al's superior compatibility in the chosen electrolyte, enable a record‐breaking cycle life of up to 400 cycles for Li//Al half‐cells, when operated at a high areal capacity of 1 mAh cm−2. In full‐cell configurations, an outstanding capacity retention is also observed, with 96.9% after 150 cycles even under practical conditions involving a 40 µm thin Al foil and a 7.4 mg cm−2 LiFePO4 cathode. These results not only mark the pioneering use of high‐concentration ether‐based electrolyte systems in Al foil anodes but also showcase the high potential for developing low‐cost and high‐energy Al foil‐based LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the short lifetime of plasma‐activated water (PAW), this work reports on the application of ultralong‐lasting PAW for plant disease treatment. Compared with lettuce without ultralong‐lasting PAW treatment, the treated lettuce solution showed c. 1 log10 colony forming units mL−1 decrease in pathogens, as well as improvements in leaf area, leaf weight, root length, and root weight by 75%, 20%, 108.33%, and 150%, respectively. The leaf withering/root mortality rate of PAW‐treated plants was significantly lower than those of non‐PAW‐treated plants. Besides, disease defense‐related enzymes, such as catalase and β−1,3‐glucanase, were respectively enhanced by 112.5% and 5.13% in PAW‐treated lettuce, while the plant defense‐related genes were upregulated to respond to the pathogen's invasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM) activity has had profound effects on environmental change throughout East Asia and the western Pacific. Much attention has been paid to Quaternary EAWM evolution, while long-term EAWM fluctuation characteristics and drivers remain unclear, particularly during the late Miocene when marked global climate and Asian paleogeographic changes occurred. To clarify understanding of late Miocene EAWM evolution, we developed a high-precision 9-million-year-long stacked EAWM record from Northwest Pacific Ocean abyssal sediments based on environmental magnetism, sedimentology, and geochemistry, which reveals a strengthened late Miocene EAWM. Our paleoclimate simulations also indicate that atmospheric CO2 decline played a vital role in this EAWM intensification over the Northwest Pacific Ocean compared to other factors, including central Asian orogenic belt and northeastern Tibetan Plateau uplift and Antarctic ice-sheet expansion. Our results expand understanding of EAWM evolution from inland areas to the open ocean and indicate the importance of atmospheric CO2 fluctuations on past EAWM variability over large spatial scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION The cryoprotective effect of xylooligosaccharide (XO) and kappa‐carrageenan (KC) mixture on silver carp proteins in fluctuated frozen storage from 4 to −18 °C was analyzed. Positive control as a conventional cryoprotectant mixture of sucrose (4%) and sorbitol (4%), KC (3%) and XO/KC (3%) treatments were incorporated in silver carp surimi and myofibrillar proteins to analyze the water mobility and its influence on structural attributes.The temperature fluctuation significantly increased the structural alteration in samples with no treatments due to oxidative changes, protein denaturation and recrystallization. Meanwhile, the mixture of XO and KC (XO/KC 3%) significantly reduced the tertiary and secondary structural alterations by preventing the oxidative changes in α‐helix and tryptophan (Trp) residues. Moreover, XO/KC (3%) inhibited water mobility, hindering the T22 relaxation time, as compared to the samples added with KC (3%) and the positive control. Interestingly, the XO/KC (3%) mixture significantly reduced the formation of extracellular spaces and recrystallization by restricting the partial dehydration of muscles and extracellular solution concentration.From the current results, it can be concluded that the XO/KC mixture could be efficient in protecting aquatic food proteins during fluctuating frozen storage by preventing the exposure of Trp residues and α‐helix contents. Moreover, XO/KC restricted the water mobility by establishing a bond and making water unavailable for crystallization and recrystallization. Therefore, XO/KC could be used as an effective mixture to prevent fluctuated and frozen storage changes in aquatic foods. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specific detection of glycoproteins such as transferrin (TRF) related to neurological diseases, hepatoma and other diseases always plays an important role in the field of disease diagnosis. We designed an antibody-free immunoassay sensing method based on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) formed by the polymerization of multiple functional monomers for the sensitive and selective detection of TRF in human serum. In the sandwich surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) sensor, the TRF-oriented magnetic MIP nanoparticles (Fe3O4@SiO2–MIPs) served as capture units to specifically recognize TRF and 4-mercaptophenylboronic acid-functionalized gold nanorods (MPBA–Au NRs) served as SERS probes to label the targets. In order to achieve stronger interaction between the recognition cavities of the prepared MIPs and the different amino acid fragments that make up TRF, Fe3O4@SiO2–MIPs were obtained through polycondensation reactions between more silylating reagents, enhancing the specific recognition of the entire TRF protein and achieving high IF. This sensing method exhibited a good linear response to TRF within the TRF concentration range of 0.01 ng mL−1 to 1 mg mL−1 (R2 = 0.9974), and the LOD was 0.00407 ng mL−1 (S/N = 3). The good stability, reproducibility and specificity of the resulting MIP based SERS sensor were demonstrated. The determination of TRF in human serum confirmed the feasibility of the method in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of intratumoral metabolic heterogeneity and quantitative 18F‐FDG PET/CT imaging parameters in predicting patient outcomes in thymic epithelial tumors (TETs). Methods: This retrospective study included 100 patients diagnosed with TETs who underwent pretreatment 18F‐FDG PET/CT. The maximum and mean standardized uptake values (SUVmax and SUVmean), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) on PET/CT were measured. Heterogeneity index‐1 (HI‐1; standard deviation [SD] divided by SUVmean) and heterogeneity index‐2 (HI‐2; linear regression slopes of the MTV according with different SUV thresholds), were evaluated as heterogeneity indices. Associations between these parameters and patient survival outcomes were analyzed. Results: The univariate analysis showed that Masaoka stage, TNM stage, WHO classification, SUVmax, SUVmean, TLG, and HI‐1 were significant prognostic factors for progression‐free survival (PFS), while MTV, HI‐2, age, gender, presence of myasthenia gravis, and maximum tumor diameter were not. Subsequently, multivariate analyses showed that HI‐1 (p < 0.001) and TNM stage (p = 0.002) were independent prognostic factors for PFS. For the overall survival analysis, TNM stage, WHO classification, SUVmax, and HI‐1 were significant prognostic factors in the univariate analysis, while TNM stage remained an independent prognostic factor in multivariate analyses (p = 0.024). The Kaplan Meier survival analyses showed worse prognoses for patients with TNM stages III and IV and HI‐1 ≥ 0.16 compared to those with stages I and II and HI‐1 < 0.16 (log‐rank p < 0.001). Conclusion: HI‐1 and TNM stage were independent prognostic factors for progression‐free survival in TETs. HI‐1 generated from baseline 18F‐FDG PET/CT might be promising to identify patients with poor prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Methods Results Conclusion Level of Evidence Ultrasound shear wave elastography has potential use in assessing tendon tissue; however, reducing measurement variability remains challenging. The primary purpose of this study was to identify the amount of variability accounted for by ultrasound parameter (frequency, harmonics and CrossXBeam) settings on shear wave speed at two testing sites.Shear wave elastography images of the Achilles tendon were obtained from individuals with healthy tendons (n = 28) at two testing sites with standardised image acquisition/postprocessing protocols. Images were acquired at a range of frequencies (7–15 MHz) with CrossXBeam (a filtering technique) and harmonics settings toggled on and off. Variance decomposition analysis was performed to identify the amount of variability in shear wave speed accounted for by scan acquisition settings and testing sites.Shear wave speed variance was primarily attributed to participants (56.87% of variance; residual error: 35%). All scanning parameters, testing site and interaction terms each accounted for less than 2.5% of the variance. A statistically significant, negative relationship was observed between shear wave speed and image quality (p = 0.001) suggesting poor image quality yields higher shear wave speed estimates.The findings of this study suggest that natural variation in Achilles tendon mechanics between individuals without tendon pathology accounts for most of the shear wave speed variability. Optimising image quality, which may be observed in higher frequencies, should be considered to improve shear wave speed estimation. Clinically, this study highlights the need to take multiple images, maintain consistent ultrasound settings when tracking patient progress over time and use caution when comparing raw values from tendon scans performed in different clinics with shear wave elastography.Level III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incorporation of randomness into stochastic computing can provide ample opportunities for applications such as simulated annealing, non‐polynomial hard problem solving, and Bayesian neuron networks. In these cases, a considerable number of random numbers with an accurate and configurable probability distribution function (PDF) are indispensable. Preferably, these random numbers are provided at the hardware level to improve speed, efficiency, and parallelism. In this paper, how spin‐orbit torque magnetic tunnel junctions (SOT‐MTJs) with high barriers are suitable candidates for the desired true random number generators is demonstrated. Not only do these SOT‐MTJs perform excellently in speed and endurance, but their randomness can also be conveniently and precisely controlled by a writing voltage, which makes them a well‐performed Bernoulli bit. By utilizing these SOT‐MTJ‐based Bernoulli bits, any PDF, including Gaussian, uniform, exponential, Chi‐square, and even arbitrarily defined distributions can be realized. These PDF‐configurable true random number generators can then promise to advance the development of stochastic computing and broaden the applications of the SOT‐MTJs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conjugated 2D covalent organic frameworks (2D‐COFs) have garnered interest as potential cost‐efficient noble‐metal‐free electrocatalysts, owing to their structural flexibility, well‐defined molecular architecture, high compatibility, and environmental sustainability. However, their suboptimal activity, primarily attributed to their low active site utilization and limited electron transfer ability, considerably impedes their implementation in real‐world electrocatalytic systems. Herein, the molecular dimensionality of a 2D‐COF containing tris‐triazine ring (2D‐Tr‐COF) is upgraded to generate its 3D counterpart (3D‐Tr‐COF), enabling a direct comparison between 2D‐ and 3D‐ COFs. These findings reveal that slightly altering the spatial structure in plane (from 2D to 3D) by substituting amine building blocks leads to significant variations in molecular architecture and performance for oxygen reduction reaction. The results indicate that 3D‐Tr‐COF with enlarged lattice spacing, more active species, and reduced conjugated degree, possesses enriched active sites. Moreover, the intensified intramolecular electron donor–acceptor interaction between the tris‐triazine ring and its neighboring imino linkage of 3D‐Tr‐COF optimizes the electronic/band structure and facilitates the charge transfer, resulting in enhanced intrinsic activity compared to 2D‐Tr‐COF. The extensively optimized 3D‐Tr‐COF demonstrates a half‐wave potential of 0.833 V, on par with the state‐of‐the‐art Pt/C. These findings offer valuable insights into dimension modulation strategies for COF‐based electrocatalyst designing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mushroom poisoning contributes significantly to global foodborne diseases and related fatalities. Amanita mushrooms frequently cause such poisonings; however, identifying these toxic species is challenging due to the unavailability of fresh and intact samples. It is often necessary to analyze residues, vomitus, or stomach extracts to obtain DNA sequences for the identification of species responsible for causing food poisoning. This usually proves challenging to obtain usable DNA sequences that can be analyzed using conventional molecular biology techniques. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a DNA mini-barcoding method for the identification of Amanita species. Following the evaluation and optimization of universal primers for DNA mini-barcoding in Amanita mushrooms, we found that the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene sequence primer ITS-a was the most suitable DNA barcode primer for identifying Amanita species. Forty-three Amanita samples were subsequently amplified and sequenced. The sequences obtained were analyzed for intra- and inter-species genetic distances, and a phylogenetic tree was constructed. The findings indicated that the designed primers had strong universality among the Amanita samples and could accurately identify the target gene fragment with a length of 290 bp. Notably, the DNA mini-barcode accurately identified the 43 Amanita samples, demonstrating high consistency with the conventional DNA barcode. Furthermore, it effectively identified DNA from digested samples. In summary, this DNA mini-barcode is a promising tool for detecting accidental ingestion of toxic Amanita mushrooms. It may be used as an optimal barcode for species identification and traceability in events of Amanita-induced mushroom poisoning. Key points: • Development of a DNA mini-barcoding method for Amanita species identification without fresh samples. • The ITS-a primer set was optimized for robust universality in Amanita samples. • The mini-barcode is suitable for screening toxic mushroom species in mushroom poisoning cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone implant biomaterials are among the most used materials for clinical application. Despite significant advances in biocompatibility and osteoconductivity, conventional biomaterials lack the ability to cope with the pathological microenvironment (inflammation, infection, residual tumors, etc.) during bone repair. Semiconductor implant materials have unique electrical, optical, ultrasound, and thermal response properties, which facilitate non‐invasively and controllably dynamic repair of pathological bone defects. In this review, the design and synthesis of a new generation of semiconductor‐driven bone implant materials are summarized, the mechanism of action of semiconductive biomaterials' functional interfaces and the dynamic repair process of bone tissues are discussed, and new strategies for the problems encountered during clinical osseointegration is provided. Finally, the review outlooks the future of functional semiconductive implants for bone defect repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, with the rapid development of information technology, the volume of image data has grown exponentially. However, these datasets typically contain a large amount of redundant information. To extract effective features and reduce redundancy from images, a representation learning method based on the Vision Transformer (ViT) has been proposed, and to our best knowledge, Transformer was first applied to zero-shot learning (ZSL). The method adopts a symmetric encoder–decoder structure, where the encoder incorporates Multi-Head Self-Attention (MSA) mechanism of ViT to reduce the dimensionality of image features, eliminate redundant information, and decrease computational burden. Consequently, it effectively extracts features, and the decoder is utilized for reconstructing image data. We evaluated the representation learning capability of the proposed method in various tasks, including data visualization, image reconstruction, face recognition, and ZSL. By comparing with state-of-the-art representation learning methods, the outstanding results obtained validate the effectiveness of this method in the field of representation learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The near‐infrared (NIR) persistent luminescence (PersL) materials have attracted widespread attention owing to the unique self‐sustained light with good penetrability. Currently, most of the reported NIR PersL materials are activated by Cr3+. Considering the potential toxicity of chromium ions, there is an urgent requirement to explore the Cr3+‐free NIR phosphors. Herein, a novel NIR phosphor Sr2LuSbO6:Fe3+ (SLSO:Fe3+) is prepared and its luminescence properties are systematically studied. The Fe3+‐activated Sr2LuSbO6 exhibits a long‐wavelength NIR emission band centered at 890 nm with a 110 nm full‐width at half maximum (FWHM), and its PersL can last over 18 h. The phosphor shows excellent PersL stability even after being dispersed in solutions of different environments for 7 days. Furthermore, the PersL emitted by the phosphor can penetrate the 2 cm thickness beef, evidencing its good NIR PersL penetration property. This work provides a novel NIR PersL materials based on Fe3+ luminescence for technological applications and also contributes to accelerate the development of new‐generation Fe3+‐doped NIR PersL phosphor toward versatile applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrohydrodynamic-jet printing (E-jet printing) is a direct-writing technology for manufacturing micro-nano devices. To further reduce the inner diameter of the nozzle to improve the printing resolution, a large-scale manufacturing method of SU-8 polymer micro/nanoscale nozzle by means of a process combining UV exposure and hot embossing was proposed. To improve the adhesive strength between the UV mask and SU-8, the influence of the oxygen plasma treatment parameters on the water contact angles of the UV mask was analyzed. The effect of hot embossing time and temperature on the replication precision was studied. The influence of UV exposure parameters and thermal bonding parameters on the micro and nanochannel pattern was investigated. The SU-8 polymer nozzles with 188 ± 3 nm wide and 104 ± 2 nm deep nanochannels were successfully fabricated, and the replication precision can reach to 98.5%. The proposed manufacturing method of SU-8 polymer nozzles in this study will significantly advance the research on the transport properties of nanoscale channels in E-jet nozzles and facilitate further advancements in E-jet based applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]