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Seismic full-waveform inversion (FWI) or waveform inversion (WI) has gained extensive attention as a cutting-edge imaging method, which is expected to reveal the high-resolution images of complex geological structures. In this paper, we regard each 1-D signal in the inversion system as a 1-D probability distribution, then use the Jensen–Shannon divergence from information theory to measure the discrepancy between the predicted and observed signals, and finally implement a novel 2-D multiparameter shallow-seismic WI (MSWI). Essentially, the novel approach achieves an implicit weighting along the time-axis for each 1-D adjoint source defined by the classical WI (CWI), thus enhancing the extra illumination for a deeper medium compared with the CWI. By evaluating the inversion results of the two-layer model and fault model, the reconstruction accuracy for S -wave velocity and density of the new method is increased by about 30 and 20 per cent compared with that of the CWI under the same conditions, respectively. The reconstruction performance for P -wave velocity of these two methods is almost equal. In addition, the new 2-D MSWI is also resilient to white Gaussian noise in the data. Numerically, the inversion system has almost the strongest sensitivities to the S -wave velocity and density, performing the poorest sensitivity to the P -wave velocity. Finally, we test the novel method with a detection case for a power tunnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate earthquake source parameters are crucial for understanding plate tectonics, yet, it is difficult to determine these parameters precisely for offshore events, especially for outer‐rise earthquakes, as the limited availability of direct P or S wave data sets from land‐based seismic networks and the unsuitability of simplified 1D methods for the complex 3D structures of subducting systems. To overcome these challenges, we employ an efficient hybrid numerical simulation method to model these 3D structural effects on teleseismic P/SH and P‐coda waves and determine the reliable centroid locations and focal mechanisms of outer‐rise normal‐faulting earthquakes in northeastern Japan. Two M6+ events with reliable locations from ocean bottom seismic observations are utilized to calibrate the 3D velocity structure. Our findings indicate that 3D synthetic waveforms are sensitive to both event location, thanks to bathymetry and water reverberation effects, and the shallow portion of the lithospheric structure. With our preferred velocity model, which has Versus ∼16% lower than the global average, event locations are determined with uncertainties of <5 km for horizontal position and <1 km for depth. The refined event locations in a good match between one of the nodal strikes and the high‐resolution bathymetry, enabling the determination of the causative fault plane. Our results reveal that trench‐ward dipping normal faults are more active, with three parallel to the trench as expected, while five are associated with the abyssal hills. The significant velocity reduction in the uppermost lithosphere suggests abundant water migrating through active normal faults, enhancing both mineral alteration and pore density. Plain Language Summary: The subduction of oceanic plates plays a crucial role in recycling earth materials and generating the largest earthquakes and tsunamis. This process causes significant bending of the oceanic plate near the trench, where forces from frictional coupling on the plate interface and far‐field subduction loading act in opposite directions, forming a gentle bulge on the seafloor termed the outer‐rise region. This region is rich in shallow bending‐related earthquakes at shallow depths and is characterized by rough bathymetry bounded by faults. Identifying the relationship between these earthquakes and their hosting faults is critical for understanding the seismic and tsunami hazards and fault development in the outer rise. However, building up this link is impeded by large uncertainties of earthquake source parameters. Here, we employ an advanced numerical wavefield simulation approach to precisely handle the structural complexity near 8 ∼ M6 outer‐rise earthquakes, which allows use of far‐field seismic waveform data to constrain source parameters. Reliable earthquake locations and focal mechanisms, along with high‐resolution bathymetry, enable us to identify the causative faults. Dramatically low velocity structure of the subducting oceanic plate is also revealed through this process, which suggests a fluid‐rich outer rise region that efficiently recycles water into the deeper earth. Key Points: Centroid location and focal mechanism of outer‐rise earthquakes were reliably determined through 3D modeling of teleseismic body wavesAlong with high‐resolution bathymetry, reliable source parameters allow us to identify the ruptured faults hosting these normal events3D waveform modeling required a Versus ∼16% lower than the global average, suggesting a fluid‐rich oceanic lithosphere at the outer rise [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2.5D oxide/oxide composites have attracted substantial attention due to their good integrity. In this work, a simple process was used to manufacture the 2.5D aluminosilicate fiber reinforced alumina (2.5D-AS f /Al 2 O 3) composites. The influence of 2.5D preform on the microstructure of the 2.5D-AS f /Al 2 O 3 composite was studied in-depth mainly by X-ray computed tomography. Also, the change mechanism of the micro- and macro- mechanical properties of composites, especially the anisotropic mechanical properties were further analyzed. The results showed that the matrix modulus and fiber strength had great effects on the mechanical properties of the 2.5D-AS f /Al 2 O 3 composites with different densification cycles. And the microstructure characteristics of the 2.5D-AS f /Al 2 O 3 composites were consistent with those of the 2.5D preform, such as the warp direction cross-sections invariably had higher porosity of the pores >10 μm and larger pores than the weft direction cross-sections. This was also one of the key factors affecting the anisotropic mechanical behavior of the 2.5D-AS f /Al 2 O 3 composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2.5D oxide/oxide composites become attractive for their excellent integrity and mechanical properties. The thermal shock resistance performance of the material is very important in the actual high temperature application. In this work, the evolution of microstructure and mechanical behavior of the 2.5D oxide/oxide composites from thermal shock at different temperatures and cycles was investigated experimentally mainly by optical microscope, X-ray computed tomography and macro-mechanical tests. The thermal shock resistance mechanism of oxide/oxide composites was qualitatively explored. The results showed that cracks propagation was the main manifestation of thermal shock damage in composites. Compared with 2D composites, 2.5D composites exhibited the finite domain effect on crack propagation due to its reinforcement had certain fibers in Z -direction. This directly caused the critical thermal shock temperature difference of the 2.5D composites (∼900 °C) was more than twice that of the 2D oxide/oxide composites (∼400 °C). In addition, the finite domain effect also significantly reduced the damage growth rate of the 2.5D composites from cyclic thermal shock, highlighting its excellent thermal shock damage resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neonatal pain assessment (NPA) represents a huge global problem of essential importance, as a timely and accurate assessment of neonatal pain is indispensable for implementing pain management. Purpose: To investigate the consistency of pain scores derived through video-based NPA (VB-NPA) and on-site NPA (OS-NPA), providing the scientific foundation and feasibility of adopting VB-NPA results in a real-world scenario as the gold standard for neonatal pain in clinical studies and labels for artificial intelligence (AI)-based NPA (AI-NPA) applications. Setting: A total of 598 neonates were recruited from a pediatric hospital in China. Methods: This observational study recorded 598 neonates who underwent one of 10 painful procedures, including arterial blood sampling, heel blood sampling, fingertip blood sampling, intravenous injection, subcutaneous injection, peripheral intravenous cannulation, nasopharyngeal suctioning, retention enema, adhesive removal, and wound dressing. Two experienced nurses performed OS-NPA and VB-NPA at a 10-day interval through double-blind scoring using the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale to evaluate the pain level of the neonates. Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability were calculated and analyzed, and a paired samples t-test was used to explore the bias and consistency of the assessors' pain scores derived through OS-NPA and VB-NPA. The impact of different label sources was evaluated using three state-of-the-art AI methods trained with labels given by OS-NPA and VB-NPA, respectively. Results: The intra-rater reliability of the same assessor was 0.976–0.983 across different times, as measured by the intraclass correlation coefficient. The inter-rater reliability was 0.983 for single measures and 0.992 for average measures. No significant differences were observed between the OS-NPA scores and the assessment of an independent VB-NPA assessor. The different label sources only caused a limited accuracy loss of 0.022–0.044 for the three AI methods. Conclusion: VB-NPA in a real-world scenario is an effective way to assess neonatal pain due to its high intra-rater and inter-rater reliability compared to OS-NPA and could be used for the labeling of large-scale NPA video databases for clinical studies and AI training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cigarette smoking is believed to accelerate age-related neurodegeneration. Despite significant sex differences in both smoking behaviors and brain structures, the active literature is equivocal in parsing out a sex difference in smoking-associated brain structural changes. Objective: The current study examined subcortical and lateral ventricle gray matter (GM) volume differences among smokers, active, past, and never-smokers, stratified by sex. Methods: The current study data included 1959 Dallas Heart Study (DHS) participants with valid brain imaging data. Stratified by gender, multiple-group comparisons of three cigarette-smoking groups were conducted to test whether there is any cigarette-smoking group differences in GM volumes of the selected regions of interest (ROIs). Results: The largest subcortical GM volumetric loss and enlargement of the lateral ventricle were observed among past smokers for both females and males. However, these observed group differences in GM volumetric changes were statistically significant only among males after adjusting for age and intracranial volumes. Conclusions: The study findings suggest a sex difference in lifetime-smoking-associated GM volumetric changes, even after controlling for aging and intracranial volumes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the support of enterprise intelligence system, an intelligent modeling method based on synthesizing various data sources and complex metabolic networks is adopted to provide technical support for the practical application of complex large-scale dynamic models. Academic research on international trade networks relies to a large extent on network models based on macro-national data and static analysis of international trade patterns, which are usually based on charts for trade flows and economic globalization. This paper presents an improved neural network algorithm for analyzing the complex dynamic meta-network model of international trade. By using a BP neural network to adjust the weighted values of the best neural network model, the need for continuous adjustment of neural network values is reduced, which may be an effective means to improve the efficiency of intrusion testing applications. The simulation results demonstrate that the model has good explanatory power. The globalization of enterprise markets, as the main driver of international business activities, has a significant impact on the establishment and development of national or regional international trade networks. Therefore, there is a need to study international trade networks using data at the micro level. This paper suggests an interdisciplinary approach to the study of international trade networks and a micro-level study of international trade networks. The model based on complex meta-network dynamic model elements, introduce the dynamic network representation, and use temporary labels to define the network boundary characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) is one of the most cultivated fruit crops in China. Apple trees frequently encounter waterlogging stress, mainly due to excess rainfall, soil compaction, or poor soil drainage, results in yellowing leaves and declined fruit quality and yield in some regions. However, the mechanism underlying the response to waterlogging has not been well elucidated. Therefore, we performed a physiological and transcriptomic analysis to examine the differential responses of two apple rootstocks (waterlogging-tolerant M. hupehensis and waterlogging-sensitive M. toringoides) to waterlogging stress. The results showed that M. toringoides displayed more severe leaf chlorosis during the waterlogging treatment than M. hupehensis. Compared with M. hupehensis, the more severe leaf chlorosis induced by waterlogging stress in M. toringoides was highly correlated with increased electrolyte leakage and superoxide radicals, hydrogen peroxide accumulation, and increased stomata closure. Interestingly, M. toringoides also conveyed a higher ethylene production under waterlogging stress. Furthermore, RNA-seq revealed that a total of 13,913 common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were differentially regulated between M. hupehensis and M. toringoides under waterlogging stress, especially those DEGs involved in the biosynthesis of flavonoids and hormone signaling. This suggests a possible link of flavonoids and hormone signaling to waterlogging tolerance. Taken together, our data provide the targeted genes for further investigation of the functions, as well as for future molecular breeding of waterlogging-tolerant apple rootstocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we describe a photoswitchable iron(III) salen phosphate catalyst, which is able to catalyze the enantiodivergent oxidation of prochiral aryl alkyl sulfides to chiral aryl alkyl sulfoxides. The stable (S)‐axial isomer of the catalyst produced enantioenriched sulfoxides with the (R)‐configuration in up to 75 % e.e., whereas the photoisomerized metastable (R)‐axial isomer of the catalyst favored the formation of (S)‐sulfoxides in up to 43 % e.e. The maximum Δe.e. value obtained in the enantiodivergent sulfoxidation was 118 %, which is identical to the maximum Δe.e. value that was measured in the enantiodivergent epoxidation of alkenes by a related recently described Mn1 catalyst. This iron‐based catalyst broadens the scope of photoswitchable enantiodivergent catalysts and may be used in the future to develop a photoswitchable catalytic system that can write digital information on a polymer chain in the form chiral sulfoxide functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxide/oxide composites reinforced by two-dimensional fiber fabrics are important structural materials at high temperatures but exhibit low delamination resistance. This study developed a simple slurry infiltration and sintering (SIS) process to fabricate three-dimensional oxide/oxide composites. The results showed that a homogeneous microstructure in three directions was obtained. This composite possessed a weak matrix, which had a porous structure and low elastic modulus. Typical mechanical properties of the composite were not lower than those of two-dimensional oxide/oxide composites since the flexural strength and fracture toughness were 332.4 MPa and 11.6 MPa·m1/2, respectively. Particularly, the composite had a good interlaminar shear strength of 25.4 MPa and a superior transthickness tensile strength of 5.6 MPa. X-ray computed tomography showed that fiber yarns in the through-thickness direction effectively impeded crack propagation and enhanced delamination resistance. Therefore, the reported SIS process is a very promising method for manufacturing three-dimensional oxide/oxide composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dispersive information of the higher surface wave modes is beneficial for improving the resolution of the inverted S -wave velocity structure, increasing the penetration depth and enhancing the robustness of the inversion. The recently proposed frequency-Bessel (F-J) transformation can achieve the relatively stable measurement of the higher-mode surface waves. However, sometimes the phenomena of the mode losses and aliases would appear in the dispersion energy image of the seismic records, which may lead to the mode misidentification. And the wrong mode identification is likely to cause the negative impacts on the dispersion inversion and geological interpretation about the survey site. In view of this, we recommend a staging strategy for the inversion of multimodal surface wave dispersion curves. The pattern search (PS) is used to invert the reliable segment of the fundamental-mode surface wave phase velocities for the first stage. For the second stage, the inverted result of the first stage is set as the initial model, the PS with embedded Kuhn–Munkres (PSEKM) algorithm is adopted for inverting the observed phase velocities of all modes. And for each frequency, a weighted bipartite graph is established between the observed values with no-explicitly specified-mode-order (NESMO) and predicted values of the model m during the inversion, then the maximum match is determined by the KM algorithm for calculating the minimum distance between the observed and predicted data sets. The mode-order information of the observed phase velocities with NESMO would be dynamically evaluated for each model m occurred in the inversion process. The synthetic reconstruction tests have confirmed the effectiveness of the novel workflow. Also, the performance of the preconditioned steepest-descent algorithm of local optimization methods and influence of the mode misidentification on the inversion result are also clarified in the synthesis tests. The comparison results show that the proposed workflow can realize the nice data fitting and model reconstruction without the time-consuming manual mode-identification for the higher-mode surface waves. Then, the new workflow is applied to the analysis of the actual surface wave data sets collected on two roadbeds, which is still satisfactory. Finally, we discuss the role of the staging strategy of the workflow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrocyclic metal porphyrin complexes can act as shape‐selective catalysts mimicking the action of enzymes. To achieve enzyme‐like reactivity, a mechanistic understanding of the reaction at the molecular level is needed. We report a mechanistic study of alkene epoxidation by the oxidant iodosylbenzene, mediated by an achiral and a chiral manganese(V)oxo porphyrin cage complex. Both complexes convert a great variety of alkenes into epoxides in yields varying between 20–88 %. We monitored the process of the formation of the manganese(V)oxo complexes by oxygen transfer from iodosylbenzene to manganese(III) complexes and their reactivity by ion mobility mass spectrometry. The results show that in the case of the achiral cage complex the initial iodosylbenzene adduct is formed on the inside of the cage and in the case of the chiral one on the outside of the cage. Its decomposition leads to a manganese complex with the oxo ligand on either the inside or outside of the cage. These experimental results are confirmed by DFT calculations. The oxo ligand on the outside of the cage reacts faster with a substrate molecule than the oxo ligand on the inside. The results indicate how the catalytic activity of the macrocyclic porphyrin complex can be tuned and explain why the chiral porphyrin complex does not catalyze the enantioselective epoxidation of alkenes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Classification of PVSD based on different ways of integration with building skins. • PVSD is mostly studied by using simulation methods. • Growing number of studies focuses on multi-objective optimization of PVSD. • Discussion of payback period provides a economic reference for the application. Existing studies indicate that as an important part of building integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) technology, photovoltaic integrated shading devices (PVSDs) have become one of the important means to achieve energy reduction and green architecture. However, there is little existing literature that has systematically reviewed PVSDs, and existing reviews only discussed PVSDs from the perspective of basic parameters and control systems. Little is known about what methods can be used to systematically evaluate PVSDs and how economically applicable PVSDs are to the market. This paper aims to review all the PVSD-related studies in the last ten years from the perspective of research methods and economic feasibility assisted by Citespace software to filter related studies. This review concluded four important findings: 1) 68 % of existing PVSD-related studies adopted the simulation method to assess PVSDs in the last ten years, followed by the studies that adopted simulation and experiment methods; 2) EnergyPlus is the most frequently used software to perform simulation; 3) For the studies that carried out multi-objective optimization of PVSDs, 64 % of studies evaluated PVSDs by coupling energy performance with visual comfort. It is followed by those that coupled thermal comfort (39 %); 4) The shortest economic payback period of PVSD products in the retrieved papers was only 1.5 years, and the longest can reach 20 years. In future research, multi-objective optimization will become the study focus, and more studies about the aesthetic integration of PVSDs should be considered. This review provides a methodological and economic reference for researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, nanoplastic (NPs) at environmentally relevant concentration (0.001% w/w) had no effect on the growth of rice, while significantly elevated the phytotoxicity of As (III) by 9.4–22.8% based on the endpoints of biomass and photosynthesis. Mechanistically, NPs at 0.001% w/w enhanced As accumulation in the rice shoots and roots by 70.9% and 24.5%, respectively. Reasons of this finding can was that (1) the co-exposure with As and NPs significantly decreased abscisic acid content by 16.0% in rice, with subsequent increasing the expression of aquaporin related genes by 2.1- to 2.7-folds as compared with As alone treatment; (2) the presence of NPs significantly inhibited iron plaque formation on rice root surface by 22.5%. We firstly demonstrated that "Trojan horse effect" had no contribution to the enhancement of As accumulation by NPs exposure. Additionally, NPs disrupted the salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and glutathione metabolism, which subsequently enhancing the oxidation (7.0%) and translocation (37.0%) of in planta As, and reducing arsenic detoxification pathways (e.g., antioxidative system (28.6–37.1%), As vacuolar sequestration (36.1%), and As efflux (18.7%)). Our findings reveal that the combined toxicity of NPs and traditional contaminations should be considered for realistic evaluations of NPs. [Display omitted] • NPs at environmentally relevant concentration elevated the phytotoxicity of As (III). • NPs enhanced As accumulation by inhibiting ABA content and iron plaque formation. • NPs disrupted the SA, JA, and GSH metabolism in rice. • NPs inhibited the antioxidative system, As vacuolar sequestration, and As efflux. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the mechanical properties of structural materials under an irradiation environment stands as a major challenge for developing advanced nuclear systems. In this paper, the mechanical properties, including the Young's modulus, yield stress, and hardness, of SiC samples irradiated by neutron and heavy ions (3 MeV C and Si ions) have been investigated by nanoindentation measurement. When the load-depth curves were analyzed by the widely used Oliver-Pharr method, for the samples irradiated at the same displacement damage level (0.1 and 0.2 dpa), both the elastic modulus and hardness of the ion irradiated SiC are significantly higher compared with those of neutron irradiated samples. The discrepancy is mainly attributed to the irradiation induced surface lateral stress in ion irradiated samples, which cannot be taken into account for the Oliver-Pharr method. After carefully considering this effect by the finite element method in simulating the load- depth curves, both the Young's modulus and yield stress of ion irradiated samples agree well with those of neutron irradiated samples. This study reveals that by the combined method of nanoindentation and finite element, the mechanical properties, including the Young's modulus, yield stress and hardness, for neutron irradiated SiC can be reasonably evaluated by MeV heavy ion irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the issue of a large placebo effect in certain therapeutic areas, rather than the application of the traditional gold standard parallel group placebo‐controlled design, different versions of the sequential parallel comparison design have been advocated. In general, the design consists of two consecutive stages and three treatment groups. Stage 1 placebo nonresponders potentially form a prespecified patient subgroup for formal between‐treatment comparison at the final analysis. In this research, a version of the design is considered for a binary endpoint. To fully utilize all available data, a generalized weighted combination test is proposed in case placebo has a relatively small effect for some of the study endpoints. The weighted combination of the test based on stage 1 data and the test based on stage 2 data of stage 1 placebo nonresponders suggested in the literature uses only a part of the study data and is a special case of this generalized weighted combination test. A multiple imputation approach is outlined for handling missing not at random data. Simulation is conducted to evaluate the performances of the methods and a data example is employed to illustrate the applications of the methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recyclable polyvinyl alcohol/strontium titanate/silver oxide (PVA/SrTiO3/Ag2O) composite with photocatalytic performance is successfully synthesized using the co-precipitation and sol–gel methods. The composition, morphology and optical properties on the composites are analyzed with the X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry, fluorescence spectrophotometry and electron paramagnetic resonance. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of PVA/SrTiO3/Ag2O composite to 20 ppm methylene blue (MB) under UV light reaches 88%. The effects of the initial MB concentration and pH on the photocatalytic performance are analyzed. The recyclability of catalyst is evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the risk factors and prognostic factors of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and to predict the survival of IDC patients with metastasis. Method: We used multivariate logistic regression to identify independent risk factors affecting metastasis in IDC patients and used Cox regression to identify independent prognostic factors affecting the overall survival of patients with metastasis. Nomogram was used to predict survival, while C‐index and calibration curves were used to measure the performance of nomogram. Kaplan‐Meier method was used to calculate the survival curves of patients with different independent prognostics factors and different metastatic sites, and the differences were compared by log‐rank test. The data of our study were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results cancer registry. Result: Our study included 226,094 patients with IDC. In multivariate analysis, independent risk factors of metastasis included age, race, marital status, income, geographic region, grade, T stage, N stage, subtype, surgery and radiotherapy. Independent prognostic factors included age, race, marital status, income, geographic region, grade, T stage, N stage, subtype, surgery and chemotherapy. We established a nomogram, of which the C‐index was 0.701 (0.693, 0.709), with the calibration curves showing that the disease‐specific survival between actual observation and prediction had a good consistency. The survival curves of different metastatic patterns were significantly different (log‐rank test: χ2 = 18784, p < 0.001; χ2 = 47.1, p < 0.001; χ2 = 20, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The nomogram we established may provide risk assessment and survival prediction for IDC patients with metastasis, which can be used for clinical decision‐making and reference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel series of β-carboline-fused imidazolium derivatives (3a–3v) were designed and synthesized based on the structures of fascaplysin and our reported novel compound HMD-272 (9-(3-phenylpropyl)-2-benzyl-β-carbolinium bromide). Evaluation of the cytotoxicity of 3a–3v was conducted using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay in lung carcinoma (A549), gastric carcinoma (BGC-823), murine colon carcinoma (CT-26), liver carcinoma (Bel-7402), and breast carcinoma (MCF-7) cell lines. The results demonstrated that the majority of the target compounds showed excellent activity against one or more cancer cell lines, and the compounds 3i, 3j, 3m, 3p, 3u, and 3v exhibited the highest cytotoxic activities (IC50 < 10 μM) against the tested tumor cell lines. Preliminary investigations on the mechanisms of action revealed that compound 3v could dramatically inhibit EA.HY926 cell tube formation in a dose-dependent manner. Further investigation of the preliminary mechanism of action demonstrated that compound 3v had clear angiogenesis inhibitory effects in the chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. Moreover, a molecular docking study was performed in order to understand the binding pattern of compound 3v into the VEGFR2 active site. Docking results attributed the potent VEGFR2 inhibitory effect of the compound to its binding to the key amino acids in the active site (i.e., Ile892, Leu889, and Asp1046), as well as its hydrophobic interaction with the receptor hydrophobic pocket. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earth-air heat exchanger (EAHE) is a passive technique that can reduce the energy consumption for indoor heating and cooling. This paper aims to evaluate the performance of EAHE in Qingdao, China by using a proposed all-in-one simulation model according to the parametric performance design method. This model can predict the performance and feasibility of EAHE and generate various required results with just one click. It was also validified by the actual field experiment to prove its appropriateness. In the simulation, the influence of eight parameters on the outlet air temperature was firstly analyzed to understand their interrelationships. Secondly, thermal capacity and heat transfer efficiency were evaluated to test the performance of EAHE. Finally, this paper provided a feasibility analysis of EAHE. The findings indicate that deeper burial depth, longer tube length, and smaller tube diameter can achieve better heat transfer efficiency and thermal capacity. However, when tube length exceeded 40 m, burial depth exceeded 2 m, or tube conductivity was higher than 1W/m-K, the change in the outlet air temperature was no longer substantial. More importantly, the feasibility analysis suggested a promising application prospect for EAHE in Qingdao. The maximum average daily cooling and heating capacities of the system were 15.56 kW and 18.49 kW, respectively. The maximum heat transfer efficiency of the system in July (86.02%) and January (87.89%) can be obtained, when the tube length was 70 m and the inlet airflow speed was 1 m/s, respectively. The economic feasibility analysis indicated that EAHE could save 507.8 Yuan each year, and the payback period was about 6.2 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Licorice is a frequently used herbal medicine worldwide, and is used to treat cough, hepatitis, cancer and influenza in clinical practice of traditional Chinese medicine. Modern pharmacological studies indicate that prenylated flavonoids play an important role in the anti-tumor activity of licorice, especially the tumors in stomach, lung, colon and liver. Wighteone is one of the main prenylated flavonoids in licorice, and its possible effect and target against colorectal cancer have not been investigated. This study aimed to investigate the anti-colorectal cancer effect and underlying mechanism of wighteone. SW480 human colorectal cancer cells were used to evaluate the in vitro anti-colorectal cancer activity and Akt regulation effect of wighteone by flow cytometry, phosphoproteomic and Western blot analysis. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay, molecular docking and dynamics simulation, and kinase activity assay were used to investigate the direct interaction between wighteone and Akt. A nude mouse xenograft model with SW480 cells was used to verify the in vivo anti-colorectal cancer activity of wighteone. Wighteone inhibited phosphorylation of Akt and its downstream kinases in SW480 cells, which led to a reduction in cell viability. Wighteone had direct interaction with both PH and kinase domains of Akt, which locked Akt in a "closed" conformation with allosteric inhibition, and Gln79, Tyr272, Arg273 and Lys297 played the most critical role due to their hydrogen bond and hydrophobic interactions with wighteone. Based on Akt overexpression or activation in SW480 cells, further mechanistic studies suggested that wighteone-induced Akt inhibition led to cycle arrest, apoptosis and autophagic death of SW480 cells. Moreover, wighteone exerted in vivo anti-colorectal cancer effect and Akt inhibition activity in the nude mouse xenograft model. Wighteone could inhibit growth of SW480 cells through allosteric inhibition of Akt, which led to cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and autophagic death. The results contributed to understanding of the anti-tumor mechanism of licorice, and also provided a rationale to design novel Akt allosteric inhibitors for the treatment of colorectal cancer. [Display omitted] • Wighteone can inhibit growth of SW480 colorectal cancer cells. • Wighteone can lock Akt in a "closed" conformation with allosteric inhibition. • Wighteone can cause cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and autophagic death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• eDNA concentration is positively correlated with fish biomass. • Changes in body weight and fork length show a significant effect on eDNA concentration. • Salinity has no significant effect on eDNA concentration of Gnathanodon speciosus. • Assessment of fish biomass based on eDNA technology lays an important foundation for subsequent relevant studies. Environmental DNA (eDNA) technology has emerged as a valuable tool for monitoring species distribution, assessing aquatic biodiversity and fish biomass. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between eDNA and the biomass of Gnathanodon speciosus (G. speciosus) using quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) technology. Specific primers were designed for the target species. Water samples were collected from three differently-sized aquariums located at Qingdao Polar Ocean Park between July 2022 and March 2023. The results demonstrated a modest correlation between total biomass and eDNA concentration (Pearson, r = 0.74, p < 0.05). However, a significant positive correlation exists between biomass per unit volume and eDNA concentration per unit volume (Pearson, r = 0.87, p < 0.05). The study also examines the influence of environmental factors, such as salinity, and different growth parameters characterized by body weight and fork length, on eDNA concentration. The univariate linear regression analysis indicated that body weight and fork length exerted a notable influence on eDNA concentration. No significant relationship was observed between salinity and eDNA concentration (ANOVA, p > 0.05). This preliminary study lays the groundwork for monitoring and assessing the biomass of G. speciosus. This study also provides valuable insights into quantifying the relationship between environmental DNA and biomass, establishing a crucial theoretical framework for future assessments of open-sea fisheries resources through environmental DNA analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a congenital anomaly that is uniformly fatal in infancy without immediate treatment. The standard treatment consists of an initial Norwood procedure (stage 1) followed some months later by stage 2 palliation (S2P). The ideal timing of the S2P is uncertain. The Single Ventricle Reconstruction Trial (SVRT) randomized the procedure used in the initial Norwood operation, leaving the timing of the S2P to the discretion of the surgical team. To estimate the causal effect of the timing of S2P, we propose to impute the potential post‐S2P survival outcomes using statistical models under the Rubin Causal Model framework. With this approach, it is straightforward to estimate the causal effect of S2P timing on post‐S2P survival by directly comparing the imputed potential outcomes. Specifically, we consider a lognormal model and a restricted cubic spline model, evaluating their performance in Monte Carlo studies. When applied to the SVRT data, the models give somewhat different imputed values, but both support the conclusion that the optimal time for the S2P is at 6 months after the Norwood procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise of FinTech has been meteoric in China. Investing in mutual funds through robo-advisor has become a new innovation in the wealth management industry. In recent years, machine learning, especially deep learning, has been widely used in the financial industry to solve financial problems. This paper aims to improve the accuracy and timeliness of fund classification through the use of machine learning algorithms, that is, Gaussian hybrid clustering algorithm. At the same time, a deep learning-based prediction model is implemented to predict the price movement of fund classes based on the classification results. Fund classification carried out using 3,625 Chinese mutual funds shows both accurate and efficient results. The cluster-based spatiotemporal ensemble deep learning module shows better prediction accuracy than baseline models with only access to limited data samples. The main contribution of this paper is to provide a new approach to fund classification and price movement prediction to support the decision-making of the next generation robo-advisor assisted by artificial intelligence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distributed energy systems are becoming increasingly popular worldwide. The 100% renewable energy system can be an important energy supply alternative to reduce the carbon emissions and address energy shortage, especially for remote areas. However, the performance of 100% renewable energy system (RES) at community level needs further detailed analysis, which is affected by the climates, availability of renewable energy and local energy markets. This paper proposes a design optimization framework of 100% renewable energy systems for low-density communities and investigates the system performance. To investigate the integration and performance of 100% RES, thirty typical cities located in different regions of China were chosen considering different climates, geographical features, and renewable energy distributions. By taking the economic performance as the optimization objective, the optimal design for the 100% RES is obtained, and the energy and economic performance is analyzed. Results show that, under the current energy market conditions, the 100% RES is feasible for low-density communities in most regions of China. The payback periods of the systems in most cities are less than six years. When the cost of PV is reduced by half considering future technological developments, the payback period of a 100% RES can be reduced by 30%–60%. This paper would provide design suggestions and application recommendations in regard to promoting 100% RES in China. • Application of 100% renewable energy system at community level is studied. • 30 zones are selected considering climates, renewable energy sources and markets. • Solar energy and biomass can contribute to over 90% of the total energy supply. • Investment of 100% RES can be paid back in 6 years for most regions. • Payback periods can be reduced by 30%–60% when PV technology is further developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 3D frequency domain seismic forward and inversion calculation, the huge amount of calculation and storage is one of the main factors that restrict the processing speed and calculation efficiency. The frequency domain finite-difference forward simulation algorithm based on the acoustic wave equation establishes a large bandwidth complex matrix according to the discretized acoustic wave equation, and then the frequency domain wave field value is obtained by solving the matrix equation. In this study, the predecessor's optimized five-point method is extended to a 3D seven-point finite-difference scheme, and then a perfectly matched layer absorbing boundary condition (PML) is added to establish the corresponding matrix equation. In order to solve the complex matrix, we transform it to the equivalent real number domain to expand the solvable range of the matrix, and establish two objective functions to transform the matrix solving problem into an optimization problem that can be solved using gradient methods, and then use conjugate gradient algorithm to solve the problem. Previous studies have shown that in the conjugate gradient algorithm, the product of the matrix and the vector is the main factor that affects the calculation efficiency. Therefore, this study proposes a method that transform bandwidth matrix and vector product problem into some equivalent vector and vector product algorithm, thereby reducing the amount of calculation and storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the changing spatial distribution of electronic information manufacturing (EIM) industry in China by focusing on the location choice of new firms. A three‐pronged "global‐regional‐local" nexus framework was proposed to identify the factors that influence firm location choice. Tobit regression analysis was performed to evaluate the impacts of these factors. The study reveals the spatial concentration of the EIM industry and a trend of westward diffusion. The regression analyses stratified by time period and by region demonstrate spatial and temporal variabilities in the influence of many factors, especially the regional advantage factors (e.g., labor cost, localization economies, and urbanization economies). Meanwhile, some factors, such as foreign direct investment, the presence of state‐owned enterprises, and local government policies, show stable effects over time and across regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crustal attenuation structures obtained at high frequencies (>1 Hz) are important for seismic risk assessment and geodynamics studies in stable continents. However, it is difficult to infer attenuation in low seismicity regions using body and surface waves. In this study, we explore the potential of using seismic T phases to constrain the crustal attenuation. We analyzed the characteristics of T waves recorded on the seismic array deployed in southern Africa. The converted station‐side T‐P and T‐S phases were identified by analyzing the waveform, travel time, polarization, and frequency‐wavenumber features. The distinct differences in polarization and slowness are used to quantify contributions from T‐P and T‐S conversions. The inverted frequency‐dependent Qp and Qs (attenuation factor of local P and S waves, respectively) in the southern Africa are found to be 204f1.48 and 685f0.53, respectively. Our method could be extended to infer crustal attenuation features near the coasts of other continents. Plain Language Summary: Crustal attenuation structures of stable continents are important for seismic risk assessment and geodynamics studies to identify and mitigate destructive earthquakes that occur occasionally. Conventional methods using seismic phases, such as local P, local S, Lg and surface wave, are usually applied in areas with high seismicity; however, the use of these phases is not effective in low seismicity regions. Our study demonstrates the potential of employing seismic T phases to constrain the crustal attenuation structure in stable continents (low seismicity regions) near the coast. Based on the seismic waveform data recorded on an array in southern Africa, we identified the station‐side T‐P and T‐S phases, which were converted from acoustic T waves traveling through the sound fixing and ranging (SOFAR) channel in the ocean to the local P and S waves in continental crust. Then, the attenuation structure at high frequency in southern Africa was revealed with the characteristics of converted T‐P and T‐S phases, which match well with the previous results. This method can also be used to infer crustal attenuation in other stable continents near the coast, even if the continents do not experience high seismicity. Key Points: We demonstrate the potential of employing T waves for inverting crustal attenuation structure in coastal regions of stable continentsThe converted T‐P/S_local phases were identified by analyzing the seismic waveform, travel time, polarization, and array techniquesThe crustal attenuation of Qp (204f1.48) and Qs (685f0.53) obtained in southern Africa match well with the previous results [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy consumed by the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system accounts for a large part of the energy consumption of buildings. Solar energy technologies in buildings have attracted more and more attention from scholars and architects because of their significant advantages in sustainable development, such as energy saving, environmental protection, and cost reduction. Sunspace has been studied for many years as a passive solar heating and ventilation technology. Nevertheless, there are also some problems associated with sunspace, such as overheating in summer and heat loss at night. The main objective of the work is to review the application of sunspace in buildings for heating and cooling, and possibly inspire more future works. This research adopts the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method. The novelty of this work is to categorize different types of sunspaces according to the integration relationship with buildings and different configurations, materials and functions, and further analyze all the possible factors that can affect the performance of a sunspace. This paper concludes that sunspace can be divided into ventilated and unventilated sunspace based on the main utilization methods. According to their integration relationship with buildings, sunspace can also be divided into two types: façade and roof sunspace. Based on different configurations, materials and functions, façade sunspace further includes glazed sunspace, membrane sunspace, phase change material (PCM) sunspace; and roof sunspace includes on-top sunspace, courtyard sunspace, and integrated rooftop greenhouse. There are eight factors affecting sunspace performance that are further evaluated from the perspective of energy, environment, and economy. Directions of potential studies of sunspace are suggested. The authors hope that this research will be helpful to scholars and architects and promote the development of the multifunctional sunspace system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome require an initial Norwood operation, followed some months later by a stage 2 palliation (S2P). The timing of S2P is critical for the operation's success and the infant's survival, but the optimal timing, if one exists, is unknown. We attempt to identify the optimal timing of S2P by analyzing data from the Single Ventricle Reconstruction Trial (SVRT), which randomized patients between two different types of Norwood procedure. In the SVRT, the timing of the S2P was chosen by the medical team; thus with respect to this exposure, the trial constitutes an observational study, and the analysis must adjust for potential confounding. To accomplish this, we propose an extended propensity score analysis that describes the time to surgery as a function of confounders in a discrete competing‐risk model. We then apply inverse probability weighting to estimate a spline hazard model for predicting survival from the time of S2P. Our analysis suggests that S2P conducted at 6 months after the Norwood gives the patient the best post‐S2P survival. Thus, we place the optimal time slightly later than a previous analysis in the medical literature that did not account for competing risks of death and heart transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gulf of Guinea exhibits a continuous emission of narrow-band and long-period signals (16, 26 and 27 s) on teleseismic records, yet the underlying excitation mechanism remains unclear. This study establishes a connection between these tremors and the vibration of thin, decoupled crustal plates at unexplored volcanoes in the gulf. We first formulate the damped plate oscillation equation, by incorporating the vibration of the thin surface crustal plate and magma flow in the subsurface sill. The findings reveal that a fundamental-mode vibration with a period of several dozen seconds can be induced by a crustal plate that is less than 1.0 km thick but extends over tens of kilometres in both length and width, given a subsurface sill depth exceeding 10.0 cm. The thin plate hypothesis also allows for excitation of a few overtone modes, but such waves in higher frequencies diminish over long distances, leaving only the monotonous fundamental-mode vibration at teleseismic stations. The long duration of Guinea tremors at each recurrence is attributed to the presence of low viscosity basaltic magma, which influences the damping factor. Direct wave loads at the shallow gulf serve as the primary vibration source, accounting for seasonal variations and recurring patterns. Sporadic energy bursts may also occur due to large storms. Radiation patterns of Guinea tremors are linked to the geometric structure of the thin plate. Our theoretical estimates of tremor spectra closely align with observed data, confirming the model's accuracy in capturing reported Guinea tremor characteristics. This study provides valuable insights into the origins of very long-period tremors at continental volcanoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coupling noble metal cocatalysts are considered to be one of the most effective approaches to improve photocatalytic performance, but their expensive price limits their practical application. Herein, a series of Cu 2 WS 4 /Ag 2 S nanocomposite photocatalysts were successfully synthesized by a simple ion exchange method using Ag 2 S as the cocatalyst. Compared with pure Cu 2 WS 4 and Ag 2 S, the optimized 25 wt% Cu 2 WS 4 /Ag 2 S (CA25) nanocomposites exhibited excellent photocatalytic degradation capability of RhB (96 %,20 min). More importantly, the as-prepared CA25 sample showed a significant photocatalytic hydrogen yield (19.8 μmol/h), which is 9.4 times that of pure Cu 2 WS 4. Systematic studies revealed that the introduction of Ag 2 S can not only broaden the light absorbance capacity of the composite photocatalyst, but also effectively improve the separation efficiency of the photogenerated carriers. In addition, our results showed that photogenerated electrons simultaneously reduce Ag 2 S into metallic Ag in the photocatalytic reaction process, that is, metallic Ag can act as the bridge to capture electrons and accelerate the transmission of photogenerated carriers, thus enabling further enhancement of photocatalytic performance. This work provides a new insight for the design of highly efficient composite photocatalysts, and highlights the important role of photocarrier separation in the photocatalytic process. • Cu 2 WS 4 /Ag 2 S nanocomposite photocatalysts were synthesized through a facile ion exchange method. • The photocatalytic activity of Cu 2 WS 4 decahedron was significantly enhanced by the addition of Ag 2 S nanoparticles. • The optimized 25 wt% Cu 2 WS 4 /Ag 2 S nanocomposite photocatalyst exhibited outstanding photocatalytic performance. • Cu 2 WS 4 /Ag 2 S nanocomposite photocatalysts possess a stronger light absorbance capacity than pure Cu 2 WS 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] seed germination is sensitive to salinity, and seed priming is an effective method for alleviating the negative effects of salt stress on seed germination. However, few studies have compared the effects of different priming agents on sorghum germination under salt stress. In this study, we quantified the effects of priming with distilled water (HP), sodium chloride (NaCl), potassium chloride (KCl), calcium chloride (CaCl2), and polyethylene glycol (PEG) on sorghum seed germination under 150 mM NaCl stress. The germination potential, germination rate, germination index, vigor index, root length, shoot length, root fresh weight, shoot fresh weight, root dry weight, and shoot dry weight were significantly reduced by salt stress. Different priming treatments alleviated the germination inhibition caused by salt stress to varying degrees, and 50 mM CaCl2 was the most effective treatment. In addition, the mitigation effect of priming was stronger on root traits than on shoot traits. Mitigation efficacy was closely related to both the type of agent and the concentration of the solution. Principal component analysis showed that all concentrations of CaCl2 had higher scores and were clearly distinguished from other treatments based on their positive effects on all germination traits. The effects of the other agents varied with concentration. The priming treatments were divided into three categories based on their priming efficacy, and the 50, 100, and 150 mM CaCl2 treatments were placed in the first category. The 150 mM KCl, 10% PEG, HP, 150 mM NaCl, 30% PEG, and 50 mM KCl treatments were placed in the second category, and the 100 mM NaCl, 100 mM KCl, 20% PEG, and 50 mM NaCl treatments were least effective and were placed in the third category. Choosing appropriate priming agents and methods for future research and applications can ensure that crop seeds germinate healthily under saline conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, two different nonlinear coupled Markovian switching delayed network models with multiple weights are established, and the effects of parameter and model uncertainties and external disturbances are fully considered. Firstly, based on the finite-time theory, several sufficient conditions for the finite-time synchronization of Markovian switching networks are obtained. Secondly, under the feedback controller with adaptive laws, when the synchronization of the networks is achieved in a finite time, the uncertain parameters of the networks can also be identified as true values. Finally, a representative numerical simulation is given to further illustrate the validity and practicability of the theoretical analysis and proof of this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 15 May 2020 Monte Cristo Range Mw 6.5 earthquake occurred in the northeast of the Mina deflection, which accommodates approximately a quarter of the relatively dextral motion between the Pacific and North American plates. The Monte Cristo Range event provides an opportunity to study the present‐day regional deformation mechanism and active tectonics. In this study, we investigate the source rupture process of the event using joint inversion of interferometric synthetic aperture radar and broadband seismic data. We find that the rupture propagates almost simultaneously on two main segments. The fault motion changes from the predominantly sinistral slip near the epicenter on the eastern segment to the oblique slip on the western segment, with a maximum coseismic slip of 0.8 m. Our results suggest that the accommodation of slip transfer localized in the northeastern Mina deflection tends to transform from the wrench‐ to extension‐dominated transtension. Plain Language Summary: The relative motion between the Pacific and North American plates is largely focused on the dextral San Andreas fault system. A complex array of strike‐slip and normal faults, known as the Walker Lane and the Eastern California shear zone, accommodates about a quarter of this plate motion. The 2020 Monte Cristo Range earthquake struck the Mina deflection, a right stepover between two parallel but noncoplanar faults. The Mina deflection is considered to transfer slip from the southern to central Walker Lane. Because of the obliquity between the plate motion and the fault orientation, the deformation across the Mina deflection is generally interpreted as wrench‐dominated transtension, commonly characterized by strike slip and block rotation. We reconstruct the spatial and temporal process of the source rupture by integrated geodetic and seismological data analysis and find that the accommodation of slip transfer in the northeast of the Mina deflection has a tendency to evolve into the extension‐dominated transtension, thereby harboring normal faulting. We suggest that this behavior is because the extensional pure shear accumulates more rapidly compared with the wrench simple shear. Key Points: Source rupture process of the 2020 Monte Cristo Range earthquake is derived using joint inversion of geodetic and seismic dataTwo fault segments with varied orientations ruptured, producing oblique and sinistral slip on the western and eastern segments, respectivelyAccommodation of slip transfer in the northeastern Mina deflection tends to transform from wrench‐ to extension‐dominated transtension [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to investigate the factors that control event runoff characteristics at the small catchment scale. The study area is the Hydrological Open Air Laboratory, Lower Austria. Event runoff coefficient (Rc), recession time constant (Tc) and peak discharge (Qp) are estimated from hourly discharge and precipitation data for 298 events in the period 2013–2015. The results show that the Rc and their variability tend to be largest for the tile drainages (mean Rc = 0.09) and the main outlet (mean Rc = 0.08) showing larger Rc in January/February and smaller Rc in July/August. Tc does not vary much between the systems and tends to be largest at the main outlet (mean Tc = 6.5 h) and smallest for the tile drainages (mean Tc = 4.5 h). Groundwater levels explain the temporal variability of Rc and Tc more than soil moisture or precipitation, suggesting a role of shallow flow paths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Each year, large amounts of plastic waste are generated and must be appropriately disposed. In this work, we studied the feasibility of using plastics as wetland substrates as an alternative plastic waste disposal method and the ability of the constructed wetland to remove pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) from contaminated water. Wetland microcosms were constructed using polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, quartz sand, and ceramsite substrates. Lake water spiked with methyl-paraben, ibuprofen, triclosan, 4-methybenzylidene camphor, carbamazepine, and 17α-ethinyl estradiol at 5 μg L−1 was continuously loaded to the microcosms with a hydraulic retention time of approximately 11 days. After 70 days, methyl-paraben, triclosan, and 4-methybenzylidene camphor were effectively removed regardless of the substrate. However, ibuprofen, carbamazepine, and 17α-ethinyl estradiol were partially removed, and the removal efficiency was the best in wetlands with ceramsite substrate. Carbamazepine was the most persistent among the tested compounds. Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis revealed that ceramsite supported the highest microbial biomass per bulk volume of substrate followed by quartz sand, polycarbonate, and polyethylene terephthalate, which might be related to the PPCP removal potential of the wetland microcosms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new persistent microseismic tremor, with a narrowband period centered near 16 s, was discovered in the primary microseism spectral peak by analyzing seismic waveforms recorded by African, European, and American seismometers. This tremor may generate coherent arrivals in noise cross‐correlation functions (NCFs), which could potentially bias ambient noise tomography. Using an envelope‐stacking method, we discovered that the 16‐s tremor source is in the coastal region of the Gulf of Guinea and is probably isolated from the previously reported 26‐s tremor source. The nature of the newly identified 16‐s tremor, like the 26‐ and 27‐s tremors, is similar to a volcanic tremor radiated by the Mayotte volcanic system, thereby suggesting that the excitation of all the Gulf of Guinea tremors may be related to volcanic activities. Thus, this study implies that there may still be active volcanoes in the gulf. Plain Language Summary: A new persistent and localized microseismic tremor is discovered by quiet African, European, and American seismometers. This tremor has a narrowband period near 16 s, close to the primary microseism spectral peak that is generated by ocean waves in the Earth's shallow coastal regions. The seasonal variation of its amplitude suggests an ocean wave‐related excitation. Examining cross‐correlating seismic records, we observe that the tremor can generate coherent arrivals in interstation surface wave Green's function. Thus, it could impact surface wave dispersion measurements and bias ambient noise tomography. Using envelope stacking of tremor arrivals, the source was found to be constrained to the coastal region of the Gulf of Guinea and possibly isolated from the previously reported 26‐s persistent microseismic tremor source. The nature of the tremor, like the 26‐ and 27‐s tremors, is similar to a recently reported volcanic tremor radiated by the Mayotte volcanic system, suggesting that all of these tremors may be relate to volcanic activities. This study suggests that there still are active volcanoes in the Gulf of Guinea. Key Points: A new persistent tremor with a narrowband period centered near 16 s was observed in the primary microseism spectral peakThe source of this tremor is located at the shallow coastal region of the Gulf of Guinea and probably isolated from the 26‐s tremor sourceThe Gulf of Guinea tremors may originate in volcanic activities due to the spectral similarity to a tremor in the Mayotte volcanic system [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface wave dispersion curves are extensively used to map the lithospheric shear‐wave velocity structures. However, traditional methods have difficulty extracting overtone dispersion curves from both ambient noise and seismic event data. Recently, Wang et al. (2019, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JB016595) proposed a new array‐based method, the frequency‐Bessel transform (F‐J) method, to extract high frequency overtones from ambient noise data. However, because the Green's functions of earthquakes are complex, the F‐J method cannot be directly applied to extract overtones from earthquake event data. In this paper, we analyze the differences between ambient noise and earthquake event data and verify that the F‐J method can be efficiently applied to event data by controlling the azimuthal range and adopting time windows. For the F‐J method using earthquake records, the time windows calculated by group velocity intervals can improve the overtone extraction efficiency. We named this application of the F‐J method with time windows using event data the multiwindow F‐J (MWFJ) method to distinguish the two techniques. Further verifications were performed using real data from three earthquakes recorded by the U.S. Transportable Array. Compared to traditional methods for extracting overtones from earthquakes, the MWFJ method can effectively extract higher‐frequency (0.02–0.4 Hz, for the data used in this work) and higher‐resolution overtones from event data. Moreover, the overtones extracted from earthquakes are more sensitive to deeper structures than those extracted from ambient noise. The complementarity of the F‐J and MWFJ methods for the extraction of overtones indicates that better imaging results may be obtained by combining these two methods. Key Points: We extended the frequency‐Bessel transform (F‐J) method to extract the dispersion curves of overtones from earthquake event recordsAzimuthal controls and time windows techniques were introduced to help extract overtonesThe overtones extracted from event data and noise data are highly complementary [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triggered or induced earthquakes have been widely reported as resulting from various human activities, yet seismicity triggered by small‐scale infrastructure construction is rare. Here, we report on an investigation of an extremely shallow Mw4.1 earthquake which occurred on 11 August 2016 in the Sichuan Basin (China), a region with historically low seismicity. Our seismic waveform analyses indicate an almost pure thrust focal mechanism at a centroid depth of ~1 km. Furthermore, 18 Sentinel‐1 synthetic aperture radar interferograms, stacked to obtain subcentimeter accuracy, reveal up to 3 cm line‐of‐sight deformation which overlaps with an automotive testing site constructed in 2014. Removal of 10 m of a surface rock layer during the construction may have produced an unloading effect and resulted in up to 0.11 MPa Coulomb stress changes on a blind fault, larger than the 0.01 MPa threshold typically invoked in studies of tectonic earthquakes. However, the delayed triggering still requires further investigation. Plain Language Summary: While induced earthquakes in the shallow part of the crust have been observed globally, a remaining knowledge gap is whether small‐scale infrastructure construction can trigger earthquakes or not. We investigate these questions on an extremely shallow Mw4.1 earthquake in the eastern Sichuan Basin (China). To determine earthquake source parameters, we combine seismological data with satellite imaging. We find this thrust event ruptured at the depth of ~1 km, located just beneath an automotive testing site constructed in 2014. Crucially, we note the testing site construction involved removal of a large volume of surface rock. We further analyze the stress changes produced by the unloading of the surface rock. We find a possible triggering relationship between the infrastructure construction and the occurrence of this shallow earthquake. Our results thus shed new light on the causes of shallow earthquakes associated with small‐scale infrastructure construction. Key Points: The 11 August 2016 Mw4.1 Dianjiang earthquake was an extremely shallow thrust event (~1 km)Stacking of Sentinel‐1A SAR interferograms with subcentimeter resolution reveals LOS deformation of up to 3 cm produced by the earthquakeThe earthquake was likely triggered by the unloading effect after surface rock layer was removed during infrastructure construction [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hot deformation behavior of the as-cast Ti–48Al–2Cr–2Nb alloy was investigated by isothermal compression tests at deformation temperatures ranging from 1000 °C to 1200 °C, and strain rates from 0.001 s−1 to 0.1 s−1. The single peak stress features common to all flow curves indicate that DRX is the dominating softening mechanism. The calculated values of the hot deformation activation energy Q and stress index n are 296.5 kJ mol−1 and 3.97, respectively. Based on this, the Arrhenius type constitutive equation was successfully established. The DRX critical condition model and relationship among DRX volume fractions, deformation temperatures and strain rates were obtained to optimize the process. Combined with microstructure analysis, it's concluded that 1200 °C/0.01s−1 is the optimization parameter. Besides, both DDRX and CDRX were observed in the γ phase evolution. The deformation mechanism from the inter-grain dislocation motion to the grain boundary migration and grain rotation was discussed. Image 1 • The DRX critical model of Ti–48Al–2Cr–2Nb alloys is established. • It's concluded that 1200 °C/0.01s−1 is the optimization hot deformation parameter. • Both DDRX and CDRX exist during hot deformation, and the former is main DRX mechanism. • As strain increases, the dislocation motion will be transformed into the grain boundary migration and grain rotation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two biscatecholester ligands with oligoether spacers were used to prepare dinuclear titanium(IV) triscatecholate based helicates. In the case of Li4[(1/2)3Ti2], "classical" helicates with three internally bound Li+ ions and syn‐oriented ligands in the complex units (fac/fac isomer) were obtained. In the case of the sodium salt Na4[(2)3Ti2], a different homochiral dinuclear triple‐stranded helicate with two internally bound Na+ ions was formed. The complex units are anti‐configured, and two of the ligand spacers are connecting internal with external positions of the helicate (mer/mer isomer). Removal of the sodium ions and addition of lithium ions leads to the switching from one topology to the other with an expanded helicate [(2)3Ti2]4− as an intermediate. Switching back to the "non‐classical" helicate cannot be observed because severe structural rearrangements would be required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zwei Biscatecholesterliganden mit Oligoether‐Verbrückung wurden eingesetzt, um zweikernige Triscatecholattitan(IV)‐basierte Helicate herzustellen. Im Fall von Li4[(1/2)3Ti2] wurden "klassische" Helicate mit drei intern gebundenen Li+ und einer syn‐Orientierung der Liganden in den Komplexen (fac/fac‐Isomer) erhalten. Im Fall des Natriumsalzes Na4[(2)3Ti2] wird ein andersartiges homochirales zweikerniges, dreisträngiges Helicat mit zwei internen Nariumionen gebildet. Die Komplexeinheiten sind hier anti‐konfiguriert, wobei zwei der verbrückenden Einheiten innere Positionen der Liganden im Helicat mit äußeren verknüpfen (mer/mer‐Isomer). Entfernen der Natriumkationen und Zugabe von Lithiumionen führt zum Schalten von der einen topologischen Form zur Anderen, wobei ein gestrecktes Helicat [(2)3Ti2]4− als Zwischenstufe entsteht. Das Zurückschalten zu dem "nicht‐klassischen" Helicat ist nicht möglich, da hierbei zu große strukturelle Änderungen nötig sind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fast and robust method for two‐point ray tracing in one‐dimensional layered media is presented. This method is applicable to layered models with constant or linearly varying isotropic layer velocity. For given model properties and source and receiver positions, a ray path can be uniquely determined once its ray parameter (i.e. horizontal slowness) is known. The ray parameter can be obtained by numerically solving the nonlinear offset (i.e. source–receiver horizontal distance) equation using Newton's method, which generally works well at near and mid offsets. However, Newton's method becomes hard to converge at large offsets due to the oversensitivity of offset to ray parameter. Based on the analysis of the characteristic of the offset equation, a modified ray parameter is proposed and used to replace the generic ray parameter in numerical calculation. Numerical experiments show that the iteration process becomes stable and converges rapidly with the modified ray parameter. Moreover, a rational function that asymptotically approximates the shape of the offset equation is introduced for obtaining good initial estimates of the modified ray parameter. Numerical tests show that this method is robust in any situation, and an accurate ray parameter can be obtained within two or three iterations for a wide range of model velocity structure and source–receiver distance. Furthermore, the proposed two‐point ray tracing method is easy to implement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• E. coli surface display combined MACS are suitable for DARPins evolution. • DARPin antagonist of the immune check point protein PD-L1 was design and selected. • The evolved protein inhibited the tumor growth and have no sign of bodyweight loss. Designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins) are a kind of proteins containing the similar characteristics to antibodies. Which can specifically bind the target with high affinity. Here, we described an efficient method to select of DARPins effectively against the programmed death-ligand 1(PD-L1), a prominent target for cancer immune therapy, by E. coli surface display. E. coli surface display combined with magnetic cell sorting (MACS) were easy to manipulate with the advantages of solubility selected, antigen conformation kept and easily unbinding DARPins washed. The selected DARPin bound specifically to PD-L1 overexpressing cell CT26 and had a micromolar affinity for PD-L1. Animal experiments with tumor-bearing mice were demonstrated that the selected DARPin could significantly inhibit the growth rate of PD-L1 overexpressing tumor cells. This selected method of DARPin may provide a quick drug candidate generation method for cancer immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To develop a deep learning-based cascaded HRNet model, in order to automatically measure X-ray imaging parameters of lumbar sagittal curvature and to evaluate its prediction performance.A total of 3730 lumbar lateral digital radiography (DR) images were collected from picture archiving and communication system (PACS). Among them, 3150 images were randomly selected as the training dataset and validation dataset, and 580 images as the test dataset. The landmarks of the lumbar curve index (LCI), lumbar lordosis angle (LLA), sacral slope (SS), lumbar lordosis index (LLI), and the posterior edge tangent angle of the vertebral body (PTA) were identified and marked. The measured results of landmarks on the test dataset were compared with the mean values of manual measurement as the reference standard. Percentage of correct key-points (PCK), intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), Pearson correlation coefficient (r), mean absolute error (MAE), mean square error (MSE), root-mean-square error (RMSE), and Bland–Altman plot were used to evaluate the performance of the cascade HRNet model.The PCK of the cascaded HRNet model was 97.9–100% in the 3 mm distance threshold. The mean differences between the reference standard and the predicted values for LCI, LLA, SS, LLI, and PTA were 0.43 mm, 0.99°, 1.11°, 0.01 mm, and 0.23°, respectively. There were strong correlation and consistency of the five parameters between the cascaded HRNet model and manual measurements (ICC = 0.989–0.999, R = 0.991–0.999, MAE = 0.63–1.65, MSE = 0.61–4.06, RMSE = 0.78–2.01).The cascaded HRNet model based on deep learning algorithm could accurately identify the sagittal curvature-related landmarks on lateral lumbar DR images and automatically measure the relevant parameters, which is of great significance in clinical application.Methods: To develop a deep learning-based cascaded HRNet model, in order to automatically measure X-ray imaging parameters of lumbar sagittal curvature and to evaluate its prediction performance.A total of 3730 lumbar lateral digital radiography (DR) images were collected from picture archiving and communication system (PACS). Among them, 3150 images were randomly selected as the training dataset and validation dataset, and 580 images as the test dataset. The landmarks of the lumbar curve index (LCI), lumbar lordosis angle (LLA), sacral slope (SS), lumbar lordosis index (LLI), and the posterior edge tangent angle of the vertebral body (PTA) were identified and marked. The measured results of landmarks on the test dataset were compared with the mean values of manual measurement as the reference standard. Percentage of correct key-points (PCK), intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), Pearson correlation coefficient (r), mean absolute error (MAE), mean square error (MSE), root-mean-square error (RMSE), and Bland–Altman plot were used to evaluate the performance of the cascade HRNet model.The PCK of the cascaded HRNet model was 97.9–100% in the 3 mm distance threshold. The mean differences between the reference standard and the predicted values for LCI, LLA, SS, LLI, and PTA were 0.43 mm, 0.99°, 1.11°, 0.01 mm, and 0.23°, respectively. There were strong correlation and consistency of the five parameters between the cascaded HRNet model and manual measurements (ICC = 0.989–0.999, R = 0.991–0.999, MAE = 0.63–1.65, MSE = 0.61–4.06, RMSE = 0.78–2.01).The cascaded HRNet model based on deep learning algorithm could accurately identify the sagittal curvature-related landmarks on lateral lumbar DR images and automatically measure the relevant parameters, which is of great significance in clinical application.Results: To develop a deep learning-based cascaded HRNet model, in order to automatically measure X-ray imaging parameters of lumbar sagittal curvature and to evaluate its prediction performance.A total of 3730 lumbar lateral digital radiography (DR) images were collected from picture archiving and communication system (PACS). Among them, 3150 images were randomly selected as the training dataset and validation dataset, and 580 images as the test dataset. The landmarks of the lumbar curve index (LCI), lumbar lordosis angle (LLA), sacral slope (SS), lumbar lordosis index (LLI), and the posterior edge tangent angle of the vertebral body (PTA) were identified and marked. The measured results of landmarks on the test dataset were compared with the mean values of manual measurement as the reference standard. Percentage of correct key-points (PCK), intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), Pearson correlation coefficient (r), mean absolute error (MAE), mean square error (MSE), root-mean-square error (RMSE), and Bland–Altman plot were used to evaluate the performance of the cascade HRNet model.The PCK of the cascaded HRNet model was 97.9–100% in the 3 mm distance threshold. The mean differences between the reference standard and the predicted values for LCI, LLA, SS, LLI, and PTA were 0.43 mm, 0.99°, 1.11°, 0.01 mm, and 0.23°, respectively. There were strong correlation and consistency of the five parameters between the cascaded HRNet model and manual measurements (ICC = 0.989–0.999, R = 0.991–0.999, MAE = 0.63–1.65, MSE = 0.61–4.06, RMSE = 0.78–2.01).The cascaded HRNet model based on deep learning algorithm could accurately identify the sagittal curvature-related landmarks on lateral lumbar DR images and automatically measure the relevant parameters, which is of great significance in clinical application.Conclusion: To develop a deep learning-based cascaded HRNet model, in order to automatically measure X-ray imaging parameters of lumbar sagittal curvature and to evaluate its prediction performance.A total of 3730 lumbar lateral digital radiography (DR) images were collected from picture archiving and communication system (PACS). Among them, 3150 images were randomly selected as the training dataset and validation dataset, and 580 images as the test dataset. The landmarks of the lumbar curve index (LCI), lumbar lordosis angle (LLA), sacral slope (SS), lumbar lordosis index (LLI), and the posterior edge tangent angle of the vertebral body (PTA) were identified and marked. The measured results of landmarks on the test dataset were compared with the mean values of manual measurement as the reference standard. Percentage of correct key-points (PCK), intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), Pearson correlation coefficient (r), mean absolute error (MAE), mean square error (MSE), root-mean-square error (RMSE), and Bland–Altman plot were used to evaluate the performance of the cascade HRNet model.The PCK of the cascaded HRNet model was 97.9–100% in the 3 mm distance threshold. The mean differences between the reference standard and the predicted values for LCI, LLA, SS, LLI, and PTA were 0.43 mm, 0.99°, 1.11°, 0.01 mm, and 0.23°, respectively. There were strong correlation and consistency of the five parameters between the cascaded HRNet model and manual measurements (ICC = 0.989–0.999, R = 0.991–0.999, MAE = 0.63–1.65, MSE = 0.61–4.06, RMSE = 0.78–2.01).The cascaded HRNet model based on deep learning algorithm could accurately identify the sagittal curvature-related landmarks on lateral lumbar DR images and automatically measure the relevant parameters, which is of great significance in clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A facile method was utilized to prepare two isostructural Ni-based MOF nanosheets. • One-pot synthesis of cyclic carbonates was achieved under mild conditions. • The 2D nanosheets outperformed their 3D counterparts in catalytic performance. • The opposite effects of amino groups in two elementary reactions were studied. Two isostructural Ni-based MOF 2D nanosheets (NiBDC NS and NiBDC-NH 2 NS) were facilely constructed by reflux method, which exhibited excellent activity for one-pot epoxidation-CO 2 cycloaddition catalysis. Combining our activity evaluations, detailed kinetics and molecular simulation results, we revealed that the amino groups of these materials played a positive role in CO 2 cycloaddition step but a negative role in epoxidation step. By using NiBDC NS, the conversion and yield of the targeted products under mild condition (80 °C, 1 bar and 12 h) could achieve 95% and 87%, respectively. The calculated Thiele modulus and effectiveness factor indicated that NiBDC NS exhibited a higher catalyst utilization degree with negligible diffusion constraint. We further confirmed the stability of these catalysts by repeatedly running the catalysis six times without observing significant loss of activity. Finally, the reaction mechanism was proposed by combining the results from experiment and simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Necroptosis is a form of programmed, caspase‐independent, cell death, mediated by receptor‐interacting protein kinases, RIPK1 and RIPK3, and the mixed lineage kinase domain‐like (MLKL). Necroptosis contributes to the pathophysiology of various inflammatory, infectious, and degenerative diseases. Thus, identification of low MW inhibitors for necroptosis has broad therapeutic relevance. Here, we identified that the pan‐Raf inhibitor TAK‐632 was also an inhibitor of necroptosis. We have further generated a more selective, highly potent analogue of TAK‐632 by targeting RIPK1 and RIPK3. Experimental Approach Cell viability was measured by MTT, propidium staining, or CellTiter‐Glo luminescent assays. Effects of TAK‐632 on necroptosis signalling pathways were investigated by western blotting, immunoprecipitation, and in vitro kinase assays. Downstream targets of TAK‐632 were identified by a drug affinity responsive target stability assay and a pull‐down assay with biotinylated TAK‐632. A mouse model of TNF‐α‐induced systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) was further used to explore the role of TAK‐632 in protecting against necroptosis‐associated inflammation in vivo. Key Results: TAK‐632 protected against necroptosis in human and mouse cells but did not protect cells from apoptosis. TAK‐632 directly bound with RIPK1 and RIPK3 to inhibit kinase activities of both enzymes. In vivo, TAK‐632 alleviated TNF‐induced SIRS. Furthermore, we performed a structure–activity relationship analysis of TAK‐632 analogues and generated SZM594, a highly potent inhibitor of RIPK1/3. Conclusions and Implications: TAK‐632 is an inhibitor of necroptosis and represents a new lead compound in the development of highly potent inhibitors of RIPK1 and RIPK3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Non-iridescent structural colors with wide viewing angles are produced by amorphous photonic structure (APS) and have received increasing attention. However, it is still a challenge to fabricate of non-iridescent, crack-free and functional structural colors, simultaneously. Here, the flexible lamellar nanostructures of graphene oxide (GO) are introduced as a black additive to fabricate amorphous, crack-free structural colors. The color hue and spectral purity of APS film can be easily tuned by adjusting the diameter of spheres and concentration of GO. Furthermore, after reduction treatment, the APS film possesses excellent visibility, flexibility and conductivity, paving the way toward their practical applications in flexible sensors, solar cells and full-color paper-like displays. Graphical abstract The diagram shows flexible nanosheets of GO and RGO were introduced as an additive to fabricate non-iridescent, crack-free, conductive structural colors. Image 1 Highlights • Non-iridescent structural colors were fabricated by introducing graphene oxide (GO). • The hue and contrast were tuned by adjusting particle sizes and GO's concentration. • The APS film possesses excellent visibility, flexibility and conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]