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Background: As a novel regional analgesic technique, ultrasound-guided pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block has some potential advantages, and we designed a randomized clinical trial (RCT) to investigate whether the ultrasound-guided PENG block combined with general anesthesia can better reduce stress response, maintain intraoperative hemodynamic stability, and reduce postoperative analgesia in elderly hip arthroplasty compared with ultrasound-guided suprainguinal fascia iliaca block (SIFIB) combined with general anesthesia. Methods: Seventy-four subjects were enrolled over an 8-month period (20 April 2023 to 31 December 2023). All patients were divided into the test group (group P) and the control group (group S) using the envelope as the randomization method. The test group was treated with preoperative ultrasound-guided PENG block analgesia combined with general anesthesia and the control group was treated with preoperative ultrasound-guided SIFIB analgesia combined with general anesthesia. The primary outcome selected was the patient Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score at 12 h postoperatively. Results: After generalized estimating equations (GEE) analysis, there was a statistically significant difference in the main effect of postoperative VAS score in group P compared with group S (P = 0.009), the time effect of VAS score in each group was significantly different (P < 0.001), and there was no statistically significant difference in the group-time interaction effect (P = 0.069). There was no statistically significant difference in the main effect of intraoperative mean arterial pressure (MAP) change (P = 0.911), there were statistically significant differences in the time effect of MAP in each group (P < 0.001), and there were statistically significant differences in the interaction effect (P < 0.001). Conclusions: In summary, we can conclude that in elderly patients undergoing hip fracture surgery, postoperative analgesia is more pronounced, intraoperative hemodynamic parameters are more stable, and intraoperative stress is less induced in patients receiving SIFIB than in patients receiving PENG block. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Researches have found that alteration of intestinal flora may be closely related to the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, whether probiotics supplementation has a protective effect on ASD remains controversial. This meta-analysis aimed to analyze the outcome of probiotics in the treatment of ASD children. Methods: The Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Embase were searched until Sep 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) relevant to the probiotics and placebo treatment on ASD children were screened. Quality assessment of the included RCTs was evaluated by the Cochrane collaboration's tool. The primary outcomes were ASD assessment scales, including ABC (aberrant behavior checklist) and CBCL (child behavior checklist) for evaluating the behavior improvement, SRS (social responsiveness scale) for social assessment, DQ (developmental quotient) for physical and mental development and CGI-I (clinical global impression improvement) for overall improvement. The secondary outcome was total 6-GSI (gastrointestinal severity index). Results: In total, 6 RCTs from 6 studies with 302 children were included in the systemic review. Total 6-GSI (MD=-0.59, 95%CI [-1.02,-0.17], P < 0.05) decreased significantly after oral administration of probiotics. Whereas, there was no statistical difference in ABC, CBCL, SRS, DQ and CGI-I between probiotics and placebo groups in ASD children. Conclusion: Probiotics treatment could improve gastrointestinal symptoms, but there was no significant improvement in ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of artificial receptors that combine ultrahigh‐affinity binding and controllable release for active guests holds significant importance in biomedical applications. On one hand, a complex with an exceedingly high binding affinity can resist unwanted dissociation induced by dilution effect and complex interferents within physiological environments. On the other hand, stimulus‐responsive release of the guest is essential for precisely activating its function. In this context, we expanded hydrophobic cavity surface of a hypoxia‐responsive azocalix[4]arene, affording Naph‐SAC4A. This modification significantly enhanced its aqueous binding affinity to 1013 M−1, akin to the naturally occurring strongest recognition pair, biotin/(strept−)avidin. Consequently, Naph‐SAC4A emerges as the first artificial receptor to simultaneously integrate ultrahigh recognition affinity and actively controllable release. The markedly enhanced affinity not only improved Naph‐SAC4A′s sensitivity in detecting rocuronium bromide in serum, but also refined the precision of hypoxia‐responsive doxorubicin delivery at the cellular level, demonstrating its immense potential for diverse practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of artificial receptors that combine ultrahigh‐affinity binding and controllable release for active guests holds significant importance in biomedical applications. On one hand, a complex with an exceedingly high binding affinity can resist unwanted dissociation induced by dilution effect and complex interferents within physiological environments. On the other hand, stimulus‐responsive release of the guest is essential for precisely activating its function. In this context, we expanded hydrophobic cavity surface of a hypoxia‐responsive azocalix[4]arene, affording Naph‐SAC4A. This modification significantly enhanced its aqueous binding affinity to 1013 M−1, akin to the naturally occurring strongest recognition pair, biotin/(strept−)avidin. Consequently, Naph‐SAC4A emerges as the first artificial receptor to simultaneously integrate ultrahigh recognition affinity and actively controllable release. The markedly enhanced affinity not only improved Naph‐SAC4A′s sensitivity in detecting rocuronium bromide in serum, but also refined the precision of hypoxia‐responsive doxorubicin delivery at the cellular level, demonstrating its immense potential for diverse practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial prediction is essential for obtaining the spatial distribution of geographic variables and selecting appropriate covariates for this process can be challenging, especially for non-expert users. For easing the burden of selecting the appropriate covariates, two case-based reasoning strategies, namely the most-similar-case and covariate-classification strategies, have been proposed for automated covariate selection. The former may suggest nonessential covariates due to its case-level reasoning way. And the latter with covariate-level reasoning may overlook related covariates and recommend fewer covariates than the case-level reasoning. In this study, we propose a new strategy of integrating case-level and covariate-level reasoning to effectively leverage the strengths of both previous strategies while also addressing their limitations. The proposed strategy is validated through a case study of automatically selecting covariates for digital soil mapping under reasoning with a case base containing 189 cases. The leave-one-out evaluation demonstrated that our proposed strategy outperformed the previous two strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a common malignant tumour of the gastrointestinal tract. Early detection and access to appropriate treatment are crucial for the long-term survival of patients. However, limited diagnostic and monitoring methods are available for identifying early stage ESCC. Endoscopic screening and surgical resection are commonly used to diagnose and treat early ESCC. However, these methods have disadvantages, such as high recurrence, lethality, and mortality rates. Therefore, methods to improve early diagnosis of ESCC and reduce its mortality rate are urgently required. In 1961, Gary et al. proposed a novel liquid biopsy approach for clinical diagnosis. This involved examining exosomes, circulating tumour cells, circulating free DNA, and circulating free RNA in body fluids. The ability of liquid biopsy to obtain samples repeatedly, wide detection range, and fast detection speed make it a feasible option for non-invasive tumour detection. In clinical practice, liquid biopsy technology has gained popularity for early screening, diagnosis, treatment efficacy monitoring, and prognosis assessment. Thus, this is a highly promising examination method. However, there have been no comprehensive reviews on the four factors of liquid biopsy in the context of ESCC. This review aimed to analyse the progress of liquid biopsy research for ESCC, including its classification, components, and potential future applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extremely/super low frequency (ELF/SLF) electromagnetic (EM) waves offer efficient propagation in challenging cross‐medium environments. However, conventional coil antennas, when emitting ELF/SLF EM waves, face constraints related to size, radiation efficiency, and high power consumption. To overcome these limitations, a disc‐rod structured piezoelectric rotating resonator is proposed, which can turn a NdFeB permanent magnet disc into rotation with an impressive high‐speed up to 10 000 r min−1 via wobbling motion of the rod tip, effectively generating ELF/SLF magnetic field radiation via rotational oscillation other than common linear and swinging oscillation of the magnetic dipole moments. The piezo‐turned magnetic rotation (PTMR) method leads to a two to five‐fold enhancement in magnetic field emission compared to existing piezo‐actuated acoustic resonant antennas, and a 370 times higher emitting efficiency compared to the traditional coil antenna with a comparable size. In contrast to unidirectional EM wave radiation at their solely resonant frequencies, the PTMR antenna showcases omnidirectional B‐field radiation with continuous tunability in a dual frequency band spanning from 10 to 100 Hz. Moreover, an air–seawater cross‐medium magnetic field communication is successfully demonstrated. With outstanding performance metrics, the PTMR antenna emerges as a promising solution for efficient long‐distance ELF/SLF cross‐medium communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mashed potatoes (MP) are famous as ready‐to‐eat products due to their excellent taste and texture. Problems such as complex injection occur when MP is used as a 3D printing material. To improve the smoothness of MP loading into a 3D syringe barrel and its 3D extrusion printability, the effects of the protein–polysaccharide hybrid gelator developed with different gelatin‐B (GB, 2%, 4%, 6%) and κ‐carrageenan (KG, 1%) on the rheology and 3D extrusion printability of MP were studied. The rheological results showed that the MP developed a glass transition temperature by adding the hybrid gelator. Adding 1% KG+6% GB (w/w, dry base) to the hybrid gelator has good shear thinning and self‐supporting properties and showed the best geometric accuracy. In the extrusion stage, the yield stress, the consistency index (K), and the flow behavior index (n) of MP were 470.69 Pa, 313.48 Pa·sn, and 0.159, respectively. In the recovery stage, the shear recovery time is 30 s. In the self‐supporting stage, the storage modulus and loss modulus are significantly higher than those of other groups and have the strongest mechanical properties. Moreover, water distribution, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction analysis, and microstructure of printed MP with different hybrid gelators were observed. The addition of hybrid gelators reduced the content of free water in MP. Hybrid gelators did not produce new functional groups in the printed materials and did not change the structure of starch. These results provide new insights for applying protein and polysaccharide hybrid gelators in 3D printing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractObjectiveMethodsResultsConclusionTo evaluate the effect of recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) on radiotherapy-related neuropathic pain in patients with head and neck malignancies, and to explore comprehensive nursing strategies.In this retrospective study, a total of 80 patients diagnosed with head and neck malignancy and receiving radiotherapy were divided into 2 groups according to treatment. Patients in the control group received conventional radiation therapy and postoperative care, and those in the trial group received rhEGF in addition to conventional radiation therapy and care. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the pain degree of patients before and after treatment, EORTC QLQ-C30 scale was used to evaluate the quality of life of patients before and after treatment, and the skin and mucosal reactions of patients after radiotherapy were observed.Baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups. VAS scores in the trial group were significantly lower than those in the control group during and after radiotherapy (p < 0.001), and skin and mucosal reactions were less severe (p < 0.05). In addition, compared with the control group, the quality of life and symptom scores of the trial group were significantly improved after treatment (p < 0.05).rhEGF can effectively alleviate neuropathic pain during and after radiotherapy in patients with head and neck malignancies, improve skin and mucosal response, and improve quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rock masses have complex block-hierarchical structures involving various scale levels, which should be considered in dynamic and static conditions. Because the interlayer has weak mechanical properties, the deformation of rock masses is primarily concentrated at the interlayers, which provides the possibility of translation and rotation for rock blocks. In situ experimental data have shown that the blocky rock masses undergo significant angular deformation under a dynamic impact, and the rotation of blocks can significantly affect the wave propagation and dynamic behavior of rock masses. Consequently, to investigate the rotation of blocks, a two-dimensional dynamic model of blocky rock masses was established based on the accurate consideration of the rotation effect. This research revealed the mechanism of the rotation of blocks and determined the characteristics of energy transfer and the influence of block rotation on the inhomogeneous deformation of interlayers. The findings showed that the rotation of blocks is caused by the nonequilibrium shear between the interfaces in the absence of external torques, resulting in inhomogeneous deformation of interlayers. The blocky rock masses can produce additional tension and compression deformation caused by the rotation of blocks at local positions in addition to the deformation caused by the translation. The energy transfer and influence of the rotation of blocks under an external torque are inconsistent with those under a horizontal impact load. This study theoretically solves the problems of wave propagation in block media under arbitrary loads and torques and is helpful for the research of seismic wave propagation in block media with inhomogeneous complex structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Xiejiagou gold deposit located in the Zhaoyuan-Laizhou gold belt is composed of altered-rock-type gold mineralization and superposed auriferous quartz veins, showing unique two-stage gold mineralization. Oxygen and hydrogen isotopic analyses yielded the following results: δ18OH2O = 0.8‰ to 4.4‰ and δD = −106‰ to −85‰ for altered-rock-type mineralization, and δ18OH2O = 3.6‰ to 5.6‰ and δD = −98‰ to −89‰ for auriferous quartz-veins. Combined studies on Co/Ni, Sb/Bi and As/Ag ratios of pyrites, it can be inferred that the ore-forming fluids were dominated by magmatic water mixed with very little meteoric water. The fractured altered rocks in the ore-hosting fault zones are characterized by mylonitization, cataclastic lithification, and structural lenses, reflecting a compressional (closed) ore-forming system. In contrast, the occurrence of auriferous quartz veins in fissures of altered-rock-type orebodies and the fact that altered-rock-type ores commonly occur as breccias cemented by auriferous quartz veins that reflect an extensional (open) ore-forming system for the vein mineralization. The increase in δ34S values from stage I (5.8‰–7.2‰) to stage II (6.6‰–9.0‰) indicate that the altered-rock-type mineralization was the result of intense water–rock interaction, while the occurrence of immiscible inclusions in auriferous quartz veins demonstrates that fluid immiscibility contributes significantly to gold deposition in the vein-type mineralization. Fluid-inclusion microthermometric data indicate that the fluids for the altered-rock-type mineralization are characterized by moderate-to-high temperature (262–368 °C), and low-to-moderate salinity (4.3–10.8 wt.% NaCl equivalent). In contrast, halite-bearing inclusions are found in auriferous quartz veins, and its fluids are characterized by moderate-to-high temperature (290–376 °C) and moderate-to-high salinity (5.1–41.9 wt.% NaCl equivalent). From early stages (I and II) to the late stage (III), homogenization temperature and high temperature element (W, Sn, and Mo) concentrations in pyrite first decrease and then increase, δ34S values and metallization-related element (Au, Ag, and Bi) concentrations in pyrite first increase and then decrease. Therefore, it can be inferred that the two distinct types of gold mineralization in the Xiejiagou gold deposit may be two separate mineralization events. The presence of magnetite in the auriferous veins suggests an increase in oxidation state during the vein mineralization. Importantly, the Xiejiagou gold deposit preserves two types of mineralization in a single deposit and uniquely records a metallogenic transition from a compressional, reduced environment to an extensional, oxidized environment, as a result of a regional stress field transition that occurred in the Zhaoyuan-Laizhou gold belt at ca. 120 Ma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obtaining an accurate estimation of surface settlement during tunnel excavation is challenging due to the many factors that influence settlement. This study developed a mathematical model using multi-gene genetic programming for predicting the maximum surface settlement associated with earth pressure balance shield tunneling. Based on the field-monitored data collected from a metro construction project, five input parameters, namely, buried depth, face pressure at the top and center of the shield, advance rate, and grouting pressure, were used for the model development. Three statistical metrics for performance evaluation indicated the potential of the proposed model to estimate the maximum surface settlement. A parametric study was performed to explore the variation trend of the maximum surface settlement induced by different parameters, which validated the reasonability of the proposed mathematical model. A global sensitivity analysis revealed that the cover depth and grouting pressure were the two more influential parameters in developing the maximum surface settlement during shield tunneling than other selected features. The uncertainty analysis proved the robustness and reliability of the model in predicting the maximum surface settlement during tunneling. Comparative analysis demonstrated that the proposed model is easy to implement in routine design with acceptable error and could supersede simple empirical models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rock mass is a typical inhomogeneous structure composed of hierarchically embedded rock blocks of different scales and separated by weaker interlayers. Due to weak mechanical properties of interlayers, the deformation of rock mass both in statics and dynamics is mainly concentrated in interlayers. Therefore, rock blocks as rigid bodies will experience translational and rotational motions, and the pendulum-type wave arises in rock mass. One-dimensional pendulum-type wave has been studied by many scholars, but two-dimensional pendulum-type wave has not been studied completely, especially the rotational motion of rock blocks should be considered. Therefore, the two-dimensional dynamic model of block-rock mass consisting of rectangular blocks separated by weaker interlayers is established based on accurate consideration of rotation effect. The applicability and reliability of this dynamic model are proved by comparing with experimental data. The propagation law and characteristics of pendulum-type wave in two-dimensional block-rock mass are investigated. Furthermore, the effect of these factors such as the viscous damping, geomechanical invariant and block size on the propagation of pendulum-type wave are determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study a delayed host-generalist parasitoid diffusion model subject to homogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions, where generalist parasitoids are introduced to control the invasion of the hosts. We construct an explicit expression of positive steady-state solution using the implicit function theorem and prove its linear stability. Moreover, by applying feedback time delay τ as the bifurcation parameter, spatially inhomogeneous Hopf bifurcation near the positive steady-state solution is proved when τ is varied through a sequence of critical values. This finding implies that feedback time delay can induce spatially inhomogeneous periodic oscillatory patterns. The direction of spatially inhomogeneous Hopf bifurcation is forward when parameter m is sufficiently large. We present numerical simulations and solutions to further illustrate our main theoretical results. Numerical simulations show that the period and amplitude of the inhomogeneous periodic solution increase with increasing feedback time delay. Our theoretical analysis results only hold for parameter k when it is sufficiently close to 1, whereas numerical simulations suggest that spatially inhomogeneous Hopf bifurcation still occurs when k is larger than 1 but not sufficiently close to 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Drag/lift fluctuation dominate in-line/transverse noise propagation respectively. • Noise is suppressed for range of cylinder oscillation frequencies in turbulent flows. • Loading and thickness noise exhibit discrepancy. • Sound pressure more sensitive to oscillations of downstream than upstream cylinder. • Oscillation direction affects noise in contrast form for single and tandem units. The noise generated by a three-dimensional turbulent wake behind an oscillating single or tandem cylinder(s) is studied using detached eddy simulation and the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings (FW-H) method. This hybrid methodology is validated using some experimental data of a turbulent flow past a single or tandem stationary cylinder(s) and some numerical data (obtained from a direct numerical simulation) of a laminar flow past tandem oscillating cylinders. For an oscillating cylinder at a fixed Reynolds number R e = 120 , 000 , the sound energy is suppressed compared to that of a stationary cylinder provided the value of oscillation frequency approaches 57% of the original vortex-shedding frequency of the stationary cylinder. This noise reduction arises from the structural oscillations suppressing the noise generated by the vortex shedding from the stationary cylinder—the additional source of noise stemming from the structural oscillations is too small to compensate for the mechanism responsible for the noise suppression. The noise generated by the cylinder motion includes contributions from the loading and thickness noise, whereas the noise generated by vortex shedding from the stationary cylinder only includes the loading noise. The flow past tandem stationary cylinders exhibits a larger number of spectral peaks in the sound pressure power spectrum and the peaks occur at a lower frequency compared to the flow past a single cylinder. The drag force fluctuations result in the propagation of the sound pressure in the in-line direction, whereas the lift force fluctuations result in the propagation of the sound pressure in the transverse direction. Five different scenarios of stationary and/or oscillating tandem cylinders are studied. The second and third invariants of the velocity gradient tensor are used to visualize the distinct vortex structures in the wake for the five different scenarios of tandem cylinders. A single cylinder oscillating in the transverse direction exhibits a larger sound pressure level (SPL) than the streamwise oscillation of the same cylinder. In contrast, the streamwise (in-line) oscillation of one or the other cylinder in a tandem array results in a larger SPL than the transverse oscillation of one or the other cylinder. Finally, the SPL is more sensitive to the oscillations of the rear (downstream) cylinder than the front (upstream) cylinder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have already gained significant attention because they have satisfactory energy density and no memory effect, making them one of the most widely used energy storage systems. In commercial LIBs, graphite is widely used as an anode material due to its excellent electrical conductivity and structural stability; however, as they are limited by their restricted theoretical capacity, there is an urgent need for the development of novel anode materials for LIBs. For this purpose, we designed a nitrogen-doped two-dimensional layered porous carbon material (2D-PNC) based on a covalent organic framework (COF) generated by a Schiff base reaction as a precursor. The characterization analysis results show that 2D-PNC is made of stacked two-dimensional ultra-thin carbon sheets with a porous structure. This unique structure is beneficial for electrolyte impregnation and lithium-ion storage, resulting in excellent electrochemical performance of 2D-PNC, which shows a high specific capacity of 573 mAh g−1 after 380 cycles at 0.5 A g−1. The results show that 2D-PNC provides the possibility of a practical application of high-performance lithium-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methyl gallate is a polyphenolic compound found in many plants, and its antioxidant, antitumor, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects have been extensively studied. More recently, antidepressant-like effects of methyl gallate have been demonstrated in some studies. In the present study, we examined the effects of methyl gallate on melanogenesis, including the tyrosinase inhibitory effect, the melanin content, and the molecular signaling pathways involved in this inhibition. The results showed that methyl gallate inhibited tyrosinase activity and significantly downregulated the expressions of melanin synthesis-associated proteins, including microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase, dopachrome tautomerase (Dct), and tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP1). In conclusion, our findings indicated that activation of MEK/ERK and PI3K/Akt promoted by methyl gallate caused downregulation of MITF and triggered its downstream signaling pathway, thereby inhibiting the production of melanin. In summary, methyl gallate showed significant inhibitory activity against melanin formation, implying that it may be a potential ingredient for application in skin-whitening cosmetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a novel data-driven theory for the stability analysis of a flow-induced vibration (FIV) system consisting of an elastically mounted circular cylinder submerged in three-dimensional (3D) spanwise shear inflow at a subcritical Reynolds number. The presented data-driven theory separates the cylinder into several elements along the spanwise direction and treats the aerodynamics of each element as a two-dimensional (2D) situation subject to a uniform inflow. An eigensystem realization algorithm is constructed to obtain the separate 2D flow reduced-order model (ROM) for each element, and then, the superposition of those 2D ROMs (SROM) is processed to obtain the simplified 3D flow ROM. The simplified 3D flow ROM is coupled with the structural model to perform a linear stability analysis of the FIV system under study. The proposed data-driven technique demonstrates high consistency with the high-fidelity full-order model (FOM) with regard to the prediction of flutter lock-in boundaries while being more time-efficient, whereas the traditional direct 3D data-driven analysis involves significant errors. The growth rate obtained using SROM is negatively correlated with the lagging time (reflected in the FOM calculation) for the FIV system to evolve from the initial stationary state to the final equilibrium state. The evolution of the structural instability range with the variation in the mass ratio is analyzed/predicted by the proposed data-driven theory. The determination of the lock-in regime using the FOM is accompanied by a careful discussion of the associated dynamical responses, including phase differences, structural oscillation frequencies, lift coefficients, and wake patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geosynthetic-reinforced soil (GRS) retaining walls have been widely adopted in engineering practice based on the development of several design methods. However, the temperature effect, which was proved to be an important influencing factor of retaining wall performance, was not considered in the existing design methods. This study investigates the temperature distributions of a (GRS) wall subjected to freeze–thaw (FT) cycles using (1) a lab-scale physical model test within a custom-made temperature-controlled tank; and (2) a commercial finite-element computer program for conducting numerical modeling. The numerical model was first validated using the lab-scale model test data obtained in this study, and then a full-scale numerical model was created for achieving an in-depth understanding of the temperature distribution behaviors of a real GRS wall subjected to FT cycles. Both model test and numerical results demonstrate that (1) the periodic variation of the ambient temperature during the FT process induces a temperature fluctuation in a sinusoidal shape in the soil, and the temperature distributions of the soil are distinctly related to its location inside the GRS wall; (2) the soil temperature in zones with a distance of 2.0 m to the exposed boundaries (i.e., back of facing panels and road pavement) of the GRS wall is more sensitive to the variation of the ambient temperature. Also, the temperature amplitudes in these regions during each FT cycle are greater than those in the zones far away from the exposed boundaries of the GRS wall; and (3) the frost depth in the vertical direction or frost thickness in the horizontal direction increases constantly with a decrease of the ambient temperature lower than 0°C, and vice versa. The maximum frost depth or thickness behind the GRS wall is lagged to the lowest ambient temperature and decreases with the increase of the distance to the exposed boundaries. In addition, a mathematical model was proposed for predicting the soil temperature amplitudes at different locations inside the GRS wall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For any positive integer m , let Z m be the set of residue classes modulo m. For A ⊆ Z m and n ‾ ∈ Z m , let the representation function R A (n ‾) denote the number of solutions of the equation n ‾ = a ‾ + a ′ ‾ with unordered pairs (a ‾ , a ′ ‾) ∈ A × A. Let M be an odd integer with M ≥ 3 and m = 2 M. In this paper, we determine the structure of A , B ⊆ Z m with A ∪ B = Z m and | A ∩ B | = 2 such that R A (n ‾) = R B (n ‾) for all n ‾ ∈ Z m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone injury plagues millions of patients worldwide every year, and it demands a heavy portion of expense from the public medical insurance system. At present, orthopedists think that autologous bone transplantation is the gold standard for treating large-scale bone defects. However, this method has significant limitations, which means that parts of patients cannot obtain a satisfactory prognosis. Therefore, a basic study on new therapeutic methods is urgently needed. The in-depth research on crosstalk between macrophages (Mϕs) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) suggests that there is a close relationship between inflammation and regeneration. The in-depth understanding of the crosstalk between Mϕs and BMSCs is helpful to amplify the efficacy of stem cell-based treatment for bone injury. Only in the suitable inflammatory microenvironment can the damaged tissues containing stem cells obtain satisfactory healing outcomes. The excessive tissue inflammation and lack of stem cells make the transplantation of biomaterials necessary. We can expect that the crosstalk between Mϕs and BMSCs and biomaterials will become the mainstream to explore new methods for bone injury in the future. This review mainly summarizes the research on the crosstalk between Mϕs and BMSCs and also briefly describes the effects of biomaterials and aging on cell transplantation therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive review of modelling techniques for the flow-induced vibration (FIV) of bluff bodies is presented. This phenomenology involves bidirectional fluid–structure interaction (FSI) coupled with non-linear dynamics. In addition to experimental investigations of this phenomenon in wind tunnels and water channels, a number of modelling methodologies have become important in the study of various aspects of the FIV response of bluff bodies. This paper reviews three different approaches for the modelling of FIV phenomenology. Firstly, we consider the mathematical (semi-analytical) modelling of various types of FIV responses: namely, vortex-induced vibration (VIV), galloping, and combined VIV-galloping. Secondly, the conventional numerical modelling of FIV phenomenology involving various computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methodologies is described, namely: direct numerical simulation (DNS), large-eddy simulation (LES), detached-eddy simulation (DES), and Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) modelling. Emergent machine learning (ML) approaches based on the data-driven methods to model FIV phenomenology are also reviewed (e.g., reduced-order modelling and application of deep neural networks). Following on from this survey of different modelling approaches to address the FIV problem, the application of these approaches to a fluid energy harvesting problem is described in order to highlight these various modelling techniques for the prediction of FIV phenomenon for this problem. Finally, the critical challenges and future directions for conventional and data-driven approaches are discussed. So, in summary, we review the key prevailing trends in the modelling and prediction of the full spectrum of FIV phenomena (e.g., VIV, galloping, VIV-galloping), provide a discussion of the current state of the field, present the current capabilities and limitations and recommend future work to address these limitations (knowledge gaps). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone injury plagues millions of patients worldwide every year, and it demands a heavy portion of expense from the public medical insurance system. At present, orthopedists think that autologous bone transplantation is the gold standard for treating large-scale bone defects. However, this method has significant limitations, which means that parts of patients cannot obtain a satisfactory prognosis. Therefore, a basic study on new therapeutic methods is urgently needed. The in-depth research on crosstalk between macrophages (Mϕs) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) suggests that there is a close relationship between inflammation and regeneration. The in-depth understanding of the crosstalk between Mϕs and BMSCs is helpful to amplify the efficacy of stem cell-based treatment for bone injury. Only in the suitable inflammatory microenvironment can the damaged tissues containing stem cells obtain satisfactory healing outcomes. The excessive tissue inflammation and lack of stem cells make the transplantation of biomaterials necessary. We can expect that the crosstalk between Mϕs and BMSCs and biomaterials will become the mainstream to explore new methods for bone injury in the future. This review mainly summarizes the research on the crosstalk between Mϕs and BMSCs and also briefly describes the effects of biomaterials and aging on cell transplantation therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exotic Sonneratia apetala is widely planted in mangrove afforestation in China due to its high adaptability and fast growth rates. This species has triggered intense debate on its ecological invasion risk during the past decades because of its natural reproduction, dispersal, and spread. However, national plans for the management and control of this exotic species are unclear, partly due to the lack of an accurate distribution map of the species for broad latitudinal areas. Mangrove species with subtle spectral differences and varied growth phases require plenty of samples to describe their spectrum; however, the scarcity of samples resulting from the low accessibility of their habitats hinders the mapping of the species across the national coastal zone. To overcome this problem, we derived S. apetala samples from existing discrete localized studies and then iteratively optimized the trained binary model by incorporating new negative samples until a threshold converged. Negative samples were more easily acquired in areas where the absence of S. apetala had been confirmed. This approach avoids the prerequisite that S. apetala can be distinguished by visual inspections, which is commonly used in routine classification procedures or active learning classifiers. The approach was applied to derive classification results with the help of a Random Forest classifier using both Sentinel-1 and −2 imagery hosted on Google Earth Engine, considering that S. apetala differs from native mangrove species in terms of the large crown, drooping branches, and biochemical properties. The generated S. apetala map was evaluated using three prepared datasets and achieved overall accuracies of 98.1 % and 96.4 % using the test dataset and independent evaluation dataset, respectively, as well as an accuracy of 91.7 % using 145 field samples provided by mangrove specialists. The total area of exotic S. apetala in China reached 2,968 ha in 2020, accounting for 11.0 % of the total mangrove area in China. This study is the first attempt to delineate the detailed national-scale distribution of S. apetala in coastal China. The information provided in this study can support the management and control of S. apetala. The developed approach can be generalized to other vegetation species in broad latitudinal areas, and can be further improved by probing the internal details of the trained classifier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification of DEGs To identify KCN response genes, the Agilent 4×44K rice microarray was used to analyze the expression profile and to select the DEGs in different tissues of rice seedlings. Graph: Figure 2 Correlation analysis of rice microarray data and qRT-PCR test for 25 DEGs in roots and shoots of CN--treated rice seedlings, and linear regression with R value added. In this study, a transcriptome analysis revealed that more down-regulated DEGs were detected in the roots of CN SP - sp -treated rice seedlings than shoots, suggesting that rice roots are more susceptible to exogenous CN SP - sp exposure than shoots. Keywords: cyanide; COG classifications; differentially expressed genes; rice EN cyanide COG classifications differentially expressed genes rice 1701 13 11/17/22 20221101 NES 221101 1. [Extracted from the article]

Recent studies have shown that the combination of external dampers and cross-ties can overcome their respective deficiencies while retaining their respective merits. Inspired by the advantages of a viscous damper (VD) and a cross-tie on a single stay cable, the coupled damping effect of a parallel-connected viscous mass damper (PVMD) and a grounded cross-tie on a single stay cable is investigated in this paper. The complex wave number equations of the cable–PVMD–cross-tie system are first formulated through the complex modal analysis. Subsequently, the asymptotic and iterative complex wave numbers are compared to evaluate the applicability of the asymptotic and iterative solutions. Furthermore, parametric studies are carried out to investigate the effects of the stiffness coefficients and the installation positions of the cross-tie on the first supplemental modal damping ratio and frequency of the cable. Finally, the installation positions of the cross-tie are optimized to achieve the optimal vibration control of the cable with the PVMD and the cross-tie. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detection of craters is important not only for planetary research but also for engineering applications. Although the existing crater detection approaches (CDAs) based on terrain analysis consider the topographic information of craters, they do not take into account the spatial structural information of real craters. In this article, we propose an automatic crater detection approach by training random forest classifiers with data from legacy crater map and spatial structural information of craters derived from digital terrain analysis. In the proposed two-stage approach, first, the cells in a legacy crater map are used as samples to train the random forest classifier at a cell level based on multiscale landform element information. This trained classifier is then applied to identify crater candidates in the areas of interest. Second, an object-level random forest classifier is trained with radial elevation profiles of craters and is subsequently applied to evaluate whether each crater candidate is real. A case study using the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter crater map and lunar digital elevation model with 500-m resolution showed that the proposed approach performs better than AutoCrat (a representative CDA), and can mine the implicit expert knowledge on the spatial structures of real craters from legacy crater maps. The proposed approach could be extended to extract other geomorphologic types in similar application situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field measurements show that the seasonal change of the ambient temperature has a significant effect on the performance of geogrid-reinforced retaining (GRR) walls. To investigate the effect of the ambient temperature change on the temperature field inside the GRR walls and the mechanical behaviors of the GRR walls, two physical model tests were conducted using a custom-made model test box. The test box was encased within a temperature-controlled tank to simulate the ambient temperature change and thus to investigate the performance of the GRR walls under the seasonal ambient temperature change. Two types of backfill material, sand and clay, were used in the physical model tests to consider the backfill type effect. Settlement at the top surface, lateral deformation of facing panels, vertical and lateral earth pressures, and geogrid strains were monitored to understand the variation of mechanical performance of the GRR walls with the ambient temperature change. Test results demonstrated that: (1) the ambient temperature has a more significant influence on the temperature field inside the GRR model wall backfilled with sand than that inside the GRR model wall backfilled with clay; (2) under a low ambient temperature of −15°C, the temperature near both the top surface and facing panels decreased to below the freezing point and the vertical frost depth of the model GRR wall backfilled with sand was greater than that of the GRR model wall backfilled with clay; and (3) the measurements indicate that the ambient temperature has a more significant effect on the mechanical performance of the GRR model wall backfilled with clay than that of the wall backfilled with sand, especially under low ambient temperature (i.e., −5°C to −15°C). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species range shift is one of the most significant consequences of climate change in the Anthropocene. A comprehensive study, including demographic, physiological and genetic factors linked to poleward range expansion, is crucial for understanding how the expanding population occupies the new habitat. In the present study, we investigated the demographic, physiological and genetic features of the intertidal gastropod Nerita yoldii, which has extended its northern limit by ~200 km over the former biogeographical break of the Yangtze River Estuary in recent decades. Data from neutral single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) showed that the new marginal populations formed a distinct cluster established by a few founders. Demographic modelling analysis revealed that the new marginal populations experienced a strong genetic bottleneck followed by recent demographic expansion. Successful expansion that overcame the founder effect might be attributed to its high capacity for rapid population growth and multiple introductions. According to the non‐neutral SNPs under diversifying selection, there were high levels of heterozygosity in the new marginal populations, which might be beneficial for adapting to the novel thermal conditions. The common garden experiment showed that the new marginal populations have evolved divergent transcriptomic and physiological responses to heat stress, allowing them to occupy and survive in the novel environment. Lower transcriptional plasticity was observed in the new marginal populations. These results suggest a new biogeographical pattern of N. yoldii has formed with the occurrence of demographic, physiological and genetic changes, and emphasize the roles of adaptation of marginal populations during range expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For large-scale data fitting, the least-squares progressive iterative approximation is a widely used method in many applied domains because of its intuitive geometric meaning and efficiency. In this work, we present a randomized progressive iterative approximation (RPIA) for the B-spline curve and surface fittings. In each iteration, RPIA locally adjusts the control points according to a random criterion of index selections. The difference for each control point is computed concerning the randomized block coordinate descent method. From geometric and algebraic aspects, the illustrations of RPIA are provided. We prove that RPIA constructs a series of fitting curves (resp., surfaces), whose limit curve (resp., surface) can converge in expectation to the least-squares fitting result of the given data points. Numerical experiments are given to confirm our results and show the benefits of RPIA. • Randomization techniques. Introducing randomization strategies into data fitting methods, such methods are easy to operate and have straightforward theoretical analysis. • The local least squares solver. Our method is an approximate PIA algorithm, which only locally updates the control points concerning an index set. • Computing complexity. Different from the traditional PIA surface fitting methods, our method does not need to operate the Kronecker product of two collocation matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we designed two catalogs of metal organic frame materials (MOF)/carbon nitride(g-C 3 N 4) composite nanostructures (flake-on-sheet and ball-on-sheet nanostructure appearances) to probe the effect of composite nanostructures on the cooperative friction mechanism. The tribological behaviors of MOF/g-C 3 N 4 composite nanostructures were extensively investigated in base oil on the four-ball friction tester. The results showed that the anti-wear ability of flake-on-sheet shaped MOF/g-C 3 N 4 in oil was superior to the ball-on-sheet shaped MOF/g-C 3 N 4 , whereas the anti-friction and load-bearing ability of latter was preferable to the former. The flake-on-sheet shaped MOF/g-C 3 N 4 enabled the friction coefficient (COF) and wear scar diameter (WSD) of oil to reduce 31.90% and 45.46%, while the ball-on-sheet shaped MOF/g-C 3 N 4 enabled the friction coefficient (COF) and wear scar diameter (WSD) of oil to decrease 37.07% and 42.15%, respectively. Due to the morphology difference, the anti-frition and anti-wear mechanism of the flake-on-sheet shaped MOF/g-C 3 N 4 were reliable to the tribo-film consisting of adsorption film and tribochemical film, whereas that of ball-on-sheet shaped MOF/g-C 3 N 4 depended on the synergistic effect of the tribo-film and the ball bearing effect of MOF nanospehere in composite structure. Moreover, the interface interaction in composite structure also had a underlying influence in the friction behavior of nanoadditive. [Display omitted] • Fabrication of flake-on-sheet and ball-on-sheet nanostructured composites. • Investigation of tribological behavior of two different nanostructured composites. • Differential comparison of two composites in tribological performance. • Revelation of different collaborative friction mechanism of two nanocomposites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study is focused on analyzing the intermetallic phase evolution and strengthening mechanisms of the titanium alloy and stainless steel (Ti-SS) seam-welded joints using interrupted pulsed arc welding (IPAW). The precise adjustment of welding parameters for the IPAW technique allowed for the successful creation of two different joining modes for Ti-SS joints: contact reactive brazing and fusion modes. The homogeneous composition in the brazing joints was achieved by the formation of a diffusion-driven eutectic liquid phase at the joining contact, resulting in an unusual eutectic structure consisting of β-Ti and TiFe. The molten pool at high temperatures caused an uneven distribution of composition and energy throughout the fusion joints. The fusion joints consisted of a Ti-rich layer, containing β-Ti and TiFe phases near the TC4 side, and a Fe-rich layer, containing TiFe 2 /TiCr 2 and α-Fe phases near the 304SS side. The shear-bearing capacity of the joints exhibited an initial increase and subsequent decrease as the heat input increased. The low heat input resulted in the formation of the unwelding zone, which significantly reduced the shear resistance of the joints. With the increase of the heat input, a reduction in shear strength occurred due to the accumulation of TiFe 2 brittle phases associated with the shift of the joining mode from the brazing to the fusion. The shear force decreased after reaching its maximum value, despite the joints being fully joined and the joining area expanding. • The direct seam-welded of Ti-steel was successfully achieved by arc welding. • The transformation law from the contact brazing to fusion mode was clarified. • The spot stacking degree and joining mode determined the joint shear resistance. • The joint intermetallic phase evolution and strengthening mechanism were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-based meat analogs (PMAs) as important alternatives to animal meats that have been proposed in recent years in response to sustainable development strategies. It has gained extensive attention due to issues associated with animal meat production including environmental stress, ethical concerns, and effects on human health. However, the muscle fibrous structure is a significant indication for simulating real animal meat. 3D printing technology has been widely used as an innovative and effective tool for the production of PMAs, but there are several challenges regarding how to use 3D printing technology for the design of muscle fibrous structure. This review mainly focuses on the advances in the fibrous structure improvement of PMAs using 3D printing technology. The structural characterization of animal meat myofibrils and the fiber formation mechanism of plant protein were described, and various methods (thermal extrusion, freeze structuring, high-temperature conical shearing, electrospinning, and wet spinning) of processing PMAs were compared with 3D printing technology. It was observed that the peptide, disulfide, hydrogen, hydrophobic, and ionic bonds, as well as the protein structure changes under different processing are the major reasons of PMAs' fibrous structure formation. Therefore, 3D-printed PMAs with fibrous structure can be produced by selecting appropriate proteins or modifying protein structures, designing suitable 3D printers and running with the optimal parameters. Also, we put forward an interesting and effective way to produce fibrous PMAs through 3D printing combined with twin-screw extrusion or wet spinning, it is expected to create fibrous structure that is closer to real meat in the future. [Display omitted] • Novel technologies for plant-based meat analogs fibrous structures are outlined. • Modification of proteins and printers are important for the fibrous structures. • Twin-screw extrusion into 3D printer can produce muscle fibrous structure. • Wet spinning into 3D printer can produce muscle fibrous structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let denote the set of all nonnegative integers, and let . Let , and . The set is called an asymptotic basis of order if for all sufficiently large integer . An asymptotic basis of order is minimal if no proper subset of is an asymptotic basis of order . Recently, Sun used 2-adic representations of integers to construct a new class of minimal asymptotic bases of order . In this paper, we generalize the 2-adic result to the -adic case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangroves straddle terrestrial and marine ecosystems, thus are relevant to many United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), especially to SDG‐13 and SDG‐14, as they are linked to blue carbon strategies and fisheries. To better achieve SDGs, China has been restoring mangroves for their ecological and societal values through strict protection and afforestation, even in areas beyond their natural northern limits. However, small fragmented mangrove patches, especially those in marginal climates, have been historically neglected by existing mangrove maps, which, because they were derived from 30‐m‐resolution Landsat data, are too coarse to resolve them. To overcome this problem, we applied a classification to 10‐m‐resolution Sentinel‐1 and ‐2 images for 2019 and then an enhanced post‐processing to identify missing mangrove patches by utilizing Google Earth images. Thus, we produced the first publicly accessible detailed mangrove map supplementing the main 10‐m‐resolution results with submetre data from Google Earth images. According to general quantitative evaluations, the produced map achieved an overall accuracy of 96.4 ± 0.3% based on validation data sets, an accuracy of 96.2% based on a total of 1,096 field sample plots. By evaluations in marginal climates, the produced map identified six areas with a total of seven mangrove planting areas, which is twice the number of identified areas by current publicly accessible mangrove maps. The produced map also outperformed the competitors in the identification of small mangrove patches in suitable climates, and in the determination of neat and tidy boundaries of large mangrove patches. The map paid attention to these small mangrove patches because they can provide substantial ecosystem services, such as increasing the community diversity and providing habitats for local species. The map does not only serve as a basis for mangrove species mapping, leaf area index estimation and carbon stock assessment, but also improves other mangrove maps by mutual corrections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fluorine 18 fibroblast activation protein inhibitor PET/CT imaging was performed for multisystemic tuberculosis. • Fibrosis in granulomas may lead to increased fluorine 18 fibroblast activation protein inhibitor activity in multisystemic tuberculosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we evaluate the utility of an unified/integrated framework for the prediction of sound radiation from a wind turbine which tightly couples together the following model components: an actuator line model (ALM) used with a flow solver from computational fluid dynamics (CFD) such as an unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier Stokes or a large-eddy simulation (LES) for the prediction of the highly-disturbed flow field around a wind turbine; the Brooks, Pope, and Marcolini (BPM) method for determination of the rotor blade self-noise; and, the acoustics perturbation equation (APE) for the prediction of the acoustic field arising from the operation of a wind turbine using as input the noise sources obtained from ALM/CFD and the BPM method. The accuracy and stability of various components of the framework are validated carefully and systematically using four test cases: (1) simulation of noise propagation from a point sound source using APE and comparison of the results with Stokes' law of sound attenuation; (2) simulation of the flow past a circular cylinder using CFD and the prediction of the sound radiation resulting from this flow using APE (with detailed comparisons of these results with some experimental and numerical data); (3) simulation of the flow field around a small-scale model wind turbine using ALM/CFD and comparison of these results with some experimental and numerical data; and, (4) computation of the flow and acoustic fields for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) 5-MW utility-scale reference wind turbine using the fully coupled ALM/CFD and BPM/APE schemes and comparison of these results with a blade- and hub-resolved CFD simulation for the flow coupled with the solution of the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkins (FW–H) equation for the prediction of the sound radiation. For the second test case, a detailed assessment is conducted on the efficacy of perfectly matched layer (PML) boundary conditions for ensuring the non-reflection of outgoing waves at the open domain boundaries. Finally, the unified/integrated framework consisting of ALM/CFD + BPM + APE is used to simulate the interference of the flow and acoustic fields arising from the operation of two wind turbines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An investigation of the mode transformation and interaction underlying the behavior of vortex-induced vibration (VIV) of a flow past a circular cylinder elastically mounted on a linear spring is conducted using a high-fidelity full-order model (FOM) based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD), a reduced-order model (ROM), and a dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) of the velocity. A reduced-order model for the fluid dynamics is obtained using the eigensystem realization algorithm (ERA), which is subsequently coupled to a linear structural equation to provide a state space model for the coupled VIV system, in order to provide a simplified computationally inexpensive mathematical representation of the system. This methodology is used to study the dynamics of laminar flows past an elastically mounted circular cylinder with Reynolds number Re ranging from 20 to 180, inclusive. The results of the simulations conducted using FOM/CFD and ROM/ERA, in conjunction with the power spectral analysis and DMD, are used to identify the characteristic natural frequencies and the growth/decay of various modes (including the complex interactions between the myriad wake modes and the structural mode) of the VIV system as a function of the Reynolds number and the reduced natural frequency Fs (or, equivalently, the reduced velocity Ur). A detailed analysis of the distribution of the eigenvalues of the transfer (or, system) matrix of the reduced VIV system shows that the frequency range of the lock-in can be partitioned into resonance and flutter lock-in regimes. The resonance lock-in (lower branch of the VIV response) dominates the fluid-structure interaction. Furthermore, it is shown that when the structural natural frequency is close to one of the eigenfrequencies associated with the wake modes, resonance lock-in (rather than flutter lock-in) will be the primary mechanism governing the VIV response even though the real part of the eigenvalues associated with structural mode is positive. With increasing Reynolds number, the instability of each wake mode is enhanced resulting in a transformation of the wake modes interacting with the structural mode. It is suggested herein that the weakened interaction between the wake modes and the structural mode at Re = 180 (associated with the greater separation between the root loci of the modes) results in the premature termination of the resonance lock-in at F s = 0.155 with increasing Ur. The DMD and power spectral analysis of the time series of the transverse displacement and lift coefficient are used to support the results obtained from ROM/ERA and, more specifically, to provide a clear demonstration of the balanced interaction between the wake modes and the structural mode. This result is used to explain the beating phenomenon, which occurs in the initial branch and the significant lag time that arises between the initial branch and the occurrence of a fully developed response in the lower branch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A common phenomenon of rail corrugation and its spatial distribution are observed in high-speed rail according to the overall and local field investigations, in which the rail corrugation with a wavelength of 100–300 mm and a depth of 0.01–0.05 mm normally occurs on both the rails in the sharp gradient sections of the high-speed rail. Then, a relevant simulation model of the wheelset–track system supported by the ballast-less track support structure and a wear model of track irregularity are built. Then, the typical phenomenon of rail corrugation on the high-speed rail is investigated from the aspect of the friction-induced vibration and the feedback vibration of wheelset–track, respectively. The obtained conclusions find that the friction-induced vibration caused by the saturated wheel–rail creep force is closely related to the appearance of rail corrugation in the sharp gradient of high-speed rail. Additionally, the feedback oscillation of corrugated wear with a shallow depth does not aggravate the rail corrugation, but may lead to a little difference in corrugation wavelengths in the same interval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Biomass-based carbon materials with excellent properties are successfully prepared. • Two molten salt systems show significant differences in structure regulation. • The mechanism for the synergistic activation of molten salts is proposed. • Excellent carbon dioxide adsorption performance is achieved. The development of high-performance biomass-based carbon materials for CO 2 adsorption is considered to be a promising strategy due to the advantages of renewable raw materials, energy efficiency, and easy operation. Herein, two molten salt systems, KHCO 3 -KCl and K 2 CO 3 -KCl, are used to prepare corn stalk-based porous carbon. The KHAC-KCl with ultra-high specific surface area of 2512 m2/g and rich ultra-microporous structure is successfully prepared when the KHCO 3 -KCl system is used. Series characterization methods are used to explore the influence of molten salt systems on the physicochemical properties of materials. It is found that both molten salt systems can significantly increase the oxygen-containing functional groups in carbon materials. The difference is that the KHCO 3 -KCl system can significantly increase the ultra-micropore proportion (48.6 % to 66.2 %) and the specific surface area (1551 m2/g to 2512 m2/g), while the K 2 CO 3 -KCl system cannot. Mechanism study shows that the KHCO 3 -KCl system can significantly affect the interaction between the pyrolysis reactions of the three components of lignocellulose, thereby regulating the physical and chemical properties of the material to achieve synergistic activation. CO 2 adsorption studies show that KHAC-KCl exhibits excellent CO 2 adsorption properties, reaching a high adsorption capacity of 7.3 mmol/g and 3.6 mmol/g at 273 K and 298 K, respectively. Furthermore, the material exhibits suitable Qst value (20–40 KJ/mol), high CO 2 /N 2 selectivity (35 at 273 K and 22 at 298 K) and excellent cycling stability. This work can provide guidance for the preparation of low-cost and efficient CO 2 adsorbents from renewable biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of boron (B) deficiency on mediating the contribution of H+-ATPase in the uptake and assimilation of exogenous cyanide (CN−) is investigated. Under CN− treatments, rice seedlings with B-deficient (-B) conditions exhibited significantly higher CN− uptake and assimilation rates than B-supplemented (+B) seedlings, whereas NH 4 + uptake and assimilation rates were slightly higher in -B rice seedlings than in +B. In this connection, the expression pattern of genes encoding β-CAS, ST, and H+-ATPase was assessed to unravel their role in the current scenario. The abundances of three β-CAS isogenes (OsCYS-D1 , OsCYS-D2 , and OsCYS–C1) in rice tissues are upregulated from both "CN−-B" and "CN−+B" treatments, however, only OsCYS–C1 in roots from the "CN−-B" treatments was significantly upregulated than "CN−+B" treatments. Expression patterns of ST-related genes (OsStr9 , OsStr22 , and OsStr23) are tissue specific, in which significantly higher upregulation of ST-related genes was observed in shoots from "CN−-B" treatments than "CN−+B" treatments. Expression pattern of 7 selected H+-ATPase isogenes, OsA1 , OSA2 , OsA3 , OsA4 , OsA7 , OsA8 , and OsA9 are quite tissue specific between "CN−+B" and "CN−-B" treatments. Among these, OsA4 and OsA7 genes were highly activated in the uptake and assimilation of exogenous CN− in -B nutrient solution. These results indicated that B deficiency disturbs the pattern of N cycles in CN−-treated rice seedlings, where activation of ST during CN− assimilation decreases the flux of the innate pool of NH 4 + produced from CN− assimilation by the β-CAS pathway in plants. Collectively, the B deficiency increased the uptake and assimilation of exogenous CN− through activating H+-ATPase. [Display omitted] • B deficiency increased the uptake and assimilation of CN− by rice seedlings. • β-CAS and ST pathways are highly activated in –B rice seedlings than in +B rice seedlings. • Higher activation of ST in –B rice seedlings decreases the innate flux of NH 4 + produced from the β-CAS pathway. • B deficiency disturbs the pattern of N nutritional cycles in CN−-treated rice seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) has been characterized to prevent chronic diseases and improve gastrointestinal health, and it has been added to 3D printing plant-based meats (PM) to enhance texture and increase nutritional properties. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of IDF on 3D printing properties and molecular interactions of soy protein isolate (SPI) - wheat gluten (WG) PM. Without the participation of IDF, PM appeared to collapse. When the IDF concentration increased from 0 to 10 %, PM displayed good printing properties, water holding capacity, tensile strength, and elongation at break were increased. Tensile strength and elongation at break reached a maximum at 10 % IDF, and clearly similar results were found for texture attribute indices such as hardness, gumminess, chewiness, and cohesiveness after cooking. All printing inks exhibited shear-thinning behavior and solid-like viscoelasticity, but the structural recovery properties of 3D-printed PM deteriorated when the IDF content was over 10 %. Intermolecular forces indicated that the addition of IDF enhanced the disulfide bonds so that 10 % IDF presented better printing properties. These results indicated the potential for developing PM with dietary fiber functionality through 3D printing technology. [Display omitted] • Developing dietary fiber-enhanced 3D printed plant-based meats. • 10 % IDF addition provides optimal printability and printing accuracy. • An appropriate amount of IDF proportion improves texture and tensile properties. • The addition of IDF promotes the formation of hydrophobic and disulfide bonds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering that the current cost control algorithm has the problems of poor control effect and high cost of manpower and material resources in enterprise cost control, a target cost control algorithm based on Hypercycle model is proposed. By analyzing the relationship between capital, price, technology and target cost control, this paper analyzes the influence of uncertain factors on target cost, and constructs a cost control super cycle model to realize enterprise cost control. Examples show that the algorithm can effectively improve the cost effect of enterprises, and has the practicability of reducing enterprise costs and improving enterprise profits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large zero-point motion and rapid atomic exchange in quantum solids like helium make defects extremely mobile. Previous shear modulus measurements have shown that mobile dislocations can soften the shear modulus of high purity hcp 4 He by as much as 90%, and that isotopic impurities ( 3 He atoms) pin dislocations and restore the intrinsic shear modulus at low temperatures. In this paper, we report shear modulus and dissipation measurements on solid 3 He in its body-centred cubic (bcc) phase. The lighter mass makes 3 He an even more quantum solid, with much higher exchange frequencies, but its spin and different crystal structure can change the nature of dislocations and their behavior. Our measurements show that the shear modulus of bcc 3 He had many similarities to that of hcp 4 He, including a thermally activated transition from a stiff state to a soft state as 4 He impurities unbind from dislocations when the temperature increases. The impurity binding energies are smaller than those in hcp 4 He and depend more strongly on pressure than a simple elastic binding model would suggest. In contrast to hcp 4 He, the shear modulus of bcc 3 He continues to decrease at temperatures up to 1 K, accompanied by a second dissipation peak with a larger activation energy. This behavior suggests that dislocation motion may be limited by intersections in tangled network in bcc 3 He but can overcome these barriers at high temperatures by thermal activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, field monitoring testing and machine learning are used to analyze vegetated soil's response to various rainfall events under natural environmental conditions. Parameters that reflect the soil, vegetation, and atmosphere of three monitoring points at different distances from a tree (0.5 m, 1.5 m, and 3.0 m) at a constant depth (0.2 m) are quantified and used for multivariate model development. A machine learning method, multi-gene genetic programming (MGGP), is used to formulate the relationships between two indices representing vegetated soil response and six selected influential parameters. Analysis indicates that for a complicated system, the MGGP method is suitable for establishing an efficient computational model under conditions of limited data. Global sensitivity analysis and parametric study are conducted, based on the obtained multivariate models, to reveal the effect of each influential parameter, indicating that rainfall pattern has much the same impact on variations in soil suction as rainfall amount and intensity and tree canopy do. An advanced rainfall pattern can trigger a more rapid response of vegetated soil than intermediate and delayed rainfall patterns can. Rainfall pattern's effect on the descent rate of soil suction is nonlinear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this network meta-analysis (NMA) was to explore the optimal energy density (ED) for relief of orthodontic-related pain by photobiomodulation therapy. Background: Orthodontic treatment corrects the deformity of teeth, dental arch, jaw, and face using various orthodontic devices under the action of biomechanics. Materials and methods: A computerized literature search was conducted within the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and CBM databases to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that used photobiomodulation therapy to relieve pain during orthodontic treatment. Particular inclusion and exclusion criteria were connected to recognize relevant articles. The information was extricated autonomously by two reviewers, and a quality assessment was carried out by utilizing the Cochrane Collaboration "risk of bias" tool. The RevMan 5.4 software and STATA 15.0 were utilized for data analysis. Also, the NMA was performed with mvmeta commands in Stata (StataCorp, TX). Results: Of the 1024 recognized articles, 21 RCTs were at long last included. Within the risk-of-bias assessments, 2 studies displayed a high risk, 17 an unclear risk, and 2 a low risk. The global and local inconsistency of the NMA in 1 and 2 days was not significant; however, the NMA in 3 days showed a significant inconsistency. Laser with lower ED (0-10 J/cm2) appeared to be the most noteworthy possibility to become the optimal intervention, and it also had the highest mean rank in the rankogram and the biggest value of surface under the cumulative ranking in all three NMA structures. Conclusions: On account of the limited evidence of included trials, laser with lower ED (0-10 J/cm2) appeared to be more valid than the remaining treatment modalities (laser with higher ED, placebo, and control) for pain reduction in 1, 2, and 3 days after orthodontic procedures were applied. In the future, more high-quality research with consistency in research design is needed for further evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The terrain covariate is one type of key environmental covariate used in digital soil mapping (DSM). Because the selection of proper terrain covariates relies largely on users' DSM knowledge and application context, automatic selection of terrain covariates is valuable for DSM users (especially non‐experts). Case‐based reasoning provides a promising solution to this demand. Recently, two case‐based reasoning strategies have been proposed (i.e., the covariate‐classification strategy and the most‐similar‐case strategy). However, there is no comparison of their performance, as well as that of the implemented methods based on the same or different strategies. This study fills this knowledge gap through a comparison experiment on the two representative methods for each strategy, respectively. Experiments adopted a DSM case base including 191 cases, which involve 38 terrain covariates. Results from a cross‐validation and a practical DSM application showed that the random forests method adopting the covariate‐classification strategy performed best. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence and mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are gradually increasing during the past years. Recently, some studies have reported that malic enzyme (ME) plays an important role in cancer development, while the involvement of ME2 in HCC remains still undetermined. Here, we demonstrated that ME2 played an oncogenic role in HCC. ME2 was overexpressed in HCC tissues. TCGA database showed that the ME2 transcript level was inversely associated with the survival of HCC patients. Loss‐of‐function and gain‐of‐function assays showed that ME2 promoted HCC cell growth and migration. Furthermore, the xenografted tumorigenesis of MHCC97H cells was retarded by ME2 knockdown. ME2 silencing also suppressed the cell cycle process and induced apoptosis. Mechanistically, ME2 potentiated triglyceride synthesis, inhibition of which suppressed the proliferation and migration. We propose that ME2 promotes HCC progression by increasing triglyceride production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Chemotherapy drugs do not work well in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), and none of the targeted drugs have been applied in clinic. This study aims to identify effective targeted drugs and related biomarkers for the treatment of ESCC. Methods: The effect of 40 Food and Drug Administration‐approved small‐molecule inhibitors was first tested in five ESCC cell lines. CCK8 assays and xenografts derived from ESCC cell lines were performed to evaluate the anti‐ESCC effects of inhibitors or chemotherapeutic agents in vitro and in vivo, respectively. Immunohistochemistry was utilized to analyze the p‐EGFR expression in tissues. Western blot combining with gray analysis was conducted to detect the expression of interest protein. Flow cytometry and immunofluorescence assay were used to analyze apoptosis, cell cycle, and mitotic changes after drug treatment. Results: Afatinib showed remarkable effects on inhibiting ESCC cells with higher expression of p‐EGFR. Results from combinatorial screening in ESCC cells expressing lower phosphorylation level of EGFR showed that paclitaxel and afatinib presented a significant synergistic inhibitory effect (P < 0.001). Molecular analysis revealed that paclitaxel sensitized afatinib by activating EGFR, and afatinib in combination with paclitaxel effectively blocked MAPK pathway and induced G2/M cell arrest and apoptosis that is an indicator of mitotic catastrophe. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that afatinib is an effective drug for patients with ESCC expressing higher phosphorylation level of EGFR. And for patients with lower p‐EGFR in tumors, paclitaxel in combination with afatinib might be a promising therapeutic strategy in ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]