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Objective: This study aimed to examine the long-term influence of having a child at risk of different developmental delays (communication, mobility, self-care, relating, learning, coping, or behaving) on parental labor force participation as the child grows. Method: A retrospective cohort was conducted using data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children survey, Waves 1–8 covering birth to 15 years of age of children. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to explore the odds ratio of mothers being out of the labor force at different children's ages. Cox proportional hazards models were utilized to identify the 'risk' of mothers returning to the workforce after leaving. All models were adjusted for the mother's age, education attainment, and employment status at time of birth, as well as marital status at the current wave. Results: There were 5,107 records of children, and 266 of them were at risk of any developmental delays at age 4–5 years. This sample represents 243, 026 children born in Australia in 2003/04. After adjusting for potential confounders, mothers of children at risk of each type of developmental delay (except mobility and self-care) had greater odds of being out of, and not returning to the labor force from children aged 2–3 to 14–15 years, when compared to mothers of children who are not at risk of developmental delays. Similar differences were found for fathers but were distinctly small and with narrower fluctuations, compared to mothers. Conclusion: Policies and programs funded by the government are greatly needed to support the mothers of children at risk of developmental delays. Significance: What is already known: Maternal labour force participation has been negatively affected by having a child with chronic health conditions, whereas paternal labour force participation is not significantly influenced. What this paper adds: Having a child at risk of developmental delays negatively influenced maternal and paternal labour force participation, where the influence on fathers was distinctly small and with narrower fluctuations during the 14 to 15 years of follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: There has been increased use of both induction of labor (IOL) and cesarean section for women with term pregnancies in many high‐income countries, and a trend toward birth at earlier gestational ages. Existing evidence regarding the association between IOL and cesarean section for term pregnancies is mixed and conflicting, and little evidence is available on the differential effect at each week of gestation, stratified by parity. Material and methods: To explore the association between IOL and primary cesarean section for singleton cephalic pregnancies at term, compared with two definitions of expectant management (first: at or beyond the week of gestation at birth following IOL; and secondary: only beyond the week of gestation at birth following IOL), we performed analyses of population‐based historical cohort data on women who gave birth in one Australian state (Queensland), between July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2018. Women who gave birth before 37+0 or after 41+6 weeks of gestation, had stillbirths, no‐labor, multiple births (twins or triplets), non‐cephalic presentation at birth, a previous cesarean section, or missing data on included variables were excluded. Four sub‐datasets were created for each week at birth (37–40). Unadjusted relative risk, adjusted relative risk using modified Poisson regression, and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated in each sub‐dataset. Analyses were stratified by parity (nulliparas vs. parous women with a previous vaginal birth). Sensitivity analyses were conducted by limiting to women with low‐risk pregnancies. Results: A total of 239 094 women were included in the analysis, 36.7% of whom gave birth following IOL. The likelihood of primary cesarean section following IOL in a Queensland population‐based cohort was significantly higher at 38 and 39 weeks, compared with expectant management up to 41+6 weeks, for both nulliparas and paras with singleton cephalic pregnancies, regardless of risk status of pregnancy and definition of expectant management. No significant difference was found for nulliparas at 37 and 40 weeks; and for paras at 40 weeks. Conclusions: Future studies are suggested to investigate further the association between IOL and other maternal and neonatal outcomes at each week of gestation in different maternal populations, before making any recommendation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cycles are the only 2-connected graphs in which any two nonadjacent vertices form a vertex cut. We generalize this fact by proving that for every integer k ≥ 3 there exists a unique graph G satisfying the following three conditions: (1) G is k-connected; (2) the independence number of G is greater than k; (3) any independent set of cardinality k is a vertex cut of G. However, the edge version of this result does not hold. We also consider the problem when replacing independent sets by the periphery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The involvement of people with lived experience (LEX) workers in the development, design, and delivery of integrated health services seeks to improve service user engagement and health outcomes and reduce healthcare gaps. Yet, LEX workers report feeling undervalued and having limited influence on service delivery. There is a need for systematic improvements in how LEX workforces are engaged and supported to ensure the LEX workforce can fully contribute to integrated systems of care. Objective: This study aimed to operationalize the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) using a rigorous scoping review methodology and co‐creation process, so it could be used by health services seeking to build and strengthen their LEX workforce. Search Strategy: A systematic literature search of four databases was undertaken to identify peer‐reviewed studies published between 2016 and 2022 providing evidence of the inclusion of LEX workers in direct health service provision. Data Extraction and Synthesis: A descriptive‐analytical method was used to map current evidence of LEX workers onto the CFIR. Then, co‐creation sessions with LEX workers (n = 4) and their counterparts—nonpeer workers (n = 2)—further clarified the structural policies and strategies that allow people with LEX to actively participate in the provision and enhancement of integrated health service delivery. Main Results: Essential components underpinning the successful integration of LEX roles included: the capacity to engage in a co‐creation process with individuals with LEX before the implementation of the role or intervention; and enhanced representation of LEX across organizational structures. Discussion and Conclusion: The adapted CFIR for LEX workers (CFIR‐LEX) that was developed as a result of this work clarifies contextual components that support the successful integration of LEX roles into the development, design, and delivery of integrated health services. Further work must be done to operationalize the framework in a local context and to better understand the ongoing application of the framework in a health setting. Patient or Public Contribution: People with LEX were involved in the operationalization of the CFIR, including contributing their expertise to the domain adaptations that were relevant to the LEX workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of ammonia via electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) provides an attractive alternative approach to the traditional Haber-Bosch process. In this regard, a one-step hydrothermal method was adopted to synthesize a bimetallic oxide， ferric molybdate (Fe 2 (MoO 4) 3), coated with carbon black on the surface (denoted as Fe 2 (MoO 4) 3 /C). The carbon black coating minimizes aggregation of Fe 2 (MoO 4) 3 , leading to increased electrochemical active sites for NRR. Additionally, this coating improves the electrical conductivity of Fe 2 (MoO 4) 3 thereby accelerating electron transfer between carbon black and Fe 2 (MoO 4) 3 , which is beneficial to charge transfer and enlarge the electrochemical active surface areas. At a potential of −0.4 V RHE (vs. reversible hydrogen electrode, RHE), the ammonia yield achieved was up to 51.76 μg h−1 mg cat −1, with a Faradaic efficiency of 90.63% at −0.35V RHE. Impressively, this electrocatalyst exhibited excellent cycle stability and durability. Fe 2 (MoO 4) 3 /C electrocatalyst was prepared via a one-step hydrothermal method and demonstrated to be a highly efficient non-noble metal catalyst towards electrocatalytic NRR. The obtained Fe 2 (MoO 4) 3 /C gives an NH 3 yield rate of 51.76 μg h−1 mg cat −1 at −0.4 V RHE and FE of 90.63% at −0.35 V RHE in 0.1 M Na 2 SO 4 solution, which is much higher than that of the contrast Fe 2 (MoO 4) 3 sample. [Display omitted] • Fe 2 (MoO 4) 3 /C composite electrocatalyst is reasonably designed and synthesized. • Fe 2 (MoO 4) 3 /C shows excellent stability for electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction in 0.1 M Na 2 SO 4 electrolyte. • The excellent NRR activities of Fe 2 (MoO 4) 3 /C own to the enhanced electron transfer and enlarged ECSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large scatter in high-cycle fatigue (HCF) life poses significant challenges to safe and reliable in-service assessment of additively manufactured metal components. Previous investigations have indicated that inherent manufacturing defects are a critical factor affecting the fatigue performance of the components, and the HCF life is significantly influenced by the geometric parameters of the critical defects inducing crack nucleation. Therefore, it is highly important to elucidate the correlation of the HCF life with the geometric parameters of critical defects. This study proposes a new fatigue life prediction model for laser additively manufactured AlSi10Mg alloys by including the combined effects of loading stress and defect geometries (size, location and morphology) in terms of domain knowledge-guided symbolic regression (SR). Domain knowledge is extracted from the semi-empirical Murakami, Z-parameter and X-parameter fatigue life models to establish the variable subtrees. The results show that compared with these semi-empirical models, the domain knowledge integration-based SR model has higher prediction accuracy and generalization ability. Moreover, compared with traditional 'black box' machine learning models, SR excels at balancing prediction accuracy and model interpretability, which provides useful insights into the relationship between fatigue life and defect geometries. This article is part of the theme issue 'Physics-informed machine learning and its structural integrity applications (Part 2)'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) hydrogel has gained significant interest in the realms of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine due to its biocompatible characteristics and ability to replicate the properties of the natural extracellular matrix (ECM). The given environment possesses three-dimensional attributes that facilitate the proliferation and specialization of cells, making it suitable for the use of tissue engineering applications. The temperature-responsive nature of PNIPAm hydrogel enables it to encapsulate and release therapeutic ingredients in response to temperature fluctuations. This characteristic exhibits potential for the advancement of drug administration systems in regenerative medicine. PNIPAm hydrogel exhibits thermoresponsive properties that make it very suitable for applications in biofabrication techniques, such as 3D printing, and for replicating intricate tissue structures. Moreover, it shows significant potential in stem cell engineering by establishing a favorable setting that promotes cell growth and specialization. The material has the potential to be used as a scaffold for tissue regeneration, allowing its porosity structure and mechanical properties to be customized to meet various tissue needs. Researchers are currently studying the integration of bioactive compounds into PNIPAm hydrogel scaffolds to enhance tissue regeneration and cellular responses. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the uses of PNIPAm in tissue engineering, specifically highlighting its strengths in additive manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of alkali ASP flooding in oil and gas fields, strata and pipelines become seriously scaled, which poses a threat to the normal operation of crude oil production. We propose an intelligent knowledge reasoning model for dynamic scaling prediction in order to address the problems of high directivity, poor generalization ability, and poor application effect of existing scaling prediction methods. The model framework includes the knowledge acquisition layer which mainly relates to the manual acquisition of scaling prediction knowledge and the intelligent training of the knowledge base, and it includes the knowledge modeling layer that provides a set of standard domain common ontology and knowledge organization system using the ontology modeling technology, it also includes the knowledge inference layer which is the application layer of the model. The three layers collaborate and finally complete the scaling prediction through inference and expression. A total of 238 wells were selected for experimentation in the northern development area of the Xingshugang Oilfield. Experimental results indicate that the model has the highest accuracy of 91.87%. Additionally, the time series prediction trend for the six ions matches the trend of change in ion concentration in the scaling state, verifying the accuracy of the model's predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maternity care is a high‐volume and high‐cost area of health care, which entails various types of service use throughout the course of the pregnancy. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the most common reasons and related costs of health services used by women and babies from pregnancy to 12‐month postbirth. Methods: We used linked administrative data from one state of Australia, which contained all births in Queensland between 01/07/2017 and 30/06/2018. Descriptive analyses were used to identify the 10 most frequent reasons and related costs for accessing inpatient, outpatient, emergency department, and Medicare services. These are reported separately for women and babies in different periods. Results: We included 58,394 births in our data set. The results have highlighted that there was relatively uniform use of inpatient, outpatient, and Medicare services by women and babies, with the 10 most common services accounting for more than half of the total services accessed. However, the emergency department service use was more diverse. Medicare services accounted for the greatest volume (79.21%) of service events but only 10.21% of the overall funding, compared with inpatient services, which accounted for less volume (3.62%) but the highest amount of overall funding (75.19%). Conclusion: Study findings provide empirical evidence about the full spectrum of services used by birthing families and their babies, and could assist health providers and managers to understand the services women and infants actually access during pregnancy, birth, and postbirth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The independence number of a square matrix A , denoted by α (A) , is the maximum order of its principal zero submatrices. Given any integer n , let S n + be the set of n × n nonnegative symmetric matrices with zero diagonal. We characterize the linear maps on S n + preserving the independence number of all matrices in S n +. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Mental ill-health is a common occurrence globally and represents a significant burden of disease. In Australia, the development and improvement of programs that connect individuals earlier in their mental ill-health journey is a national health priority. However, there are current informational gaps on community-based initiatives and their associated mental health outcomes. This review aimed to systematically identify, assess, and analyse studies reporting on community-based outreach interventions for individuals experiencing mental ill-health. Method. A systematic review of the literature was conducted across 6 electronic databases and Google Scholar on 01 November 2021 and 12 June 2022. The National Health and Medical Research Council Evidence Hierarchy was used to assess study quality, and the PAGER framework was used to synthesise and analyse the results of included studies. Results. Eighty-three studies met the inclusion criteria; 51% (n = 42 studies) incorporated digital technology, and 49% (n = 41 studies) involved nonclinical light-touch interventions. Individuals with severe mental ill-health were likely to benefit from targeted interventions, and individuals with mild to moderate symptoms of mental ill-health were likely to benefit from interventions involving high levels of engagement from participants. Conclusion. Results from this review provide an understanding of patterns related to the effectiveness of community-based outreach interventions. Knowledge from this review will inform the implementation of targeted strategies to enhance the proactive provision of mental health services in the community. Standardised outcome measures are needed to strengthen the evidence base for community-based outreach interventions, by enabling researchers and service providers to explore which type of intervention and with what intensity is best suited for participants with varying levels of mental ill-health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An in situ cryogenic tensile X-ray tomography testing system is developed. • Damage evolution is revealed through time-lapse X-ray tomography. • A void nucleation model is proposed considering the orientation of inclusions. • The Gurson-Tvergaard-Needleman model is extended to low temperatures. This work investigates the failure behaviour of tungsten inert gas (TIG) welded 2219 aluminum alloy butt welds deformed over a range of cryogenic temperatures relevant to liquid hydrogen/oxygen propellent storage tanks. A novel in situ tensile testing machine, able to deform samples at temperatures down to 83 K, was designed to be accommodated on synchrotron computed tomography beamlines. In this way we were able to observe the accumulation of damage from void nucleation through growth to coalescence and ultimate failure by time-lapse X-ray microtomography during tensile straining at 293 K and 123 K. The results reveal that micro-void nucleation is triggered by θ (Al 2 Cu) precipitates and α-Al + θ (Al 2 Cu) eutectics in the form of particle fracture and interface decohesion. After nucleation, these freshly nucleated voids, along with pre-existing welding defects, extend with straining along the loading direction. This leads to void linkage, a very short void coalescence stage and subsequent catastrophic failure. The probability distribution function that describes the rate at which voids nucleate by interface decohesion considering the particle orientation was determined through the Eshelby inclusion theory. The evolution of void aspect ratio and void growth were modelled using the Gurson-Tvergaard-Needleman model and Le Roy model, respectively. This suggests that pre-existing defects grow faster, but that the numerous closely spaced nucleated voids play a significant role in failure. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• NiCoCr's composition and SRO significantly influence surface energies and USFE, thereby affecting strength and toughness. • Tailoring SRO leads to a synergy between strength and toughness for material enhancement. • Exceptional toughness results from both intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms. • In the presence of SRO, intrinsic toughening mechanisms usually associated with crack tip blunting and dissipationare seen to also facilitate the onset of extrinsic toughening mechanisms of nanobridging and zig-zag crack path associated with nanovoid formation and coalescence. The pursuit of enhancing strength and toughness remains a critical endeavor in the field of structural materials. This study explores two distinct strategies to overcome the traditional strength-toughness trade-off. Specifically, we manipulate the chemical composition and short-range order (SRO) of the NiCoCr medium-entropy alloy, which has shown remarkable fracture toughness in recent experiments. Utilizing molecular dynamics simulations, we uncover nano-scale deformation mechanisms during crack propagation. Our findings highlight that optimizing the SRO degree leads to improvements in both atomic scale strength and toughness defined as the area underneath stress-strain curves from MD simulations. In contrast, a trade-off between strength and toughness persists when only manipulating the Ni content in the NiCoCr alloy. Based on the simulation results, we establish a strong correlation between toughness, strength, surface energies, and unstable stacking fault energies. These factors are influenced by the chemical composition and SROs in NiCoCr, with SROs acting as strong obstacles to dislocations, thereby contributing to additional strength. The exceptional toughness of NiCoCr with SRO arises from a synergy of intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms, including dislocation glide, nanobridging during nanovoid coalescence and zigzag crack path. It is found that, in the presence of SRO, intrinsic toughening mechanisms usually associated with crack tip blunting and dissipation can also facilitate the onset of extrinsic toughening mechanisms of nanobridging and zig-zag crack path associated with nanovoid formation and coalescence. This study emphasizes the importance of tailoring SRO in designing materials with enhanced strength and toughness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fatigue strength and life of 2219 welded joints at 77 K are improved compared to RT. • The maximum pore defects near the weld surfaces are predicted by EVS. • Fatigue strengths at RT and 77 K are predicted using EVS and El-Haddad model. • A fatigue life prediction model at room and low temperatures is proposed. This study investigated the tensile and high-cycle fatigue (HCF) properties of a tungsten inert gas (TIG)-welded 2219 aluminum alloy at room temperature (RT) and 77 K for the first time. Defect-sensitivity-based fatigue strength and life prediction models were proposed to link welding defects with fatigue properties at cryogenic temperatures. The findings revealed that the yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, and fatigue strength of 2219 welded joints at 77 K were significantly improved by 29.7 %, 34.1 %, and 60.4 %, respectively, compared to those at RT. The largest possible pore defects near the weld surface were predicted using a combination of laboratory X-ray computed microtomography and the extreme value statistics (EVS) method. Furthermore, the fatigue strength was predicted by considering the maximum defect size in terms of the El-Haddad-based Kitagawa–Takahashi (K–T) diagram. The predicted fatigue strength was 95.5 MPa with an error of 5.4 % at RT, whereas at 77 K, the predicted value was 144.5 MPa with an error of 10.8 %. Finally, a fatigue life prediction model at both RT and 77 K was proposed based on a modified K–T diagram and Murakami's S - N prediction model. The combination of the fatigue life prediction model and the maximum possible defect size based on EVS can provide slightly conservative predictions of the fatigue life without conducting a large number of HCF tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Construct a neural network with physical constraints in loss function. • Effects of temperature and strain rate on fatigue life are involved. • The effect of the strength of physical constraints on prediction accuracy is discussed. • Prediction accuracy of fatigue life is located within the twice error band. Degraded fatigue performance has been frequently reported for metallic materials at elevated temperatures, which is further deteriorated by reducing the loading frequency due to creep deformation. The evaluation of fatigue life for materials and structures typically relies on a large number of experiments and simulations, which is time-consuming and expensive. To address these challenges, a novel physical informed-based multi-layer nested neural network framework is proposed in this work to predict the low-cycle fatigue life of 316 stainless steels at different temperatures and strain rates. The proposed framework integrates physical constraints into a multi-layer nested neural network. Introducing physical constraints into the neural network can enhance the prediction accuracy of the machine learning approach. All predicted fatigue lives fall within the twice error band, with the majority of them falling within the 1.5 times error band. This approach has the potential to significantly improve computational efficiency and reduce resource consumption in the fatigue life prediction of materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability and accuracy of temperature control of the injection molding machine is one of the keys to determine the quality and appearance of plastic parts. Due to the temperature control system of water-cooled injection molding machine has the characteristics of coupling, nonlinearity, and hysteresis, the traditional proportion-integral-derivative (PID) method to control the barrel temperature of injection molding machine will yield temperature overshoot and oscillation, affecting the product and appearance quality. In order to improve the effect of barrel temperature control, in this paper, an expert adjustable fuzzy control strategy (EAFCA) is designed to optimize the barrel temperature control system through the combination of expert control, fuzzy control, and PID control. The expert control rules are designed according to the barrel temperature deviation e and its change rate ec. The expert rules are used to adjust the mapping range of the fuzzy universe in real time for the input and output variables of the fuzzy controller and finally to realize the accurate adjustment of the PID controller parameters. In terms of control systems, the distributed control system (DCS) monitoring system of injection molding machine is designed with Siemens CPU315-2PN/DP and industrial computer as the hardware core and Step7 and windows control center (WinCC) as the software platform to complete the tool plastic production monitoring system. The DCS improves the operability, data management convenience, and plastic production efficiency of the injection molding machine monitoring system. The Simulink simulation and field test show that the EAFCA method can increase the adjustment speed by approximately 34 s and reduce the overshoot by nearly 3.1%, which significantly improves the stability and accuracy of the barrel temperature and improves the quality of plastic parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A graph is called homogeneously traceable if every vertex is an endpoint of a Hamilton path. In 1979 Chartrand, Gould and Kapoor proved that for every integer n ≥ 9 , there exists a homogeneously traceable nonhamiltonian graph of order n. The graphs they constructed are irregular. Thus it is natural to consider the existence problem of regular homogeneously traceable nonhamiltonian graphs. We prove two results: (1) For every even integer n ≥ 10 , there exists a cubic homogeneously traceable nonhamiltonian graph of order n ; (2) for every integer p ≥ 18 , there exists a 4-regular homogeneously traceable graph of order p and circumference p − 4. Unsolved problems are posed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing resource constraints around land, water, and energy while tackling climate change in Central Asia threaten the agricultural sustainability that underpins food security and people livelihoods. However, there is a lack of comprehensive long-term evaluations of the intricate water-food-energy‑carbon nexus on a wider scale, hindering sustainable agriculture across this region. This study developed an integrated top-down and bottom-up approach to quantify the water consumption, energy use, and carbon emissions from crop production in Central Asia and established the coupling coordination model to evaluate the nexus (1995–2020). The results show that the total water consumption in Central Asia increased from 161.55 × 109 to 170.93 × 109 m3 at a rate of 1.39 × 109 m3/a in which blue water accounted for 59%. However, the energy use and carbon emissions decreased at a rate of − 1.57 PJ/a and − 0.06 Mt CO 2 eq / a , respectively, in which the indirect energy and indirect carbon emissions varied greatly. Furthermore, the coupling coordination level of water-food-energy‑carbon nexus oscillated between uncoordinated and transitional development stages before 2000 and then entered coordinated development in 2003 after a short transitional development. The findings revealed that this oscillation may have been abnormal owing to issues such as yield loss and soil degradation. These results highlight the complex interplay between water, food, energy, and carbon of crop production across Central Asia and emphasise the need for a more integrated policymaking with increased regional cooperation, improvement in resource utilization efficiency, agricultural structure optimization, and protection of farmers rights towards agricultural sustainability. [Display omitted] • Method of constructing water-food-energy-carbon nexus for crop production is improved. • Rising coupling coordination degree of the nexus in Central Asia maybe abnormal. • Agriculture input, land reform, cropping structure, trade are behind nexus changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving the kinetics of oxygen evolution is crucial for enhancing the performance of photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. Herein, this study utilizes a chemical self-growth method to grow NiFe tannic acid complex (NFTA) and Co(OH) 2 on the surface of BiVO 4 photoanode (BiVO 4 /NFTA/Co). As a result, the synergistic effects of NFTA and Co(OH) 2 layers promote the efficiency and stability of BiVO 4 photoanode towards PEC water oxidation. The photocurrent density of the obtained BiVO 4 /NFTA/Co photoanode reaches 4.97 mA cm−2, which is significantly greater than those of BiVO 4 /NFTA (4.36 mA cm−2), BiVO 4 /Co (2.51 mA cm−2), BiVO 4 (1.34 mA cm−2), respectively. Detailed analysis confirms that NFTA could provide an efficient way to hasten the transfer of photo-generated holes on the photoanode surface and diminish the surface charge transfer resistance. In other hand, Co(OH) 2 could be served as a cocatalyst to accelerate charge transfer for efficient oxygen evolution reaction as well as a protective layer to maintain the long-term stability of NFTA on the surface of BiVO 4 during water oxidation. Such double oxygen evolution co-catalysts decoration strategy paves an effective pathway to enhance the PEC water oxidation performance of BiVO 4 photoanode. [Display omitted] • NiFe-tannic acid and Co(OH) 2 co-modified BiVO 4 realizes excellent PEC activities. • The enhanced PEC performance is due to the promoted charge transfer. • BiVO 4 /NFTA/Co photoanode attains 4.97 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V RHE with good durability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Post-heat treated LPBF 316L steel exhibits a cyclic hardening followed by non-saturated cyclic softening stage. • The cyclic deformation is primarily influenced by the evolution of dislocation density and dislocation patterns. • Anisotropy in fatigue life is attributed to the anisotropic microstructure, defects and yield strength. • Ratchetting strain and ratchetting strain rate are highly dependent on the applied stress levels. This study has investigated the cyclic deformation and ratchetting-fatigue interaction of 316L stainless steel fabricated by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) and subjected to a 900 °C/2 h post-heat treatment, considering both the vertical and horizontal orientations. Strain- and stress-controlled low cycle fatigue (LCF) tests are conducted to explore the cyclic deformation and the effects of the mean stress and stress amplitude on the fatigue life and ratchetting deformation. A detailed analysis of the cyclic deformation mechanism is conducted through X-ray microtomography and transmission electron microscope (TEM) observations. The results show that post-heat treated LPBF 316L steel exhibits cyclic hardening followed by a non-saturated cyclic softening stage. This behavior is attributed to the evolution of dislocation density and dislocation patterns, and the formation of surface cracks. The ratchetting strain and its rate are sensitive to the mean stress and stress amplitude. The fatigue lives of vertically built specimens are slightly higher under strain-controlled loading conditions, but significantly lower under stress-controlled loading conditions than those of horizontally built ones. Furthermore, ratchetting deformation can promote fatigue damage, resulting in a reduction in fatigue life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recombination of interface charges hindered photocatalytic nitrogen fixation (NRR), but the introduction of surface oxygen defects (O V) and the construction of heterojunctions were found to effectively separate charges at the interface and enhance NRR efficiency. Here we successfully constructed the δ-Bi 2 O 3 /Bi 2 WO 6 (BBWO-3) heterojunction with a core-shell similar structures and O V -rich via a solvothermal method, where the δ-Bi 2 O 3 nanosheets were grown in-situ on the surface of Bi 2 WO 6 (BWO) hollow microspheres. The optimized BBWO-3 achieved a nitrogen fixation yield of 65.6 μmol−1·g−1 Cat under simulated sunlight, which was 6 times that of δ-Bi 2 O 3 and 2.8 times that of Bi 2 WO 6 , without needing sacrificial agents. The enhanced photocatalysis activity was attributed to O V and the formation of direct Z-Scheme heterojunction with core-shell similar structures, achieving effective spatial separation of photogenerated charges and providing a dedicated pathway for charge migration. At the meanwhile, since the bending of the band, an internal electric field (IEF) was formed from δ-Bi 2 O 3 to BWO at the interface, which accelerate the dynamics of charge transfer. Moreover, the mechanism of the NRR was elucidated based on density functional theory (DFT) and in-situ XPS. This study provides a new idea for the construction of O V -rich core-shell similar structures direct Z-Scheme heterojunction photocatalysts. [Display omitted] • The direct Z-Scheme δ-Bi 2 O 3 /Bi 2 WO 6 heterojunction with a core-shell similar structure was constructed. • The introduction of oxygen defects provided abundant active sites and reactant adsorption sites for NRR. • The delocalized electrons moved from δ-Bi 2 O 3 to BWO and formed an internal electric field (IEF). • The photocatalytic nitrogen fixation yield of BBWO-3 was 65.6 μmol−1·g−1 Cat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The global COVID-19 pandemic has led to the need for educators to explore online platforms in delivering lessons to students. Home-based learning is one of the most commonly-used teaching methods that allow learning to take place despite a physical separation between the students and the educators. Methods: A descriptive qualitative approach was used to explore the experiences of nursing undergraduates when using home-based learning as a pedagogy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected from twenty-three nursing students (n = 14 in year one; n = 9 in year two) of their full-time pre-registration nursing program in a public-funded university in Singapore. Semi-structured interviews using an interview guide was conducted through Zoom-based video-conferencing from November 2020 to January 2021. The interview lasted between 45 and 65 min (median = 45 min). Data collection took place concurrently with thematic analysis through Braun and Clarke's six-step approach. This study was reported according to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research. Results: Three main themes identified during the data analysis were: (1) challenges of home-based learning, where students detailed their experiences and difficulties encountered during the process; (2) the effectiveness of home-based learning, which explored the pedagogy's impact on the students' learning experience; and (3) students' motivation to learn, where the effects on student morale and motivation in partaking in learning tasks were discussed. Conclusions: Results from this study suggested that universities should incorporate more home-based learning opportunities as home-based learning to continue playing a crucial role in the foreseeable future. Universities should continue to incorporate more home-based learning opportunities into the existing nursing curriculaa in order to test their capacities and address technical challenges in online learning. Future studies should also consider incorporating other pedagogical strategies when conducting lessons online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A central vertex of a graph is a vertex whose eccentricity equals the radius. The center of a graph is the set of all central vertices. The central ratio of a graph is the ratio of the cardinality of its center to its order. In 1982, Buckley proved that every positive rational number not exceeding one is the central ratio of some graph. In this paper, we obtain more detailed information by determining which cardinalities are possible for the center of a graph with given order and radius. There are unexpected phenomena in the results. For example, there exists a graph of order 14 and radius 6 whose center has cardinality s if and only if s ∈ { 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 14 }. The turning value (3 n + 2) / 8 for the radius seems mysterious. We also prove a related uniqueness result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electron beam melting (EBM) is a promising three‐dimensional printing technology for the fabrication of components with high complexity and freedom of structural design. However, the major limit for its wider industrial applications is to preclude manufacturing the large‐scale part in one piece. It is because the part size is largely limited by the enclosed vacuum chamber. An alternative option is the use of welding to join EBM‐processed subparts together. In this study, fatigue crack growth (FCG) rate and high‐cycle fatigue (HCF) performance were measured for both EBM‐processed Ti–6Al–4V alloy and its welded joints. An X‐parameter model was then proposed to correlate stress amplitude and geometric parameters (location, size, and shape) of the critical defects at the crack origins with fatigue life. Research framework and result from this work are expected to serve a reference for the defect‐based fatigue life evaluation of welded parts individually manufactured using additive manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/Purpose: Lipoprotein‐associated phospholipase A2 (Lp‐PLA2) activity have been linked to a higher risk of diabetic retinopathy and inhibiting Lp‐PLA2 activity showed improvement in vision and macular oedema for patients with diabetic macular oedema (DME). SR1375 is an orally available, selective inhibitor of Lp‐PLA2 that shows significant retinal vascular leakage reduction in preclinical studies, and is being developed for DME. A phase 1, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study is conducted to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of SR1375 in healthy subjects. Methods: A total of 72 healthy subjects were enrolled, with 54 had received SR1375. 48 subjects were in the single ascending dose arms (1, 3, 10, 30, 100 and 200 mg) while 24 subjects were in the multiple ascending dose arms (5, 15 and 50 mg once daily for 14 days). Results: SR1375 was safe and well tolerated across all doses. It had excellent oral absorption with the exposure level increasing in an approximately dose proportional manner after single and multiple doses. The elimination of SR1375 was slow with a long t1/2 ranging from 28.8 to 90.0 h. The accumulation of SR1375 was not significant after multiple administrations. The plasma inhibition on Lp‐PLA2 activity by SR1375 was strong (up to 95%) and enduring, which was correlated with the concentration of SR1375 (IC50 as 1.41 ng/mL) and almost returned to basal level when the concentration of SR1375 was low enough. Conclusions: SR1375 was safe and effective in inhibiting plasma Lp‐PLA2. The safety and PK/PD profile supports the once daily therapy. A Phase 2 study for DME patients is planned later this year. It would be a 12‐week randomized, double‐blind and placebo‐controlled trial. The primary objective is to assess the effect of SR1375 on vision and oedema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The tensile properties of WAAM 2219 over the temperature range (77 ∼ 573 K) were obtained. • The effects of temperature on void nucleation and evolution were explored by a combination of SEM and EBSD observations, and X-ray micro computed tomography. • The effects of temperature on deformation and fracture mechanisms were investigated. • True stress and strain responses over a wide temperature range (77 ∼ 523 K) and strain rate range (0.0001 ∼ 0.01 s−1) were predicted using an improved Arrhenius constitutive model. This work investigates the deformation and damage mechanisms of wire + arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) 2219 aluminum alloy over a broad temperature range of 77 K to 523 K. It is found that the strength and work hardening rate increase significantly with decreasing the temperature from 523 K to 77 K, and the fracture mode transitions from transgranular fracture mode to a mixture of intergranular and transgranular fracture ones. The large elongations to fracture are very similar for the specimens tested at 77 K and 523 K. This is mainly attributed to higher uniform elongation before necking at 77 K and higher post-necking elongation at 523 K. The cracking of α-Al + θ (Al 2 Cu) eutectics is the primary mechanism of micro-void nucleation, independent of the test temperature. The nucleated micro-voids, along with larger gas pore defects introduced by WAAM, extend along the tensile direction. In addition, as the temperature increases from 77 K to 523 K, the fracture mechanism transitions from high strain localization to extensive necking, leading to higher dislocation density, more grain fragmentation and micro-void nucleation, and more significant grain elongation and void growth. True stress and strain responses over the studied temperature range (77 ∼ 523 K) and strain rate range (0.0001 ∼ 0.01 s−1) are well predicted using an improved Arrhenius-type constitutive model, by considering the activation energy of deformation as a function of temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The firmness of fleshy fruit crops has a significant effect on their quality, consumer preference, shelf life and transportability. In a combined quantitative trait locus and genome‐wide association studies study of apple fruit texture, we identified a mutation (C‐G) in the ethylene response factor‐associated amphiphilic repression (EAR) motif in the coding region of the apple ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR4 (ERF4) gene. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing showed that ERF4 binds to the promoter of ERF3, which is involved in regulation of ethylene biosynthesis. The EAR mutation in ERF4 results in reduced repression of ERF3 expression, which is turn promotes ethylene production and loss of fruit firmness. ERF4 acts as a transcriptional repressor whose activity is modulated by a TOPLESS co‐repressor 4 (TPL4)‐binding EAR repression motif. Biolayer interferometry analysis showed that the mutation in the EAR motif causes a reduction in the interaction with TPL4. Suppression of ERF4 or TPL4 promoted fruit ripening and ethylene production. Taken together, our results provide insights into how ERF4 allelic variation underlies an important fruit quality trait. Significance Statement: Fruit softening is a hallmark of ripening in apple fruit, but the degree of softening varies among cultivars, with corresponding variation in their quality and consumer preference. Much attention has been paid to the molecular characterization of fruit softening; however, the underlying genetic mechanisms are still not well understood. Here, we show that a mutation in the seqeucene encoding the EAR motif of ERF4 results in a decrease in its repression activity, thereby promoting fruit softening and ripening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the most important components in the micro in-pipe robot, the supporting and locking mechanism determines the working performance of the robot. In this paper, a new supporting and locking mechanism based on the non-circular gear compound transmission (SLM-NGCT) is proposed. According to the advanced mechanisms and differential geometry theory, transmission coordinates of the movement mechanism were established and the movement equations were derived. The influence factors and change rules of the displacement, velocity and acceleration of the movement mechanism were analyzed. Based on gear meshing theory and the cam theory, the mechanical characteristics of the flexible friction block of the movement mechanism were analyzed. A simulation model of SLM-NGCT was established and the comparison results between simulation and theoretical model show the correctness of the theoretical analysis and the feasibility of non-circular gear pairs instead of the cam mechanism. The study has guiding significance in the supporting and locking mechanism of micro in-pipe robot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiovascular disease has caused heavy health care burdens in many countries, and hypertension (HTN) is a well-known independent cardiovascular risk factor.Objective: To assess the efficacy of empowerment strategies that affect systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), body mass index (BMI), quality of life, and self-management behaviours for patients with hypertension.Methods: A literature search of the Cochrane Library, PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and several Chinese medical databases was performed. Study screening, quality assessment, data extraction, and meta-analysis were conducted according to Cochrane standards.Results: Eleven randomised controlled trials with 988 subjects were identified. Relative to control groups, the empowerment strategies showed significant decreases in SBP (the mean difference [MD] = 9.46, 95 % confidence interval [CI] = 6.36-12.55, p <  0.00001) and DBP (MD = 6.68, 95 % CI = 3.07-10.29, p =  0.0003). However, no significant difference was found in BMI (p = 0.05). Subgroup analysis showed significant differences in the improvement of both SBP and DBP among the various groups, regardless of the duration and type of interventions.Discussion: Empowerment strategies can decrease both SBP and DBP in hypertension patients. However, its influence on patients' BMI, quality of life, and self-management behaviour remains unclear.Practical Value: Empowerment strategies are useful for controlling the blood pressure of hypertension patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compatibilization of blends by nanoparticles can impart the superior properties of the nanoparticles on the matrix and increase the compatibility of the blends. Manipulation of nanoparticles located at the interface is a premise and challenge to achieve. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) was added to polylactide/poly(propylidene carbonate)/graphene oxide (PLA/PPC/GO) composites to manipulate the distribution of GO. By thermodynamic analysis and phase structure investigations, it was demonstrated that PEG could induce the transfer of GO from the PPC phase to the interface or PLA phase. Rheological investigations suggested that the entanglement density between the macromolecular chain and GO was improved, which enhanced the interactions of the macromolecular matrix and nanoparticles. Consequently, the compatibility and mechanical properties were improved significantly. In particular for the samples of PLA/PPC/GO 70/30/0.5 with 2 wt% PEG, the elongation at break was improved by a factor of 10 and the tensile strength was maintained at approximately 45 MPa. This simple physical method is expected to popularize the compatible role of GO in various industrial fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the data of 8 solar radiation stations and 119 meteorological stations in Inner Mongolia from 1961 to 2017 as well as the comparative observation of rooftop solar distributed photovoltaic power generation equipment, the impact of climatic and environmental factors on the development and utilization of rooftop solar energy resources was studied. The results show that the main climatic factors affecting rooftop solar power generation were cloud cover, precipitation, relative humidity, visibility, gale, dust weather, temperature and lightning disaster. Except for temperature and lightning disaster, other meteorological elements were negatively correlated with rooftop solar power generation, namely reducing direct radiation, The high temperature in Inner Mongolia in summer could cause the solar cell efficiency to decrease by 40% -60%, while the low temperature in eastern region in winter was not suitable for the development of rooftop solar energy resources. Lightning is the main meteorological disaster affecting the safe operation of photovoltaic systems, and dass-2 lightning protection equipment needs to be installed. Photovoltaic power generation equipment should be installed on a roof which is not covered by high buildings and on the windward side of a chimney as much as possible. Areas with heavy dust pollution need to remove dust on the surface of solar panels in time. Snow and ice should be removed timely during snowfall in winter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The generalized cluster characteristics and the multi-user target requirements are analyzed, based on which an improved contract net model is constructed in order to resolve the low communication efficiency and the low task completion quality of the contract net protocol negotiation mechanism under the generalized cluster. In addition, a temporary monitoring unit is configured as a medium for task broadcasting and negotiation to reduce the communication consumption and improve the communication efficiency. In order to provide the tenderers and the bidders with the bidirectional screening constraints, QoS multi-objective constraints are introduced, which can improve the quality of task completion significantly. We also propose the concept of task priority and the tasks are performed sequentially, which can significantly reduce the unwanted task congestion caused by the concurrent multitasking. The simulation results show that this method reduces both the total time of task completion and the communication overhead of the negotiation process under the generalized cluster, and completes the desired task with a high-quality. This fully verified the rationality of the model and the effectiveness of the algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dysregulated cell death machinery and an excessive inflammatory response in Coxsackievirus B3(CVB3)-infected myocarditis are hallmarks of an abnormal host response. Complement C4 and C3 are considered the central components of the classical activation pathway and often participate in the response process in the early stages of virus infection. In our study, we constructed a mouse model of CVB3-related viral myocarditis via intraperitoneal injection of Fer-1 and detected myocarditis and ferroptosis markers in the mouse myocardium. Then, we performed co-IP and protein mass spectrometry analyses to explore which components interact with the ferroptosis gene transferrin receptor (TFRC). Finally, functional experiments were conducted to verify the role of complement components in regulating ferroptosis in CVB3 infection. It showed that the ferroptosis inhibitor Fer-1 could alleviate the inflammation in viral myocarditis as well as ferroptosis. Mechanistically, during CVB3 infection, the key factor TFRC was activated and inhibited by Fer-1. Fer-1 effectively prevented the consumption of complement C3 and overload of the complement product C4b. Interestingly, we found that TFRC directly interacts with complement C4, leading to an increase in the product of C4b and a decrease in the downstream complement C3. Functional experiments have also confirmed that regulating the complement C4/C3 pathway can effectively rescue cell ferroptosis caused by CVB3 infection. In this study, we found that ferroptosis occurs through crosstalk with complement C4 in viral myocarditis through interaction with TFRC and that regulating the complement C4/C3 pathway may rescue ferroptosis in CVB3-infected cardiomyocytes. [Display omitted] • This research showed that the expression of the component C3 decreased and that of C4b increased on the 14th days of post-CVB3 infection in myocardium. • It has been confirmed for the first time that ferroptosis regulates myocarditis damage through its interaction with complements in CVB3 induced myocarditis. • This may provide a new method for the clinical treatment of myocardial cell death in patients with viral myocarditis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wide application of cloud computing technology makes supply chain partner share information effectively and increase corporate profits. However, in cloud computing environment, the evaluation process of supply chain partner selection is dynamic and fuzzy, and its evaluation index is uncertain. To solve these problems, this paper proposes a new method combed with rough number, best-worst multicriteria decision-making method (BWM), and compromise ranking method (VIKOR). Firstly, Rough number is used to integrate data from different evaluation matrix. Secondly, rough number improves a new method, BWM, to get RBWM criteria weight methods. Thirdly, the rough numbers are introduced into VIKOR and combined with RBWM to evaluate and sort the supply chain partners. Finally, an example is given to demonstrate the rationality and feasibility of the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive interstitial lung disease (ILD) with unknown etiology, characterized by sustained damage repair of epithelial cells and abnormal activation of fibroblasts, the underlying mechanism of the disease remains elusive. Methods: To evaluate the role of Tuftelin1 (TUFT1) in IPF and elucidate its molecular mechanism. We investigated the level of TUFT1 in the IPF and bleomycin-induced mouse models and explored the influence of TUFT1 deficiency on pulmonary fibrosis. Additionally, we explored the effect of TUFT1 on the cytoskeleton and illustrated the relationship between stress fiber and pulmonary fibrosis. Results: Our results demonstrated a significant upregulation of TUFT1 in IPF and the bleomycin (BLM)-induced fibrosis model. Disruption of TUFT1 exerted inhibitory effects on pulmonary fibrosis in both in vivo and in vitro. TUFT1 facilitated the assembly of microfilaments in A549 and MRC-5 cells, with a pronounced association between TUFT1 and Neuronal Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (N-WASP) observed during microfilament formation. TUFT1 can promote the phosphorylation of tyrosine residue 256 (Y256) of the N-WASP (pY256N-WASP). Furthermore, TUFT1 promoted transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) induced fibroblast activation by increasing nuclear translocation of pY256N-WASP in fibroblasts, while wiskostatin (Wis), an N-WASP inhibitor, suppressed these processes. Conclusions: Our findings suggested that TUFT1 plays a critical role in pulmonary fibrosis via its influence on stress fiber, and blockade of TUFT1 effectively reduces pro-fibrotic phenotypes. Pharmacological targeting of the TUFT1-N-WASP axis may represent a promising therapeutic approach for pulmonary fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents an omnidirectional electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) for generating and receiving A 0 mode of Lamb waves in plate structures. The proposed EMAT is composed of a spiral meander coil (SMC) and a new concentric permanent magnet pairs with opposite polarity (CPMP-OP) for enhancing the generation and detection of A 0 mode. A finite element model was established to simulate the directions of the static magnetic field produced by the permanent magnets and the incentive process of guided waves. To verify the performance of the EMAT, several experiments were performed. Firstly, we experimentally verified that the developed EMAT could generate and receive a pure single A 0 mode omnidirectionally. Then, the relationship between the frequency response characteristic of the developed EMAT and the interval l (the distance between the two adjacent annular wires of the SMC) were explored. Furthermore, the circumferential consistency of the transducer was well demonstrated. Finally, the sensing performance of the developed omnidirectional A 0 mode EMAT employing a CPMP-OP was compared with that of EMAT with different structures of coils and permanent magnets. The experimental results indicated that the developed omnidirectional A 0 mode EMAT employing a CPMP-OP could enhance the signals of the A 0 mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a series of metal oxides (Fe,Cu) modified HZSM-5 catalysts were synthesized by incipient-wetness impregnation method and then characterized by XRD, N 2 adsorption-desorption, H 2 -TPR, NH 3 -TPD, UV-vis, FT-IR and XPS measurements. The catalytic hydrolysis and oxidation behaviors toward HCN were investigated. The results indicated that the Fe-Cu/HZSM-5 catalysts exhibited more excellent performence on coupling catalytic hydrolysis and oxidation of HCN than HZSM-5, Fe/HZSM-5, Cu/HZSM-5, and both nearly 100% HCN conversion and 80% N 2 selectivity were obtained at about 250 °C. The improved catalytic performance could be ascribed to the creation of highly dispersed iron and copper composites on the surface of the HZSM-5 support, the excellent redox and regulated acid properties of the active ingredients. Moreover, the highly N 2 selectivity could be attributed to the good interaction between the Fe and Cu nanocomposites which was facilitated to the NH 3 -SCR (selective catalytic reduction of NO by NH 3 ) reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central Asia is a strategic geopolitical region, which has recently been identified to be on the verge of a water-related crisis. Yet, most studies addressing water-related issues across Central Asia have lacked multi-sectoral and cross-country perspectives. This study used the multi-region input−output model to quantify the water footprint in Central Asia as well as the STIRPAT technique to study its driving forces from 1995 to 2015. The results revealed that the production and consumption-based water footprints of Central Asia sharply increased, as proven by the growth rate of 12.69 × 109 m3/annum and 9.52 × 109 m3/annum, respectively. The water-intensive agriculture sector completely dominated Central Asia's water footprint. In addition, between 1995 and 2015, the volume of imported and exported water footprints in Central Asia increased. In terms of exports, the internal water footprint accounted for 3%–5%, whereas the external accounted for 95%–97%. With respect to imports, the internal water footprint dropped from 50% to 37%. Nevertheless, the gap between export and import volumes was approximately ten-fold, which revealed that international trade exacerbates Central Asia's water crisis. Furthermore, urbanisation was revealed to have significant positive effect on water footprint changes compared to population, gross domestic product (GDP) and water use efficiency in Central Asia. This study provides policy implications for promoting Central Asia's water resource management, as well as highlighting the driving forces of water footprint that need attention, resulting in cooperative water resource management to promote sustainable development. [Display omitted] • This study quantified the water footprint in Central Asia. • The production and consumption-based water footprints increased by 12.69 × 109 and 9.52 × 109 m3/a. • The agricultural sector dominated the water footprint's growth. • Europe is the largest export destination of Central Asia's water footprint at 69%. • Urbanisation was revealed to have significant positive effect on water footprint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, a magnetostrictive patch transducer (MPT) by means of the highly magnetostrictive (such as nickel or iron–cobalt alloy) patch attached on the specimen has been applied in nondestructive ultrasonic testing in waveguides. In the study, we proposed a new MPTs array employing a multi-splitting meander coil (MSMC) for generating and receiving longitudinal guided waves in pipes. In the suggested configuration, the directions of the static magnetic field produced by the permanent magnets and the dynamic magnetic field produced by the MSMC are in the axial direction of the pipe. Two finite element models were established to simulate the distribution of the static and dynamic magnetic fields in the patch, respectively. The proposed MSMC was made of flexible printed circuit (FPC), so it could be easily installed on pipe surface. The performance of the proposed MPTs array was experimentally studied. Firstly, it was experimentally verified that the axisymmetric longitudinal guided wave mode, L(0,2), could be effectively generated and received in pipes with the developed MSMC-MPTs array. Secondly, the frequency response characteristics of the developed MSMC-MPTs array were related to D (the distance between adjacent belts of the MSMC). Thirdly, we demonstrated the ability of the developed MSMC-MPTs array for the identification and location of a crack defect in pipes. Finally, we compared the performances of the MSMC-MPTs array and conventional meander coil-MPTs and proved that the signals of the longitudinal guided wave mode could be enhanced by using the developed MSMC-MPTs array. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Existing studies have illustrated how the onset of physical disability or dementia negatively impacts economic wellbeing and increases out of pocket costs. However, little is known about this relationship in older individuals. Consequently, this study aimed to identify how the onset of physical disability or dementia in older adults affects economic wellbeing and out of pocket costs, and to explore the impact of gender in the context of Australia.Methods: The data was collected from a large, randomized clinical study, ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE). Two generalized linear models (with and without interaction effects) of total out of pocket costs for those who did and did not develop physical disability or dementia were generated, with adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics at baseline.Results: We included 8,568 older Australian individuals with a mean age of 74.8 years and 53.2% being females. After adjustment for the baseline sociodemographic characteristics, the onset of physical disability did statistically significantly raise out of pocket costs (cost ratio = 1.25) and costs among females were 13.1% higher than males.Conclusions: This study highlights that classifying different types of health conditions to identify the drivers of out of pocket costs and to explore the gender differences in a long-term follow-up is of importance to examine the financial impact on the older population. These negative financial impacts and gender disparities of physical disability and dementia must be considered by policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dryland winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production plays an extremely important role in the southeast of the Loess Plateau. Planting patterns have great influence on improving soil water storage and yield, and should be matched with different seeding rates. In order to assess the effect of different sowing methods on the drought resistance and stable yield of dryland wheat, a field experiment was conducted in Wenxi County Dryland Wheat Experimental Base in Shanxi Province, China. In the current study, the effects of three planting techniques (drilling sowing, furrow sowing, and film-mulched sowing) and four seeding rates (150, 225, 300, and 375 kg ha−1) were examined on water storage, dry matter formation, yield, and water use efficiency (WUE). The results showed that furrow sowing (FS) and film-mulched sowing (FM) treatments increased soil water storage in the 0–300 cm soil layer at overwintering and jointing stages. In addition, FS and FM increased soil water consumption in the 0–300 cm soil layer from overwintering to maturity of wheat. Furthermore, FS and FM significantly increased the dry matter accumulation from the overwintering to the mature stage, promoted its accumulation in vegetative organs and translocation to grains after anthesis, viz., increased yield by 6.2% and 7.9%, and WUE by 4.6% and 5.3%, respectively, as compared with those of the drilling sowing (DS) treatments. Pearson's correlation analysis showed that grain yield had a significantly positive correlation with soil water storage at overwintering and jointing. Moreover, grain yield was significantly positively correlated with soil water consumption in the 0–300 cm soil layer from jointing to maturity. Additionally, the seeding rate of 150 kg ha−1 with FS could obtain higher WUE and grain yield. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that the seeding rate of 150 kg ha−1 is used with FS to improve the grain yield and WUE of dryland agricultural systems in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a representative sulfur-containing volatile organic compounds (S-VOCs), CH3SH has attracted widespread attention due to its adverse environmental and health risks. The performance of Mn-based catalysts and the effect of their crystal structure on the CH3SH catalytic reaction have yet to be systematically investigated. In this paper, two different crystalline phases of tunneled MnO2 (α-MnO2 and β-MnO2) with the similar nanorod morphology were used to remove CH3SH, and their physicochemical properties were comprehensively studied using high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), H2-TPR, O2-TPD, Raman, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. For the first time, we report that the specific reaction rate for α-MnO2 (0.029 mol g−1 h−1) was approximately 4.1 times higher than that of β-MnO2 (0.007 mol g−1 h−1). The as-synthesized α-MnO2 exhibited higher CH3SH catalytic activity towards CH3SH than that of β-MnO2, which can be ascribed to the additional oxygen vacancies, stronger surface oxygen migration ability, and better redox properties from α-MnO2. The oxygen vacancies on the catalyst surface provided the main active sites for the chemisorption of CH3SH, and the subsequent electron transfer led to the decomposition of CH3SH. The lattice oxygen on catalysts could be released during the reaction and thus participated in the further oxidation of sulfur-containing species. CH3SSCH3, S0, SO32−, and SO42− were identified as the main products of CH3SH conversion. This work offers a new understanding of the interface interaction mechanism between Mn-based catalysts and S-VOCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein isolates of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L) seeds were hydrolyzed by acid protease to prepare antioxidative peptides. The hydrolysis conditions were optimized through Box-Behnken experimental design combined with response surface method (RSM). The second-order model, developed for the DPPH radical scavenging activity of pumpkin seed hydrolysates, showed good fit with the experiment data with a high value of coefficient of determination (0.9918). The optimal hydrolysis conditions were determined as follows: hydrolyzing temperature 50°C, pH 2.5, enzyme amount 6000 U/g, substrate concentration 0.05 g/ml and hydrolyzing time 5 h. Under the above conditions, the scavenging activity of DPPH radical was as high as 92.82%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Annual runoff change impact factors were analyzed based on the Budyko framework. • The elasticity coefficients of runoff exhibited spatio-temporal changes. • Human activities, particularly reservoirs construction for cropland expansion impacted runoff changes the most. The fragile ecosystem of the desiccated Amu Darya River Basin (ADRB) has experienced profound local hydrological havoc. These changes are associated with temperature, evapotranspiration, precipitation, and human-induced effects. However, previous long-term analyses have inadequately addressed these problems at the basin scale. Therefore, this study applied the elasticity coefficient method coupled with the water balance and Budyko framework, using hydro-meteorological observation data from three stations (Termez, Atamurat, and Kiziljar) to assess the long-term (1960–2017) runoff dynamics within the ADRB. The findings revealed that runoff at the three stations decreased at rates of −0.52 mm/a, −0.80 mm/a, and −0.97 mm/a, respectively, during the study period. Additionally, the relative contribution of climate change to runoff reduction ranged from −14.25% to −5.43%, while that of human activities exceeded 100% at all three stations. In addition, the total population across the basin has doubled within 33 years to approximately 80 million people, coupled with an expansion of cropland areas at a rate of 42.6%, corresponding to a net increase of 2,520,249 ha. Furthermore, the construction of reservoirs that were implemented before cropland expansion activities reduced the amount of water flowing downstream since runoff needs to be stored before being released for irrigation. This demonstrates that long-term runoff reduction was mainly due to human activities, with construction of reservoirs for cropland expansion being the most direct factor. The study findings provide essential information for water resource management in the ADRB. More attention should be paid to the construction and operation of reservoirs, and sustainable cropland development should be implemented for improved ecological environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A novel polar macroporous adsorption resin (AX-1) has been applied for separation of d-lactic acid (DLA) from aqueous solutions in a fixed-bed chromatographic column. The adsorption equilibrium and kinetics were investigated experimentally. A column model was subsequently established and validated by comparison of the simulation results to the experimental data obtained at different operating conditions in terms of feed flow rates and initial concentrations as well as bed heights. At the end of this work, the recycling studies were carried out. It was found that the saturated resin could be washed out DLA completely and repeated use by 353K hot water. The results show that the AX-1 resin has a high adsorption capacity to DLA while no retention to sulfate ion. Based on this kind of resin, a green-production refining process could be established since only water is added in the entire separation process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The molecular structure of cytidine 5′-diphosphocholine sodium (CDPC) grown from a mixture of ethanol and water was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). CDPC was found to have an orthorhombic structure with confirmed lattice parameters of a =6.978Å, b =12.406Å and c =29.326Å. This nucleotide coenzyme was highly folded and net-like. Each crystallographic unit consisted of one sodium atom, one pyrophosphate group, one cytosine group, one coordinated water molecule, one pentose molecule, and three lattice water molecules. The interspaces of neighboring CDPC molecules were filled with water molecules and methyl groups. Although the coordinated water was connected to sodium atoms, the lattice water molecules formed chair-shaped water hexamers. The hydrogen bonds which played an important role in maintaining the structure included Oxb7;·O, Nxb7;·O and Cxb7;·O and ranged in length from 2.682 (17) to 3.349 (17)Å. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed a broad absorption in the 400–2000cm−1 region characteristic of short hydrogen bonds. So for industrial crystallization, methods which could eliminate the influence of hydrogen bonds should be taken, and it would be beneficial for the process of crystallization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Photothermal responsive and ROS generative nanoplatform is always attracting for cancer therapy. • IR780 loaded gold nanocages using linkage of Pluronic F127 as anticancer nanoplatform were prepared. • The obtained gold nanocages could ablate the tumor with volumes as large as 1500 mm3 of rat. The development of photothermal responsive and ROS generative nanoplatform is always attracting for cancer therapy. In this work, we propose a strategy of preparation of IR780 loaded gold nanocages using linkage of Pluronic F127 as anticancer nanoplatform (AuNCs-Plu-IR780). The obtained results showed that the AuNCs-Plu-IR780 have IR780 loading efficiency and loading content were 21.7% and 5.66%, respectively. Thermo photographic research proved that the obtained AuNCs-Plu-IR780 were photothermal responsive under near-infrared laser irradiation and remained photostability after several cycles of laser irradiation. This advantage overcomes the optical instability of IR780 and enhances the photothermal efficiency of AuNCs. MTT and cellular uptake research further proved that AuNCs-Plu-IR780 were ROS generative, and the related apoptosis of MCF-7 cells were observed. Animal experiments showed that the gathered AuNCs-Plu-IR780 reached a photothermal responsive temperature up to 89.6 °C at the tumor site, which could almost ablate the tumor with volumes as large as 1500 mm3 without recurrence during a 20 days treatment period. These results confirm that the photothermal responsive and ROS generative AuNCs-Plu-IR780 have a brilliant prospect in the field of cancer photothermal therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]