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This paper is concerned with reset controller design and $ \mathcal {L}_2 $ L 2 -gain stability of piecewise-affine systems under the framework of hybrid systems. Firstly, stability conditions of piecewise-affine systems under dynamic state-feedback control are established through bilinear matrix inequality conditions. Secondly, a reset controller with reset rules under the hybrid systems framework is proposed in the sense of Lyapunov and sufficient conditions for exponential and $ \mathcal {L}_2 $ L 2 -gain stability of the closed-loop systems are provided. Different from the piecewise-affine systems with the dynamic state-feedback controller, the reset controller is designed such that the $ \mathcal {L}_2 $ L 2 -gain performance of piecewise-affine systems can be enhanced. Thirdly, an LMI approach is proposed to avoid the difficulty of solving the bilinear matrix inequalities. Furthermore, robustness to inflations of the flow and jump sets is established, and robustness to the norm-bounded uncertainties is proposed. Finally, numerical simulations including a robot arm system, an inverted pendulum system and the Chua's circuit system are provided to illustrate the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon nitrides form a series of polymer semiconductors popular in photocatalysis. In the course of photoresponse, the separation of light-induced electron–hole pairs is one of the critical factors that affect the conversion rate from photoenergy to chemical substance. Exciton binding energy ( E b ) is treated as a classical parameter to evaluate the barrier of exciton dissociation. In this work, we study the electronic and optical nature of two specific members of the carbon nitride family, polymeric carbon nitride (melon) and crystallized poly(triazine imide) (PTI/Li+Cl−) by employing the photoluminescence spectra and density functional theory (DFT) calculations based on the Wannier-Mott exciton module. The results of self-consistent GW computation were applied. The measurement of photoluminescence spectra, by which exciton binding energies are estimated, is likewise discussed. Generally, compared with the results calculated by GW-BSE, the DFT results based on the Wannier-Mott model are closer to the experimental values. From a materials perspective, on the other hand, the exciton binding energy of the melon is lower than that of PTI/Li+Cl−. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial aggregation‐induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) have flourished in bio‐applications with the development of synthetic chemistry, which however are plagued by issues like singularity in structures and non‐renewability. The unique structures and renewability of biomass moieties can compensate for these drawbacks, but their properties are hard to design and regulate due to their confined structures. Therefore, it appears to be a reasonable approach to derive AIEgens from abundant biomass (BioAIEgens), integrating the bilateral advantages of both synthetic and natural AIEgens. In this work, the blue‐violet emissive coumarin with its lactone structure serving as a rare natural acceptor, is utilized to construct donor‐π‐acceptor typed BioAIE isomers incorporating the propeller‐like and electron‐donating triphenylamine (TPA) unit. The results show that Cm‐p‐TPA undergoes charge transfer with its keto form, emitting red light at 600 nm, which can be applied to monitor Cu2+ concentration during mitophagy using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy because of the excellent biocompatibility, photostability, and specific recognition to Cu2+. This work not only demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing positional isomerization to modulate excited‐state evolutions and resultant optical properties, but also provides evidence for the rationality of constructing biologically‐active BioAIEgens via a biomass‐derivatization concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The properties of KTiOPO4Mx (M = K, Na, and Li; x = 0.000–1.000) as an anode for potassium-ion batteries (PIBs), sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), and lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are investigated by density functional theory calculations. Our work reveals that the electrochemical performance of KTiOPO4 as an anode for PIBs is superior to that for SIBs and LIBs, in terms of average voltage and ion diffusion kinetics. The ab initio molecular dynamics simulations indicate that the KTiOPO4Mx anode exhibits high structural stability, and alkali ion intercalation contributes to accelerating ion diffusion during the charging process. Particularly, the low activation energy of 0.406 eV of K migration on surface KTP(210), obtained by the climbing-image nudged elastic band method, suggests a high-rate capability. The systematical comparison of the performance of KTiOPO4 as an anode for PIBs, SIBs, and LIBs on the theoretical perspective clarifies that a large channel is not always promising for small radius ion intercalation and diffusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies on cancer of unknown primary (CUP) mainly focus on treatment and prognosis in western populations and lacked clinical evaluation of different IHC markers, so this study aimed to evaluate characteristics of CUP and recommend a diagnostic strategy from a single center in China. Methods and results: Data of 625 patients with CUP were retrospectively collected and reviewed. The patients ranged in age from 20 to 91 years, with a female-to-male ratio of 1.3:1. The predominant histological type was poor or undifferentiated adenocarcinomas (308; 49.3%). The results of Canhelp-Origin molecular testing for the identification of the tissue of origin in 262 of 369 patients (71.0%) were considered predictable (similarity score > 45), with the most common predicted primary tumor site being the breast (57, 21.8%). Unpredictable molecular results correlated with more aggressive clinical parameters and poor survival. Thee positivity rates of several targeted antibodies (GATA3, GCDFP15, TTF1, Napsin A, and PAX8), based on the clinically predicted site, were lower than those reported for the corresponding primary tumors. Nonetheless, TRPS1 and INSM1 were reliable markers of predicted breast carcinoma (75.0%) and neuroendocrine tumors (83.3%), respectively. P16 expression, as well as HPV and EBER testing contributed significantly to the diagnosis of squamous cell carcinomas. Survival analysis revealed that older ages (> 57), ≥ 3 metastatic sites, non-squamous cell carcinomas, bone/liver/lung metastases, unpredictable molecular results, and palliative treatment correlated with poor overall survival. Conclusions: We recommend a CUP diagnostic strategy involving the use of targeted antibody panels as per histological findings that is potentially applicable in clinical practice. The markers TRPS1, INSM1, and P16 expression, as well as HPV and EBER testing are particularly valuable in this aspect. Molecular testing is also predictive of survival rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The blending state of virgin and aged asphalt is one of the key factors that influence the cracking resistance and fatigue performance of recycled asphalt mixtures. In this paper, the complex modulus of the virgin and aged double-layered asphalt samples was measured by DSR experiments, and the degree of blending (DOB) was calculated based on the complex modulus. The cracking resistance and fatigue performance of the mixture prepared under different blending conditions were tested and related to the DOB to obtain a prediction model. Results showed that the DOB and the complex modulus G* increased with blending time and temperature. The blending effect of modified asphalt was not as good as 70-pen asphalt. The contribution of blending time and temperature to DOB was 40% and 50%, respectively. The influence of DOB on cracking resistance and fatigue performance of recycled asphalt mixtures was consistent with DSR test. Good correlations between DOB, cracking resistance and fatigue performance were observed, which were 79.14% and 82.82%, respectively. Based on the DOB model, optimal blending temperature and blending time could be found according to the softening point difference between virgin and aged asphalt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploration of artificial aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) has garnered extensive interest in the past two decades. In particular, AIEgens possessing natural characteristics (BioAIEgens) have received more attention recently due to the advantages of biocompatibility, sustainability and renewability. However, the extremely limited number of BioAIEgens extracted from natural sources have retarded their development. Herein, a new class of BioAIEgens based on the natural scaffold of chromene have been facilely synthesized via green reactions in a water system. These compounds show regiostructure-, polymorphism- and substituent-dependent fluorescence, which clearly illustrates the close relationship between the macroscopic properties and hierarchical structure of aggregates. Due to the superior biocompatibility of the natural scaffold, chromene-based BioAIEgens can specifically target the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) via the introduction of tosyl amide. This work has provided a new chromene scaffold for functional BioAIEgens on the basis of green and sustainable 'in-water' synthesis, applicable regiostructure-dependent fluorescence, and effective ER-specific imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The blending state of virgin and aged asphalt is one of the key factors that influence the cracking resistance and fatigue performance of recycled asphalt mixtures. In this paper, the complex modulus of the virgin and aged double-layered asphalt samples was measured by DSR experiments, and the degree of blending (DOB) was calculated based on the complex modulus. The cracking resistance and fatigue performance of the mixture prepared under different blending conditions were tested and related to the DOB to obtain a prediction model. Results showed that the DOB and the complex modulus G* increased with blending time and temperature. The blending effect of modified asphalt was not as good as 70-pen asphalt. The contribution of blending time and temperature to DOB was 40% and 50%, respectively. The influence of DOB on cracking resistance and fatigue performance of recycled asphalt mixtures was consistent with DSR test. Good correlations between DOB, cracking resistance and fatigue performance were observed, which were 79.14% and 82.82%, respectively. Based on the DOB model, optimal blending temperature and blending time could be found according to the softening point difference between virgin and aged asphalt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MXene materials emerge as promising candidates for energy harvesting and storage application. In this study, the effect of the surface chemistry on the work function of MXenes, which determines the performance of MXene‐based triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), is elucidated. First‐principles calculations reveal that the surface functional group greatly influences MXene work function: OH termination reduces the work function with respect to that of bare surface, while F and Cl increase it. Then, work functions are experimentally determined by Kelvin probe force microscopy. The MXene prepared by gentle etching at 40 °C for 48 h (GE40/48) has the largest work function. Furthermore, an electron‐cloud potential‐well model is established to explain the mechanism of electron emission‐dominated charge transfer and assemble a triboelectric device to verify experimentally its conclusions. It is found that GE40/48 has the best performance with a 281 V open‐circuit voltage, 9.7 µA short‐current current, and storing 1.019 µC of charge, which is consistent with the model. Last, a patterned TENG is demonstrated for self‐powered human–machine interaction application. This finding enhances the understanding of the inherent mechanism between the surface structure and the output performance of MXene‐based TENG, which can be applied to other TENG based on 2D materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease. Recently, NLRP3 has been demonstrated to be closely related to RA. The objective of our research was to analyze the specific mechanism of NLRP3 in RA. The m6A levels of NLRP3 was detected with methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP) kit. The mRNA and protein levels of related genes were tested with RT-qPCR and Western blot. The inflammatory factors levels were detected with ELISA kits. The cell proliferative ability was measured with CCK-8 and EdU staining assays. NLRP3 levels was prominently in synovial tissues and fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) from RA patients. NLRP3 silencing suppressed FLS proliferation and inflammatory factor levels. Additionally, ALKBH5 was found to bind with NLRP3, and ALKBH5 silencing suppressed FLS proliferation and inflammatory factor levels while NLRP3 overexpressing neutralized the role of ALKBH5 in FLS. Furthermore, m6A modified induced by ALKBH5 suppressed NLRP3 mRNA level through YTHDC2 in RA, and NLRP3 is a hinge factor in RA progression. [Display omitted] • NLRP3 is elevated in RA. • NLRP3 silencing suppresses inflammatory factor levels and proliferation of FLS. • m6A modified induced by ALKBH5 suppressed NLRP3 mRNA level through YTHDC2 in RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses a robust stabilization problem of polynomial systems with input saturation. Firstly, based on the framework of hybrid systems, an event-triggered controller is designed to establish the local uniform asymptotical stability of the closed-loop polynomial system. Secondly, the semi-global robust stabilization of polynomial systems using the event-triggered control is analyzed. In particular, robustness is developed to general perturbations that reflect the state noise and unmodeled dynamics, as well as inflation of flow and jump sets. Finally, two examples are presented to verify the designed event-triggered control strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with reset control and L 2 -gain stability of piecewise-affine systems with input saturation and external disturbance under the framework of hybrid systems. Firstly, we present a reset controller and establish exponential stability conditions of piecewise-affine systems with input saturation under the reset controller. Secondly, sufficient conditions for L 2 -gain stability of the closed-loop systems with input saturation and external disturbance are provided and a reset controller is designed to enhance the L 2 -gain performance of piecewise-affine systems with input saturation. Furthermore, robustness to inflations of the flow and jump sets is established. Finally, a numerical simulation is provided to illustrate the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A smart sensing platform based on a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) possesses various advantages such as self-powering, convenience, real-time and biocompatibility. However, the detection limit of the TENG-based sensor is required to be improved. In this study, a high performance TENG-based glucose sensor was proposed by using the Ti3C2Tx (MXene)/graphene oxide (GO) composite electrode. The MXene and GO nanosheets are popular 2D materials which possessed high conductivity and a rich surface functional group. The MXene/GO thin films were prepared through electrostatic self-assembly technology, which can effectively impede the agglomeration of two nanoflakes. The as-prepared MXene/GO film presented outstanding mechanical property. To figure out the relationship between the nanostructure of MXene/GO film and the TENG, a series of MXene/GO-based TENG with different GO sizes was characterized. As a result, the TENG with 400 nm GO demonstrated the highest output performance. Subsequently, the optimized TENG was used in glucose detection application without the assistance of a glucose enzyme. This simple and flexible TENG shows promising potential in biosensors and non-invasive health monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cretaceous sandstones have weak cementation and high porosity while exhibit a high apparent brittleness. Compression and torsion (C-T) fractures are widely distributed in Cretaceous sandstones due to asymmetric tectonic convergence action. However, studies on C-T fracture formation and the mechanisms causing variability in Cretaceous sandstones containing no oil or gas are rare due to the challenges in sampling intact sandstone cores, despite their significance to mine shaft sinking. Therefore, this study used binder jetting-based 3D printing to prepare artificial Cretaceous sandstone and developed a real-time X-ray computed tomography- (CT-) aided torsion shear apparatus to test them. The test results showed that the 3D printed (3DP) sandstone had characteristic indexes that approached and even exceeded the lower limits of Cretaceous sandstone cores, thereby accurately representing the unavailable cores. Furthermore, the 3DP sandstones had anisotropic properties comparable to the sandstone cores. Under C-T action, the 3DP sandstone exhibited a pronounced strain gradient of 2.0 %/mm perpendicular to fracture inclination. The inclination angles of fractures formed under C-T action tended to increase as the cell pressure increased, and that approached the orientation angles of maximal principal stress. The maximal and minimal principal stresses exerted inclination-slip and width-stretching effects, respectively, on C-T fractures. But the effect of inclination-slip on the C-T fractures was stronger than that of width-stretching. This insight into C-T fracture formation will guide future studies on the fracture evolution and its disaster-dominating mechanisms arisen from disturbances by shaft sinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with model predictive control of piecewise affine systems with dead zone constraints based on the mixed logical dynamical modeling approach. A predictive control strategy based on a mixed logic dynamical model is proposed. The strategy contains two steps: the first step is to transform the piecewise affine systems into mixed logic dynamical models; the second step is to apply a predictive control scheme based on this model. Then, the optimal control sequence can be obtained by solving the constructed mixed‐integer quadratic/linear programming problem. Finally, two numerical examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Transposable element (TE) is prevalent in plant genomes. However, studies on their impact on phenotypic evolution in crop plants are relatively rare, because systematically identifying TE insertions within a species has been a challenge. Here, we present a novel approach for uncovering TE insertion polymorphisms (TIPs) using pan‐genome analysis combined with population‐scale resequencing, and we adopt this pipeline to retrieve TIPs in a Brassica rapa germplasm collection. We found that 23% of genes within the reference Chiifu‐401‐42 genome harbored TIPs. TIPs tended to have large transcriptional effects, including modifying gene expression levels and altering gene structure by introducing new introns. Among 524 diverse accessions, TIPs broadly influenced genes related to traits and acted a crucial role in the domestication of B. rapa morphotypes. As examples, four specific TIP‐containing genes were found to be candidates that potentially involved in various climatic conditions, promoting the formation of diverse vegetable crops in B. rapa. Our work reveals the hitherto hidden TIPs implicated in agronomic traits and highlights their widespread utility in studies of crop domestication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Synovial fibroblasts (SFs) play an important role in the development and progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the pathogenic mechanism of SFs remains unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate how neuropeptides and N6-methyladenosine (m6A) played an important role in the underlying pathogenic processes of SFs that contribute to the development of RA. Methods. Single-cell RNA sequencing data were examined using single-cell analysis and machine learning. SF subgroups were identified based on the clustering and annotation results of the single-cell analysis. Moreover, cell–cell communication was used to analyse neuropeptide-related receptor and ligand pairs on the surface of SF cell membranes. Machine learning was used to explore the m6A factors acting on these neuropeptide genes. Results. NPR3, GHR, BDKRB2, and CALCRL, four neuropeptide genes, were shown to be differently expressed among SF subgroups. Further investigation of receptor–ligand interactions found that NPR3 (in conjunction with NPPC, OSTN, NPPB, and NPPA) and GHR (in conjunction with GH1 and GH2) may have a role in SF interactions. As predicted by machine learning, IGFBP2 and METTL3 were identified as key factors regulating m6A of NPR3 and GHR. The expression levels and enrichment pathways of METTL3 and IGFBP2 were different among SF subgroups. Conclusions. Single-cell analysis and machine learning efficiently identified neuropeptide genes and m6A factors that perform important regulatory functions in RA. Our strategy may provide a basis for future studies to identify pathogenic cell subpopulations and molecular mechanisms in RA and other diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The effect mechanism of solution heating rate on grain structure of aviation Al-Li alloy was explained in detail. • The variation of texture intensity in aviation Al-Li alloy with various solution heating rates was revealed. • The mechanism of grain size on formation of dislocation structure and its effect on fatigue crack propagation behavior during fatigue loading were discussed in detail. • The linear relationship between the grain size and the initial ΔK entering the rapid propagation region was firstly revealed in aviation Al-Li alloy. In this study, the effects of grain structure on the fatigue crack propagation (FCP) behaviors in the aviation Al-Li alloy sheets prepared by varying solution heating rates are discussed systematically. The results reveal that both the intensity of Goss texture and grain dimensions are improved with the decreased solution heating rates. Upon an identical stress intensity factor range (ΔK), the increased Goss texture of the sample with a solution heating rate of 2 ℃/min (2HR) promotes crack deflection, causing a decrease in FCP rates compared to that of the sample with a solution heating rate of about 100 ℃/min (FHR). The dislocations clustered near grain boundaries are more significant with increasing grain size during cyclic loading, which intensifies the strain localization. The accumulation of dislocations increases the possibility of micro-voids formation and creates the conditions for crack deflection, which results in a decrease in FCP rate. Besides, based on the calculation of the reversible plastic zone (RPZ) size, the initial ΔK entering the rapid propagation region increases with decreasing solution heating rates and exhibits a strong linear relationship with grain size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To explore the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and evaluate the safety of dose escalation using hypofractionated simultaneous integrated boost intensity-modulated radiotherapy (SIB-IMRT) concurrent with chemotherapy for unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods: Four escalating radiation dose levels were used. This study included 25 patients with previously untreated NSCLC who received six concurrent weekly chemotherapy cycles comprising cisplatin and docetaxel. Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was defined as any acute toxicity that interrupted radiotherapy for more than 1 week. MTD was defined as the highest dose level that didn't induce DLT or grade 5 toxicity in two patients.Results: All 25 patients received the prescribed escalating radiation dose from the start dose up to LEVEL 4. Two patients experienced DLT at dose LEVEL 4. One patient died because of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage within 6 months after radiotherapy, whereas another patient among the additional five patients died because of grade 5 radiation pneumonitis within 2 months after radiotherapy. Dose LEVEL 3 was defined as MTD. The 1- and 2-year local controls were 82.8 and 67.8%, respectively. The median progression-free survival was 15.4 months, whereas the median overall survival was 27.3 months.Conclusions: Dose escalation was safely achieved up to LEVEL 3 [the planning gross target volume (PTVG) 60.5 Gy/22 Fx, 2.75 Gy/Fx; the planning clinical target volume (PTVC) 49.5 Gy/22 Fx] using SIB-IMRT concurrently with chemotherapy for unresectable stage III NSCLC, and the acute toxicities were generally well tolerated. Further prospective studies on long-term outcomes and late toxicities are warranted.Trial Registration: Retrospective registration, ChiCTR1900027290 (08/11/2019). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Neuroendocrine cervical carcinoma (NECC) is an uncommon malignancy of the female reproductive system. This study aimed to evaluate cancer-specific mortality and to construct prognostic nomograms for predicting the survival of patients with NECC.Methods: we assembled the patients with NECC diagnosed between 2004 to 2015 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Meanwhile, we identified other patients with NECC from the Wenling Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital between 2002 to 2017. Fine and Gray's test and Kaplan-Meier methods were used to evaluate cancer-specific mortality and overall survival (OS) rates, respectively. Nomograms were constructed for predicting cancer-specific survival (CSS) and OS for patients with NECC. The developed nomograms were validated both internally and externally.Results: a total of 894 patients with NECC were extracted from the SEER database, then classified into the training cohort (n = 628) and the internal validation cohort (n = 266). Besides, 106 patients from the Wenling Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital served as an external validation cohort. Nomograms for predicting CSS and OS were constructed on clinical predictors. The validation of nomograms was calculated by calibration curves and concordance indexes (C-indexes). Furthermore, the developed nomograms presented higher areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves when compared to the FIGO staging system.Conclusions: we established the first competing risk nomograms to predict the survival of patients with NECC. Such a model with high predictive accuracy could be a practical tool for clinicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the stabilisation problem of linear systems subject to saturated input and bounded disturbance via event-triggered control strategy. In a hybrid systems framework, both a state feedback law and a static output feedback law are proposed to design the event-triggered controllers, which provide solutions to the event-triggered control collaborative design problem. For the case of using static output feedback, an iterative linear matrix inequality algorithm is proposed to obtain the feedback gain. In addition, the local uniform ultimate boundedness of the closed-loop system is ensured. Finally, two examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed controllers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a rapid enrichment and separation of minor components from Malus hupehensis, the selection of suitable solvent system is the great challenge for liquid–liquid extraction with a three‐phase solvent system and high‐speed counter‐current chromatography. According to the concept of "like dissolves like," the similarity of the average polarity between solvent system and target compounds was the significant characteristic of liquid–liquid extraction with a three‐phase solvent system and high‐speed counter‐current chromatography separation. The polarity parameter model provides a way to calculate the polarity of unknown compounds. Under the guidance of the polarity, an efficient enrichment and separation approach was established through liquid–liquid extraction and high‐speed counter‐current chromatography with solvent systems composed of n‐hexane‐ethyl acetate‐acetonitrile‐water (5:3:5:7, v/v), n‐hexane‐ethyl acetate‐methanol‐water (1:2:1:2, v/v), respectively. Thus, the total content of minor compounds was increased from 2.6% to 17.2%, and two novel compounds (6´´‐O‐coumaroyl‐2´‐O‐glucopyranosylphloretin and 3´´´‐methoxy‐6´´‐O‐feruloy‐2´‐glucopyranosylphloretin) were obtained. The discovery of the new dihydrochalcones expanded the structural diversity of compounds produced by the genus Malus. The experimental results demonstrated that compound polarity can be described by the polarity parameter model and is an important reference for investigating optimum solvent systems for liquid–liquid extraction with a three‐phase solvent system and high‐speed counter‐current chromatography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The structures and electronic properties of K-PHI and H-PHI are compared. • A systematic theoretical study of the structure, electronic and optical properties and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction activity of K-PHI and H-PHI loaded Pt cocatalysts was conducted. • The short-range induced dipole effect of K+ and the larger size of the Pt cocatalyst together promote the photocatalytic performance of carbon nitride. In the synthesis of highly crystalline carbon nitride, alkali metal halides are used as high-temperature solvents and structural guiding agents, but the effect of alkali metal ions on the catalytic activity of materials is still unclear. In addition, the shape and size of the cocatalyst also significantly affect the catalytic activity of the material. Therefore, we have carried out the density functional theory calculations to reveal the differences in the structure, electronic, and optical properties, as well as the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance of one kind of crystalline carbon nitride called potassium poly(heptazine imide) (K-PHI) and its proton-exchanged counterpart (H-PHI) loaded with different sizes of platinum cocatalysts. The results show that potassium ions have the effect of aggregation electrons in K-PHI, and potassium ions have short-range induced dipole effect on nearby Pt atoms, resulting in slightly better photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity at these reaction sites. Additionally, Pt cocatalyst with larger load size has better photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity than small size. This work provides a theoretical basis for the rational design of high-performance metal cocatalysts and exploration of the functionality of alkali metal ions in carbon nitrides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the problem of low detection rate when targets enter/leave the field of view, or targets are partially occluded, a multi moving targets detection algorithm based on spatio-temporal context is proposed. Firstly, the time context information is used to extract the candidate target region, which is based on the forward and backward motion history map. Secondly, the spatial context information and the target apparent information are used to calculate the target confidence map, which is based on the sparsely encoded CRF model. Finally, the target confidence of the candidate target region is calculated to detect the multiple moving targets. The experimental results show that the pro posed algorithm has good detection performance, and it has higher recall rate, precision and F measure than other multi-target detection algorithms under the condition of guaranteeing high positioning accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brassica oleracea is an important vegetable crop that has provided ancestor genomes of the two most important Brassica oil crops, Brassica napus and Brassica carinata. The current B. oleracea reference genome (JZS, also named 02–12) displays problems of large mis-assemblies, low sequence continuity, and low assembly integrity, thus limiting genomic analysis. We reported an updated assembly of the B. oleracea reference genome (JZS v2) obtained through single-molecule sequencing and chromosome conformation capture technologies. We assembled an additional 83.16 Mb of genomic sequences, and the updated genome features a contig N50 size of 2.37 Mb, representing an ~ 88-fold improvement. We detected a new round of long terminal repeat retrotransposon (LTR-RT) burst in the new assembly. Comparative analysis with the reported genome sequences of two other genomes of B. oleracea (TO1000 and HDEM) identified extensive gene order and gene structural variation. In addition, we found that the genome-specific amplification of Gypsy-like LTR-RTs occurred around 0–1 million years ago (MYA). In particular, the athila, tat, and Del families were extensively amplified in JZS around 0–1 MYA. Moreover, we identified that the syntenic genes were modified due to the insertion of genome-specific LTR-RTs. These results indicated that the genome-specific LTR-RT dynamics were associated with genome diversification in B. oleracea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferrocene-decorated cellulosic materials are usually obtained via a couple of synthetic procedures, which might possibly affect their degree of substitution. In this work, two ferrocene-decorated cellulose esters, connected either by monocarboxylate or by dicarboxylate linkers, have been prepared via one-step reactions by means of esterifying microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) with ferrocenemonocarboxylic acid and 1,1'-ferrocenedicarboxylic acid (FcDA), respectively. Successful surface modification has been confirmed by elemental analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric measurements. Large retention of the crystalline morphology can be revealed by powder X-ray diffraction, confirming its surface decoration as well. Cyclic voltammetry results of both esters have demonstrated that the winding of the cellulose chains in MCC-FcDA caused by its cross-linking structure might have unfavorable effect for electron transfer, resulting in weaker reversibility of its redox process. Therefore, exploration of a suitable linker might be of great importance to achieve ideal electrochemical properties. Two ferrocene-decorated cellulose esters connected either by mono or by dicarboxylate linkers have been synthesized via one-step reactions, exhibiting the more electrochemical reversibility of the monocarboxylate-linked ester. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has become a promising candidate for wearable energy harvesting and self‐powered sensing systems. However, processing large amounts of data imposes a computing power barrier for practical application. Machine learning‐assisted self‐powered sensors based on TENG have been widely used in data‐driven applications due to their excellent characteristics such as no additional power supply, high sensing accuracy, low cost, and good biocompatibility. This work comprehensively reviews the latest progress in machine learning (ML)‐assisted TENG‐based sensors. The future challenges and opportunities are discussed. First, the fundamental principles including the working mode of ML‐assisted TENG‐based sensor and common algorithms are systematically and comprehensively illustrated, which emphasizes the algorithm definition and principle. Subsequently, the progress of ML methods in the field of TENG‐based sensors is further reviewed, summarizing the advantages and disadvantages of various algorithms in practical examples, and providing guidance and suggestions on how to choose the appropriate methods. Finally, the prospects and challenges of ML‐assisted TENG‐based sensors is summarized. Directions and important insights for the future development of TENG and AI integration is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coordination microenvironment modulation of single‐atom catalysts (SACs) based on p‐block metals holds promise for excavating their enormous potential in electrochemical CO2‐to CO conversion. Guided by the instructive theoretical calculations over serial asymmetric coordination microenvironments, herein, a novel Pb SAC with highly asymmetric coordination microenvironment (Pb‐N2SV) is developed. Namely, the Pb atom is coordinated with two N atoms, one S atom and one vacancy nearby. With the breaking of coordination symmetry, the obtained Pb‐N2SV shows excellent ECR performance with 97.3% Faradaic efficiency of CO at −0.47 V, and long‐term stability of 33 h, which exceeds the vast majority of main‐group SACs. More importantly, in situ spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) studies unveil that the S doping in Pb SAC can significantly improve electron localization around Pb sites to facilitate *COOH intermediate adsorption, while the introduction of vacancy defect nearby the Pb sites can function as a synergistic modulation on the electronic structure for favorable *CO intermediate desorption, which jointly contributes to achieve the suitable adsorption energy for reaction intermediates to boost the ECR process. As an expandability, this approach will be widely used to construct SACs with unique coordination microenvironment for other challenging catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In immunosuppressed hosts, Legionella pneumophila (Lp) infection usually develops into severe pneumonia, which is pathologically characterized by increased vascular permeability and pulmonary edema. At present, mechanisms associated with changes in pulmonary capillary permeability (PCP) and the pathogenesis of pulmonary edema in immunosuppressed hosts with Lp infection are unclear. Therefore, in the present study an animal model of normal and immunosuppressed guinea pigs infected with Lp was established. An isolated perfused lung system was used to investigate the extent of changes in PCP. Pathological and immunofluorescence examinations were performed to explore the mechanism underlying these changes. The results indicated that PCP increased with the highest magnitude in immunosuppressed guinea pigs infected with Lp, with repeated ANOVA indicating synergism between infection and immunosuppression (P=0.0444). Hematoxylin and eosin staining and electron microscopy revealed more severe morphological damages in the lung tissues and pulmonary capillaries of the immunosuppressed animals infected with Lp compared with normal animals infected with Lp. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that immunosuppression reduced the expression of the vascular endothelial cell junction protein VE-cadherin (P=0.027). Following Lp infection, VE-cadherin expression was significantly lower in the immunosuppressed guinea pigs compared with their immunocompetent counterparts (P=0.001). These results suggest that immunosuppression combined with Lp infection induces more significant damage to pulmonary capillaries compared with Lp infection alone, resulting in a significantly increased PCP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Endobronchial ultrasound‑guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS‑TBNA) and positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) are the two most extensively used methods for the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer. Aims: The present study was designed to compare the diagnostic performance of EBUS‑TBNA with that of PET/CT in patients with hilar and/or mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Settings and Design: We compared the accuracy of EBUS-TBNA with that of PET/CT in the diagnosis of hilar and/or mediastinal lymphadenopathy and evaluated the diagnostic utility of EBUS-TBNA in patients with PET/CT false-positive and false-negative findings. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed 85 patients with hilar and/or mediastinal lymphadenopathy who underwent EBUS‑TBNA and PET/CT between January 2014 and December 2017. The accuracy of EBUS-TBNA histopathology and cytopathology was evaluated and compared with PET/CT scan findings. Results: The diagnostic accuracy of EBUS‑TBNA combined with PET/CT was significantly higher than that of the single diagnostic method (P < 0.001). Among PET/CT‑negative lymph nodes, 4 of 9 (44.4%) malignant lymph nodes were identified by EBUS‑TBNA. Among PET/CT‑positive lymph nodes, 43 of 47 (91.5%) benign lymph nodes were diagnosed by EBUS‑TBNA. Conclusions: EBUS‑TBNA combined with PET/CT could effectively reduce false‑positive and false‑negative rates in the diagnosis of hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy, which might provide accurate staging, determine optimum therapeutic strategy and improve survival in patients with lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impedance modeling of a Type-IV wind turbine is usually associated with model reductions, e.g., the grid-side converter is modeled in detail, whereas the machine-side converter (MSC) is simplified as a constant power load (CPL). Meanwhile, the Nyquist-based stability analyses are normally conducted on the ac side, where the evaluation of the stability margin can be difficult due to the presence of multiple eigen-loci. Although some similar analyses regarding the high-voltage dc systems are performed on the dc side, a justification of the consistency between the ac and dc side analysis is lacking. Therefore, this paper aims to address these issues by first developing a detailed impedance model of the Type-IV wind turbine, and then providing a formal proof of the equivalence between the ac- and dc-side analysis. The detailed Type-IV wind turbine model is verified by the measured frequency responses from simulations, as well as its correctness in Nyquist-based stability analysis. The MSC modeling effects are further discussed, for which a thorough comparison of the CPL-based model and the detailed model with respect to the stability margin is conducted. As a result, the feasibility of the CPL-based model for stability analysis is clarified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method to optimize a high‐speed countercurrent chromatography solvent system from many possible solvent systems was guided by average polarity and K values of crude samples, which was successfully applied in separation of the naphtho‐γ‐pyrones. This method expanded the scope of spectrophotometer application in the solvent systems selection, and showed the merits of simplicity, rapidity, and low reagent consumption. As a consequence of utilizing the method, an efficient separation procedure was established, and two groups of naphtho‐γ‐pyrone isomers (fonsecinone B and asperpyrone F; asperpyrone C, fonsecinone A, and aurasperone A) were obtained from Pleurotus ostreatus by high‐speed countercurrent chromatography with a solvent system composed of petroleum ether/ethyl acetate/methanol/water (5:5:5:5, v/v). The results indicate that high‐speed countercurrent chromatography could be a powerful technology for separation isomers and analogues, and the method guided by average polarity and K values of crude samples is feasible to optimize solvent system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Bulky TPA is favorable for photochromism in the crystalline state. • Bulky TPA can help to form amorphous materials during fast precipitation procedure. • Excited-state intramolecular proton transfer is inhibited in the amorphous state for inactive photochromism. • Distinguished photochromism is utilized for bimodal encryption-decryption. Multimodal encryption-decryption with photochromism has been proved to ensure information security with great feasibility and operability. However, most of the photochromic materials are applied in single-mode encryption-decryption and highly dependent on crystallization, requiring long manufacturing time and lacking of controllability. Hence, amorphous materials with simple preparation and bimodal encryption-decryption are of good alternates. Herein, we have succeeded in developing an aggregation-induced emission-active and photochromic ATPA-SAB with crystalline form via introduction of the propeller-like and bulky triphenylamine (TPA). Expectedly, the amorphous materials can be obtained by fast precipitation. Examining its amorphous structures, the intramolecular N‧‧‧H distances of around 4.000 Å is largely over the normal intramolecular hydrogen bond of circa 1.800 Å, impeding the intrinsic excited-state intramolecular proton transfer process (ESIPT) for the first time, hence prohibiting photochromism. This work not only provides a strategy to construct amorphous materials and inhibit ESIPT process with TPA, but also applies both crystalline and amorphous materials for bimodal encryption-decryption to upgrade information security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of VDAC1 in osteosarcoma is unclear. We explored the effect of VDAC1 on osteosarcoma development by combining bioinformatic analysis and experimental identification. This study suggested that VDAC1 is an independent prognostic factor for osteosarcoma. Patients with high VDAC1 expression have a poor survival rate. VDAC1 was overexpressed in osteosarcoma cells. After silencing VDAC1, the proliferation of osteosarcoma cells decreased, and the apoptosis rate increased. Gene set variation analysis and gene set enrichment analysis indicated that VDAC1 was associated with the MAPK signaling pathway. After VDAC1 siRNA, SB203580 (a p38 inhibitor), SP600125 (a JNK inhibitor) and α-pifithrin (a p53 inhibitor) treatment, the proliferative capacity was weaker in the si-VDAC1 group than in the si-VDAC1 + SB203580, si-VDAC1 + SP600125, and si-VDAC1 + α-pifithrin groups. In conclusion, prognosis-related VDAC1 can affect osteosarcoma cells' proliferative activity and apoptosis level. The MAPK signaling pathway mediates VDAC1 regulation of osteosarcoma cell development. • VDAC1 is an independent prognostic factor for osteosarcoma. • Osteosarcoma patients with high VDAC1 expression have a poor survival rate. • Silencing VDAC1 inhibits the proliferation and invasion of osteosarcoma cells. • VDAC1 affects osteosarcoma development by inhibiting p38, JNK, and p53 signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a generalized method for converting multi-input and multi-output (MIMO) $dq$ impedance model of a grid-tied voltage source converter system into its sequence domain single-input and single-output (SISO) equivalents. As a result, two types of SISO impedance models were derived, one of which was derived from relatively strong and dq$ symmetric grid assumption (reduced SISO model) and the other was based on closed-loop equivalent (accurate SISO model). It was proven that the accurate SISO model has the same marginal stability condition as the MIMO model. Accuracy of these models is assessed with respect to the measured impedances in PSCAD/EMTDC simulations, their effects on stability are analyzed as well. Findings show that the accurate SISO model presents identical stability conclusions as the MIMO model. However, the reduced SISO model may lead to inaccurate results if the system is highly {\rm{dq}} asymmetric, e.g., VSC with fast phase-locked loop or an actively controlled grid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the eighth cause of cancer‐related deaths worldwide. To screen potential biomarkers associated with early recurrence/metastasis (R/M) of ESCC patients after radical resection, ESCC patients were analyzed by a comparative proteomics analysis using iTRAQ with RPLC‐MS to screen differential proteins among R/M groups and adjacent normal tissues. The proteins were identified by qRT‐PCR, Western blotting, and tissue microarray. The protein and mRNA expression difference of PHB2 between tumor tissues of ESCC patients and adjacent normal tissues, ESCC patients with and without metastasis, four ESCC cell lines and normal esophageal epithelial cells were inspected using immunohistochemical staining, qRT‐PCR, and Western blotting. The EC109 and TE1 cells were used to establish PHB2 knockdown cell models, and their cell proliferation and invasion ability were determined by cell counting method, Transwell® assay. Thirteen proteins were selected by cutoff value of 0.67 fold for underexpression and 1.5‐fold for overexpression. Seven proteins were confirmed to be associated with R/M among the 13 proteins. The potential biomarker PHB2 for early recurrence/metastasis of ESCC was identified. PHB2 expression was related to the OS of ESCC patients (P = 0.032) and had high levels in the tumor tissues and human cell lines of ESCC (P = 0.0002). Also, the high PHB2 expression promoted the metastasis of ESCC (P = 0.0075), suggesting high PHB2 expression was a potential prognostic biomarker. Experiments showed that PHB2 could significantly promote the proliferation and cell invasion ability of human ESCC cell lines and the knockdown of PHB2 suppressed the phosphorylation level of AKT, as well as the expression of MMP9 and RAC1. PHB2 could predict the early metastasis of ESCC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measurements of P v Tx properties of HFO-1234yf/HFC-32 binary mixture in the vapor phase were carried out by single-sinker magnetic suspension densimeter in the range of temperatures from 279.8 to 347.9 K, pressures from 0.10 to 2.66 MPa, densities from 2.30 to 66.02 kg m −3 , and mole fractions of HFO-1234yf from 0.062 to 0.610. The experimental expanded uncertainty ( k  = 2) in temperature, pressure, and mole fraction are estimated to be 12 mK, 1.4 kPa, and 0.0002, respectively. The relative expanded uncertainty ( k  = 2) in density is 0.029–0.104%. On the basis of the experimental PvTx properties data, a truncated virial equation of state was developed for the binary HFO-1234yf/HFC-32 system. It reproduces the experimental values with average absolute deviations of 0.10% and 0.11% for pressure and density, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A subsynchronous oscillation (SSO) phenomenon in a wind farm integrated with a modular multilevel converter (MMC)‐based high‐voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system has been recently observed in the real world. An attempt is made in this paper to contribute to the understanding of the root cause of the SSO in the MMC‐HVDC connected wind farms. For that, the small‐signal impedance model of the MMC is first developed based on the harmonic state‐space (HSS) modelling method. An inherent low‐frequency resonance peak in the MMC excluding any control influence is identified by its terminal impedance. Arguably, this could be the reason why the SSO occurs in the MMC‐HVDC connected wind farms. In addition to that, the influence factors, such as main circuit parameters, controller parameters, and power level, on the stability of the interconnected system are examined, which can provide guidelines for the system design in order to guarantee the stability of the interconnected system. Based on the mechanism analysis, a stabilization control for suppressing the SSO in the MMC‐HVDC based wind farms is also proposed. Finally, the theoretical analysis and stabilization control are validated by both time‐domain simulations and field measurements in a real MMC‐HVDC connected wind farm in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For large-scale commercialized wind turbines, using the speed-torque lookup table is a traditional strategy to achieve optimum tip-speed ratio tracking. Due to the constraint of the minimum grid-connected generator speed and the rated generator speed, the strategy can only use the slashes to describe these 2 transition zones. This affects the smoothness of the output power, shrinks the optimum tip-speed range, and loses the generating energy. Based on an analysis of the nonlinear aerodynamics of the wind turbine, this paper presents a strategy of realizing optimal power generation control that dynamically updates the output torque limit value of the controller. The strategy solves the problems of unmeasurable wind speed and inability to track wind speed and achieves the target of maximum wind energy capture below rated wind speed. Simulation and field test results proved the correctness of the algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rutting is common pavement distress, which leads to lower riding comfort for road users and high maintenance costs. One of the commonly used tests is the simulation test with wheel tracking devices. Here, a new rutting test system has been developed based on the “Driving Wheel Pavement Analyzer” (DWPA) to evaluate the rutting performance of asphalt mixtures. This study conducted three types of rutting tests to validate feasibility, reliability, and accuracy of DWPA test. The results indicated that the DWPA test provided more information on ruts and enabled us to distinguish the performance of materials. The CDWPA index is better suited to reflect the rutting resistance of the material, which is highly correlated to the APA rutting index and the rutting test index of China according to the grey relational analysis results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wind energy conversion system is a complex dynamic system which contains multi‐coupling and multi‐time‐scales. The commonly used simplified models are unable to uncover all the detailed dynamics. The real‐time co‐simulation platform based on real‐time digital simulator and GH Bladed is built with a controller hardware‐in‐loop, in which the kinematics equation of generator rotor is used as the interface to decouple the different time scales, and a specific programmable logic controller is used to build the two‐way communication. The effect of signal delay between the two simulation platforms is discussed and the stability of the system is analysed. The proposed co‐simulation platform is able to show detailed dynamics of the whole turbine as well as the comprehensive effects of the controllers. The correctness and superiorities are verified by number of simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A simplified skeleton method for coarse aggregates analysis of asphalt mixtures was proposed. • The stress transfer paths and load transfer efficiencies of three typical gradations were studied. • Eff skeleton reflected the load transfer efficiency of the coarse aggregate skeleton under no-load conditions. • The DisP value reflected the load transfer efficiency of the coarse aggregate skeleton under a specific load. Studies on asphalt mixture skeletons have primarily focused on the statistical skeleton morphology while neglecting internal stress transfer. This study therefore proposed a simplified reconstruction-based coarse aggregate skeleton method for analyzing asphalt mixes using the force chain concept from granular matter mechanics. The stress transfer paths and load transfer efficiencies were investigated for three typical aggregate gradations (AC-13, SMA-13, and OGFC-13) and an analysis of their correlation with uniaxial penetration test results was performed. The AC-13 mixture exhibited the largest uniaxial penetration strength (3.30 kN on average) at the lowest failure displacement (4.1 mm on average). As the characteristics of the simplified skeleton were shown to be related to the number of contact points provided between large aggregate particles, the force chain morphology was closely linked to the mixture gradation. The ratio of strong to weak force chains in the AC-13 mixture was approximately 0.77, whereas those of the SMA-13 and OGFC-13 mixtures were significantly different at 0.90 and 1.13, respectively. The transfer efficiencies of the AC-13, SMA-13, and OGFC-13 specimen skeletons considering morphology alone (i.e., under the no-load condition) were 20.94 %, 62.34 %, and 73.57 %, respectively. However, the correlation between the load transfer efficiency of the coarse aggregate skeleton under a specific load and the observed penetration strength reached 0.9. Thus, the simplified skeleton analysis method proposed herein was shown to satisfactorily retain the skeletal characteristics of the mixes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our density functional theory calculations show that silicon doping in g-CN (SiC3N3) can improve the electrochemical performance of g-CN as an anode of alkali metal-ion batteries and solve the problems of too high adsorption ability and migration energy barrier commonly found in porous carbon nitride. The stability of SiC3N3 was verified by molecular dynamics simulations and phonon spectroscopy. Elastic constant calculations revealed that the Si doping in g-CN can improve its mechanical properties. Specifically, Li/Na/K has a suitable adsorption capability (−0.71/−0.52/−0.98 eV) and a lower migration barrier (0.73/0.43/0.21 eV) on SiC3N3, where the barrier of a single Li-ion is the lowest among the doped porous carbon nitride materials studied so far. Moreover, SiC3N3 exhibits a high theoretical capacity (253/1512/1512 mA h g−1) and a low open-circuit voltage (0.48/0.18/0.31 V) for Li/Na/K ion batteries. Compared with B-doped g-CN previously studied, Si doping can more effectively improve the electronic conductivity of g-CN owing to greater charge transfer between Si and g-CN; the migration energy barrier of alkali metal ions on SiC3N3 is reduced more significantly due to its puckered structure instead of a planar structure; and the capacity of SiC3N3 is nearly doubled for alkali metal ion batteries because it has more feasible adsorption sites for alkali metals. These results suggest that Si-doped g-CN can be a universal anode material for alkali metal ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diode‐rectifier (DR)‐based high‐voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission is regarded as a low‐cost alternative to the HVDC transmission for offshore wind farms (OWFs) integration. However, the DR would generate harmonic voltages in the offshore grid, which greatly affects the power quality. To solve this problem, this paper utilizes a parallel‐connected small‐capacity auxiliary converter to suppress the harmonic voltages and provide black‐start energy for the OWFs. In addition, the submodule branches (SMBs) of the auxiliary converter can be used as part of the HVDC chopper. On this basis, a coordinated grid fault ride‐through (FRT) strategy is proposed in this paper. After a grid fault occurs, the HVDC chopper constructed by the auxiliary converter is able to constrain the DC‐link voltage. At the same time, the OWFs are controlled to reduce the output active power. As a result, the cost of the FRT can be significantly reduced. The proposed harmonic voltage suppression and the FRT method are verified through the simulation model in Simulink. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Because the rigid alicyclic ring of dehydroabietic acid has the effect of restricting the molecular motion, we obtained two rosin-based BioAIEgens by combining DA with large chromophoric triphenylamine. • DAA-TPA obtained by connecting TPA with the aliphatic ring of DA has TICT-AIE, while the DAMBA-TPA obtained by connecting TPA with the aromatic ring of DA shows an atypical AIE. • Based on the TICT-AIE performance of DAA-TPA, we applied it to the detection of trace water in organic solvents. Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) luminogens have been widely used in various fields. Among them, BioAIEgens (AIEgens from natural resources) have been highly concerned by researchers because of their unique advantages. However, the number of BioAIEgens directly derived from nature is limited. Therefore, chemical modification on natural resources may be an effective way to obtain more BioAIEgens. In this paper, because the rigid alicyclic ring of dehydroabietic acid (DA) has the effect of restricting molecular motion, we successfully obtained two rosin-based BioAIEgens (DAA-TPA and DAMBA-TPA) by combining DA with triphenylamine. Interestingly, DAA-TPA obtained by connecting TPA with the aliphatic ring of DA has TICT-AIE and strong solid-state emission properties, while DAMBA-TPA obtained by connecting TPA with the aromatic ring of DA shows an atypical AIE and weak solid emission effect. Two control molecules were designed to investigate the influence of the introduction of aliphatic ring and aromatic ring on the photophysical properties of TPA. The results showed that DA containing both aliphatic ring and aromatic ring may be used as a precursor to construct BioAIEgens with different AIE properties. In addition, based on the fluorescence performance of DAA-TPA, we applied it to the detection of trace water in acetonitrile (ACN). Two rosin-based BioAIEgens with distinct fluorescence properties have been obtained on account of our design strategy of introducing large chromophoric triphenylamine into rigid rosin. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Packing plays a bridging role on the material design. • Both photochromic and mechanochromic properties are closely related to the packing modes. • The photochromic properties can be utilized for application in encryption-decryption. Current research shows that photophysical behaviors of fluorescent materials are used to be regulated by molecular design, but in fact it remains elusive to directly correlate molecular structures with the macroscopic properties at aggregate state. Herein, a series of natural alicycle-incorporated salicylideneanilines with aggregation-induced emission activity as well as their corresponding simple ones have been synthesized to fill the gap between molecular and aggregate level. Unexpectedly, the largely stronger emission of the simple salicylideneaniline with Br substituent over its alicycle-fused compound contrasts the previous molecular design strategy of rigidification effect via structural incorporation of alicycles, suggesting the influential effect of packing, which can be further verified by quenched emission of the simple Cl-substituted salicylideneaniline due to its compact packing. Moreover, comprehensive stimuli-responsive chromic investigations prove that the packing modes correlate well with the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer and cis to trans isomerization processes, enabling the Me-substituted simple salicylideneaniline with loosest packing photochromic, while the one (Cl group) with most compact packing mechanochromic. Hence, this work helps to bridge the gap between molecular structures and macroscopic properties via molecular packing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerical simulations of sea breezes and the coastal atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) at Hainan Island, China during summer and winter are discussed. The different behaviour of sea breezes and the ABL on the leeward and windward sides of the island are examined, and it is found that offshore flows are more likely to create a strong sea-breeze signature, whereas the process of sea-breeze development under onshore flows is difficult to capture. At the location where the sea-breeze signal is remarkable, the height of the coastal ABL displays an abnormal decrease, corresponding to a transitional point from a continental ABL to a thermal internal boundary layer (TIBL) formed under sea-breeze conditions. This is corroborated by the sudden increase in the water vapour mixing ratio and/or wind speed, indicating the arrival of the sea breeze. Regarding the spatial distribution, the TIBL height decreases abruptly just ahead of the sea-breeze front, and above the cold air mass. When the sea-breeze front occurs with a raised head, a cold air mass is separated from the sea-breeze flow and penetrates inland. This separation is attributed to the interaction between the sea breeze and valley breeze, while the dry airflow entraining to the sea-breeze flow may also partially contribute to this air mass separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung cancer is a common and highly frequent cause of cancer-associated mortality worldwide. Several studies have indicated that chronic inflammation is associated with an increased risk of several types of human cancer. The lung is vulnerable to various chemical and biological insults, and persistent exposure to these factors may result in the release of several inflammatory cytokines from inflammatory cells, thus leading to chronic inflammation and a risk of lung cancer. Due to the extensive application of C57BL/6J mice in lipid metabolism-related research, it appears important to establish a lung cancer model based on C57BL/6J mice. Therefore, the present study designed an experimental model, in which C57BL/6J mice received several injections of urethane. The study aimed to explore whether inflammation has a role in this model of lung cancer. The results demonstrated that 10 weekly intraperitoneal injections of urethane induced a 100% lung tumor incidence, and urethane-treated mice possessed higher numbers of immune cells. In addition, the expression levels of cytokines and chemokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were significantly different between the two groups. Activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor-κB was increased in the lung tissues of urethane-treated mice, and its expression was upregulated in a time-dependent manner. These results suggested that the accumulation of lung inflammation may be associated with the occurrence of lung cancer in C57BL/6J mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fluorescent polymer probe was developed by connecting tetraphenylethylene (TPE) with glucose via the formation of borate ester linkages. Based on the selective breaking of C–B bonds, the macroscopic and fluorescence detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vitro and in cells was successfully realized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]