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The mass transport behavior through nanoscale channels, greatly influenced by the structures and dynamics of nanoconfined water, plays an essential role in many biophysical processes. However, the dynamics of nanoconfined water under an external field and its effects are still not fully understood. Here, on the basis of molecular dynamics simulations, we theoretically show that the ionic current of [Bmim][PF6] through narrow pores in graphene membrane exhibits an ionic negative differential resistance effect—the ionic current decreases as the voltage increases over a certain threshold. This effect arises from the violation of traditional fluid dynamics as the assumption of continuity and homogeneity of fluids is no longer effective in ultrathin nanopores. The gradient of electric field around the atomic-thin layer produces a strong gradient force on the polarized water inside the nanopore. This dielectrophoretically compressed water leads to a hydrostatic force that repels ions from entering the nanopore. Our findings may advance the understanding of hydrostatic mechanism, which governs ion transport through nanopores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experimental results of the ionic conductance of the electrolytic solution can be explained without the use of relaxation until almost 2M concentration of the NaCl solution within 97% agreement with two parameters: the hydrated ion radii for cations and anions. No other fitting parameters were introduced, and no ion association was assumed. The theory is based on a newly introduced electrochemical potential that incorporates the interaction between ions and fluctuations in electrolyte concentration in the nanosized region. It was found that the concept of local chemical potential, fluctuation in the nanosized area, and symmetry of the system are closely related to the Boltzmann distribution of ions. Extending the concept of a local chemical potential to the case of an external field, the derived ionic mobility automatically includes the effect of electrophoresis. The so-called electrophoretic retardation was found to be equivalent to the shielding effect of the external field. Relaxation bears a minor effect and may contribute to the ion transport of electrolytic solution at most 3%, if exists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an innovative neural modulation technique, the transcranial magneto-acousto-electric (MAE) stimulation (TMAES) realizes the synergistic regulation of neuronal discharge through the ultrasonic mechanical and inductive electric effects, offering significant prospects in biomedical applications. However, the stimulation accuracy is still limited by the unidirectional distribution of MAE field intensity. A method of constructing center-converging MAE field by coupling the helical wave fronts of focused acoustic-vortex (FAV) beams with a coaxial magnetic field is proposed. By describing FAVs with Laguerre–Gaussian functions, the theory of MAE field construction is derived in explicit formulae and the spatiotemporal characteristics of MAE fields in the focal region are analyzed. It is theoretically and experimentally demonstrated that the MAE field generated by the FAV of lth order is determined by those of (l − 1)th and (l + 1)th orders. The center-converging phase-rotating MAE field can only be generated by the FAV of first order, maintaining a constant peak intensity at the vortex center. Experimental distributions of MAE fields for FAVs of different orders show good agreements with numerical simulations. With the peak pressure of 0.86 MPa and the magnetic intensity of 0.3 T, the peak intensity of 62.1 mV/m reaching the electric stimulation threshold is achieved. The center-converging MAE field constructed by FAV may develop a new synergistic neural modulation scheme for TMAES with enhanced precision and flexibility while ensuring safety and efficacy, thereby exhibiting significant scientific and practical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the previous work [Reddy et al., J. Chem. Phys. 151, 044307 (2019)], we have analyzed the dynamics of the intramolecular singlet fission process in a series of prototypical pentacene-based dimers, where the pentacene monomers are covalently bonded to a phenylene linker in ortho, meta, and para positions. The results obtained were qualitatively consistent with the experimental data available, showing an ultrafast population of the multiexcitonic state that mainly takes place via a mediated (superexchange-like) mechanism involving charge transfer and doubly excited states. Our results also highlighted the instrumental role of molecular vibrations in the process as a sizable population of the multiexcitonic state could only be obtained through vibronic coupling. Here, we extend these studies and investigate the effect of the laser field on the dynamics of intramolecular singlet fission by explicitly including the coupling to the laser field in our model. In this manner, and by selectively tuning the laser field to the different low-lying absorption bands of the systems investigated, we analyze the wavelength dependence of the intramolecular singlet fission process. In addition, we have also analyzed how the nature of the initially photoexcited electronic state (either localized or delocalized) affects its dynamics. Altogether, our results provide new insights into the design of intramolecular singlet fission-active molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microsolvation of the carbamate moiety delivers precise information on complexation effects on the N–C=O backbone and is of relevance to the peptide bond functionality. In this context, the mono-, di-, and trihydrated complexes of methyl carbamate have been studied in molecular expansion by high-resolution microwave spectroscopy, using chirped-pulse and Fabry–Perot resonator Fourier transform microwave instruments covering the frequency range from 2 to 18 GHz. From the rotational constants of the parent and the 18Ow substituted monoisotopologues, accurate values have been derived for the geometries of the hydrogen bond interactions. The nuclear quadrupole coupling constant χcc of the nitrogen nucleus provides a direct measure of complexation changes and decreases with the degree of hydration, whereas the hindered internal rotation barrier increases slightly with microsolvation. Both tendencies could have a common origin in the π-cooperative inductive effects as the microsolvation series progresses. All transitions are split by the internal rotation of the methyl top and the nuclear quadrupole coupling, and in the largest cluster, they are additionally split by an inversion motion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Near-zero magnetic shielding systems (MSSs) can provide basic experimental environments for extremely weak magnetic measurements. Reducing the internal magnetic field of MSS is the crucial element of high-sensitivity measurements, which is related to the shielding material flux. As an effective way to regulate the material remanence, degaussing reconstructs the magnetic balance with the geomagnetic field. However, previous research studies mainly focused on the optimization of material degaussing, with few considering the practical application scenarios of MSS. In this work, a numerical modeling method is proposed to realistically depict the balancing process, and the mapping relationship between the internal magnetic field of the MSS and the degaussing current is established. First, the magnetic field source analysis is carried out, and the internal magnetic field fluctuations of the MSS during degaussing are decomposed into multi-harmonic components. Then, the phase and amplitude changes of the hysteresis loop are simulated to predict the residual field. Thereafter, the effectiveness of the method is verified by a magnetic shielding cylinder. The experimental results indicate that the slight difference in material remanence has a negligible effect on the residual field. This work has potential application value in the research of degaussing technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on elastic and electronically inelastic integral and differential cross sections for electron collisions with the 2H-pyran and 4H-pyran molecules. The scattering calculations were performed with the Schwinger multichannel method and aimed to (i) investigate the formation of resonant states, (ii) assign and compare the resonance spectrum of these isomers, and (iii) evaluate the influence of multichannel coupling effects upon elastic and electronically inelastic scattering processes. In the elastic channel, calculations carried out at the static-exchange and static-exchange plus polarization levels of approximation revealed the presence of three shape resonances for each one of the pyran isomers. For the 2H-pyran molecule, we found two resonances related to the formation of long-lived π ∗ anion states that are centered at 1.38 or 1.32 eV (π 1 ∗) and 4.54 or 4.46 eV (π 2 ∗), depending on the polarization model used in the calculations, and a broad resonance of σ ∗ character located around 9.50–10.00 eV. The resonances observed in the case of the 4H-pyran molecule have the same character with centers located at 2.08 or 2.20 eV (π 1 ∗), 3.92 or 3.94 eV (π 2 ∗), and 9.24–10.00 or 9.50–10.00 eV (σ ∗), depending on the polarization model used in the calculations. The difference in the position of the resonances when comparing the results for the 2HPY and 4HPY molecules is explained in terms of the inductive effect. The electronically inelastic calculations employed the minimal orbital basis for single configuration interactions strategy and considered up to 129 open channels for 2H-pyran and up to 249 open channels for 4H-pyran. According to these levels of channel coupling, we computed integral and differential cross sections for the excitation from the ground state to the 1 3 A ′ , 2 3 A ′ , 1 1 A ′ ′ , and 2 1 A ′ electronic excited states of 2H-pyran and to the 1 3 B 2 , 1 3 A 1 , 1 1 B 1 , and 1 1 B 2 electronic excited states of 4H-pyran. As a general trend, for both isomers, we observed that the magnitude of the cross sections is reduced as more channels are considered open in the scattering calculations. We also obtained the total ionization cross sections for 2H- and 4H-pyran using the binary-encounter-Bethe model, which next was summed to the elastic and electronically inelastic cross sections to estimate the total cross sections. As a whole, these results correspond to the first set of cross sections for these targets published to date. Such an effort is aimed at addressing the demand of different communities regarding the expansion of the cross section data set for electron collisions with molecules of technological, environmental, and biological relevance, a need that has been raised by several reviews on the subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrospinning is a cost-effective but very intricate method of producing polymeric nanofibers at room temperature. Unfortunately however, it is extremely difficult to predict the diameter or other properties of the fibers produced via electrospinning a prior. In this paper, we present a new approach to simulate fiber formation during electrospinning. Our work builds on the mathematical framework that was originally developed by Reneker and Yarin in 2000. Our approach incorporates the 3D electrostatic field that surrounds the fiber in a Lagrangian discrete particle tracking algorithm that tracks the trajectory of the fiber in air and predicts its deposition velocity and diameter. We investigate the effects of electrostatic field spatial variation on fiber electrospinning and compare our results with those obtained using a constant electrostatic field, the traditional approach, and with experiments (conducted using polyurethane). We considered three different electrospinning configurations of single-needle-plate-collector, single-needle-drum-collector, and two-needles-drum-collector to investigate how different electrostatic fields impact fiber formation. The computational model developed in this work helps to advance the current state of the art in modeling the electrospinning process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study shows that magnetic linear dichroism (MLD) measurement has great potential for characterizing magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) used in recently developing biomedical applications or nanoscale mechanical measurement techniques. MLD of MNP suspension reflects the orientation of the MNP. We investigated the frequency dependence of the MLD of MNP suspension under a simple AC field and the effect of the MNP size and material. Under an AC field with the frequency f, the MLD oscillated with 2f for every MNP. The amplitude and phase of this 2f-oscillation were precisely measured with a lock-in amplifier, and we showed the MLD2f frequency spectrum, a plot of real and imaginary parts of the 2f-component of MLD as a function of f. We found that the shape of the MLD2f frequency spectrum can distinguish the rotational modes of MNPs in an AC field. Therefore, this spectrum is helpful for the selection of MNPs for each technique mentioned above. We propose two model functions to fit the MLD2f frequency spectra, consistent with each rotational mode. It is shown that one of the fitting parameters τ0 is associated with the rotational Brownian relaxation time of MNP, and the other parameter β would represent the distribution of the anisotropy energy. The frequency dependence of MLD will provide precise insights into the magnetization and orientational dynamics of the MNP in liquid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe aim of this study was to load 4-farnesyloxycoumarin (4-FLC) in nanoliposomes (4-FLC-LNPs) and evaluate its anti-cancer and anti-metastatic effects. 4-FLC-LNPs were synthesized using a combination of lecithin-cholesterol-polyethylene glycol. The physicochemical properties were evaluated using DLS, FTIR, and microscopy methods. The toxicity against breast cancer (MCF-7), prostate cancer (PS3), pancreatic cancer (PANC), gastric cancer (AGS), and normal cell lines (HUVEC) was evaluated using the MTT assay. Fluorescent staining and flow cytometry were used to assess the occurrence of apoptosis. Molecular analysis methods were used to study the apoptosis and metastasis effects of these nanoliposomes. The antioxidant power of 4-FLC-LNPs was measured using the ABTS and DPPH free radicals methods. 4-FLC-LNPs exhibit a spherical morphology, with an average size of 57.43 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.29, and a zeta potential of −31.4 mV. They demonstrate an encapsulation efficiency of 82.4% for 4-FLC. The IC50 value of 4-FLC-LNPs against the breast cancer cell line was reported as the most sensitive, at approximately 60 μg/mL. ABTS and DPPH results were reported at approximately 30 µg/mL. The inductive effects of nanoliposomes on the apoptosis process were confirmed by an increase in the number of apoptotic cells, as well as the arrest of cells in various phases of cell growth. The increased expression of BAX and decreased expression of Bcl-2, MMP-2, and MMP-9 confirmed the pro-apoptotic and anti-metastatic effects of 4-FLC-LNPs. These finding validate the therapeutic potential of 4-FLC-LNPs, which may be utilized in preclinical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the importance and fascination that arises from processes involving Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAHs) in the interstellar medium (ISM), in this work quantum calculations were used to study the HAVA mechanism (Hydrogen Abstraction Vinylacetylene Addition) involved in the PAHs formation from the benzonitrile (⁠|${\rm C_6H_5CN}$|⁠), molecule recently discovered in the ISM, and vinylacetylene (⁠|${\rm C_4H_4}$|⁠). The reaction force analysis was used to obtain information about the mechanisms in terms of structural and electronic rearrangements presents in the formation of naphthalene, 1-naphthonitrile, 2-naphthonitrile, and 3-ethynylisoquinoline. Due to the presence of the cyano group on the aromatic ring for the formation of 1-naphthonitrile and 2-naphthonitrile, these reactions: (a) follow the HAVA mechanism, showing the same structural nature of the submerged energy barriers and (b) result consistent with the fact that both molecules have recently been found in TMC-1, where benzonitrile and vinylacetylene are also present. The mesomeric and inductive effect of the cyano group on the aromatic ring contributes to lowering the energy barrier when the radical is in the ortho position on the aromatic ring with respect to the cyano group. This decrease contributes greatly to the work of electronic reordering. Although the formation of 3-ethynylisoquinoline (N-Heterocycle) does not follow the HAVA mechanism and involves positive barriers at the conditions of TMC-1, important astrochemical and astrobiological implications can be derived from this result, since N-containing heterocycles, have been detected in carbonaceous chondrites would be providing interesting connection between chemistry in space and the origin of life on Earth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With the rapid advancement of the technology industry, particularly in STEM fields, female professionals have increasingly become key drivers of innovation. Despite this, existing research has seldom examined the psychological impact of informal control on their innovation performance. Therefore, this study distributed questionnaires to female technology professionals in China's STEM field to investigate the effect of informal control on their innovation performance from a psychological perspective. It further explored the mediating role of role pressure and the moderating role of environmental turbulence in this relationship. Methods: This study primarily utilized AMOS 24.0 to develop structural equation models, and employed PROCESS 24.0 and SPSS 26.0 for data analysis purposes. Results: The findings reveal that informal control positively predicted the innovation performance of female technology professionals in STEM field. Role pressure partially mediates this relationship, while environmental turbulence positively moderates the relationship between informal control and innovation performance among female technology professionals in STEM field. Discussion: Theoretically, this research enriches the individual-level approaches to enhancing management control effectiveness. Practically, it aids managers in focusing on the psychological well-being of female technology professionals in STEM field, thereby facilitating the judicious selection of management control methods. The study's conclusions aim to provide logical guidance for enterprises to further strengthen their attention and support for female technology professionals in STEM field. Simultaneously, it offers a theoretical foundation for enhancing their innovative capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrothermally synthesized manganese dioxide (MnO2) has attracted significant attention in supercapacitor applications due to its exceptional electrochemical properties. This research systematically explores the influence of hydrothermal temperatures of 105 °C (M1), 120 °C (M2), and 150 °C (M3) on the structural and electrochemical characteristics of MnO2-based supercapacitors. From field effect scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images, the average diameter of MnO2 nanorods is 139 ± 3 nm, 140 ± 5 nm, and 156 ± 3 nm for M1, M2, and M3. The crystalline quality of MnO2 increases by increasing the hydrothermal temperature (M3 sample). Shifting the Raman peak from 637 to 654 cm−1 is observed due to the enhancement in crystallinity and nanorod size in the M3 sample. Higher surface area for smaller nanorods (M1) is also confirmed by the BET (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller) technique. At the scan rate of 10 mV/s, the specific capacitance obtained is 142 (M1), 135 (M2), and 131 (M3) F/g. By elucidating the intricate relationship between hydrothermal temperature and the resultant MnO2 properties, this study provides valuable insights for optimizing the synthesis conditions to enhance the performance of MnO2-based supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) are significant agricultural pests that can reduce maize yields. This study examines the prevalence, abundance, and diversity of PPNs in New Zealand maize fields, focusing on the effects of territory, soil orders, crop stages, and sampling times. Seven PPN genera were identified: Pratylenchus spp. (root-lesion), Helicotylenchus spp. (spiral), Meloidogyne spp. (root-knot), Heterodera spp. (cyst), Paratylenchus spp. (pin), Criconemella spp. (ring), and Tylenchus spp. PPNs were present in 98% of the samples, with Pratylenchus spp. being the most prevalent (91%), followed by Helicotylenchus spp. (38%). Compared to Waikato and Manawatu-Whanganui, Canterbury had the highest nematode populations, particularly of Pratylenchus spp. and Helicotylenchus spp. Brown and pallic soils supported higher PPN abundances. Sampling during the maize harvesting stage and late autumn resulted in the highest nematode populations and diversity indices. Pratylenchus spp. populations often exceeded the economic threshold of 500 Pratylenchus kg−1 of soil, suggesting a significant threat to maize yield in New Zealand. The findings highlight the need for further research to assess the impact of Pratylenchus spp. on maize yield and to develop effective management practices for maize cultivation in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

European expertise is an effect of the field of European politics that opens up access to sources of knowledge and authority beyond the political context and varies depending on the state of European integration. This can be exemplified by a prosopography of members of political-economic European Expert Groups (1966–2018). A multiple correspondence analysis of 261 professional careers allows us to reconstruct the structure of European expertise in this policy area to determine six types of experts by clustering and, in the light of the observed diversity, to trace the decline in scientific and the increase in financial expertise. This development can be interpreted as a strengthening of the economic-heteronomous pole in the field, which goes hand in hand with the rise of neoliberal forms of government, the autonomisation of the field and the professionalisation of expert consultations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to considering the influence of a species on other species (centrality), the identification of keystone species should also consider whether it has a unique network position (uniqueness). Clarifying the correlation between species centrality and uniqueness, or whether central species exhibit positional redundancy in food webs, can enhance the understanding of mechanisms stabilizing food webs. However, the findings from analyses utilizing different measures of uniqueness are contentious. In this study, we constructed the food web of the eutrophic Zhangze Lake (northern China) using stable isotopes to estimate the contribution of food sources to consumers. We then calculated trophic field overlap index to assess the uniqueness of species using this quantified food web information. Additionally, we analyzed how the weak interaction and the threshold value under which interactions are considered as weak influence the relationship between species uniqueness and centrality. The findings revealed that, in contrast to the traditional trophic field overlap index, the improved index identified the basal species with the strongest trophic interactions with other species and the filter‐feeding fishes with the fewest interactors as the most unique species, while the basal species were considered the least unique under the traditional index. The ranking results of the traditional index and the centrality showed a significant negative correlation, whereas the improved index displayed a positive correlation, which was caused by the comprehensive consideration of threshold and weak interaction. In addition, based on the data analysis, the suggestion was given for the selection of indices used to identify unique species, and whether central species have positional redundancy was explored. The methodology used in study provides a practical solution for the identification of the most unique species, points out and solves the problems faced in the uniqueness analysis, and advances the understanding of the mechanisms underlying food web robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most popular topics in sustainable chemistry is the creation of new eco-friendly solvents. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have been established as accessible and affordable substitutes for ionic liquids. Herein, we studied the formation of a novel amino acid-based DES (AADES) considering L -threonine as a hydrogen bond acceptor and glycerol as a hydrogen bond donor. Owing to their complexity, a comprehensive understanding of DESs requires combined efforts that integrate experimental observations with computational approaches. The validation of the synthesized DES was initially performed through FTIR spectroscopy, where significant changes in bond-bending vibrations indicated strong non-covalent bond formation. In differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis, the 1 : 3 Thr/Gly deep eutectic system displayed phase transitions marked by a pronounced peak at −22 °C, which was lower than the melting points of threonine (Thr) and glycerol (Gly). 1H-NMR studies also revealed hydrogen bonding intermolecular interactions between glycerol and threonine. Deshielded chemical shifts of proton signals of both glycerol and threonine are due to the local changes in electron density induced by the closeness of electronegative oxygens via the inductive effect, which supports the formation of the conformer (3 : 1 glycerol/threonine DES). Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was employed to acquire a comprehensive understanding of how these solvents form and function at both the molecular and macroscopic levels. RDF and CDF analyses revealed the non-bonding sites (C–O⋯H and C＝O⋯H), interaction intensity (2–4.7), and predominant angles (135–180 and 0–30 degrees) governing the process by which hydrogen bonds originate in the DES. SDF uncovered the conformations of the liquid DES and highlighted its variability, particularly in terms of clusters. The bulk properties of DESs are of paramount significance because they are intricately linked to their diverse applications. Transport property values were obtained through specialized MD simulations, providing crucial insights into the behavior of the systems. Non-equilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulations were performed to assess the rheological properties of viscosity at three distinct temperatures (298 K, 313 K, and 328 K). The obtained viscosity, surface tension, and self-diffusion coefficient values appear practical and fall within a reasonable range when compared to those of other well-known DESs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gene expression appears altered in apparently normal tissue surrounding tumor tissue. The observed biological alterations in the tumor microenvironment play a crucial role in cancer development and are named the cancer field effect (FE). A robust set of overexpressed FE genes in tissue surrounding colorectal cancer (CRC) tumor were identified in previous studies. Our study aimed to investigate the influence of common medication intake and modifiable risk factors on FE gene expression using a colonic mucosa sample dataset of healthy individuals (BarcUVa-Seq). We applied expression enrichment analysis of the FE genes for each studied medication and factor. Both observational and instrumental (Mendelian randomization) analysis were conducted, and the results were validated using independent datasets. The findings from the observational and instrumental analyses consistently showed that medication intake, especially metformin, considerably downregulated the FE genes. Chemopreventive effects were also noted for antihypertensive drugs targeting the renin–angiotensin system. Conversely, benzodiazepines usage might upregulate FE genes, thus fostering a tumor-promoting microenvironment. In contrast, the findings from the observational and instrumental analyses on modifiable risk factors showed some discrepancies. The instrumental results indicated that obesity and smoking might promote a tumor-favorable microenvironment. These findings offer insights into the biological mechanisms through which risk factors might influence CRC development and highlight the potential chemopreventive roles of metformin and antihypertensive drugs in CRC risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the first simultaneous observations of a traveling ionosphere wave (TID) event, measuring electron concentration ( N e ), vertical plasma drift ( V z ), and ion and electron temperatures ( T i , T e ) using the Arecibo incoherent scatter radar. A TID with a period of 135 min was evident in all four state variables in the thermosphere. The amplitudes of V z and relative T i fluctuations show only small height variations from 200 to 500 km and their vertical wavelengths increase with altitude. The T e fluctuation shows different characteristics from EISCAT in both phase and amplitude. When the geomagnetic dip angle is 45°, half of the driving gravity wave's (GW's) equatorward velocity is mapped to V z . This meridional-to-vertical velocity coupling amplifies GW's effect in N e through vertical transport. The amplifying and anisotropic effects of the geomagnetic field explain the ubiquitous presence of TIDs and their preferred equatorward propagation direction in the geomagnetic mid-latitudes, as well as the midnight collapse phenomenon observed at Arecibo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although as an analytical method with high specificity and high sensitivity, mass spectrometry (MS) has a wide range of applications in many fields, it still needs other technologies as the assist and supplement to enhance the scope and capability of analysis. Coupling with ion mobility (IM) can make an enhancement effect in the field of pharmaceutical analysis as a supplementary method. The two-dimensional mass technology improves the confidence of compounds annotations while increasing peak capacity, with the gradual deepening of theoretical research on IM-MS, it has shown unique advantages in the complex analysis conditions. IM-MS owns great potential for improving the depth, range, dimension of in-depth drug research. In this review, the principle, instruments and methods, applications, advantages and limitations of IM-MS are described. Here, we also elaborate on the prospects in structural evaluation, separation, and identification of complex compounds for the drug discovery and development phase and the great advantages of macromolecules and omics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• In this study, the medicinal herbs with inductive effects on female reproductive system and their potential mechanisms of action are reviewed. • The clinical trials on the effects of herbal extracts on female reproduction system are also reviewed. • The need for conducting more scientific studies on the herbal extracts and standardization for development new supplements is discussed. Infertility is one of the significant global issues that affects approximately 15–17 % of couples worldwide, with around 50 % of cases being attributed to female infertility factors. The exploration of herbal extracts and their effects on female infertility has been limited, particularly regarding the underlying mechanisms beyond hormonal and oxidative stress influences. In this study, the herbal medicines with potential effects such as antioxidative properties, enhancement of insulin sensitivity, and modulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis have been reviewed. Several herbal extracts were found to exhibit significant antioxidant properties and demonstrate phytoestrogenic effects on reproductive factors and hormonal levels. Antioxidants are essential in mitigating oxidative stress by neutralizing free radicals, which in turn helps to lower insulin resistance, total cholesterol, fat accumulation, and the proliferation of cancerous cells. Furthermore, this review highlights that certain parts of specific plants are rich in polyphenolic compounds, including isoflavones and flavonoids, along with other advantageous substances that support women's reproductive health. These compounds not only modulate female endocrine systems but also alleviate menopausal symptoms and effectively address a range of reproductive disorders, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), premature ovarian failure (POF), endometriosis, hyperprolactinemia, and hypothalamic dysfunction. Turning to the other side, the plants and herbal extracts with suppressive effects on female fertility have been reviewed. These findings indicated that herbal extracts could be exploited to develop natural products as supplements for supporting the female reproductive system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electroplastic effect leads to an increase in the plasticity of the material and a decrease in resistance to deformation. In recent years, the electroplastic effect has achieved remarkable results in machining. It is significant in solving the problems of poor material forming quality, low productivity, and complex production processes in traditional machining. Firstly, the basic theory of electroplasticity is summarized. Four aspects are studied: pure electroplastic effect, joule heating effect, skin effect, and magnetic compression effect. Secondly, electroplastic plastic processing is summarized, including electroplastic bulk forming, electroplastic sheet progressive molding, electroplastic friction stir welding, electro-superplastic welding, and electroplastic rolling forming. Research progress and electrical plastic cutting processing are summarized, including electroplastic milling, electroplastic turning, and electroplastic drilling. Finally, the multi-energy field coupling machining technology is summarized, and the development trend and application prospect of the electroplastic effect in the machining field has prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a first-principles study on the electronic, magnetic, and optical characteristics of non-metallic atoms (B, C, F, H, N, O, P, S, and Si) doped in single-layer carbon germanium (GeC). The findings indicate that the introduction of various non-metallic atoms into the monolayer GeC leads to modifications in its band structure properties. Different non-metallic atoms doped in single-layer GeC will produce both magnetic and non-magnetic properties. B-, H-, N-, and P-doped GeC systems exhibit magnetic properties, while C-, F-, O-, S-, and Si-doped single-layer GeC systems exhibit non-magnetic properties. Different non-metallic-doped single-layer GeC systems will produce semiconductor, semimetallic, and metallic properties. The C-, N-, O-, P-, S-, and Si-doped GeC systems still exhibit semiconductor properties. The H-doped GeC system exhibits semimetallic properties, while the B- and F-doped GeC systems exhibit metallic properties. Other than that, the doping of B, H, N, and P atoms can modulate the magnetism of single-layer GeC. Subsequently, we studied the influence of the doping behavior on the work function, where the work function of the single-layer GeC system doped with P atoms is very small, indicating that its corresponding doping system (P-doped GeC system) can produce a good field emission effect. In the optical spectrum, the doped systems have a certain influence in the far ultraviolet region. Furthermore, our results showed that S- and Si-doped single-layer GeC systems are conducive to photocatalysis compared to the single-layer GeC system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nobel metal nanostructures have been widely studied owing to their excellent surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effects. In order to regulate the SPR properties and applications of noble metal nanostructures, it is critical to accurately control their morphology and composition. Gold nanorods (Au NRs) have become a research hotpot because of their anisotropic shape and tunable plasmonic properties. By designing various heterostructures and assemblies composed of Au NRs, improvements in their SPR effects and further applications can be achieved. In this study, Au NR@Au–Ag nanoframes were prepared based on Au NRs via a sacrificial template method. The combination of metal nanostructures and open nanostructures not only maintained the characteristics of each component, but also showed synergistic effects, enhancing the performance of the composite nanostructures. Experimental results showed that the nanostructures exhibited tunable SPR properties, excellent structural stability and good catalytic activity. Furthermore, a plasmon-induced electromagnetic field enhancement effect greatly enhanced the catalytic activity of the nanostructures. This work provides new ideas and approaches for the design and development of highly active nanocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the spectrum and quantum states of small lattices with cylindrical and toroidal topology subject to a scalar gauge potential that introduces a position dependent phase in the inter-site coupling. Equivalency of gauges assumed in infinite lattices is generally lost due to the periodic boundary conditions, and conditions that restore it are identified. We trace the impact of various system parameters including gauge choice, boundary conditions and inter-site coupling strengths, and an additional axial field. We find gauge dependent appearance of avoided crossings and persistent degeneracies, and we show their impact on the associated eigenstates. Smaller lattices develop prominent gaps in spectral lines associated with edge states, which are suppressed in the thermodynamic limit. Toroidal lattices have counterparts of most of the features observed in cylindrical lattices, but notably they display a transition from localization to delocalization determined by the relation between the field parameter and the number of lattice sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Biofilm formation is an essential virulence factor that creates a highly protected growth mode for Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) to survive in any hostile environment. Antibiotic sub-minimal inhibitory concentration (sub-MIC) may modulate the biofilm formation ability of bacterial pathogens, thereby affecting bacterial pathogenesis and infection outcomes. Intense antimicrobial therapy to treat biofilm-associated infections can control the pathogenic infection aggravation but cannot guarantee its complete eradication. Objective: This study aimed to assess the sub-MICs effect of 5 different antimicrobial classes on biofilm-forming capacity among Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates using three different biofilm quantitation techniques. Methods: In this study, the effects of 5 different antimicrobial agents, namely, azithromycin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, and imipenem, at sub-MICs of 12.5%, 25%, and 50% were tested on 5 different clinical isolates of S. aureus. The biofilms formed in the absence and presence of different antimicrobial sub-MICs were then assessed using the following three different techniques: the crystal violet (CV) staining method, the quantitative PCR (qPCR) method, and the spread plate method (SPM). Results: Biofilm formation was significantly induced in 64% of the tested conditions using the CV technique. On the other hand, the qPCR quantifying the total bacterial count and the SPM quantifying the viable bacterial count showed significant induction only in 24% and 17.3%, respectively (Fig. 1). The difference between CV and the other techniques indicates an increase in biofilm biomass without an increase in bacterial growth. As expected, sub-MICs did not reduce the viable cell count, as shown by the SPM. The CV staining method revealed that sub-MICs of imipenem and ciprofloxacin had the highest significance rate (80%) showing an inductive effect on the biofilm development. On the other hand, doxycycline, azithromycin, and gentamicin displayed lower significance rates of 73%, 53%, and 47%, respectively. Conclusion: Exposure to sub-MIC doses of antimicrobial agents induces the biofilm-forming capacity of S. aureus via increasing the total biomass without significantly affecting the bacterial growth of viable count. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is nowadays widely used in archaeological prospection. This study deals with an approach to make ERT more time‐efficient and flexible. It is based on calculating arbitrary 4‐point configurations by superposition of multiple pole–pole measurements. Investigating its applicability for archaeological purposes is the objective of this work. To do so, a synthetic study and a case study are conducted to gain insights into effects of nonideal field conditions, noise susceptibility and other challenges during processing and interpretation. Remains of an early modern manor in Noer served as an exemplary object of investigation. Their high resistivity contrast in relation to the surrounding soil makes them ideal for a functionality test. Beforehand, ground penetrating radar measurements were carried out to constrain the forward model used in the synthetic study. It turns out that the pole–pole conversion is well applicable for archaeological prospection under some conditions. The synthetic study shows that the approach is relatively prone to systematic errors. Therefore, it is recommended to locate the external electrodes at a distance of at least 0.7 times (preferably 1.7 times) the maximum internal electrode spacing from the area of investigation. Other error sources like nonideal electrode coupling must be excluded to keep relative noise levels below 1%. The pole–pole conversion can be considered reliable for absolute noise levels below 0.3 mV. Therefore, an A/D converter resolution of, for example, 16‐bit should be sufficient for a dynamic range of ±10 V. If all conditions are met, the pole–pole conversion has a great potential to make ERT more time‐efficient (up to 50%, depending on configuration sets) and flexible, as it allows to calculate nearly every arbitrary 4‐point configuration in the given setup. Combined with optimization approaches like the ‘Compare R’ method, data sets can also be adapted for specific (archaeological) questions or conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structure and properties of the electrode/electrolyte interface significantly influence the electrochemical processes of energy storage and conversion, yet the challenge lies in accurate description of both molecular characteristics and external field effects. Here, we develop a mesoscopic thermodynamic model that calculates the thermodynamic properties of electrolytes based on chemical potential, and its efficiency is enhanced by a deep neural network. The deep neural network enhanced mesoscopic thermodynamic (DeepMT) model effectively bridges the gap between micro‐level characteristics of ions and macro‐level effects of external field, enabling precise presentation of ion density distributions over complex conditions. Our result indicates that the DeepMT model not only demonstrates a computational efficiency improvement of approximately four orders of magnitude over direct theoretical calculations, but also accurately predicts interface properties including ion adsorption, surface charge, and differential capacitance through the statistical analysis of density distributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we used the numerical simulation tool FLUENT to numerically simulate the combustion of ammonia-hydrogen fuel in the combustion chamber of a 9E heavy-duty gas turbine, and analysed the effects of different hydrogen blending ratios on the stability of ammonia combustion and NOx emissions. We found that an increase in the hydrogen mixing ratio in the fuel during the ammonia-hydrogen mixture combustion process contributes to the reduction of NOx emissions and has a positive effect on combustion stability. The key highlights of our research include. (see Fig. 3–6 and 10 and 11) • Ammonia-hydrogen combustion simulation of the 9E heavy duty gas turbine. • Increase in the proportion of hydrogen leads to an increase in the maximum temperature produced by combustion. • The high temperature zone moves closer to the fuel inlet as hydrogen increases. • The increase in hydrogen has little effect on the flow field in the combustion chamber. • Increased hydrogen ratio effectively reduces NOx emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study investigates the influence of several R substituents (e.g., Me, SiH3, F, Cl, Br, OH, NH2, etc.) on the aromaticity of borazine, also known as the "inorganic benzene". By performing hybrid DFT methods, blended with several computational techniques, e.g., Natural Bond Orbital (NBO), Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QTAIM), Gauge-Including Magnetically Induced Current (GIMIC), Nucleus-Independent Chemical Shift (NICS), and following a simultaneous evaluation of four different aromaticity indices (para-delocalization index (PDI), multi-centre bond order (MCBO), ring current strength (RCS), and NICS parameters), it is emphasized that the aromatic character of B-substituted (B3R3N3H3) and N-substituted (B3H3N3R3) borazine derivatives can be tailored by modulating the electronic effects of R groups. It is also highlighted that the position of R substituents on the ring structure is crucial in tuning the aromaticity. Systematic comparisons of calculated aromaticity index values (i.e., via regression analyses and correlation matrices) ensure that the reported trends in aromaticity variation are accurately described, while the influence of different R groups on electron delocalization and related aromaticity phenomena is quantitatively assessed based on NBO analyses. The most relevant interactions impacting the aromatic character of investigated systems are (i) the electron conjugations occurring between the p lone pair electrons (LP) on the F, Cl, Br, O or N atoms, of R groups, and the π*(B=N) orbitals on the borazine ring (i.e., LP(R)→π*(B=N) donations), and (ii) the steric-exchange (Pauli) interactions between the same LP and the π(B=N) bonds (i.e., LP(R)↔π(B=N) repulsions), while inductive/field effects influence the aromaticity of the investigated trisubstituted borazine systems to a much lesser extent. This work highlights that although the aromatic character of borazine can be enhanced by grafting electron-donor substituents (F, OH, NH2, O−, NH−) on the N atoms, the stabilization due to aromaticity has only a moderate impact on these systems. By replacing the H substituents on the B atoms with similar R groups, the aromatic character of borazine is decreased due to strong exocyclic LP(R)→π*(B=N) donations affecting the delocalization of π-electrons on the borazine ring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, the effects of environmental electromagnetic irradiation on the metabolism of organisms have attracted extensive attention, but the mechanism is still not clear. D-glucose plays an important role in the metabolism of organisms. In this work, the change in the optical rotation of D-glucose solution under an electrostatic field is measured experimentally, so as to explain the mechanism of the electric field-induced biological effect. The experimental results show that the electrostatic field can alter the optical rotation of D-glucose solution at different temperatures. Under the different strengths of electrostatic field, the specific rotation of D-glucose solution increases at different temperatures; the maximum increase can reach 2.07%, but the effect of temperature and electric field strength on the rotation increment is nonlinear and very complex. Further, it turns out that the proportion of α-D-glucose in solution increases by up to 3.25% under the electrostatic field, while the proportion of β-D-glucose decreases by as much as 1.75%. The experimental study confirms that electrostatic field can change the proportion of two conformation molecules (α and β-D-glucose) in D-glucose solution, which can provide a novel explanation for the mechanism of the electric field-induced biological effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study investigates the determinants of engagement in questionable research practices (QRPs), focusing on both individual-level factors (such as scholarly field, commitment to scientific norms, gender, contract type, and career stage) and institution-level factors (including industry type, researchers' perceptions of their research culture, and awareness of institutional policies on research integrity). Methods: Using a multi-level modelling approach, we analyse data from an international survey of researchers working across disciplinary fields to estimate the effect of these factors on QRP engagement. Results: Our findings indicate that contract type, career stage, academic field, adherence to scientific norms and gender significantly predict QRP engagement. At the institution level, factors such as being outside of a collegial culture and experiencing harmful publication pressure, and the presence of safeguards against integrity breaches have small associations. Only a minimal amount of variance in QRP engagement is attributable to differences between institutions and countries. Conclusions: We discuss the implications of these findings for developing effective interventions to reduce QRPs, highlighting the importance of addressing both individual and institutional factors in efforts to foster research integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Darunavir (DRV) is a P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitor. Dabigatran etexilate, prodrug of the anticoagulant dabigatran, is a P-gp probe substrate. This study evaluated the effect of single and multiple doses of DRV, coadministered with cobicistat (COBI) or ritonavir (rtv), on the pharmacokinetics (PK) of single-dose dabigatran etexilate. Methods: This was an open-label, fixed-sequence, single-center, 2-panel, phase 1 study in which healthy adult participants were equally divided over 2 panels. In panel 1, participants received single and multiple doses of DRV/COBI 800/150 mg coadministered with single-dose dabigatran etexilate 150 mg. In panel 2, participants received single and multiple doses of DRV 800 mg + rtv 100 mg coadministered with single-dose dabigatran etexilate 150 mg. Key PK parameters evaluated were maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to infinity (AUCinf) for free and total dabigatran. Results: Overall, 28 participants were enrolled and treated (n = 14 per panel). Dabigatran Cmax and AUCinf increased 2.64-fold after a single dose of DRV/COBI and 1.99- and 1.88-fold, respectively, after multiple doses of DRV/COBI. Dabigatran Cmax and AUCinf increased 1.64- and 1.72-fold, respectively, after a single dose of DRV + rtv and 1.22- and 1.18-fold, respectively, after multiple doses of DRV + rtv. In both panels, the most commonly reported adverse events were diarrhea and headache. Conclusion: Findings of increased dabigatran exposure with DRV/COBI or DRV + rtv coadministration indicate an inhibitory effect of single-dose boosted DRV on P-gp, and a mixed inhibitory/inductive effect of multiple doses of boosted DRV on P-gp. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04208061. Registered December 19, 2019 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gulf of Suez, which contains Egypt's oldest oil fields, is one of North Africa's most well‐known oil regions. There are more than 80 conventional oil fields in Egypt's Gulf of Suez, some of which have reservoirs that stretch back to the Precambrian and Quaternary. In close proximity to the southern entrance of the Gulf of Suez is the Tawilla West oilfield. The oil field Tawilla West is believed to consist of rotating fault blocks that descend in a south‐west direction. The main producing reservoirs are the Miocene section reservoirs, the Belayim and Kareem sandstones. The current research is focusing on the structural elements affecting this giant field to update the field structural model using the newly processed 3D seismic survey, the acquired data from newly drilled wells and the associated different logging techniques. The seismic information quality varied from poor to fair. The quality of the interpreted stratigraphic horizons and geological faults was mainly controlled by the seismic information quality. The research used seismic attribute analyses to improve interpretation and incorporate additional features, enabling better hydrocarbon potential identification and characterization of the reservoirs. Several geological structure contour maps and cross‐sections were generated to help in delineating and understanding the reservoir's extension. Based on the detailed correlation study, we were able to detect the faults that affected the structure of the Tawilla West field in detail, define their throw amounts and directions, and identify the missed sections across the studied area. This study introduces an updated model scenario to show the differences and their effect on the field development plan and recommendations. By examining subsurface geologic structural characteristics and evaluating petrophysical data, a 3D static reservoir model was created to resolve structural settings and hydrocarbon trapping, providing detailed information on the field and identifying new opportunities for future development. The research discovered that the updated detailed 3D structural model may support the Kareem Reservoir development plans and encourage drilling, workover and dynamic operations to assign development possibilities in the correct area. According to the established model, there are at least three options in the study's attic areas that might boost oil output and oil reserves for the field while avoiding further failures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the scale effect on propeller bearing forces in oblique flow, the propeller bearing forces of a fully appended four-screw ship that refers to a vessel propelled by four propellers are calculated and investigated. The findings reveal that scale effects in wake fields lead to an increase in the axial velocity of the propeller disk in the full-scale ship compared to the model, influenced by boundary layer flow. Moreover, asymmetric differences in the impact of oblique flow on the leeward and windward sides result in varied effects of positive and negative drift angles on the wakefield. The disparity in wake fields between inside and outside disks exacerbates unbalanced load distribution, with time-averaged loads showing an increase with drift angle for both propellers at full scale. Additionally, pronounced scale effects lead to variations in blade loads between model and full scale, with drift angles shifting the locations of single-blade load extremums. Unsteady bearing force components exhibit periodic fluctuations, with larger amplitudes at the blade passage frequency for the model scale propeller compared to the full scale, particularly evident under negative drift angles. The aforementioned findings can provide theoretical guidance for load balancing and vibration reduction of the four-screw ships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water jet propulsion pumps start at special stages such as mooring and sailing, the ship is in shallow water, and the underwater keen clearance (UKC) is relatively small, which is easy to induce underwater suction vortex near the inlet position and cause violent vibration of the pumping unit. The powerful suction effect of the water-jet propulsion pump can draw in debris from the bottom of the riverbed, causing damage to the propulsion pump. This research investigated the suction effect of water jet propulsion pump under different UKC conditions. A flow field analysis method based on the entropy weight theory was constructed to reveal the flow characteristics of the flow field where the underwater suction vortex occurs. The research found that the suction effect on the flow field tends to stabilize under the condition of UKC greater than 2.5D0. After UKC reaches 4.2D0, suction effects essentially cease to create large-scale shear stresses near the riverbed. In addition, this research analyzes the vorticity field using vorticity and net circulation to elucidate the vortex strength within the flow field under different UKC conditions. The probability of generation of underwater suction vortices will be greatly reduced when the UKC is greater than 0.83D0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice allelopathy is a natural method of weed control that is regarded as an eco-friendly practice in agroecology. The root growth of allelopathic rice at the seedling stage plays an important role in its weed control. Our study characterizes a plant hormone that promotes root growth, abscisic acid (ABA), to explore its role in the induction of rice allelopathy. Increasing the root morphology traits (root length, root tip number, and root biomass) in rice using different concentrations of exogenous ABA resulted in increased inhibitory ratios against barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli), both in a hydroponic experiment and pot test. In particular, the relative proportion of induced allelopathy to total allelopathy in non-allelopathic rice Lemont (Le) was higher than that in allelopathic rice PI31277 (PI). The total content of phenolic acid, which is an important allelochemical in rice, as previously reported, was significantly elevated in the root exudates of both PI and LE. The gene expression levels of OsPAL, OsC4H, and OsCOL related to phenolic acid synthesis were also up-regulated, with a higher regulatory fold in PI. ABA also increased the expression of OsKSL4 and CYP75B4 involved in the biosynthesis of momilactone B and tricin. Moreover, low concentrations of exogenous ABA mainly positively regulate the expression of OsIAA11, an AUX/IAA transcription factor gene, in the root of PI and Le. These findings suggest that the application of ABA could significantly enhance the weed-suppressive activity of both rice cultivars through regulating root growth and the synthesis of allelochemicals secreted by rice roots, providing an option for the improvement of rice allelopathy through chemical induction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Opioids are commonly used to reduce pain after surgery; however, there are severe side effects and complications associated with opioid use, with addiction being of particular concern. Recent practice has shifted to reduce opioid consumption in surgery, although a specific protocol for rhinoplasty is still in progress. This paper aims to expand on the protocol previously established by the senior author based on updated evidence and details. This was accomplished by first high-lighting and summarizing analgesic agents with known opioid-reducing effects in the surgical field, with a particular focus on rhinoplasty, then compiling these analgesic options into a recommended protocol based on the most effective timing of administration (preoperative, intraoperative, postoperative). The senior author's previous article on the subject was referenced to compile a list of analgesic agents of importance. Each analgesic agent was then searched in PubMed in conjunction with "rhinoplasty" or "opioid sparing" to find relevant primary sources and systematic reviews. The preferred analgesic agents included, as follows: preoperative, 1000 mg oral acetaminophen, 200 mg of oral celecoxib twice daily for 5 days, and 1200 mg oral gabapentin; intraoperative, 0.75 μg/kg of intravenous dexmedetomidine and 1–2 mg/kg injected lidocaine with additional 2–4 mg/kg per hour or 1.5 cc total bupivacaine nerve block injected along the infraorbital area bilaterally and in the subnasal region; and postoperatively, 5 mg oral acetaminophen and 400 mg of oral celecoxib. When choosing specific analgesic agents, considerations include potential side effects, contraindications, and the drug-specific mode of administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta Buren poses a significant threat to biodiversity, agriculture, and public health in its introduced ranges. Chemicals are the main methods for S. invicta control. To explore more active ingredients for fire ant control, the toxicity and horizontal transfer effects of sulfoxaflor, triflumezopyrim, and flupyradifurone baits against S. invicta were determined and their field effects were assessed. Sulfoxaflor, flupyradifurone, and triflumezopyrim did not have affect the feeding behavior of the fire ants. However, they significantly reduced the climbing, walking, and arrest abilities of the fire ant workers after 10 days of treatment, and their toxicities were horizontally transferred from workers to alates or larvae. Specifically, the field trials showed that sulfoxaflor and triflumezopyrim at 0.05% concentration were the most effective in exterminating fire ants. The mortality rates of the mounds on Day 28 were 81.21% and 84.44% in 1.5- and 2.0-times 0.05% sulfoxaflor-treated plots, and the mortality rates of the mounds on Day 28 were 83.51% and 82.50% in 1.5- and 2.0-times 0.05% triflumezopyrim-treated plots. The red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) is native to South America; however, its introduction to other countries has caused serious biodiversity, agricultural, and public health problems. As toxic bait is an effective method to control fire ant populations, the aim of this study was to determine the most effective concentration of sulfoxaflor, flupyradifurone, and triflumezopyrim as ingredients for baits against S. invicta under laboratory and field conditions. Sulfoxaflor, flupyradifurone, and triflumezopyrim had no effect on the feeding behavior of the fire ants. However, they significantly reduced the climbing, walking, and arrest abilities of the fire ant workers after 10 days of treatment, and insecticides were horizontally transferred from workers to alates or larvae. Specifically, sulfoxaflor and triflumezopyrim at 0.05% concentration were the most effective in exterminating fire ants. Sulfoxaflor and triflumezopyrim are nonrepellent and effective insecticides against S. invicta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Focused ultrasound therapy has been widely used for the treatment of various diseases, employing different types of transducers. The focused ultrasound pressure fields inevitably exhibit nonlinear effects, which can influence the ablation region. However, the nonlinear effects exhibit noticeable variations across different applications. The characterization of the nonlinear pressure fields of ultrasound is important for the effective implementation of focused ultrasound therapy. Purpose: The traditional angular spectrum method (ASM) was extended to accurately and efficiently simulate the propagation of weakly nonlinear ultrasound in heterogeneous mediums of clinical model. The nonlinear effects were further analyzed in relationship to the transducer parameters that are different in various applications. Methods: The pressure fields were simulated using the extended ASM, incorporating calculations for phase aberration in the frequency domain and magnitude compensation in the spatial domain to account for heterogeneous acoustic impedance mismatch. Validation was performed by comparison to k‐Wave simulation results using two simplified clinical models, an abdominal soft tissue and a transcranial skull model. The nonlinear effects were then analyzed in relation to the transducer parameters of f‐number and effective source area based on the same acoustic output power. The analysis of nonlinear effects was conducted under both homogeneous medium and the clinical models. Results: The simulation results demonstrated a maximum error of 3.93% in the calculated harmonic pressure of the abdominal model, and a maximum error of 4.89% within the transcranial model when comparing the extended ASM simulation results to those obtained from k‐Wave simulations. The characterization of the nonlinear effects reveals a strong correlation with the transducer parameters. Specifically, the results indicate that the nonlinear effects intensify with an increase in the effective source area and f‐number, under the same acoustic output power of the transducer. However, the clinical model also showed an influence on the nonlinear effects in relation to the f‐number. Conclusion: The extended ASM was demonstrated as an accurate and efficient simulation tool, and the simulation results provide a reference for evaluating the intensity of nonlinear effects in various transducer designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma jets, crucial atmospheric pressure sources in biomedical applications, generate reactive species in liquids, with electrical fields playing a significant role, as variations in pulse rise times and durations in dielectric barrier discharges yield diverse effects. This study presents a novel nanosecond pulse plasma jet. Here, investigations with phosphate‐buffered saline and Ringer's saline elucidate critical parameters influencing species generation, such as treatment time and gas flow rate. Results showed increasing concentrations of H2O2 and NO2− over time, with NO2− degrading faster in Ringer's saline due to acidification. The nanosecond pulse jet exhibits superior energy efficiency than conventional jets, laying the groundwork for optimizing species generation and studying electrical field effects in future biological works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fermented walnut meal (FW) has antifungal activity against Penicillium victoriae, a fungus responsible for Rosa roxbughii Tratt spoilage. This study characterized and applied ultrasonic‐assisted antifungal film loaded with FW to preserve R. roxbughii Tratt during near‐freezing temperature (NFT). Results showed that O2 and CO2 transmission rates decreased by 80.02% and 29.05%, respectively, and antimicrobial properties were improved with ultrasound at 560 W for 5 min and 1% FW. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction results revealed ultrasound improved hydrogen bonds and inductive effect via ─NH, ─OH, and C═O bonds. The addition of FW led to the formation of CMCS‐GL‐FW polymer via C═O bond. Thermogravimetric analysis and transmission electron microscope results demonstrated thermal degradation process was decomposed by ultrasound, and the internal structure of P. victoriae was accelerated by the addition of FW. Compared to the U‐CMCS/GL group, the vitamin C content, peroxidase, and catalase activities of U‐CMCS/GL/FW were enhanced by 4.24%, 8.52%, and 14.3% during NFT (−0.8 to −0.4°C), respectively. Particularly, the fungal count of the U‐CMCS/GL/FW group did not exceed 105 CFU g−1 at the end of storage, and the relative abundance of P. victoriae decreased to 0.007%. Our findings provide an effective route for agricultural waste as natural antifungal compounds in the active packaging industry. Practical Application: In this study, the barrier and antimicrobial properties of film were successfully improved by ultrasonic treatment and loaded fermented walnut meal. The ultrasonic‐assisted antifungal film loaded with fermented walnut meal effectively delayed the degradation of nutrients and reduced microbial invasion of Rosa roxburghii Tratt. These results provide a theoretical basis for the application of agricultural waste in the food packaging industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the field‐effect generated by illuminated p‐type ferroelectric bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3 or BFO) semiconductor film is utilized to modulate the water‐splitting performance of a system with a macroscopic spatial separation between the anode and cathode. When the BFO film in contact with an electrolyte is illuminated with a light of sufficiently high frequency, an electrolytic conducting channel is formed due to the field effect induced by photoexcited charge carriers in the BFO film, which in turn alters the water‐splitting pathway and the reaction mechanism. The field effect can be modulated by changing the orientation of the ferroelectric polarization in the BFO film. With a BFO film of 4.5 mm channel length and an overall upward ferroelectric polarization direction, a ∼30% increase in water‐splitting performance in a neutral‐pH electrolyte is achieved in the presence of field‐effect induced by a 20 mW 405 nm light source. The mechanism behind the field‐effect modulation is also further verified by monitoring the pH of the electrolyte during the water‐splitting process and conducting thresholding analysis on the recorded data. The field‐effect modulation described in this study can potentially be used to enhance the performance of a photoelectrochemical water‐splitting system by taking advantage of the presence of light illumination in the system or be utilized in electrochemical sensing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To analyze the car-following behavior accurately, this paper takes the drivers' psychological factors into the consideration based on the psychological field theory. The vehicle dynamics indexes are extracted through vehicle history trajectories and the driving styles are clustered by k-means methods. After that the perception coefficient, reaction coefficient, and driving style correction coefficient are obtained and integrated into the psychological field for characterizing the drivers' driving styles. The psychological car-following model which considers the driving styles is built based on the Full Velocity Difference (FVD) model. Finally, the model is validated under the MATLAB/Simulink environment and the result reveals that the psychological field car-following model achieves higher accuracy of characterizing car-following behavior compared with the FVD model and the interaction potential model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the potentially catastrophic risks to human survival is the impact of a meteorite on Earth. When a meteoroid enters the atmosphere at an ultra-high speed, a series of complex evolution processes occur, mainly including ablation, fragmentation, airburst, and ground impact. This paper proposes a new systematic dynamical method for simulating the entire process of a meteoroid entering the atmosphere. In the new method, the DEM (Discrete Element Method) model is utilized to describe the initial structure and shape of a rubble-pile meteoroid. A combination of an aerodynamic trajectory model, a thermal ablation model, and an airburst model is introduced to simulate the entry process. Particularly, the Jone-Wilkins-Lee state equation is employed to characterize the large-scale airburst phenomenon caused by the internal expansion of the meteoroid. Referring to the observational data of the Chelyabinsk meteorite event, this paper parametrically simulates the trajectories, ablation, fragmentation, and airburst, and predicts the strewn field of different-shaped meteoroids. Compared with existing debris cloud models, this method considers the shape effect of rubble-pile meteoroids and can obtain the strewn field as a side effect. Numerical validation is carried out, indicating the result of the new method is more in line with the actual scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamical motion of a charged symmetrical solid body (SB) about its main symmetric axis is addressed in this work. The body is supposed to have a chamber with a globular shape, in which it contains a mobile mass and filled with a viscous liquid. This mass is assumed to be coupled via a double elastic band at a point that is situated along the dynamical symmetry axis and produces viscous friction. The body's motion is influenced by a gyrostatic moment (GM), whose first two components on the body's main axes are chosen to be zero. Additionally, the body is subject to the effects of an electromagnetic field, owing to a located point charge on the body's dynamic symmetry axis. On the indicated motion, the combined impact of the viscous liquid and the mobile mass is investigated. The achieved outcomes show that, in the presence of internal dissipation, the system's motion tends towards a constant rotation around its axis at the point of highest inertia as time approaches infinity. To demonstrate how the body's parameters affect the motion, the obtained outcomes are graphed. The method of fourth-order Runge-Kutta (4RKM) is employed to generate the governing system's numerical results, which are then displayed in additional diagrams. This work's relevance is concentrated on its considerable potential for usage in the submarine and gyroscope industries. The novelty of this work lies in the intricate interplay of rotational dynamics due to the GM, viscous liquid and electromagnetic effects to achieve new results, besides the gained numerical outcomes. Therefore, these results are considered novel and have significant theoretical and practical relevance. Moreover, it can be used to study the motion of celestial bodies, such as planets or moons, which might have internal cavities filled with fluids or other materials. The charged nature could be relevant for bodies with significant magnetic fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to explore the influence of field cognitive style on the false memory of Chinese characters. Based on the related literature, this paper used Cognitive Style Figure Test (CSFT) to investigate the field cognitive style of college student and test the differences of field cognitive style in demographic variables. Using the DRM paradigm, with Chinese characters lists as experimental material. This study was to inspect whether Chinese semantic/tonetic association has any effect on false memory, and whether there is any interaction between field cognitive style and Chinese character component on it. The results showed that: (a) there were significant differences between male and female in the recognition rate of symbol types, with the recognition rate of tonetic symbol type characters being generally higher than that of semantic symbol type; (b) Chinese semantic/tonetic associations had an effect on false memory and gender has a significant difference in the recognition of critical-lures; (c) field cognitive style had no statistically significant difference in recognition rate on character component type and characters type (old characters, filler characters, and critical-lures); (d) individuals with different field cognitive styles differed significantly in the rate of misrecognition of critical-lures for semantic symbols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oil reservoirs of the metamorphic rocks in Bohai Bay have geological characteristics such as low matrix porosity and permeability, developed natural microfractures, which result in the injection water rapidly advancing along fractures, a fast increase in the water content, and difficulties in extracting the remaining oil. In order to reveal water channeling and the residual oil formation mechanisms in fractured low-permeability reservoirs and solve the water channeling problem, we first analyzed the reservoir development status, then studied the formation mechanism of residual oil using a microfluidic chip device, and formed a method of hierarchical control to effectively control the water channeling problem of fractured reservoirs and maximize the displacement of residual oil. The results show that (1) Due to the low permeability of the reservoir matrix, a large amount of injected water flows along the fracture channel, which leads to the long-term high water cut of some oil wells and the retention of a large amount of crude oil in the matrix. (2) The results of microfluidic experiments show that the distribution of residual oil after water flooding mainly includes five types: blind end of the pore throat, columnar, cluster, flake and film, and residual oil. Among them, sheet-like and clustered residual oil are dominant, accounting for 75~85% and 10~13%, respectively. (3) Based on the characteristics of fracture development in buried-hill reservoirs, a hierarchical control technology of "gel particle + liquid crosslinked gel system" is established. The field application effect predicted that the input–output ratio was 1:3. This study provides a reference for the comprehensive treatment of water channeling in the same type of offshore fractured low-permeability metamorphic rock reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

γ-Alumina is often used as a support for hydrodesulfurization catalysts due to its excellent performance. During the catalytic reaction, the strong surface acidity of γ-alumina can induce a strong interaction between the active phase and the support. The reaction activity of the catalyst can be affected by changing the present mode of the active phase on the surface of the support. The (110) crystal plane, acting as the strongest acidity plane of γ-alumina, was selected for modification. The supports modified with boron and phosphorus were successfully constructed, and the acid strengths were quantified by simulating the adsorption of the relevant probe molecules: pyridine in correlation with surface electronic properties via density functional theory. The surface adsorption energy calculation shows that the boron-modified surface is able to moderately reduce the adsorption capacity of alumina, while that of the surface modified by phosphorus is found to be enhanced over the sites of a tetrahedral coordination structure; however, at the other unsaturated Al sites, this is obviously reduced. The results of introducing electric fields imply that applying horizontal electric fields changes the surface acidity of alumina under the premise of a stable structure. With the enhancement of the horizontal electric fields, the adsorption capacity of tetra-coordination sites on the original surface gradually decreases, while those of the others gradually increases. However, for the boron-modified surface, introducing horizontal electric fields can reduce the adsorption capacity of all sites. Hence, microwave-electric-field-assisted modification of B further reduces the surface acidity of alumina, making it beneficial for deep hydrodesulfurization reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the hydrodynamic characteristics of a rim-driven thruster (RDT) behind the hull of an underwater vehicle are investigated. The studied underwater vehicle is the benchmark DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) suboff model, with and without full appendages. In order to verify and validate the numerical model, a grid sensitivity analysis is made for the AFF-1, AFF-8 and the ducted propeller cases, respectively. Then, the resistance and pressure distribution over the surface of the suboff with and without appendages are compared with available experimental measurements and good correlations were observed. As for the propeller, a well-studied ducted propeller, the 19A duct in combination with Ka-47 blades, is employed, and the numerical results exhibit a close relationship with the available experimental data under a wide range of advance coefficients. Afterwards, the self-propulsion characteristics of the suboff models propelled by RDTs using different duct configurations are studied, more specifically, the unsteady effects of the flow field induced by the interactions between propeller and hull under various working conditions. The results indicate that due to the influence of the hull, the RDTs operate in different working conditions compared to open water and exhibit distinct hydrodynamic characteristics. Moreover, the duct profile can have a significant effect on the unsteady pressure fluctuations in the flow field, especially in the vicinity of the propeller. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]