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To reduce greenhouse emission and achieve sustainability in the electric power industry, improved efficiency and energy conservation are key to finding a sound solution. Energy conservation through voltage reduction (CVR) is one such program. To implement effective CVR programs, load models are of utmost importance in determining proper feeders and methods to implement the CVR programs. Exponential and polynomial load models stand out as the most widely adopted models. The polynomial load model, often referred to as the ZIP (constant impedance, current and power) model, is especially notable for its ability to represent the relationship between the applied voltage and power consumption. This paper sheds light on the limitations of commonly used ZIP load model estimation methods and highlights the significance of using ap-propriate measurement samples and understanding the true nature of the load. Two distinct ZIP load models, i.e., the regular ZIP (RegZIP) and the Non-traditional ZIP (NTZIP) models, have been used for ZIP parameter estimation. The RegZIP load model consumes equal or more power when voltage increases, while the NTZIP model consumes equal or less power when voltage increases. It is emphasized that the RegZIP is an existing load model and the NTZIP is an artificial load model this research created for comparison purposes. The intention of this paper is not to propose any new load model, but to investigate the implications of choosing the wrong model and the impacts of measurement errors of voltage and power data. The research has shown that the two different models can fit the same measurement data equally well for some measured data. The results have demonstrated that simply using certain methods such as the optimization method for estimating load model parameters using unfiltered real time measurements may yield misleading and unreliable results. Wrong load models will inevitably lead to wrong CVR assessment. Identifying the correct measurement samples, obtained during natural or staged events causing substantial voltage variations, is critically important in calculating load parameters and ensure the soundness of the obtained results. The accurate load parameters will be important in the assessment of CVR program effectiveness and will ensure that power system analysis applications that utilize the load models will provide reliable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin C (VC), also known as ascorbic acid, plays a crucial role as a water-soluble nutrient within the human body, contributing to a variety of metabolic processes. Research findings suggest that increased doses of VC demonstrate potential anti-tumor capabilities. This review delves into the mechanisms of VC absorption and its implications for cancer management. Building upon these foundational insights, we explore modern delivery systems for VC, evaluating its use in diverse cancer treatment methods. These include starvation therapy, chemodynamic therapy (CDT), photothermal/photodynamic therapy (PTT/PDT), electrothermal therapy, immunotherapy, cellular reprogramming, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and various combination therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Channel coding technology plays an important role in wireless communication systems, and it serves as a crucial mechanism to reduce interference during the transmission process. As the fifth-generation (5G) and sixth-generation (6G) wireless communication systems rapidly advance, requirements of the users on the quality and security of wireless service are increasing. To solve these problems, it calls for us to explore the new channel coding technologies. In this paper, a linear feedback coding scheme for fading multiple-access channels with degraded message sets (FMAC-DMS) is proposed. In this scheme, the transmitting beamforming and channel splitting are used to transform the channel with complex signals into scalar equivalent sub-channels. Then, the extended Schalkwijk-Kailath coding scheme (SK) is further applied to each sub-channel. The channel capacity, finite blocklength (FBL) sum-rate and FBL secrecy achievable sum-rate of the FMAC-DMS in single-input single-output (SISO) and multi-input single-output (MISO) cases are derived. Finally, we show that the proposed scheme not only provides a FBL coding solution but also guarantees physical layer security(PLS). The numerical and simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed scheme as a channel coding solution. The study of this paper provides a new method to construct a practical FBL scheme for the FMAC-DMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the ubiquity of chirality in nature, chiral self‐assembly involving self‐sorting behaviors has remained as one of the most important research topics of interests. Herein, starting from a racemic mixture of SEG‐based (SEG=SEGPHOS) chlorogold(I) precursors, a unique chiral butterfly‐shape hexadecanuclear gold(I) cluster (Au16) with different ratios of RSEG and SSEG ligands is obtained via homoleptic and heterochiral self‐sorting. More interestingly, by employing different chlorogold(I) precursors of opposite chirality (such as RSEG‐Au2 and SBIN‐Au2 (BIN=BINAP)), an unprecedented heteroleptic and heterochiral self‐sorting strategy has been developed to give a series of heteroleptic chiral decanuclear gold(I) clusters (Au10) with propellor‐shape structures. Heterochiral and heteroleptic self‐sorting have also been observed between enantiomers of homoleptic chiral Au10 clusters to result in the heteroleptic chiral Au10 clusters via cluster‐to‐cluster transformation. Incorporation of heteroleptic ligands is found to decrease the symmetry from S4 of homoleptic meso Au10 to C2 of heteroleptic chiral Au10 clusters. The chirality has been transferred from the axial chiral ligands and stored in the heteroleptic gold(I) clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the ubiquity of chirality in nature, chiral self‐assembly involving self‐sorting behaviors has remained as one of the most important research topics of interests. Herein, starting from a racemic mixture of SEG‐based (SEG=SEGPHOS) chlorogold(I) precursors, a unique chiral butterfly‐shape hexadecanuclear gold(I) cluster (Au16) with different ratios of RSEG and SSEG ligands is obtained via homoleptic and heterochiral self‐sorting. More interestingly, by employing different chlorogold(I) precursors of opposite chirality (such as RSEG‐Au2 and SBIN‐Au2 (BIN=BINAP)), an unprecedented heteroleptic and heterochiral self‐sorting strategy has been developed to give a series of heteroleptic chiral decanuclear gold(I) clusters (Au10) with propellor‐shape structures. Heterochiral and heteroleptic self‐sorting have also been observed between enantiomers of homoleptic chiral Au10 clusters to result in the heteroleptic chiral Au10 clusters via cluster‐to‐cluster transformation. Incorporation of heteroleptic ligands is found to decrease the symmetry from S4 of homoleptic meso Au10 to C2 of heteroleptic chiral Au10 clusters. The chirality has been transferred from the axial chiral ligands and stored in the heteroleptic gold(I) clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Exploration of the relationship between individual work immersion and perceived stress is critical for clinical nurses' effective psychological interventions and human resource management, as well as to alleviate nursing staff shortages. In order to further dissect the influencing factors of perceived stress among nursing staff, our study introduces the concepts of perfectionism and social connectedness to analyze the specific pathways that influence perceived stress in terms of an individual's intrinsic and external personality traits. This study provides relevant recommendations for the development of stress management measures for nursing staff. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey. 993 registered clinical nurses were included from four hospitals in Guangzhou through a convenience sampling method. Clinical nurses' work immersion, perceived stress, perfectionism, and social connectedness were investigated using questionnaires based on latent profile analysis. The relationships between variables were analyzed using t-tests, analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation analysis, latent profile analysis, and moderated mediation analysis. Results: The results showed that (1) general influences on nurses' perceived stress included only child, labor relationship, labor allowance, and family support; (2) nurses' work immersion contained four subgroups: lowest (12.6%), medium-low (39.8%), medium-high (39.9%), and highest (7.7%); (3) positive and negative perfectionism played a mediating role between the association of work immersion and perceived stress; (4) social connectedness played a moderating role in the mediation model of perceived stress. Conclusions: Work immersion, perfectionism, and social connectedness have an important impact on clinical nurses' perceived stress. Nursing managers or leaders should pay attention to the differences of individual work immersion status, adopt reasonable stress management strategies, accurately identify positive perfectionist groups and strengthen the relationship between groups, so as to ensure the quality of nursing care, and reduce nursing turnover and alleviate the problem of staff shortage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a rare malignant soft tissue sarcoma that originates from primitive mesenchymal cells with epithelial differentiation potential. It is most commonly found in the limbs and trunk. In the urinary system, it is mostly found in the kidneys. However, synovial sarcomas originating from the external urethra are extremely rare. Only one case of synovial sarcoma arising from the vulvar urethral orifice has been reported previously, and we report a second case of synovial sarcoma of the urethral orifice. In addition, a total of 16 vulvar synovial sarcomas were identified and the literature are analyzed in this report reviews from 1966 to the present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clinically, although chemotherapy is one of the most commonly used methods of treating tumors, chemotherapeutic drugs can induce autophagic flux and increase tumor cell resistance, leading to drug tolerance. Therefore, theoretically, inhibiting autophagy may improve the efficacy of chemotherapy. The discovery of autophagy regulators and their potential application as adjuvant anti-cancer drugs is of substantial importance. In this study, we clarified that Fangjihuangqi Decoction (FJHQ, traditional Chinese medicine) is an autophagy inhibitor, which can synergistically enhance the effect of cisplatin and paclitaxel on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Methods: We observed the changes of autophagy level in NSCLC cells under the effect of FJHQ, and verified the level of the autophagy marker protein and cathepsin. Apoptosis was detected after the combination of FJHQ with cisplatin or paclitaxel, and NAC (ROS scavenger) was further used to verify the activation of ROS-MAPK pathway by FJHQ. Results: We observed that FJHQ induced autophagosomes in NSCLC cells and increased the levels of P62 and LC3-II protein expression in a concentration- and time-gradient-dependent manner, indicating that autophagic flux was inhibited. Co-localization experiments further showed that while FJHQ did not inhibit autophagosome and lysosome fusion, it affected the maturation of cathepsin and thus inhibited the autophagic pathway. Finally, we found that the combination of FJHQ with cisplatin or paclitaxel increased the apoptosis rate of NSCLC cells, due to increased ROS accumulation and further activation of the ROS-MAPK pathway. This synergistic effect could be reversed by NAC. Conclusion: Collectively, these results demonstrate that FJHQ is a novel late-stage autophagy inhibitor that can amplify the anti-tumor effect of cisplatin and paclitaxel against NSCLC cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. This study aims to explore the mediation role of perceived stress between nonrestorative sleep (NRS) and emotional distress, as well as the moderation role of resilience among NRS, perceived stress, and emotional distress in university students. Method. We recruited 851 students from the Be Resilient to Nursing Career program (BRNC, registration number: NFYKDX002) in June 2022. Nonrestorative sleep scale (NRSS), 10-item perceived stress scale (PSS-10), 10-item Kessler psychological distress scale (K10), and 10-item Connor–Davidson resilience scale (CD-RISC-10) were administered through a paper questionnaire. Latent profile analysis and moderated mediation analysis were performed. Results. Three profiles of perceived stress were identified: high ability-low stress (24.5%), middle ability-high stress (65.0%), and low ability-middle stress (10.5%). The mediation role of perceived stress between NRS and emotional distress was significant (SE = 0.025; 95% confidence interval = −0.369, −0.269). The moderation role of resilience among NRS, perceived stress, and emotional distress was not significant. Conclusion. Heterogeneity exists in freshmen students' perceived stress. Perceived stress plays a significant mediating role between NRS and emotional distress, while resilience cannot significantly moderate the associations among NRS, perceived stress, and emotional distress. The trial is registered with ChiCTR2000038693. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing size and complexity of power systems, it is crucial to have an effective protection system in place to ensure its reliability. One of the important components of the protection system are relays. It is important for a relay to operate dependably and securely so that any fault can be cleared in time to minimize damages to the power network. However, it is important to test a relay in a realistic environment before commissioning it to the network. Testing a relay in the actual network can be expensive with limited fault scenarios. Hence, Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing is an efficient method to perform closed-loop testing of a relay since numerous fault cases can be simulated to provide a realistic operating environment for the relay under test. This paper sheds light on the HIL testing done for protective relays using a sample distribution system using RTDS. Two SEL-351 relays have been used in this experiment, and proper settings for the relays are calculated for coordination. The paper also describes the procedure of configuring the relay and other RTDS components crucial for interfacing of the relay with RTDS. After test setup, a pre-fault, fault, and post-fault analysis was done for the system. The results obtained from these analyses are cross-checked with the event history of the two SEL-351 relays, obtained with AcSELerator Quickset software. This paper provides thorough information for researchers to replicate the presented study or to develop new HIL experiments. It can also help in developing a fundamental understanding of the HIL testing setup that can be further applied to a more complex power system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stocking of silver carp [Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Val.)] is a common tool used in eutrophic aquatic systems to control phytoplankton. As the mesh size of gill rakers undergoes change as growth proceeds, the particle selectivity and dietary importance of phytoplankton in younger fish may be different than those in older individuals. We conducted an enclosure experiment to assess how a gradient of fish size affected grazing pressure. The presence of fish strongly reduced zooplankton biomass and phosphorus (P) excretion, and P sequestered by fish could largely account for the lower total phosphorus (TP) concentrations observed in the presence of fish than in their absence. Moreover, the nutritional importance of phytoplankton in fish decreased with increasing fish size. Both the overall P excretion and grazing pressure decreased, whereas phytoplankton biomass and the yield of chlorophyll a per TP increased with increasing fish size. This suggested that phytoplankton might become more limited by P availability but less controlled by grazing with increasing fish size. Stocking with large silver carp would strongly reduce grazing pressure and increase the yield of phytoplankton per TP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZIP load modeling has been used in various power system applications. The aggregate load modeling is common practice in utility companies. However, little research has been done on the theoretical formulation of the aggregate load and on various factors that affect accurate estimation of the parameters. This paper proposes new methods to systematically formulate the aggregate ZIP load model using the single ZIP load model and comprehensively examines the factors that may affect aggregate ZIP load estimation. Moreover, novel analysis of reactive power ZIP parameter calculation considering different compensating device modeling is presented. ZIP parameter estimation methods including least squares method, optimization method, and neural network method have been used in this paper to estimate ZIP parameters. The proposed new method was illustrated using the IEEE 13-bus and 34-bus systems built in OpenDSS. In addition, the ZIP parameter estimation is also performed using field data, and the conservation through voltage reduction (CVR) factor is further computed based on the estimated ZIP load model. The results provide guidance on calculation and interpretation of CVR estimates. Note that this paper was first presented at PAC world conference 2021 which provides no published conference proceedings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studiesan unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-assisted wireless network, where a UAV is dispatched to gather information from ground sensor nodes (SN) and transfer the collected data to a depot. The information freshness is captured by the age of information (AoI) metric, whilst the energy consumption of the UAV is seen as another performance criterion. Most importantly, the AoI and energy efficiency are inherently competing metrics, since decreasing the AoI requires the UAV returning to the depot more frequently, leading to a higher energy consumption. To this end, we design UAV paths that optimize these two competing metrics jointly and reveal the Pareto frontier. To formulate this problem, a multi-objective mixed integer linear programming (MILP) is proposed with a flow-based constraint set and we apply Bender’s decomposition on the proposed formulation. Numerical results show that the proposed method allows deriving non-dominated solutions among two competing metrics when designing the UAV path. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Novel multi-modal transport recommendation via graph neural networks. • Models travel behaviors with spatial and temporal data integration. • Introduces a contrastive learning framework to reduce bias. • CDHGNN: New de-biased recommendation framework tested in Beijing. • Demonstrates superiority over existing methods using 300,000 user records. Conventional uni-modal transportation recommendation systems focused on single modes of transportation are limited in providing satisfactory solutions since passengers often undertake journeys involving multiple modes. Multi-modal transportation recommendation systems are becoming increasingly popular within navigation applications. However, these systems face challenges from biased raw data, data sparsity and long-tail distribution, as well as complexities in representing large-scale graph structures, which collectively hinder their optimal performance. This study introduces a novel approach for enhancing multi-modal transportation recommendation systems: the C ontrastive D e-biased H eterogeneous G raph N eural N etwork (CDHGNN). By integrating contrastive learning, the model generates augmented samples to mitigate bias and overcome the data-skewing problem. The heterogeneous graph neural network adaptively captures temporal and spatial patterns among users and locations, as well as spatial adjacency and attribute relations, leading to enhanced representations of nodes, and consequently, improved model performance. The proposed method was evaluated using real-world data from over 300,000 users' records in Beijing over two months in 2018. The extensive experiments demonstrate that the approach outperforms four contemporary state-of-the-art methods. The results underscore the potential of the CDHGNN in large-scale city-level problems in practical applications, revealing a promising advancement for multi-modal transportation recommendation systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation through voltage reduction (CVR) aims to reduce the peak load and energy savings in electric power systems and is being deployed at various utilities. The effectiveness of the CVR program depends on the load characteristics, i.e., the sensitivity of the load to voltage variation, and voltage regulation device settings. In the current literature, there is a lack of discussion on the CVR factor calculation using different measurements, and there is a lack of method for active power loss estimation using substation measurements. This paper provides insights into CVR factor calculation based on the measurements captured at the substation and those at the load location. This paper also proposes a new method based on curve fitting and artificial neural network to estimate the active power loss using input active power, input reactive power and input voltage at the substation. The CVR comparison study conducted in this paper helps in understanding the factors affecting CVR factor and may provide guidance in CVR implementation and impact assessment. The proposed loss estimation method sheds light on the impacts of CVR in terms of load and loss reduction. The results based on simulation studies using the IEEE 13-bus and 34-bus systems are reported in this paper, noting that the proposed methods are applicable to larger systems, as long as the required measurements at the substation are available. Future research includes testing and refining the methods using large IEEE and utility distribution systems and considering the stochastic nature of the CVR factor with changing load and voltage regulator control schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimations and applications of factor models often rely on the crucial condition that the number of latent factors is consistently estimated, which in turn also requires that factors be relatively strong, data are stationary and weakly serially dependent, and the sample size be fairly large, although in practical applications, one or several of these conditions may fail. In these cases, it is difficult to analyze the eigenvectors of the data matrix. To address this issue, we propose simple estimators of the latent factors using cross-sectional projections of the panel data, by weighted averages with predetermined weights. These weights are chosen to diversify away the idiosyncratic components, resulting in "diversified factors." Because the projections are conducted cross-sectionally, they are robust to serial conditions, easy to analyze and work even for finite length of time series. We formally prove that this procedure is robust to over-estimating the number of factors, and illustrate it in several applications, including post-selection inference, big data forecasts, large covariance estimation, and factor specification tests. We also recommend several choices for the diversified weights. for this article are available online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UDP glucose dehydrogenase (UDP-GlcDH) can catalyze UDP glucose to UDP glucuronic acid, which is an essential precursor for the formation of polysaccharide. The UDP-GlcDH gene sequence of Aspergillus flavus was used as the template, and the cDNA sequence of UDP-GlcDH gene from Ganoderma lucidum was obtained by searching the EST library of Ganoderma lucidum through the electronic cloning method, and then verified by using the RT-PCR testing. The bioinformatics method was used to analyze the UDP-GlcDH gene, showing that the cDNA sequence was 1591 bp in length, which contained 471 amino acid sequences with the molecular weight of 51.8 kD and PI of 6.29. The UDP-GlcDH gene was found in the endoplasmic reticulum, which was highly homologous to the amino acid sequence encoded by UDP-GlcDH gene in the fungi such as Dichomitus squalens and Coriolus versicolor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Reverse IP strategy was proposed to fabricate TFC PA membranes. • Defect-free PA skin layer was constructed on hydrophobic PVDF/PTFE substrates. • The membranes exhibit excellent performance in aqueous and organic solutions. • Pure water permeances are over 11 LMH/bar with MgCl 2 rejections of over 95%. • Methanol permeances are over 3.3 LMH/bar with Congo red rejections of over 98.5%. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) porous membranes are ideal substrates for preparing thin-film composite (TFC) polyamide (PA) membranes with improved solvent resistance. However, it remains difficult to construct PA skin layers on PVDF and PTFE substrates via conventional interfacial polymerization (IP) due to the hydrophobic nature of these materials. To address this challenge, a reverse IP process was proposed to construct a defect-free PA skin layer on PVDF and PTFE substrates, in which the hydrophobic PVDF and PTFE substrates were soaked with the organic phase to ensure uniform coverage of reacted solution on the substrates. This novel strategy can effectively tackle the issue of uneven wetting of the aqueous phase on hydrophobic substrates in the conventional IP process. The resultant TFC membranes (i.e. M rev-PVDF and M rev-PTFE) exhibit excellent nanofiltration (NF) performance in both aqueous and organic solutions. M rev-PVDF and M rev-PTFE have MgCl 2 rejections of 96.12% and 95.17%, alongside the water permeances of 12.8 LMH/bar and 11.2 LMH/bar, respectively (M rev-PTFE was activated with DMF). It is further shown that M rev-PVDF and M rev-PTFE could also reject 99.4% and 98.5% of Congo red in methanol solution at solvent permeances of over 3.3 LMH/bar, while they also perform excellently in other polar protic solvents. Consequently, this work opens a new window for constructing high-performance TFC PA membranes on hydrophobic substrates and expands the application of the TFC PA NF membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article titled "Assembly of Luminescent Chiral Gold(I)-Sulfido Clusters via Chiral Self-Sorting" explores the concept of chiral self-sorting, which is the selective arrangement of molecules based on their handedness. The authors, Vivian Wing-Wah Yam et al., investigate different combinations of axial chiral ligands that result in the formation of distinct chiral gold(I) sulfido clusters through various types of self-assembly and self-sorting processes. This research contributes to a better understanding of chiral selectivity and has potential applications in fields such as protein production, enzyme catalysis, and the development of chiral drugs. [Extracted from the article]

[Display omitted] • The Ni 3 ZnC 0.7 /Ni nanocomposites are fabricated for investigation of electrochemical behavior for HQ and CC. • The electrochemical determination mechanisms of HQ and CC on Ni 3 ZnC 0.7 /Ni were studied. • Ni 3 ZnC 0.7 /Ni composites displayed excellent electrocatalytic performance to HQ and CC, owing to the synergic effect of Ni/Zn and MOF. • The prepared sensor has wide linear range and low detection limit for HQ and CC. • The sensor has been successfully used for simultaneous detection of HQ and CC in environmental sample and obtained good recovery rate. Rational constructing metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) based composite materials with outstanding catalytic capability is vital to accomplish high-performance electrochemical sensors. In this paper, the precursor Ni/Zn-MOF was fabricated by a simple one-step solvothermal method, and then the Ni nanoparticle-supported porous microsphere composites (Ni 3 ZnC 0.7 /Ni) were obtained by pyrolysis in N 2 atmosphere. The physicochemical characteristics of the as-prepared Ni 3 ZnC 0.7 /Ni were studied by XRD, SEM, EDS, TEM, FTIR and XPS, and their electrocatalytic activity were tested by Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). On this basis, an electrochemical sensor strategy for the simultaneous determination of hydroquinone (HQ) and catechol (CC) with Ni 3 ZnC 0.7 /Ni modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was proposed. In addition, they were applied to the electrochemical simultaneous detection of HQ and CC for the first time. Compared with NiC and ZnC modified electrode, the Ni 3 ZnC 0.7 /Ni composites modified electrode can significantly enhance electrocatalytic activity and improve the selectivity and sensitivity of the detection of HQ and CC. The performance was due to increasing the active surface area of the modified electrode and the Ni atom has excellent electrocatalytic capability to dihydroxybenzene. The experimental results exhibits that the composite was used to achieve simultaneous detection of HQ and CC in single-component or two-component solutions with satisfactory result. It has a low limit of detections (LOD = 3σ/k) (HQ: 0.14 μM, CC: 0.21 μM) and a wide detection range (HQ: 0.3–100.0 μM, CC: 0.5–100.0 μM). Meanwhile, the constructed sensor has been successfully employed for determination of HQ and CC in Yellow River water and tap water, and obtains good recovery rate. This work develops a new approach for design and engineering of MOF materials for electrochemical sensors and environmental monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel copper-nanoparticle-decorated sulfur-based polymer, Cu@S-co-BIM, was designed and constructed for the chronoamperometric analysis of glucose with high sensitivity and selectivity. S-co-BIM was synthesized via inverse vulcanization as a stable conductive substrate that displayed extraordinary electrical conductivity. Copper nanoparticles were electrodeposited as the catalyst. Combining abundant active sites and the high conductivity of S-co-BIM with the excellent electrocatalytic abilities of copper nanoparticles, the Cu@S-co-BIM sensor significantly increased the selectivity and sensitivity towards glucose determination. The amperometric current linearly increased with the glucose concentration in the range of 1 μM–3.3 mM, with a detection limit of 0.32 μM. The proposed sensor exhibited high selectivity to glucose oxidation in the presence of various interfering species, such as ascorbic acid (AA), uric acid (UA), sodium chloride, fructose, xylose, and maltose. The as-prepared sensor also exhibited excellent reproducibility and long-term stability. This new method was successfully applied for the detection of glucose in serum and in commercial gluconate oral liquid with satisfactory results. In addition, the proposed composite materials might provide a new strategy for expanding the applications of sulfur-rich polymers in the field of sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transmission lines are built to span over long distances, to which they are frequently exposed to many different situations that can cause abnormal conditions known as electrical faults. Electrical faults, when isolated, can cripple the transmission system as power flows are directed around these faults therefore leading to other numerous potential issues such as thermal and voltage violations, customer interruptions, or cascading events. Accurate fault classification and location is essential in reducing outage times and enhancing system reliability. Diverse methods exist and have different strengths and weaknesses. This paper aims to investigate the use of an intelligent technique based on artificial neural networks. The neural networks will attempt to determine the fault classification and precise fault location. Different fault cases are analyzed on multiple transmission line configurations using various phasor measurement arrangements from the two substations connecting the transmission line. The results can provide guidance on choosing the most efficient neural network structure and input measurements for transmission line fault classification and location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is a significant global public health issue with increasing morbidity and mortality rates. To address this challenge, novel drug carriers such as nano-materials, liposomes, hydrogels, fibers, and microspheres have been extensively researched and utilized in oncology. Among them, polymer microspheres are gaining popularity due to their ease of preparation, excellent performance, biocompatibility, and drug-release capabilities. This paper categorizes commonly used materials for polymer microsphere preparation, summarizes various preparation methods (emulsification, phase separation, spray drying, electrospray, microfluidics, and membrane emulsification), and reviews the applications of polymer microspheres in cancer diagnosis, therapy, and postoperative care. The current status and future development directions of polymer microspheres in cancer treatment are analyzed, highlighting their importance and potential for improving patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic saw a shift toward a more traditional division of labor–one where women took greater responsibility for household tasks and childcare than men. We tested whether this regressive shift was more acutely perceived and experienced by women in countries with greater gender equality. Cross-cultural longitudinal survey data for women and men (N = 10,238) was collected weekly during the first few months of the pandemic. Multilevel modelling analyses, based on seven waves of data collection, indicated that a regressive shift was broadly perceived but not uniformly felt. Women and men alike perceived a shift toward a more traditional division of household labor during the first few weeks of the pandemic. However, this perception only undermined women's satisfaction with their personal relationships and subjective mental health if they lived in countries with higher levels of economic gender equality. Among women in countries with lower levels of economic gender equality, the perceived shift predicted higher relationship satisfaction and mental health. There were no such effects among men. Taken together, our results suggest that subjective perceptions of disempowerment, and the gender role norms that underpin them, should be considered when examining the gendered impact of global crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aphids are important vectors of numerous plant viruses. Besides plant viruses, a number of insect specific viruses (ISVs), such as nege/nege-like viruses, have been recently discovered in aphids of the genera Aphis, Rhopalosiphum, and Sitobion. Findings: In this study, the complete genome sequence of a novel nege-like virus, tentatively named "Indomegoura nege-like virus 1" (INLV1), was identified in aphids of the genus Indomegoura. INLV1 possessed a single positive-stranded RNA genome with 8945 nucleotides, which was predicted to contain three typical open reading frames (ORFs) of negeviruses (including ORF1, ORF2, and ORF3), a 44-nt 5′ untranslated region (UTR) and a 98-nt 3′ UTR. Five conserved domains were predicted for INLV1, including an Alphavirus-like methyltransferase domain, a RNA virus helicase core domain, and a RNA-dependent RNA polymerase domain (RdRP) in ORF1, a DISB-ORF2_chro domain in ORF2, and a SP24 domain in ORF3. According to the maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree based on RdRP, INLV1 was grouped with barley aphid RNA virus 1 and Hubei virga-like virus 4, together with another two invertebrate viruses, which formed a distinct clade in the proposed group Centivirus. The alignment of RdRP domains for INLV1 and other nege/kita-like viruses suggested that RdRP of INLV1 contained the permuted C (GDD)- A [DX(4–5)D] –B [GX(2–3)TX(3)N] motifs, which were conserved in the Centivirus and Sandewavirus groups. Furthermore, the high abundance and typical characteristics of INLV1 derived small interfering RNAs clearly showed the active replication of INLV1 in the aphid Indomegoura. Conclusion: INLV1 is the first nege-like virus infecting aphids of the genus Indomegoura. As far as we know, it is also the first ISV revealed in this aphid genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neural stem/progenitor cells (NSCs) maintain the ability of self-renewal and differentiation and compose the complex nervous system. Wnt signaling is thought to control the balance of NSC proliferation and differentiation via the transcriptional coactivator β-catenin during brain development and adult tissue homeostasis. Disruption of Wnt signaling may result in developmental defects and neurological diseases. Here, we summarize recent findings of the roles of Wnt/β-catenin signaling components in NSC homeostasis for the regulation of functional brain circuits. We also suggest that the potential role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling might lead to new therapeutic strategies for neurological diseases, including, but not limited to, spinal cord injury, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 5-Methyl-2-phenyl-1,2,3-triazole-5-hydrazid (PT) was synthesized by "click chemistry". • A new Schiff base of 1,2,3-triazole (PTSB) was satisfactory for detecting Al3+. • PTSB was applied to image Al3+ in HeLa cells with a lower cytotoxicity. A new compound, 5-methyl-2-phenyl-1,2,3-triazole-5-hydrazid (PT) was designed and synthesized based on "click chemistry". The fluorescence probe 5-methyl-2-phenyl-1,2,3-triazole-5-hydrazid Schiff base (PTSB) was further constructed by a chemical reaction between PT and 4-(diethylamino) salicylaldehyde. PTSB could be used to determine Al3+ in EtOH with high sensitivity and strong anti-interference performance by fluorescence and UV–vis spectroscopic methods. The limit of detection to Al3+ is 5.84 nM and it showed an obvious solvatochromic effect under ultraviolet light. Furthermore, the sensing mechanism of PTSB detecting Al3+ was confirmed in the form of planar structure and 1:1 complexation ratio based on MS, Job's plot, 1H NMR titration, DFT calculation, and the single-crystal structure of PTSB, respectively. PTSB showed less low cytotoxicity to HeLa cells and was successfully used for chromatic bioimaging Al3+ in HeLa cells. It is expected to be developed and utilized as a fluorescence probe for detecting Al3+ in vivo. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The mobility of mechanisms comprising spatial scissor units are analyzed. • The translational assembly has 4 DOFs, while the 4th DOF is infinitesimal. • The mirrored assembly has a single DOF and thus can be deployed in one mode. Mechanisms consisting of spatial scissor units have different kinematic behaviors than those of planar scissors. However, their kinematics, especially the mobility analysis, has not received enough attention. Two types of deployable assemblies are analyzed in this paper, namely the translational and mirrored assemblies. Both the assemblies are made of tripod scissor units, and their instantaneous mobility are examined using screw theory. The study starts on the configuration where all the members have the identical deployment angle. Firstly, the geometric property of each assembly was studied. Then, screw-loop equations were developed based on graph theory and closure equations. Finally, the mobility of each assembly was computed using linear algebra. Following the analysis, physical prototypes were constructed to validate the results, and several different motion modes were obtained for the translational assembly. The analysis reveals different kinematic behaviors of the two assemblies. In the given configuration, the translational assemblies have four instantaneous degrees of freedom, while the mirrored assemblies have only a single instantaneous degree of freedom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A transport model for 131I in MSRE was developed by combining the noble metal migration mechanism with a helium bubble distribution model. • Yield evaluation of a production method based on 131I extraction from a molten salt reactor. • Stability and economics of the 131I production method based on molten salt reactor off-gas extraction were evaluated. Isotope extraction methods based on molten salt reactor off-gas treatments can provide a new solution for the shortage of medical isotopes. Current research work involves only static estimation, which does not consider the influence of the variation of parameters brought about by the actual reactor operation and may lead to inaccurate estimation of the yield and cooling time. In this work, a model of species migration is developed, and a corresponding program based on Mathematica is constructed to estimate the above problem. Results reveal 2.50 TBq of 131I was delivered to the off-gas system after 50 days of routine operation. This accounts for only 0.041 % of the total 131I in the reactor, which is sufficient to support 4,000 doses of hyperthyroidism treatment. Compared to the extraction based on the main loop salt, 133I remains the main radioactive impurity and product would meet the medical limit for radioactivity impurity after 8 days of cooling. Changes in fuel composition due to normal reactor operation have a small impact on isotope production. The power and flow rate variations due to peak load operation and the corresponding changes in helium bubble surface area due to temperature–pressure fluctuations have essentially no effect on the cooling time of the product but partially affect the production in the off-gas system. Bubble removal efficiency has a large perturbation on the results, but this needs to be investigated in the future. The stability of the cooling time indicates that nuclide production can follow an established scheme, suggesting that a molten salt reactor tail gas-based production scheme is stable and a promising production method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a prefabricated concrete frame-eccentrically steel brace structure, a solid connection is needed between the shear link damper and the concrete member to ensure successful plasticity developments in the damper. A new cross-section-type (CST) shear connector connection has been proposed as the critical component of the assembly connection to improve shear resistance. Four cyclic shear tests were performed to investigate cyclic shearing performance and failure modes with different connector configurations. Failure modes, hysteretic shear strength developments, skeleton curves, and strain distributions at the CST shear connectors were analyzed. Parametric numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the extended influences of various design parameters on shear bearing performance. Nonlinear behaviors primarily begin with concrete cracking, and the failure of CST shear connectors mainly occurs due to concrete damage around CST shear connectors. Increasing concrete strength, connector number, and connector section dimensions can enhance shear stiffness and strength. However, the thickness of the connector endplate and the length of the connector have limited influence. A theoretical calculation method with clear physical meanings and comprehensive considerations for influencing factors was proposed for calculating the initial shear stiffness. The theoretical equation demonstrates high efficiency, with a maximum error of 7.69%. Finally, the design method of the proposed CST shear connector connection was proposed. • A new cross-section-type (CST) shear connector connection has been proposed as the critical component of the assembly connection to improve shear resistance. • Four cyclic shear tests and parametric numerical simulations were performed to investigate cyclic shearing performance and failure modes with different influences of various design parameters. • The increase of concrete strength connector numbers can effectively increase the initial shear stiffness and reduce the plastic displacement. The shear stiffness had slight increase as the increase of side plate height and middle plate height. • A theoretical calculation method with clear physical meanings and comprehensive considerations for influencing factors was proposed for calculating the initial shear stiffness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a tight polyethersulfone (PES) -based ultrafiltration (UF) membrane was fabricated to separate dye and salt of textile wastewater via a novel polyion complex assisted phase inversion method in one step. Thereinto, sulfonated polysulfone (SPSF) and poly-(diallyl dimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) were added into the PES dope and coagulation bath, respectively. During the phase inversion process of the precast PES/SPSF film, polycation PDADMAC could assemble with anionic SPSF and facilitate SPSF enrichment on membrane surface, forming a dense barrier layer via the electrostatic interaction between quaternary ammonium and sulfonate groups. Morphology, chemical composition, surface charges and pore size analysis characterized via SEM, FTIR, XPS, Zeta potential and Dextran filtration experiment, respectively, testified that a nonporous skin layer comprising of polyion complex and enriched SPSF was successfully constructed on the top of the PES matrix with an effective pore radius of 1.44 nm, which is smaller than that of the reference membrane prepared without using polyion complex assisted phase inversion (2.74 nm). This resultant membrane exhibited a high pure water permeance of 94 LMH/bar. When it was utilized to separate a dye/salt mixture of 100 ppm Congo red (CR) and 2 g/L Na 2 SO 4 at 1 bar, the rejection of CR could reach 99.7%, alongside a very low Na 2 SO 4 rejection of 8.4%, while the water permeance of dye solution maintained 61 LMH/bar. In addition, the membrane also possessed excellent stability in the pH range of 1–13 due to the strong electrostatic interaction between SPSF and PDADMAC and long-term operation stability, demonstrating its application potential in textile wastewater treatment. [Display omitted] • Tight UF membranes were prepared via polyion complex assisted phase inversion. • The assembly between SPSF and PDADMAC made a thin and nonporous skin layer. • The membrane exhibited 99.7% and 8.4% of Congo red and Na 2 SO 4 rejections, respectively, alongside 61 LMH/bar water permeance. • The separation performance can maintain in the pH range of 1–13 and 12-h stability testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS) is caused by a reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection, and it is characterized by the symptoms of facial paralysis, otalgia, auricular rash, and/or an oral lesion. Elderly patients or immunocompromised patients, deep pain at the initial visit and no prompt treatment are significant predictors of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). When PHN occurs, especially involved cranial polyneuropathy, multiple modalities should be administered for patients with the intractable PHN. The use of thermography in the follow-up of PHN secondary to RHS with multicranial nerve involvement has not yet been described yet in the literature.Case Presentation: The patient was a 78-year-old man with the chief complaint of a 3-month history of PHN secondary to RHS with polycranial nerve (V, VII, VIII, and IX) involvement. Multimodality therapy with oral gabapentin, pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) application to the Gasserian ganglion for pain in the trigeminal nerve region, linear-polarized near-infrared light irradiation for pain in the facial nerve region, and 2% lidocaine spray for pain in the glossopharyngeal nerve region was used to the treat patient, and follow-up evaluations included thermography. This comprehensive treatment obviously improved the quality of life, resulting in considerable pain relief, as indicated by a decrease in the numerical rating scale (NRS) score from 9 to 3 and a decrease in thermal imaging temperature from higher to average temperature on the ipsilateral side compared with the contralateral side. Lidocaine spray on the tonsillar branches of the glossopharyngeal nerve resulted in an improvement in odynophagia, and the NRS score decreased from 9 to 0 for glossopharyngeal neuralgia after three applications.Conclusion: Although the use of thermography in the follow-up of RHS with multiple cranial nerve (V, VII, VIII, and IX) involvement is very rare, in this patient, thermal imaging showed the efficacy of combination therapy (oral gabapentin, 2% lidocaine sprayed, PRF application and linear-polarized near-infrared light irradiation) and that is a good option for treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We review analytical and numerical studies of correlated insulating states in twisted bilayer graphene, focusing on real-space lattice models constructions and their unbiased quantum many-body solutions. We show that by constructing localized Wannier states for the narrow bands, the projected Coulomb interactions can be approximated by interactions of cluster charges with assisted nearest neighbor hopping terms. With the interaction part only, the Hamiltonian is SU(4) symmetric considering both spin and valley degrees of freedom. In the strong coupling limit where the kinetic terms are neglected, the ground states are found to be in the SU(4) manifold with degeneracy. The kinetic terms, treated as perturbation, break this large SU(4) symmetry and propel the appearance of intervalley coherent state, quantum topological insulators, and other symmetry-breaking insulating states. We first present the theoretical analysis of moiré lattice model construction and then show how to solve the model with large-scale quantum Monte Carlo simulations in an unbiased manner. We further provide potential directions such that from the real-space model construction and its quantum many-body solutions how the perplexing yet exciting experimental discoveries in the correlation physics of twisted bilayer graphene can be gradually understood. This review will be helpful for the readers to grasp the fast growing field of the model study of twisted bilayer graphene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a vital contributor to chronic kidney disease and limited therapeutic options are existed to preserve the renal injury. The research presented here investigated the protective effect of nodakenin against AKI and the underlying mechanism. Methods: The effect of nodakenin was investigated in ischaemia reperfusion‐induced renal injury (IRI) of AKI mice and hypoxia‐treated primary renal tubular cells. Briefly, renal functions including creatinine and urea nitrogen were determined and mechanisms associated inflammation were investigated by the advantage of immunohistochemistry, western blot, RT‐PCR and flow cytometry. Results: Deterioration of renal functions including and creatinine, urea nitrogen and tubular necrosis were observed in IRI‐AKI model. In contrast, nodakenin strikingly alleviated the deterioration of creatinine, urea nitrogen and tubular necrosis when compared with IRI model. Moreover, nodakenin could significantly inhibit the expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6 and tumour necrosis factor‐α both in hypoxia‐treated primary renal tubular cells and in AKI model. Mechanistic studies revealed that nodakenin dramatically suppressed the production of reactive oxygen species and subsequent NLPR3 inflammasome activation. Conclusion: In summary, these findings provided a solid evidence base and a new drug option for the treatment of AKI. SUMMARY AT A GLANCE: This study describes the use of a novel inhibitor, nodakenin to treat acute kidney injury from ischaemia‐reperfusion injury in a preclinical mouse model. Nodakenin targets reactive oxygen species and the NLPR3 inflammasome and significantly improved both renal functional and structural parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemokine CC motif ligand 2 (CCL2) is one of the most recognized proinflammatory chemokines, and the expression of CCL2 in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients infected with HIV-1 is significantly higher than that of healthy people. As such, it is seen as an important cause of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). Our previous investigation has confirmed the pathological role of CCL2 in mediating brain damage leading to cognitive dysfunction. Currently, however, research on therapeutic drugs for the central nervous system targeting CCL2 is very limited. Our present study used brain stereotactic technology to induce cognitive impairment in rats by injecting CCL2 (5 ng) into the bilateral hippocampus. To investigate the protective effect and mechanism of Tanshinone IIA (25, 50, 75 mg/kg/d) on CCL2-induced learning memory and cognitive impairment in rats, we performed the Morris water maze (MWM) and novel object recognition tests (NORT) on the rats. The results showed that Tanshinone IIA significantly alleviated CCL2-induced learning memory and cognitive dysfunction. Further studies on the hippocampal tissue of the rats revealed that Tanshinone IIA treatment significantly increased the activity of SOD and GSH-Px while the level of MDA decreased compared to the model group. Additionally, the relative expression of apoptosis-associated genes caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 and inflammation-associated genes IL-1β and IL-6 in Tanshinone IIA-treated rats was lower than that in model rats. Finally, we confirmed hippocampal neuron loss and apoptosis by Nissl staining and TdT-mediated dUTP Nick end labeling (TUNEL). Taken together, these data imply that Tanshinone IIA can ameliorate CCL2-induced learning memory and cognitive impairment by impacting oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Tanshinone IIA may be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of HAND. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, many efforts have been made to explore how to support driver's decision-making process with advisory information. Previous studies mainly focus on a single modality, e.g. the visual, auditory or haptic modality. In contrast, this study compares data from two simulator studies with 50 participants in total, where the visual vs. the auditory modality was used to present the same type of advisory traffic information under the same driving scenarios. Hereby we compare the effect of these two modalities on drivers' responses and driving performance. Our findings indicate that modality influences the drivers' behaviour patterns significantly. Visual information helps drivers to drive more accurately and efficiently, whereas auditory information supports quicker responses. This suggests that there are potential benefits in applying both modalities in tandem, as they complement each other. Correspondingly, we present several design recommendations on Advisory Traffic Information Systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of the semi-quantum concept makes it possible for people without quantum capabilities to communicate securely. An offline arbitrated semi-quantum signature scheme based on four-particle cluster states is put forward, in which two classical parties could complete the signature with the assistance of the quantum arbitrator. Different from the typical arbitrated quantum signature schemes, the arbitrator in our protocol acts as a relay station for delivering signature and no longer intervenes in the direct authentication of signature, leaving the signature receiver with full authentication rights. There is no additional direct communication between the signer and the receiver, which reduces the complexity of transmission. Besides, security analysis manifests that the proposed semi-quantum signature scheme is secure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiral self‐recognition and self‐discrimination are of vital importance to biological processes. In this work, 2D regular rhombic nanocrystals (RS‐NC) were fabricated through heterochiral self‐discrimination between chiral polynuclear gold(I)‐sulfido complex enantiomers, [(R‐BINAP)4Au10S4]Cl2 (R‐Au10) and [(S‐BINAP)4Au10S4]Cl2 (S‐Au10), in MeOH without the need for any surfactants or templates. The monitoring of nanocrystals (NCs) formation by TEM and DLS has uncovered the self‐assembly process and shape evolution of the NCs and revealed a screw‐dislocation dictated spiral growth of the rhombic NCs. Upon addition of chiral anions, the morphology of the gold NCs was found to change from rhombic to strip and quasi‐hexagonal nanosheets, arising from reverse and rotational layer‐by‐layer stacking to give the bilayer NCs. By applying a high temperature, rhombic gold nanoisland films were obtained from the rhombic NCs. The current study has provided a simple strategy towards the construction of regular geometric 2D NCs as well as their chiral anion‐tuned and reverse and rotational stacking‐determined morphology change by heterochiral self‐discrimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiral self‐recognition and self‐discrimination are of vital importance to biological processes. In this work, 2D regular rhombic nanocrystals (RS‐NC) were fabricated through heterochiral self‐discrimination between chiral polynuclear gold(I)‐sulfido complex enantiomers, [(R‐BINAP)4Au10S4]Cl2 (R‐Au10) and [(S‐BINAP)4Au10S4]Cl2 (S‐Au10), in MeOH without the need for any surfactants or templates. The monitoring of nanocrystals (NCs) formation by TEM and DLS has uncovered the self‐assembly process and shape evolution of the NCs and revealed a screw‐dislocation dictated spiral growth of the rhombic NCs. Upon addition of chiral anions, the morphology of the gold NCs was found to change from rhombic to strip and quasi‐hexagonal nanosheets, arising from reverse and rotational layer‐by‐layer stacking to give the bilayer NCs. By applying a high temperature, rhombic gold nanoisland films were obtained from the rhombic NCs. The current study has provided a simple strategy towards the construction of regular geometric 2D NCs as well as their chiral anion‐tuned and reverse and rotational stacking‐determined morphology change by heterochiral self‐discrimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halide perovskites are rising as promising luminescent materials for display applications for their sharp emission peaks and high luminescence quantum yield. However, the heavy metal character of lead is one concern that shadows its application. In this work, monolayer Ruddlesden–Popper 2D structural tin perovskite (PEA)2SnI4 (PEA = C8H9NH3+) is explored for a pure red color light emitting diode (LED). The manipulation of crystal growth kinetics enables the formation of highly ordered nanoplates, bringing high luminescence yield approaching 10% with an emission peak at 630 nm. Meanwhile, the highly oriented and ordered nanoplates structure allows effective carrier injection. The LED shows a low turn on voltage of 2.2 V, an external quantum efficiency of 0.52% and a max luminance of 355 cd m−2. The luminescence quantum yield is comparable to the best performing device based on lead perovskites in the pure red emission region. This work provides a strategy to explore 2D structures for efficient macroscale LEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate fault location in distribution systems greatly shortens maintenance time and improves reliability. This paper presents novel methods to pinpoint fault location and identify possible bad measurements for enhanced accuracy. It is assumed that network parameters and topology of the distribution network are available. The methods are applicable to a single fault as well as simultaneous faults and are applicable to both balanced and unbalanced networks. The methods utilize synchronized voltage and current phasor measurements to locate the fault. The methods are validated by simulation studies using the modified IEEE 34-Node Test System. Case studies have demonstrated that the methods are suitable for distribution systems with high penetration of distributed generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate state‐dependent effects of fiscal multipliers and allow for endogenous sample splitting to determine whether the U.S. economy is in a slack state. When the endogenized slack state is estimated as the period of the unemployment rate higher than about 12%, the estimated cumulative multipliers are significantly larger during slack periods than nonslack periods and are above unity. We also examine the possibility of time‐varying regimes of slackness and find that our empirical results are robust under a more flexible framework. Our estimation results point out the importance of the heterogenous effects of fiscal policy and shed light on the prospect of fiscal policy in response to economic shocks from the current COVID‐19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiral self‐recognition and self‐discrimination are of vital importance to biological processes. In this work, 2D regular rhombic nanocrystals (RS‐NC) were fabricated through heterochiral self‐discrimination between chiral polynuclear gold(I)‐sulfido complex enantiomers, [(R‐BINAP)4Au10S4]Cl2 (R‐Au10) and [(S‐BINAP)4Au10S4]Cl2 (S‐Au10), in MeOH without the need for any surfactants or templates. The monitoring of nanocrystals (NCs) formation by TEM and DLS has uncovered the self‐assembly process and shape evolution of the NCs and revealed a screw‐dislocation dictated spiral growth of the rhombic NCs. Upon addition of chiral anions, the morphology of the gold NCs was found to change from rhombic to strip and quasi‐hexagonal nanosheets, arising from reverse and rotational layer‐by‐layer stacking to give the bilayer NCs. By applying a high temperature, rhombic gold nanoisland films were obtained from the rhombic NCs. The current study has provided a simple strategy towards the construction of regular geometric 2D NCs as well as their chiral anion‐tuned and reverse and rotational stacking‐determined morphology change by heterochiral self‐discrimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the problem of key distribution between/among quantum parties and classical parties, two semi-quantum key distribution (SQKD) protocols are proposed based on G-like states. The participants could infer their counterparts' measurement results from their initial quantum states with the correlation properties of G-like states. With the assistance of a third-party service, the three-party SQKD protocol could be implemented in the absence of a quantum channel between two classical users. The measure-resend operation is performed twice so that the CTRL particles generally discarded in previous protocols could be reused. The two semi-quantum key distribution protocols are more efficient than some typical SQKD protocols. Besides, security analysis manifests that the proposed protocols with semi-quantum conception are secure against some general attacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemokine CC motif ligand 2 (CCL2) is one of the most recognized proinflammatory chemokines, and the expression of CCL2 in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients infected with HIV-1 is significantly higher than that of healthy people. As such, it is seen as an important cause of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). Our previous investigation has confirmed the pathological role of CCL2 in mediating brain damage leading to cognitive dysfunction. Currently, however, research on therapeutic drugs for the central nervous system targeting CCL2 is very limited. Our present study used brain stereotactic technology to induce cognitive impairment in rats by injecting CCL2 (5 ng) into the bilateral hippocampus. To investigate the protective effect and mechanism of Tanshinone IIA (25, 50, 75 mg/kg/d) on CCL2-induced learning memory and cognitive impairment in rats, we performed the Morris water maze (MWM) and novel object recognition tests (NORT) on the rats. The results showed that Tanshinone IIA significantly alleviated CCL2-induced learning memory and cognitive dysfunction. Further studies on the hippocampal tissue of the rats revealed that Tanshinone IIA treatment significantly increased the activity of SOD and GSH-Px while the level of MDA decreased compared to the model group. Additionally, the relative expression of apoptosis-associated genes caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 and inflammation-associated genes IL-1β and IL-6 in Tanshinone IIA-treated rats was lower than that in model rats. Finally, we confirmed hippocampal neuron loss and apoptosis by Nissl staining and TdT-mediated dUTP Nick end labeling (TUNEL). Taken together, these data imply that Tanshinone IIA can ameliorate CCL2-induced learning memory and cognitive impairment by impacting oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Tanshinone IIA may be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of HAND. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new composite approach based on wavelet-transform and ANN for islanding detection of distributed generation (DG). The proposed method first uses wavelet-transform to detect the occurrence of events, and then uses artificial neural network (ANN) to classify islanding and non-islanding events. Total harmonic distortion and voltage unbalance are extracted as feature inputs for ANN classifier. The performance of the proposed method is tested by simulations for two typical distribution networks based on MATLAB/Simulink. The results show that the developed method can effectively detect islanding with low misclassification. The method has the advantages of small non-detection zone and robustness against noises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new method for optimizing the operation of a microgrid, which minimizes the operating cost or maximizes solar generation of the microgrid. The microgrid consists of loads, storage devices, and distributed generations. The generation cost, capacity, ramp up and down rate, and minimum up and down time for each generator are considered. Characteristics of storage devices including charging and discharging rate, capacity, and charging and discharging efficiency are modelled. The microgrid can sell or buy electricity from the area electrical power system. A novel method for modeling system reserve requirement with storage devices is presented. The optimal schedule of generation and storage resources in the microgrid including on or off status of generators and optimal dispatch, and charging and discharging status and rate of storage devices is determined. The paper provides versatile strategies through different optimization formulations such as optimal storage sizing for operators to reduce solar generation curtailment due to duck curve phenomena. In this research, without losing generality, the simulation horizon is 24 hours day ahead, and simulation resolution is one hour. The optimization problem is formulated as a mixed integer linear programming problem. Case study results are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Enriched decoding of spontaneous speech achieves better recognition performance. • Part-of-speech features help to reduce the perplexity of language model. • Hierarchical prosodic model enriches the recognition output with break type and prosodic state information. • Reduplication-word language model help to suppress outputting redundant words. A deep neural network (DNN)-based automatic speech recognition (ASR) method for enriched decoding of Mandarin spontaneous speech is proposed. It adopts an enhanced approach over the baseline model built with factored time delay neural networks (TDNN-f) and rescored with RNNLM to first building a baseline system composed of a TDNN-f acoustic model (AM), a trigram language model (LM), and a recurrent neural network language model (RNNLM) to generate a word lattice. It then sequentially incorporates a multi-task Part-of-Speech-RNNLM (POS-RNNLM), a hierarchical prosodic model (HPM), and a reduplication-word LM (RLM) into the decoding process by expanding the word lattice and performing rescoring to improve recognition performance and enrich the decoding output with syntactic parameters of POS and punctuation (PM), prosodic tags of word-juncture break types and syllable prosodic states, and an edited recognition text with reduplication words being eliminated. Experimental results on the Mandarin conversational dialogue corpus (MCDC) showed that SER, CER, and WER of 13.2 %, 13.9 %, and 19.1 % were achieved when incorporating the POS-RNNLM and HPM into the baseline system. They represented relative SER, CER, and WER reductions of 7.7 %, 7.9 % and 5.0 % as comparing with those of the baseline system. Futhermore, the use of the RLM resulted in additional 3 %, 4.6 %, and 4.5 % relative SER, CER, and WER reductions through eliminating reduplication words. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]