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By designing stator teeth using grain-oriented sheets (GO) and other parts still with non-grain-oriented sheets (NGO), the electromagnetic performance of the interior permanent magnet synchronous machine (GO-IPMSM) can be improved greatly. As the stator core of the designed GO-IPMSM is a hybrid core that is composed of two different silicon sheets, both the electromagnetic and mechanical performances are affected by the stator joint shape between GO and NGO sheets. Meanwhile, with the adoption of GO, the torque ripple of GO-IPMSM is increased though the average torque is increased as well. For reducing the torque ripple, optimizing the rotor barrier shape is an effective way. In this paper, the piecewise linear interpolation method is employed for establishing the stator joint shape between GO and NGO sheets, and the polynomial method is proposed to establish the rotor barrier shape. Through the analysis, it can be seen that the stator joint shape plays a strong role in affecting the mechanical performance of the GO-IPMSM, while the effect on the electromagnetic performance is weak. The genetic algorithm is used to optimize the rotor barrier shape for achieving high average torque and low torque ripple. Lastly, a quick and accurate efficiency map calculation method based on the Kriging model is proposed for GO-IPMSM with less finite element method (FEM) samples are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Clinical practitioners face a significant challenge in maintaining a healthy balance between overtreatment and missed diagnosis in the management of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN). The current study aimed to identify significant risk factors of malignant IPMN from a series of clinical and radiological parameters that are widely available and noninvasive and develop a method to individually predict the risk of malignant IPMN to improve its management. Methods: We retrospectively investigated 168 patients who were pathologically diagnosed with IPMN after individualized pancreatic resection between June, 2012 and December, 2020. Independent predictors determined using both univariate and multivariate analyses to construct a predictive model. The discriminatory power of the nomogram was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Decision curve analysis was performed to demonstrate the clinical usefulness of the nomogram. Internal cross validation was performed to assess the validity of the predictive model. Results: In the multivariate analysis, five significant independent risk factors were identified: increased serum CA19‐9 level, low prognostic nutritional index (PNI), cyst size, enhancing mural nodule, and main pancreatic duct diameter. The nomogram based on the parameters mentioned above had outstanding performance in distinguishing malignancy, with an AUC of 0.907 (95% confidence interval: 0.859–0.956, p < 0.05), which remained 0.875 after internal cross‐validation, and showed good clinical usefulness. Conclusion: A novel nomogram for predicting malignant IPMN first introducing PNI was developed, which may aid in improving IPMN management. Nevertheless, external validation is required to confirm its efficacy. With the hope of improving the management of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) of the pancreas, we developed a new malignancy‐predicted nomogram for IPMN, based on five verified independent predictors of malignant IPMN in our study. We employed Prognostic nutrition index (PNI) to constructed the nomogram for the first time and stratified the diameter of main pancreatic duct and the size of Mural Nodules which were helpful to achieve a more precise risk for malignancy. The nomogram shows excellent capability in predicting malignant IPMN and has a promising application potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With designing stator teeth by using grain oriented silicon sheets (GO) and other parts still with non-grain oriented silicon sheets (NGO), the electromagnetic performance of interior permanent magnet synchronous machine (GO-IPMSM) can be improved greatly, however its torque ripple will be increased as well. For reducing its torque ripple, optimizing its rotor barrier shape is an effective way. In this paper, the polynomial method is proposed to establish the rotor barrier shape, and the genetic algorithm (GA) method is employed for the optimization process. In case the optimized GO-IPMSM can work normally, its anti irreversible demagnetization ability is analyzed as well. As shown, with the GO is adopted for designing the stator teeth and its rotor barrier shape is optimized, though its torque ability and efficiency have been increased, its anti irreversible demagnetization risk ability is reduced, however the proposed machine can still operate safely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Parental involvement is one of the most important factors affecting students' academic learning. Different families seem to show similar parental involvement patterns. This study employed a representative sample of 12,575 seventh- and eighth-grade Chinese students' parents to explore the patterns of parental involvement. (2) Methods: Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to identify different parental involvement styles in children's studies at home. Discriminant analysis, MANOVA, post-hoc tests, and effect size were used to verify the LCA results. (3) Results: Four distinctive latent class groups were identified and named: supportive (20%), permissive (54%), restrictive (8%), and neglectful (18%). A discriminant analysis supported the LCA group classification results. The MANOVA results indicated statistically significant differences between the four latent classes using the set of predictor variables. The post-hoc test results and effect sizes showed that the predictor variables had substantial differences among the four latent class groups. Parental education and family income showed statistically significant links to these four parental involvement styles, which, in turn, were linked to students' academic achievement according to the MANOVA, effect sizes, and post-hoc test results. (4) Conclusions: Parental involvement styles in children's learning at home can be identified and categorized into four different latent class styles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modeling asymmetric relationships is an emerging subject of interest among sociologists. York and Light advanced a method to estimate asymmetric models with panel data, which was further developed by Allison. However, little attention has been given to the large- N, large- T case, wherein autoregression, slope heterogeneity, and cross-sectional dependence are important issues to consider. The authors fill this gap by conducting Monte Carlo experiments comparing the bias and power of the fixed-effects estimator to a set of heterogeneous panel estimators. The authors find that dynamic misspecification can produce substantial biases in the coefficients. Furthermore, even when the dynamics are correctly specified, the fixed-effects estimator will produce inconsistent and unstable estimates of the long-run effects in the presence of slope heterogeneity. The authors demonstrate these findings by testing for directional asymmetry in the economic development–CO2 emissions relationship, a key question in macro sociology, using data for 66 countries from 1971 to 2015. The authors conclude with a set of methodological recommendations on modeling directional asymmetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amylose content (AC), which is regulated by the Waxy (Wx) gene, is a major indicator of eating and cooking quality (ECQ) in rice (Oryza sativa). Thus far, only a limited number of mutations in the N‐terminal domain of Wx were found to have a major impact on the AC of rice grains and no mutations with such effects were reported for other regions of the Wx protein. Here, nucleotide substitutions in the middle region of Wx were generated by adenine and cytosine base editors. The nucleotide substitutions led to changes in 15 amino acid residues of Wx, and a series of novel Wx alleles with ACs of 0.3%–29.43% (wild type with AC of 19.87%) were obtained. Importantly, the waxyabe2 allele showed a "soft rice" AC, improved ECQ, favorable appearance, and no undesirable agronomic traits. The transgenes were removed from the waxyabe2 progeny, generating a promising breeding material for improving rice grain quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐performance light‐emitting/detecting bifunctional optoelectronic devices based on halide perovskites are hindered by the less efficient carrier transport and radiative recombination processes. The density of defects (i.e., surface and bulk defects) is the main factor affecting carrier transport, radiation recombination, and determining performance in perovskites. Therefore, techniques to effectively regulate defects are highly needed. Here, a convenient and effective strategy, electrical doping, is proposed to flexibly regulate defect density, resulting in dramatically enhanced light‐emitting (i.e., fluorescence and carrier lifetime) and light‐detecting performance (i.e., hole mobility, photo‐responsivity, and photo‐detectivity) simultaneously. An improved carrier transport model in CH3NH3PbBr3 (MPB) single‐crystal thin‐film (SCTF) is proposed to elucidate the regulation mechanism of defects and carrier transport under electrical doping. These results show that the surface defect density can be effectively reduced by 47.49% under optimal electrical poling intensity (0.168 V µm−1), and photoluminescence intensity and carrier lifetime can be increased by 259% and 89.98%, respectively. Furthermore, planar MPB SCTF photodetector exhibits hole mobility increased by 14.97%, photo‐responsivity increased by 82.78%, and photo‐detectivity increased by 868% at 0.168 V µm−1. Particularly, a record photo‐detectivity of 3.53 × 1013 Jones is achieved under electrical doping. This study provides guidance for flexibly adjusting defect density and optimizing perovskite SCTFs light‐emitting/detecting bifunctional devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel aluminothermic reduction combined with deoxidation process was developed in this research to prepare low-oxygen Ti-6Al-4V alloy powder. First, with Al and Al-V alloy powders as reducing agents and additives, crude Ti-6Al-4V alloy powder was fabricated by reduction-vacuum distillation using Na 2 TiF 6 as a titanium source. The aluminothermic reduction process was investigated by TG-DSC technique, and the thermal kinetic parameters of the reaction process were calculated by the Kissinger method. The oxygen content of the crude Ti-6Al-4V alloy powder with a coral-like porous structure was detected as 0.366 %. Furthermore, the existential states of the oxygen contained in the crude product powder was analyzed using XPS. The results indicated that the oxygen existed in three chemical states: metal oxides, defective oxygen, and adsorbed oxygen. Therefore, the deoxygenation of the crude Ti-6Al-4V alloy powder with calcium as a deoxidizer was carried out at 900 °C. As a result, the final Ti-6Al-4V powder with an oxygen content of approximately 822 ppm could be obtained. The contents of Ti, Al, V, Fe, and O in the obtained Ti-6Al-4V powders met the requirements of GB/T 3620.1−2016. This work had demonstrated the feasibility of preparing Ti-6Al-4V alloy powder by the novel aluminothermic reduction combined with deoxidation process. • Low-oxygen Ti-6Al-4V powder was prepared from metallurgical-grade materials by a short process with non-pollution. • Mechanism and kinetic analysis of the rapid exothermic reduction process were preliminary investigated. • The oxygen content in the final Ti-6Al-4V powder can be as low as 822 ppm. • A short process for preparing of low-oxygen Ti-6Al-4V powder was proved to be feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cranberry, a commodity of social, cultural, and economic importance to New England, is under threat due to climatic change in this region of the United States. Yet, previous research reveals that cranberry growers have mixed attitudes about the anthropogenic roots of climate change, with many being skeptical. Building on the researchers' analysis of the personal and ecological conditions that affect climate change attitudes among cranberry growers, this paper examines the effect that key actors in the growers' social networks have on those attitudes. Through statistical analysis of survey data and content analysis of two important cranberry newsletters, the paper finds that cranberry growers' perceived importance of two key cranberry growing institutions, the "sociopolitically focused" Cape Cod Cranberry Growers' Association and the "technically focused" University of Massachusetts Cranberry Station, as well as connections to other cranberry growers, is associated in nuanced ways with growers' climate change attitudes. Drawing on the sociological theory of "social capital," the paper examines how these social ties to key actors/institutions may result in greater threat perception or worry about climate change. It then considers how "green ties," if harnessed and supported by these important actors in the cranberry grower network, might significantly mitigate climate change in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cranberry growers in New England are increasingly pressured by negative effects associated with global climate change, some of which are familiar to this group (such as precipitation fluctuations and pest pressures), others that are rather new (such as warmer winters that threaten needed chill hours for the plants to bloom). The first study of this population of its kind, we use a survey, supplemented with observations and interviews, to assess Massachusetts cranberry grower attitudes towards climate change, and whether certain conditions of production might be associated with their attitudes. Our findings suggest that certain personal and ecological conditions are associated with greater worry of climate change effects, and that communal conditions of the cranberry grower social network provide some ways to cope with a warming climate. While the cranberry growing community has created a strong social network that has allowed it to sustain production, a warming planet will likely require significant change in order to overcome general attitudes of climate skepticism so that cranberry production may continue in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates how the ecologically unequal exchange of carbon dioxide emissions varies with economic recessions. I propose a country-specific approach to examine (1) the relationship between carbon dioxide emissions in developing countries and the “vertical flow” of exports to the United States; and (2) the variations of the relationship before, during, and after two recent economic recessions in 2001 and 2008. Using data on 69 developing nations between 2000 and 2010, I estimate time-series cross-sectional regression models with two-way fixed effects. Results suggest that the vertical flow of exports to the United States is positively associated with carbon dioxide emissions in developing countries. The magnitude of this relationship increased in 2001, 2009, and 2010, and decreased in 2008, but remained stable in non-recession periods, suggesting that economic recessions in the United States are associated with variations of ecologically unequal exchange. Results highlight the impacts of U.S. recessions on carbon emissions in developing countries through the structure of international trade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the performance of lithium-ion batteries, the functional separators were developed by coating water-based polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) powder particles solution using polyvinyl alcohol as the binder on both sides of a conventional polypropylene (PP) microporous membrane by means of simple dipping. The electrochemical performance was tested and compared with that of pure PP membrane. It was found that the PVDF powder particles accumulated and scattered on the surface of PP membrane. Many voids existed among the powder particles. The thermal shrinkage percent tested at 130 °C for 1 h was decreased from 59.4% to 12.7%, whereas the electrolyte uptake was increased from 80% to 140%. The separator coated with 10% solid content of PVDF particles exhibited the best electrochemical performance, including the cycling performance and rate capability. The coated PVDF component not only decreased the interface resistance but also increased the ionic conductivity, owing to the high strong affinity of PVDF toward polar solvents and the voids among the PVDF particles to afford the passage for Li-ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Largely due to methodological problems in existing studies, issues concerning causal directions and confounding factors, such as the stability effect, remain to be clarified in the relations among aggression, peer relationships, and psychological adjustment. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to examine (a) reciprocal direct and indirect effects among aggression, peer relationships, and depression based on a full cross-lagged model with the stability effect controlled, and (b) moderating effects of initial status on the growth of the variables. Method: A sample of Chinese children ( N = 1,162) participated in the study. Four waves of longitudinal panel data were collected from the participants in ages 9-12 years from multiple sources including peer assessments, teacher ratings, sociometric nominations, and self-reports. Results: Aggression negatively contributed, in both direct and indirect manners, to later peer relationships, and positively contributed to depression in late childhood. Peer relationships had negative direct and indirect effects on later aggression and depression. In addition, the initial level of aggression moderated the growth pattern of peer relationships. Conclusions: Early social and behavioral problems have proximal as well as long-term cross-domain effects on individual development. Moreover, children's early behavioral characteristics may serve to facilitate the development of social competence and exacerbate the development of social problems. The study provided valuable information about how the important aspects of socioemotional functioning were associated with each other in Chinese children from a developmental perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The original article has been corrected. Unfortunately the name of the second author was misspelled. This has been corrected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We have limited information about neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of the gallbladder. The purpose of this paper is to compare clinical and pathological features between different age groups and prognostic factors for gallbladder NEC and how it differs from adenocarcinoma (ADC) of the gallbladder. Patients and methods: This study included 28 gallbladder NEC patients and 137 ADC patients whose clinical characteristics and pathological findings were retrospectively collected. Propensity score matching and Cox regression analysis were used for the analysis of prognostic factors. Results: We divided NEC patients into two groups based on the age more than or less than 60 years. Most of the NEC patients less than 60 years old complained of abdominal pain or discomfort (p = 0.038), and more younger patients accepted adjuvant therapy (p = 0.020) than older patients did. CD56 was positive in all patients more than 60 years old, which is significantly higher than that of younger patients (p = 0.039). The mean age was similar between NEC and ADC patients. After eliminating confounding factors between NEC and ADC patients, the overall survival rates were still lower in NEC patients. Univariate analysis extracted six possible risk factors. Multivariate analysis indicated that surgery type, tumor size, and existence of gallstones were independent prognostic factors. Conclusion: The overall survival of gallbladder NEC is not associated with age. In this study, surgical method and tumor size were found to be independent risk factors for NECs. In addition, NEC patients have a worse prognosis than ADC patients with similar clinical and pathological features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Benefiting from increased life expectancy and improved perioperative management, more elderly patients with pancreatic head cancer (PHC) underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). However, individualized predictive models for the safety and efficacy of PD is still lacking. this study aimed to developed three safety‐ and efficacy‐related risk calculators for elderly (> = 65 years) PHC patients. Methods: This study was designed with two research cohorts, namely, the training cohort and the validation cohort, and comprises four general steps: (1) Risk factors were analyzed for the incidence of postoperative complications, cancer‐specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS) in the training cohort (N = 271) using logistic and Cox‐regression analysis. (2) Nomograms were then plotted based on the above results. (3) The accuracy of the developed nomogram models was then verified with the validation cohort (N = 134) data using consistency index (C‐index) and calibration curves. (4) We then evaluated the efficacy of these nomograms using decision curve analysis (DCA) in both the training and validation cohorts, and ultimately constructed three online calculators based on these nomograms. Results: We identified ASA, diabetes, smoking, and lymph node invasion as predisposing risk factors for postoperative complications, and the predictive factors that affected both OS and CSS were ASA, diabetes, BMI, CA19‐9 level, and tumor diameter. By integrating the above risk factors, we constructed three nomograms on postoperative complication, CSS, and OS. The C‐index for complication, CSS, and OS were 0.824, 0.784, and 0.801 in the training cohort and 0.746, 0.718, and 0.708 in the validation cohort. Moreover, the validation curves and DCA demonstrated good calibration and robust compliance in both training and validation cohorts. We then developed three web calculators (https://caiming.shinyapps.io/CMCD/, https://caiming.shinyapps.io/CMCSS/, and https://caiming.shinyapps.io/CMOS/) to facilitate the use of the nomograms. Conclusions: The calculators demonstrated promising performance as an tool for predicting the safety and efficacy of PD in elderly PHC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building on cornerstone traditions in historical sociology, as well as work in environmental sociology and political-economic sociology, we theorize and investigate with moderation analysis how and why national militaries shape the effect of economic growth on carbon pollution. Militaries exert a substantial influence on the production and consumption patterns of economies, and the environmental demands required to support their evolving infrastructure. As far-reaching and distinct characteristics of contemporary militarization, we suggest that both the size and capital intensiveness of the world's militaries enlarge the effect of economic growth on nations' carbon emissions. In particular, we posit that each increases the extent to which the other amplifies the effect of economic growth on carbon pollution. To test our arguments, we estimate longitudinal models of emissions for 106 nations from 1990 to 2016. Across various model specifications, robustness checks, a range of sensitivity analyses, and counterfactual analysis, the findings consistently support our propositions. Beyond advancing the environment and economic growth literature in sociology, this study makes significant contributions to sociological research on climate change and the climate crisis, and it underscores the importance of considering the military in scholarship across the discipline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A heat-resistant boehmite-coated polypropylene (PP) membrane has been successfully fabricated and its potential application as a promising separator in the lithium-ion battery was explored. The boehmite powders with average sizes of 0.78, 1.03, and 1.72 μm, respectively, were used to fabricate the coated membrane. It was demonstrated that the coated membrane prepared by boehmite with a 0.78-μm size showed superior heat tolerance and proper air permeability. As compared to the commercialized PP membrane, such coated membrane presented improved electrolyte uptake, better interface stability, and enhanced ionic conductivity. In addition, the lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4)/Li cell using this composite membrane exhibited better rate capability and cycling retention than that using PP membrane owing to its facile ion transport and excellent interfacial compatibility. The coating layer showed an advantage on solid electrolyte interface film formation and greatly reduced charge transfer resistance. All these fascinating characteristics would boost the application of this composite membrane for high-performance lithium-ion battery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the relationship between U.S. state-level CO 2 emissions and two measures of income inequality: the income share of the top 10% and the Gini coefficient. Each of the inequality measures, which focus on unique characteristics of income distributions, is used to evaluate the arguments of different analytical approaches. Results of the longitudinal analysis for the 1997 to 2012 period indicate that state-level emissions are positively associated with the income share of the top 10%, while the effect of the Gini coefficient on emissions is non-significant. The statistically significant relationship between CO 2 emissions and the concentration of income among the top 10% is consistent with analytical approaches that focus on political economy dynamics and Veblen effects, which highlight the potential political and economic power and emulative influence of the wealthy. The null effect of the Gini coefficient is generally inconsistent with the marginal propensity to emit approach, which posits that when incomes become more equally distributed, the poor will increase their consumption of energy and other carbon-intensive products as they move into the middle class. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the role of autophagy regulation in modulating neuroinflammation and cognitive function in an Alzheimer's disease (AD) mouse model with chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH). Using the APP23/PS1 mice plus CCH model, we examined the impact of autophagy regulation on cognitive function, neuroinflammation, and autophagic activity. Our results demonstrate significant cognitive impairments in AD mice, exacerbated by CCH, but mitigated by treatment with the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA). Dysregulation of autophagy-related proteins, accentuated by CCH, underscores the intricate relationship between cerebral blood flow and autophagy dysfunction in AD pathology. While 3-MA restored autophagic balance, rapamycin (RAPA) treatment did not induce significant changes, suggesting alternative therapeutic approaches are necessary. Dysregulated microglial polarization and neuroinflammation in AD+CCH were linked to cognitive decline, with 3-MA attenuating neuroinflammation. Furthermore, alterations in M2 microglial polarization and the levels of inflammatory markers NLRP3 and MCP1 were observed, with 3-MA treatment exhibiting potential anti-inflammatory effects. Our findings shed light on the crosstalk between autophagy and neuroinflammation in AD+CCH and suggest targeting autophagy as a promising strategy for mitigating neuroinflammation and cognitive decline in AD+CCH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The optimal treatment of choledocholithiasis combined with cholecystolithiasis remains controversial. Common surgical methods vary among endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), laparoscopic transcystic common bile duct exploration (LTCBDE), laparoscopic transductal common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) with or without T-tube drainage. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of surgical methods and to determine the appropriate procedure for patients with cholecystolithiasis combined with choledocholithiasis. Methods: From January 2013 to January 2019, a total of 1555 consecutive patients diagnosed with cholecystolithiasis combined with choledocholithiasis who underwent surgical treatment in Tongji Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Total 521 patients with intrahepatic bile duct stones underwent LC + LCBDE + T-Tube were excluded from the analysis. At last, 1034 patients who met the inclusion criteria were divided into three groups according to their surgical methods: preoperative ERCP + subsequent LC (ERCP + LC group, n = 275), LC + LCBDE + intraoperative endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD) + primary duct closure (Tri-scope group, n = 479) and LC + laparoscopic transcystic CBD exploration (LTCBDE group, n = 280). Clinical records, operative findings and postoperative follow-up were collected and analyzed. Results: There was no mortality in three groups. Common bile duct (CBD) stone clearance rate was 97.5% in ERCP + LC group, 98.7% in Tri-scope group, and 99.3% in LTCBDE group. There were no difference in terms of demographic characteristics, biochemistry findings and presentations, but the Tri-scope group had the biggest diameter and amount of stones and diameter of CBD, the LTCBDE group had the least CBD stones and the biggest diameter of cystic gall duct (CGD). ERCP + LC group have the longest hospital stay (14.16 ± 3.88 days vs 6.92 ± 1.71 days vs 10.74 ± 5.30 days, P < 0.05), also has the longest operative time than others (126.08 ± 42.79 min vs 92.31 ± 10.26 min, 99.09 ± 8.46 min, P < 0.05). Compared to ERCP + LC group, LTCBDE group and Tri-scope group had lower postoperation-leukocyte, shorter surgery duration and hospital stay (P < 0.05). Compared to the Tri-scope group, the LTCBDE group had the shorter hospital stay, extubation time and operation time and less intraoperative bleeding. There were less postoperative complications in LTCBDE group (1.1%) compared to the ERCP + LC group (3.6%) and Tri-scope group (2.2%). Follow-up time was 6 to 72 months. Four patients in ERCP + LC group and 5 in Tri-scope group reported recurrent stones. Conclusion: All the three surgical methods are safe and effective. Tri-scope approach and LTCBDE approach have superiority to preoperative ERCP + LC. LC + LTCBDE shows priority over Tri-scope approach, but should be performed in selected patients. LC + LCBDE + T-Tube can be an alternative management if the other three procedures were failed. The surgeons should choose the most appropriate surgical procedure according to the preoperative examination results and intraoperative situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the effect of neighboring transitions on the transformation between electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and two-photon absorption (TPA) in an open multi-level ladder type system of 87Rb atom, the EIT peak exhibits split and asymmetric line feature owing to a neighboring transition line with a stronger relative hyperfine transition strength factor. By comparing the signals of the 5 S 1 / 2 − 5 P 3 / 2 − 5 D 3 / 2 , 5 / 2 transitions when increasing the power of the coupling laser, it can be found that avoiding neighboring effects due to Doppler broadening in a real atom, a lower decay rate of the excited state and a higher hyperfine transition strength ratio between the coupling and probe lasers are the crucial factors that enhance the transformation efficiency between TPA and EIT and the resolution of the switched spectra. Detailed theoretical calculations, considering the crucial factors, are consistent with the experimental results. • Study the mechanism of transformation between Two-photon absorption and Electromagnetically induced transparency. • Determine the origin of splitting and asymmetric features in electromagnetically induced transparent signals. • Confirm the crucial factors for achieving high-precision and high-efficiency switching spectral lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new improved structure of dye-sensitized nanocrystalline solar cells (DSSC) for utilizing reflected light was introduced in this paper. Typical DSSC is based on a sandwich structure, which consists of photoanode, electrolyte and cathode. For the improved structure of DSSC in this paper, a sliver reflection film was attached to the back of transparent conducting glass of cathode. In this way, the residual light passing through photoanode was reflected to it to be used again. The photocurrent-voltage characteristics of DSSC fabricated by two different thickness of TiO2 film were measured to illustrate the effects of utilizing reflected light. As a result, the improved DSSC with reflection film exhibited higher photocurrent and solar-to-electric conversion efficiency than DSSC without reflection film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study seeks to understand the emotional connection of teachers' academically productive talk (APT) with student learning from the students' perspective. Using a sample of 2,225 students (N7th grade = 1,146 and N8th grade = 1,079) from 16 middle schools in a city of China, we investigate the relationship between students' perceptions of their teachers' APT, student emotions (enjoyment and anxiety) and their discursive engagement with others in the mathematics classroom. Results from structural equation modelling and mediation analysis show that after controlling for gender, family resources and mathematics achievement, student‐perceived teacher APT was positively associated with their discursive engagement with classmates. Furthermore, student enjoyment and anxiety in class mediated the relationship between student‐perceived teacher APT and student discursive engagement with classmates. Multi‐group analysis revealed that the model was invariant across genders and grades, indicating that the associations were applicable to male and female students as well as to seventh and eighth graders. These findings shed light on the emotional relationship of teacher APT with the discursive engagement of their students. Although prior research observes a positive relationship between teacher productive classroom talk and student discursive engagement primarily through classroom observations and teacher reflections, this study provides evidence from the students' perspective and highlights the mediating role of student emotions in the relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Money has become increasingly important in China since the transfer from a planned to a market economy. This study investigated whether the increased normative importance of money impairs Chinese adolescents' self-esteem. National survey data from 11,819 adolescents (mean age, 14.29 years; 48 % girls) in 200 junior high schools in China were used to examine whether school-level importance of money was associated with self-esteem, and how adolescents' family income and gender modified this association. Multilevel structure equation modeling analysis indicated that school-level importance of money was significantly and negatively related to individual students' self-esteem after controlling for school- and individual-level family incomes. The negative effect of school-level average importance of money on self-esteem varied with Chinese adolescents' subjective, but not objective, family income. Adolescents whose parents subjectively perceived that their families were poorer than others were more vulnerable to the negative effect of school-level average importance of money. No gender difference in susceptibility to the school-level average importance of money was observed. These findings suggest that Chinese adolescents' self-esteem is contingent on social standards about money. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a stellated carbon filler (S-filler) through passivation of the surfaces of carbon nanotubes and carbon black (CNTs/CB) was fabricated, and the corresponding thermal conductive composites of polypropylene (blended with alumina) (PP/Al 2 O 3 ) incorporated with S-filler were fabricated. When adding 15 wt% S-filler, the composite shows an DC electrical resistivity as high as 8.34 × 10 11 Ω cm and high thermal conductivity about 0.68 W/m·k. The composite using the new carbon filler as hybrid part shows a higher thermal conductivity and electric insulation. The rheological test also shows that the percolation network is not formed by the S-filler. This work offers a novel route for the design of thermally conductive, but electrically insulative composites with polymer as a matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing from multiple bodies of literature, the authors investigate the relationship between consumption-based carbon emissions and domestic income inequality for 67 nations from 1991 to 2008. Results of two-way fixed-effects longitudinal models indicate that the relationship between national-level emissions and inequality changes through time and varies for nations in different macroeconomic contexts. For high-income nations, the relationship shifts from negative to positive, suggesting that in recent years, income inequality in such nations increases carbon emissions. For middle-income nations, the association is negative, and becomes increasingly negative in the later years of the study. For low-income nations, the relationship between carbon emissions and domestic income inequality is null for the entire 1991 to 2008 period. These diverse results hold, net of the effects of other well-established human drivers of emissions, including population size, level of economic development, and urbanization. The authors conclude by emphasizing the need for future research on greenhouse gas emissions and domestic inequality, and the central role that sociology should play in this emerging area of inquiry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ambient air pollution, in the form of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5), poses serious population health risks. We estimate cross-national longitudinal models to test whether the negative relationship between life expectancy and PM 2.5 concentration is larger in nations with higher levels of income inequality. The dependent variable is average life expectancy at birth, and the focal predictor variables include PM 2.5 concentration, income inequality, and the two-way interaction between them. We also estimate the average marginal effects of PM 2.5 concentration from low to high values of income inequality, and the predicted values of life expectancy from low to high values of PM 2.5 concentration and income inequality. Results indicate that the negative relationship between life expectancy and PM 2.5 concentration is larger in nations with higher levels of income inequality, and the reductions in predicted life expectancy are substantial when both PM 2.5 concentration and income inequality are high. We suggest that the theoretical principles of Power, Proximity, and Physiology help explain our findings. This study underscores the importance in considering the multiplicative impacts of environmental conditions and socioeconomic factors in the modeling of population health. Unlabelled Image • PM 2.5 poses serious population health risks throughout the world. • We estimate longitudinal models of life expectancy for 136 nations. • Average life expectancy is negatively associated with PM 2.5 concentration. • Income inequality amplifies the negative association between them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study contributes to interdisciplinary research on the social and environmental determinants of population health, with a focus on the interaction between working hours and fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) concentration. The authors estimate longitudinal models of the relationship between US state-level average life expectancy and both average working hours and PM 2.5 concentration for the 2005–2014 period. Results obtained from two-way fixed effects models indicate that average life expectancy is negatively associated with both average working hours and fine particulate matter concentration. Findings also indicate clear moderating relationships: the negative association between life expectancy and working hours is amplified as PM 2.5 concentration increases, and the negative relationship between life expectancy and fine particulate matter concentration is amplified when average working hours increase. The results of this study underscore the need for additional research on the multiplicative impacts of socioeconomic factors and environmental factors in the modeling of population health. • Life expectancy for US states is negatively associated with average working hours and PM 2.5 concentration. • The negative association between life expectancy and working hours is amplified as PM 2.5 concentration increases. • The negative relationship between life expectancy and PM 2.5 concentration is amplified when average working hours increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]