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Aim: To investigate the association between cardiovascular health metrics defined by Life's Essential 8 (LE8) scores and vascular complications among individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Materials and Methods: This prospective study included 11 033 participants with T2D, all devoid of macrovascular diseases (including cardiovascular and peripheral artery disease) and microvascular complications (e.g. diabetic retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy) at baseline from the UK Biobank. The LE8 score comprised eight metrics: smoking, body mass index, physical activity, non‐high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood pressure, glycated haemoglobin, diet and sleep duration. Cox proportional hazards models were established to assess the associations of LE8 scores with incident macrovascular and microvascular complications. Results: During a median follow‐up of 12.1 years, we identified 1975 cases of incident macrovascular diseases and 1797 cases of incident microvascular complications. After adjusting for potential confounders, each 10‐point increase in the LE8 score was associated with an 18% lower risk of macrovascular diseases and a 15% lower risk of microvascular complications. Comparing individuals in the highest and lowest quartiles of LE8 scores revealed hazard ratios of 0.55 (95% confidence interval 0.47‐0.62) for incident macrovascular diseases, and 0.61 (95% confidence interval 0.53‐0.70) for incident microvascular complications. This association remained robust across a series of sensitivity analyses and nearly all subgroups. Conclusion: Higher LE8 scores were associated with a lower risk of incident macrovascular and microvascular complications among individuals with T2D. These findings underscore the significance of adopting fundamental strategies to maintain optimal cardiovascular health and curtail the risk of developing diabetic vascular complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the characterization and first laser operation of ceramic Yb:LuScO3 in a thin-disk oscillator. The optical performance achieved with a ceramic Yb:LuScO3 disk is compared to the one obtained with an existing ceramic Yb:Lu2O3 disk for reference. The characterization covers the measurement of the fluorescence spectra, the fluorescence lifetimes, and nomarsky imaging. The investigation on the laser operation covers the measurement of resonator losses, output powers, and thermal behavior during continuous-wave operation in a multimode thin-disk oscillator. An average output power of 149 W and a slope efficiency of 51.8% were achieved with the ceramic Yb:LuScO3 disk which reached a maximum surface temperature of about 150 °C. At the same temperature level, a disk made of the already established ceramic Yb:Lu2O3 delivered 957 W of output power with a slope efficiency of 75.7%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem: A comprehensive analysis was conducted to explore the scientific output on immune‐related recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and its key aspects. Despite the lack of clear explanations for most RPL cases, immune factors were found to play a significant role. Method of Study: The study utilized a bibliometric approach, searching the Web of Science Core Collection database for relevant literature published between 2004 and 2023. Results: The collected dataset consisted of 2228 articles and reviews, revealing a consistent increase in publications and citations over the past two decades. The analysis identified the United States and China as the most productive countries in terms of RPL research. Among the institutions, Fudan University in China emerged as the top contributor, followed by Shanghai Jiaotong University. Kwak‐kim J was the most prolific author, while Christiansen Ob had the highest number of co‐citations. The top 25 co‐cited references on diagnosis, treatment, and mechanisms formed the foundation of knowledge in this field. By examining keyword co‐occurrence and co‐citations, the study found that antiphospholipid syndrome and natural killer cells were the primary areas of focus in immune‐related RPL research. Additionally, three emerging hotspots were identified: chronic endometritis, inflammation, and decidual macrophages. These aspects demonstrated increasing interest and research activity within the field of immune‐related RPL. Conclusions: Overall, this comprehensive bibliometric analysis provided valuable insights into the patterns, frontiers, and focal points of global scientific output related to immune‐related RPL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hypertension is frequently studied in epidemiological studies that have been conducted using retrospective observational data, either as an outcome or a variable. However, there are few validation studies investigating the accuracy of hypertension phenotyping algorithms in aggregated electronic health record (EHR) data. Methods: Utilizing a centralized repository of inpatient EHR data from Singapore for the period of 2019–2020, a new algorithm that incorporates both diagnostic codes and medication details (Diag+Med) was devised. This algorithm was intended to supplement and improve the diagnostic code-only model (Diag-Only) for the classification of hypertension. We computed various metrics (sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV)) to assess the algorithm's effectiveness in identifying hypertension on 2813 chart-reviewed records. This pool was composed of two patient cohorts: a random sampling of all inpatient admissions (Random Cohort) and a targeted group with atrial fibrillation diagnoses (AF Cohort). Results: The Diag+Med algorithm was more sensitive at detecting hypertension patients in both cohorts compared to the Diag-Only algorithm (83.8 and 87.6% vs. 68.2 and 66.5% in the Random and AF Cohorts, respectively). These improvements in sensitivity came at minimal costs in terms of PPV reductions (88.2 and 90.3% vs. 91.4 and 94.2%, respectively). Conclusion: The combined use of diagnosis codes and specific antihypertension medication exposure patterns facilitates a more accurate capture of patients with hypertension in a database of aggregated EHRs from diverse healthcare institutions in Singapore. The results presented here allow for the bias correction of risk estimates derived from observational studies involving hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To become an elite table tennis player, aside from continually practicing, players must know their strengths and weaknesses to plan their strategy beforehand and increase their winning rate. The main problems with previous research were that the data collected were incomplete and imprecise. To address these problems, we established "The Intellectual Tactical System in Competitive Table Tennis", using video analysis to collect competitive data. Additionally, we proposed a machine learning method using a combination of feature-selection and association rules to discover interesting rules from the data. The international matches of the Taiwanese table tennis single player Yun-Ju Lin were used as research samples by applying 3 S (speed, spin, spot) theory to collect and analyze data. The critical factors and scenarios were analyzed to identify the winning tactical models. The results of this study may provide useful suggestions for Yun-Ju Lin on training and building tactics in competitions. The similar approach may be essential for elite players and coaches to have appropriate tactical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid storage tanks are often arranged in rows with small spacing in practical applications, which may cause mutual influence under earthquake action and even aggravate the seismic damage of liquid storage tanks. Adding the vibration barrier (ViBa) into the foundation between the adjacent liquid storage tanks forms a new type of seismic control method. Considering important factors such as liquid–solid–soil coupling, liquid sloshing behavior, and structure–soil–structure interaction (SSSI), a refined 3D numerical calculation model of the adjacent liquid storage tanks with three ViBas is established by ADINA. The influence of seismic wave incidence angle on the seismic responses of the liquid storage tanks and the control effect of ViBa are studied, and the parameter influence analysis is carried out. The results show that the ViBa significantly control the seismic responses and liquid sloshing wave height of the adjacent liquid storage tanks, and the damping ratio of the liquid sloshing wave height is between 30% and 40%. When the seismic incidence angle is between 30∘ and 60∘, the dynamic responses of the liquid storage tank is larger. With the increase of the seismic incidence angle, the control effect of the ViBa on the effective stress, hoop stress, axial compressive stress, and liquid pressure first increases and then decreases. When the liquid storage tank is close to full state, the control effect is most significant at an incidence angle of 60∘, and the control effect of the ViBa on the liquid storage tank with medium height-diameter ratio is the best. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this Letter, experiments are conducted on tip vortex cavitation (TVC) over a stationary elliptical hydrofoil with the cross section of NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) 66 2 − 415 in a water tunnel. The state of TVC at various cavitation numbers, inflow velocities, and angles of attack is tested. Several macroscopic phase transition processes of TVC are discovered within the hysteresis loop with the operating conditions unchanged, and these new phenomena are defined as the dynamic hysteresis (DH) processes. In addition, the noise characteristics are analyzed to further study the DH. Similar noise spectra are obtained for the DH processes under different working conditions, with a major peak of the same frequency regardless of whether vortex singing occurs or not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid storage tanks are widely used in the industrial and the agricultural production, the earthquake damage of the liquid storage tanks will not only lead to economic losses, but also may cause environmental pollution, fire and explosion. Considering the fluid–structure interaction, the liquid sloshing and the material nonlinearity, the three-dimensional numerical calculation models of nondamping and tuned mass damper (TMD) liquid storage tanks are established, respectively. The earthquake waves with different characteristics are selected to investigate the dynamic responses of the liquid storage tank, the control effects of the TMD on the seismic responses of the liquid storage tank are analyzed, and the influence law of the change of the spring stiffness on the damping effect is discussed. The results show that the TMD has a significant damping effect on the liquid storage tank, and the element damping has significant influence on the dynamic responses in the subsequent stage of the earthquake action. Under the action of Darfield–New Zealand wave, the damping ratio corresponding to the acceleration of the tank wall is 69.6%. When the element damping is not considered, the small change of the spring stiffness has significant influence on the damping effect, but after the element damping being considered, the influence of the spring stiffness change on the damping effect is small. The TMD provides a high performance system to the damping control of the liquid storage tank under the action of earthquakes with different intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-term stability control of surrounding rock of deep high-stress soft rock tunnel has always been the research hotspot and difficulty of underground engineering. With the continuous increase of the number of ultra-kilometer mines, reasonable support design has an important impact on the efficient and safe production and sustainable development of deep coal resources. In view of the above problems, the formation mechanism of surrounding rock deformation zoning of deep high-stress soft rock tunnel considering rock rheology is analyzed, a three-stage strain-softening model considering rock rheology is established, and the concept of elastic-creep modulus is proposed based on this model. Combined with the rheological influence of rock and the test method of long-term strength of surrounding rock, the elastic–plastic solutions of surrounding rock of deep tunnel based on Mohr–Coulomb and Drucker–Prager strength criteria are derived, and the formulas for solving the radius of deformation zones of tunnel-surrounding rock are calculated. Meanwhile, combined with an engineering example, the radius of deformation zones of tunnel-surrounding rock based on different strength criteria and rock rheology is calculated and compared, and the correctness and superiority of this theory are verified by the field measured results. In addition, the influence of rock mechanical parameters on the range of deformation zones of tunnel-surrounding rock under different mechanical models is assessed. This work can provide guidance for long-term stability evaluation, support design, and disaster prevention of deep soft rock tunnels. Highlights: A novel three-stage strain softening model considering rock rheology was established. Deformation mechanism of surrounding rock of deep roadway considering rheology. The elastic-plastic solution based on different strength criterion and rock rheology. Comparison and analysis of elastoplastic solutions under different strength criteria. The influences of rock mechanics parameters on the range of deformation zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Effects of immersion freezing (IF), osmo‐dehydrofreezing (ODF) and air freezing (AF) on freezing parameters and physicochemical properties of frozen mango were studied. Results showed that IF had the shortest freezing time, followed by ODF and AF. In ODF groups, dehydrofreezing in 50% glucose (G‐50) showed the highest quality. Mangoes pre‐treated in glucose had higher quality than those pre‐treated in trehalose. The quality of osmo‐dehydrofrozen mangoes was more affected by freezing rate than by difference between freezing temperature and the glass transition temperature (T−Tg′). Compared with the AF, IF in 60% ethylene glycol (EG‐60) and ODF in G‐50 significantly improved the quality of mangoes, including colour change and drip loss reduced by 43.7%, 28.6%, 41.4% and 19.6%, hardness increased by 540.7% and 413.6%, and contents of vitamin C and total phenol increased by 30.7%, 24.3%, 18.3% and 6.4%, respectively. Overall, IF in EG‐60 was the most favourable method for frozen mangoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Danyikangtai powder has a definite therapeutic effect on pancreatitis. However, the internal mechanism is unclear. The purpose of this experiment is to quickly identify the blood components of danyikangtai powder and evaluate its efficacy. 25 blood components were identified by comparing the components with the same mass spectrometry information from in vivo and in vitro samples. The AR42J cells of the pancreatitis model were treated with drug-containing plasma, and the drug efficacy was evaluated by investigating the amylase release rate. This study provides a scientific reference for its pharmacological research and rational clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context • Tuberculous pleurisy (TP) is the most common manifestation of extrapulmonary tuberculosis and the most frequent cause of pleural effusion (PE). Clinicians make a definitive diagnosis of TP based on the isolation of the mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) from PE or a pleural biopsy. Since the currently available tests for TP all have limitations in making a definitive diagnosis, clinicians urgently need new diagnostic tests. Objective • The study intended to compare the value in clinically diagnosing TP of the paraffin-embedded sample test (PEST), using pleural-effusion samples; an adenosine deaminase assay (ADA) using pleural fluid; and the T cell enzyme-linked immunospot test (T-SPOT), using peripheral-blood. Design • The research team performed a retrospective observational study. Setting • The study took place at the Sir Run Run Hospital, Nanjing Medical University in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. Participants • Participants were 37 patients with suspected TP who had been admitted to the hospital between September 2018 and December 2022. Outcome Measures • The research team assessed the diagnostic performance of PEST, ADA, and T-SPOT in the TP group, calculating the positive rate, sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), and positive predictive value (PPV) of the tests. Results • Among the 37 participants, the testing confirmed that 24 had TP (64.86%), with 13 not having TP (35.14%). The PEST test produced a sensitivity of 83.3% for TP, with 20 out of 24 participants in the TP group testing positive (95% CI: 61.8 to 94.5), which was superior to the ADA, with only 9 out of the 24 participants (37.5%) in the TP group testing positive (95% CI: 19.6 to 59.2), with P<.001. Conclusions • The PEST test possesses a high diagnostic value, and clinicians can use it as a time-saving, noninvasive, and highly sensitive method for TP diagnosis. It can be adjunct method to the currently used tests for diagnosing TP. A combination of several detection methods could promote effective treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a novel design method is proposed based on characteristic mode theory (CMT). Based on the proposed method, a linearly polarised dual‐band wearable antenna with double‐layered substrates sandwiched by three layers of copper circle patches is designed and optimised step by step. The structure and excitation position of the antenna are obtained by progressively tailoring a classical circle patch antenna. Firstly, the characteristic mode analysis is performed on the middle‐layer planar circle patch to find the modes that can be excited in the designed frequency band. Secondly, the configuration of the middle layer is adjusted step by step based on the modal current distributions to realise the mode shift. Then, the top circle patch is changed to a metasurface to increase the number of modes and expand the mode bandwidth. Finally, the location of the excitation port is selected based on the modal electric fields to successfully obtain the desired performance of the antenna. The prototype of the proposed antenna with a radius of 2.6 cm fed by a single probe is fabricated and experimentally verified. The antenna operates in the 2.45 and 5 GHz bands, and the measured 10 dB impedance bandwidths on the two bands are 1.2% and 39.7%, respectively, which agrees well with the expectation predicted by the CMT. It should be noted that the desired antenna performance is achieved by step‐by‐step derivation using the CMT, rather than applying the theory to illustrate the working principle of antennas. The proposed design method can be broadly employed to various antenna designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dy3+/Y3+ codoped spherical ceria particles were synthesized via a sol-gel method using P123 as a surfactant. P123 amount was varied to control particle size around 70–200 nm. Photoluminescence excitation spectra of as-obtained ceria nano phosphors exhibited broadband around 280–305 nm due to O2− to Ce4+ and Dy3+ charge transfer along with several sharp peaks around 325–365 nm due to f-f transitions. Strong UV excitation showed that the current phosphors were apposite for NUV-LEDs. The emission spectra of Ce 0.895 Y 0.1 Dy 0.005 O 2-δ phosphors comprised 489 (blue) and 579 nm (yellow) emissions corresponding to Dy3+ f-f transitions. The increase in emission intensities with P123 concentration was observed due to enhancement in crystallinity and particle size. Low Ω 2 (Judd Ofelt parameter) of 1.1 × 10−20 cm2 for Ce 0.895 Y 0.1 Dy 0.005 O 2-δ phosphors synthesized without P123 indicated high symmetry neighboring Dy3+ ions. The increase in P123 concentration resulted in the elevation of Ω 2 value, leading to asymmetry surrounding Dy3+ ions. The local environment of Dy3+ was asymmetric, which caused the electric-dipole transition to upend the magnetic-dipole transition. Hence, the blue-to-yellow emission ratio (B/Y) was varied with P123, facilitating white light emission with color-coordinate (0.38,0.34). Photoluminescenc intensity of synthesized phosphors retained 86% of initial intensity at 500K (activation energy of 0.26 eV), indicating high stability at elevated temperature. The LEDs fabricated with present phosphors exhibited a color-rendering index and correlated color temperatures around 76.3 and 6065 K, respectively. The suitable Judd-Ofelt parameters and moderate activation energy suggested the feasibility of Ce 0.885 Y 0.1 Dy 0.015 O 2-δ phosphors for white-light-emitting diodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel trajectory tracking strategy is developed for a double actuated swing in a hydraulic construction robot. Specifically, a nonlinear hydraulic dynamics model of a double actuated swing is established, and a parameter adaptive sliding mode control strategy is designed to enhance the trajectory tracking performance. When an object is grabbed and unloaded, the moment of inertia of a swing considerably changes, and the performance of the estimation algorithm is generally inadequate. Thus, it is necessary to establish an algorithm to identify the initial value of the moment of inertia of the object. To this end, this paper proposes a novel initial value identification algorithm based on a two-DOF robot gravity force identification method combined with stereo vision information. The performance of the identification algorithm is enhanced. Simulations and experiments are performed to verify the effect of the novel control scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoluminescence (PL) imaging has become a fundamental tool in disease diagnosis, therapeutic evaluation, and surgical navigation applications. However, it remains a big challenge to engineer nanoprobes for high-efficiency in vivo imaging and clinical translation. Recent years have witnessed increasing research efforts devoted into engineering sub-10 nm ultrasmall nanoprobes for in vivo PL imaging, which offer the advantages of efficient body clearance, desired clinical translation potential, and high imaging signal-to-noise ratio. In this review, we present a comprehensive summary and contrastive discussion of emerging ultrasmall luminescent nanoprobes towards in vivo PL bioimaging of diseases. We first summarize size-dependent nano-bio interactions and imaging features, illustrating the unique attributes and advantages/disadvantages of ultrasmall nanoprobes differentiating them from molecular and large-sized probes. We also discuss general design methodologies and PL properties of emerging ultrasmall luminescent nanoprobes, which are established based on quantum dots, metal nanoclusters, lanthanide-doped nanoparticles, and silicon nanoparticles. Then, recent advances of ultrasmall luminescent nanoprobes are highlighted by surveying their latest in vivo PL imaging applications. Finally, we discuss existing challenges in this exciting field and propose some strategies to improve in vivo PL bioimaging and further propel their clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underground concrete structures are affected by groundwater, the effects of which are different from those of stress environments experienced by ground engineering concrete structures. This study experimentally and theoretically investigates the mechanical behavior, permeability evolution, and deformation failure mechanism of lining concrete under pore water pressure. Results show that an increase in pore water pressure promoted the coupling of seepage and stress fields in concrete. This caused the microcracks to propagate further, which led to a decrease in concrete strength and elastic modulus. Through triaxial compression infiltration, the concrete successively underwent initial compaction, linear elastic deformation, and nonlinear deformation after yielding. Accordingly, its permeability exhibited three trends: gradual decrease, stable development, and a sharp increase. The change in permeability was closely related to the number of pores and the development of microcracks in concrete. The concept of primary pore strain was proposed according to the characteristics of deformation and failure. Moreover, a triaxial compression infiltration constitutive model was derived for concrete based on the principle of effective stress. This model considers the influence of pore water pressure and the initial compaction characteristics. This study can be used to guide the design of lining concrete structures in underground engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taiwan's rowing athletes have performed well during the Asian Games, but their performance in the Olympics has not been adequate. In addition to their hard work and rigorous and effective training, the skill of the athletes is a key factor for achieving good results. In this study, an artificial intelligence (AI) evaluation algorithm is developed to help rowing athletes excel in the sporting events. The AI algorithm uses the analytic hierarchy process to invite experts and scholars in the rowing field to answer a questionnaire. The technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution is then applied to calculate the ranking of selection indicators, to construct an evaluation model for rowing athletes. The key findings indicate that physicality (or the body structure) is the highest priority among the four main aspects of talent identification; this is followed, in descending order, by specialism, reaction, and psychological elements. The proposed AI strategy was established as the most beneficial decision model and can be used to identify talented rowers in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Total brachial plexus injury not only significantly affects the motor and sensory function of the affected upper limbs but also causes further physical and mental damage to patients with long-term intractable pain. Previous studies mainly focused on the surgical treatment, while only a few paid attention to the intractable neuropathic pain caused by this injury. Changes in the volume of gray matter in the brain are thought to be associated with chronic neuropathic pain. Methods: Voxel-based morphometry analysis was used to compare the difference in cerebral gray matter volume between total brachial plexus injury patients with neuropathic pain and healthy controls. Correlations between pain duration, pain severity, and GM changes were analyzed. Results: The volume of cerebral gray matter in the patient group was decreased significantly in multiple regions, including the parahippocampal gyrus, paracentric lobule, inferior frontal gyrus, auxiliary motor cortex, middle occipital gyrus, right middle temporal gyrus, while it was increased in the insular, pons, middle frontal gyrus, cingulate gyrus, inferior parietal lobule, bilateral thalamus, and globus pallidus. There were no significant correlations between pain duration and rGMV changes, while a positive correlation was observed between pain severity and rGMV changes in one specific region, involving the anterior cingulate cortex. Conclusion: Total brachial plexus injury patients with chronic pain have widespread regions of gray matter atrophy and hypertrophy. The only positive correlation was observed between pain severity and rGMV changes in one specific region, suggesting that nociceptive stimuli trigger a variety of nonpain-specific processes, which confirms the multidimensional nature of pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The establishment of a simple and effective method for determination of heavy metal ions has great significance due to the high hazard of heavy metal ions to public health and environments. Herein, we developed a facile way to synthesise a nanocomposite comprised of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and explored its application in constructing an electrochemical (EC) sensor for detection of Cd2+ in aqueous solutions. The sensing surface was simply fabricated by casting a drop of CNTs-MOFs nanocomposite onto the electrode. After drying at room temperature, the modified electrode was immersed in a Cd2+-containing acetate buffer solution to accomplish the EC measurement. The morphology of materials was characterised by SEM. The EC characterisations validated the good conductivity and excellent Cd2+-responsive property of CNTs-MOFs. As expected, the analytical performance for Cd2+ determination was satisfactory with a wide linear detection range of 0.3 μM-150 μM, a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.2 μM and good selectivity. Detection of Cd2+ in real samples was also realised. Moreover, if under other potentials, even the analysis of other heavy metal ions such as Pb2+ and Cu2+ can be achieved with our sensing platform. This work provided a versatile way for detecting heavy metal ions in complicated samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Malaria remains one of the most virulent and deadliest parasitic disease in the world, particularly in Africa and Southeast Asia. Widespread occurrence of artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium falciparum strains from the Greater Mekong Subregion is alarming. This hinders the national economies, as well as being a major drawback in the effective control and elimination of malaria worldwide. Clearly, an effective anti-malarial drug is urgently needed. Methods: The dinuclear and mononuclear copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes were synthesized in ethanolic solution and characterized by various physical measurements (FTIR, CHN elemental analysis, solubility, ESI-MS, UV-Visible, conductivity and magnetic moment, and NMR). X-ray crystal structure of the dicopper(II) complex was determined. The in vitro haemolytic activities of these metal complexes were evaluated spectroscopically on B+ blood while the anti-malarial potency was performed in vitro on blood stage drug-sensitive Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 (Pf3D7) and artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium falciparum IPC5202 (Pf5202) with fluorescence dye. Mode of action of metal complexes were conducted to determine the formation of reactive oxygen species using PNDA and DCFH-DA dyes, JC-1 depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential, malarial 20S proteasome inhibition with parasite lysate, and morphological studies using Giemsa and Hoechst stains. Results: Copper(II) complexes showed anti-malarial potency against both Pf3D7 and Pf5202 in sub-micromolar to micromolar range. The zinc(II) complexes were effective against Pf3D7 with excellent therapeutic index but encountered total resistance against Pf5202. Among the four, the dinuclear copper(II) complex was the most potent against both strains. The zinc(II) complexes caused no haemolysis of RBC while copper(II) complexes induced increased haemolysis with increasing concentration. Further mechanistic studies of both copper(II) complexes on both Pf3D7 and Pf5202 strains showed induction of ROS, 20S malarial proteasome inhibition, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and morphological features indicative of apoptosis. Conclusion: The dinuclear [Cu(phen)-4,4′-bipy-Cu(phen)](NO3)4 is highly potent and can overcome the total drug-resistance of Pf5202 towards chloroquine and artemisinin. The other three copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes were only effective towards the drug-sensitive Pf3D7, with the latter causing no haemolysis of RBC. Their mode of action involves multiple targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ischemic stroke is a major global health issue. Ischemia and subsequent reperfusion results in stroke‐related brain injury. Previous studies have demonstrated that nuclear‐enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEATa and early growth response 1 (EGR1) are involved in ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury). In this study, we aimed to explore the roles of NEAT1/EGR1 axis as well as its downstream effector RNA binding motif protein 25 (RBM25) in cerebral IR injury. Oxygen–glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) and middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) were used to establish in vitro and in vivo models of cerebral IR injury, respectively. According to our data, NEAT1, EGR1, and RBM25 levels were elevated in OGD/R‐exposed SK‐N‐SH and SH‐SY5Y cells and cerebral cortex of MCAO mice. NEAT1, EGR1, or RBM25 knockdown effectively reduced infarct volumes and apoptosis, and improved neurological function. Mechanistically, NEAT1 directly interacted with EGR1, which restrained WW domain containing E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 1 (WWP1)‐mediated ubiquitination of EGR1 and subsequently caused EGR1 accumulation. EGR1 bound to RBM25 promoter and transcriptionally activated RBM25. Rescue experiments indicated that RBM25 overexpression abolished the therapeutic effects of NEAT1 knockdown. In conclusion, this work identified a novel NEAT1/EGR1/RBM25 axis in potentiating brain injury after IR insults, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common osteoarthropathy with chronic inflammatory pain as the core symptom in middle-aged and elderly people. LncRNA MEG3 (Maternally expressed gene 3) is involved in the development of OA via regulation of angiogenesis, which causes the activation and overexpression of transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1 (TRPV1). In this study, we investigated the mechanism of MEG3-TRPV1 signaling in chronic inflammatory pain (CIP) of rat model. Chronic inflammatory pain was modeled using subcutaneous microinjection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) into the left hind paw of rats. We showed that TRPV1 mRNA and protein were significantly increased, while MEG3 mRNA was significantly decreased, in the DRG and SDH of CFA-induced rats. In addition, intrathecal injection of MEG3-overexpressing lentivirus significantly downregulated TRPV1 expression and alleviated chronic inflammatory pain in CFA-induced rats. Treatment with a TRPV1 antagonist also significantly relieved chronic inflammatory pain in CFA-induced rats. In general, our results reveal that MEG3 alleviates chronic inflammatory pain by downregulating TRPV1 expression. These findings may provide new therapeutic targets in the treatment of patients with OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coordinated optimization problem of the electricity-gas-heat integrated energy system (IES) has the characteristics of strong coupling, non-convexity, and nonlinearity. The centralized optimization method has a high cost of communication and complex modeling. Meanwhile, the traditional numerical iterative solution cannot deal with uncertainty and solution efficiency, which is difficult to apply online. For the coordinated optimization problem of the electricity-gas-heat IES in this study, we constructed a model for the distributed IES with a dynamic distribution factor and transformed the centralized optimization problem into a distributed optimization problem in the multi-agent reinforcement learning environment using multi-agent deep deterministic policy gradient. Introducing the dynamic distribution factor allows the system to consider the impact of changes in real-time supply and demand on system optimization, dynamically coordinating different energy sources for complementary utilization and effectively improving the system economy. Compared with centralized optimization, the distributed model with multiple decision centers can achieve similar results while easing the pressure on system communication. The proposed method considers the dual uncertainty of renewable energy and load in the training. Compared with the traditional iterative solution method, it can better cope with uncertainty and realize real-time decision making of the system, which is conducive to the online application. Finally, we verify the effectiveness of the proposed method using an example of an IES coupled with three energy hub agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research showed that slotting at the tip section of a rotating machinery blade could suppress the tip-leakage vortex (TLV) by forming a new groove flow, while the possible adverse effects caused by the discontinuous tip section have not fully been studied. In this Letter, unfavorable effects due to an extra cavitation caused by the groove found in the standard incipient cavitation experiments are reported. Then, this anomaly is clarified by using large eddy simulation that the grooves cause step-like flows and induce low-pressure areas behind the groove near the pressure surface. This increased risk of inducing new cavitation deserves special attention when the medium is water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to reveal the detailed immune-related mechanisms underlying ischemic stroke (IS) and identify new immune-associated biomarkers for clinical management. Methods: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between IS samples and normal controls were identified using the GSE16561 dataset. The feature genes of the immune cells were investigated using the GSE72642 dataset. Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) was performed to reveal module genes, followed by an investigation of common DEGs and a functional enrichment analysis. Potential biomarkers were identified based on hub genes in protein-protein interaction networks and WGCNA. Finally, GSE158312 was used for biomarker verification. Results: In total, 1230 DEGs were identified between the IS samples and normal controls. Seven clinically significant modules were identified using WGCNA. The yellow module genes were positively correlated with polymorphonuclear cells (PMNC), whereas the brown module genes were positively correlated with CD4+ T cells. Eight genes were selected as hub genes. These genes are mainly involved in functions such as the innate immune response. Upregulated TLR2 and ARG1 levels were significantly different between the two groups in the verification dataset. Conclusions: Our findings suggest ARG1 and TLR2 as novel biomarkers for IS. Upregulated TLR2 might play a role in IS development by participating in the innate immune response function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In manufacturing industry, assembly line monitoring provides statistical information about overall performance and reliability of the legacy machines, ensuring that the machines give maximum yield output. However, most legacy machines lack internet connectivity and advanced functionality, increasing the difficulty for tracking task. Therefore, this work seeks to introduce a noncontact acoustic method to track machines rather than the mainstream vibrational approach. In order to provide accurate tracking of the daily machine operation for our machine tracking system, we consider scenario of background noises such as environmental sounds from multiple sources as well as neighbouring machine's sound. Thus, several neural networks are employed to recognize the machine status accurately. The objective of our work is to investigate the effect of machine types and states on recognition performance of neural network models under extremely noisy environments as well as to demonstrate the possibility of recognizing the sound on edge device. The main contribution of this article is the proposal of lightweight recurrent and convolutional-based models for machine sound recognition. The experimental results of our extensive testing included with multiple types of machines and background noises show that the proposed system with gated recurrent unit model has the best recognition accuracy of F1 score 0.913 with standard uncertainty of 0.026 with decent inference speed on edge device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Bactrocera dorsalis is among the most economically harmful pests. The lure-and-kill approach is an environmentally friendly and innovative method that offers an opportunity for sustainable surveillance and control of B. dorsalis. However, such a strategy requires highly effective pest attractants. In the current study, we compared the attractive activity of twelve flower essential oils against B. dorsalis adults via the indoor trapping assay. Meanwhile, we studied the attractive features of clove bud essential oil (CBEO) for males under laboratory conditions. Further, we also investigated CBEO's attractancy to their natural predator, the ladybirds, and its cytotoxicity against non-target organisms' cells. In particular, sexually mature males were dramatically attracted to the CBEO. Furthermore, the CBEO exhibited no significant attractancy to ladybirds nor cytotoxicity against normal human and mouse cells. The results revealed that CBEO shows potential for development as an eco-friendly and novel attractant agent for the control of B. dorsalis. The oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) is a destructive polyphagous species that targets many economically important fruits and vegetables. The primary control of B. dorsalis relies mainly on the use of synthetic chemicals, and excessive use of these chemicals has adverse effects on both the environment and human health. Environmentally friendly management of pests involving plant essential oils is useful for controlling the populations of pests responsible for decreasing the yields and quality of crops. In the present study, we demonstrate that clove bud essential oil (CBEO) is strongly attractive to sexually mature males. Mature males responded to the CBEO differently throughout the day; the strongest response was elicited during the day and decreased at dusk. Virgin and mated mature males did not respond differently to CBEO. No obvious response behaviour to the CBEO was observed in two species of beneficial natural predator ladybirds. In addition, a cytotoxicity assessment demonstrated that CBEO is nontoxic to normal human and mouse cells. Based on our laboratory experiments, CBEO may serve as a promising, sustainable, and environmentally friendly attractant for B. dorsalis males; however, field experiments are needed to confirm this hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2,6-Bis(4-iodophenyl)-4-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)pyridine, as a new aromatic diiodide compound, was synthesized through a one-pot protocol by the sequential diazotization-iodination of 2,6-bis(4-aminophenyl)-4-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)pyridine with KI/NaNO2/ p -TsOH in acetonitrile at room temperature. A number of new aromatic fluorinated poly(pyridine amide)s containing 2,6-diphenyl-4-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)pyridine units were prepared via a Pd(PPh3)2Cl2 catalyzed carbonylation polymerization of this diiodide, diamines and carbon monoxide in DMAc in the presence of PPh3 and 1,8-diazabicyclo[5,4,0]-7-undecene. These new polyamides with inherent viscosities of 0.63–0.72 dL/g were amorphous and easily soluble in amide type aprotic solvents such as NMP, DMAc, DMF and dimethyl sulfoxide at room temperature. Thermal analysis data up to 800°C in nitrogen showed their high thermal behavior with 5% weight loss temperature of 428–498°C and char yield of 62–69%. Their limiting oxygen index of 42.3–45.1 showed that the resulting poly(pyridine amide)s could be classified as "self-extinguishing polymers". Also, their thin films exhibited high optical transparency with a cut-off wavelength of 324–373 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of new aromatic fluorinated copoly(ether amide)s containing 4-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-2,6-diphenylpyridyl moiety with high molecular weight were prepared by a low-temperature solution polycondensation of terephthaloyl chloride with 4-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-2,6-bis(4-aminophenyl)pyridine and 1,4-bis(4-amino-2-trifluoromethylphenoxy)benzene with various mole ratios of the two monomers ranged from 20/80 to 80/20. All polymers were amorphous and soluble in common organic solvents such as N -methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N,N -dimethylacetamide and tetrahydrofuran at room temperature or upon heating at 70oC, and could be solution cast into transparent, tough, and flexible films with tensile strengths of 66.9–80.2 MPa, tensile moduli of 1.84–2.03 GPa, and elongations at break of 11.8–20.7%. These new polyamides displayed good thermal stability with gradually increasing of glass temperatures of 259–285oC as an increase of the 4-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-2,6-diphenylpyridyl component, the temperature at 10% weight loss of 476–505oC, and the residue of 55–61% at 750oC in nitrogen. They also exhibited low dielectric constants of 3.11–3.38 (1 MHz), low moisture absorption in the range of 1.43–1.75%, and high transparency with an UV–vis absorption cut-off wavelength in the 350–368 nm range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of the present study is to determine the impact on survival using adjuvant chemotherapy on patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer. Materials and Methods: From 2007 to 2016, we enrolled 127 locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with combined neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) and surgery. For patients with the pathological residual primary disease (pT+) and/or residual node disease (pN+) after nCRT, adjuvant chemotherapy was also given after consideration of the toxicity of nCRT, patient performance, and/or comorbidity. The regimen of adjuvant chemotherapy was cisplatin 20 mg/m2/day and 5-fluorouracil 800 mg/m2/day on days 1 through 4 and 22 through 25. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Results: From a total of 127 patients, 26 of them (20.5%) received adjuvant chemotherapy. In the multivariate analysis, pN+ diseases were independently associated with poor OS (hazard ratio (HR): 4.117, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.366–12.404; p = 0.012). For those with pN+ diseases, their 5-year OS was 36.4% in the follow-up arm compared with 45.8% in the adjuvant chemotherapy arm (p = 0.094). Conclusions: Pathologic node-positive disease is associated with poor OS in locally advanced esophagus cancer patients after combined treatments with nCRT and surgery. Adjuvant chemotherapy appeared to have improved OS in pathologic node-positive diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the crack initiation and propagation evolution characteristics of flaw rock masses, the crack initiation mechanism of rock masses based on improved maximum distortion energy theory was analyzed. The relationship between the flaw inclination angle, initiation angle, and Poisson’s ratio of single-flawed rock was revealed. Based on the Particle Flow Code PFC2D embedded in the “FISH” language, discrete element simulations were conducted on rock specimens with a pre-existing single-flawed under uniaxial compression. The crack initiation angle, stress characteristics, acoustic emission characteristics, and the evolution law of crack propagation for rock specimens with different flaw inclination angles were investigated. Numerical simulation results indicate that under uniaxial compression, as the flaw inclination angle increases, the peak stress of the rock continuously decreases, the crack initiation angle and rock propagation stress increase, while the initiation stress of rock initially decreases and then increases. The cracks were initiated at the tip of the pre-existing flaw and propagated by shear stress along the pre-existing flaw direction, ultimately resulting in diagonal shear failure. The improved maximum distortion energy theory calculations show that under uniaxial compression, for composite-type cracks, an increase in Poisson’s ratio causes the sensitivity of the initiation angle to the flaw inclination angle to continuously increase. The increase in the flaw inclination angle enhances the influence of Poisson’s ratio on the initiation angle. This study provides theoretical references for the crack initiation mechanism of natural flaws in underground engineering rock masses, the failure modes of surrounding rock, and stability control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel self-adhesive hydrogel-mesh composite, i.e., G/SIS-TA is developed by combining SIS meshes, GelMA, and tannic acid. • G/SIS-TA can strongly adhere to wet porcine skin (shear strength: ∼60 kPa) with notable biodegradability. • G/SIS-TA shows a remarkable biocompatibility, antioxidant, antibacterial properties and immunoregulatory activity. • G/SIS-TA can reduce bacterial burden in mouse peritonitis infection model, and enhance wound healing in infected rat full-thickness wound model. The application of meshes in surgery is severely limited by complications associated with the non-absorbable nature, the lack of bioactivities, and the need of sutures and/or staples to fix meshes on tissues. In this contribution, a self-adhesive hydrogel-mesh composite (HMC) with biodegradability and multiple bioactivities was developed to address these issues and meet the clinical requirements. In this HMC system, GelMA hydrogel network was first macrotopological entangled with the fibers of a natural small intestinal submucosa (SIS) meshes, and then strengthened by soaking in a multi-functional H-bond provider (i.e., tannic acid, TA) solution to form the G/SIS-TA composite. The pyrogallol groups of the TA molecules endow G/SIS-TA with excellent wet adhesiveness (shear strength: ∼60 kPa), antioxidant, and antibacterial ability. The G/SIS-TA was also found to exhibit excellent biodegradability, biocompatibility, and immunoregulatory activity. The G/SIS-TA significantly decrease the bacterial burden in a mouse peritonitis infection model and promote the healing of infected full-thickness rat skin wounds in vivo. This work not only reports a novel SIS-based HMC which was efficient in treating infected wounds, but also offers an innovative strategy of the development of self-adhesive bio-patch for various biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • D-phenylalanine functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (D-PHE-MWCNTs) enhance the stereoselectivity of acetophenone electrocarboxylation. • Perovskite La 0.7 Sr 0.3 Fe 0.8 Ni 0.2 O 3 integration increases 2-hydroxy-2-phenylpropionic acid yield. • Optimized synthesis increase perovskite CO₂ catalysis via surface and vacancy. • The composite catalyst achieved a 74% yield and an 84% enantiomeric excess in the electrocarboxylation of acetophenone. This study investigates the integration of perovskite materials with D-PHE-MWCNTs to synthesize chiral electrodes designed for asymmetric electrocarboxylation of acetophenone with CO 2. The D-PHE-MWCNTs demonstrated superior stereoselectivity in asymmetric carboxylation reactions. When integrated with perovskites, known for their CO₂ reactivity, there was a notable increase in the yield of 2-hydroxy-2-phenylpropionic acid. By employing diverse synthesis methods, the perovskite materials were enhanced, resulting in an increased surface area and augmented oxygen vacancies crucial for CO₂ adsorption and activation. Optimized perovskites with increased surface areas and oxygen vacancies, when integrated with D-PHE-MWCNTs, resulted in an elevated product yield of 74% and a heightened enantiomeric excess value of 84%, highlighting the efficacy of these composite materials in the asymmetric electrocarboxylation of acetophenone with CO 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains an incurable disease with a very poor clinical outcome. The purpose of this article was to investigate whether the expression or methylation of tetrapeptide repeat domain 36 (TTC36) could be used as a prognostic marker in hepatocellular carcinoma. TCGA database was used to obtain information on HCC gene expression and the associated clinical features of HCC patients. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened between 374 HCC specimens and 50 nontumor specimens. The expression and prognostic value of TTC36 were analyzed. The correlations between TTC36 and cancer immune infiltrates were investigated via TIMER. In this study, HCC specimens and nontumor specimens were compared and 35 DEGs were found between them. Among the 35 DEGs, the expression of TTC36 was significantly reduced in HCC samples compared with nontumor samples. Survival tests revealed that patients with low TTC36 expression had a shorter overall survival than patients with high TTC36 expression. TTC36 was found to be an independent predictive factor for HCC in both univariate and multivariate regression analyses. TTC36 was negatively regulated by TTC36 methylation, leading to its low expression in HCC tissues. Immune analysis revealed that TTC36 expression has significant correlations with B cell, T cell CD4+, neutrophil, macrophage, and myeloid dendritic cell. Finally, TTC36 expression was dramatically reduced in HCC cells, and overexpression greatly suppressed HCC cell proliferation and invasion, according to our experimental results. Overall, our data suggested that TTC36 could be applied as a prognostic marker for predicting outcome and immune infiltration in HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Many kinds of nanostructured metal oxides were introduced in cathodes of Li–S batteries for high sulfur utilization and effective confinement for polysulfides. Herein, Gd2O3 nanoparticles modified wave‐like carbon host, which are derived from soybean residue by activation and pyrolysis processes. After the activated soybean residue derived carbon (ASC) host modified by Gd2O3 nanoparticles, the ASC‐Gd was integrated with sulfur by melting method and then used as cathode in lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries. According to the electrochemical results of ASC‐Gd/S cathode, a high initial discharge capacity (1343 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C) and improved cycling stability were exhibited, which was attributed to the strong adsorption ability for polysulfides and ultrahigh specific surface area of the ASC. As a result, the Gd2O3 nanoparticles modified wave‐like biomass carbon was a promising host material of Li–S batteries with high performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To make clear what role the Urban and Rural Residents Basic Medical Insurance (URRBMI) plays in the inequality in health and healthcare, this article combines the time-varying DID method with the concentration index to conduct an empirical study. We find that the URRBMI improves health but expands health inequality among different income groups, with its contribution growing over time. Besides, the URRBMI significantly promotes healthcare utilization, reduces the medical burden, and narrows the gap among different income groups, though this effect is generally downward. These findings help clarify what deserves more attention to enlarge benefits and reduce inequality in this medical reform and provide policy implications for policymakers. Increasing investment in medical resources and constructing the hierarchical medical system and medical treatment combination may make a difference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work delineates a Michael‐initiated ring‐closing [3+2] cycloaddition of newly designed 3‐(1‐benzyl‐2‐oxoindolin‐3‐yl)pentane‐2,4‐diones with α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes. During the chiral secondary amine‐catalyzed cascade reaction, highly functionalized spirocyclopentane oxindole derivatives containing five consecutive stereogenic centers were formed, two of which were tetrasubstituted carbon. All the desired products are smoothly obtained in good yields (up to 90 %) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99 : 1 er) and diastereoselectivities (up to >95 : 5 dr). Meanwhile, the practicality of this strategy was highlighted by the further gram‐scale experiment and a set of synthetic transformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the problems of low accuracy and low efficiency of traditional sensor data anomaly diagnosis methods, a new temperature sensor data anomaly diagnosis method based on deep neural network is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the temperature sensor data in a running cycle is collected, and the characteristics of the temperature sensor data are extracted by the sliding window technology. Secondly, based on the feature extraction results, a deep neural network model for anomaly diagnosis of temperature sensor data is constructed. The feature data are input into the model, and the result obtained is the diagnosis result. Finally, the simulation comparison experiment is carried out. The experimental results show that the error rate of feature extraction of temperature sensor data in this method changes between −2.1% and 5.9%, the diagnosis accuracy remains above 95%, the average diagnosis time is only 59 ms, and the diagnosis efficiency is high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of wind turbine manufacturing technology, the wind turbine rotor is facing more design challenges for exposing to complex environmental conditions and severe wind loads. This paper investigates the stall-induced vibrations of a wind turbine rotor operating at idling state, and a strategy to mitigate the stall-induced vibrations is proposed. The equations of motion of the wind turbine rotor are established by Hamilton's principle and solved using the finite element method (FEM). The aerodynamic forces are evaluated based on the blade element theory, and the aero-damping is obtained by solving the eigenvalue problem of the rotor system. The stability of the wind turbine rotor is analyzed under different wind speeds, wind deviation angles, azimuth angles and pitch angles. The calculation results show that negative aero-damping exists in specific wind deviation angles, which leads to the divergence of edge-wise motions of the blades. An on-site experimental study validates the criteria of stability of the wind turbine rotor. The present work provides positive outlooks for aeroelastic analysis of the wind turbine blades at idling states, and it is significant for the design and safety improvement of large wind turbine blades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Called by Green Ship of the Future to reduce the propeller noise pollution in the subsea environment and avoid the possibility of causing propeller–shaft–ship resonance, the low-frequency broadband noise (LFBN) of marine propellers was studied theoretically and experimentally. The spectral method is improved by considering the blade section thickness and anisotropy in the turbulence spectrum, both of which are found to be effective in improving the prediction accuracy when compared with the experimental results. A series of propellers with the same blade geometry but different blade number were tested in the large cavitation channel at the China Ship Scientific Research Centre. The peak values in all conditions were close to the first-order blade-passing frequency. The effects of blade number and the advance coefficient were investigated by testing the propellers operating under different conditions. The effects were also studied using both the spectral method and experiment, and the results were consistent. Furthermore, the quantitative dependence of the LFBN on the influencing parameters was investigated using the sensitivity analysis. The rotational speed and turbulence intensity were found to be the two main factors, with greater than 10% effects. In addition, the effects of thickness and anisotropy scaling factor were evaluated using the spectral method. The results of this study provide guidance for controlling the LFBN in propeller design and optimisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to realize the efficient and stable operation of the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC)-combined heat and power (CHP) system in the typical applied scenario, three different energy management schemes are proposed in this study. First, a coupled calculation model of the solid oxide fuel cell-gas turbine-combined heat and power (SOFC-GT-CHP) system with a rated power of 30 kW for the SOFC stack is constructed. The inlet temperature and inlet pressure of the SOFC stack are optimized. The recommended design for the proposed system is thence obtained. Second, three operation schemes of SOFC-GT-CHP are proposed. They consist of the operation scheme of single-stack, multi-stack and optimal operation scheme coupled with vanadium redox flow battery (VRB). Finally, four types of typical applied scenarios in North China are selected. The real-time performance of the SOFC-GT-CHP system when applying three different operation schemes is obtained and comparatively analyzed. The results are presented as follows. First, the SOFC-GT-CHP system achieves a rated power of 44.50 kW and a rated system efficiency of 47.20 % when the inlet temperature and pressure of the stack are preferably 505 °C and 709.1 kPa. Second, the application of the multi-stack SOFC-GT-CHP system has the advantage of high efficiency in the low-load operation domain. With a net output power at 20 kW, the time average efficiency of SOFC-GT-CHP is increased from 38.37 % to 46.96 %. Finally, the SOFC-GT-CHP system achieves the highest time average generation efficiency of 46.13 % in the hotel applied scenario when applying the optimal operation scheme coupled with VRB. This meets the practical operation requirement of the SOFC stack. The reduction of the net output power range of SOFC-GT-CHP is 67.87 %. It shows that the optimal operation scheme is efficient and stable. The study can provide a reference for the energy management of the SOFC-GT-CHP system in typical applied scenarios. • The recommended design solution for SOFC-GT-CHP is obtained by constructing the coupled calculation model. • Operation schemes of SOFC-GT-CHP including the single-stack, multi-stack and optimal scheme coupled with VRB are proposed. • The characteristics of the proposed three operation schemes are studied and compared based on simple user loads. • A comparative study of the performance of SOFC-GT-CHP when applying three schemes is conducted with 4 applied scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the topologies proposed for zeolites, six metastable semiconductor carbon allotropes with band gaps of 2.72-3.89 eV are predicted using ab initio density functional calculations. The hardnesses of these allotropes are about 90%-94% that of diamond, indicating that they may be superhard materials. We also present simulated X-ray diffraction spectra of these new carbon allotropes to provide a basis for possible experimental observations and synthesis. These new carbon structures with a range of band gaps and with hardnesses comparable to diamond could be potential targets for the synthesis of hard and transparent materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Qizhuyanggan Decoction (QZD), a traditional Chinese medicine formula, is frequently utilized in clinical practice for managing hepatic fibrosis. However, the specific target and mechanism of action of QZD for hepatic fibrosis treatment remain unknown. By combining network pharmacology, serum medicinal chemistry, and experimental validation methods, our study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of QZD on hepatic fibrosis, the anti-hepatic fibrosis active ingredients, and the possible mechanism of anti-hepatic fibrosis action. The study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of QZD on hepatic fibrosis induced by CCl 4 in SD rats, as well as its mechanism of action. The rats were anesthetized intraperitoneally using 3% pentobarbital and were executed after asphyxiation with high concentrations of carbon dioxide. Several techniques were employed to evaluate the efficacy of QZD, including ELISA, Western blot, HYP reagent assay, and various pathological examinations such as HE, Masson, Sirius Red staining, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Additionally, serum biochemical assays were conducted to assess the effect of QZD on liver injury. Network pharmacology, UPLC, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation were utilized to explore the mechanism of QZD in treating hepatic fibrosis. Finally, experimental validation was performed through ELISA, IHC, RT-qPCR, and Western blot analysis. Liver histopathology showed that QZD reduced inflammation and inhibited collagen production, and QZD significantly reduced HA and LN content to treat hepatic fibrosis. Serum biochemical analysis showed that QZD improved liver injury. Network pharmacology combined with UPLC screened six active ingredients and obtained 87 targets for the intersection of active ingredients and diseases. The enrichment analysis results indicated that the PI3K/AKT pathway might be the mechanism of action of QZD in the treatment of hepatic fibrosis, and counteracting the inflammatory response might be one of the pathways of action of QZD. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations showed that the active ingredient had good binding properties with PI3K, AKT, and mTOR proteins. Western blot, ELISA, PCR, and IHC results indicated that QZD may treat hepatic fibrosis by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and suppressing M1 macrophage polarization, while also promoting M2 macrophage polarization. QZD may be effective in the treatment of hepatic fibrosis by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and M1 macrophage polarization, while promoting M2 macrophage polarization. This provides a strong basis for the clinical application of QZD. [Display omitted] • Qizhuyanggan Decoction (QZD) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula with significant anti-hepatic fibrosis effects. • Network pharmacology reveals that QZD may treat hepatic fibrosis by modulating the PI3K/AKT pathway. • Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations showed that the QZD active ingredient binds tightly to PI3K, AKT, mTOR proteins. • Bioinformatics approach combined with experimental evidence that QZD treats hepatic fibrosis by modulating the PI3K/AKT pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Based on damping principle of TMD and characteristics of liquid storage tank, a pendulum TMD (PTMD) is proposed. • Seismic performance of the hybrid control system with base-isolation and PTMD is analyzed. • Influence laws of PTMD mass ratio and base-isolation period on dynamic responses are discussed. • Base-isolation with PTMD has a significant damping effect on seismic responses of liquid storage tank. It is necessary to ensure the safety of liquid storage tanks under earthquakes, but the damage probability of the non-damping liquid storage tanks is higher under earthquakes. Based on the damping principle of tuned mass damper (TMD) and the characteristics of the liquid storage tank, a new pendulum TMD (PTMD) system is proposed. Considering the material nonlinearity, the fluid–structure interaction and liquid sloshing characteristics, the three-dimensional numerical calculation models of the non-damping, PTMD, base-isolation (BI) and BI-PTMD liquid storage tanks are established, respectively. The seismic responses of different types of liquid storage tanks under the action of near-field pulse-like earthquakes are investigated, the damping performance of the hybrid control system with the isolation and the PTMD is analyzed, and the influence laws of the mass ratio of PTMD-structure and base-isolation period on the dynamic responses of the liquid storage tanks are discussed. The results show that the BI-PTMD hybrid control system has a significant damping effect on the seismic responses of the liquid storage tank. The damping rate of the base shear is the largest, reaching 86.0%, and the control rate of the PTMD on the displacement of the isolation layer is about 20.0%. The hoop stress, effective stress, liquid pressure and displacement of isolation layer decrease with the increase of the mass ratio of PTMD to structure. With the increase of base-isolation period, the hoop stress, axial compressive stress, effective stress and liquid pressure decrease, and the control effect of PTMD on the liquid storage tank is weakened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The drift ratio or lateral deformation is typically applied as the indicator in order to evaluate the earthquake-induced damage, one of the most important issues is to determine the seismic performance level limits. Therefore, this study presents to predict the seismic performance level limits of RC columns by using the machine learning method. Firstly, a test database of the backbone curves of RC columns was established after collecting 754 specimens under axial and lateral loads. Then the seismic performance level limits of all the collected columns were taken out as the input values of machine learning. The correlations among the geometric, mechanical parameters and the performance limits of RC columns were analyzed based on Pearson correlation analysis and mutual information method. Afterward, regression models of seven machine learning methods were established to predict the performance level limits of RC columns, while the hyperparameters of the machine learning models were optimized by the grid search and cross-validation methods. The generalization ability of the prediction models was verified and evaluated by using mean square error, mean absolute error, maximum error and R square, meanwhile, the accuracy of the applied methods was also analyzed. The seismic performance level limits of RC columns determined by the machine learning method can comprehensively consider the influence of geometric and mechanical parameters of RC columns. Combined with the earthquake-induced deformation of RC columns, the seismic damage of RC columns can be evaluated reasonably, which is of great significance for evaluating the seismic damage of building structures. The discussion on the prediction accuracy among different machine learning algorithms is also beneficial for the deformation prediction of other RC components. • A test database of the backbone curves of 754 RC columns was established. • Seven machine learning regression algorithms were used to predict the seismic performance level limits. • Accuracy analysis of different machine learning methods provides a reference for the seismic evaluation of RC components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wave invisibility in confined space has been proved practical significance in mechanical engineering and military fields. In this work, a flexural wave cloak of a corner-domain target in a metamaterial plate with proportional integral (PI) active control circuit is proposed. According to the double reflection principle and mechanical characteristic at the boundary, wave fields for a corner-domain target are defined as a collection of incident, scattering and three mirror domains. The unknown scattering mode coefficients are determined by the image method and boundary conditions. The dynamic stress concentration, scattering amplitude and scattering cross-section for the corner-domain target are obtained. The cloaking configuration is composed of multiple equally spaced concentric layers, which are filled with piezoelectric (PZT) patches. In addition, these PZT patches are connected to the active control circuit with proportional integral (PI) control module. The results indicate that the flexural wave cloak can reduce the dynamic stress concentration, scattering amplitude and scattering cross-section in corner domain. Compared to the original structure without PI active control, the effective frequency range of the active cloak can be extended by 20%. • A flexural wave cloak of a corner-domain target in a metamaterial plate with proportional integral (PI) active control circuit is proposed. • The unknown scattering mode coefficients are determined by the image method and boundary conditions. • The flexural wave cloak can reduce the dynamic stress concentration, scattering amplitude and scattering cross-section in corner domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering fluid-structure interaction (FSI), material nonlinearity and liquid sloshing nonlinearity, a nonlinear calculation model of sliding isolation concrete rectangular liquid-storage structure (CRLSS) with limiting devices is established. Failure criteria for sliding isolation CRLSS are summarised and defined, and a method for evaluating seismic capacity of sliding isolation CRLSS is proposed. Under near-field pulse-like earthquake, near-field no-pulse earthquake and far-field earthquake, seismic capacities of no-isolation structure, pure sliding isolation structure and sliding isolation structure are studied, comparatively. Results show that the seismic capacity of CRLSS is weakest under the actions of near-field pulse-like earthquakes; when the height of the reserved no-liquid wall is sufficiently large, sliding isolation can convert the main failure mode of the CRLSS from wall crack to excessive structure displacement, and the reasonable design of limiting device can reduce the failure probability of the sliding isolation CRLSS caused by excessive structure displacement. Besides, it is more reasonable to evaluate the seismic capacity of the system considering multiple failure criteria, and liquid level height and limiting device are the two important factors that affect the failure probability of the sliding isolation CRLSS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membrane separation is a promising alternative for gas purification. Facilitated transport (FT) membranes, with reversible reactions to promote CO2 transport, can simultaneously obtain high CO2 permeability and selectivity of CO2 over other gases, such as CH4, making FT membranes particularly interesting for CO2/CH4 separation. An overview of the state-of-the-art FT membranes used for CO2/CH4 separation is desired for the R&D of industrial membrane applications. This paper has reviewed the development progress and advances in various FT membranes for CO2/CH4 separation, including mobile carrier FT membranes, fixed site carrier FT membranes, and mixed matrix FT membranes. Over 100 different kinds of membrane materials with over 500 gas separation data have been summarized with performance data collected and analyzed. Perspectives of FT membranes for CO2/CH4 separation are also proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coastline extraction from remote-sensing images is of great significance to the dynamic monitoring of the coastal zone. The types of coastlines are complex and diverse, and they show different spectrum, texture, and shape features, so accurately extracting coastlines is still a challenging task. The semantic segmentation model based on deep learning has good generalization ability. However, the down sampling operation will lose the location of boundary information, resulting in the location offset between the extracted coastlines and the actual coastlines. A multi-task network, called the joint learning network of boundary and segmentation (BS-Net), was proposed in this letter. BS-Net adds a coastline positioning stream to supervise the location of the coastlines. Moreover, this letter designed a boundary-segmentation interaction (BSI) module for the mutual guidance of information between the coastline positioning stream and the sea-land segmentation stream to correct the coastline features and enhance the segmentation boundary. The experimental results on a set of Gaofen-1 remote sensing images showed that, for various natural coastlines and artificial coastlines, coastlines extracted based on BS-Net were more accurate than those extracted by other methods. Code is available at: . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]