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Deep learning, a pivotal branch of artificial intelligence, has increasingly influenced the financial domain with its advanced data processing capabilities. This paper introduces Factor-GAN, an innovative framework that utilizes Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN) technology for factor investing. Leveraging a comprehensive factor database comprising 70 firm characteristics, Factor-GAN integrates deep learning techniques with the multi-factor pricing model, thereby elevating the precision and stability of investment strategies. To explain the economic mechanisms underlying deep learning, we conduct a subsample analysis of the Chinese stock market. The findings reveal that the deep learning-based pricing model significantly enhances return prediction accuracy and factor investment performance in comparison to linear models. Particularly noteworthy is the superior performance of the long-short portfolio under Factor-GAN, demonstrating an annualized return of 23.52% with a Sharpe ratio of 1.29. During the transition from state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to non-SOEs, our study discerns shifts in factor importance, with liquidity and volatility gaining significance while fundamental indicators diminish. Additionally, A-share listed companies display a heightened emphasis on momentum and growth indicators relative to their dual-listed counterparts. This research holds profound implications for the expansion of explainable artificial intelligence research and the exploration of financial technology applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rechargeable aqueous zinc–metal batteries (AZBs) are a promising complimentary technology to the existing lithium‐ion batteries and the re‐emerging lithium–metal batteries to satisfy the increasing demands on energy storage. Despite considerable progress achieved in the past years, the fundamental understanding of the solid‐electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation and how its composition influences the SEI properties are limited. This review highlights the functionalities of anion‐tuned SEI on the reversibility of zinc–metal anode, with a specific emphasis on new structural insights obtained through advanced characterizations and computational techniques. Recent efforts in terms of key variables that govern the interfacial behaviors to improve the long‐term stability of zinc anode, i.e., Coulombic efficiency, plating morphology, dendrite formation, and side‐reactions, are comprehensively reviewed. Lastly, the remaining challenges and future perspectives are presented, providing insights into the rational design of practical high‐performance AZBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The product–service system (PSS) is a strategic design approach proposed to address sustainability in socio-economic systems amidst rapid industrialization and transition. Evaluating the concept design of a PSS is a crucial and initial step prior to implementation. This study presents an innovative framework for evaluating concept designs of sustainable PSS based on a well-defined evaluation index system via integrating quality function deployment (QFD) and the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) while accommodating extended basic uncertain linguistic information (EBULI). Specifically, a QFD-based framework is first developed to identify the requirements of various stakeholders and then to establish the multi-dimensional criteria for evaluating sustainable PSS. Then, a House of Quality-based relationship matrix is introduced to determine the weights of criteria more accurately. Further, an adaptive consensus-reaching process method based on an expert weighting optimization model is proposed to ensure a collective outputs recognized by multiple involved stakeholders. Finally, an improved EBULI-based TOPSIS method is presented to determine the priority ranking of alternative sustainable PSS concepts. A case study on a car-sharing PSS project demonstrates the viability and effectiveness of the proposed QFD–TOPSIS integrated approach under EBULI settings. The alternative PSS concept design, which demonstrates relatively good performance in criteria of high importance, is selected as the most suitable option. Moreover, relevant comparative and sensitivity analyses reveal that the proposed approach exhibits superiorities in appropriate criteria elicitation, accurate weights determination, and high consensus ranking outputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) is an important omnivorous insect in tobacco fields. It is of practical scientific significance to regulate the population of N. tenuis by employing insect lure strategies with specific light spectra. In this study, the phototactic behavior of N. tenuis adults and nymphs to 15 kinds of monochromatic lights was examined. N. tenuis adults have a higher response rate and a longer displacement to different light spectra and different light intensities compared with nymphs. N. tenuis adults were more attractived by monochromatic lights at 628, 504, 568 and 589 nm among the 15 monochromatic lights. While N. tenuis nymphs were more attractived by monochromatic lights at 628, 549 and 577 nm, and there was no significant difference between the nymphs' response displacements to monochromatic lights except for red light at 628 nm and darkness treatments. The light intensity significantly affected the phototactic behavior of N. tenuis adults but not nymphs. These results suggested that insect traps with a red light at 628 nm, blue-green light at 504 nm, yellow-green light at 568 nm and yellow-green light at 589 nm can be used to monitor and regulate N. tenuis population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Tinnitus is a phantom perception of sound in the absence of acoustic source. Previous evidence has indicated that miR-375-3p is downregulated in rats with tinnitus in comparison to the controls. Nevertheless, its molecular mechanism underlying tinnitus pathogenesis is unclarified. Methods SH-SY5Y cells were differentiated into neuronlike cells and stimulated with salicylate to mimic tinnitus in vitro. Immunofluorescence staining was utilized for measuring expression of NR2B (glutamate ionotropic receptor NMDA type subunit 2B). Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was determined using DCFH-DA assay kit. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction as well as western blotting was utilized for examining RNA and protein levels. Luciferase reporter assay was implemented for verifying the interaction between miR-375-3p and ELAVL4 (ELAV-like RNA-binding protein 4). Results Salicylate treatment enhanced levels of NR2B and the early immediate gene ARC as well as ROS production. miR-375-3p was downregulated in salicylate-treated group. Overexpressing miR-375-3p attenuated the effects induced by salicylate in SH-SY5Y cells. miR-375-3p targeted ELAVL4 and upregulating ELAVL4 reversed miR-375-3p upregulation–triggered effects on SH-SY5Y cells under salicylate treatment. Conclusion miR-375-3p mitigates salicylate-triggered neuronal injury in SH-SY5Y cells by regulating ELAVL4 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractSupply chain members can intelligently learn their decisions based on historical data by using machine-learning (ML) algorithms. To coordinate the supply chain, the data-driven contract design problems for three contracts—buyback, quantity flexibility, and combined quantity flexibility and rebate—were investigated for a supply chain with one manufacturer and multiple retailers under algorithm sharing and algorithm competition. The problems were formulated as bi-level optimization models by introducing nonlinear mapping from historical demand data to ordering decisions and using ML algorithms to learn the mapping parameters. The bi-level optimization models were transformed into semi-infinite programming models and solved using the (nested) cutting plane methods. Empirical studies using data from two databases showed that algorithm sharing or algorithm competition, the type of contract used, and learning algorithms were the three factors influencing the performance of supply chain coordination when using a data-driven contract design. Algorithm sharing was found to be more beneficial to the supply chain members than algorithm competition in promoting supply chain coordination. An effective incentive mechanism, such as an individualized buyback ratio and a rebate from the manufacturer to the retailers with a good forecast performance, can encourage the retailers to participate in algorithm sharing and improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: While a specific number and type of antigens are recognized to detect perennial inhalant allergies, the optimal number and combination of allergens to reliably identify seasonal allergic sensitization is unclear due to limited national data. This study analyzed aeroallergen testing data from a large US clinical reference laboratory to provide guidance for optimizing seasonal allergen test selection. Methods: The 2019 serum IgE tests for seasonal inhalant allergens were identified from the Quest Diagnostics database. Patients with results for at least 1 of 31 seasonal allergens across 4 allergen classes (11 trees, 7 weeds, 5 grasses, and 8 molds) were analyzed. A step-by-step conditional approach was employed to determine the minimum number and species of allergens needed to identify at least 98% of sensitized patients for each class. Results: Of 88,042 patients tested for ≥1 seasonal allergen, 1.5%, 1.8%, 1.3%, and 1.6% were tested for all trees, weeds, grasses, and molds, respectively. Of those tested for all allergens within a class, 40.4%, 38.6%, 29.5%, and 21.2% were sensitized to at least one tree, weed, grass, or mold allergen, respectively. Identification of ≥98% of sensitized patients within a class required 8 allergens for trees (mountain cedar, maple box elder, walnut, white ash, elm, birch, cottonwood, and hickory/pecan), 5 for weeds (common ragweed short, rough pigweed, English plantain, lamb's quarters/goosefoot, and Russian thistle), 3 for grasses (June/Kentucky blue grass, Johnson grass, and Bermuda grass), and 7 for molds (Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus fumigatus, Mucor racemosus, Epicoccum purpurascens, Penicillium notatum, Helminthosporium halodes, and Fusarium moniliforme). Conclusion: A minimum of 23 antigens is required to optimally detect sensitization to four classes of seasonal allergens (i.e., ≥98% identification). The addition of these allergens to unique perennial allergens (cat, dog, mouse, cockroach, and 2 dust mite species) results in a comprehensive elucidation of inhalant allergen sensitization. This knowledge provides a pivotal guide for clinical laboratories as they construct allergen panels to optimize diagnostic yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precision polishing of aeroengine blades involves a complex material removal process, primarily due to the presence of numerous abrasive grains bonded on the polishing tool. Therefore, understanding the surface formation mechanism at the microscale, as a result of a single abrasive grain's interaction with the workpiece, is pivotal for deciphering the collective effect of numerous abrasive actions. Since conducting single-grain cutting experiments at the microscale presents significant challenges, the finite element method (FEM) is considered an effective method for revealing microscopic physical phenomena and conducting in-depth research on cutting mechanisms. In this research, the simplified single-grain scratch experiment was conducted first, and then, the adaptive remeshing technique in Abaqus was utilized to simulate the elastic and plastic deformation of the workpiece surface during the polishing process, supplementing the physical measurement results that are difficult to achieve in the scratch experiment. The single-grain scratch experiment results show that elastic deformation of the workpiece material persists throughout the grain cutting process, and the elastic deformation FEM simulation results show that the pure rubbing phase is confined to an extremely short length after the interference occurs between the grain and the workpiece. To delve into the plastic deformation of workpiece surface in FEM simulation, the material pile-up ratio was used, and the effect of polishing variables such as cutting speed, cutting depth, and grain size on microscopic surface creation was focused on. Among them, cutting depth and grain size significantly affect the surface creation of workpiece material. In addition, the microscopic plastic deformation when the abrasive grain cut-in and cut-out phases during the polishing process is different. The outcomes of these simulations are anticipated to inform future experimental strategies and foster advancements in the development of more efficient and precise aeroengine blade polishing techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) have the potential to be the next‐generation rechargeable batteries due to the high theoretical specific capacity and the lowest redox potential of lithium metal. However, the practical application of LMBs is hindered by challenges such as the uncontrolled growth of lithium dendrites, unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), and excessive volume change of Li metal. To solve these issues, the design of high‐performance lithium metal anodes (LMAs) with various 3D structures is critical. Targeting at realizing the "bottom–up" Li deposition to fully utilize the 3D architecture, in recent years, strategies such as gradient host materials construction, magnetic field modulation, SEI component design, and so on have attracted intensive attention. This review begins with a fundamental discussion of the Li nucleation and deposition mechanism. The recent advances in the aspects of construction strategies and modification methods that enable the "bottom–up" Li deposition within advanced 3D host materials, with a particular emphasize on their design principles are comprehensively overviewed. Finally, future challenges and perspectives on the design of advanced hosts toward practical LMAs are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the effects of the interactions between type 2 diabetes risk-related genetic variations and occupational noise on prediabetes, and to provide the evidence for prevention of prediabetes in occupational populations. Methods A total of 991 workers in a tobacco plant were selected using a cluster sampling method. All subjects were classified into the control group (n = 407) and exposure group (n = 584) according to their noise exposure levels. The whole blood was collected for glycated hemoglobin (HbAlc) measurement and the iPLEX system was used for genotyping. The multivariable logistic regression model was used to explore the interactions of noise and type 2 diabetes risk-related genetic variations on prediabetes. Results A total of 143 cases of pre-diabetes were detected with a prevalence of 14.30%. With adjustment for age, gender, smoking, alcohol consumption and body mass index (BMI), the risk of prediabetes in noise-exposed workers was 1.535 times than that of non-noise-exposed workers. CDKAL1-rs2206734 TT and IGF2BP2-rs1470579 CC genotype carriers were the risk factors for prediabetes (all OR > 1, all P < 0.05), and there was an interaction between IGF2BP2-rs1470579 and occupational noise exposure based on multiplication models (P < 0.05). Conclusion The CDKAL1-rs2206734 TT and IGF2BP2-rs1470579 CC genotype are susceptible genes for prediabetes, and they interact with occupational noise based on a multiplicative model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the effects of the rising live streaming e-commerce on the 3DP supply chain, employing system dynamics to develop separate models for pure polymer and polymer-metal mixed printing. The analysis focuses on optimizing the 3DP supply chain configuration. Results indicate that, based solely on printing time, cost, and quality metrics, Corporate-live-3DP services are optimal for live commerce scenarios. However, despite this, Private-live-3DP maintains a substantial consumer base in practice, as evidenced by literature data and case studies. Both models pose significant challenges to conventional supply chains, necessitating adaptation. For Corporate-live-3DP, optimization strategies may include technology advancements, digital transformation, agile manufacturing, global network optimization, innovative management, collaborative R&D, fine-tuned inventory control, quality system upgrades, talent development, and organizational restructuring. Conversely, Private-live-3DP can be optimized through consolidation of private 3D printing resources, demand prediction and order optimization, supply chain collaboration platforms, quality management extensions, inventory strategy adjustments, increased transparency, regulatory compliance, and risk mitigation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroptosis is a non-apoptotic, iron-dependent regulatory form of cell death characterized by the accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species. In recent years, a large and growing body of literature has investigated ferroptosis. Since ferroptosis is associated with various physiological activities and regulated by a variety of cellular metabolism and mitochondrial activity, ferroptosis has been closely related to the occurrence and development of many diseases, including cancer, aging, neurodegenerative diseases, ischemia–reperfusion injury and other pathological cell death. The regulation of ferroptosis mainly focuses on three pathways: system Xc−/GPX4 axis, lipid peroxidation and iron metabolism. The genes involved in these processes were divided into driver, suppressor and marker. Importantly, small molecules or drugs that mediate the expression of these genes are often good treatments in the clinic. Herein, a newly developed database, named 'FERREG', is documented to (i) providing the data of ferroptosis-related regulation of diseases occurrence, progression and drug response; (ii) explicitly describing the molecular mechanisms underlying each regulation; and (iii) fully referencing the collected data by cross-linking them to available databases. Collectively, FERREG contains 51 targets, 718 regulators, 445 ferroptosis-related drugs and 158 ferroptosis-related disease responses. FERREG can be accessed at https://idrblab.org/ferreg/. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interfacial or diluted exciplex organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) with spacer‐separated electron–hole pairs have emerged as a promising approach for precise tuning the energy level of charge‐transfer (CT) excitons and the improvement in device performance. However, their microscopic energy gain and loss mechanisms are not well understood. In this study, magnetic field effects (MFEs) including magneto‐electroluminescence (MEL), magneto‐conductance (MC), and magneto‐efficiency (Mη) in two series of donor‐spacer‐acceptor type exciplex‐based OLEDs, which exhibited opposite distance‐dependent device performances, are studied to explore the microscopic dynamics of spacer‐separated electron–hole pairs. Intersystem crossing (ISC) between CT excitons and between polaron‐pairs, reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) between CT excitons, triplet–triplet annihilation (TTA), scattering and dissociation channels of triplet‐charge annihilation (TQA), and additional Dexter energy transfer (DET) processes are identified. The decreased external quantum efficiency (EQE) and MEL with increasing thickness of space layer in Configuration II devices are attributed to an activation of the potential DET process from the lowest triplet of spacer‐separated CT excitons to the lowest triplet of Bphen caused by their smaller energy gaps. The study offers in‐depth insights into the exciton utilization and energy loss, which may allow better design and optimization of space‐modulated OLEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the expression and significance of urinary protein and coagulation‐fibrinolysis indicators in preeclampsia, categorized into mild preeclampsia (109 cases) and severe preeclampsia (97 cases) based on disease severity. Additionally, 110 patients with gestational hypertension (gestational hypertension group) were included for comparative analysis. General information, laboratory indicators, urinary protein, and coagulation‐fibrinolysis indicator levels were collected for each group. Significant differences were observed in blood pressure among groups (P <.05), while uric acid, serum creatinine, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and triglycerides showed no significant differences (P >.05). Total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low‐density Lipoprotein levels in severe preeclampsia were higher than those in mild preeclampsia and gestational hypertension groups, whereas high‐density lipoprotein, albumin, and platelet levels were lower in severe preeclampsia. No significant differences were observed in prothrombin time or D‐dimer levels among groups (P >.05). Urinary protein, urinary protein quantification, activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, and fibrinogen were identified as influencing factors for adverse maternal and infant outcomes in severe preeclampsia patients. The study concludes that urinary protein and coagulation‐fibrinolysis indicators are elevated in preeclampsia, particularly in severe preeclampsia cases, suggesting their potential use as diagnostic influencing factors for severe preeclampsia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physalin A (PA) is a bioactive withanolide with multiple pharmacological properties and has been indicated to be cytotoxic to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line HepG2. This study aims to explore the mechanisms underlying PA antitumor activity in HCC. HepG2 cells were exposed to various concentrations of PA. Cell counting kit-8 assay and flow cytometry were implemented for evaluating cell viability and apoptosis, respectively. Immunofluorescence staining was utilized for detecting autophagic protein LC3. Western blotting was employed for measuring levels of autophagy-, apoptosis- and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling-related proteins. A xenograft mouse model was established to verify the antitumor activity of PA in vivo. PA impaired HepG2 cell viability, and triggered apoptosis as well as autophagy. Inhibiting autophagy augmented PA-evoked HepG2 cell apoptosis. PA repressed PI3K/Akt signaling in HCC cells and activating PI3K/Akt reversed PA-triggered apoptosis and autophagy. PA treatment inhibited tumor growth in tumor-bearing mice. PA triggers HCC cell apoptosis and autophagy by inactivating PI3K/Akt signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate capacity estimation and degradation trajectory predictions are crucial part of effectively monitoring the current and future health status of lithium‐ion batteries, which ensures their optimal performance and longevity. However, it is hard to acquire precise predictions under various application conditions when relying on limited historical data. In this paper, we propose a novel deep time‐index framework based on meta‐learning to achieve online capacity estimation and degradation trajectory predictions with only a few monitoring data from early cycles. Highly correlated health feature from lithium‐ion battery degradation data is extracted for online capacity estimation. The deep time‐index framework consists of three parts, Implicit Neural Representations (INRs), Long Short‐Term Memory (LSTM) and Ridge regressor. Cycle numbers are selected as time feature and fed into the INRs to obtain informative representations. A LSTM module is employed to process the temporal representations and capture the long‐term dependencies to Ridge regressor to generate a direct multi‐step predictions. Three distinct lithium‐ion battery degradation datasets are applied to validate the efficacy of the proposed approach. The experimental results validate that within the deep time‐index framework, the short‐term predictions show remarkable performance. This high level of accuracy makes the proposed deep time‐index framework suitable for a wide range of real‐world scenarios, as it demonstrates precise predictions even under varying charging and discharging conditions with limited historical data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discectomy (PETD) is an effective method for treating lumbar disc herniation, and is typically performed under local anesthesia. However, inadequate analgesia during the procedure remains a concern, prompting the search for a medication that can provide optimal pain control with minimal impact on the respiratory and circulatory systems. Objectives: The aim of this study was to observe the effects of different doses of esketamine combined with dexmedetomidine on reducing visual analog scale (VAS) scores during surgical interventions. Methods: One hundred two patients who underwent PETD were randomly divided into a control group (group C: normal saline + dexmedetomidine), an E1 group (0.1 mg kg−1 esketamine + dexmedetomidine), and an E2 group (0.2 mg kg−1 esketamine + dexmedetomidine). The primary outcome was the maximum visual analogue scale (VAS) (score: 0 = no pain and 10 = worst pain) at six time points. The secondary outcomes included the Assessment of Alertness/Sedation Scale (OAA/S) score and mean arterial pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), and oxygen saturation (SpO2) at 11 time points. The incidence of adverse reactions during and 24 h after the operation and patient satisfaction with the anesthesia were also recorded. Results: Compared with those in group C, the VAS scores of patients in groups E1 and E2 were lower at T6, T7, and T9 (P < 0.05). From T4 to T10, the OAA/S scores of the E1 and E2 groups were both lower than those of group C (P < 0.05), and at the T4–T6 time points, the OAA/S score of the E2 group was lower than that of group E1 (P < 0.05). At T4 and T5, the HR and BP of patients in groups E1 and E2 were greater than those in group C (P < 0.05). Compared with those in group C, the incidences of intraoperative illusion, floating sensation, postoperative dizziness, and hyperalgesia in groups E1 and E2 were significantly greater (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in patient RR, SpO2, or postoperative satisfaction with anesthesia among the three groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The combination of esketamine and dexmedetomidine can reduce VAS scores during certain stages of this type of surgery; it has minimal impact on respiration and circulation. However, this approach is associated with increased incidences of postoperative dizziness and psychiatric side effects, which may also affect patients' compliance with surgical instructions from medical staff. Patient satisfaction was not greater with dexmedetomidine combined with esketamine than with dexmedetomidine alone. Trial Registration: http://www.chictr.org.cn. Identifier: ChiCTR2300068206. Date of registration: 10 February 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exosomes are nanoscale extracellular vesicles present in bodily fluids that mediate intercellular communication by transferring bioactive molecules, thereby regulating a range of physiological and pathological processes. Exosomes can be secreted from nearly all cell types, and the biological function of exosomes is heterogeneous and depends on the donor cell type and state. Recent research has revealed that the levels of exosomes released from the endosomal system increase in cells undergoing programmed cell death. These exosomes play crucial roles in diseases, such as inflammation, tumors, and autoimmune diseases. However, there is currently a lack of systematic research on the differences in the biogenesis, secretion mechanisms, and composition of exosomes under different programmed cell death modalities. This review underscores the potential of exosomes as vital mediators of programmed cell death processes, highlighting the interconnection between exosome biosynthesis and the regulatory mechanisms governing cell death processes. Furthermore, we accentuate the prospect of leveraging exosomes for the development of innovative biomarkers and therapeutic strategies across various diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exosomes are nanoscale extracellular vesicles present in bodily fluids that mediate intercellular communication by transferring bioactive molecules, thereby regulating a range of physiological and pathological processes. Exosomes can be secreted from nearly all cell types, and the biological function of exosomes is heterogeneous and depends on the donor cell type and state. Recent research has revealed that the levels of exosomes released from the endosomal system increase in cells undergoing programmed cell death. These exosomes play crucial roles in diseases, such as inflammation, tumors, and autoimmune diseases. However, there is currently a lack of systematic research on the differences in the biogenesis, secretion mechanisms, and composition of exosomes under different programmed cell death modalities. This review underscores the potential of exosomes as vital mediators of programmed cell death processes, highlighting the interconnection between exosome biosynthesis and the regulatory mechanisms governing cell death processes. Furthermore, we accentuate the prospect of leveraging exosomes for the development of innovative biomarkers and therapeutic strategies across various diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The herbs in Tao Hong Si Wu Decoction (THSWD) are beneficial in the treatment of cognitive impairment. However, the underlying mechanisms of THSWD in treating diabetes‐associated cognitive dysfunction (DACD) are not entirely explored. This study is aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of THSWD in DACD model rats and the underlying mechanism. Methods: Ultra‐high‐phase liquid chromatography was employed to identify the main compounds contained in the THSWD extract. DACD rat model was induced by feeding with a high‐sugar and high‐fat diet and injecting streptozotocin (35 mg/kg). DACD rats were gavaged with THSWD for 1 week. The learning and memory abilities of the rats were measured by using the Morris water maze. Western blotting was used to detect the changes in DACD rat targets. Statistical methods were used to evaluate the correlation between proteins. Results: The results show that THSWD effectively reduced the escape latency, hippocampal neuron damage, glycosylated hemoglobin, type A1C, and blood lipid levels in DACD rats. Furthermore, DACD rats showed significantly increased amyloid precursor protein, β‐secretase, Aβ1−40, Aβ1−42, Tau phosphorylation, and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) expression. However, THSWD treatment can reverse this phenomenon. Conclusions: THSWD can improve the learning and memory abilities of DACD rats by inhibiting the expression of AEGs‐AGE receptors pathway, which provides an experimental basis for the clinical application of THSWD. In addition, the experiment combines pharmacological and statistical methods, which offers a new perspective for the study of Chinese herbal medicine. Key points: Tao Hong Si Wu Decoction (THSWD) can improve the learning and memory abilities of diabetes‐associated cognitive dysfunction (DACD) rats.Reduced Aβ content was associated with more favorable cognitive abilities.The advanced glycation end products (AGEs)‐AGE receptors (RAGE) pathway may be a key pathway for THSWD to alleviate symptoms in DACD rats and exert therapeutic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lindera aggregata is a species of the Lauraceae family, which has important medicinal, economic and ornamental values. In this study, we sequenced, assembled and annotated the chloroplast genome of L. aggregata and reannotated and corrected eight unverified annotations in the same genus. The chloroplast genomes taxa from Lindera and from different genera of Lauraceae were compared and analyzed, and their phylogenetic relationship and divergence time were speculated. All the 36 chloroplast genomes had typical quadripartite structures that ranged from 150,749 to 154,736 bp in total length. These genomes encoded 111–112 unique genes, including 78–79 protein-coding genes, 29–30 tRNA and 4 rRNA. Furthermore, there were 78–97 SSRs loci in these genomes, in which mononucleotide repeats were the most abundant; there were 24–49 interspersed repeats, and forward repeat types were the most frequent. The codon bias patterns of all species tended to use codons ending with A or U. Five and six highly variable regions were identified within genus and between genera, respectively, and three common regions (ycf1, ndhF-rpl32 and rpl32-trnL) were identified, which can be used as important DNA markers for phylogeny and species identification. According to the evaluation of the Ka/Ks ratio, most of the genes were under purifying selection, and only 10 genes were under positive selection. Finally, through the construction of the evolutionary tree of 39 chloroplast genomes, the phylogenetic relationship of Lauraceae was clarified and the evolutionary relationship of Lindera was revealed. The species of genus Lindera experienced rapid adaptive radiation from Miocene to Pleistocene. The results provided valuable insights for the study of chloroplast genomes in the Lauraceae family, especially in the genus Lindera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lowering the exit position of the tibial tunnel can improve the clinical efficacy of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction, however, there is no unified positioning standard. This study aimed to use novel soft tissue landmarks to create a low tunnel. Methods: A total of 14 human cadaveric knees and 12 patients with PCL injury were included in this study. Firstly, we observed the anatomical position between the PCL, posterior septum, and other tissue, and evaluated the relationship between the center of the low tibial tunnel (SP tunnel) and posterior septum and distal reflection of posterior capsule, and using computed tomography (CT) to evaluate distance between the center of the SP tunnel with bony landmarks. Then, evaluated the blood vessels content in the posterior septum with HE staining. Finally, observed the posterior septum and distal reflection of the posterior capsule under arthroscopy to explore the clinical feasibility of creating a low tibial tunnel, and assessed the risk of surgery by using ultrasound to detect the distance between the popliteal artery and the posterior edge of tibial plateau bone cortex. Results: In all 14 cadaveric specimens, the PCL tibial insertions were located completely within the posterior medial compartment of the knee. The distance between the center of the SP tunnel and the the articular surface of tibial plateau was 9.4 ± 0.4 mm. All SP tunnels retained an intact posterior wall, which was 1.6 ± 0.3 mm from the distal reflection of the posterior capsule. The distances between the center of the SP tunnel and the the articular surface of tibial plateau, the champagne glass drop-off were 9.2 ± 0.4 mm (ICC: 0.932, 95%CI 0.806–0.978) and 1.5 ± 0.2 mm (ICC:0.925, 95%CI 0.788–0.975) in CT image. Compared with the posterior capsule, the posterior septum contained more vascular structures. Last, all 12 patients successfully established low tibial tunnels under arthroscopy, and the distance between the posterior edge of tibial plateau bone cortex and the popliteal artery was 7.8 ± 0.3, 9.4 ± 0.4 and 7.4 ± 0.3 mm at 30°, 60° and 90° flexion angels after filling with water and supporting with shaver in posterior-medial compartment of knee joint. Conclusions: A modified low tibial tunnel could be established in the PCL anatomical footprint by using the posterior septum and posterior capsule as landmarks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a nonlinear optical cascaded difference frequency generation model based on double rapid adiabatic passage technique is established, and a theoretical scheme for generating THz waves based on the above model is proposed. In this model, when the incident signal laser interacts with a pump laser, the signal laser can be completely converted into the output laser by special processing of the coupling wave equation and making reasonable assumptions. Numerical simulation results show that THz waves with a centre frequency of 260 GHz can be obtained. The maximum quantum conversion efficiency of the signal laser to THz waves is about 43.4%. Under the premise of keeping the wavelength of the pump laser unchanged, the tunable THz waves of 0.26–2.94 THz can be obtained when tuning the wavelength of the signal laser to change in the range of 1.054–1.064 μ m. Compared with the scheme using stimulated Raman adiabatic passage technique, the scheme can still generate terahertz waves during the application of a pump laser to two simultaneous difference frequency generation processes, and the intensity of the pump laser can be reduced from Gigawatt level to Megawatt level. This scheme is robust to the temperature variation and provides a new method for generating terahertz wave band for high-speed wireless transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• VarV reached non-inferior criteria of immunogenicity in population ≥ 13 years. • VarV offered a more flexible immunization schedule, with an interval of 4–10 weeks between the two doses. • VarV could induce good immune response in both adolescents and adults. • Vaccination with VarV did not increase additional safety risk. Vaccines for prevention against varicella are important for adolescents and adults, who have an increased risk of severe varicella. This study aimed to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of a two-dose immunization schedule of a live-attenuated varicella vaccine (VarV) manufactured by Sinovac (Dalian) in healthy adolescents and adults. A randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial was conducted in healthy population aged ≥ 13 years old in China. Participants in block 1 were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive two doses of either the test vaccine or an active control vaccine, administered 4, 6 or 8 weeks apart. Participants in block 2 were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive two doses of test vaccine or placebo, administered 10 weeks apart. The primary immunogenicity endpoint was the seroconversion rates and GMTs of varicella zoster virus (VZV) antibodies measured by fluorescent-antibody-to-membrane-antigen (FAMA) 4 weeks post-immunization. The primary safety endpoint was the incidence of adverse reactions within 4 weeks after each dose. A total of 2398 participants were enrolled. The seroconversion rates of VZV antibodies were 79.55 % in the test group and 76.41 % in the active control group respectively 4 weeks after two doses of pooled schedule, with the difference of 3.14 % (95 %CI: −0.69 %, 6.97 %). The GMTs were 1:162.07 and 1:160.04 respectively, with the ratio of 1.013 (95 %CI: 0.910, 1.127). Both the seroconversion rates and GMTs reached the prespecified non-inferiority criteria. Two-dose schedule with an interval of 10 weeks could also induce high immune responses, with a seroconversion rate of 83.22 % and a GMT of 1:160.38 in the test group. Safety profiles were similar among the test group, active control group and placebo group. VarV, manufactured by Sinovac (Dalian), demonstrated higher immune response and better flexibility in the immunization schedule among heathy population aged 13 years and older, without increased safety risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focusing on the low-income elderly women in the Global South, our study situates the discussion on ICT for gender empowerment in an aging context. We aim to explore the role of aging as a biological and socio-cultural factor affecting digital adoption and usage by women in the lower rungs of their societies in developing countries. Grounded in an intersectionality approach, this study maps the dynamic and complicated landscape of their digital practices that are negotiated at the intersection of gender, aging, socioeconomic status, and local digital management policies. Through in-depth interviewing and digital ethnography, we particularly give avoice to the low-income elderly women in China, illuminating their constraining, yet empowering digitalization process during COVID-19. The findings reveal a distinctive understanding of ICT for gender empowerment from aging women’s perspective, shifting away from the personal advancement that typically dominates the agenda of their younger counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exosomes are nanoscale extracellular vesicles secreted by cells and enclosed by a lipid bilayer membrane containing various biologically active cargoes such as proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Engineered exosomes generated through genetic modification of parent cells show promise as drug delivery vehicles, and they have been demonstrated to have great therapeutic potential for treating cancer, cardiovascular, neurological, and immune diseases, but systematic knowledge is lacking regarding optimization of drug loading and assessment of delivery efficacy. This review summarizes current approaches for engineering exosomes and evaluating their drug delivery effects, and current techniques for assessing exosome drug loading and release kinetics, cell targeting, biodistribution, pharmacokinetics, and therapeutic outcomes are critically examined. Additionally, this review synthesizes the latest applications of exosome engineering and drug delivery in clinical translation. The knowledge compiled in this review provides a framework for the rational design and rigorous assessment of exosomes as therapeutics. Continued advancement of robust characterization methods and reporting standards will accelerate the development of exosome engineering technologies and pave the way for clinical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exosomes are nanoscale extracellular vesicles secreted by cells and enclosed by a lipid bilayer membrane containing various biologically active cargoes such as proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Engineered exosomes generated through genetic modification of parent cells show promise as drug delivery vehicles, and they have been demonstrated to have great therapeutic potential for treating cancer, cardiovascular, neurological, and immune diseases, but systematic knowledge is lacking regarding optimization of drug loading and assessment of delivery efficacy. This review summarizes current approaches for engineering exosomes and evaluating their drug delivery effects, and current techniques for assessing exosome drug loading and release kinetics, cell targeting, biodistribution, pharmacokinetics, and therapeutic outcomes are critically examined. Additionally, this review synthesizes the latest applications of exosome engineering and drug delivery in clinical translation. The knowledge compiled in this review provides a framework for the rational design and rigorous assessment of exosomes as therapeutics. Continued advancement of robust characterization methods and reporting standards will accelerate the development of exosome engineering technologies and pave the way for clinical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In this study, we constructed and validated models based on deep learning and radiomics to facilitate preoperative diagnosis of cervical lymph node metastasis (LNM) using contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT). Materials and methods: CECT scans of 100 patients with OSCC (217 metastatic and 1973 non-metastatic cervical lymph nodes: development set, 76 patients; internally independent test set, 24 patients) who received treatment at the Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology between 2012 and 2016 were retrospectively collected. Clinical diagnoses and pathological findings were used to establish the gold standard for metastatic cervical LNs. A reader study with two clinicians was also performed to evaluate the lymph node status in the test set. The performance of the proposed models and the clinicians was evaluated and compared by measuring using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), accuracy (ACC), sensitivity (SEN), and specificity (SPE). Results: A fusion model combining deep learning with radiomics showed the best performance (ACC, 89.2%; SEN, 92.0%; SPE, 88.9%; and AUC, 0.950 [95% confidence interval: 0.908–0.993, P < 0.001]) in the test set. In comparison with the clinicians, the fusion model showed higher sensitivity (92.0 vs. 72.0% and 60.0%) but lower specificity (88.9 vs. 97.5% and 98.8%). Conclusion: A fusion model combining radiomics and deep learning approaches outperformed other single-technique models and showed great potential to accurately predict cervical LNM in patients with OSCC. Clinical relevance: The fusion model can complement the preoperative identification of LNM of OSCC performed by the clinicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C10H11ClN4O2, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 12.7802(17) Å, b = 7.6211(12) Å, c = 12.0486(17) Å, β = 95.551(4)°, V = 1168.0(3) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0562, wRref(F2) = 0.1172, T = 273(2) K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transfer matrix formalism is widely used in modeling periodic heat diffusion in layered structures. Due to an intrinsic numerical instability issue, this formalism fails at high heating frequencies and/or in thick structures. Inspired by its success in modeling wave propagation, we develop a numerically stable scattering matrix framework to model periodic heat diffusion in stratified solid media. As a concrete example, we apply this scattering matrix methodology to the 3ω method. We first validate our framework using various well-known solutions. Next, we demonstrate the numerical stability of the framework using a configuration that resembles the three-dimensional stacked architecture for chip packing. Last, we propose synthetic "experiments" to exhibit, under certain circumstances, the merits of the scattering matrix formalism in extracting thermal properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aim Design Setting Findings Conclusion Relevance to Clinical Practice Various programmes and models for post‐intensive care unit (ICU) follow‐up services have been developed worldwide. In China, post‐ICU follow‐up remains in the exploratory stage and little is known regarding the appropriate form and challenges of implementation, which need to be further explored.This study aimed to explore and describe the barriers to and facilitators of post‐ICU follow‐up services from the perspective of critical care professionals.This was a descriptive qualitative study. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 21 health care workers whose units had offered ICU survivors different forms of follow‐up services; the data were analysed by qualitative content analysis during August 2022 and December 2022.The study was conducted at 14 ICUs in 11 tertiary hospitals in Shanghai, China.Seventeen subthemes were extracted as barriers and facilitators in the follow‐up of ICU survivors. In the initiating process, the barriers included the restriction of decision‐making rights and scope of practice, indifferent attitude towards survivors and repeated work. The facilitators included admitted significance, the needs of ICU survivors, the conscientiousness of professionals and the pioneers and leadership support. In the implementation process, lack of confidence, lack of cooperation in medical consortium, distrusted relationships, restrictions of medical insurance, ageing problems and insufficient human resources acted as barriers, whereas lessons learned, positive feedback and digital support served as facilitators. Furthermore, recommendations and tips were identified for offering follow‐up services.Medical personnel can better utilize available resources and develop strategies to overcome constraints by gaining insights into the abovementioned barriers and facilitators. The findings of this study can provide a useful reference for structured and systematic follow‐ups to ameliorate post‐intensive care syndrome in low‐ and middle‐income countries.Publicity and educational measures play a crucial role in enhancing the awareness of survivors and the consensus of health care professionals from medical consortium regarding impairments after critical care. Leadership and policy support can address numerous obstacles to guiding follow‐up services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Methods Results Conclusion The present study was performed to identify key biomarkers associated with immune cell infiltration in peri‐implantitis through bioinformatic analyses.Six peri‐implantitis soft tissue samples and six healthy gingiva samples were obtained from GSE106090, and were used to identify immune‐associated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in peri‐implantitis. The candidate biomarkers associated with immune cell infiltration were examined by immunohistochemical staining.We identified 2089 upregulated and 2173 downregulated genes. Upregulated DEGs were significantly associated with immune response. Ten key candidate biomarkers were identified in the PPI network, including IL1B, TLR2, TLR4, CCL4, CXCL8, IL10, IL6, CD4, CCL3, and PTPRC. The expression level of the 10 genes increased in peri‐implantitis soft tissue samples compared with healthy gingiva samples. The proportion of CD4+ T cells, iTreg, and Tfh in infiltration immune cells increased in peri‐implantitis soft tissue samples and were positively correlated with the expression level of candidate biomarkers TLR4, CCL3, CXCL8, and IL1B. Immunohistochemistry showed that there were more lymphocytes in peri‐implantitis soft tissue samples, with an increased expression level of TLR4, CCL3, CXCL8, and IL1B.Identification of four novel diagnostic biomarkers was helpful for revealing the molecular mechanisms and could serve as a risk predictor for the immune microenvironment in peri‐implantitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastric cancer (GC) is a common malignant tumor, posing a great threat to human's health and life. Previous studies have suggested aberrant expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in GC. This study elucidated the effects of lncRNA ACTA2-AS1 on the biological characteristics of GC. Gene expression in stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) samples compared with normal tissues and the correlation between gene expression and prognosis of STAD patients were analyzed using bioinformatic tools. Gene expression at protein and mRNA levels in GC and normal cells was tested by western blotting and RT-qPCR. The subcellular localization of ACTA2-AS1 in AGS and HGC27 cells was identified by nuclear-cytoplasmic fractionation and FISH assay. EdU, CCK-8, flow cytometry analysis, TUNEL staining assays were conducted to evaluate the role of ACTA2-AS1 and ESRRB on GC cellular behaviors. The binding relationship among ACTA2-AS1, miR-6720-5p and ESRRB was verified by RNA pulldown, luciferase reporter assay and RIP assay. LncRNA ACTA2-AS1 was underexpressed in GC tissues and cell lines. ACTA2-AS1 elevation suppressed GC cell proliferation and induced apoptosis. Mechanistically, ACTA2-AS1 directly bound to miR-6720-5p and subsequently promoted the expression of target gene ESRRB in GC cells. Furthermore, ESRRB knockdown reversed the influence of ACTA2-AS1 overexpression on GC proliferation and apoptosis. ACTA2-AS1 plays an antioncogenic role in GC via binding with miR-6720-5p to regulate ESRRB expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study was designed to determine the associations between insurance status and clinical outcomes among patients with hyperglycaemic crisis. Methods: Overall, 1668 patients with hyperglycaemic crisis were recruited from the Chongqing Medical University Medical Data Science Academy's big data platform. In‐hospital mortality, length of stay and complications (i.e., hypoglycaemia, hypokalemia, pulmonary infection, multiple systemic organ failure, acute kidney injury and deep venous thrombosis) were assessed. Propensity score matching analysis was used to reduce the confounding bias, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to estimate the effect of insurance status on mortality in patients with hyperglycaemic crisis. Results: After matching one uninsured patient to two insured patients with a calliper of 0.02, the uninsured group suffered a higher burden of in‐hospital mortality than the insured group (16.9% vs. 9.8%); the insured status (odds ratio = 0.216, 95% confidence interval = 0.079–0.587) was a potential protect factor for in‐hospital mortality of patients with hyperglycaemic crisis in the multivariate logistic regression analysis. Conclusions: Insurance status is associated with the outcomes of hospitalisation for hyperglycaemic crisis; uninsured patients with hyperglycaemic crisis face a higher risk of mortality in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When dealing with safety‐critical applications that involve multiphase permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs), the current source inverter (CSI) is a superior choice compared with the voltage source inverter. The conventional technique of pulse width modulation (PWM) presents a challenge for CSI, particularly during faults. The fault‐tolerant control of multiphase PMSMs fed by CSIs has not been well investigated, particularly in situations involving double‐phase open‐circuit faults. Furthermore, fault‐tolerant control becomes more complex when the multiphase PMSM includes harmonic back electromotive forces (EMFs). To deal with these issues, an ampere‐second (AS) vector PWM technique is developed for a five‐phase PMSM powered by CSI11. The modulation ratio of the proposed PWM is identical to that of space vector PWM. The proposed method, however, is easier to implement. A fault‐tolerant control method using AS‐vector is proposed for single‐phase, adjacent double‐phase, and non‐adjacent double‐phase open‐circuit faults. Additionally, a method is developed to suppress the torque ripple that results from harmonic back‐EMFs during fault conditions. Compared without the torque ripple suppression method, during the speed rising, the proposed method can reduce torque ripple to 16.7%, 54.5%, and 37.5%, respectively. The experiments have confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed PWM technique and fault‐tolerant control method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider the following k-coupled nonlinear Schrödinger systems in the critical case: { − Δ u i + λ i u i = μ i u i 3 + ∑ j = 1 , j ≠ i k β i j u i u j 2 in Ω , u i ⩾ 0 in Ω , u i (x) = 0 on ∂ Ω , i = 1 , 2 , ⋯ , k. Here, Ω ⊂ R 4 is a smooth bounded domain, − λ 1 (Ω) < λ i < 0 , μ i > 0 and β i j = β j i ≠ 0 for every i ≠ j , where λ 1 (Ω) is the first eigenvalue of − Δ with the Dirichlet boundary condition. Note that the nonlinearity and the coupling terms are both critical in dimension 4 (i.e. 2 N / (N − 2) = 4 when N = 4). We call the couplings β i j are attractive if β i j > 0 , while repulsive stands for β i j < 0. Under the assumption that all the couplings β i j are purely attractive and large enough, we first show that this critical system has a fully nontrivial ground state solution, that is, a solution u → = (u 1 , ... , u k) has all components nontrivial, under conditions providing additional | λ i − λ i ′ | << 1 , | β i j − β i ′ j ′ | << 1 , while ground state solution may be semitrivial ( u → has null components) without the above additional conditions. When the systems admit mixed couplings, i.e. there exist (i , j) and (i ′ , j ′) such that β i j > 0 and β i ′ j ′ < 0 , we establish the existence of least energy positive solutions. The purpose of this paper is to solve some remaining open questions on Tavares and You (Calc. Var. Partial Differential Equations 59:26, 2020). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ferroptosis plays an essential role in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI). Meteorin-like/Meteorin-β (Metrnβ) is a protein secreted by skeletal muscle and adipose tissue and plays a role in cardiovascular diseases. However, its role in acute lung injury has not been elucidated. Methods: In this study, we used an adenovirus (Ad) delivery system to overexpress or knockdown Metrnβ in lung tissue to examine the role of Metrnβ in LPS-induced acute lung injury. Results: We found that ferroptosis was increased during LPS-induced ALI. The expression of Metrnβ was reduced in ALI lung tissue. Overexpression of Metrnβ in lung tissue alleviated LPS-induced lung injury, inflammation, and ferroptosis. Moreover, Metrnβ knockout in lung tissue accelerated LPS-induced ALI, inflammation, and ferroptosis. We also cultured MLE-12 cells and transfected the cells with Ad-Metrnβ or Metrnβ siRNA. Metrnβ overexpression ameliorated LPS-induced MLE cell death, inflammation and ferroptosis, while Metrnβ knockdown aggregated cell survival and decreased inflammation and ferroptosis. Moreover, we found that Metrnβ enhanced ferroptosis-related Gpx4 expression and reduced ferroportin and ferritin levels. Furthermore, we found that Metrnβ positively regulated SIRT1 transcription thus inhibited P53, increased SLC7A11 expression. When we used the ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1, the deteriorating effects of Metrnβ knockout were abolished in ALI mice. Moreover, SIRT1 knockout also abolished the protective effects of Metrnβ overexpression in vivo. Conclusions: Taken together, Metrnβ could protect LPS-induced ALI by activating SIRT1-P53- SLC7A11 mediated ferroptosis inhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A graph G is divisible by a graph H if the characteristic polynomial of G is divisible by that of H. In this paper, a necessary and sufficient condition for recursive graphs to be divisible by a path is used to show that the H-shape graph P 2 , 2 ; n − 4 2 , n − 7 , known to be (for n large enough) the minimizer of the spectral radius among the graphs of order n and diameter n − 5 , is determined by its adjacency spectrum if and only if n ≠ 10 , 13 , 15. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing energy demand in the context of climate change issues requires the development of green fuels such as hydrogen from water. Piezocatalytic water splitting is promising for producing green hydrogen, yet this process is often limited by low efficiency and low sustainability. Here we developed an efficient method to use wastewater directly for piezocatalytic hydrogen production. Magnetic cerium-doped bismuth ferrite was employed as the piezocatalyst to collect mechanical energy. The performance of hydrogen production was compared using different types of organic wastewaters containing alcohols, organic acids, phenols, and surfactants. Results showed a maximum hydrogen yield of 2114 μmol per g from a 2.5 mg per L alcoholic mixture in wastewater. This high yield is explained by the fact that alcohols act as sacrificial donors to suppress electron site recombination and the reverse reaction. Overall our findings represent a new strategy for piezocatalytic hydrogen production from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic long‐persistent luminescence (OLPL) based on long‐lived charge‐separated (CS) states shows considerable emission persistence time owing to the ability to store absorbed photon energy. Herein, a novel electron donor‐acceptor (D–A) binary system consisting of electron donor 4,4,4‐tris[3methylphenyl(phenyl)amino]triphenylamine and electron acceptor tris‐[3‐(3‐pyridyl)mesityl]borane is designed and investigated for outstanding OLPL performance. It is found that the proposed binary system exhibits effective OLPL emission that lasted for more than 100 s after 1 min of ultraviolet light irradiation at room temperature (292 K). Moreover, this electron D–A binary system also exhibits thermally activated delayed fluorescence emission prior to OLPL emission. Both emission types are found to be temperature‐sensitive, which are believed to result from the occurrence of reverse intersystem crossing and the formation of a CS state, respectively. The findings enrich the electron D–A system OLPL materials and clarify the rich excited‐state transitions during OLPL emission of electron D–A systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The art curriculum is a compulsory course for students in the compulsory education stage, which is beneficial in cultivating students' sentiments, cultivating their temperament and improving their intelligence. Since the new curriculum reform, the art curriculum has been implemented for nearly twenty years, and it has made great breakthroughs and gains. However, at the same time, there are many problems in the process of implementing the art curriculum. The art teaching effectiveness evaluation of primary schools is viewed as the multi-attribute decision-making (MADM). In this paper, the triangular fuzzy neutrosophic number cross-entropy (TFNN-CE) method is designed with help of cross-entropy and triangular fuzzy neutrosophic sets (TFNSs). Furthermore, Then, TFNN-CE method is built to solve the MADM. Finally, a numerical example for art teaching effectiveness evaluation of primary schools is given and some comparisons are conducted to r illustrate advantages of the designed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-conductivity undoped GaN/AlN 2D hole gases (2DHGs), the p-type dual of the AlGaN/GaN 2D electron gases (2DEGs), have offered valuable insights into hole transport in GaN and enabled the first GaN GHz RF p-channel FETs. They are an important step toward high-speed and high-power complementary electronics with wide-bandgap semiconductors. These technologically and scientifically relevant 2D hole gases are perceived to be not as robust as the 2DEGs because structurally similar heterostructures exhibit wide variations of the hole density over Δ p s > --> 7 × 10 13 cm − 2 , and low mobilities. In this work, we uncover that the variations are tied to undesired dopant impurities such as silicon and oxygen floating up from the nucleation interface. By introducing impurity blocking layers (IBLs) in the AlN buffer layer, we eliminate the variability in 2D hole gas densities and transport properties, resulting in a much tighter control over the 2DHG density variations to Δ p s ≤ 1 × 10 13 cm − 2 across growths, and a 3 × boost in the Hall mobilities. These changes result in a 2–3 × increase in hole conductivity when compared to GaN/AlN structures without IBLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flutter is a classical aeroelastic phenomenon that seriously affects the performance of flexible wings. This study investigates flutter suppression through flow control for a flexible wing. Aerodynamic force, flow field, and dynamic aeroelastic response measurements are conducted to analyze the mechanism of flutter suppression through flow control on a flexible wing modified to include leading-edge blowing (LEB) and circulation control (CC) actuators around the wing tip. Furthermore, the flutter control effects of two control strategies, i.e., steady state control and proportion–integral–differential (PID) control, are compared. The results show that steady LEB and steady CC can effectively reduce the flutter amplitude and increase the critical flutter velocity. When the mass flow coefficient C Q ≥ 1.46 × 10 − 3 , the Coanda jet has better flutter suppression effect than the leading-edge jet. Moreover, a closed-loop CC control based on the PID algorithm demonstrates that PID control can effectively improve the flutter control efficiency. Compared to steady flow control, PID control increases the critical velocity by more than 52.60 % and reduces the air consumption by 90.44 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual object tracking is a fundamental task in computer vision that requires estimating the position and scale of a target object in a video sequence. However, scale variation is a difficult challenge that affects the performance and robustness of many trackers, especially those based on the discriminative correlation filter (DCF). Existing scale estimation methods based on multi-scale features are computationally expensive and degrade the real-time performance of the DCF-based tracker, especially in scenarios with restricted computing power. In this paper, we propose a practical and efficient solution that can handle scale changes without using multi-scale features and can be combined with any DCF-based tracker as a plug-in module. We use color name (CN) features and a salient feature to reduce the target appearance model's dimensionality. We then estimate the target scale based on a Gaussian distribution model and introduce global and local scale consistency assumptions to restore the target's scale. We fuse the tracking results with the DCF-based tracker to obtain the new position and scale of the target. We evaluate our method on the benchmark dataset Temple Color 128 and compare it with some popular trackers. Our method achieves competitive accuracy and robustness while significantly reducing the computational cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars have long sought to understand the separation between the active and passive states in visual working memory. Results of recent behavioral studies have provided insight into the independence of storage resources in these two states. To explore how humans distribute these resources in the active and passive states in visual working memory, we adopted the classic double-retro-cue paradigm combined with a continuous reported color wheel to ascertain whether the precision of representations maintained in active and passive states are adjustable according to the frequency of spatial cues. The results showed that two distinct resource allocation mechanisms exist in these two states beyond traditional visual working memory theory and provide further support for the separation hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Hyper-angiogenesis is a characteristic of glioblastoma (GBM), and anti-angio-genesis is a crucial strategy to interfere with tumor progression in GBM therapy. We previously found a high expression of ALDH1A3 in proliferating vasculature in GBM patients, which was associated with poor prognosis. The present study generated two ALDH1A3-overexpressing GBM cells (oxGBMs) and demonstrated a potent pro-angiogenesis function of ALDH1A3 under the different conditions of co-culturing oxGBMs with endothelial cells in vitro and in an angiogenesis model in vivo. Moreover, we identified a mechanism underlying the oxALDH1A3-mediated pro-angiogenic effect involving the paracrine PAI-1 and IL-8 derived from oxGBMs. Blockage of PAI-1 or IL-8 hindered the hyper-angiogenesis phenotype resulting from oxALDH1A3. These findings defined a novel function of ALDH1A3 as an angiogenesis promoter in GBM, beyond its role as a well-known cancer stem cell marker, and highlighted ALDH1A3-PAI-1/IL-8 as a novel targeting signaling for future anti-angiogenesis therapy in GBM. Hyper-angiogenesis is a typical feature of glioblastoma (GBM), the most aggressive brain tumor. We have reported the expression of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A3 (ALDH1A3) in proliferating vasculature in GBM patients. We hypothesized that ALDH1A3 may act as an angiogenesis promoter in GBM. Two GBM cell lines were lentivirally transduced with either ALDH1A3 (ox) or an empty vector (ev). The angiogenesis phenotype was studied in indirect and direct co-culture of endothelial cells (ECs) with oxGBM cells (oxGBMs) and in an angiogenesis model in vivo. Angiogenesis array was performed in oxGBMs. RT2-PCR, Western blot, and double-immunofluorescence staining were performed to confirm the expression of targets identified from the array. A significantly activated angiogenesis phenotype was observed in ECs indirectly and directly co-cultured with oxGBMs and in vivo. Overexpression of ALDH1A3 (oxALDH1A3) led to a marked upregulation of PAI-1 and IL-8 mRNA and protein and a consequential increased release of both proteins. Moreover, oxALDH1A3-induced angiogenesis was abolished by the treatment of the specific inhibitors, respectively, of PAI-1 and IL-8 receptors, CXCR1/2. This study defined ALDH1A3 as a novel angiogenesis promoter. oxALDH1A3 in GBM cells stimulated EC angiogenesis via paracrine upregulation of PAI-1 and IL-8, suggesting ALDH1A3-PAI-1/IL-8 as a novel signaling for future anti-angiogenesis therapy in GBM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Pulmonary bronchiolar adenoma is a benign lung tumour characterised by nodular proliferation of bilayered bronchiolar‐type epithelium with a continuous layer of basal cells. The aim of this study was to describe a distinct and rare histological type of pulmonary bronchiolar adenoma: bronchiolar adenoma with squamous metaplasia. Methods and results: We examined the clinicopathological, immunohistochemical, and molecular characteristics of five cases (two cases from the same patient). The samples were histopathologically characterised by bilayered bronchiolar‐type cells with sheets like spindle‐oval and polygonal cells. Immunohistochemistry analysis revealed that columnar surface cells of the tumour were diffusely positive for TTF‐1 and Napsin A, while basal cells were positive for P40 and P63. Moreover, the squamous metaplastic cells in the stroma were positive for P40, and P63, while being negative for TTF‐1, Napsin A, S100, and SMA. Genomic analyses uncovered that all five samples had BRAF V600E mutations. Notably, both squamous metaplastic and basal cells were positive for BRAF V600E staining. Conclusion: We discovered a distinct subtype of pulmonary bronchiolar adenoma termed bronchiolar adenoma with squamous metaplasia. It is composed of columnar surface cells, basal cells, and sheet‐like spindle‐oval cells with squamous metaplasia in the stroma. All five samples harboured the BRAF V600E mutation. Importantly, BASM may be misdiagnosed as pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma upon frozen sections analysis. It may need further immunohistochemistry staining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-risk pricing anomalies, characterized by lower returns in higher-risk stocks, are prevalent in equity markets and challenge traditional asset pricing theory. Previous studies primarily relied on linear regression methods, which analyze a limited number of factors and overlook the advantages of machine learning in handling high-dimensional data. This study aims to address these anomalies in the Chinese market by employing machine learning techniques to measure systematic risk. A large dataset consisting of 770 variables, encompassing macroeconomic, micro-firm, and cross-effect factors, was constructed to develop a machine learning-based dynamic capital asset pricing model. Additionally, we investigated the differences in factors influencing time-varying beta between state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and non-SOEs, providing economic explanations for the black-box issues. Our findings demonstrated the effectiveness of random forest and neural networks, with the four-layer neural network performing best and leading to a substantial rise in the excess return of the long–short portfolio, up to 0.36%. Notably, liquidity indicators emerged as the primary drivers influencing beta, followed by momentum. Moreover, our analysis revealed a shift in variable importance during the transition from SOEs to non-SOEs, as liquidity and momentum gradually replaced fundamentals and valuation as key determinants. This research contributes to both theoretical and practical domains by bridging the research gap in incorporating machine learning methods into asset pricing research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abnormal event detection is a popular research direction in the field of intelligent transportation and public safety. The features that characterize abnormal events are extracted from given video sequence through computer vision technology. Then the abnormal events in the video are automatically detected through the classification model. In order to describe the motion characteristics of events more accurately, a new feature based on motion entropy is proposed in this paper. The entropy value of motion pixels in the video frame is calculated as the input feature of the classification model. Motion entropy is suitable to regard as a feature to distinguish normal events from abnormal events due to the big differences between normal and abnormal events. In addition, an abnormal event detection model based on motion entropy and dual support vector data description (ME-DSVDD) is presented to solve the problem of insufficient sample diversity. The standard data set is tested to analyze the performance of the proposed model. The experimental results show that the proposed method can effectively improve the performance of the abnormal event detection model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]