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Convective flow in the deep mantle controls Earth's dynamic evolution, influences plate tectonics, and has shaped Earth's current surface features. Present and past convection‐induced deformation manifests itself in seismic anisotropy, which is particularly strong in the mantle's uppermost and lowermost portions. While the general patterns of seismic anisotropy have been mapped for the upper mantle, anisotropy in the lowermost mantle (called D′′) is at an earlier stage of exploration. Here we review recent progress in methods to measure and interpret D′′ anisotropy. Our understanding of the limitations of existing methods and the development of new measurement strategies have been aided enormously by the availability of high‐performance computing resources. We give an overview of how measurements of seismic anisotropy can help constrain the mineralogy and fabric of the deep mantle. Specifically, new and creative strategies that combine multiple types of observations provide much tighter constraints on the geometry of anisotropy than have previously been possible. We also discuss how deep mantle seismic anisotropy provides insights into lowermost mantle dynamics. We summarize what we have learned so far from measurements of D′′ anisotropy, how inferences of lowermost mantle flow from measurements of seismic anisotropy relate to geodynamic models of mantle flow, and what challenges we face going forward. Finally, we discuss some of the important unsolved problems related to the dynamics of the lowermost mantle that can be elucidated in the future by combining observations of seismic anisotropy with geodynamic predictions of lowermost mantle flow. Plain Language Summary: Earthquakes cause waves that travel through Earth's interior and are recorded by distant seismometers. These seismic waves behave differently depending on the material that they pass through, revealing Earth's material properties. At the very bottom of the mantle, seismic waves sometimes travel at different speeds depending on their direction. This material property is called seismic anisotropy and is caused by material deformation and flow. Global patterns of mantle flow, which is directly connected to surface processes such as the movement of tectonic plates or hotspot volcanism, can therefore be inferred from seismic anisotropy. Recent years have seen advances in anisotropy imaging in the lowermost mantle as well as in numerical calculations of flow in Earth's lowermost mantle. We review the methods that are used to infer lowermost mantle anisotropy. We further give an overview of previous results and interpretations, which include seismic anisotropy caused by upwelling plumes and ancient slab remnants. Future improvements in the fields of seismology, geodynamics, and mineral physics are needed to improve our understanding of global deep mantle flow. Key Points: Measurement techniques for deep mantle anisotropy have been improved substantially in the last decadeThese improvements enable inferences of deep mantle flow with increasing confidenceKnowledge of mantle dynamics elucidates the drivers of flow, relationships among structures, and Earth's dynamic evolution [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC), with its excellent tensile properties, can be used as an alternative to decorative materials that are heavy in cross-section, enabling architectural decoration field to develop in the direction of light weight and changeable shape. However, the extremely low water-binder ratio of UHPC produces obvious autogenous shrinkage, which leads to the development of many micro-cracks. When the micro-cracks develop to a certain extent, they can have a very negative impact on the finishing of the architecture. This paper studies the influence of medium-burnt quicklime dosing on the hydration process and mechanical properties of UHPC cured at room temperature and elucidates the mechanism by which medium-burnt quicklime reduces autogenous shrinkage in UHPC. The results show that the crystal growth pressure generated by the hydration of f-CaO (free calcium oxide) can significantly compensate the autogenous shrinkage of UHPC. The dosage of 3 % medium-burnt quicklime can make the mechanical properties and shrinkage properties of UHPC reach the relative optimum, and the autogenous shrinkage of UHPC can be reduced to 181.36 με. Although the medium-burnt quicklime reduces the hydration products by delaying the hydration of UHPC, it also can reduce the porosity and the percentage of the multi-harmful pores, and refine the pore aperture. In addition, the interfacial transition zone between the UHPC matrix and the steel fibres can be reduced due to the extrusion of Ca(OH) 2 crystal growth pressure on the surrounding crystals, resulting in a tighter lapping between the crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate whether infants with prenatal diagnosis of meconium peritonitis (MP) have a poorer prognosis. Methods: A retrospective analysis of data from infants treated with surgery from January 2008 to December 2020 was conducted. The patients were divided into prenatal diagnosis group and postnatal diagnosis group based on the timing of diagnosis. The intraoperative and postoperative parameters of the two groups of patients were compared. Results: A total of 71 cases of MP were included in the study, with 48 cases in the prenatal diagnosis group and 23 cases in the postnatal diagnosis group. The comparison of preoperative indicators between the two groups of patients showed no statistically significant differences in baseline (p > 0.05). Intraoperative indicators, including blood loss, anastomosis, retained intestinal tube length and excised intestinal tube length, showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups (p > 0.05). However, the postnatal diagnosis group had a significantly shorter operation time than the prenatal diagnosis group (p < 0.05). Postoperative indicators, including fasting time, albumin usage, complications, and abandonment or mortality rates, show no difference (p > 0.05). Nevertheless, the postnatal diagnosis group exhibited significantly shorter hospital stay and time to first bowel movement compared to the prenatal diagnosis group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Prenatal diagnosis of meconium peritonitis is associated with increased surgical complexity, prolonged hospital stay, and delayed recovery of intestinal function. However, there is no evidence of higher mortality or more complications compared to infants diagnosed postnatally, and there is no significant difference in long-term prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the Chinese government has implemented a variety of measures, the gender wage gap in 21st century China has not decreased. A significant body of literature has studied this phenomenon using sector segmentation theory, but these studies have overlooked the importance of the collective economy beyond the public and private sectors. Moreover, they have lacked assessment of the gender wage gap across different wage groups, hindering an accurate estimation of the gender wage gap in China, and the formulation of appropriate recommendations. Utilizing micro-level data from 2004, 2008, and 2013, this paper examines trends in the gender wage gap within the public sector, private sector, and collective economy. Employing a selection bias correction based on the multinomial logit model, this study finds that the gender wage gap is smallest and most stable within the public sector. Furthermore, the private sector surpasses the collective economy in this period, becoming the sector with the largest gender wage gap. Meanwhile, a recentered influence function regression reveals a substantial gender wage gap among the low-wage population in all three sectors, as well as among the high-wage population in the private sector. Additionally, employing Brown wage decomposition, this study concludes that inter-sector, rather than intra-sector, differences account for the largest share of the gender wage gap, with gender discrimination in certain sectors identified as the primary cause. Finally, this paper provides policy recommendations aimed at addressing the gender wage gap among low-wage groups and within the private sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporosis is caused by the imbalance of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. The regulatory mechanisms of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in pathogenesis of osteoporosis are of significant and needed to be further investigated. GSE100609 dataset downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was used to identified DEGs in osteoporosis patients. KEGG analysis was conducted to demonstrate signaling pathways related to enriched genes. Osteoporosis patients and the human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were obtained for in vivo and in vitro resaerch. Lentivirus construction and viral infection was used to knockdown genes. mRNA expression and protein expression were detected via qRT-PCR and western blot assay separately. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity detection, alizarin Red S (ARS) staining, and expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), osteocalcin (OCN) and Osterix were evaluated to determine osteoblast differentiation capacity. UL-16 binding protein 1 (ULBP1) gene was upregulated in osteoporosis and downregulated in differentiated hMSCs. Knockdown of ULBP1 increased ALP activity, mineralization ability evaluated by ARS staining, expression of BMP2, OCN and Osterix in differentiated hMSCs. Furthermore, rescue experiment demonstrated that suppressed ULBP1 boosted osteoblast differentiation by activating TNF-β signaling pathway. Knockdown of ULBP1 gene could promoted osteoblast differentiation by activating TNF-β signaling pathway in differentiated hMSCs. ULBP1 may be a the Achilles' heel of osteoporosis, and suppression of ULBP1 could be a promising treatment for osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a green technology, photocatalytic reduction of CO2 can reduce CO2 into reusable carbon‐based fuels and alleviate environmental and energy problems to a certain extent. However, traditional photocatalytic materials have irreparable defects that limit their applications in photocatalysis, and it becomes a great challenge to find an efficient photocatalytic material. ZnIn2S4, a new photocatalyst, is widely used in photocatalysis because of its layered structure, tunable band gap, excellent photoelectric properties, and catalytic characteristics, and it is also favored by a wide range of scientific researchers due to its stable chemical properties. The construction of heterojunctions can further increase the photocatalytic ability of ZnIn2S4. This review introduces the electron transfer mechanism of different ZnIn2S4‐based heterojunctions in the photocatalytic process and its recent research progress in photocatalytic CO2 reduction applications. Finally, an outlook on constructing ZnIn2S4‐based heterojunctions and their development prospects is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Users' affective preference for voices has become a topic of great interest with the prevalence of humanoid robots. Nevertheless, the affective preference formation for humanoid voices remains unknown, and its evaluation lacks objective methods. Consequently, we conducted an EEG experiment to unravel the underlying neural dynamics and evaluate users' affective preference for humanoid robot voices. Significantly larger P2, P3, and LPP amplitudes, enhanced theta, and decreased alpha oscillations were observed when users affectively preferred humanoid robot voices. The results suggest that the neural dynamics underlying users' affective preference for humanoid robot voices might primarily consist of early detection of affective information in voices, further processing of affective information, and later evaluative categorization of affective preference. Moreover, the neural indicators could distinguish users' affective preferences for humanoid robot voices. The study contributes to understanding the auditory affective preference formation for humanoid robot voices and providing a neurological evaluation method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Short-form videos are popular worldwide as a thriving form of entertainment. Its fragmentation pattern, which presents users with intensive and engaging information, might lead to addiction and adverse effects. This study aims to investigate the effect of addiction to short-form videos on users' attention, including attention while watching videos and the ability of attentional concentration after watching time. Users addicted or non-addicted to short-form videos were screened to participate in a short-form video watching task and a Stroop task based on eye-tracking technology. The results showed that addicted users reported less interest, centration, and more distractions and exhibited more fixation counts and shorter average fixation duration during watching short-form videos than non-addicted users. In the Stroop task, addicted users achieved longer response time and less accuracy and showed longer average fixation duration, more fixation counts, and saccades between the targets and the distractors than non-addicted users. The results suggest that addicted users might suffer more difficulties maintaining attention, have more attention deficits while watching short-form videos, and have impaired attentional concentration for processing interference. The findings contribute to understanding the effect of addiction to short-form videos and provide helpful insight into using it healthily and preventing addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Appearance and voice are essential factors impacting users' affective preferences for humanoid robots. However, little is known about how the appearance and voice of humanoid robots jointly influence users' affective preferences and visual attention. We conducted a mixed-design eye-tracking experiment to examine the multisensory integration effect of humanoid robot appearances and voices on users' affective preferences and visual attention. The results showed that the combinations of affectively preferred voices and appearances attracted more affective preferences and shorter average fixation durations. The combinations of non-preferred voices and preferred appearances captured less affective preferences and longer fixation durations. The results suggest that congruent combinations of affectively preferred voices and appearances might motivate a facilitation effect on users' affective preference and the depth of visual attention through audiovisual complements. Incongruent combinations of non-preferred voices and preferred appearances might stimulate an attenuation effect and result in less affective preferences and a deeper retrieval of visual information. Besides, the head attracted the most amount of visual attention regardless of voice conditions. This paper contributes to deepening the understanding of the multisensory integration effect on users' affective preferences and visual attention and providing practical implications for designing humanoid robots satisfying users' affective preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Cytokines that mediate the immune responses are important in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. The genetic polymorphisms of IL-10, TNFAIP3 (A20), and NF-κB1 (p105/p50) and their association with the risk of periodontitis were investigated. Method: Venous blood from 102 clinical periodontal healthy participants and 100 patients with periodontitis was collected to genotype the IL-10 (rs1800872), A20 (rs2230926, rs5029937, rs6927127), and NF-κB1 (rs28362491) SNP loci by Sanger technology. Univariable and multivariable logic regression and path analysis model was used to analyze the genotypes and alleles. Result: Single-gene mutations in the A20 (rs2230926, rs5029937, rs6927127) and IL-10 (rs1800872) genes were not associated with the risk of periodontitis. NF-κΒ1 (rs28362491) gene influenced periodontitis susceptibility by affecting CAL. The combined effect of A20 and IL-10 was related to the risk of periodontitis (ORa = 0.123-0.151). One site mutated in the A20 (rs2230926, rs5029937, rs6927127) gene or IL-10 (rs1800872) gene reduced the risk of periodontitis. Conclusion: Single gene polymorphisms in A20 and IL-10 genes were not associated with the risk of periodontitis. NF-κB1 gene polymorphism indirectly affects susceptibility to periodontitis. The combined effect of anti-inflammatory gene polymorphisms (A20 and IL-10) correlated with the decreased risk of periodontitis. Clinical Relevance: This study helps to explore the potential mechanisms underlying the role of anti-inflammatory genes in the progression of periodontal disease and provides a basis for the selection and development of appropriate periodontal treatment strategies based on the genetic profile of the patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a novel yellow near-infrared (NIR) reflective pigment based on the formula of Sb x WO 3 was developed by high temperature solid-state method at 700–900 °C. The formation of Sb x WO 3 was confirmed by XRD analysis, and the synthesized pigments are orthorhombic phase with high near infrared reflectivity (84.69%–87.28%). The acid/alkali resistance studies reveal that the color difference ΔE * of the pigments before and after soaking was less than 5, and the as prepared pigments are chemically stable under the atrocious weather. In addition, the synthetic pigments are bright yellowish green (L* = 92.1–92.9, a* = -4.9–4.1, b* = 35.0–37.0). In the heat insulation performance test, the indoor temperature with the Sb x WO 3 heat insulation coating is 3.1 °C lower than that without heat insulation coating. In summary, the as prepared Sb x WO 3 pigment has the advantages of high solar reflectivity and less toxic elements, making this new environmentally friendly energy-saving yellow pigment used as a colorant for building exterior coating formulations to reduce heat accumulation and cooling energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mantle plumes form from thermal boundary layers, such as Earth's core–mantle boundary. As plumes rise towards the surface, they are laterally deflected by the surrounding mantle flow that is governed by deep mantle density and viscosity structures. The lateral motions of mantle plumes carry information of deep mantle structure and dynamics and are used to setup reference frames by which absolute plate motions are reconstructed. In this study, we compare two methods to compute deep mantle flow and lateral motion of plumes. In mantle convection (MC) models, the mantle flow field and lateral motions of plumes are determined by solving conservation equations forward-in-time from given initial conditions. In plume advection (PA) models, approximate viscosity and present-day density structures are used to calculate present-day mantle flow which is then propagated backward-in-time assuming zero thermal diffusion, and plume conduits are represented by continuous lines and are passively advected within the background mantle flow. The question is how assumptions in PA models influence the predictions of deep mantle flow and plume lateral motions. Here, we perform purely thermal MC models and thermochemical MC models with intrinsically dense materials in the lowermost mantle. The deep mantle flow and plume lateral motions are determined accurately in each MC model. We also perform PA models using the approximated present-day viscosity and temperature structures in these MC models. We find that PA models without considering temperature-dependence of viscosity and/or only using long wavelength present-day temperature structure (up to degree 20) often lead to an average of ∼50–60 per cent and ∼60–200 per cent differences of present-day mantle flow velocities than purely thermal MC models and thermochemical MC models, respectively. By propagating inaccurate flow fields backward-in-time in PA models often cause even larger errors of mantle flow velocities in the past. Even using the same parameters and starting from the same present-day mantle flow fields as in MC models, the PA models still show an average of ∼10–30 per cent misfit of mantle flow velocities after ∼40 Ma. In addition, we show that errors of mantle flow fields in PA models can cause ∼100–600 per cent differences of plume lateral motions than that constrained in MC models in the past 60 Ma. Even we use the mantle flow in MC models to advected virtual plumes in PA models, the virtual plumes could still show ∼50–300 per cent difference of lateral motions than dynamic plumes in MC models if the virtual plumes do not start with the same locations and/or shapes as plumes in MC models. We also find virtual plumes in PA models initiated at different locations and/or with different shapes can be later advected to similar locations, suggesting that the lateral motions of plumes in PA models can be non-unique. Therefore, it is important to consider the build-in assumptions of PA models when interpreting their predictions on deep mantle flow field and plume lateral motions. The accuracy of PA models would improve as we gain better understanding on Earth's deep mantle structure and dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract NaCl is the main curing agent in dry-cured meat products, and a large amount of NaCl addition leads to high salt content of final products. Salt content and composition are important factors affecting the activity of endogenous proteases, which in turn could affect proteolysis as well as the quality of dry-cured meat products. With the increasing emphasis on the relationship between diet and health, reducing sodium content without sacrificing quality and safety of products is a great challenge for dry-cured meat industry. In this review, the change of endogenous proteases activity during processing, the potential relationship between sodium reduction strategy, endogenous proteases activity, and quality were summarized and discussed. The results showed that sodium replacement strategy and mediated-curing had a complementary advantage in influencing endogenous proteases activity. In addition, mediated-curing had the potential to salvage the negative effects of sodium substitution by affecting endogenous proteases. Based on the results, a sodium reduction strategy that sodium replacement in conjunction with mediated-curing based on endogenous proteases was proposed for the future perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anionic High-entropy materials have seldom been reported as a new library of water oxidation electrocatalysts owing to great difficulty in uniformly distributing multiple elements with different physicochemical properties and harsh synthesis conditions. Herein, a series of amorphous quasi-high-entropy carbonates for the first time is prepared via a facile low-temperature hydrothermal route. The optimized CoCrFeMnMoCO 3 with hydrothermal treatment of 6 h can serve as a promising oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalyst for water splitting on account of amorphous structure rendering more exposed active sites, superior synergistic effect realizing surface component self-optimization, high-valence ferritic species (Fe(3+δ)+) providing high catalytic activity and high-entropy stabilization guaranteeing long-term OER performance, thus exhibiting the low overpotentials of 302 and 355 mV at the current densities of 10 and 100 mA cm−2, respectively, the small Tafel slope of 36.7 mV dec−1, and excellent durability longer than 38 h, dramatically exceeding its corresponding crystalline counterpart and benchmark RuO 2 catalyst, as well as yielding the current density of 10 mA cm−2 with impressive low voltage of 1.56 V while used as bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water splitting. This study lights a broad avenue to design other anionic high-entropy materials as promising OER catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgrounds: Transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) type I receptor (TGFβRI) and type II receptor (TGFβRII) are the members of the TGFβ superfamily, which are potent regulators of cell proliferation and differentiation in many organ systems, and they play key roles in multiple aspects of follicle development. Objectives: We aimed to explore the characterization, expression analysis of TGFβRI and TGFβRII genes, and the association with litter size in Tibetan sheep. Methods: In this study, we cloned the complete coding sequences of TGFβRI and TGFβRII genes in Tibetan sheep and analyzed their genomic structures. Results: The results showed that percentages of sequences homology of the two proteins in Tibetan sheep were the most similar to Ovis aries (100%), followed by Bos mutus (99%). The RT‐qPCR showed that two genes were expressed widely in the different tissues of Tibetan sheep. The TGFβRI expression was the highest in the lung (p < 0.05), followed by the spleen and ovary (p < 0.05). The TGFβRII expression was significantly higher in uterus than that in lung and ovary (p < 0.05). In addition, the χ2 test indicated that all ewes in the population were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, and the population was in medium or low polymorphic information content status. We also found four Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNPs), g.9414A > G, g.28881A > G, g.28809T > C, g.10429G > A in sheep TGFβRI gene and g.63940C > T, g.63976C > T, g.64538C > T, g.64504T > A in TGFβRII gene. Three genotypes, except for g.64504T > A, and three haplotypes were identified in each gene. linkage disequilibrium analysis indicated that there was strong linkage disequilibrium in each gene. The association analysis showed that the four SNPs of TGFβRI were associated with litter size (p < 0.05), and g.63940C > T of TGFβRII was confirmed to be associated with litter size (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Based on these preliminary results, we can assume that TGFβ receptors (TGFβRI and TGFβRII) may play an important role in sheep reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2D) heterostructures formed by van der Waals (vdW) interactions have attracted considerable attention in the fields of electronics and optoelectronics. The stacking order is not only an important method for regulating interlayer interactions, but also an intrinsic property specific to 2D vdW heterostructures. Herein, the GaS/XMoY (X/Y = S, Se, Te) vdW heterostructures are proposed by first-principles calculations. The effects of stacking order (namely, GaS/SMoSe, GaS/SeMoS, GaS/SeMoTe and GaS/TeMoSe) on the electronic properties, light absorption, and photocatalysis of the heterostructures are discussed in detail. We identify stacking order as a dominant pathway for interlayer interactions, and surmise that stacking order effectively regulates dipole moment, mechanical flexibility, carrier mobility, optical absorption coefficient, and photocatalytic water-splitting of GaS/XMoY heterostructures. The in-plane biaxial strain can make the energy gap of each stacking order reach a maximum value, and their photocatalytic performance can also be improved to different degrees. This work analyzes the modulation effect of stacking order on the material properties of GaS/XMoY heterostructures, which provides theoretical clues for the design of efficient and stable optoelectronic devices and photocatalytic water-splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) is governed by the mid-latitude westerlies and Indian summer monsoon (ISM). However, the past hydrological changes on the TP induced by interactions between the westerlies and the ISM remain unclear. A sediment core from Lake Zabuye on the southwestern TP was analyzed to reconstruct climatic and hydrological variability over the last 30 kyr. Stable isotopic compositions (δ13C and δ18O) of authigenic carbonate act as an indicator of hydrological status for closed-basin lakes on the TP. Four major climatic and hydrological stages were identified: (1) last glacial maximum (29.8–18.9 cal kyr BP), the influence of the westerlies dominated, and a cold-wet climate prevailed; (2) last deglaciation (18.9–11.8 cal kyr BP), the influence of the westerlies receded, and a general trend of decreased wetness was interrupted by two pronounced glacial meltwater events recorded at 17.2 and 15.2 cal kyr BP, respectively; (3) early and middle Holocene (11.8–3.8 cal kyr BP), the Holocene climate optimum was attained and sustained under the dominance of ISM circulation; (4) late Holocene (from 3.8 cal kyr BP to the present), the ISM collapsed during the middle to late Holocene, and a hypersaline lacustrine environment was ultimately formed, as inferred from mirabilite deposition and isotopic signals. Our lake record demonstrates an anti-phase relationships between the westerlies and the ISM on the glacial-interglacial timescale over the southwestern TP. We suggest that both North Atlantic climate and tropical ocean temperature are major drivers of climatic variations on the TP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2D) heterostructures formed by van der Waals (vdW) interactions have attracted considerable attention in the fields of electronics and optoelectronics. The stacking order is not only an important method for regulating interlayer interactions, but also an intrinsic property specific to 2D vdW heterostructures. Herein, the GaS/XMoY (X/Y = S, Se, Te) vdW heterostructures are proposed by first-principles calculations. The effects of stacking order (namely, GaS/SMoSe, GaS/SeMoS, GaS/SeMoTe and GaS/TeMoSe) on the electronic properties, light absorption, and photocatalysis of the heterostructures are discussed in detail. We identify stacking order as a dominant pathway for interlayer interactions, and surmise that stacking order effectively regulates dipole moment, mechanical flexibility, carrier mobility, optical absorption coefficient, and photocatalytic water-splitting of GaS/XMoY heterostructures. The in-plane biaxial strain can make the energy gap of each stacking order reach a maximum value, and their photocatalytic performance can also be improved to different degrees. This work analyzes the modulation effect of stacking order on the material properties of GaS/XMoY heterostructures, which provides theoretical clues for the design of efficient and stable optoelectronic devices and photocatalytic water-splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chaihu-Guizhi-Ganjiang Decoction (CGGD) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription used to treat viral influenza. There is evidence that CGGD can be used to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) but the potential mechanism of action and metabolites produced upon CGGD treatment remains elusive. Methods: Patients with IBS were treated with pinaverium bromide (Dicetel™) and then CGGD after a washout period of 1 week. Both treatments lasted for 30 days. The efficacy and changes of metabolites in plasma after the two treatments were compared. Plasma samples were acquired before and after each treatment, and untargeted metabolics analysis was performed. Results: Efficacy was measured according to the Rome IV criteria and TCM theory. Our results indicated that CGGD showed significantly better efficacy than Dicetel in the treatment of IBS utilizing each criterion. CGGD exerted greater effects on plasma metabolism than Dicetel. Dicetel treatment led to increased tryptophan metabolism (increased levels of 5-Hydroxyindoleacetaldehyde) and increased protein metabolism (increased levels of L-arginine). CGGD treatment significantly (p < 0.05) increased carnitine metabolism, with elevated levels of L-carnitine and acylcarnitine in plasma. Such changes in these metabolites could exert effects against IBS by improving gastrointestinal motility and suppressing pain, depression, and inflammation. Conclusions: CGGD appeared to be more efficacious than Dicetel for treating patients with IBS. The findings provide a sound support for the underlying biomolecular mechanism of CGGD in the prevention and treatment of IBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SMAD1, SMAD2, and SMAD3 are important transcription factors downstream of the TGF-β/SMAD signaling pathway that mediates several physiological processes. In the current study, we used cloning sequencing, RT-qPCR, bioinformatics methods and iMLDR technology to clone the coding region of Tibetan sheep genes, analyze the protein structure and detect the tissue expression characteristics of Tibetan sheep genes, and detect the polymorphisms of 433 Tibetan sheep and analyze their correlation with litter size. The results showed that the ORFs of the SMAD1, SMAD2 and SMAD3 genes were 1398 bp, 1404 bp and 1278 bp, respectively, and encoded 465, 467 and 425 amino acids, respectively. The SMAD1, SMAD2, and SMAD3 proteins were all unstable hydrophilic mixed proteins. SMAD1, SMAD2 and SMAD3 were widely expressed in Tibetan sheep tissues, and all were highly expressed in the uterus, spleen, ovary and lung tissues. Litter sizes of the genotype CC in the SMAD1 gene g.10729C>T locus were significantly higher than that of CT (p < 0.05). In the SMAD3 gene g.21447C>T locus, the genotype TT individuals showed a higher litter size than the CC and CT genotype individuals (p < 0.05). These results preliminarily demonstrated that SMAD1, SMAD2 and SMAD3 were the major candidate genes that affected litter size traits in Tibetan sheep and could be used as a molecular genetic marker for early auxiliary selection for improving reproductive traits during sheep breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The black-necked crane is the only crane species that breeds on the Qinghai–Tibetan plateau, and habitat destruction and loss are the major threats to it. The Shaluli Mountains, located in a biological hotspot, is an important breeding site for the central population of the black-necked crane, but its population size and distribution, as well as shifts in distribution under climatic change, remain unknown. Therefore, we conducted a field survey and modeled the breeding black-necked crane habitat with a species distribution model in the region. The results showed that the number of breeding black-necked cranes in the area was about 200, and they were mainly distributed in a gentle meadow and wetland along the lake. Climate change will increase the potentially suitable habitat area, with a trend of northwestward expansion and upward migration, as well as an increase in habitat suitability and connectivity. In addition, more conservation gaps will arise, but the conservation role of existing protected areas will not decline. Therefore, we suggest strengthening the long-term monitoring of black-necked cranes and wetland resources in this area. Climate change is affecting biodiversity by altering the geographical distribution range of species, and this effect is amplified in climate-sensitive areas. Studying the geographic distribution of flagship species in response to climate change is important for the long-term conservation of species and the maintenance of regional biodiversity. Therefore, we collected field survey records from 2016 to 2020 and conducted field surveys of black-necked cranes in the Shaluli Mountains (SLLMs) in May–June and August–October 2021; 103 breeding records were acquired totally, and the geographical distribution range under the current and four future climate scenarios was modeled with the MaxEnt model to predict the impact of climate change on its distribution and habitat quality. The results showed that 152 black-necked cranes were surveyed in seven counties of SLLMs in total; the estimated number of black-necked cranes in the entire SLLMs was about 200. The currently suitable habitat area is 27,122 km2, mainly distributed in gentle meadows and wetland habitats along the lake where the Annual Mean Temperature is −1 °C and the Mean Diurnal Range (16 °C) and Precipitation Seasonality (105) are comparatively large. Furthermore, the breeding range would expand to varying degrees under future climate scenarios and showed a migration trend toward the northwest and higher elevation. Besides, as time goes by, the habitat for black-necked cranes in SLLMs would become more homogeneous and more suitable. The conservation effectiveness of the existing reserve network would keep stable with climate change, although there are large conservation gaps between protected areas, and these gaps will gradually expand over time. Overall, this study provides a preliminary understanding of the population and distribution and predicts the future distribution of black-necked cranes in the SLLMs. It also demonstrates the importance of SLLMs for protecting the central population of black-necked cranes and maintaining regional biodiversity. Therefore, we recommend long-term monitoring and conservation of the black-necked crane population and wetland resources in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two large low velocity provinces (LLVPs) are observed in Earth's lower mantle, beneath Africa and the Pacific Ocean, respectively. The maximum height of the African LLVP is ∼1,000 km larger than that of the Pacific LLVP, but what causes this height difference remains unclear. LLVPs are often interpreted as thermochemical piles whose morphology is greatly controlled by the surrounding mantle flow. Seismic observations have revealed that while some subducted slabs are laterally deflected at ∼660–1,200 km, other slabs penetrate into the lowermost mantle. Here, through geodynamic modeling experiments, we show that rapid sinking of stagnant slabs to the lowermost mantle can cause significant height increases of nearby thermochemical piles. Our results suggest that the African LLVP may have been pushed more strongly and longer by surrounding mantle flows to reach a much shallower depth than the Pacific LLVP, perhaps since the Tethys slabs sank to the lowermost mantle. Plain Language Summary: Seismic observations have revealed the two large low velocity provinces (LLVPs) beneath Africa and the Pacific Ocean in Earth's lowest mantle. Growing evidence indicates that the maximum height of the African LLVP is up to ∼1,000 km taller than that of the Pacific LLVP, but the underlying cause of such a large difference in height remains uncertain. Geodynamic modeling studies have shown that the morphology of LLVPs is greatly controlled by their interactions with surrounding mantle flow which is mainly driven by subduction of cold slabs. Seismic observations have shown that while some subducted slabs flatten or stagnate at ∼660–1,200 km, other slabs arrive at the deepest mantle. With geodynamic modeling experiments, we show that catastrophic sinking of subducted slabs into the lower mantle can cause strong upwelling flows that in turn greatly increase the height of nearby LLVP‐like piles, while other piles can be less affected. This work suggests that the African LLVP may be enduring stronger nearby mantle flow to rise by the slab‐driven surrounding mantle flow than the Pacific LLVP. The African LLVP may start rising since the sinking of the Tethys slabs to the lowermost mantle. Key Points: Continuous sinking of voluminous subducted slabs to the lower mantle can push nearby large low velocity province (LLVP)‐like piles to rise significantlyEpisodic large increase of height is only possible for piles that are nearly neutrally buoyant and are relatively unstableThe African LLVP may have been strongly pushed by the Tethys slabs and reach a much larger height than the Pacific LLVP [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Selection of molecular markers used in the marker-assisted selection of the litter size of sheep is critically essential. In this study, we identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), g.51537A>G in SMAD5 and g.319C>T in SMAD7, from Tibetan sheep, and they were genotyped. The expression patterns of SMAD4, SMAD5 and SMAD7 in the tissues of Tibetan sheep were determined. Furthermore, we also performed an association analysis of the SNPs with litter size. The results indicated that SMAD4, SMAD5 and SMAD7 were extensively expressed in the various tissues of Tibetan sheep. Sequence analysis showed that SMAD4 contained 1662 bp encoding 533 amino acids, SMAD5 contained 1667 bp encoding 465 amino acids and SMAD7 contained 1408 bp encoding 427 amino acids. Alignment analysis showed that the amino acid sequence of the three proteins shared high similarity with sheep, yak, cattle, dog, human, pig, chimpanzee, rhesus monkey and house mouse. Furthermore, association analysis showed that both g.51537A>G in SMAD5 and g.319C>T in SMAD7 were not significantly associated with litter size of Tibetan sheep. SMAD4, SMAD5 and SMAD7 belonging to the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily are indispensable for oocyte formation and development, ovarian organogenesis and folliculogenesis. However, only a few studies have investigated the characteristics of SMAD4, SMAD5 and SMAD7 in Tibetan sheep and the effect of their polymorphism on litter size. In this study, we examined the expression of SMAD4, SMAD5 and SMAD7 in 13 tissues of Tibetan sheep by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Further, cDNA of these genes was cloned, sequenced and subjected to bioinformatics analysis. DNA sequencing was also used to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). However, iM-LDRTM technology was used for SNP genotyping. Associations between polymorphisms and litter size were analyzed using data from genotyping of 433 Tibetan sheep. The results showed that the expression of SMAD4, SMAD5 and SMAD7 genes was ubiquitous in the tissues of Tibetan sheep, such as the ovary, uterus and oviduct, hypothalamus, hypophysis, heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, rumen, duodenum and longissimus dorsi. However, the expression was unbalanced and upregulated in the spleen, lung, ovary and uterus and downregulated in the longissimus dorsi. The bioinformatics analysis showed that SMAD4, SMAD5 and SMAD7 in Tibetan sheep encoded proteins of 533, 465 and 427 amino acids, respectively. Sequence homology analysis of the three proteins among other animals showed that the sequences of SMAD4, SMAD5 and SMAD7 of Tibetan sheep were similar to those in sheep, yak, cattle, dog, human, pig, chimpanzee, rhesus monkey and house mouse. Two synonymous mutations, g.51537A>G and g.319C>T, were detected in SMAD5 and SMAD7, respectively. The associations of these SNPs and litter size were determined, and it was found that both g.51537A>G and g.319C>T have no significant effect on the litter size of Tibetan sheep. The results provided novel insights into the molecular characterization, expression profiles and polymorphisms of SMAD4, SMAD5 and SMAD7 in Tibetan sheep, but our results do not support associations between these genes and the litter size of Tibetan sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing demand for neodymium (III) and samarium (III) due to their extensive high-tech applications has drawn much attention to their recovery. In this work, the copper-based metal-organic framework HKUST-1 was prepared and used for the adsorption of neodymium (III) and samarium (III) in the media of an aqueous solution. The maximum adsorption capacity of the material for neodymium (III) and samarium (III) was 284.11 and 503.45 mg g−1 at a pH of 5.5, respectively. The adsorption removal rate could achieve nearly 100% at the solid-to-liquid ratio of 1.0 g L−1, which is relatively excellent among such adsorbents used for rare earth elements uptake. The mechanism and reversibility of neodymium (III) and samarium (III) adsorption were systematically investigated by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectra, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, suggesting that the mechanism for the adsorption was ion exchange and complexation between trivalent rare-earth ions and the oxygen atom in the hydroxyl group. The reason behind the material displaying a more robust affinity for samarium (III) may be caused by the energy difference between fn and fn+1 states of samarium (III) was larger than that of neodymium (III), thus forming stronger covalent bonding. HKUST-1 exhibited high adsorption capacity towards Nd (III) and Sm (III). The reason behind the material displaying a more robust affinity for Sm(III) was caused by that the energy difference between fn and fn+1 states of Sm(III) was larger than that of Nd(III), thus forming stronger covalent bonding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of advanced photoactive materials has aroused widespread interest, but is severely plagued by the inherent narrow photo-responsive range and rapid recombination of electrons and holes. In this study, the unconventional BiOBr nanosheets decorated with Bi0 and oxygen vacancies (OVs) are successfully synthesized through a facial one-pot hydrothermal method, followed by heat treatment. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and mannitol contribute to the selective exposure of (001) and (010) facets, respectively. The absence of the outermost Br atoms facilitates the simultaneous generation of OVs and Bi0 on the surface during heating, forming the Schottky junction. The synergy of SPR in the Bi0 metal, OVs and Schottky junction can effectively enhance the light absorption and charge separation. This work proposes and verifies a feasible approach to construct defects in-situ by regulating the crystal facets and manipulating the surface atomic arrangement and coordination. [Display omitted] • BiOBr nanosheets with tunable exposed facets and surface atoms were fabricated. • The in-situ simultaneous decoration of Bi0 and OVs is achieved by heat treatment. • Bi0 selectively form on (010) facets exposed surface synthesized with mannitol. • Partial absence of outermost Br atoms in (001) facets contribute to Bi0 and OVs. • Bi0, OVs and Schottky junction enhance the light absorption and charge separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tibetan Plateau is known as the core area of the third pole of the Earth and is a key area for global climate change research. This study uses the Zabuye Salt Lake travertine dam as the research object and U–Th dating as the chronological framework and proposes that the carbon and oxygen isotopes of travertine can be used as a precipitation index through the analysis of hydrogen and oxygen isotopes of spring water, and petrology, mineralogy, carbon and oxygen isotopes of travertine. The precipitation records of Zabuye Salt Lake over the last 800 years show a dry condition in 1191–1374 AD (Medieval Warm Period), a humid condition in 1374–1884 AD (Little Ice Age), and a dry condition in 1884–1982 AD (Current Warn Period), indicating a warm–dry/cold–moist climate pattern, which is consistent with precipitation records from many places on the Tibetan Plateau. We preliminarily point out that travertine can record the evolution of paleoprecipitation (paleomonsoon) at least on the decadal–centennial scale. The Indian summer monsoon has been the main factor influencing precipitation change in Zabuye Salt Lake over the past 800 years, and the change in evapotranspiration intensity caused by temperature change driven by solar radiation is also an important factor affecting dry–moist change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To systematically evaluate the efficacy, safety, recovery speed, and long-term visual quality of excimer laser corneal refractive surgery and to provide evidence-based medicine for the promotion and use of excimer laser corneal refractive surgery. Methods. Randomized controls on excimer laser refractive surgery in Web of science, PubMed, EMBASE, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, China Knowledge Network (CNKI), China VIP Database, Wan Fang Database, and China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM) were searched by the computer. Randomized controlled trial (RCT) data were extracted independently by two researchers, and the risk of bias of each included RCT was assessed according to the Cochrane Handbook 5.1.0 criteria. Meta-analysis of the collected data was performed using RevMan5.4 statistical software. Results. In the end, 9 high-quality literatures were included, with a total of 4366 samples, and meta-analysis was used. There was no significant difference in uncorrected visual acuity WMD after excimer laser keratorefractive surgery, but there was a statistically significant difference in WMD in the safety of excimer laser keratorefractive surgery. The results of uncorrected visual acuity (close) indicated the following: Chi2 = 13.56, DF = 5, P = 0.02, and I2 = 100%; the results of uncorrected visual acuity (distance) indicated the following: Chi2 = 34.44, DF =5 (P < 00000), and I2 = 85%; the results of best corrected visual acuity (myopia) indicated the following: Chi2 = 0.65, DF = 3, P = 088 > 0.05, and I2 = 0%; the results of best corrected visual acuity (hyperopia) indicated the following: Chi2 = 1.80, DF = 3, P = 0.61 > 0.05, and I2 = 0%. Conclusion. Excimer laser corneal refractive surgery is safe and effective, with faster recovery and better long-term visual acuity treatment effect. However, more studies and follow-up with higher methodological quality and longer intervention time are needed for further validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even though humanoid robots are being applied to diverse areas, the formation of users' preference for the appearance of humanoid robots remains unknown. The present study investigated users' neural dynamics underlying preference formation to evaluate users' preference for the appearance of humanoid robots. EEG signals were recorded in a preference categorisation task, and neural dynamics were analysed via event-related potentials and time–frequency analysis. The results showed that in the early stage, the preferred humanoid robot appearances elicited enhanced parieto-occipital N1, frontal P2, and early central and parieto-occipital theta rhythm power than the non-preferred appearances. In the later stage, the preferred humanoid robot appearances elicited enhanced scalp-distributed LPP and later central and parieto-occipital theta power than the non-preferred appearances. The results suggested that the formation of users' preference for the appearance of humanoid robots has a distinctive dual-stage of neural dynamics. The study provides designers with an objective method in evaluating users' preference for the appearance of humanoid robots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the application of acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCP) for the quantification of transport of water and the underlining physical mechanism. The transport of water through estuaries and tidal inlets is affected by tide, river flow, and wind. It is often assumed that wind effects in such systems are negligible unless under severe weather conditions. This study compares the ADCP-measured flows across a tidal inlet under weak wind conditions in late spring and those after the passage of an atmospheric cold front in winter. The Barataria Pass is a major inlet connecting Barataria Bay and northern Gulf of Mexico. The water exchange between the bay and coastal ocean is influenced by wind, especially in winter, because tide in the region is small (microtidal). The winter weather and late spring–summer weather are different. This difference results in different estuarine circulations. To examine this, two surveys were carried out with ship-mounted ADCPs—one in winter (19 December 2014) shortly after the passage of a cold front from the northwest, and the other in late spring (4 May 2015) with weak southeasterly winds. Distinctly different features of mean transport through the inlet were observed between the two surveys. The results from the first survey in winter showed that the total water transport was from the bay to the coastal ocean under northerly winds with intense outflows in shallow water, which is a typical signature of wind effects. The net flow was outward when the water level dropped. Data from the second survey in spring showed that the mid-channel water flew out of the bay (against the wind), whilst inflow appeared at both ends across the inlet, which was also a response to the weak wind stress and outward pressure gradient force set by the estuarine flow. The inflow at the eastern end (exceeding 0.1 m/s) is consistent with the idea that the coastal current resulted from the Mississippi River outflow enters the bay from the eastern end. The influence of tidal oscillations on water exchange appeared to be higher in the late spring data. The hydrographic observations in spring showed typical tidal straining features of an inverse estuary during the ebb–flood cycle, while salinity in the eastern shallow water generally varied with time, indicating the inflow of fresher water into the bay, confirming previous observations from summer 2008. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Tenascin-C (TNC), an extracellular matrix glycoprotein, is elevated in inflammatory and cardiovascular pathologies, whereas alarin, a novel orexigenic peptide, participates in insulin resistance and glycometabolism. The roles of these molecules in individuals with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), clinical conditions associating with metabolic disorders, and chronic inflammation, remain controversial. Our study aimed at determining the potential role of TNC and alarin in CVD adult patients with T2DM. Methods. This was a cross-sectional study. Basic and clinical information for 250 patients with T2DM were analyzed. Based on their cardiovascular disease status, participants were assigned into the CVD and non-CVD groups. Serum TNC and alarin levels were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results. Serum TNC and alarin concentrations in the CVD group were significantly higher than those of the non-CVD group. Moreover, serum TNC levels were positively correlated with age, waist circumference, and waist-hip ratio; however, they were negatively correlated with TC, LDL-C, and eGFR levels. Alarin levels were positively correlated with BMI, waist circumference, and hip circumference. In logistic regression models, TNC and alarin were also established to be independent determinants for CVD in T2DM patients and their increases were associated with CVD severity. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the area under curve (AUC) values for TNC and alarin were 0.68 and 0.67, respectively. TNC and alarin were good predictors of CVD occurrence. When the cutoff value for TNC was 134.05 pg/mL, its sensitivity was 69.47% while its specificity was 61.29%. When the cutoff value for alarin was 142.69 pg/mL, sensitivity and specificity were 38.95% and 90.97%, respectively. Conclusion. Elevated TNC and alarin levels are independently associated with the occurrence and severity of CVD in T2DM individuals. Therefore, these two biomarkers are potential diagnostic and prognostic indicators for CVD in diabetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sn composition graded GeSn layer with Sn content increased from 11% to 14.3% was grown on a Si substrate by molecular beam epitaxy. The structural properties of the GeSn layer are investigated, and the film is gradually relaxed along the thickness, reaching approximately 71.6%. The GeSn p–i–n detectors were fabricated by using a complementary metal oxide semiconductor compatible process. The GeSn detectors demonstrated a cutoff wavelength of approximately 3.3 μm at room temperature with a dark current of 0.3 A/cm2 @ -1 V. At a wavelength of 2000 nm, the GeSn detectors had a responsivity of 110 mA/W and -3 dB bandwidth (f3 dB) about 3 GHz. These results suggest that high Sn content relax GeSn can be grown by MBE and paves the way toward the feasibility of mid-infrared GeSn photonics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate the Fisher–Rao geometry of the two-parameter family of Pareto distribution. We prove that its geometrical structure is isometric to the Poincaré upper half-plane model, and then study the corresponding geometrical features by presenting explicit expressions for connection, curvature and geodesics. It is then applied to Bayesian inference by considering the Jeffreys prior determined by the volume form. In addition, the posterior distribution from the prior is computed, providing a systematic method to the Bayesian inference for Pareto distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A non-contact torque sensor based on a magnetostrictive Fe30Co70 rod wound with an excitation coil and a pickup coil is proposed in this paper. In the magnetic field range 0–30 kA/m, the changing rate and linearity of magnetostriction with a loading magnetic field of Fe30Co70 samples are significantly improved after heat treatment. Maximum magnetostriction is 103 ppm in the annealed sample in the parallel direction, while its tensile strength and allowable shear stress are 608 and 194.56 MPa, respectively. According to the mathematical model presented in this work, there is a linear relationship between the output voltage and torque. An apparent increase in the induced voltage signal (peak voltage) of 48.23 mV is observed as the torque increases to 20 Nm in the case of applying sinusoidal excitation signals. In addition, the experimental results are consistent with the calculated values within the torque range 0–16 Nm, and a good sensitivity of 2.87 mV/Nm is obtained. This work shows the prospect of Fe30Co70 alloy for non-contact torque sensing for the appropriate magnetostrictive property with no orientation requirement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For current-controlled grid-connected inverters with LCL filter, the essence of grid voltage full feedback is to improve the output impedance of grid-connected inverters to infinity, which can eliminate the influences of grid voltage distortion and the non-negligible grid impedance. However, existing full feedforward strategies are complex and control delay cannot be compensated precisely, which leads to the instability of system when the full feedforward of the voltage at the point of common coupling under the weak grid is adopted. This article first proposes a simplified full feedforward strategy based on grid-side inductor volt-age differential feedback active damping (GIVD-AD). Second, repetitive prediction (RP) is used to compensate for the control delay. Then, a virtual impedance branch is added and an adaptive algorithm for modifying virtual impedance based on the difference between predicted grid voltages by Newton interpolation prediction (NIP) and RP is proposed. With the proposed method, grid-connected inverters can work stably when grid impedance changes suddenly and exhibit strong rejection ability against grid-voltage harmonics. Finally, simulative and experimental results from a 3-kW single-phase grid-connected inverter are provided to prove the effectiveness of the proposed strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalyzed by Ru/Ir-free electrocatalysts is pivotal for preparing oxygen in efficient way, yet our understanding of the relationship between microphysical properties and OER performance is still insufficient. Here we report on 41 kinds of Fe x Cu y Ni 1-x-y /FeOOH/NiOOH/CuO complexes (FCN-x) to investigate the Cu and Fe induced electronic perturbation and what it brings to OER performance. As result, the activity mapping of FCN-x shows an optimal composition of 1:2:7 (FCN-7) showing a comparable overpotential potential of 170.3 mV, Tafel slop of 75.9 mV dec−1 and durability of 24 h (∼29% activity loss) to that of mainstream Ru/Ir-free catalysts. Such enhancement could be attributed to the role of alloying contribution of Fe/Cu, electronic perturbation and surface modification of surface oxides. Additionally, the incompletely oxidized Fe x Cu y Ni 1-x-y not only provide a platform for electron conduction, but also work as a sacrificial material to forming fresh oxides to maintain the content of surface oxides, which is a key driver of the excellent durability of FCN-7. This synthetic strategy may give an effective way to design and screen Ru/Ir-free OER catalysts. A platform guideline for designing Fe x Cu y Ni 1-x-y /FeOOH/NiOOH/CuO Complex Oxides is reported. The screened FCN-7 electrocatalysts exhibit not only high OER activity but also superior stability. Its OER performance, and working mechanism is investigated. The FCN-7 with unique composition tuning, species controlling, and electronic structure modification would open up a new avenue for designing high activity and durable Ir-/Ru-free OER catalyst. [Display omitted] • 41 kinds of Fe x Cu y Ni 1-x-y was prepared by the electrodeposition method with accurate composition control. • The composition optimization and electron perturbation play a key role on activity modification. • There are two optimum compositions existed over 41 kinds of Fe x Cu y Ni 1-x-y. • The Fe 0·1 Cu 0·2 Ni 0.7 showed the best oxygen evolution reaction activity and durability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active damping (AD) methods with extra feedback provide a high rejection of the resonance peak caused by LCL-filters, and have the advantages of simple implementation and strong robustness. Among them, capacitor current proportional-feedback AD has been proved to be effective and robust with only a proportional calculation. However, a large capacitive current pulsation restricts the detection accuracy. Based on a theoretical derivation, the same damping effect but with a better rejection of grid harmonic can be obtained by grid-side inductor voltage differential-feedback AD. However, the measured inductor voltage usually contains a parasitic resistance voltage that is difficult to separated, and it deteriorates the performance of LCL-filters. To solve this problem, a differential-negative proportional method based on the vector relationship between the voltages of the grid-side inductor and its parasitic resistance is proposed in this paper. In addition, the influence of control delays is considered and a solution is given. Experimental results based on a 3 kW LCL-type grid-connected inverter prototype are provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approximately 172 million rural households in China in 2022, will still rely on traditional biofuels instead of electricity. This study explores the feasibility of achieving rural electrification in China utilization various Energy origins and assesses its potential impact on climate change mitigation. To do so, we employ the Regional Energy Model (REM) to formulate hypotheses for rural power distribution. Covering the era from 2020 until 2050. We evaluate consequences in terms of greenhouse gas discharges, principal energy consumption, associated expenses by comparing these possibilities with a Business- as -Usual (BU) scenario. Our findings reveal that diesel-based arrangements tend to produce 'the maximum Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions, trailed by network-based solutions. Electrification focused on renewable energy-driven applications has the potential to reduce total CO2 emissions by up to 97 % and primary energy consumption by 43 % in 2050 compared to the BU scenario. We also find that electrification through decentralized diesel systems tends to be the priciest choice. Rural electrification utilizing renewable energy emerges as a cost-effective choice when the majority of end-use applications rely on renewable energy sources. However, it becomes less economical than network expansions when electric end-user appliances are predominant. In summary, this study investigates the viability of renewable energy for rural power distribution and its role in climate change abatement in rural China, offering policy suggestions. • Analyzes six energy-based scenarios for China's rural electrification until 2050. • Evaluates GHG emissions, energy use, and costs impacts with regional energy model. • Provides policy insights and uncertainties for China's sustainability goals. • An oil price and distance-based analysis also is done with extra 6 scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiotherapy is one of the conventional tumor treatments, while its abscopal therapeutic efficacy is severely hampered by the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. To address this challenge, we herein report on the morphology-adaptable peptide-based therapeutics for efficiently reversing the immunosuppression in the combinatorial radio-immunotherapy through simultaneous checkpoint blocking and induction of immunogenic cell death. The peptide-based therapeutics were created via co-assembling a pentapeptide containing a 4-amino proline residue with its derivatives containing IDO-1 inhibitor NLG919. The resulting therapeutics underwent pH-adaptable morphological transformation between nanofibrils and nanoparticles and released NLG919 upon GSH cleavage. In vivo studies confirmed that the pH-adaptable morphologies of the therapeutics facilitated their tumor accumulation and retention at tumor sites compared to morphology-persistent counterparts, thus resulting in efficient delivery of IDO-1 inhibitors. Simultaneously treating the tumor-bearing mice with the therapeutics and external γ-ray radiation boosted the tumor immunogenicity via inducing ICD cascade of the tumor cells and reverse the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment due to the inhibition of IDO-1 for depletion of tryptophan. Our findings strongly demonstrate that the morphology-adaptable peptide-based therapeutics exhibit the capability to reverse the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment during irradiation, thus providing a new strategy for the combinatorial radio-immunotherapy. [Display omitted] • Creation of peptide-based therapeutics adopting pH-dependent morphologies. • Efficient delivery of inhibitor NLG919 arising from pH-adaptable morphologies. • Reverse immunosuppression via simultaneous IDO-1 inhibition and induced ICD. • Combining γ-radiation with the therapeutics allows for reliable tumor therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine risk factors and develop novel prediction models for chemotherapy-induced adverse effects (CIAEs) in Chinese colorectal cancer (CRC) patients receiving capecitabine. Methods: A total of 233 Chinese CRC patients receiving post-operative chemotherapy with capecitabine were randomly divided into a training set (70%) and a validation set (30%). CIAE-related hematological/body parameters were screened by univariate logistic regression. Based on a set of factors selected from LASSO (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator) logistic regression, stepwise multivariate logistic regression was applied to develop prediction models. Area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Hosmer–Lemeshow (HL) test were used to evaluate the discriminatory ability and the goodness of fit of each model. Results: In total, 35 variables were identified to be associated with CIAEs in univariate analysis. Developed multivariable models had AUCs (area under curve) ranging from 0.625 to 0.888 and 0.428 to 0.760 in the training and validation set, respectively. The grade ≥ 1 anemia multivariable model achieved the best discriminatory ability with AUC of 0.760 (95%CI: 0.609–0.912) and good calibration with HL P value of 0.450. Then, a nomogram was constructed to predict grade ≥ 1 anemia, which included variables of age, pre-operative hemoglobin count, and pre-operative albumin count, with C-indexes of 0.775 and 0.806 in the training and validation set, respectively. Conclusions: This study identified valuable hematological/body parameters related to CIAEs. A nomogram based on the multivariable model including three hematological/body predictors can accurately predict grade ≥ 1 anemia, facilitating clinicians to implement personalized medicine early for Chinese CRC patients receiving post-operative chemotherapy for better safety treatment. Trial registration This study was registered as a clinical trial at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03030508). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, China has introduced the Universal Two-Child Policy (UTCP), which means that a couple can have two children. The implementation of this policy may affect female employment. Based on this background, this work aims to the impact of UTCP on the number and employment of Chinese women workers, and find out the countermeasures for the adverse impact of the policy. Firstly, the role of the Propensity Score Matching-Differences in Differences model is introduced, and the average and dynamic effects of UTCP on women's employment are discussed by using the Propensity Score Matching model. Secondly, the survey data on issues related to female employment after the implementation of UTCP from 2016 to 2020 is analyzed. Finally, a conclusion is drawn according to the survey data. The results demonstrate that the implementation of UTCP widens the income gap between men and women. Meanwhile, the younger the couple, the greater the income gap. Besides, the unemployment rate changes slightly after the introduction of the policy. As the growth rate of female income is significantly lower than that of men of the same age, UTCP has little impact on the employment of Chinese female workers, but has a great impact on the quality of employment. Among all the respondents, the proportion of employed men is higher than employed women, which is about 64% ~ 65%. However, it is still unknown whether age, education, family characteristics, nationality, occupations, and economic development of the province have a certain impact on female income, which is worth noting by follow-up research. On the whole, the full liberalization of the second child has little impact on the employment of female workers in China, but has a great impact on the quality of employment. The present work lays a foundation for the study of the impact of UTCT on female employment in future, and offers a certain reference for the further study of the impact of the policy on employment in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To discover the novel ATP7B mutations in 103 southern Chinese patients with Wilson disease (WD), and to determine the spectrum and frequency of mutations in the ATP7B gene and genotype-phenotype correlation in a large-scale sample of Chinese WD patients.Methods: One hundred three WD patients from 101 unrelated families in southern China were enrolled in this study. Genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood. Direct sequencing of all 21 exons within ATP7B was performed. Subsequently, an extensive study of the overall spectrum and frequency of ATP7B mutations and genotype-phenotype correlation was performed in all Chinese patients eligible from the literature, combined with the current southern group.Results: In 103 patients with WD, we identified 48 different mutations (42 missense mutations, 4 nonsense mutations and 2 frameshifts). Of these, 3 mutations had not been previously reported: c.1510_1511insA, c.2233C>A (p.Leu745Met) and c.3824T>C (p.Leu1275Ser). The c.2333G>T (p.Arg778 Leu) at exon 8, was the most common mutation with an allelic frequency of 18.8%, followed by c.2975C>T (p.Pro992Leu) at exon 13, with an allelic frequency of 13.4%. In the comprehensive study, 233 distinct mutations were identified, including 154 missense mutations, 23 nonsense mutations and 56 frameshifts. Eighty-five variants were identified as novel mutations. The c.2333G>T (p.Arg778 Leu) and c.2975C>T (p.Pro992Leu) were the most common mutations, with allelic frequencies of 28.6% and 13.0%, respectively. Exons 8, 12, 13, 16 and 18 were recognised as hotspot exons. Phenotype-genotype correlation analysis suggested that c.2333G>T (p.Arg778 Leu) was significantly associated with lower levels of serum ceruloplasmin (P = 0.034). c.2975C>T (p.Pro992Leu) was correlated with earlier age of disease onset (P = 0.002). Additionally, we found that the c.3809A>G (p.Asn1270Ser) mutation significantly indicated younger onset age (P = 0.012), and the c.3884C>T (p.Ala1295Val) mutation at exon 18 was significantly associated with hepatic presentation (P = 0.048). Moreover, the patients with mixed presentation displayed the initial WD features at an older onset age than the groups with either liver disease or neurological presentation (P = 0.039, P = 0.015, respectively). No significant difference was observed in the presence of KF rings among the three groups with different clinical manifestations.Conclusion: In this study, we identified three novel mutations in 103 WD patients from the southern part of China, which could enrich the previously established mutational spectrum of the ATP7B gene. Moreover, we tapped into a large-scale study of a Chinese WD cohort to characterise the overall phenotypic and genotypic spectra and assess the association between genotype and phenotype, which enhances the current knowledge about the population genetics of WD in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise of mantle plumes to the base of the lithosphere leads to observable surface expressions, which provide important information about the deep mantle structure. However, the process of plume–lithosphere interaction and its surface expressions remain not well understood. In this study, we perform 3-D spherical numerical simulations to investigate the relationship between surface observables induced by plume–lithosphere interaction (including dynamic topography, geoid anomaly and melt production rate) and the physical properties of plume and lithosphere (including plume size, plume excess temperature, plume viscosity, and lithosphere viscosity and thickness). We find that the plume-induced surface expressions have strong spatial and temporal variations. Before reaching the base of the lithosphere, the rise of a plume head in the deep mantle causes positive and rapid increase of dynamic topography and geoid anomaly at the surface but no melt production. The subsequent impinging of a plume head at the base of the lithosphere leads to further increase of dynamic topography and geoid anomaly and causes rapid increase of melt production. After reaching maximum values, these plume-induced observables become relatively stable and are more affected by the plume conduit. In addition, whereas the geoid anomaly and dynamic topography decrease from regions above the plume centre to regions above the plume edge, the melt production always concentrates at the centre part of the plume. We also find that the surface expressions have different sensitivities to plume and lithosphere properties. The dynamic topography significantly increases with the plume size, plume excess temperature and plume viscosity. The geoid anomaly also increases with the size and excess temperature of the plume but is less sensitive to plume viscosity. Compared to the influence of plume properties, the dynamic topography and geoid anomaly are less affected by lithosphere viscosity and thickness. The melt production significantly increases with plume size, plume excess temperature and plume viscosity, but decreases with lithosphere viscosity and thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study sought to explore the clinical relevance of the associations of serum levels of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), soluble receptor for AGEs (sRAGE), and thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) with the renal fat fraction (RFF) in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: A total of 133 patients with T2DM were enrolled in the study. RFF, which represents the renal fat level, was determined utilizing Dixon magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Serum levels of AGEs, sRAGE, TXNIP, and other biochemical parameters were measured in patients who fasted. Results: RFF in T2DM patients was positively correlated with the fasting levels of C-peptide (CP), triglycerides (TG), AGEs, TXNIP, and sRAGE (P < 0.05) and negatively correlated with the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) level (P < 0.05). Pearson's correlation analysis indicated that the serum levels of AGEs, sRAGE, and TXNIP were interrelated and positively correlated (P < 0.05). Then, all patients were assigned to four groups according to the RFF quartile. The HC, CP, TG, AGEs, sRAGE, TXNIP, and DKD percentages tended to increase as the RFF quartiles increased, while the HDL-c level tended to decrease (p for trend < 0.05). Next, multiple linear regression analysis was performed using RFF as the dependent variable. After controlling for covariates related to RFF, the results showed that the serum levels of AGEs and TXNIP were still significantly correlated with RFF. Conclusion: These results suggest that circulating AGEs and TXNIP levels may be associated with ectopic fat accumulation in the kidneys of T2DM patients and may serve as indicators of the severity of renal fat deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Methodology Results Conclusion Autophagy is involved in human apical periodontitis (AP). However, it is not clear whether autophagy is protective or destructive in bone loss via the receptor activator of nuclear factor‐κB ligand (RANKL)/RANK/osteoprotegerin (OPG) axis. This study aimed to investigate the involvement of autophagy via the RANKL/RANK/OPG axis during the development of AP in an experimental rat model.Twenty‐four female Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into control, experimental AP (EAP) + saline, and EAP + 3‐methyladenine (An autophagy inhibitor, 3‐MA) groups. The control group did not receive any treatment. The EAP + saline group and the EAP + 3‐MA group received intraperitoneal injections of saline and 3‐MA, respectively, starting 1 week after the pulp was exposed. Specimens were collected for microcomputed tomography (micro‐CT) scanning, histological processing, and immunostaining to examine the expression of light chain 3 beta (LC3B), RANK, RANKL, and OPG. Data were analysed using one‐way analysis of variance (p < .05).Micro‐CT showed greater bone loss in the EAP + 3‐MA group than in the EAP + saline group, indicated by an elevated trabecular space (Tb.Sp) (p < .05). Inflammatory cell infiltration was observed in the EAP + saline and EAP + 3‐MA groups. Compared with EAP + saline group, the EAP + 3‐MA group showed weaker expression of LC3B (p < .01) and OPG (p < .05), more intense expression of RANK (p < .01) and RANKL (p < .01), and a higher RANKL/OPG ratio (p < .05).Autophagy may exert a protective effect against AP by regulating the RANKL/RANK/OPG axis, thereby inhibiting excessive bone loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ion etching is an essential step in the processing of spintronic devices. In this work, we investigated the role of argon ion (Ar+) bombardment in the spin pumping and inverse spin Hall effect in the Y3Fe5O12/Pt (YIG/Pt) heterostructure. The inverse spin Hall voltage is found to reduce by an order of two when the argon ion bombardment is employed on the YIG surface before the deposition of the Pt layer. This giant inhibition of spin injection efficiency is undesirable. In this work, we propose an experimental technique for its recovery via a chemical route. The interface property and chemical state were identified by transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. We found that the argon ion bombardment on the YIG surface leads to an increase in the ratio of Fe2+ ions in the YIG/Pt interface region. Moreover, the interface magnetic moment reduces in the presence of Fe2+ ions, which resulted in the decrease in spin injection efficiency. A strong oxidizing solution (a mixture of concentrated H2SO4 and 30% H2O2 of 1:1 volume ratio) was used to recover the valence of iron and subsequently the interface magnetic moment. Our results are helpful for the understanding of the importance of interface properties and the optimization of spintronic device processing technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a new open-loop current controller based on model prediction method for grid-connected voltage-source-inverters (VSIs) is proposed, which consists of two proportional factors and a delay part (Proportional-Proportional-Delay, PPD). First, the working principle of the PPD controller is explained from the combined step response perspective based on a L–R load, and parameter constraints of PPD controller are derived and discussed from the time domain and differential-integral transform perspectives, respectively. After that, parameter design rules of PPD controller are given by considering the constraint of switching frequency. Due to the sensitivity of the model prediction method to nonideal factors, such as voltage drops of semiconductor devices, sampling, and driving delays, etc., influences of these nonideal factors on performance of PPD controller are discussed in this article, and corresponding compensation strategies are given as well. Finally, the effectiveness of proposed PPD controller and its compensation strategy against nonideal factors are verified by experimental results from a 3 kW prototype in laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optimum extraction conditions of polysaccharides from roxburgh rose (Rosa roxburghii Tratt.) leaves (RLP) were obtained by response surface methodology (RSM), which were a liquid to solid ratio of 21.16 mL/g, an extraction temperature of 81.32 °C, and an extraction time of 90.49 min. An RLP yield of 11.04% was obtained under these conditions. DEAE-52 cellulose and Sepharose CL-6B columns were used to purify the RLP, and the purified polysaccharide components RLP-1.2 and RLP-2.1 were obtained. Both RLP-1.2 and RLP-2.1 were composed of galacturonic acid (GalA), glucose (Glc), galactose (Gal), and arabinose (Ara). However, the molar ratios of GalA, Glc, Gal, and Ara in RLP-1.2 and RLP-2.1 were different. At a concentration of 10 mg/mL, the α-amylase inhibitory activities of RLP-1.2 and RLP-2.1 reached 80.74% and 89.85% that of acarbose, respectively, and the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of RLP-1.2 reached 87.91% that of acarbose. In addition, both RLP-1.2 and RLP-2.1 showed good antioxidant activity. These results suggested that RLP-1.2 and RLP-2.1 possess potential as natural hypoglycemic agents or natural antioxidants. • Two purified polysaccharide components including RLP-1.2 and RLP-2.1 were obtained from roxburgh rose leaves. • RLP-1.2 and RLP-2.1 possessed notable α- amylase inhibitory activity. • RLP-1.2 and RLP-2.1 showed good free radical scavenging activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hippo signaling pathway governs organ size via coordinating cell proliferation and apoptosis, and its dysregulation causes congenital diseases and cancers. The homeostasis of Hippo pathway is achieved through multiple post translational modifications. Through Drosophila genetic screening, we found that miRNAs were also involved in Hippo pathway regulation. Here, we showed that overexpression of miR-7 resulted in small wings, which were neutralized by miR-7-sponge (miR-7-sp) co-expression. Mechanistically, miR-7 inhibited the expression of Hippo pathway target genes. Epistatic analyses revealed that miR-7 modulated Hippo pathway through the transcriptional cofactor Yorkie (Yki). Consistently, overexpression of miR-7 decreased Yki protein. We further found a seed sequence of miR-7 in the yki 3′-UTR region. In addition, we discovered that miR-7 was a transcriptional target of Yki. Thus, a negative feedback loop existed for fine tuning Hippo pathway activity. Taken together, our findings uncovered a novel mechanism by which Yki was silenced by miR-7 for Hippo pathway regulation. • Overexpression of miR-7 robustly decreases wing sizes. • MiR-7 suppresses the expression of the Hippo pathway target genes. • Yki is a direct target of miR-7. • MiR-7 is a novel transcriptional target of Yki. • Yki and miR-7 form a negative feedback loop to maintaining the Hippo pathway homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yb3+/Er3+ doped high-fluoride glass-ceramics were prepared by the high-temperature melting method. The crystal morphology and structure of the rare-earth doped glass-ceramics were characterized by X-ray diffraction, infrared spectra, and high-resolution transmission electron microscope. The influence of crystal size and distribution on the transmittance of glass-ceramics was analyzed. The upconversion emission intensity of the rare earth doped glass-ceramics at different heat treatment temperatures was evaluated. It is shown that the precipitation of CaF 2 crystals greatly improves the upconversion emission efficiency of rare earth ions. By analyzing different high-power pump lasers and corresponding up-conversion luminous intensities, the mechanism of up-conversion luminescence of this material is further elaborated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]