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Investigating high-performance and stable spintronics devices has been a research hotspot in recent years. In this paper, we employed first-principles methods and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations to explore the structure, electronic, and magnetic properties of monolayer NbSe2, as well as its behavior under carrier concentration modulation. The research on the electronic structure reveals that by introducing an appropriate amount of holes, the material can undergo a transition from metal to a half-metal state, achieving 100% high spin polarization. Investigation of magnetic crystalline anisotropy shows that the magnetic crystal anisotropy energy of 1210 μeV in out-of-plane is beneficial to maintain ferromagnetic order at high temperatures. In addition, doping with suitable carriers can effectively enhance or strengthen the ferromagnetic coupling in NbSe2 so that the magnetization easy axis is shifted. This reveals the potential application prospects of NbSe2 in electronically controlled spintronic devices. Analysis of the Fermi surface shows that both holes and electron doping increase the Fermi velocity of the material. The effect of hole doping is particularly significant, indicating its potential application in Fermi velocity engineering. Under the theoretical framework of the extended two-dimensional Ising model, based on MC simulation, the Curie temperature (TC) of NbSe2 is predicted to be 162 K. The effects of carrier concentration and the magnetic field on the magnetic and thermal properties of monolayer NbSe2 are simulated. The results show that appropriately increasing the hole doping concentration and magnetic field is conducive to obtaining ferromagnetic half-metallic materials with TC higher than room temperature, which provides theoretical support for experimental preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of nanotechnology, using the applied electric field to regulate interfacial heat transfer has become increasingly important. In the present work, the relationship between the thermal resistance of Kapitza and the direction of the applied electric field is explored with nonequilibrium molecular dynamics method at a solid–liquid interface consisting of CU (0, 0, 1) and liquid water. It found that the electric field orientation induces the ordering of water molecules near the solid, which affects the magnitude of the Kapitza thermal resistance. In addition, the electric field orientation affects the degree of mismatch between solid and liquid vibrational dynamical density (VDOS), which affects the phonon transport at the solid–liquid interface, and ultimately affects the process of interfacial heat transfer. Furthermore, it's found that there is a weak correlation between the interfacial thermal resistance and the dimension of the copper-water model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Observational studies have suggested an association between endometriosis and glycemic traits, but causality remains unclear. We used bidirectional and multivariate Mendelian randomization (MR) to examine the causal effect of glycemic traits on endometriosis and vice versa. Methods: We obtained genome-wide association studies summary data of endometriosis and glycemic traits in our study. Inverse variance weighted (IVW), Weighted median, MR-Egger and Mendelian randomization pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO) were applied in bidirectional two-sample MR analyses. MVMR was implemented to estimate the causal effect for fasting insulin (FI), fasting glucose (FG), and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) on endometriosis. To test the validity of our findings, a number of sensitivity analyses were conducted. Results: The risk of endometriosis was significantly increased by genetically predicted T1DM (OR = 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.04, p = 0.0171, q = 0.0556) and GDM (OR = 1.01, 95% CI 1.01–1.02, p = 1.34 × 10− 8, q = 1.74 × 10− 7). Endometriosis had a suggestive association with HbA1c (Beta = 0.04, 95% CI 0.00-0.08, p = 0.0481, q = 0.1251). Using multivariate Mendelian randomization (MVMR), a significant causal effect of FI on genetically predicted endometriosis was found (OR = 2.18, 95% CI 1.16–4.09, p = 0.0154, q = 0.0547). Moreover, no causal associations between endometriosis and other glycemic traits were detected. Conclusion: Our findings supported the significant causal associations of T1DM, GDM and FI with endometriosis, respectively. Additionally, a suggestive association was found of endometriosis on HbA1c. Importantly, our study may shed light on etiology studies and clinical management of endometriosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An essential technology of carbon capture, utilization and storage-enhanced oil recovery (CCUS-EOR) for tight oil reservoirs is CO2 huff-puff followed by associated produced gas reinjection. In this paper, the effects of multi-component gas on the properties and components of tight oil are studied. First, the core displacement experiments using the CH4/CO2 multi-component gas are conducted to determine the oil displacement efficiency under different CO2 and CH4 ratios. Then, a viscometer and a liquid density balance are used to investigate the change characteristics of oil viscosity and density after multi-component gas displacement with different CO2 and CH4 ratios. In addition, a laboratory scale numerical model is established to validate the experimental results. Finally, a composition model of multi-stage fractured horizontal well in tight oil reservoir considering nano-confinement effects is established to investigate the effects of multi-component gas on the components of produced dead oil and formation crude oil. The experimental results show that the oil displacement efficiency of multi-component gas displacement is greater than that of single-component gas displacement. The CH4 decreases the viscosity and density of light oil, while CO2 decreases the viscosity but increases the density. And the numerical simulation results show that CO2 extracts more heavy components from the liquid phase into the vapor phase, while CH4 extracts more light components from the liquid phase into the vapor phase during cyclic gas injection. The multi-component gas can extract both the light components and the heavy components from oil, and the balanced production of each component can be achieved by using multi-component gas huff-puff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Inspiration is a psychological construct that has been relatively understudied in times of difficulty. This study aims to investigate the mediating effect of inspiration on the relationship between emotions and coping strategies in the context of adversity and to testify the effect in Chinese as well as the International societies.Participants and Methods: Using the snowball sampling method, two survey studies were conducted among 523 Chinese and 503 international participants during and soon after the local Covid-19 outbreak to testify how positive and negative emotions contributed to various coping strategies and whether the experience of inspiration mediated these relations. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the data.Results: Positive emotions had a higher impact on problem-solving and seeking social support coping strategies, whereas negative emotions had a higher impact on avoidance coping strategy. Both positive and negative emotions had positive relationships with inspiration, but positive emotions had a higher impact than negative ones. The indirect effects of emotions on problem-solving and social support coping strategies through inspiration were significantly positive, while the avoidance coping strategy was not influenced by the experience of inspiration.Conclusion: The results suggest that being inspired in both positive and negative emotions is positively related to approach coping strategies in adverse situations such as COVID-19, with the effect patterns slightly differing between Chinese participants and their Western counterparts. This study highlights the importance of inspiration experience as a motivational state that can help individuals bring newly acquired ideas into fruition, especially during times of difficulty. By understanding the role of inspiration in the context of adversity, public health systems can better assist individuals in different societies to cope with the challenges they face. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resolvin D2 (RvD2), an endogenous lipid mediator derived from docosahexaenoic acid, has been demonstrated to have analgesic effects. However, little is known about the mechanism underlying RvD2 in pain relief. Herein, we demonstrate that RvD2 targeted the P2X3 receptor as an analgesic. The electrophysiological activity of P2X3 receptors was suppressed by RvD2 in rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons. RvD2 pre‐application dose‐dependently decreased α,β‐methylene‐ATP (α,β‐meATP)‐induced inward currents. RvD2 remarkably decreased the maximum response to α,β‐meATP, without influencing the affinity of P2X3 receptors. RvD2 also voltage‐independently suppressed ATP currents. An antagonist of the G protein receptor 18 (GPR18), O‐1918, prevented the RvD2‐induced suppression of ATP currents. Additionally, intracellular dialysis of the Gαi/o‐protein antagonist pertussis toxin (PTX), the PKA antagonist H89, or the cAMP analog 8‐Br‐cAMP also blocked the RvD2‐induced suppression. Furthermore, α,β‐meATP‐triggered depolarization of membrane potential along with the action potential bursts in DRG neurons were inhibited by RvD2. Lastly, RvD2 attenuated spontaneous nociceptive behaviors as well as mechanical allodynia produced by α,β‐meATP in rats via the activation of the peripheral GPR18. These findings indicated that RvD2 inhibited P2X3 receptors in rat primary sensory neurons through GPR18, PTX‐sensitive Gαi/o‐proteins, and intracellular cAMP/PKA signaling, revealing a novel mechanism that underlies its analgesic effects by targeting P2X3 receptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investigation of chemical constituents from the rhizomes of Ruscus aculeatus resulted in the isolation of two new biphenyl derivatives, aculebiphenyls A and B (1-2), together with two known analogs (3-4). Their chemical structures were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic interpretation and HR-ESI-MS analysis. Compounds 3-4 were isolated from the Ruscus genus for the first time. The isolated compounds were tested for anti-inflammatory activities and antibacterial activities. Compound 1 exhibited significant inhibitory effects on LPS-induced NO production and COX-2 with IC50 values of 10.8 µM and 0.4 µM. Compound 1 also significantly down-regulated the levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Compound 1 showed moderate antibacterial activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cobalt oxides are known for their excellent heat transfer properties. The main component of cobalt oxides is the CoO2 monolayer, which exhibits high-temperature superconductivity caused by strong electron–phonon coupling (EPC). We here systematically investigate the structural stability, electronic structure, and magnetism of the CoO2 monolayer using first-principles and Monte Carlo simulations. On this basis, we further study the changes in the spin energy gap, magnetic axis direction, and other properties of the CoO2 monolayer with the changes in carrier concentration. By appropriately doping the CoO2 monolayer with holes, the magnetic axis direction of the CoO2 monolayer can be reversed, thereby enhancing its potential application in the field of spin electronic devices. Monte Carlo simulation is used to study the regulation of different factors on the magnetothermal properties of the CoO2 monolayer. Through the analysis of physical parameters such as Curie temperature (TC) and bandgap, we find that the appropriate carrier concentration and magnetic field can not only regulate the magnetothermal properties of materials but also further improve the efficiency of materials in low-temperature environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physics informed neural network (PINN) has become a promising method for solving partial differential equations (PDEs). The loss function of PINN is a weighted sum of multiple items. This makes it easy to fall into local optima, especially the gradient pathologies when solving high frequency problems. The value of penalty coefficients has a crucial impact on the prediction results. Therefore, a new PINN with adaptive penalty coefficients iteratively optimized by biased multiobjective coevolutionary algorithm (BC-PINN) is presented. In BC-PINN, a two-stage optimization mechanism is used to search for parameters of neural network and penalty coefficients respectively. This method involves constructing the fitness function of penalty coefficients based on the biased dominance ranking by data item and regularization item. Compared with the previous works of others, the accuracy of fitting the initial conditions and boundary conditions is considered to be given priority, which is more conducive to PINN converging to the particular solution of PDE. In addition, the set of penalty coefficients is divided into multiple populations to improve the optimization efficiency through coevolutionary algorithm. The empirical results show that: (1) Our method can improve the gradient pathologies and effectively capture the high-frequency features. (2) Compared to the original PINN, it reduces the MSE by 1–6 orders of magnitude in our benchmark functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) has been gradually accepted by the public as a new type of education and teaching method. However, due to the lack of timely intervention and guidance from educators, learners’ performance is not as effective as it could be. To address this problem, predicting MOOC learners’ performance and providing them with timely interventions have become an indispensable part for the MOOC learning. However, current MOOC performance prediction methods cannot provide us with interpretable prediction results and cannot further help us to provide learners with targeted intervention strategies. To this end, we adopt the framework of Bayesian Network (BN) and then constructed an MOOC Performance Prediction BN (MPBN), which provides us with a graphical explanation of how learners’ demographical and learning behavior characteristics affect their performance. Besides, since the productive MOOC learners tend to be driven by their inner goals, we further use Maslow’s hierarchical needs theory to construct several indicators, by which to analyze the prediction of MPBN and then propose the appropriate intervention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil erosion and extensive management, as key factors limiting the sustainability of the agroecosystem in the Loess Plateau, severely hamper the high-quality development of regional agriculture. Soil fertility and element synergy can be enhanced by applying mulching measures properly. However, there is a lack of systematic research into how soil stoichiometric characteristics under mulching affect crop productivity. This study focused on the agroecosystem of the Loess Plateau. Based on the 11-year field positioning experiment, the management measures of straw mulching (SM), plastic mulching (PM) and ridge-film mulching (RM) were selected to investigate the effects of long-term mulching measures on the stoichiometric characteristics of topsoil and the impact of crop productivity under the ecological stoichiometry theory. The findings revealed a significant increase in soil carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus contents and microbial biomass under mulching. SM and RM significantly decreased the stoichiometric ratio of soil available nutrients, whereas PM and RM had effective alleviating effects on C:N and C:P imbalance. The yield components of long-term SM and RM greatly increased and responded favorably to the synergy of soil carbon and phosphorus. This study provides theoretical guidance and technical support for the assessment of the effective and sustainable use of agricultural resources on the Loess Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study detection of genuine multipartite entanglement based on one-particle loss operator. We obtain a criterion on detecting genuine pure tripartite entanglement. The results are then generalized to arbitrary pure multipartite states. For mixed states by using the correlation tensors of the Bloch representation of density matrices, we obtain an effective criterion of arbitrary dimensional genuine tripartite entanglement. Detailed examples are given to show that our criterion is able to detect more genuine tripartite entanglement states than some existing criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mammalian preimplantation development depends on the interaction between embryonic autocrine and maternal paracrine signaling. Despite the robust independence of preimplantation embryos, oviductal factors are thought to be critical to pregnancy success. However, how oviductal factors regulate embryonic development and the underlying mechanism remain unknown. In the present study, focusing on WNT signaling, which has been reported to be essential for developmental reprogramming after fertilization, we analyzed the receptor-ligand repertoire of preimplantation embryonic WNT signaling, and identified that the WNT co-receptor LRP6 is necessary for early cleavage and has a prolonged effect on preimplantation development. LRP6 inhibition significantly impeded zygotic genome activation and disrupted relevant epigenetic reprogramming. Focusing on the potential oviductal WNT ligands, we found WNT2 as the candidate interacting with embryonic LRP6. More importantly, we found that WNT2 supplementation in culture medium significantly promoted zygotic genome activation (ZGA) and improved blastocyst formation and quality following in vitro fertilization (IVF). In addition, WNT2 supplementation significantly improved implantation rate and pregnancy outcomes following embryo transfer. Collectively, our findings not only provide novel insight into how maternal factors regulate preimplantation development through maternal-embryonic communication, but they also propose a promising strategy for improving current IVF systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The PA28 family proteasome activators play important roles in regulating proteasome activities. Though the three paralogs (PA28α, PA28β, and PA28γ) are similar in terms of primary sequence, they show significant differences in expression pattern, cellular localization and most importantly, biological functions. While PA28αβ is responsible for promoting peptidase activity of proteasome to facilitate MHC-I antigen processing, but unable to promote protein degradation, PA28γ is well-known to not only promote peptidase activity but also proteolytic activity of proteasome. However, why this paralog has the unique function remains elusive. Previous structural studies have mainly focused on mammalian PA28α, PA28β and PA28αβ heptamers, while structural studies on mammalian PA28γ of atomic resolution are still absent to date. In the present work, we determined the Cryo-EM structure of the human PA28γ heptamer at atomic resolution, revealing interesting unique structural features that may hint our understanding the functional mechanisms of this proteasome activator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboo plants are fast-growing, quickly produce usable material, and are an abundant resource. Bamboo is an excellent, natural, and renewable material. It has a long history of application in human life, industrial manufacturing, cultural industries, and other fields. The warehousing of bamboo and its finished products is an emerging industry with much potential. A reasonable, stable, and orderly warehouse could be an effective solution for the sustainable management, seasonal harvesting, and raw material stability issues. In addition, the warehouse plays an important role in the processing of raw materials, reserve logistics, keeping a robust and real-time supply for downstream products. This is of great significance for alleviating problems associated with Chinese timber safety and for improving the quality of life. This paper focuses on warehousing experience in grain and coal fields, reviews the common material processing and preservation measures of bamboo, analyzes advantages and developmental prospects of bamboo warehousing, and explores and suggests appropriate storage methods, technical systems, and application models. It is expected to provide technical guidance for construction in the bamboo storage industry, and to supply ideas and suggestions for the modern development of the bamboo industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the causal effect between the stock market and the real economy. Based on the data of China's A-share market from 1998 to 2017, this article uses the fixed-effect model and other methods to find the causal effect from the perspective of the impact of illiquidity at the individual stock level on enterprise investment decision-making. Empirical results show that stock illiquidity significantly decreases enterprise investment. Information asymmetry is one of the important channels between the stock market and the real economy. The financial constraints and agency conflicts caused by information asymmetry significantly affect the causal effect. Macroeconomic policies to alleviate market information asymmetry can effectively act on the real economy through the stock market. From the microperspective of studying the causal effect, this study controls the time effect and individual effect and further explores the influence mechanism between the stock market and the real economy. Research shows that macroeconomic policies can effectively affect the real economy through the stock market and provides decision-making references for future macropolicy formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) represent a crucial component of targeted therapies in gastric cancer, potentially altering traditional treatment paradigms. Many ADCs have entered rigorous clinical trials based on biological theories and preclinical experiments. Modality trials have also been conducted in combination with monoclonal antibody therapies, chemotherapies, immunotherapies, and other treatments to enhance the efficacy of drug coordination effects. However, ADCs exhibit limitations in treating gastric cancer, including resistance triggered by their structure or other factors. Ongoing intensive researches and preclinical experiments are yielding improvements, while enhancements in drug development processes and concomitant diagnostics during the therapeutic period actively boost ADC efficacy. The optimal treatment strategy for gastric cancer patients is continually evolving. This review summarizes the clinical progress of ADCs in treating gastric cancer, analyzes the mechanisms of ADC combination therapies, discusses resistance patterns, and offers a promising outlook for future applications in ADC drug development and companion diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Three new cobalt triphenyl corroles bearing one, two and three trifluoromethyl groups (2 , 3 and 4) had been synthesized. • All prepared cobalt corrole complexes showed effective electrocatalytic HER activity with good stability and durability. • The electrocatalytic HER may go via EECC or ECEC pathway depending on the number of ortho- trifluoromethyl groups. Hydrogen production from electrolyzing water is known as the most promising hydrogen production method. To further understand the effect of steric hindrance and electron-withdrawing groups on catalysts, four cobalt triphenyl corroles bearing different number of ortho -trifluoromethyls (1 , 2 , 3 , 4) had been synthesized and used as hydrogen evolution electrocatalysts. These cobalt corroles showed effective electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity in organic medium and neutral aqueous medium, with turnover frequency ranging from 100 s−1 to 220 s−1 using 32 equivalents of trifluoroacetic acid proton source in DMF. The electrocatalytic HER goes via competitive ECEC or EECC pathway depending on the used proton source. The electrocatalytic HER activity varies obviously with the number of the peripheral ortho - groups. This work is helpful for the design of new metal corrole HER electrocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • 1. We anchored the core–shell nanostructure of bimetallic gold core silver core on the surface of Ce-UIO-66 for the first time (Au@Ag), prepared Au@Ag/Ce-UIO-66 composite material. • 2. The substrate has excellent adsorption characteristics, reaching its maximum adsorption value within 10 min and achieving adsorption equilibrium within 30 min. • 3. The minimum detection limit for sulfadiazine can reach 2.5 μg/L, far below the minimum residue level specified by the European Union. • 4. Under certain acidic and alkaline conditions, the SERS spectrum of sulfadiazine remains unchanged, providing a new method for the detection of sulfadiazine in complex environments. • 5. Explored the adsorption and SERS enhancement mechanism between Au@Ag/Ce-UIO-66 and sulfadiazine. Antibiotic residue detection plays a key role in ensuring human health. However, rapid, reliable, and highly sensitive detection methods are still insufficient. To tackle this challenge, in this study, the Au@Ag/Ce-UIO-66, a nanocomposite material consisting of bimetallic gold core and silver shell (Au@Ag) introduced on the surface of Ce-UIO-66, was successfully synthesized. By meticulously regulating the exact concentration and volume of silver nitrate, we successfully generated an optimal matrix. This significantly enhanced the detection capability of the probe molecule CV to an impressive concentration of 10−9 M, with a remarkably low relative standard deviation of 7.54 %. The matrix exhibits excellent surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) performance and stability, reaching adsorption equilibrium within 30 min. Moreover, employing this substrate enables the detection of sulfadiazine at concentrations as minimal as 2.5 μg/L, significantly surpassing the standards set by the European Union. Notably, the Raman spectral signal of sulfadiazine maintains stability across various pH conditions at a concentration of 10−5 M. Finally, the adsorption mechanism and enhancement mechanism between Au@Ag/Ce-UIO-66 and sulfadiazine were explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The expression of miR-141-3p in many malignant tumors has been verified. Nevertheless, the relationship between ovarian cancer and miR-141-3p remains undetermined. Therefore, further exploration is required. Results: According to data from 100 samples, the final results of RT-qPCR showed that miR-141-3p was highly expressed in ovarian cancer. Furthermore, miR-141-3p was able to distinguish ovarian cancer cells from ovary tissues. The most significant Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway, was regulation of lipolysis in adipocytes in ovarian cancer. The expression of PIK3R1 was negatively correlated with miR-141-3p. PIK3R1 has a combing site with miR-141-3p. Conclusions: This study examined the expression levels and mechanism of miR-141-3p in ovarian cancer for the first time. The results suggested that miR-141-3p may promote the occurrence of ovarian cancer by down-regulating PIK3R1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrasound single-beam acoustic tweezer system has attracted increasing attention in the field of biomechanics. Cell biomechanics play a pivotal role in leukemia cell functions. To better understand and compare the cell mechanics of the leukemia cells, herein, we fabricated an acoustic tweezer system in-house connected with a 50-MHz high-frequency cylinder ultrasound transducer. Selected leukemia cells (Jurkat, K562, and MV-411 cells) were cultured, trapped, and manipulated by high-frequency ultrasound single beam, which was transmitted from the ultrasound transducer without contacting any cells. The relative deformability of each leukemia cell was measured, characterized, and compared, and the leukemia cell (Jurkat cell) gaining the highest deformability was highlighted. Our results demonstrate that the high-frequency ultrasound single beam can be utilized to manipulate and characterize leukemia cells, which can be applied to study potential mechanisms in the immune system and cell biomechanics in other cell types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We want to investigate the effect of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) on cerebral edema induced by ischemic stroke in rats and explore whether inhibiting the expression of AQP4 through acetazolamide (AZA) could attenuate brain edema and protect cerebral function. Methods: The Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham + saline group, sham + AZA group, AZA intervention group, and nonintervention group. Each group was divided into five subgroups according to the time of cerebral ischemia (6 h, 1 day, 3 days, 5 days, and 7 days). The model of cerebral infarction in rats was adopted by means of the bilateral carotid arteries ligation (2-VO) method. The rats in intervention group were given intraperitoneal injection of AZA (35 mg/kg/day). Hematoxylin–eosin staining was performed for pathological analysis of the infarcted area. The brain water content was calculated to evaluate the degree of brain edema. The messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expressions of AQP4 in the brain were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Results: Significant cerebral pathological damages were found in ischemic stroke rats. The brain water content, protein, and mRNA expression of AQP4 of the intervention and nonintervention groups were markedly higher than those of the sham groups. By contrast, AZA administration reduced the brain water content, whereas improved cerebral dysfunction was induced by ischemic stroke. Moreover, AZA obviously reduced the protein and mRNA expression of AQP4 after ischemic stroke in rats' brains. Conclusions: The expression of AQP4 was closely related to cerebral edema induced by ischemic stroke. Decreasing the expression of AQP4 mRNA by AZA administration can effectively relieve cerebral edema and decrease cerebral pathological damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We sought to report the outcome of resection of vestibular schwannomas (VSs) originating from the inferior vestibular nerve that extended into the fundus of the internal auditory canal through the middle cranial fossa (MCF) approach with endoscopic assistance. Seven patients with VSs who underwent resection through MCF approach with endoscope assistance and 12 patients with conventional microsurgery in our department were enrolled in this study. These patients' characteristics were acquired, and the surgical outcomes, as well as postoperative complications, were evaluated. In the endoscope group, the VS was first removed by a conventional microscopic procedure and then an endoscope was used to find and remove any residue lesions. In 3 of 7 patients, residue tumor in the space below transverse crest was found and completely removed under endoscope. Six of 7 patients (85.7%) had House-Brackmann grade I at the time of last follow-up in the endoscope group compared with 10 of 12 patients (83.3%) in the conventional microsurgery group. Serviceable hearing was successfully maintained in 2 of 3 patients (66.7%) in the endoscope group compared with 6 of 10 patients (60%) in the conventional microsurgery group. Total resections were achieved in all the patients (100%) in the endoscope group compared with 9 of 12 patients (75%) in the conventional microsurgery group. Using an endoscope in VS resection through the MCF approach could facilitate complete removal of the lesion while minimizing the risk of hearing loss and facial paralysis. The endoscope-assisted MCF approach is especially suitable for removing an intracanalicular VS with lateral extension involving the space below the transverse crest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The α2‐adrenergic receptor (α2‐AR) agonists have been shown to be effective in the treatment of various pain. For example, dexmedetomidine (DEX), a selective α2A‐AR agonist, can be used for peripheral analgesia. However, it is not yet fully elucidated for the precise molecular mechanisms. P2X3 receptor is a major receptor processing nociceptive information in primary sensory neurons. Herein, we show that a functional interaction of α2A‐ARs and P2X3 receptors in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons could contribute to peripheral analgesia of DEX. Methods: Electrophysiological recordings were carried out on rat DRG neurons, and nociceptive behavior was quantified in rats. Results: The activation of α2A‐ARs by DEX suppressed P2X3 receptor‐mediated and α,β‐methylene‐ATP (α,β‐meATP)‐evoked inward currents in a concentration‐dependent and voltage‐independent manner. Pre‐application of DEX shifted the α,β‐meATP concentration‐response curve downwards, with a decrease of 50.43 ± 4.75% in the maximal current response of P2X3 receptors to α,β‐meATP in the presence of DEX. Suppression of α,β‐meATP‐evoked currents by DEX was blocked by the α2A‐AR antagonist BRL44408 and prevented by intracellular application of the Gi/o protein inhibitor pertussis toxin, the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin, and the cAMP analog 8‐Br‐cAMP. DEX also suppressed α,β‐meATP‐evoked action potentials through α2A‐ARs in rat DRG neurons. Finally, the activation of peripheral α2A‐ARs by DEX had an analgesic effect on the α,β‐meATP‐induced nociception. Conclusions: These results suggested that activation of α2A‐ARs by DEX suppressed P2X3 receptor‐mediated electrophysiological and behavioral activity via a Gi/o proteins and cAMP signaling pathway, which was a novel potential mechanism underlying analgesia of peripheral α2A‐AR agonists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the cloud-edge collaborative environment, the edge server manager will divide the physical resources based on virtualization technology, so as to deploy multiple applications on the same server. However, due to the imperfect virtualization technology and the complexity and dynamics of the applications deployed on virtual machines (VMs), it is difficult for cloud service providers to evaluate the performance of VMs and thus cannot implement dynamic resource management effectively. To address this problem, this paper proposes an adaptive resource allocation approach. Firstly, we use the profiling tools to collect hardware counters and corresponding performance that reflect the resource usage in real time. Then, we select the data instances that contribute more to the performance prediction based on Gradient-based One Side Sampling (GOSS) to build a VM performance prediction model. When the prediction results indicate the performance cannot meet users’ requirements, we further apply one of the reinforcement learning framework-Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (DDPG) to optimize the allocation of fine-grained resources. Our proposed method enables adaptive allocation of fine-grained resources in cloud environment, and the extensive experiments demonstrate that the average accuracy of performance prediction by our proposed method surpasses 95%, whereas the metrics derived from the others ranges only between 75 and 97.5%. Furthermore, the average accuracy by our proposed method on the several benchmark applications is 88.4%, gaining a performance improvement of 9.1% compared to the suboptimal baseline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant oil bodies (OBs) consist of a continuous monolayer of phospholipids-interfacial proteins covering the central triglycerides, which confers them extreme physicochemical stability. In this paper, rice bran OBs (RBOBs) extracted with NaHCO 3 as a medium at pH 7.5–11.0 were naturally pre-emulsified spherical droplets with integral interfacial structures. The extraction pH determined the physicochemical properties, stability and interfacial behavior of RBOBs by affecting their interfacial properties. RBOBs extracted at pH 7.5 had more protein chains inserted into the acyl chains of the lipids, causing the RBOBs to be more stable, whereas at pH 11.0, the contents of PL and protein supported on the surface of TAGs core decreased significantly, the interfacial proteins were more flexible and looser, and part of the hydrophobic amino acids originally inserted in the TAGs core were exposed, destabilizing the OBs. RBOBs could spontaneously adsorb at the oil-water interface and form an interfacial film with elasticity as the primary feature. The structural rearrangement of the surface-active components was crucial to the formation of the interfacial membrane. More small-sized OBs like Pickering stabilizers adsorbed intact at the oil-water interface, creating ordered dense film (monolayer) particles. In contrast, large-sized RBOBs readily ruptured with a more pronounced degree of structural rearrangement of phospholipid-protein membrane fragments and disordered interfacial adsorption behavior. The results provide a reference for the development of precisely emulsified systems based on the special structure of plant OBs. [Display omitted] • Extraction pH did not affect the natural structure of RBOBs using NaHCO 3 as medium. • TAGs were inserted with more proteins chains, resulting in stable RBOBs at pH 7.5. • Interfacial components were depleted, and structures loosened, destabilizing OBs. • Small-sized RBOBs adsorbed intact at the interface and formed a dense elastic film. • Large-sized OBs exhibited more disordered interfacial adsorption behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chang'e-5 (CE-5) basalt, the youngest lunar basalt sample collected so far, is crucial for unraveling the mechanism of the prolonged volcanic activity on the Moon. To better understand the petrogenesis of this basalt, it is necessary to determine its eruption duration accurately. Previous Pb-Pb age measurements have yielded a wide range from 2040 Ma to 1963 Ma. This large range may be attributed to 80 million-year multi-eruption, analytical or interpretational biases from different laboratories, or disturbances in the U-Pb system. Here, we conducted sub-micron Pb-Pb dating on 25 Zr-rich mineral grains with various sizes (∼2 μm to 20 μm) from six CE-5 basalt fragments by a Cameca NanoSIMS 50L. After excluding anomalies caused by Pb enrichment, we obtained a weighted mean Pb-Pb age of 2059 ± 21 Ma and an isochron age of 2046 ± 29 Ma. By integrating all reported age data of the CE-5 basalt, we found inconsistencies in previous studies, probably due to analytical biases of insufficient spatial resolution, leading to the undetected presence of terrestrial common Pb. Isochron regression with a filtering process yields an age of 2031.1 ± 3.8 Ma, which we recommend as the best estimate of the formation age of the CE-5 basalt. This result suggests that all analyzed CE-5 basalt fragments have nearly the same crystallization age, indicating that the lava erupted in a very short period. Combined with previous studies on the mineralogy and geochemistry of the CE-5 basalt, this result contributes new insights into the volcanic history of the Moon. • We report the first submicron-spatial-resolution Pb-Pb age of Chang'e-5 basalt. • Micro-nano scale radiogenic Pb hot spots have been observed in Zr-rich minerals. • The best age estimate for Chang'e-5 basalt is 2031.1 ± 3.8 Ma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid state refrigeration based on caloric effect of a solid has received extensive attention. From theoretical viewpoint, the caloric effect driven by multiple fields yields larger caloric response due to cross-interaction for ferroic materials with multiple order parameters. However, experimental evidence involving cross-responses is very limited. Here, we report the first experimental study on the modulation of the barocaloric effect (BCE) by magnetic field in Ni 50 Mn 35 In 15 materials with strong magnetostructural coupling. The results demonstrate that the modulating behavior of BCE by magnetic field, which is dominated by cross-response, depends crucially on the magnitude of pressure. At low pressures, an abnormal minimum appears in the magnetic field dependent barocaloric entropy change | Δ S T B C E | , while it turns into a monotonic enhancement as the pressure reaches 4 kbar or larger. The enhanced ratio of | Δ S T B C E | is as much as ∼ 40 % when a magnetic field of 5 T is applied, accordingly the barocaloric refrigeration performance enhances. For the underlying mechanism, Ab initio calculations were performed, which provide a theoretical explanation about the driving effect by single pressure, single magnetic field, and dual-fields on the magnetostructural transition from the perspective of total energy and Mn-d/Ni-d electronic hybridization. The present work reveals that the modulation of BCE by magnetic field is not independent or additive but a synergistic effect of dual-fields, which lays a solid basis in guiding dual-fields driven solid-state refrigeration applications. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deep surrounding rock under true triaxial stress is easy to break at the new excavation face, which will induce engineering disasters to threaten personnel and equipment. Many studies have shown that the intermediate principal stress (IPS) has a great influence on rock failure. To accurately understand the influence of IPS on the gradual failure mechanism of the new excavation face under true triaxial stress and extract the key precursor information of rock failure, this study is based on true triaxial tests of acoustic emission (AE) monitoring, which provides a creative explanation to the phenomenon that sometimes the sudden increase of the AE counts rate (ACR) and the energy release rate (ERR) changes asynchronously. This paper analyzes the influence of IPS on the crack type in the failure process, studies the transitional behavior and gradual evolution of AE dominant frequency, and presents the precursor information index for rock failure. The results show that the sudden increase times of ACR and ERR under different IPS values are different. The rock under lower IPS is prone to produce intergranular fracture with low energy consumption, while the rock under higher IPS is prone to produce transgranular fracture with high energy consumption. Near the peak stress, the dominant frequency at lower IPS shows obvious downward transitional behavior, and the dominant frequency under higher IPS presents downward and upward transitional behavior. This study verified that tIII−max can be used as the key precursor information for predicting rock failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is the first to report a Pb–Pb and U–Pb analytical method at a sub-micron scale using a NanoSIMS equipped with the new radio-frequency (RF) ion source. The RF ion source can generate a high-density primary beam to improve spatial resolution. A focused Gaussian beam of ∼450 pA with a diameter of ∼480 nm was utilized, significantly smaller in size than the 1.7 μm beam with the same current generated by the conventional duoplasmatron source. However, the high-density primary beam causes a more significant depth effect. Thus, a larger raster area (10 × 10 μm2) is selected to eliminate the mass fractionation caused by the depth effect. Other settings and data processing were similar to previous methods with a Duo source. Zircon standard M257 and baddeleyite standard Phalaborwa yielded 207Pb/206Pb ages of 547 ± 30 Ma and 2058 ± 13.8 Ma, respectively. These results agree well with the reference age values within analytical uncertainties. Using zircon Qinghu as a standard, zircon M257 and 91500 yielded U–Pb ages of 567.7 ± 6.8 Ma and 1056 ± 15 Ma, respectively, consistent with the recommended values within the analytical uncertainties. Three 4–5 μm zirconolite grains from the lunar meteorite Northwest Africa 8127 (NWA 8127) gave Pb–Pb ages of 3201 ± 25 Ma, 3174 ± 6 Ma and 3170 ± 14 Ma. One grain shows a variation of Pb/Pb age corresponding to the sub-micron scale distribution of U and Pb, probably due to the heavy impact on the moon. This technique is the first reported submicron Pb–Pb and U–Pb dating, which can be widely applied for sub-micron Pb–Pb and U–Pb dating for the tiny Zr-rich minerals from extraterrestrial samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the policy background and advocacy of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), CO2-EOR has become a promising direction in the shale oil reservoir industry. The multi-scale pore structure distribution and fracture structure lead to complex multiphase flow, comprehensively considering multiple mechanisms is crucial for development and CO2 storage in fractured shale reservoirs. In this paper, a multi-mechanism coupled model is developed by MATLAB. Compared to the traditional Eclipse 300 and MATLAB Reservoir Simulation Toolbox (MRST), this model considers the impact of pore structure on fluid phase behavior by the modified PengeRobinson equation of state (PR-EOS), and the effect simultaneously radiate to MaxwelleStefan (MeS) diffusion, stress sensitivity, the nano-confinement (NC) effect. Moreover, a modified embedded discrete fracture model (EDFM) is used to model the complex fractures, which optimizes connection types and half-transmissibility calculation approaches between non-neighboring connections (NNCs). The full implicit equation adopts the finite volume method (FVM) and NewtoneRaphson iteration for discretization and solution. The model verification with the Eclipse 300 and MRST is satisfactory. The results show that the interaction between the mechanisms significantly affects the production performance and storage characteristics. The effect of molecular diffusion may be overestimated in oil-dominated (liquid-dominated) shale reservoirs. The well spacing and injection gas rate are the most crucial factors affecting the production by sensitivity analysis. Moreover, the potential gas invasion risk is mentioned. This model provides a reliable theoretical basis for CO2-EOR and sequestration in shale oil reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quality of Service (QoS) of virtual machines (VMs) is guaranteed by the Service Level Agreements (SLAs) signed between users and service providers during the renting of VMs. A typical idea to ensure the SLAs being reached is to predict the QoS of VMs accurately and then take the appropriate measures according to the prediction results timely. However, the QoS is affected by multiple VM-related features, among which the uncertain and non-linear relationships are challenging to represent and analyze. Thus, in this paper, we construct a class parameter augmented Bayesian Network (CBN) to overcome the difficulties and then predict the QoS of VMs accurately. Specifically, we first cluster multiple VM-related features based on the Euclidean distance, and then use XGboost to classify the different VM configurations within each cluster. Then, we construct the CBN based on the classification results as well as the corresponding QoS values. Consequently, we predict the QoS of VMs via the variable elimination (VE) with CBN. Experimental results show the efficiency and effectiveness of our proposed method on predicting the QoS of VMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design of micropolarizer array (MPA) patterns in Fourier domain provides an efficient approach to reconstruct and investigate the polarization information. Inspired by Alenin's works, in this paper, we propose an improved design model to cover both 2 × N MPAs and other original MPAs, by which an entirely new class of MPA patterns is suggested. The performance of the new patterns is evaluated through Fourier domain analysis and numerical simulations compared with the existing MPAs. Particularly, we analyze the reconstruction accuracy of the first three Stokes parameters and degree of linear polarization (DoLP) in detail. The experimental results confirm that the 2 × 2 × 2 MPA provides the highest reconstruction quality of s0, s1, s2 and DoLP in terms of quantitative measures and visual quality, while the 3 × 3 diagonal MPA achieves the state-of-the-art best results in case of single-snapshot systems. The guidance of this extended model and new diagonal MPAs show its massive potential for the division of focal plane (DoFP) polarization imaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The band structure of NpB 2 under the influence of U parameter and spin–orbit coupling (SOC) effects is discussed in detail. • The magnetic origin of NpB 2 is confirmed by electron localization function (ELF) and spin magnetic moment. • The Critical temperature (T C) of NpB 2 is obtained by Monte Carlo simulations and the regulation of ferromagnetic phase transition is realized. • The magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy (MAE) of NpB 2 are calculated and the contributions of different orbitals to SOC are provided. The electronic structure and magnetic properties of strongly-correlated compound neptunium boride (NpB 2) were investigated by first-principles calculation together with Monte Carlo simulations. Our results showed that NpB 2 can exist stably in terms of mechanical stability and thermodynamic stability. From the band structure and spin magnetic moment, it can be judged that the material exhibits obvious metallic properties, and the magnetism is mainly caused by the 5 f orbitals of Np. We also provide a more detailed distribution of electrons by electron localization function. Through Monte Carlo simulation, we not only obtain the magnetic moment and magnetic susceptibility of NpB 2 at different temperatures, but also found the competitive relationship between the crystal field (D) and magnetic field (h) in affecting the magnetothermal properties, where the critical temperature (T C = 116 K) is in good agreement with the experimental data. In addition, the magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy of NpB 2 is calculated and the contributions of different orbitals to spin–orbit coupling (SOC) effect are provided. For relatively complex f orbitals, f x 3 and f y 3 x 2 orbitals are coupled to the greatest degree in the direction of the inner layer, while other f orbitals (such as f z x 2 and f y 3 x 2 , f y z 2 and f z x 2 , f x z 2 and f z 3 ) show a considerable degree of coupling outside the plane. Our work not only helps to understand the internal physical mechanism of NpB 2 , but also helps to explore the potential applications of such magnetic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The midgut cadherin fragments were extensively studied as Bt synergists in insects, while their synergistic selection modes with Bt toxins in different mechanisms of resistance or insects have never been determined. Here, a soluble Helicoverpa armigera cadherin fragment which corresponds to the Cry1Ac binding region (HaCad-TBR) was expressed in Escherichia coli and its synergism with Cry1Ac toxin in H. armigera and Plutella xylostella larvae as well as Sf9 cells expressing different cadherins was tested. HaCad-TBR exhibited higher synergism factor in P. xylostella larvae (4.84-fold) than in H. armigera larvae (2.45-fold). Among the cells expressing HaCad alleles, HaCad-TBR enhanced the Cry1Ac toxicity only in the cells expressing the mutant lacking the extracellular domain. Moreover, HaCad-TBR had a weak enhancement of Cry1Ac toxicity in Sf9 cells expressing the P. xylostella cadherin. Further researches revealed that the enhancement of toxicity in Sf9 cells was correlated with increased toxin binding. These results suggested that cadherin fragments which have high binding level with Cry1Ac are more likely to enhance toxin toxicity well against the cells or larvae where the cadherin has lower binding level with Cry1Ac, especially in the cases lacking the toxin binding domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anti-idiotypic antibody technology has been widely developed. Here, we prepared the F(ab')2 fragments of the Cry1F toxin polyclonal antibody as Ab1and screened an anti-idiotype nanobody (VHH) for Bt Cry1F toxin from the camelid naive antibody phage display library. After three cycles of panning, six clones were isolated and subjected to indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (IC-ELISA) for the detection of the Cry1F toxin. A competition inhibition rate of 47.00% exists between the anti-idiotype nanobody with the highest activity (5B) and Cry1F toxin for F(ab')2 fragments. The binding abilities between the anti-idiotypic nanobody 5B and brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) of Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée) are also good. The anti-idiotypic nanobody 5B expressed through the prokaryotic system has the same activity as in phage form, and mortality compared to controls could reach 23.3% (P < 0.05). The material has the potential to simulate the Cry1F toxin to a certain extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on our previous work, a safer and more sustainable protocol for the synthesis of N-(2-Hydroxyethyl)anilines has been developed. The synthesis included the selective alkylation reaction of aniline with 2-chloroethanol in H2O, eliminating the need for any catalysts and solvents during synthesis. Comparing with our previous work, the salient features of this methodology are eco-friendliness, economic benefit, and the ease of obtaining target compounds. The selective alkylation reaction in H2O is amenable to scale-up for the synthesis of N-(2-Hydroxyethyl)anilines. A green and efficient alternative way for the industrial synthesis of N-hydroxyethyl anilines was developed, eliminating the need for toxic and expensive catalysts and volatile organic solvents. The selectivity of N-hydroxyethyl anilines obtained in H2O are significantly increased in comparison to those traditional methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insulin resistance (IR) is considered as one of the principal pathways of type 2 diabetes mellitus pathogenesis and is associated with a series of abnormal signaling pathways. Tangzhiqing (TZQ) herbal formula is a well-known antidiabetic traditional Chinese medicine and has been used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus and prediabetes for many years in China. We selected 13 natural products as representative compounds of the main active components in TZQ to investigate the interaction of these natural products with key signal proteins associated with IR using two different docking calculations. Salvianolic acids A and C (phenolic acids from Salvia miltiorrhiza), rutin (a flavonoid from Morus alba), paeoniflorin (a saponin from Paeonia lactiflora), and quercitrin (a flavonoid from Crataegus pinnatifida) showed great docking abilities towards multiple target proteins. These results have contributed to a clearer understanding regarding the regulation mechanism of TZQ on IR and have provided direction for further pharmacological studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we consider the defocusing energy critical wave equation with a trapping potential in dimension 3. We prove that the set of initial data for which solutions scatter to an unstable excited state (φ, 0) forms a finite co-dimensional path connected C¹ manifold in the energy space. This manifold is a global and unique center-stable manifold associated with (φ, 0). It is constructed in a first step locally around any solution scattering to φ, which might be very far away from φ in the Ṭ¹ x L²(ℝ³) norm. In a second crucial step a no-return property is proved for any solution which starts near, but not on the local manifolds. This ensures that the local manifolds form a global one. Scattering to an unstable steady state is therefore a non-generic behavior, in a strong topological sense in the energy space. This extends a previous result of ours to the nonradial case. The new ingredients here are (i) application of the reversed Strichartz estimate from Beceanu-Goldberg to construct a local center stable manifold near any solution that scatters to (φ, 0). This is needed since the endpoint of the standard Strichartz estimates fails nonradially. (ii) The nonradial channel of energy estimate introduced by Duyckaerts-Kenig-Merle, which is used to show that solutions that start off but near the local manifolds associated with φ emit some amount of energy into the far field in excess of the amount of energy beyond that of the steady state φ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a dual‐polarized cross‐dipole antenna with wide beam and high isolation is designed and analyzed for base station. The proposed antenna consists of two planar cross dipoles with four square patches, two L‐shaped microstrip lines, two ground plates, four parasitic patches, and a reflector. The square patches are placed between the center of cross dipoles to couple with L‐shaped microstrip lines. By introducing the parasitic patches, the wide beam can be realized. The measured results show that the proposed antenna achieves an impedance bandwidth (|S11| < −10 dB) of about 18.7% (1.9‐2.35 GHz) and an isolation better than 30 dB. A measured gain of 5.7 dBi and a half‐power beamwidth over 120° at the center frequency are obtained. Furthermore, the size of the proposed antenna is only 0.5λ0 × 0.5λ0 × 0.22λ0 (λ0 is wavelength at the center frequency). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dual field driven caloric effect has aroused great interest in recent years. Hydrostatic pressure can shift the temperature zone of magnetocaloric effect(MCE), but seldom enhance its magnitude. Here, a large enhancement of MCE driven by pressure under magnetic field available by permanent magnet has been achieved in HoCuSi compound without introducing hysteresis loss, which is favorable for developing hybrid field driven refrigeration applications at low temperature regions. A distinct mechanism is revealed. Pressure largely regulates non-collinear spin structure and magnetizing process through affecting crystal field interactions and spin-spin coupling, hence resulting in the significant impact on magnetic properties and MCE. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The involvement of pyroptosis in ischemic stroke remains to be established. Therefore, we used the specific pyroptosis inhibitor Vx765 as an experimental intervention target in a murine model of stroke. Methods: A total of 564 C57BL/6 mice were subjected to photothrombotic procedures and treated via gavage with Vx765 at 1‐hour post‐ischemia. We subsequently assessed the expression of Gasdermin D (GSDMD), inflammasomes, caspase‐1, and interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) using immunofluorescence (IF) and Western blot (WB) analyses. We also examined ultrastructural changes of cortical neurons with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and measured infarct volumes dynamically by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Moreover, we evaluated the neurologic deficits by modified neurological severity scores, the rotarod test, and Treadscan. Results: Elevated expression of GSDMD and GSDMD p30, the pore‐forming subunit, was evident in the peri‐ischemic region on days one and three post‐ischemia. The neuronal plasma, nuclear, and mitochondrial membranes showed ultrastructural damage at day three post‐stroke. Elevated expression of inflammasomes, caspase‐1, and IL‐1β was also present on days one and three post‐injury. There were significant differences between Vx765‐treated and vehicle groups in mean infarct volumes (14.36 vs 21.52 mm3; 12.34 vs 18.56 mm3; 4.13 vs 10.06 mm3; P <.05 at day one, three, and seven post‐surgery, respectively). Mice treated with Vx765 showed better motor recovery as assessed by serial behavior tests and had better neuronal survival, which was attributable to pyroptosis inhibition, as illustrated by downregulated expression of the effector protein GSDMD, inflammasomes, caspase‐1, and IL‐1β. Besides, treatment with Vx765 preserved neuronal membrane structures after the ischemic injury. Conclusions: Pyroptosis emerges as an important pathway for neuronal death in an acute ischemic stroke. Vx765, a low molecular weight drug that has proven safe in clinical epilepsy trials, has potential therapeutic value for cerebral ischemia by targeting the canonical inflammasome pathway of pyroptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zero thermal expansion (ZTE) materials, particularly metals, have important applications in precision manufacturing. Here, ultra-low thermal expansion over a significantly broadened temperature interval is realized by tuning Gd content in ferrimagnetic(FIM) Gd x (Dy 0.5 Ho 0.5) 1-x Co 2 compounds. The achieved coefficients of thermal expansion α l ~+1.3 × 10−6K−1 (5-220K), -1.5 × 10−6K−1 (220-280K) for x=0.5 are even better than the well-known ZTE Invar alloy Fe 0.65 Ni 0.35 , while the operation temperature interval is much wider. The origin is closely related to the regulation of magnetostrictive process by rare earth ions along c-axis in the rhombohedral FIM structure. Our work highlights the advantageous ways to generate ultra-low thermal expansion in magnetocaloric materials. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION Monascus pigment (MP) is a natural food coloring with vital physiological functions but prone to degradation and color fading under light conditions.This study investigated the effect of complex formation of soybean protein isolate (SPI), maltodextrin (MD), and MP on the photostability of MP. Light stability was assessed through retention rate and color difference. Fluorescence spectroscopy (FS), circular dichroism (CD), Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) explored MP, SPI, and MD interactions, clarifying the MP–SPI–MD complex mechanism on the light stability of MP. Microstructure and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyzed the morphology and thermal properties. The retention rate of MP increased to approximately 80%, and minimal color difference was observed when adding SPI and MD simultaneously. FS revealed hydrophobic interaction between MP and SPI. FTIR analysis showed intensity changes and peak shifts in amide I band and amide II band, which proved the hydrophobic interaction. CD showed a decrease in α‐helix content and an increase in β‐sheet content after complex formation, indicating strengthened hydrogen bonding interactions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis demonstrated that MP was attached to the surface and interior of complexes. XRD showed MP as crystalline, while SPI and MD were amorphous, complexes exhibited weakened or absent peaks, suggesting MP encapsulation. The results of DSC were consistent with XRD.SPI and MD enveloped MP through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction, ultimately enhancing its light stability and providing insights for pigment–protein–polysaccharide interactions and improving pigment stability in the food industry. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing demand for natural interactions, people have realized that an intuitive Computer-Aided Design (CAD) interaction mode can reduce the complexity of CAD operation and improve the design experience. Although interaction modes like gaze and gesture are compatible with some complex CAD manipulations, they still require people to express their design intentions physically. The brain contains design intentions implicitly and controls the corresponding body parts that execute the task. Therefore, building an end-to-end channel between the brain and computer as an auxiliary mode for CAD manipulation will allow people to send design intentions mentally and make their interaction more intuitive. This work focuses on the 1-D translation scene and studies a spatial visual imagery (SVI) paradigm to provide theoretical support for building an electroencephalograph (EEG)-based brain–computer interface (BCI) for CAD manipulation. Based on the analysis of three spatial EEG features related to SVI (e.g., common spatial patterns, cross-correlation, and coherence), a multi-feature fusion-based discrimination model was built for SVI. The average accuracy of the intent discrimination of 10 subjects was 86%, and the highest accuracy was 93%. The method proposed was verified to be feasible for discriminating the intentions of CAD object translation with good classification performance. This work further proves the potential of BCI in natural CAD manipulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A form of reflective half-wave plate based on all-dielectric 3D-printed metasurface is proposed in this paper. The element of the proposed reflective half-wave plate consists of a novel hexagonal prism dielectric resonator (HPDR), a square substrate and a ground plane. The designed HPDR element can effectively convert the incident linearly polarized (LP) waves into the reflected circularly polarized (CP) waves. Meanwhile, an approximately linear reflection phase ranging over 360° of HPDR element is realized by varying the height of HPDR, which can significantly simplify the design procedure. In addition, based on the proposed HPDR element, a CP dielectric reflectarray antenna is designed. In order to verify the feasibility of the proposed design method, the dielectric reflectarray antenna with LP feeding is fabricated and measured, which can achieve a 1 dB gain bandwidth of 17.9% and a 3 dB axial-ratio bandwidth of 15%. A good agreement between the simulation and measurement is also observed. To the best of authors' knowledge, the broadband CP dielectric reflectarray antenna based on all-dielectric 3D-printed metasurface may be the first ever reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multicaloric effect refers to the thermal response of a solid material driven by simultaneous or sequential application of more than one type of external field. For practical applications, the multicaloric effect is a potentially interesting strategy to improve the efficiency of refrigeration devices. Here, the state of the art in multi-field driven multicaloric effect is reviewed. The phenomenology and fundamental thermodynamics of the multicaloric effect are well established. A number of theoretical and experimental research approaches are covered. At present, the theoretical understanding of the multicaloric effect is thorough. However, due to the limitation of the current experimental technology, the experimental approach is still in progress. All these researches indicated that the thermal response and effective reversibility of multiferroic materials can be improved through multicaloric cycles to overcome the inherent limitations of the physical mechanisms behind single-field-induced caloric effects. Finally, the viewpoint of further developments is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We give an alternative proof of sharp decay rates and the linear inviscid damping near monotone shear flow in a periodic channel, first obtained in [D. Wei, Z. Zhang, and W. Zhao, Comm. Pure Appl. Math., 71 (2018), pp. 617--687]. We shall also obtain the precise asymptotics of the solutions, measured in the space L∞. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-time monitoring and wireless transmission of farmland soil moisture have been paid with more and more attention in the research of agricultural drought monitoring, early warning and prevention and control technology. The hardware design and software design of soil moisture monitoring in farmland were carried out, and a monitoring system based on the principles of ZigBee and GPRS technologies was developed and applied to the actual monitoring of soil moisture in farmland. This study provides a good idea to promote real-time monitoring, wireless transmission and intelligent management of soil moisture in farmland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the ferrimagnetic mixed-spin (3/2, 5/2) Ising model was established to investigate the magnetic and thermodynamic properties of a nanoisland bilayer system with graphene-like structure by Monte Carlo simulation. We have analyzed the magnetization of the system and two sublattices, susceptibility, internal energy and hysteresis loops in detail. We have obtained the phase diagrams of the blocking temperature T B affected by the effects of various physical parameters. The triple hysteresis behavior has been observed, which originates from the competition among various physical parameters. Our results are comparable with those of other theoretical and experimental research. • The ferrimagnetic mixed-spin (3/2, 5/2) graphene-like nanoisland bilayer in the longitudinal magnetic field has been investigated. • Magnetization, susceptibility and internal energy have been discussed. • The phase diagrams of blocking temperature have been obtained under the influence of various physical parameters. • The triple hysteresis behavior have been found for certain physical parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]