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Micro‐Doppler effect is a vital feature of a target that reflects its oscillatory motions apart from bulk motion and provides an important evidence for target recognition with radars. However, establishing the micro‐Doppler database poses a great challenge, since plenty of experiments are required to get the micro‐Doppler signatures of different targets for the purpose of analyses and interpretations with radars, which are dramatically limited by high cost and time‐consuming. Aiming to overcome these limits, a low‐cost and powerful simulation platform of the micro‐Doppler effects is proposed based on time‐domain digital coding metasurface (TDCM). Owing to the outstanding capabilities of TDCM in generating and manipulating nonlinear harmonics during wave‐matter interactions, it enables to supply rich and high‐precision electromagnetic signals with multiple micro‐Doppler frequencies to describe the micro‐motions of different objects, which are especially favored for the training of artificial intelligence algorithms in automatic target recognition and benefit a host of applications like imaging and biosensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), crucial in facilitating the transport of diverse molecular cargoes for intercellular communication, have shown great potential in diagnostics, therapeutics, and drug delivery. The challenge of developing effective preparation methods for EVs is heightened by their intrinsic heterogeneity and complexity. Here, a novel strategy for high EV enrichment is developed by utilizing EV‐affinitive‐modified cellulose nanofibrils. Specifically, modified cellulose with rich carboxyl groups has outstanding dispersing properties, able to be dispersed into cellulose nanofibrils in solution. These cellulose nanofibrils are utilized as scaffolds for the immobilization of EV‐affinitive antibody of CD63 by chemical conjugation. The CD63‐modified nanofibrils demonstrate a superior EV capture efficiency of 86.4% compared with other reported methods. The high performance of this system is further validated by the efficient capture of EVs from biological blood plasma, allowing the detection of bioactive markers from EV‐derived miRNAs and proteins. The authors envision that these modified cellulose nanofibrils of enhanced capability on EV enrichment will open new avenues in various biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polarization and phase manipulations have gained widespread applications across various fields. The emergence of metasurface provides a new platform for the manipulation of electromagnetic waves. However, most metasurfaces are limited to modulating only one single property. Here, a coding metasurface that achieves 1‐bit phase manipulations of both co‐polarized and cross‐polarized reflected waves for linear and circular polarization wave excitations. Notably, the proposed metasurface enables co‐polarized 1‐bit phase responses for incident electric fields with arbitrary orientations and spin directions. The simulated results demonstrate an operating efficiency over −1.7 dB in the frequency range from 7 to 11.1 GHz, with a relative bandwidth of 45.3%. Furthermore, the introduction of space‐polarization coding strategies facilitates the beam and polarization manipulations. To verify the feasibility of the coding metasurface, a sample and conduct experiments are fabricated, revealing good agreement between the simulations and measurements. These findings hold significant promise for the advancement of radar, imaging, and wireless communication systems, with potential applications in various domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Pb stress has a negative impact on plant growth by interfering with photosynthesis and releasing reactive oxygen species, causing major risks such as heavy metal ion accumulation in the soil matrix. A proteomics experiment was conducted to determine whether protein levels of Dendrobium huoshanense changed in response to Pb stress seven to fifteen days after being sprayed with a 200 mg/L Pb (NO3)2 solution. The proteomic data we gathered provides a model for investigations into the mechanisms underlying Dendrobium plant resistance to heavy metal stress. Data description: A label-free quantitative proteomics approach was employed to examine the variations in protein expression levels of D. huoshanense at different times of Pb(NO3)2 treatment. We submitted the raw data obtained from these proteomics sequencing experiments to the ProteomeXchange database with the accession number PXD047050. 63,194 mass spectra in total were compared after being imported into the Proteome Discoverer software for database search. A total of 12,402 spectral peptides were identified with a confidence level exceeding 99%, which resulted in the identification of 2,449 significantly differential proteins. These proteins can be utilized for screening, functional annotation, and enrichment analysis of differentially expressed proteins before and after heavy metal treatment experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copy-number alterations (CNAs) are a hallmark of cancer and can regulate cancer cell states via altered gene expression values. Herein, we have developed a copy-number impact (CNI) analysis method that quantifies the degree to which a gene expression value is impacted by CNAs and leveraged this analysis at the pathway level. Our results show that a high CNA is not necessarily reflected at the gene expression level, and our method is capable of detecting genes and pathways whose activity is strongly influenced by CNAs. Furthermore, the CNI analysis enables unbiased categorization of CNA categories, such as deletions and amplifications. We identified six CNI-driven pathways associated with poor treatment response in ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC), which we found to be the most CNA-driven cancer across 14 cancer types. The key driver in most of these pathways was amplified wild-type KRAS, which we validated functionally using CRISPR modulation. Our results suggest that wild-type KRAS amplification is a driver of chemotherapy resistance in HGSC and may serve as a potential treatment target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copy-number alterations (CNAs) are a hallmark of cancer and can regulate cancer cell states via altered gene expression values. Herein, we have developed a copy-number impact (CNI) analysis method that quantifies the degree to which a gene expression value is impacted by CNAs and leveraged this analysis at the pathway level. Our results show that a high CNA is not necessarily reflected at the gene expression level, and our method is capable of detecting genes and pathways whose activity is strongly influenced by CNAs. Furthermore, the CNI analysis enables unbiased categorization of CNA categories, such as deletions and amplifications. We identified six CNI-driven pathways associated with poor treatment response in ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC), which we found to be the most CNA-driven cancer across 14 cancer types. The key driver in most of these pathways was amplified wild-type KRAS, which we validated functionally using CRISPR modulation. Our results suggest that wild-type KRAS amplification is a driver of chemotherapy resistance in HGSC and may serve as a potential treatment target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present the imaging and spectroscopic observations of the simultaneous horizontal and vertical large-amplitude oscillation of a quiescent filament triggered by an extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) wave on 2022 October 2. Particularly, the filament oscillation involved winking phenomenon in H α images and horizontal motions in EUV images. Originally, a filament and its overlying loops across AR 13110 and 13113 erupted with a highly inclined direction, resulting in an X1.0 flare and a non-radial coronal mass ejection. The fast lateral expansion of loops excited an EUV wave and the corresponding Moreton wave propagating northward. Once the EUV wave front arrived at the quiescent filament, the filament began to oscillate coherently along the horizontal direction, and the "winking filament" appeared concurrently in H α images. The horizontal oscillation involved an initial amplitude of ∼10.2 Mm and a velocity amplitude of ∼46.5 km s−1, lasting for ∼3 cycles with a period of ∼18.2 minutes and a damping time of ∼31.1 minutes. The maximum Doppler velocities of the oscillating filament are 18 km s−1 (redshift) and −24 km s−1 (blueshift), which were derived from the spectroscopic data provided by the Chinese H α Solar Explorer/H α Imaging Spectrograph. The three-dimensional velocity of the oscillation is determined to be ∼50 km s−1 at an angle of ∼50° to the local photosphere plane. Based on the wave–filament interaction, the minimum energy of the EUV wave is estimated to be 2.7 × 1020 J. Furthermore, this event provides evidence that Moreton waves should be excited by the highly inclined eruptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Hydrolytic destruction of toxic organophosphorus nerve agents by metal-organic framework (MOF) catalysts is commonly reliant on bulk water and volatile liquid base, preventing real-world implementation. Poor accessibility to MOF-based active sites in heterogeneous catalysis is also a crucial factor since reactants diffusion is limited by inherently small micropores. To overcome these practical limitations, a ligand-selective pyrolysis strategy was used to construct unsaturated Zr defects and additional mesopores in UiO-66(Zr). Owing to synergistic effect of Zr defects and hierarchical pores, hydrolysis rate constant (k) of nerve agent simulant DMNP (dimethyl 4-nitrophenyl phosphate) on optimal DHP-UiO-30% (defective hierarchical porous UiO-66) is 3.2 times higher than counterpart UiO-30% in N-ethylmorpholine buffer. Encapsulating imidazole (Im) into DHP-UiO-30% affords Im@DHP-UiO, mimicking phosphotriesterase. Im-72@DHP-UiO exhibits rapid DMNP detoxification with 99% conversion in 12 min and initial half-life (t 1/2) of 1.8 min in nonbuffered water. As the first example of 'three-in-one' detoxifier, Im@DHP-UiO is further integrated onto nonwoven fabric to construct Im@DHP/Fiber, achieving solid-phase detoxification at ambient humidity with t 1/2 of 19.6 min and final conversion of 91%. This is comparable to many powdered catalysts in aqueous solution buffered by volatile bases. This unified strategy is critical and viable to efficiently hydrolyze nerve agents in practical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary aldosteronism (PA) with unilateral adrenal disease can be cured or improved by adrenalectomy. Adrenal venous sampling (AVS) is recommended to identify patients for surgical management. However, surgeries based on computed tomography (CT) images are only advocated for PA patients aged <35 with visible unilateral adenoma. Herein, we aimed to compare CT‐based and AVS‐based surgery outcomes for PA patients with visible unilateral adenomas for different age groups. A total of 178 PA patients who underwent unilateral adrenalectomy between June 2018 and January 2021 were included in the study based on CT (n = 54) or AVS (n = 124). Demographics, diagnostics, and follow‐up data were retrospectively collected. Clinical and biochemical outcomes were analyzed according to Primary Aldosteronism Surgical Outcome (PASO) criteria at 1‐year follow‐up. Our results showed that complete clinical success (46.3% vs. 47.6%, p = 0.875) and complete biochemical success (88.8% vs. 91.9%, p = 0.515) were similar between the two groups. Age stratification revealed that patients >55 years old were likely to have worse biochemical outcomes; however, these were still not significantly different (21.4% vs. 8.6%, p = 0.220). Of the 114 AVS‐based patients who achieved complete biochemical success, 37 (32.4%) with bilateral normal or bilateral abnormal CT images changed treatment options according to AVS results, 1 (0.9%) avoided adrenalectomy on the wrong side. Our results indicated that surgery based on CT images might be feasible for highly selected PA patients with visible unilateral adenomas and less limited by age, while for those with normal adrenal or bilateral adrenal lesions, treatment strategy must be decided by AVS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Dehydrocostus lactone (DHE), a sesquiterpene lactone, has been proven the significant inhibition of multiple cancer cells. However, there are limited reports on the activity of DHE in gastric cancer (GC). In this research, Network pharmacology predicted the anti-GC mechanism of DHE, and the prediction was verified by in-vitro experiments. Methods: Network pharmacology confirmed the major effect signalling pathway of DHE in treating GC. Cell viability assay, colony formation assay, wound healing assay, cell migration and invasion assay, apoptosis assay, western blot and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction verified the mechanism of DHE in GC cell lines. Key findings: The results showed that DHE inhibited the growth and metastasis of MGC803 and AGS GC cells. Mechanistically, the analysis results indicated that DHE significantly induced the apoptosis process by suppressing the PI3K/protein kinase B (Akt) signalling pathway, and inhibited epithelial-mesenchymal transition by suppressing the extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK)/MAPK signalling pathway. The Akt activator (SC79) inhibited DHE induced apoptosis, and DHE had similar effects with the ERK inhibitor (FR180204). Conclusions: All results suggested that DHE was a potential natural chemotherapeutic drug in GC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and the unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) can complete complex tasks through information sharing and ensure the mission execution capability of multiple unmanned carrier platforms. At the same time, cooperative navigation can use the information interaction between multi‐platform sensors to improve the relative navigation and positioning accuracy of the entire system. Aiming at the problem of deviation of the system model due to gross errors in sensor measurement data or strong manoeuvrability in complex environments, a robust and adaptive UGV‐UAV relative navigation and positioning algorithm is proposed. In this paper, the relative navigation and positioning of UGV‐UAV is studied based on inertial measurement unit (IMU)/Vision. Based on analyzing the relative kinematics model and sensor measurement model, a leader (UGV)‐follow (UAV) relative navigation model is established. In the implementation of the relative navigation and positioning algorithm, the robust adaptive algorithm and the non‐linear Kalman filter (extended Kalman filter [EKF]) algorithm are combined to dynamically adjust the system state parameters. Finally, a mathematical simulation of the accompanying and landing process in the UGV‐UAV cooperative scene is carried out. The relative position, velocity and attitude errors calculated by EKF, Robust‐EKF and Robust‐Adaptive‐EKF algorithms are compared and analyzed by simulating two cases where the noise obeys the Gaussian distribution and the non‐Gaussian distribution. The results show that under the non‐Gaussian distribution conditions, the accuracy of the Robust‐Adaptive‐EKF algorithm is improved by about two to three times compared with the EKF and Robust‐EKF and can almost reach the relative navigation accuracy under the Gaussian distribution conditions. The robust self‐adaptive relative navigation and positioning algorithm proposed in this paper has strong adaptability to the uncertainty and deviation of system modelling in complex environments, with higher accuracy and stronger robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method for the asymmetric construction of functionalized acyclic all‐carbon quaternary stereocenters and 1,3‐nonadjacent stereoelements has been developed via organo/metal dual catalyzed asymmetric allenylic substitution of branched and linear aldehydes, by developing an unknown acyclic secondary‐secondary diamine as the enabling organocatalyst. Although it is believed that secondary‐secondary diamines are difficult to be used as the organocatalysts in organo/metal dual catalysis, this study demonstrates that such diamines can be successfully combined with a metal catalyst in organo/metal dual catalysis. Our study enables the asymmetric construction of two important classes of motifs which were previously difficult to access, axially chiral allene‐containing acyclic all‐carbon quaternary stereocenters and 1,3‐nonadjacent stereoelements bearing allenyl axial chirality and central chirality, in good yields with high enantio‐ and diastereoselectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method for the asymmetric construction of functionalized acyclic all‐carbon quaternary stereocenters and 1,3‐nonadjacent stereoelements has been developed via organo/metal dual catalyzed asymmetric allenylic substitution of branched and linear aldehydes, by developing an unknown acyclic secondary‐secondary diamine as the enabling organocatalyst. Although it is believed that secondary‐secondary diamines are difficult to be used as the organocatalysts in organo/metal dual catalysis, this study demonstrates that such diamines can be successfully combined with a metal catalyst in organo/metal dual catalysis. Our study enables the asymmetric construction of two important classes of motifs which were previously difficult to access, axially chiral allene‐containing acyclic all‐carbon quaternary stereocenters and 1,3‐nonadjacent stereoelements bearing allenyl axial chirality and central chirality, in good yields with high enantio‐ and diastereoselectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The unilateral biportal endoscopic (UBE) technique has been widely used in spine surgery. At present, a traditional rigid working channel is available for the UBE system. A metal semicircular canal is located in the working channel. However, due to the metal material of the working channel, arthroscopy and instruments are constrained from moving in UBE surgery. Additionally, an assistant is needed during the procedure to hold the traditional working channel. OBJECTIVE: For simplicity of operation and convenient movement of the arthroscopy and instrument, we describe a new method for establishing operative channels in UBE surgery. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 50 patients who underwent unilateral biportal endoscopic discectomy (UBED) from February 2020 to August 2020 via our new method. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) score were measured preoperatively and 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months postoperatively. Statistical comparisons were made using analysis of covariance and paired t tests. RESULTS: The VAS scores for back pain at the five time points were 5.20 ± 2.57, 1.96 ± 0.95, 1.50 ± 0.84, 1.64 ± 1.08 and 1.18 ± 0.39. The leg pain VAS scores were 7.02 ± 2.25, 2.02 ± 1.27, 1.48 ± 0.89, 1.32 ± 0.79 and 0.88 ± 0.52. The ODI values were 51.08 ± 19.97, 19.62 ± 15.51, 8.26 ± 7.40, and 7.54 ± 6.42 to 3.24 ± 1.10. The postoperative ODIs and VAS scores of low back pain and leg pain were significantly lower than those before surgery, and differences were statistically significant (all p < 0.05). The pressure of the closed outflow was significantly higher than that of the open outflow (37.35 ± 13.11 mm Hg vs. 24.55 ± 12.64 mm Hg p = 0.003). After we tightened the infusion strap to open the outflow, the pressure decreased significantly (26.4 ± 14.08 mm Hg vs. 37.35 ± 13.11 mm Hg p = 0.015). There were 2 cases of complications, including 1 case of postoperative recurrence and 1 case of dural tears. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the technical feasibility, safety, and efficacy of modified channel establishment in UBE surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although immunotherapy has achieved recent clinical success in antitumor therapy, it is less effective for solid tumors with large burdens. To overcome this challenge, herein, we report a new strategy based on platelet membrane‐camouflaged aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) luminogen (Plt‐M@P) combined with the anti‐programmed death ligand 1 (anti‐PD‐L1) for tumoral photodynamic‐immunotherapy. Plt‐M@P is prepared by using poly lactic‐co‐glycolic acid (PLGA)/PF3‐PPh3 complex as a nanocore, and then by co‐extrusion with platelet membranes. PF3‐PPh3 is an AIE‐active conjugated polyelectrolyte with photosensitizing capability for photodynamic therapy (PDT). Plt‐M@P exhibits superior tumor targeting capacity in vivo. When applied in small tumor‐bearing (~40 mm3) mice, Plt‐M@P‐mediated PDT significantly inhibits tumor growth. In tumor models with large burdens (~200 mm3), using Plt‐M@P‐mediated PDT or anti‐PD‐L1 alone is less effective, but the combination of both is effective in inhibiting tumor growth. Importantly, this combination therapy has good biocompatibility, as demonstrated by the absence of damage to the major organs, especially the reproductive system. In conclusion, we show that Plt‐M@P‐mediated PDT can improve anti‐PD‐L1 immunotherapy by enhancing antitumor effects, providing a promising strategy for the treatment of tumors with large burdens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endotoxin shock remains one of the major causes of mortality worldwide. Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK) 2 is an important regulatory enzyme involved in glucose metabolism. The purpose of this study was to determine the regulatory effect of PDK2 on LPS-induced endotoxin shock and explore the mechanisms in vivo and in vitro. Here, we showed that PDK2 contributed to Toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated inflammation. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activation of TLR4 pathways resulted in PDK2 upregulation in macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs). PDK2 overexpression enhanced TLR4 signaling pathway activation, whereas downregulating PDK2 expression inhibited TLR4 signaling pathway activation. Pharmacological inhibition of PDK2 significantly decreased the mortality rate and alleviated pathological injury in the lungs and livers of LPS-challenged mice, while significantly suppressing proinflammatory cytokine production. Thus, we confirmed that PDK2 is involved in LPS-induced endotoxin shock by modulating TLR4-mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling and inducing the production of proinflammatory cytokines in macrophages and DCs. Our findings highlight the importance of PDK2 as a novel target to treat septic shock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the large deformation problem of Shanenshan No.2 Tunnel of the China-Lao's Railway, the design principle of the support resistant limiting damper (SRLD) was introduced, and the energy-consuming support scheme with the SRLD was designed according to the field working conditions from the point of rational utilization of the load-bearing capacity behind the peak of the surrounding rock. Based on the comprehensive analysis of the working state, structural deformation and internal force monitoring results of the primary support of the test section, the rationality of using the SRLD to treat the tunnel with carbonaceous SLATE stratum was verified. The results showed that after tunnel excavation, the system energy was dissipated mainly through the plastic strain energy of surrounding rock, while the energy dissipated by support was limited. Therefore, if the plastic deformation ability of surrounding rock could be fully utilized and the energy could be dissipated by surrounding rock itself, the energy conservation and conversion could be accomplished, thus reducing the pressure of surrounding rock. The SRLD was a pressure yielding control system, suitable for small eccentric pressure environments controlled by deformation pressure, which assised the surrounding rock to dissipate energy in an elastic-plastic state under reduced surrounding rock pressure, without damage. The SRLD was successfully applied in the double-lane section of Shannon Hill Tunnel No. 2, which significantly reduced the pressure on the surrounding rock compared to the "strong support and hard roof", and avoided problems such as cracking of the initial support and buckling of the steel frame without strengthening the initial support parameters, thus improving the economy of the project while ensuring safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an extended state observer (ESO)-based nonsingular fast terminal sliding mode (NFTSM) control method is proposed for the speed tracking system of permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) in the present of unknown parameters and time-varying load. Firstly, three finite time convergence ESO (FTCESO) are employed to estimate the lumped disturbances in one speed loop and two current loops, respectively, and the estimates are fed forward to controllers for compensation. Secondly, a NFTSM controller is designed, which can drive the speed of PMSM track in desired speed in finite time. The stability of resulting closed-loop system is proved by using Lyapunov theory. Finally, the simulation and experimental results are compared with the existing methods, and the results show that the proposed method has better performance in tracking different kind of desired speed curves, and also performs better in reducing the chattering phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To clarify the ultrasonic roller dressing mechanism of the vitrified bonded cubic boron nitride grinding wheel (V-CBN), the collision number model between the diamond dresser and CBN grits was established based on the geometric and kinematics analysis. The influence of each dressing parameter on the collision number was analyzed and discussed. The grinding experiment was performed on the bearing raceway with the dressed V-CBN grinding wheel, results obtained discovered that there was an inverse relationship between the collision number and the surface roughness and runout of the workpiece. Additionally, compared with conventional dressing, ultrasonic dressing has the advantage in improving the surface quality because it can produce more collision numbers and raise grit retention. In words, the collision number can be used to predict the dressing effect, which provides a reference for formulating an appropriate dressing process for V-CBN to improve the workpiece surface quality and production efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The tuned mass damper (TMD) is widely used to mitigate vortex‐induced vibration (VIV) that approximates harmonic vibration in bridges. Robust performance is, however, still a significant concern in the VIV mitigation of bridges, especially when using a TMD with a small mass ratio. This study presents a study to apply an active tuned mass damper (ATMD) to control VIV in bridges. The control algorithm is independent of bridge parameters and can achieve real‐time tuning to the bridge motion by a few measurements. An adaptive TMD, obeying the parameter‐independent algorithm, is developed to improve its robust performance when exposed to uncertainty in the natural frequency of the bridge, and then, the ATMD is used to implement such an adaptive TMD. The ATMD control using the LQG algorithm is used as a comparison to illustrate the advantage of the parameter‐independent algorithm in the VIV mitigation of bridges. The effect of the control‐structure interaction on the control effect is also discussed. Demonstration of the method on a numerical simulation of a long‐span box‐girder bridge confirms the potential superiority of the ATMD control using the parameter‐independent algorithm in the VIV mitigation of bridges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasingly widespread application of UAV intelligence, the need for autonomous navigation and positioning is becoming more and more important. To solve the problem that UAV cannot perform localization in complex scenes, a new multi-source fusion framework factor graph optimization algorithm is used for UAV localization state estimation in this paper, which is based on IMU/GNSS/VO multi-source sensors. Based on the factor graph model and the iSAM incremental inference algorithm, a multi-source fusion model of IMU/GNSS/VO is established, including the IMU pre-integration factor, IMU bias factor, GNSS factor, and VO factor. Mathematical simulations and validations on the EuRoC dataset show that, when the selected sliding window size is 30, the factor graph optimization (FGO) algorithm can not only meet the requirements of real time and accuracy at the same time, but it also achieves a plug-and-play function in the event of local sensor failures. Finally, compared with the traditional federated Kalman algorithm and the adaptive federated Kalman algorithm, the positioning accuracy of the FGO algorithm in this paper is improved by 1.5–2-fold, and can effectively improve autonomous navigation system robustness and flexibility in complex scenarios. Moreover, the multi-source fusion framework in this paper is a general algorithm framework that can satisfy other scenarios and other types of sensor combinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The smart radio environment has become an eye-catching topic and is believed to own great potential in future wireless networks. Its essential demand lies in sensing and manipulating the electromagnetic (EM) fields accurately and simultaneously with the same aperture, which is hard to achieve using conventional methods due to the difficulty in integrating different systems. We propose a millimeter-wave space–time-coding digital metasurface (STCM) to realize simultaneous in situ direction finding and field manipulation. An analytic method of direction finding is first developed using the STCM modulated by a space–time-coding (STC) matrix while maintaining its original capability of EM field manipulations. In addition, three STC matrices corresponding to different EM functions are applied to the STCM to verify the feasibility and robustness of direction findings experimentally. Finally, a proof-of-concept prototype is built to exhibit different EM functions according to the incident angle detected simultaneously. The proposed concept sets the stage for the integrated implementation of the perception and response of the radio environment, which may find promising applications in future intelligent wireless networks and self-adaptive systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been increasing interest in floral volatiles due to their important function in reproduction, self-protection and so on. Although some progress was made on deciphering emissions of floral volatiles and on related mechanisms under a variety of environmental factors, the effects of Zn2+ concentrations on mitochondrial function and floral volatile emissions are yet to be revealed. Dendrobium huoshanense petals were used as materials and were treated with a 0–8 mM ZnSO4 solution. Intracellular Zn2+ concentrations were evaluated by the fluorescent dye method and atomic absorption method. Mitochondrial respiratory chain complex activities and the precursor and ATP contents were determined by the biochemical method. Floral volatile components were analyzed by the gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The results indicated that ZnSO4 application significantly increased intracellular Zn2+ concentrations. Elevated intracellular Zn2+ concentrations differently affected mitochondrial respiratory chain complex activities, precursor and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) productions and floral volatile emissions. Moreover, positive correlations exist among the activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes, productions of precursors and ATP and emissions of floral volatiles. It is concluded that Zn2+ concentrations induce the activity changes of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes, especially complex II and V, which promote or inhibit the emissions of floral volatiles by affecting the precursor and ATP levels that are closely related to the production of terpenoids, benzoids and fatty acid derivatives. The research will contribute to understanding the relationship between Zn2+ concentrations and floral volatile emissions from the perspective of mitochondrial function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the lack of scale information of the image features detected by the visual SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) algorithm, the accumulation of many features lacking depth information will cause scale blur, which will lead to degradation and tracking failure. In this paper, we introduce the lidar point cloud to provide additional depth information for the image features in estimating ego-motion to assist visual SLAM. To enhance the stability of the pose estimation, the front-end of visual SLAM based on nonlinear optimization is improved. The pole error is introduced in the pose estimation between frames, and the residuals are calculated according to whether the feature points have depth information. The residuals of features reconstruct the objective function and iteratively solve the robot's pose. A keyframe-based method is used to optimize the pose locally in reducing the complexity of the optimization problem. The experimental results show that the improved algorithm achieves better results in the KITTI dataset and outdoor scenes. Compared with the pure visual SLAM algorithm, the trajectory error of the mobile robot is reduced by 52.7%. The LV-SLAM algorithm proposed in this paper has good adaptability and robust stability in different environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two planar-like molecules, 1 and 2, were designed and characterized via the introduction of BNB or NBN bonds into the planar phenalenyl. Localizedmolecular orbital (LMO) analysis shows three 4c/2e bonds in the "hamburger" hetero-dimer (1-2) and four r-bonds in the "waffle" homo-dimers (12 and 22), both of which have greater inter-layer interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To assess the correlation between the drug resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae and antimicrobial drug usage. Methods. The drug resistance rate of Klebsiella pneumoniae and the antimicrobial drug dosage of inpatients admitted to The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College from January 2016 to December 2020 were retrospectively recorded, and their correlation was analyzed using the Pearson method. Results. There are 6493 strains of Gram-negative bacteria, including 1272 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae, ranking first in respiratory medicine. Klebsiella pneumoniae showed an overall increasing trend in resistance to piperacillin/tazobactam and ampicillin/sulbactam and a high resistance to aztreonam, ceftazidime, and ciprofloxacin (all P < 0.05). The top 3 antimicrobial drugs used in 2016–2020 were β-lactams, quinolones, and macrolides. The rates of resistance to piperacillin/tazobactam, cefoperazone/sulbactam, and ampicillin/sulbactam were highly positively correlated with the use of β-lactams. The use of carbapenems and glycopeptides was negatively correlated with the resistance to ciprofloxacin, and the resistance to ceftazidime had a high positive correlation with the use of glycopeptides and carbapenems. Conclusion. The use of antimicrobial drugs is correlated with the resistance rate of Klebsiella pneumoniae. To reduce bacterial drug resistance, the rational use of antimicrobial drugs requires joint control through multiple departments to improve the clinical use of antimicrobial drugs and improve in-hospital control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stressed environment of the inclined coal seam roadway is complex and changeable, and the damage degree of surrounding rock increases, threatening the safe mining of coal mines. In order to take targeted support measures to control the stability of roadway surrounding rock, it is very important to study the stress and deformation characteristics of roadway surrounding rock in inclined coal seam. Therefore, this paper analyzes the deformation and failure law of inclined coal seam roadway according to the theory of complex variable function. It optimizes the solution process and accuracy of the mapping function coefficient and deduces the analytical solution of surrounding rock stress and deformation inclined coal seam roadway. The deformation and failure mechanism of surrounding rock in inclined coal seam roadway is revealed theoretically, and further use numerical simulation and physical simulation tests for supplementary analysis and verification. The results show that the stress and deformation of roadway surrounding rock in inclined coal seam show obvious asymmetric distribution characteristics. The stress and deformation of roadway surrounding rock on the right side are greater than on the left side. The two sides of the roadway, the right side of the roof and the roof angle of the right side, are the key positions of roadway stress concentration and deformation. According to the variation law of stress and deformation distribution of roadway surrounding rock, roadway cyclic deformation and failure theory is put forward. The numerical simulation and physical simulation tests show that the deformation and failure law of roadway is consistent with the theoretical analysis results, and there are differences in numerical values. The cyclic deformation and failure mechanism of roadway in inclined coal seam is verified, which can provide theoretical guidance for roadway support design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new bibenzyl together with four known compounds were isolated from the medicinal plant Dendrobium huoshanense. The chemical structures of all the compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D NMR, as well as HR-ESI-MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Downregulating programmed cell death ligand 1(PD‐L1) protein levels in tumor cells is an effective way to achieve immune system activation for oncology treatment, but current strategies are inadequate. Here, we design a caged peptide‐AIEgen probe (GCP) to self‐assemble with miR‐140 forming GCP/miR‐140 nanoparticles. After entering tumor cells, GCP/miR‐140 disassembles in the presence of Cathepsin B (CB) and releases caged GO203 peptide, miR‐140 and PyTPA. Peptide decages in the highly reductive intracellular environment and binds to mucin 1 (MUC1), thereby downregulating the expression of PD‐L1. Meanwhile, miR‐140 reduces PD‐L1 expression by targeting downregulation of PD‐L1 mRNA. Under the action of PyTPA‐mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT), tumor‐associated antigens are released, triggering immune cell attack on tumor cells. This multiple mechanism‐based strategy of deeply downregulating PD‐L1 in tumor cells activates the immune system and thus achieves effective immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Downregulating programmed cell death ligand 1(PD‐L1) protein levels in tumor cells is an effective way to achieve immune system activation for oncology treatment, but current strategies are inadequate. Here, we design a caged peptide‐AIEgen probe (GCP) to self‐assemble with miR‐140 forming GCP/miR‐140 nanoparticles. After entering tumor cells, GCP/miR‐140 disassembles in the presence of Cathepsin B (CB) and releases caged GO203 peptide, miR‐140 and PyTPA. Peptide decages in the highly reductive intracellular environment and binds to mucin 1 (MUC1), thereby downregulating the expression of PD‐L1. Meanwhile, miR‐140 reduces PD‐L1 expression by targeting downregulation of PD‐L1 mRNA. Under the action of PyTPA‐mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT), tumor‐associated antigens are released, triggering immune cell attack on tumor cells. This multiple mechanism‐based strategy of deeply downregulating PD‐L1 in tumor cells activates the immune system and thus achieves effective immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an important component of autonomous intelligent systems, the research on autonomous positioning algorithms used by UAVs is of great significance. In order to resolve the problem whereby the GNSS signal is interrupted, and the visual sensor lacks sufficient feature points in complex scenes, which leads to difficulties in autonomous positioning, this paper proposes a new robust adaptive positioning algorithm that ensures the robustness and accuracy of autonomous navigation and positioning in UAVs. On the basis of the combined navigation model of vision/inertial navigation and satellite/inertial navigation, based on ESKF, a multi-source fusion model based on a federated Kalman filter is here established. Furthermore, a robust adaptive localization algorithm is proposed, which uses robust equivalent weights to estimate the sub-filters, and then uses the sub-filter state covariance to adaptively assign information sharing coefficients. After simulation experiments and dataset verification, the results show that the robust adaptive algorithm can effectively limit the impact of gross errors in observations and mathematical model deviations and can automatically update the information sharing coefficient online according to the sub-filter equivalent state covariance. Compared with the classical federated Kalman algorithm and the adaptive federated Kalman algorithm, our algorithm can meet the real-time requirements of navigation, and the accuracy of position, velocity, and attitude measurement is improved by 2–3 times. The robust adaptive localization algorithm proposed in this paper can effectively improve the reliability and accuracy of autonomous navigation systems in complex scenes. Moreover, the algorithm is general—it is not intended for a specific scene or a specific sensor combination– and is applicable to individual scenes with varied sensor combinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adrenal lesions with calcification are uncommon and surgical indication remains controversial. We evaluate rational indications for surgical intervention of adrenal lesions with calcification. From 2013 to 2021, 75 adrenal lesions with calcification managed with surgery had necessary studies for evaluation of rational surgical indication. Clinical benefit was defined as relief of symptoms or/and removal of the malignant tumors. Influencing factors for clinical benefit were evaluated by logistic regression. During the past 8-year period, 5057 patients received adrenal surgery in our center and 75 (1.5%) patients were accompanied with calcification, including 34 males and 41 females with a median age of 54 years (IQR = 41–63 years). The median maximum diameter of calcified adrenal lesions on preoperative CT imaging was 4.2 cm (IQR = 3.0–5.9 cm). Clinical benefit was achieved in 22 cases, including 4 cases of malignant tumors and 18 cases of relieved clinical symptoms. Correlation analysis indicated that maximum diameter of the lesion was significantly correlated with clinical benefit (p = 0.025). The maximum diameter in benefit group vs. non-benefit group was 5.5 cm (IQR = 3.7–7.4 cm) vs. 3.7 cm (IQR = 2.8–5.4 cm). AUC of the maximum diameter ROC curve of adrenal lesions was 0.662. The diameter, sensitivity and specificity corresponding to the maximum Youden index value were 4.5 cm, 0.682 and 0.623, respectively. Clinical benefit was not significantly correlated with calcification distribution (peripheral or internally scattered) (P = 0.106), calcification area ≥ 50% (P = 0.617) and internal enhancement of the lesion (P = 0.720). Adrenal lesions with calcification are mostly benign. Clinical benefit is significantly correlated with the maximum diameter of the lesion and 4.5 cm may be considered as the cutoff point of surgical intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tuned mass damper inerter (TMDI) is considered as one of countermeasures to mitigate the very-low-frequency vertical bending vortex-induced vibration (VIV) in flexible bridges. However, the control robustness of the TMDI against the system uncertainty is a serious concern due to the limited inerter span capacity. In this paper, the multiple tuned mass damper inerter (MTMDI) is used instead of identical TMDIs to provide a robust equivalent damping ratio against the uncertain VIV within the entire lock-in wind speed range. A design framework of the MTMDI considering the inerter span length is proposed based on a universal VIV model suitable for the fully closed, centrally slotted, and semi-closed box decks. In the framework, the fluctuation of VIV characteristics with the wind speed, the probability of occurrence of the VIV, and the uncertainties in VIV characteristics and deck dynamics are considered, simultaneously. Two objection functions are defined to focus on the maximizing the equivalent damper ratio and reducing the VIV mitigation failure, respectively. Finally, numerical analysis of a flexible bridge-MTMDI system subjected to the VIV is performed. The results show that the wind speed probability distribution plays a role of weighting coefficient in the MTMDI optimization. The choice of the objective function depends on the mass ratio of the MTMDI and the level of the system uncertainty. The well-optimized MTMDI achieved a more robust control result than the TMDI within the entire lock-in wind speed range. • The MTMDI is used to provide a robust equivalent damping ratio against VIV within the entire lock-in wind speed range. • A design framework of the MTMDI considering the inerter span length is proposed based on a universal VIV model. • A redundancy of equivalent damping ratio is defined by considering wind speed probability and system uncertainty. • An approximate analytical solution of responses of the deck-MTMDI system is obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic mechanical properties of high-damping viscoelastic (VE) materials exhibit significant frequency and temperature dependences in the glass transition zone. However, the current state of VE constitutive models face a challenge in balancing the accuracy, simplicity, and ease of structural dynamic analysis. In this study, a power-law and exponent-law hybrid model is proposed to model the frequency-dependent and temperature-dependent complex modulus of VE materials. The equivalence of hybrid model and existing VE constitutive models is presented. A total of 12 groups of experimental data are collected to validate the accuracy of hybrid model. An efficient numerical method for the hybrid model is proposed and then validated through a viscoelastically damped frame. Results show that the hybrid model is equivalent to two rheological models or fractional derivative models owning to the unshared model coefficients. The hybrid model is superior to the eight-parameter fractional derivative model in predicting the complex modulus over a wide equivalent frequency range. The proposed numerical method performs quite well in calculating seismic responses of proportional and non-proportional damped frames. • A hybrid model is proposed to predict the complex modulus of high-damping VE materials. • The equivalence of hybrid model and existing VE constitutive models is presented. • An efficient numerical method for the hybrid model is proposed and validated. • 12 groups of experimental data are used to validate the accuracy of hybrid model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental results show that mechanical behaviors of viscoelastic dampers are greatly affected by ambient temperature. Neglecting the ambient temperature effect will lead to an inaccurate seismic evaluation on viscoelastically damped structures. This study investigates the ambient temperature effect on the seismic performance of viscoelastically damped structures. An efficient algorithm is proposed to solve the seismic response of viscoelastically damped structures at different ambient temperatures based on the time–temperature correspondence. Numerical simulations of a ten-story viscoelastically damped steel frame under historical earthquakes are presented to illustrate the ambient temperature effect on the seismic performance. The results show that the natural frequency decreases with the increase in ambient temperature, whereas the damping ratio change with ambient temperature greatly depends on the viscoelastic damper properties. The seismic displacement reduction, in general, decreases with the increase in ambient temperature. The seismic acceleration reduction with ambient temperature is affected by the viscoelastic damper properties, structural parameters, and earthquakes together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deformation and failure forms of inclined coal seam roadway under the joint action of dip angle and various geological conditions are complex, and there is a lack of targeted support measures, which brings great problems to the stability control of roadway surrounding rock. In order to safely and economically mine inclined coal seams, taking the engineering geology of Shitanjing No. 2 mining area as the background, and the physical similarity model of right-angle trapezoidal roadway in inclined coal seam, in which the non-contact digital image correlation (DIC) technology and the stress sensor is employed to provide full-field displacement and stress measurements. The deformation control technology of the roadway surrounding rock was proposed, verified by numerical simulation and applied to engineering practice. The research results show that the stress and deformation failure of surrounding rock in low sidewall of roadway are greater than those in high sidewall, showing asymmetric characteristics, and the maximum stress concentration coefficients of roadway sidewall, roof and floor are 4.1, 3.4 and 2.8, respectively. A concept of roadway "cyclic failure" mechanism is proposed that is, the cyclic interaction of the two sidewalls, the sharp angles and roof aggravated the failure of roadway, resulting in the overall instability of roadway. The roadway sidewall is serious rib spalling, the roof is asymmetric "Beret" type caving arch failure, and the floor is slightly bulging. On this basis, the principle of roadway deformation control is revealed and asymmetric support design is adopted, and the deformation of roadway is controlled, which support scheme is effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, different types of carbon films, including diamond-like carbon (DLC), fullerene-like carbon (FLC), and nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) films, were studied in detail. The film structural and property changes before and after heavy-ion irradiation with increased displacement damage were investigated. The results reveal that radiation-induced structural changes result in heavily degraded lubricant properties of DLC and FLC films but can help improve the lubricant properties of NCD films. The displacement damage of 2.0 dpa was a threshold parameter above which the nanocomposite NCD films stepped into a quasi-saturation state to create an amorphous structure with an ultralong lifetime (more than 6.0 × 105 cycles) and excellent antiwear properties (magnitude of 10−7 mm3/N‧m), which is of great importance for the application of NCD films in nuclear reactors. The radiated NCD films could produce tribofilms configured in an amorphous structure, which provided superior lubricant properties to the graphitic tribofilms of DLC and FLC films. The results also contribute to a novel principle for prolonging the lifetime of solid lubricant films in ion-radiation environments, based on the significant tribological properties of the radiation-produced amorphous layer in a quasi-saturation state. [Display omitted] • Heavy-ion irradiation is beneficial in improving lubricant properties of NCD films. • Quasi-saturated NCD films exhibit excellent anti-wear properties than DLC films. • Radiated NCD films produce amorphous tribofilms with good antiwear properties. • A novel principle prolongs the lifetime of NCD films in irradiation environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reduce water cut and improve sweep efficiency of water flooding, a novel pore-scale microsphere (NMPS) as profile control agent was firstly prepared through inverse emulsion polymerization technology. Then, its physical properties were investigated, including morphology, particle size distribution, elasticity, swelling property and long-term stability. Subsequently, the plugging and transport characteristics of NMPS were studied through dual parallel core displacement experiments. And then, oil displacement efficiency was evaluated through dual parallel core displacement experiments and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiment. Experimental results demonstrated NMPS possessed favorable elasticity, water swelling property, dispersibility and long-term stability with an initial average particle size of 7.58 μm. Also, NMPS could effectively plug high permeability channel and regulate heterogeneity. Moreover, NMPS effectively diverted subsequent injected water into low permeability zone and improve sweep efficiency. As a result, 10.83–31.6% of crude oil was produced during NMPS flooding and subsequent water flooding. It was believed that NMPS was a promising candidate for heterogeneity reduction and oil recovery enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The V-shaped electrothermal actuator has gained significant popularity as it was demonstrated to be a compact, stable and high rectilinear displacement device. However, existing electrothermal actuators usually require the driven voltage as high as several tens of volts to realize large displacements, imposing restrictions on the actuator’s integration in miniature mobile mechatronic systems. The paper presents a V-shaped metal-silicon actuator with low voltage, low power consumption and large displacement. The electro-thermal conversion and heat conduction mechanism of the actuator are improved by optimizing the architecture design of the actuator. An innovative method utilizing the double-sided inductively coupled plasma etching technique is developed for the fabrication. The motion of the actuator is characterized with a microscope-based dynamic test system. Finite element analysis is conducted to verify the device design and experimental results. The transient dynamic behaviour of the actuator is modelled for future control strategy. A rectilinear displacement as high as 80.7 μm is achieved at a voltage of 4.0 V and power of 1.12 W. The displacement per unit length to voltage ratio of the metal-silicon actuator is the largest among existing silicon actuators. The displacement per unit length to power of the actuator is also comparative to the highest value of existing actuators, demonstrating that the metal-silicon actuator can achieve large displacement with low voltage and power consumption. The proposed actuator has great potential for the applications in the miniature mechatronic systems such as cell phone, camera, safety and arming device. [2021-0048] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Existing studies have found that circular RNAs (circRNAs) act as sponges for micro RNAs (miRNAs) to control downstream genes. However, the specific functionalities and mechanisms of circRNAs in human clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) have yet to be thoroughly investigated. Methods: Patient cohorts from online databases were used to screen candidate circRNAs, while another cohort from our hospital was obtained for validation. CircSOD2 was identified as a potential oncogenic target, and its relevant characteristics were investigated during ccRCC progression through various assays. A positive feedback loop containing downstream miRNA and its target gene were identified using bioinformatics and validated by luciferase reporter assays, RNA pull-down, and high-throughput sequencing. Results: CircSOD2 expression was elevated in tumor samples and significantly correlated with overall survival (OS) and the tumor stage of ccRCC patients, which appeared in the enhanced proliferation, invasion, and migration of tumor cells. Through competitive binding to circSOD2, miR-532-3p can promote the expression of PAX5 and the progression of ccRCC, and such regulation can be salvaged by miR-532-3p inhibitor. Conclusion: A novel positive feedback loop, PAX5/circSOD2/miR-532-3p/PAX5 was identified in the study, indicating that the loop may play an important role in the diagnosis and prognostic prediction in ccRCC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red blood cell (RBC)-mimicking nanoparticles (NPs) offer a promising platform for drug delivery because of their prolonged circulation time, reduced immunogenicity and specific targeting ability. Herein, we report the design and preparation of RBC membrane-bound NPs (M@AP), for tumoral photodynamic-immunotherapy. The M@AP is formed by self-assembly of the positively charged aggregation-induced emission luminogen (AIEgen) (named P2-PPh3) and the negatively charged polyinosinic : polycytidylic acid (Poly(I : C)), followed by RBC membrane encapsulation. P2-PPh3 is an AIE-active conjugated polyelectrolyte with additional photosensitizing ability for photodynamic therapy (PDT), while Poly(I : C) serves as an immune-stimulant to stimulate both tumor and immune cells to activate immunity, and thus reduces tumor cell viability. When applied in tumor-bearing mice, the M@AP NPs are enriched in both the tumor region as a result of an enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, and the spleen because of the homing effect of the RBC-mimicking shell. Upon light irradiation, P2-PPh3 promotes strong ROS generation in tumor cells, inducing the release of tumor antigens (TA). The anti-tumor immunity is further enhanced by the presence of Poly(I : C) in M@AP. Thus, this strategy combines the PDT properties of the AIE-active polyelectrolyte and immunotherapy properties of Poly(I : C) to achieve synergistic activation of the immune system for anti-tumor activity, providing a novel strategy for tumor treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the boundary rounding effects of two types of non-circular GaN microcavity system are numerically simulated by the finite element method. When the rounding parameter s of the hexagonal microcavity decreases, the six corners of the regular hexagon are gradually rounded, the results show that the optical mode gradually changes from the hexagonal whispering-gallery mode (WGM) to the perfect circular WGM, and the quality factor of the modes increases correspondingly. For the oval microcavity, the structure parameter δ increases from 0 to 1 when the oval microcavity gradually changes from a stadium cavity to a circular cavity. The simulation results show that the quality factor increases with δ , and the optical mode changes from high-leak mode to WGM. Our results demonstrate the effect of the boundary rounding on the mode pattern and quality factor in hexagonal and oval microcavities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metasurface has great capabilities in tailoring the electromagnetic (EM) waves in a controllable way owing to the carefully designed and arranged subwavelength meta-atoms. In this review paper, the digital version of metasurface, information metasurface (IM), is systematically introduced with its application in wireless communications. IM extends the research scope of metasurface from physics to the information perspective, in which the meta-atoms are represented by using digital codes “0” and “1” to characterize the EM responses. It can achieve programmable controls of EM waves in real time by integrating with the field-programmable gate array (FPGA). On the other hand, the digital coding strategy bridges the physical world and digital world, and further make the metasurface realize direct information processing. With the outstanding advantages, IMs have shown great potentials to bring revolutionary applications in wireless communications. In this article, the basic concepts and principles of IMs and their programmable features are presented first. Then it focuses on the IM-based new architecture transmitters, as well as the IM-integrated wireless networks in more detail. Finally, the current progress and the future directions of IMs in the wireless communications are respectively summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) machinery plays a significant role in the spread of human viruses. However, our understanding of how the host ESCRT machinery responds to viral infection remains limited. Emerging evidence suggests that the ESCRT machinery can be hijacked by viruses of different families to enhance their replication. Throughout their life cycle, these viruses can interfere with or exploit ESCRT-mediated physiological processes to increase their chances of infecting the host. In contrast, to counteract virus infection, the interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) or the E3 ISG15-protein ligase (HERC5) system within the infected cells is activated to degrade the ESCRT proteins. Many retroviral and RNA viral proteins have evolved "late (L) domain" motifs, which enable them to recruit host ESCRT subunit proteins to facilitate virus transport, replication, budding, mature, and even endocytosis, Therefore, the L domain motifs and ESCRT subunit proteins could serve as promising drug targets for antiviral therapy. This review investigated the composition and essential functions of the ESCRT, shedding light on the impact of ESCRT subunits and viral L domain motifs on the replication of viruses. Furthermore, the antiviral effects facilitated by the ESCRT machinery have been investigated, aiming to provide valuable insights to guide the development and utilization of antiviral drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A serological assay to detect human CHIKV IgM antibodies. • Six potential peptides are able to serologically differentiate CHIKV from DENV infections. • A novel ELISA using a peptide is proposed for the identification of IgM antibodies specific to the CHIKV. • The proposed peptide-ELISA method offers a valuable alternative to existing techniques for detecting CHIKV IgM antibodies. Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and Dengue virus (DENV) are vector-borne diseases transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus that pose a significant threat to global public health. Cases of acute Chikungunya fever often present similar clinical symptoms to other vector-borne diseases, such as Dengue fever. In regions where multiple vector-borne diseases coexist, CHIKV is often overlooked or misdiagnosed as Dengue virus, West Nile virus, Zika virus or other viral infections, which delays its prevention and control. However, IgM antibodies directed against the E2 protein of CHIKV have not yet been generalized to clinical settings due to the low sensitivity and high cost in commercial kits. Indirect ELISA with peptides provides an effective supplementary tool for detecting CHIKV IgM antibodies. Our study aims at examining the potential of linear epitopes on the E2 glycoprotein that specifically bind to IgM antibodies as serodiagnostic tool for CHIKV. The sensitivity of the established peptide indirect ELISA method for detecting clinical samples is significantly better than that of commercial kits, realizing a beneficial supplement to the existing IgM antibody assay. It also established the groundwork for comprehending the biological mechanisms of the CHIKV E2 protein and the advancement of innovative epitope peptide vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Indoor and outdoor tests were conducted to study the road performance of mixtures with MS. • CMSM exhibits excellent strength, stiffness, and stability, making it suitable for use as a road base material. • The use of CMSM for road base can significantly reduce the cost of aggregates. The harmless, resource-saving, and large-scale utilization of magnesium slag (MS) from industrial waste has become an important topic for road research. The use of MS as a substitute for aggregate is a practical and efficient way to dispose of it. However, there is a lack of systematic research on how to standardize its use in road construction. The objective of this study was to investigate the applicability and feasibility of using MS for cement stabilized base course materials. The influence of different cement dosages, curing age, and gradation on the strength, stiffness and stability of cement-stabilized magnesium slag mixture (CMSM) was investigated, and the actual road performance of CMSM was analyzed by paving a test road. The results showed that the mechanical properties of the CMSM met the requirements for road base courses under medium-to-light traffic when the cement dosage was above 5%. The unconfined compressive strength loss rate of the CMSM was less than 13% for an immersion time of 1 to 7 days, and after 5 freeze–thaw cycles, the frost resistance coefficient of the CMSM was more than 85%. The performance of the CMSM was most affected by cement dosage and curing age, closely followed by mixture grading type. MS can enhance the development of the pozzolanic reaction, resulting in improved strength and compactness of CMSM. Overall, CMSM exhibited exceptional road performance and could reduce aggregate costs by 25% to 35%. The use of MS as an aggregate for road base courses offers a sustainable solution that not only maximizes the use of solid wastes, but also avoids the potential safety hazards and environmental pollution caused by improper disposal and stockpiling of MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the formation and eruption of a sigmoidal filament driven by rotating network magnetic fields (RNFs) near the center of the solar disk, which was observed by the 1 m aperture New Vacuum Solar Telescope at the Fuxian Solar Observatory on 2018 July 12. Counterclockwise RNFs twist two small-scale filaments at their northeastern foot-point region, giving a rotation of nearly 200° within about 140 minutes. The motion of the RNF has a tendency to accelerate at first and then decelerate obviously, as the average rotation speed increased from 10 to 150° hr−1, and then slowed down to 50° hr−1. Coalescence then occurs between filaments F1 and F2. Meanwhile the fine structures in the southwestern region of the filament was involved in another interaction of coalescence. The subsequent EUV brightening due to plasma heating is observed in the two interaction regions. These interacting structures, including F1, F2 and the fine structures in the southwestern region, eventually evolve into a larger-scale sigmoidal filament twisted in the same direction as the RNFs gave. The twist of the sigmoidal filament has exceeded 4π and the filament finally erupted. The motion of the sigmoidal filament remains uniform until a nearby jet collides, causing the filament to erupt faster. These results provide evidence that RNF plays an important role in the formation and eruption of the sigmoidal filament. The phenomena also suggests that the kink instability is the trigger mechanism for the filament eruption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Serum macrophage migration inhibitory factor levels are raised after brain trauma. • Serum macrophage migration inhibitory factor levels are correlated with clinical severity following brain trauma. • Serum macrophage migration inhibitory factor appears as an independent predictor for cerebrocardiac syndrome. Cerebrocardiac syndrome (CCS) is a common complication after severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) and its occurrence obviously increases the risk of a poor outcome. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) acts as an inflammatory cytokine and its circulating concentration are related to acute heart and brain injury. The aim of this study was to examine the association of serum concentration of MIF with posttraumatic CCS. From January 2016 to February 2019, 116 sTBI patients and 116 healthy controls with similar age and gender percentage were recruited. Relationship between serum MIF concentration and CCS was assessed using multivariate analysis. Serum MIF concentration of patients were significantly higher than those among controls. Serum MIF concentration were intimately correlated with Glasgow coma scale scores (t = -5.553, P < 0.001) and serum C-reactive protein concentration (t = 5.320, P < 0.001) in a multivariate linear regression model. 61 patients (52.6%) displayed CCS. Under ROC curve analylsis, there was a strong discriminatory ability for CCS regarding serum MIF concentration (area under curve, 0.834; 95% confidence interval, 0.754–0.897). Serum MIF concentration were highly associated with CCS independent of other confounding factors (odds ratio, 5.608; 95% CI: 1.896–16.587). Increased MIF in serum may be a useful biomarker for early detection of CCS after head trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metasurfaces have developed rapidly in the past decade because their customizable properties are able to regulate wave-matter interaction over a subwavelength scale. Recently, the space-time modulated metasurfaces have attracted significant attention for the additional degree of freedom they offer in the manipulation of the electromagnetic waves in both space and time domains. However, the existing techniques have limited wave control capabilities, which results in just a few feasible schemes, like regulation of only one specific harmonic. Here, we propose to create independent manipulations of arbitrary dual harmonics and their wave behaviors using a space-time-coding digital metasurface. By employing different space-time-coding sequences in the reflection phase of the metasurface, independent phase-pattern configurations of two desired harmonics can be achieved simultaneously, which further leads to independent beam shaping at the two harmonic frequencies. We have developed an analytical theory to offer physical insights into the arbitrary dual-harmonic manipulations of spectra and spatial beams, which is verified by experiments with good agreements. The presented space-time-coding strategy provides a new way to design multifunctional programable systems, which will find potential applications such as cognitive radar and multi-user wireless communications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]