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AbstractAs compared with exogenous components, non-starch components (NSCS), such as proteins, lipids, non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs), and polyphenols, inherently present in cereals, are more effective at inhibiting starch digestibility. Existing research has mostly focused on complex systems but overlooked the analysis of the in-situ role of the NSCS. This study reviews the crucial mechanisms by which endogenous NSCS inhibit starch digestion, emphasizing the spatial distribution-function relationship. Starch granules are filled with pores/channels-associated proteins and lipids, embedding in the protein matrix, and maintained by endosperm cell walls. The potential starch digestion inhibition of endogenous NSCS is achieved by altering starch gelatinization, molecular structure, digestive enzyme activity, and accessibility. Starch gelatinization is constrained by endogenous NSCS, particularly cell wall NSPs and matrix proteins. The stability of the starch crystal structure is enhanced by the proteins and lipids distributed in the starch granule pores and channels. Endogenous polyphenols greatly inhibit digestive enzymes and participate in the cross-linking of NSPs in the cell wall space, which together constitute a physical barrier that hinders amylase diffusion. Additionally, the spatial entanglement of NSCS and starch under heat and non-heat processing conditions reduces starch accessibility. This review provides novel evidence for the health benefits of whole cereals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study aims to explore how perceived influence of game streamers affects viewer video game engagement. We propose a research model based on an extended means-end chain framework and validate this model through a two-wave field survey with 465 respondents. The results show that perceived attractiveness, perceived competence, and perceived trustworthiness are important attributes of perceived influence of game streamers. Additionally, viewer value perception—encompassing perceived utility value, perceived hedonic value, and perceived symbolic value—which is derived from watching game streaming, partially mediates the relationship between perceived influence of game streamers and viewer video game engagement. These findings not only provide insights into the psychological mechanisms underlying the impact of game streamers on viewer behavioral intention but also contribute to a better understanding of the contemporary game streaming landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Materials and Methods Results Conclusion The objective of this study is to analyze the clinical and radiographic outcomes of implant‐supported fixed protheses with cantilever extensions (ISFPCs) in the partially edentulous anterior mandible.Patients who received anterior mandible implant restoration between January 2016 and December 2021 were included. Patients with two, three, or four continuous missing teeth receiving adjacent implant supported single‐unit crowns (ISSCs), ISFPCs, implant‐supported fixed protheses without cantilever extensions (ISFPNs) were divided into groups: ISSC+ISSC, ISFPC, ISSC+ISFPC, three‐unit ISFPN, ISFPC+ISFPC, or four‐unit ISFPN, respectively. We recorded and evaluated survival rates, mechanical and biological complications, peri‐implant marginal bone loss (MBL), esthetic outcomes, and patient perceptions. Statistical analysis was performed using linear mixed models (LMM).The study included 87 patients and 152 implants. No implant loss occurred during an average follow‐up of 3.48 ± 1.85 years (range: 1–7 years). According to LMM models, prosthetic type had a statistically significant impact on MBL during follow‐up periods, in favor of the ISFPC and ISFPC+ISFPC groups (0.16 ± 0.48 mm vs. 0.51 ± 0.49 mm, p = .034; 0.22 ± 0.49 mm vs. 0.60 ± 0.62 mm, p = .043, respectively). Mechanical and biological complications were relatively low and comparable. The four‐unit ISFPC group had higher subjective esthetic scores compared with the ISSC+ISSC group (98.6 vs. 83.8, p < .05), and patients in the ISFPC+ISFPC group expressed greater satisfaction with cleanability than the ISFPN group (98.8 vs. 80.6).ISFPCs offer a highly predictable treatment option in the anterior mandible, characterized by high survival rates, and comparable complication rates, peri‐implant bone stability and esthetics to adjacent ISSCs or ISFPNs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous development of vehicular ad hoc networks (VANET) security, using federated learning (FL) to deploy intrusion detection models in VANET has attracted considerable attention. Compared to conventional centralized learning, FL retains local training private data, thus protecting privacy. However, sensitive information about the training data can still be inferred from the shared model parameters in FL. Differential privacy (DP) is sophisticated technique to mitigate such attacks. A key challenge of implementing DP in FL is that non-selectively adding DP noise can adversely affect model accuracy, while having many perturbed parameters also increases privacy budget consumption and communication costs for detection models. To address this challenge, we propose FFIDS, a FL algorithm integrating model parameter pruning with differential privacy. It employs a parameter pruning technique based on the Fisher Information Matrix to reduce the privacy budget consumption per iteration while ensuring no accuracy loss. Specifically, FFIDS evaluates parameter importance and prunes unimportant parameters to generate compact sub-models, while recording the positions of parameters in each sub-model. This not only reduces model size to lower communication costs, but also maintains accuracy stability. DP noise is then added to the sub-models. By not perturbing unimportant parameters, more budget can be reserved to retain important parameters for more iterations. Finally, the server can promptly recover the sub-models using the parameter position information and complete aggregation. Extensive experiments on two public datasets and two F2MD simulation datasets have validated the utility and superior performance of the FFIDS algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel Triple-magnet Magnetic Suspension Dynamic Vibration Absorber is designed and modeled in this paper. The equivalent dynamic model of the Triple-magnet Magnetic Suspension Dynamic Vibration Absorber vibration reduction system is established. Meanwhile, the calculation model of the nonlinear magnetic suspension force is derived. Based on the force model, it is found that the nonlinear stiffness feature can be adjusted by changing the magnet distance of the Triple-magnet Magnetic Suspension Dynamic Vibration Absorber. Then the dynamic equations of the vibration reduction system are solved by using the Complex Variable Average method. And the correctness of the derivation procedure is verified through the Runge–Kutta method. From the numerical solutions, bifurcation phenomena occur in the system responses when the excitation amplitude is larger than a certain value. Adjusting the magnet distance and the damping coefficient of the Triple-magnet Magnetic Suspension Dynamic Vibration Absorber can delay or avoid bifurcation behaviors. When the excitation amplitude varies over a wide range, the Triple-magnet Magnetic Suspension Dynamic Vibration Absorber with a larger magnet distance and damping coefficient shows better vibration reduction performance. This study provides a theoretical basis for the practical application of the Triple-magnet Magnetic Suspension Dynamic Vibration Absorber and new ideas for controlling the bifurcation of traditional nonlinear dynamic vibration absorbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Delays in malaria treatment can not only lead to severe and even life-threatening complications, but also foster transmission, putting more people at risk of infection. This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing treatment delays among malaria patients and their health-seeking behaviour. Methods: The medical records of 494 patients diagnosed with malaria from 6 different malaria-endemic provinces in China were analysed. A bivariate and multivariable regression model was used to investigate the association between delays in seeking treatment and various factors. A Sankey diagram was used to visualize the trajectories of malaria patients seeking medical care. Total treatment delays were categorized as patient delays and doctor delays. Results: The incidence of total delays in seeking malaria treatment was 81.6%, of which 28.4% were delayed by patients alone and 34.8% by doctors alone. The median time from the onset of symptoms to the initial healthcare consultation was 1 day. The median time from the initial healthcare consultation to the conclusive diagnosis was 2 day. After being subjected to multiple logistic regression analysis, living in central China was less likely to experience patient delays (OR = 0.43, 95% CI 0.24–0.78). The factors significantly associated with the lower likelihood of doctor delays included: age between 30 to 49 (OR = 0.43, 95% CI 0.23–0.81), being single/divorce/separated (OR = 0.48, 95% CI 0.24–0.95), first visiting a county-level health institution (OR = 0.25, 95% CI 0.14–0.45), first visiting a prefectural health institution (OR = 0.06, 95% CI 0.03–0.12) and first visiting a provincial health institution (OR = 0.05, 95%CI 0.02–0.12). Conversely, individuals with mixed infections (OR = 2.04, 95% CI 1.02–4.08) and those experiencing periodic symptoms (OR = 1.71, 95% CI 1.00–2.92) might face increased doctor delays. Furthermore, higher financial burden and complications were found to be associated with patient delays. Doctor delays, in addition to incurring these two consequences, were associated with longer hospital stays. Conclusion: There was a substantial delay in access to health care for malaria patients before China was certified malaria free. Region, marital status, periodic symptoms and the level of health institutions were factors contributing to delays in treatment-seeking among malaria patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The supervised super-resolution (SR) methods based on simple degradation assumptions (e.g., bicubic downsampling) have unsatisfactory generalization ability on real-world thermal images. To enhance the SR effect of real-world sceneries, we introduce an unsupervised SR framework for thermal images, incorporating degradation modeling and corresponding SR. Inspired by the physical prior that high frequency affects details and low frequency affects thermal contrast, we propose a frequency-aware degradation model, named TFADGAN. The model achieves image quality migration between thermal detectors of different resolutions by degrading different frequency components of the image from high-resolution (HR) to low-resolution (LR). Specifically, by adversarial learning with unpaired LR thermal images, the complex degradation processes of HR thermal images at low and high frequencies are modeled separately. Benefiting from the thermal characteristics mined from real-world images, the degraded images generated by TFADGAN are similar to LR thermal ones in terms of detail and contrast. Then, the SR model is trained based on the pseudo-paired data consisting of degraded images and HR images. Extensive experimental results demonstrate that the degraded images generated by TFADGAN provide reliable alternatives to real-world LR thermal images. In real-world thermal image experiments, the proposed SR framework can improve the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and structural similarity degree (SSIM) by 1.28 dB and 0.02, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a common complication of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which frequently results in disabling neuropathic pain and lower‐limb amputation. The identification of noninvasive biomarkers for DPN may help early detection and individualized treatment of DPN. Methods: In this study, we identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between DPN and the control based on blood‐source (GSE95849) and tissue‐source gene expression profiles (GSE143979) from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database using limma, edgeR, and DESeq2 approaches. KEGGG and GO functional enrichments were performed. Hub genes and their correlation with infiltrating immune cells were analyzed. Real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR) was used to quantify hub gene expression. Results: In total, 144 DEGs between DPN and the control were identified. Functional enrichment revealed that the DEGs were mainly enriched in immune‐related pathways like the Fc epsilon receptor Ig signaling pathway. By protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, FCER1G, SYK, ITGA4, F13A1, MS4A2, and PTK2B were screened as hub genes with higher expression in DPN patients, among which half were immune genes (FCER1G, PTK2B, and SYK). RT‐qPCR demonstrated that mRNA expression of FCER1G, PTK2B, and SYK was significantly increased in patients with DPN compared with both diabetic nonperipheral neuropathy (DNN) and normal subjects. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of FCER1G, PTK2B, and SYK was 0.84, 0.81, and 0.73, respectively, suggesting their great advantages as diagnostic biomarkers to predict the progression of neuropathy in T2DM. Further analysis indicated that the expression of FCER1G, PTK2B, and SYK was negatively correlated with the cell proportion of significantly altered resting natural killer cells, T follicular helper cells, and activated mast cells, but positively correlated with monocytes. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated FCER1G, PTK2B, and SYK are potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for DPN, which provides new insight into DPN pathogenesis and therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a single-layer SPH approach that takes into account full soil-water interactions is proposed. The approach updates the propagation of pore pressure through combination of volumetric strain and Darcy's law, accounting for the momentum equation, soil constitutive behavior, and the development of pore pressure at each timestep of the simulation. The proposed method is validated by analytical solutions of consolidation problems. To showcase its capability in simulating large-deformation problems with hydro-mechanical interactions, a physical test of a seepage-induced sinkhole was simulated using the proposed SPH method. The good agreements suggest that the proposed method can capture the key features of sinkhole developments and serve as a promising tool to explore the associated failure mechanism. A series of parametric studies are then conducted to reveal the influences of material properties and hydraulic conditions on the failure behavior of sinkholes, including failure patterns, influence zone, and surface settlement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study aimed to establish a nomogram model for predicting the probability of postoperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) risk in patients with hip fractures. Methods: 504 patients were randomly assigned to the training set and validation set, and then divided into a DVT group and a non-DVT group. The study analysed the risk factors for DVT using univariate and multivariate analyses. Based on these parameters, a nomogram model was constructed and validated. The predicting performance of nomogram was evaluated by discrimination, calibration, and clinical usefulness. Results: The predictors contained in the nomogram model included age, surgical approach, 1-day postoperative D-dimer value and admission ultrasound diagnosis of the lower limb vein. Furthermore, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) for the specific DVT risk-stratification nomogram model (0.815; 95% CI 0.746–0.884) was significantly higher than the current model (Caprini) (0.659; 95% CI 0.572–0.746, P < 0.05). According to the calibration plots, the prediction and actual observation were in good agreement. In the range of threshold probabilities of 0.2–0.8, the predictive performance of the model on DVT risk could be maximized. Conclusions: The current predictive model could serve as a reliable tool to quantify the possibility of postoperative DVT in hip fractures patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An iron‐catalyzed direct C3−H radical trifluoromethylthiolation of quinoxalin‐2(1H)‐ones has been developed. This protocol uses earth‐abundant FeSO4 ⋅ 7H2O as the catalyst, and AgSCF3 as the trifluoromethylthiolating reagent to provide various SCF3‐containing quinoxalin‐2(1H)‐one derivatives in 26–88% yields. Preliminary mechanistic investigations indicate that the reaction proceeds through a radical pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novel Ti 23- x V 40 Mn 37 Hf x (x = 8 and 10 at%) multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs) were prepared using vacuum non-consumable electrode arc-melting furnace. An analysis of the hydrogen sorption process unveiled a thought-provoking discovery, shedding light on the microstructure and performance of the alloys. The MPEAs exhibited a higher abundance of the C14 Laves phase in comparison to the Ti 23 V 40 Mn 37 alloy. The C14 Laves phase underwent a transformation into columnar dendrites, resulting in the formation of a finely textured eutectic structure within the MPEAs. This distinctive microstructure endowed the MPEAs with superior activity and faster hydrogen absorption kinetics compared to the Ti 23 V 40 Mn 37 alloy. The initial hydrogen absorption process followed a nucleation and crystal growth mechanism. In addition, the Ti 13 V 40 Mn 37 Hf 10 alloy exhibited an impressive maximum hydrogen desorption capacity of 1.96 wt%, representing a significant 38% increase when compared to the Ti 23 V 40 Mn 37 alloy. This enhanced hydrogen desorption capacity can be attributed to the presence of numerous diffusion channels for hydrogen atoms, as well as shorter diffusion distances within the MPEAs. Furthermore, the values of ΔH increased to 30.38 and 32.76 kJ/mol H 2 , respectively, for the MPEAs. This indicates a higher stability of hydrides within the MPEAs. • Eutectic structure (BCC + C14 Laves) is formed in the Ti 23- x V 40 Mn 37 Hf x (x = 8 and 10 at.%) alloys. • The phase abundance of C14 Laves phase increases. • The hydrogen absorption kinetic performance is improved. • The initial hydrogen absorption kinetic conforms to nucleation and crystal growth mechanism. • The max desorption capacity of increases to 1.96 wt%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider the Cauchy problem of the 3D incompressible Keller–Segel–Navier–Stokes equations with partial diffusion, namely we remove the diffusion $ \Delta \rho $ Δ ρ. Using the damping effect of the growth term $ -\rho ^{3} $ − ρ 3 and the geometry of axisymmetric flow without swirl, we prove the global existence of weak solutions for the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium bismuth titanate (BNT)-based dielectric capacitors with excellent energy storage performance play an important role in electronics industry. (Sr 1.05 Bi 0.3)ScO 3 (SBS) is introduced into 0.85Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 TiO 3 -0.15NaNbO 3 (BNT-NN) to achieve co-regulation of phase and domain structure. With the introduction of SBS, the dominated pseudocubic phase accompanied by a small percentage of rhombohedral phase are tend to form, and thus induce nanodomain structure with high-density domain walls. Under the excitation of a bias voltage, the induced nanodomains are easier to switch and effectively reduce the residual polarization. Additionally, the homogeneous nanodomains with high-density domain walls will promote large negative built-in voltage which are favorable to rise of breakdown field strength, and thus, optimize the energy storage performance. The co-regulation of phase-domain structure provides an idea for designing ferroelectrics with good energy storage performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to investigate motivators, mediator and moderator of users' sustained information seeking on academic social networking sites (ASNSs). Design/methodology/approach: Drawing upon the expectancy–value theory and related information-seeking literature, the study developed a theoretical model to explain why and how users intend to continue seeking information on ASNSs. Thereafter, a field survey with 385 participants was conducted to test the model. Finally, a content analysis of participants' post-survey feedback was performed to complement the model test results by showing more fine-grained findings. Findings: Results suggest that information usefulness and information adoption (IA) are significant to users' sustained information seeking on ASNSs, while users' satisfaction with ASNSs may play a mediating role in the relationship between information usefulness and sustained information seeking. Additionally, self-efficacy for critical thinking (SCT) weakens the impact of IA on users' satisfaction with ASNSs. The post-survey feedback analysis indicates that information usefulness is more critical to sustained information seeking for users with high SCT, whereas IA becomes more crucial to users' satisfaction with ASNSs and sustained information seeking for users with low SCT. Originality/value: Although the extant literature has distinguished between information seeking and sustained information seeking, empirical research into users' sustained information seeking on ASNSs is limited. The study fills this gap by proposing and validating relevant factors and the boundary condition of users' sustained information seeking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The graduate admissions process is time-consuming, subjective, and complicated by the need to combine information from diverse data sources. Letters of recommendation (LORs) are particularly difficult to evaluate and it is unclear how much impact they have on admissions decisions. This study addresses these concerns by building machine learning models to predict admissions decisions for two STEM graduate programs, with a focus on examining the contribution of LORs in the decision-making process. We train our predictive models leveraging information extracted from structured application forms (e.g., undergraduate GPA, standardized test scores, etc.), applicants' resumes, and LORs. A particular challenge in our study is the different modalities of application data (i.e., text vs. structured forms). To address this issue, we converted the textual LORs into features using a commercial natural language processing product and a manual rating process that we developed. By analyzing the predictive performance of the models using different subsets of features, we show that LORs alone provide only modest, but useful, predictive signals to admission decisions; the best model for predicting admissions decisions utilized both LOR and non-LOR data and achieved 89% accuracy. Our experiments demonstrate promising results in the utility of automated systems for assisting with graduate admission decisions. The findings confirm the value of LORs and the effectiveness of our feature engineering methods from LOR text. This study also assesses the significance of individual features using the SHAP method, thereby providing insight into key factors affecting graduate admission decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prolonged treatment of HER2+ breast cancer with lapatinib (LAP) causes cellular senescence and acquired drug resistance, which often associating with poor prognosis for patients. We aim to explore the correlation between cellular senescence and LAP resistance in HER2+ breast cancer, screen for molecular marker of reversible senescence, and construct targeted nanobubbles for ultrasound molecular imaging to dynamically evaluate LAP resistance. Methods and Results: In this study, we established a new cellular model of reversible cellular senescence using LAP and HER2+ breast cancer cells and found that reversible senescence contributed to LAP resistance in HER2+ breast cancer. Then, we identified ecto‐5′‐nucleotidase (NT5E) as a marker of reversible senescence in HER2+ breast cancer. Based on this, we constructed NT5E‐targeted nanobubbles (NT5E‐FITC‐NBs) as a new molecular imaging modality which could both target reversible senescent cells and be used for ultrasound imaging. NT5E‐FITC‐NBs showed excellent physical and imaging characteristics. As an ultrasound contrast agent, NT5E‐FITC‐NBs could accurately identify reversible senescent cells both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that cellular senescence‐based ultrasound‐targeted imaging can identify reversible senescence and evaluate LAP resistance effectively in HER2+ breast cancer cells, which has the potential to improve cancer treatment outcomes by altering therapeutic strategies ahead of aggressive recurrences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aberrant glycosylation is one of the most common post-translational modifications leading to heterogeneity in colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aims to construct a risk prediction model based on glycosyltransferase to forecast the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in CRC patients. Methods: Based on the TCGA dataset and glycosyltransferase genes, the NMF algorithm and WGCNA were used to identify molecular subtypes and co-expressed genes, respectively. Lasso and multivariate COX regression were used to identify prognostic glycosyltransferase genes and construct a glyco-risk prediction model in CRC patients. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression, Kaplan–Meier, and ROC curves were applied to further verify the prognostic performance of the model in CRC patients in the training and validation sets. We compared the responsiveness of immunotherapy and chemotherapy between the two groups. In vitro experiments and clinical specimens verified the specific function of the key glycosyltransferase genes in CRC. Results: The CRC cohort was divided into two subtypes with prominent differences in survival based on the well-robust seven-gene glyco-risk prediction model (composed of ALG1L2, HAS1, PYGL, COLGALT2, B3GNT4, POFUT2, and GALNT7). The nomograms based on the risk model could predict the prognosis of CRC patients independently of other clinicopathologic characteristics. Our prediction model showed a better overall prediction performance than other models. Compared with the low-risk group, the high-risk CRC patients showed a lower immune infiltration state, but a higher TMB and a lower response to anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, and anti-CTLA-4 therapy. Clinical specimen validation showed an obvious difference in the expression of seven glycosyltransferase genes between the low- and high-risk groups. Significant reduction in POFUT2 expression in high-risk groups was associated with reduced N-glycans production. Conclusion: Our study constructed a robust glyco-risk prediction model that could provide direction for immunotherapy and chemotherapy in CRC patients, which could help clinicians make personalized treatment decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abnormal microbial colonization in the gut at an early stage of life affects growth, development, and health, resulting in short- and long-term adverse effects. Microbial colonization patterns of preterm infants differ from those of full-term infants in that preterm babies and their mothers have more complicated prenatal and postnatal medical conditions. Maternal complications, antibiotic exposure, delivery mode, feeding type, and the use of probiotics may significantly shape the gut microbiota of preterm infants at an early stage of life; however, these influences subside with age. Although some factors and processes are difficult to intervene in or avoid, understanding the potential factors and determinants will help in developing timely strategies for a healthy gut microbiota in preterm infants. This review discusses potential determinants of gut microbial colonization in preterm infants and their underlying mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the recent decades, due to the special electronic characteristics and diverse reactivities, N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) has received significant interest in organocatalyzed reactions. The formation of Breslow intermediates by NHC can convert into acyl anion equivalent, enolates, homoenolate, acyl azolium, and vinyl enolate etc. and the cycloaddition reactions of these species has attracted lots of attention. In this review, we focus on the summry of the development of NHC‐activation of carbonyl carbon (or imine carbon) in situ, α‐, β‐, γ‐, and beyond, and the cycloaddition reaction of these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Complex of Proteins Associated with Set1 (COMPASS) methylates lysine K4 on histone H3 (H3K4) and is conserved from yeast to humans. Its subunits and regulatory roles in the meningitis-causing fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans remain unknown. Here we identified the core subunits of the COMPASS complex in C. neoformans and C. deneoformans and confirmed their conserved roles in H3K4 methylation. Through AlphaFold modeling, we found that Set1, Bre2, Swd1, and Swd3 form the catalytic core of the COMPASS complex and regulate the cryptococcal yeast-to-hypha transition, thermal tolerance, and virulence. The COMPASS complex-mediated histone H3K4 methylation requires H2B mono-ubiquitination by Rad6/Bre1 and the Paf1 complex in order to activate the expression of genes specific for the yeast-to-hypha transition in C. deneoformans. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that putative COMPASS subunits function as a unified complex, contributing to cryptococcal development and virulence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tumor-promoting function of IGF2BP3 has been reported in several cancers. The present study aimed to explore the function and molecular mechanisms of IGF2BP3 are elusive in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). IGF2BP3 expression in LUAD and its prognostic value were estimated by bioinformatics. RT-qPCR was employed to detect the expression of IGF2BP3 and confirm the transfection efficiency following the knockdown or overexpression of IGF2BP3. Functional assays, including CCK-8, TUNEL, and Transwell assays, were used to determine the role of IGF2BP3 in tumor cell viability, apoptosis, migration and invasion. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was used to identify signaling pathways related to IGF2BP3 expression. The effects of IGF2BP3 on the PI3K/AKT pathway were detected by western blotting. In this study, we found that IGF2BP3 was overexpressed in LUAD, and patients with high IGF2BP3 levels had a lower probability of overall survival. Moreover, ectopic expression of IGF2BP3 enhanced cell viability and metastasis, and reduced apoptosis. Conversely, IGF2BP3 silencing reduced the viability, migration, and invasion while enhancing the apoptosis of LUAD cells. In addition, it was disclosed that overexpression of IGF2BP3 could activate PI3K/AKT signaling in LAUD, while silencing of IGF2BP3 deactivated this pathway. Moreover, 740Y-P (PI3K agonist) reversed the inhibitory effects on cell viability and metastasis, and the promotion effect on metastasis caused by IGF2BP3 silencing. Our findings demonstrated that IGF2BP3 contributed to the tumorigenesis of LUAD by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fog manufacturing can greatly enhance traditional manufacturing systems through distributed Fog computation units, which are governed by predictive computational workload offloading methods under different Industrial Internet architectures. It is known that the predictive offloading methods highly depend on accurate prediction and uncertainty quantification of runtime performance metrics, containing multivariate mixed-type responses (i.e., continuous, counting, binary). In this work, we propose a Bayesian sparse regression for multivariate mixed responses to enhance the prediction of runtime performance metrics and to enable the statistical inferences. The proposed method considers both group and individual variable selection to jointly model the mixed types of runtime performance metrics. The conditional dependency among multiple responses is described by a graphical model using the precision matrix, where a spike-and-slab prior is used to enable the sparse estimation of the graph. The proposed method not only achieves accurate prediction, but also makes the predictive model more interpretable with statistical inferences on model parameters and prediction in the Fog manufacturing. A simulation study and a real case example in a Fog manufacturing are conducted to demonstrate the merits of the proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel triple-magnet magnetic suspension dynamic vibration absorber (TMSDVA) is designed, modeled, and tested in this paper. First, the equivalent dynamics model of the TMSDVA cantilever system is established. Based on the equivalent magnetizing current theory, the calculation model of the magnetic force is derived. After that, we analyze the characteristics of the magnetic force. Then the dynamics equations are solved using the Runge-Kutta method. Through the analysis of simulation responses of the TMSDVA cantilever system under sinusoidal excitation, we find it necessary to adjust the damping coefficient of the TMSDVA properly, which can not only decrease the sensitivity of the vibration reduction effect to the excitation amplitude but also improve the vibration reduction effect of the TMSDVA overall. Next, the experiment is carried out to verify the correctness of the simulation results. Given all that, the TMSDVA has potential application value in the passive vibration reduction of engineering structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly efficient NHC‐catalyzed cycloaddition of (E)‐alkenylisatins and γ‐chloroenals with a broad substrate scope has been developed to provide spiro[cyclohex‐4‐ene‐1,3′‐indole] in good yields (up to 99 % yield) with excellent diastereo‐ and enantioselectivities (up to >20 : 1 d.r. >99 % ee) under mild conditions without the use of metal and additives. Based on computational investigations, the role of the NHC on the diastereo‐ and enantioselectivity is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular electrocatalysts for CO2‐to‐CO conversion often operate at large overpotentials, due to the large barrier for C−O bond cleavage. Illustrated with ruthenium polypyridyl catalysts, we herein propose a mechanistic route that involves one metal center that acts as both Lewis base and Lewis acid at different stages of the catalytic cycle, by density functional theory in corroboration with experimental FTIR. The nucleophilic character of the Ru center manifests itself in the initial attack on CO2 to form [Ru‐CO2]0, while its electrophilic character allows for the formation of a 5‐membered metallacyclic intermediate, [Ru‐CO2CO2]0,c, by addition of a second CO2 molecule and intramolecular cyclization. The calculated activation barrier for C−O bond cleavage via the metallacycle is decreased by 34.9 kcal mol−1 as compared to the non‐cyclic adduct in the two electron reduced state of complex 1. Such metallacyclic intermediates in electrocatalytic CO2 reduction offer a new design feature that can be implemented consciously in future catalyst designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular electrocatalysts for CO2‐to‐CO conversion often operate at large overpotentials, due to the large barrier for C−O bond cleavage. Illustrated with ruthenium polypyridyl catalysts, we herein propose a mechanistic route that involves one metal center that acts as both Lewis base and Lewis acid at different stages of the catalytic cycle, by density functional theory in corroboration with experimental FTIR. The nucleophilic character of the Ru center manifests itself in the initial attack on CO2 to form [Ru‐CO2]0, while its electrophilic character allows for the formation of a 5‐membered metallacyclic intermediate, [Ru‐CO2CO2]0,c, by addition of a second CO2 molecule and intramolecular cyclization. The calculated activation barrier for C−O bond cleavage via the metallacycle is decreased by 34.9 kcal mol−1 as compared to the non‐cyclic adduct in the two electron reduced state of complex 1. Such metallacyclic intermediates in electrocatalytic CO2 reduction offer a new design feature that can be implemented consciously in future catalyst designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let p be a prime number. Let k = F ¯ p , the algebraic closure of field F p of p elements, and G be a connected reductive group defined over F p and B be a Borel subgroup of G. Let θ be a (one dimensional) character of B (may not be rational). We give the necessary and sufficient condition for M (θ) = k G ⊗ k B θ being finite length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel Triple-magnet Magnetic Dynamic Vibration Absorber (TMDVA) with Eddy Current Damping (ECD) and Coulomb damping is proposed in this paper. A multi-storey structure is selected as the vibration reduction object. First, the equivalent dynamics model of the TMDVA multi-storey structure vibration reduction system is established. Then the nonlinear magnetic force model is built according to the magnetizing current theory. Next, an ECD accurate calculation model is developed and derived based on Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction. Because of the model, the ECD coefficient can be designed and adjusted arbitrarily. The full text indicates that adjusting the ECD coefficient properly can not only improve the vibration reduction effect of the TMDVA, but also reduce the sensitivity of the vibration reduction effect to the excitation amplitude as well as enhance the broadband vibration reduction performance and the robustness of the TMDVA. With its simple structure, the TMDVA is easy to be implemented and miniaturized. And the low frequency vibration reduction effect of the TMDVA is better than other existing magnetic dynamic vibration absorbers. Taken together, the TMDVA has potential application value in passive vibration reduction of engineering structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing evidence that contact surfaces within healthcare settings can serve as reservoirs for pathogen colonization and spread infectious bacteria to humans. This article aims to demonstrate the use of a Prevention through Design Environment Material Integrative Control (PtD-EMIC) instrument to predict the infection prevention resilience potential of materials commonly used for healthcare contact surfaces. PtD-EMIC is based on fuzzy logic and Adaptive Neural Fuzzy Inference System architecture. Its objective is to serve as a computational design tool that guides the selection and specification of interior materials that may moderate the spread of pathogens in healthcare environments. This objective is accomplished through an applied systems requirement simulation framework that can help guide interior material choice and design for healthcare spaces. The motivation for developing this instrument is to provide a vehicle that can expand healthcare design industry capabilities and interior environment analysis research by using computational approaches to inform interior material selection and design decisions that support healthcare environments' infection control strategies. The selection and sourcing of embedded data related to relevant and high-use acute care treatment area finishes, the premise of instrument use, precedent research basis, and system architecture, as well as tool validation and demonstration of use, are all discussed. The text explains how using this instrument can facilitate categorization and leveraging interior material performance outcome data for informing safety-critical healthcare design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: LMBV is an important pathogen in the breeding process of largemouth bass, but there is no effective control method for it. This study developed oral vaccines for LMBV. The vaccines can significantly increase the activity of immune-related enzymes, upregulate the expression of immune genes, and stimulate the production of neutralizing antibodies in serum in largemouth bass. In addition, the vaccines can reduce the mortality of LMBV infection. These results indicate that the vaccines are expected to be candidate vaccines for controlling LMBV infection. Largemouth bass ranavirus (LMBV) infects largemouth bass, leading to significant mortality and economic losses. There are no safe and effective drugs against this disease. Oral vaccines that directly target the intestinal mucosal immune system play an important role in resisting pathogens. Herein, the B subunit of Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin (LTB, a mucosal immune adjuvant) and the LMBV main capsid protein (MCP) were expressed using Saccharomyces cerevisiae surface display technology. The yeast-prepared oral vaccines were named EBY100-OMCP and EBY100-LTB-OMCP. The candidate vaccines could resist the acidic intestinal environment. After 7 days of continuous oral immunization, indicators of innate and adaptive immunity were measured on days 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42. High activities of immune enzymes (T-SOD, AKP, ACP, and LZM) in serum and intestinal mucus were detected. IgM in the head kidney was significantly upregulated (EBY100-OMCP group: 3.8-fold; BY100-LTB-OMCP group: 4.3-fold). IgT was upregulated in the intestines (EBY100-OMCP group: 5.6-fold; EBY100-LTB-OMCP group: 6.7-fold). Serum neutralizing antibody titers of the two groups reached 1:85. Oral vaccination protected against LMBV infection. The relative percent survival was 52.1% (EBY100-OMCP) and 66.7% (EBY100-LTB-OMCP). Thus, EBY100-OMCP and EBY100-LTB-OMCP are promising and effective candidate vaccines against LMBV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Offshore pipelines that deliver raw fluids usually work under high temperature/high pressure (HPHT) conditions to ease the flow and prevent the solidification of wax fractions. Under HPHT conditions, lateral buckling and axial pipeline walking can occur. Existing studies have shown that axial walking is prone to occur in short pipelines and lateral buckling tends to occur in long pipelines. However, there is no clear definition for distinguishing between short and long pipelines, nor are there criteria to determine the occurrence of these two behaviors under certain conditions. In this study, the relationship between the length of a pipeline and lateral buckling critical temperature was derived based on an analytical solution, considering the influence of tension forces and seabed slope angle. A theoretical analytical solution of axial walking was reviewed and summarized. The two solutions for axial walking and lateral buckling were combined, and a criterion based on critical pipeline length was proposed to estimate the possibility and priority of these two behaviors for a given pipeline under certain conditions. The influence of seabed slope and axial and lateral friction factors on the two behaviors was explored by carrying out parameter analysis, and the influence regularity of these factors on critical pipeline length and critical temperature was obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimized theranostic strategies for Alzheimer's disease (AD) remain almost absent from bench to clinic. Current probes and drugs attempting to prevent β‐amyloid (Aβ) fibrosis encounter failures due to the blood–brain barrier (BBB) penetration challenge and blind intervention time window. Herein, we design a near‐infrared (NIR) aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) probe, DNTPH, via balanced hydrophobicity‐hydrophilicity strategy. DNTPH binds selectively to Aβ fibrils with a high signal‐to‐noise ratio. In vivo imaging revealed its excellent BBB permeability and long‐term tracking ability with high‐performance AD diagnosis. Remarkably, DNTPH exhibits a strong inhibitory effect on Aβ fibrosis and promotes fibril disassembly, thereby attenuating Aβ‐induced neurotoxicity. DNTPH treatment significantly reduced Aβ plaques and rescued learning deficits in AD mice. Thus, DNTPH serves as the first AIE in vivo theranostic agent for real‐time NIR imaging of Aβ plaques and AD therapy simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimized theranostic strategies for Alzheimer's disease (AD) remain almost absent from bench to clinic. Current probes and drugs attempting to prevent β‐amyloid (Aβ) fibrosis encounter failures due to the blood–brain barrier (BBB) penetration challenge and blind intervention time window. Herein, we design a near‐infrared (NIR) aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) probe, DNTPH, via balanced hydrophobicity‐hydrophilicity strategy. DNTPH binds selectively to Aβ fibrils with a high signal‐to‐noise ratio. In vivo imaging revealed its excellent BBB permeability and long‐term tracking ability with high‐performance AD diagnosis. Remarkably, DNTPH exhibits a strong inhibitory effect on Aβ fibrosis and promotes fibril disassembly, thereby attenuating Aβ‐induced neurotoxicity. DNTPH treatment significantly reduced Aβ plaques and rescued learning deficits in AD mice. Thus, DNTPH serves as the first AIE in vivo theranostic agent for real‐time NIR imaging of Aβ plaques and AD therapy simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimizing current‐limiting devices (CLDs) in multi‐terminal DC grids is essential to limit the fault current while reducing the cost of devices. However, current studies mainly focus on optimizing CLDs based on continuous parameters in simple DC grids, which cannot meet the optimal efficiency demand of CLDs in complex multi‐terminal DC grids and results in each CLD needing to be customized separately, increasing the production cost of devices. Therefore, to improve the optimal efficiency under complex multi‐terminal DC grids, the principle of fault area division based on the coupled degree of converter and DC grid and the corresponding hierarchical optimal implementation schemes of CLDs are proposed first. Then, the effects of CLD parameters on the fault current are analysed, and their sensitive ranges of current‐limiting are revealed. In combination with the error range of inductance, the principle of discrete parameter design of current‐limiting inductance parameters is put forward. Next, the discrete parameters of CLDs are optimized by an intelligence algorithm. Finally, the hierarchical optimal method of CLDs based on discrete parameters is validated on a six‐terminal DC grid in PSCAD/EMTDC. The proposed method can satisfy the demand of current‐limiting, which is more in line with the standardization requirements in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the low cost and easy deployment, self-supervised depth completion has been widely studied in recent years. In this work, a self-supervised depth completion method is designed based on multi-modal spatio-temporal consistency (MSC). The self-supervised depth completion nowadays faces other problems: moving objects, occluded/dark light/low texture parts, long-distance completion, and cross-modal fusion. In the face of these problems, the most critical novelty of this work lies in that the self-supervised mechanism is designed to train the depth completion network by MSC constraint. It not only makes better use of depth-temporal data, but also plays the advantage of photometric-temporal constraint. With the self-supervised mechanism of MSC constraint, the overall system outperforms many other self-supervised networks, even exceeding partially supervised networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we take the bidirectional sixth-order Sawada–Kotera equation as an instance and use a new limit approach to generate a multiple-pole solution and the degenerate of the breather wave from the N-order soliton solution. We show not only the substitution method, but also the specific mathematical expression of the double-pole, triple-pole, and the degenerate breather solution after the substitution. Meanwhile, we give the dynamic images and trajectories of the different multiple-pole solution. Moreover, we also acquire the interaction between two double-pole solutions and different nonlinear superposition solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Creative self-efficacy is a type of individual creative self-belief, which is an important predictor of creative activities and achievements. For gifted children who have high creative potential, the influencing factors of their creative self-efficacy need to be further explored. This study aimed to explore the relationship between gender, emotional intelligence, self-esteem, and creative self-efficacy in gifted children, with special attention on the mediating role of self-esteem and the moderating role of gender in the relationship between emotional intelligence and creative self-efficacy. Participants in this study included 226 gifted students aged 10–13 (135 boys and 91 girls) from experimental classrooms designed for gifted students in North China. The creative self-efficacy scale (CSE), the emotional intelligence scale (EIS), and the self-esteem scale (SES) were tested. The statistical results indicate that: (1) emotional intelligence significantly positively predicted creative self-efficacy in gifted children; (2) self-esteem partially mediated the link between emotional intelligence and creative self-efficacy; and (3) gender acted as a moderator for the mediation model, in which self-esteem played a complete mediating role in gifted boys, while the mediating role of self-esteem in gifted girls was not significant. The results of this study reveal the influential mechanism of creative self-efficacy in gifted children of different genders and may provide further implications for promoting the creative potential of gifted children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A copper‐catalyzed cascade difunctionalization of unactivated olefins with readily available Rf‐I reagents to construct Csp3−CF2/C−C bonds has been reported. This strategy provides a convenient access to a variety of useful perfluoroalkylated tricyclimidazole derivatives in reasonable yields. Preliminary mechanistic studies indicate that the present reaction probably undergo a radical/SET (single electron transfer) pathway. The transformation features mild condition, simple operation, atomic economy, and broad substrate scope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work proposes a green method for synthesizing SiC nanowires (NWs) via the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique using coconut shell and silicon as raw materials. Using coconut shell as carbon source decreases the synthesis temperature of SiC. A large number of core-shell SiC NWs were obtained after firing at 1200 °C, a thin SiO 2 layer is distributed on the outer shell of SiC NWs. The synthesized SiC NWs grow along the [111] direction, up to dozens of micrometers in length and diameters of 10–75 nm. However, the chain-bead structure of SiC NWs is formed after firing at 1400 °C due to the SiO 2 bead embedded in SiC NWs. The synthesized core-shell SiC NWs fired at 1200 °C emit strong violet-blue light, which has good application prospects in optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP) are widely used in the aerospace and automobile industries because of their ultralight weight, high strength, excellent corrosion resistance, and anti-fatigue properties. However, the machining of CFRP is still challenging due to its super hardness and sensitivity to heat. Cryogenic milling is a kind of sustainable manufacturing process which is considered to have great potential for processing CFRP. This work is devoted to analyzing the tool wear and surface quality under dry and cryogenic conditions based on liquid nitrogen (LN2) and also provides a reference for selecting parameters of CFRP processing in industries. A series of tests were conducted under various cutting speeds, feed per tooth, and LN2 jet temperatures. In order to reveal the changing laws of tool wear and surface quality, flank wear bandwidth (VB), surface roughness (Sa) and burr factor (Fb) were carried out. The experimental findings have shown that tool wear is suppressed at high cutting speed and feed rate. In addition, surface quality is significantly improved at an appropriate temperature, and burr damage was also effectively suppressed with the temperature dropping, while tool wear is severer at − 196 ℃ than in dry conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shortage of high-capacity anode materials with long cycling stability is the main roadblock to the development of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). The advantages of transition metal selenides are high theoretical capacity, safety and ease of design, which gradually make them potential substitute materials for the anodes of a new generation of SIBs. However, the low intrinsic conductivity of transition metal selenides and the serious powderization during charge and discharge processes restrict their rate performance and cycling stability in SIBs. Herein, bimetallic selenide ZnSe/MoSe2@NC is fabricated by in situ selenation of a rhombic dodecahedron structured metal–organic framework (MOF) containing Zn/Mo salt. Such a heterojunction and structural regulation effectively promote sodium ion transportation. Furthermore, the porous and hierarchical ZnSe/MoSe2@NC is capable of adapting to the volume stress generated by sodium ion (de)insertion. Specifically, in SIB half-cell measurement, a comparable capacity of 401.8 mA h g−1 after 100 cycles at 1 A g−1 can be achieved by ZnSe/MoSe2@NC. Additionally, the ZnSe/MoSe2@NC polyhedron delivers a high capacity of 345.7 mA h g−1 at 5 A g−1 (1500 cycles). Electrochemical kinetics analysis is performed in detail. In SIB full battery applications, the cell shows an impressive energy density of 175.1 W h kg−1. This research broadens the development prospect of transition metal selenides as anodes in SIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health risk is an important issue in the process of population spatial mobility, and it is also an important issue in the process of urbanization in China. Using the dynamic monitoring data of China's migrant population and 31 provincial business environment data from 2011 to 2018, this study systematically investigated the spatial distribution and evolution characteristics of the migrant population's participation in medical insurance in the destination areas and combined it with the Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression Model for Panel Data (PGTWR) to analyze the impact of the regional business environment on the medical insurance coverage rate of the inflow area. The results are as follows: first, the spatial pattern of the insurance coverage rate is high in Eastern China and low in Western China. The areas with high insurance coverage rates are mainly distributed in the three major economic circles of China and provinces such as Shandong and Xinjiang. Second, there is significant spatial autocorrelation in the coverage rate, which shows that cities with high participation rates tend to form agglomeration areas in geographical space, and so do cities with low participation rates. The coverage rate of the popular areas is scattered, while the unpopular areas are concentrated. Third, the estimation results of the Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression Model for Panel Data show that the macroeconomic and infrastructure indicators in the business environment have a greater impact on the insurance rate, while the impact of policy environment indicators is relatively weak. However, the overall improvement of the business environment can significantly improve the probability of the migrant population participating in medical insurance in the inflow area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reliability of capacitors is one of the most important issues in power electronics. The health status of capacitors can be evaluated through the comparison of estimated C/ESR values with their original values. In this paper, a two-input artificial neural network (ANN) is proposed for C and ESR estimation of DC-link capacitors in Maglev choppers; combined with the existing voltage and current sensors that are used for protection and control, it provides a promising solution for the health condition monitoring of the Maglev chopper in the Maglev train. Compared with prior-art research, the actual capacitor degradation progress where both C and ESR degrade is considered in training. Moreover, ANN's advantage of fitting nonlinear and complex relationships is explored by building an aggressive mapping between the voltage ripple at 5 kHz to C/ESR at 120 Hz, which cannot be described or analyzed by linear circuit equations. Thus, cross validation must be implemented to avoid an occasional poor fitting, and ensure the stability of ANN. Experimental results show that the proposed ANN outperforms the support vector regression in both ESR and C estimation. While C estimation suffered from over-fitting and instability, ESR estimation by the ANN is accurate and stable with a low average prediction error within 1%, showing great potential for condition monitoring of DC-link capacitors in Maglev choppers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead-free bulk ceramics for advanced pulse power capacitors possess low recoverable energy storage density (W rec) under low electric field. Sodium bismuth titanate (Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 TiO 3 , BNT)-based ferroelectrics have attracted great attention due to their large maximum polarization (P m) and high power density. The BNT-ST: xAlN ceramics are designed and fabricated to get high W rec and large P m under low electric field simultaneously. An excellent large P m (49.04 μC/cm2) and W rec (2.07 J/cm3) under low electric field (160 kV/cm) are acquired in BNT-ST: 0.1 wt% AlN. The domain structure evolution and polarization switching are investigated systematically using piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). The introduction of AlN promotes the formation of thermal conductive network and the crystallization of ceramics, thus improving thermal stability and increasing P m significantly. The higher density of domain walls and the larger negative built-in voltage may be beneficial to increase breakdown field strength (E b), while the more 180° domains induce by electric field and the better domain switching behavior contribute to a significant increase in P m. The enhanced E b and super high P m are favorable for obtaining high W rec under low electric field which will boost the application of BNT-based ferroelectrics in advanced pulse power capacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spontaneous polarization of ferroelectric materials can generate a buiitrin electric field. In this study, Ag2O and CdS nanoparticles were supported on ferroelectric LiNbO3 and glass substrates by physical dispersion method, and Rhodanine B (RhB) was selected as a representative organic pollutant to evaluate the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of Ag2O and CdS on the different substrates. The results show that the photocatalytic activity of the same semiconductor nanoparticles on different substrates js LiNbO3(+Z) > glass > LiNbO2 (-Z). On the same substrate, Ag2O exhibits better photocatalytic activity than CdS. Based on the polarization generated built-in electric field at the interface of semiconductor/ferroelectric and the photocatalytic degradation reaction, the mechanism of ferroelectric polarization affecting the photocatalytic degradation performance of semiconductors is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technologies for improving engine performance and fuel economy have proven effective and promising to reduce emissions. However, owing to the increased pressure and temperature of the mixture by the turbocharging system, one negative result is a higher risk of knocking. This is not conducive to the safety of the engine or a reduction in fuel consumption. Low-temperature combustion by a diluted mixture in the cylinder has been validated to effectively reduce the knock occurrence and NOx emission. Because the ignition timing advances by suppressing the knock caused by the mixture dilution, the fuel economy could be improved in the spark-ignition (SI) turbocharged engines. In this study, the intake valve closing (IVC), exhaust valve closing (EVC), and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) strategies as different dilution methods were applied to investigate their effects on combustion, emission, and fuel consumption. The experimental results showed that all these dilution methods were beneficial for decreasing the maximum burned gas temperature, thereby reducing emissions of NOx. The external EGR showed more benefits to suppress the knocking, and thus the reduced fuel consumption compared to the inner EGR (valve overlap). The external EGR method had showed larger effects on the combustion phase and fuel economy than IVC and EVC. In addition, the difference between the IVC and EVC was small when external EGR was added. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infrared-visible fusion has great potential in night-vision enhancement for intelligent vehicles. The fusion performance depends on fusion rules that balance target saliency and visual perception. However, most existing methods do not have explicit and effective rules, which leads to the poor contrast and saliency of the target. In this paper, we propose the SGVPGAN, an adversarial framework for high-quality infrared-visible image fusion, which consists of an infrared-visible image fusion network based on Adversarial Semantic Guidance (ASG) and Adversarial Visual Perception (AVP) modules. Specifically, the ASG module transfers the semantics of the target and background to the fusion process for target highlighting. The AVP module analyzes the visual features from the global structure and local details of the visible and fusion images and then guides the fusion network to adaptively generate a weight map of signal completion so that the resulting fusion images possess a natural and visible appearance. We construct a joint distribution function between the fusion images and the corresponding semantics and use the discriminator to improve the fusion performance in terms of natural appearance and target saliency. Experimental results demonstrate that our proposed ASG and AVP modules can effectively guide the image-fusion process by selectively preserving the details in visible images and the salient information of targets in infrared images. The SGVPGAN exhibits significant improvements over other fusion methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]