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Renewable energy, such as wind power and photovoltaic power, has uncertain and intermittent characteristics and zero marginal cost characteristics. The traditional power market mechanism is difficult to adapt to the new power system with a high proportion of renewable energy, and the original market system needs to be reformed. This paper discusses the application of a VCG auction mechanism in the electricity market, proposes a two-stage VCG market-clearing model based on the VCG mechanism, including the day-ahead market and the real-time market, and discusses the nature of the VCG mechanism. In order to address the discrepancy between the actual output of stochastic generator sets in the real-time market and their pre-scheduled output in the day-ahead market due to prediction deviations, a method for calculating punitive costs is proposed. A reallocation method based on market entities' contributing factors to budget imbalance is proposed to address the issue of budget imbalance under the VCG mechanism, in order to achieve revenue and expenditure balance. Through an example, the incentive compatibility characteristics of the VCG mechanism are verified, the problems of the locational marginal pricing (LMP) mechanism in the stochastic electricity market with a high proportion of renewable energy are analyzed, the electricity prices of the LMP mechanism and the VCG mechanism under different renewable energy proportions are compared, and the redistribution of the budget imbalance of the VCG mechanism is analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the construction and maintenance of Chinese Han Buddhist temples in modern China against the backdrop of societal transformation. Initially, it analyzes the profound impact of social changes since the mid-19th century on Buddhist monasteries, including political turmoil, economic development, and urbanization. Furthermore, the paper explores how temples were reconstructed and revitalized within this historical context, highlighting the monastic community's unwavering commitment to protecting the Dharma and ensuring its enduring presence. Additionally, this paper also explores the role of charismatic monks in enhancing the sanctity of temples and the influence of Buddhist institutional frameworks on the dynamics of state and society. The study employs a multifaceted analysis to understand the complex interplay between temple construction, economic development, and the cultural heritage of Buddhism in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report an innovative synthetic strategy for the generation of polysubstituted indoles from indolines, aryldiazonium salts, and azoles. The methodology encompasses an electrophilic substitution reaction affording C5-indoline intermediates which undergo an iodine-mediated oxidative transformation coupled with C–H functionalization to yield the indole derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hierarchical porous carbon exhibits enormous application potential in the field of energy storage. In this paper, we develop a facile method to prepare hierarchical porous carbon (HPC) derived from wood powder and using KMnO4 as the activator. The optimized HPC‐600 samples possess the large specific surface area with hierarchical porous structure and massive oxygen–containing functional groups. The HPC‐600 electrode shows a specific capacitance of 362.7 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 and a capacitance retention of 101.5 % after 10, 000 cycles. In addition, the assembled HPC‐600//HPC‐600 symmetric supercapacitor delivers an energy density of 18.4 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 600 W kg−1. This paper provides a new and convenient method for the preparation of hierarchical porous carbon for high performance supercapacitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fix a prime number p and let E / F be a CM extension of number fields in which p splits relatively. Let π be an automorphic representation of a quasi-split unitary group of even rank with respect to E / F such that π is ordinary above p with respect to the Siegel parabolic subgroup. We construct the cyclotomic p -adic L -function of π , and a certain generating series of Selmer classes of special cycles on Shimura varieties. We show, under some conditions, that if the vanishing order of the p -adic L -function is 1, then our generating series is modular and yields explicit nonzero classes (called Selmer theta lifts) in the Selmer group of the Galois representation of E associated with π ; in particular, the rank of this Selmer group is at least 1. In fact, we prove a precise formula relating the p -adic heights of Selmer theta lifts to the derivative of the p -adic L -function. In parallel to Perrin-Riou's p -adic analogue of the Gross–Zagier formula, our formula is the p -adic analogue of the arithmetic inner product formula recently established by Chao Li and the second author. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MQTT, a popular IoT messaging protocol, is frequently associated with numerous vulnerabilities, the majority of which are critical. Many IoT devices that utilize MQTT are susceptible to cyberattacks such as denial-of-service and buffer overflow. In this paper, we unveil a novel Denial of Service (DoS) attack in the MQTT protocol, referred to as Slow Subscribers, which has the potential to cause MQTT brokers to become single points of failure. Unlike existing MQTT DoS attacks, Slow Subscribers can occur on a single compromised node and could potentially disrupt a MQTT broker with minimal subscription permissions. We evaluated the reliability of Mosquitto and NanoMQ, two popular MQTT messaging brokers, to determine the effect of Slow Subscribers. According to the findings of our investigation, NanoMQ outperforms Mosquitto in response to the Slow Subscribers attack at QoS level 0. We also determine that the response to Slow Subscribers at QoS 2 is the worst for both broker implementations. In addition, the results of our experiments indicate that Eclipse Mosquitto achieves a higher rate of reliability than NanoMQ on cloud deployments whereas NanoMQ has proven to be well-suited for edge environments, especially edge IoT devices that require the use of QoS levels 0 and 1. Finally, we propose a Resilient Middleware for Message Queue Telemetry Transport (Remistry) framework that is capable of detecting misconfigurations while providing granular support of resource commitment errors, in particular the out-of-memory (OOM) problems for effectively mitigating the impact of Slow Subscribers attacks on MQTT brokers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metal surfaces tend to be oxidized in air through dissociation of the O−O bond of oxygen to reduce the performances in various fields. Although several ligand modification routes have alleviated the oxidation of bulky metal surfaces, it is still a challenge for the oxidation resistance of small‐size metal nanoparticles. Herein, we fixed the small‐size Pd nanoparticles in tin‐contained MFI zeolite crystals, where the tin acts as an electron donor to efficiently hinder the oxidation of Pd by weakening the adsorption of molecular oxygen and suppressing the O−O cleavage. This oxidation‐resistant Pd catalyst exhibited superior performance in directly synthesizing hydrogen peroxide from hydrogen and oxygen, with the productivity of hydrogen peroxide at ≈10,170 mmol gPd−1 h−1, steadily outperforming the catalysts tested previously. This work leads to the hypothesis that tin is an electron donor to realize oxidation‐resistant Pd within zeolite crystals for efficient catalysis to overcome the limitation of generally supported Pd catalysts and further motivates the use of oxidation‐resistant metal nanoparticles in various fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metal surfaces tend to be oxidized in air through dissociation of the O−O bond of oxygen to reduce the performances in various fields. Although several ligand modification routes have alleviated the oxidation of bulky metal surfaces, it is still a challenge for the oxidation resistance of small‐size metal nanoparticles. Herein, we fixed the small‐size Pd nanoparticles in tin‐contained MFI zeolite crystals, where the tin acts as an electron donor to efficiently hinder the oxidation of Pd by weakening the adsorption of molecular oxygen and suppressing the O−O cleavage. This oxidation‐resistant Pd catalyst exhibited superior performance in directly synthesizing hydrogen peroxide from hydrogen and oxygen, with the productivity of hydrogen peroxide at ≈10,170 mmol gPd−1 h−1, steadily outperforming the catalysts tested previously. This work leads to the hypothesis that tin is an electron donor to realize oxidation‐resistant Pd within zeolite crystals for efficient catalysis to overcome the limitation of generally supported Pd catalysts and further motivates the use of oxidation‐resistant metal nanoparticles in various fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and adverse adulthood experiences (AAEs) and their association with incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) have not been extensively studied. Considering social support, we evaluated the complex relations of ACEs and AAEs with incident CVD. Methods: This prospective cohort study used data from the 2014 life course survey and the 2015 and 2018 surveys of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, a national survey of Chinese adults aged ≥ 45 years from 28 provinces across China. The study population included 5836 individuals (mean [SD] age, 59.59 [8.22] years, 49.7% were males). Information on ACEs, AAEs, young adulthood social support, health behavior factors, health status factors, and demographics was measured. Cox regression models, the difference method to estimate the mediation proportion, and the additive and multiplicative interactions were performed. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were also conducted. Results: During follow-up, 789 incident cases of CVD occurred. The fully adjusted model, including demographics, health behaviors, health status factors (e.g., depressive symptoms), and social support as control variables, demonstrated that the overall number of ACEs (Hazard ratio [HR]: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.14) and AAEs (HR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.16 to 1.22) were associated with an increased risk of incident CVD. A dose–response relationship existed between the number of ACEs or AAEs and incident CVD risk. The overall AAEs were found to mediate 17.7% (95% CI: 8.2 to 34.2%) of the association between ACEs and incident CVD. Moreover, a significant additive interaction between ACEs and AAEs was detected (RERI [95% CI]: 0.32 [0.09 to 0.56]). Compared with adults without exposure to both ACE and AAE, those with exposure to both at least one ACE and one AAE indicator had the highest risk of incident CVD (HR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.72 to 2.23). Conclusions: Exposure to ACEs or AAEs was independently associated with an increased risk of incident CVD among Chinese middle-aged and older adults in a dose–response manner, and the overall AAEs partially mediated the association between ACEs and incident CVD. Preventive measures aimed at addressing either ACEs or AAEs alone may not significantly reduce the risk of CVD later in life. The necessity of a comprehensive life-course health strategy targeting the prevention of adversity merits increased attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on Foucault's theoretical framework of "space and power", this paper examines the discursive construction of "knowledge" in the context of Chinese Buddhist education. It traces the historical transformation of Chinese Buddhist education from the traditional "Sangha Forest"(the monastic community; 叢林 Conglin) style education to the Buddhist Academy, and analyzes how modern Buddhism reshaped its social image and function from a faith-based to a knowledge-based culture. Furthermore, this paper explores the reasons why modern Buddhism requires "knowledge" as a bridge between its worldly and transcendental dimensions, and the roles of elite laymen and monasteries as "Buddhist Institutes" in the new discursive practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing renewable energy has become a major strategy for China to accelerate the energy transition and combat climate change. Accordingly, a guarantee mechanism for renewable energy consumption with renewable portfolio standards (RPS) has been set in China. However, currently, the top-down allocation of regional renewable energy consumption targets often has issues of unfairness and inefficiency. It is necessary to investigate the issue of how to stimulate the renewable energy consumption potential on the demand side and reasonably formulate the consumption responsibility weights of various market entities. This paper aimed to develop a new methodology for the weight allocation of renewable energy consumption responsibilities. In doing so, an integrated model of an evolutionary game and stochastic optimization was constructed between market entities and governments. Then, the equilibrium strategies of market entities and governments were obtained through the evolutionary game. Furthermore, based on the equilibrium strategies, this paper optimized the renewable energy consumption weight of each market entity, which constitutes the optimal allocation scheme of renewable energy consumption responsibility weights. Finally, using the data of 7069 market entities in Hubei Province in 2021, this study simulated the model to verify its effectiveness and practicability. The results indicate that the willingness of market entities to assume more consumption responsibility is positively correlated with the government's incentives and the maturity of the green electricity trading market. This study provides important implications for optimizing government regulations and promoting renewable energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a rare liver disease occurring during pregnancy that is characterized by disordered bile acid (BA) metabolism. It is related to adverse clinical outcomes in both the mother and fetus. Our aim was to evaluate the BA metabolism profiles in different types of ICP and investigate the association between specific BAs and perinatal complications in ICP patients. We consecutively evaluated 95 patients with ICP, in which 53 patients were diagnosed with early-onset ICP (EICP) and 42 patients were diagnosed with late-onset ICP (LICP). Concentrations of 15 BA components were detected using high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Clinical information was abstracted from the medical records. The percentage of conjugated bile acids increased in ICP patients. Specifically, taurocholic acid (TCA) accumulated in LICP patients, and glycocholic acid (GCA) predominated in EICP patients. A higher preterm birth incidence was observed among ICP patients. Albumin, total bile acids, total bilirubin and GCA percentage values at ICP diagnosis predicts 83.5% of preterm birth in EICP, and the percentage of TCA in total bile acids at ICP diagnosis predicts 93.2% of preterm birth in LICP. This analysis showed that the BA metabolism profiles of EICP and LICP were distinct. Increased hepatic load was positively correlated with preterm birth in EICP. An elevated TCA percentage in total bile acids provides a biomarker to predict preterm birth in LICP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, blue-emitting phosphors have attracted great interest due to their application in full-spectrum white light illumination. In this paper, a novel blue-emitting MgAl2Si4O6N4:Eu2+ phosphor was successfully synthesized through the solid-state reaction method in a reducing atmosphere. Under the excitation of near-ultraviolet (n-UV) light, the MgAl2Si4O6N4:0.02Eu2+ phosphor effectively emits a broad blue emission band centered at 456 nm with the FWHM as large as 81 nm. With the increasing Eu2+ concentration, the emission bands of MgAl2Si4O6N4:Eu2+ shift to a shorter wavelength and the FWHMs broaden gradually. Moreover, the MgAl2Si4O6N4:0.02Eu2+ phosphor exhibits a slight thermal quenching at a higher temperature. After fabricating the as-prepared MgAl2Si4O6N4:0.02Eu2+ phosphor into a white LED device, the intense neutral white light emission is obtained with excellent CRI (87.4) and CCT (5645 K). These results suggest that the blue MgAl2Si4O6N4:Eu2+ phosphor is a promising candidate in n-UV excited white LEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider an irreversible dynamic pricing situation in which a firm uses real-time inventory information to decide the most opportune time to raise its sales prices. Feng and Xiao (Oper Res 48:332–343, 2000b) has studied this problem along with the opposite markdown case. In quite symmetric fashions, they established the optimality of threshold policies for both cases. Though the earlier work has made dramatic advances in dynamic pricing and at the same time pioneered with many relevant techniques, we believe its treatment of the markup case warrants some revision. In particular, we find it is in possession of an erstwhile-unknown complementarity property between price flexibility and inventory, whose counterpart is not true for the markdown case. This property is needed in the derivation leading to the optimality of a threshold policy. Our development also allows demand to be time-dependent in a product form, and naturally leads to an efficient policy-computing algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a novel TiO 2-x /TiN@C heterojunction was prepared using a typical hydrothermal synthesis and carbon thermal reduction approach. It was employed for photocatalytic degradation of levofloxacin antibiotics, with the formation of heterostructures and the surface plasmon resonance effect from TiN and TiO 2-x playing a crucial role in enhancing the photocatalytic activity. [Display omitted] • Porous TiO 2-x /TiN@C microdisks with abundant heterointerfaces were prepared through the process of ammonium chloride-assisted nitride pyrolysis for the photocatalytic degradation of levofloxacin. • Surface plasmon resonance induced by plasmonic TiN enhances the absorption of visible light. • The broad-spectrum absorption capability contributes to the improvement of photocatalytic performance. • The synergistic effect between photocatalysis and advanced oxidation processes enhances the efficiency of levofloxacin degradation. Semiconductor photocatalysis holds great promise as a method for addressing the issue of antibiotic pollution in water. However, the wide band gap and low carrier separation rate present significant challenges that restrict the water purification efficiency of photocatalytic materials. In this study, a novel TiO 2-x /TiN@C heterojunction was prepared through a typical hydrothermal synthesis and carbon thermal reduction approach, which was utilized for the photocatalytic degradation of levofloxacin (LEV) antibiotics. TiO 2-x contains various titanium oxides, including TiO 2 , Ti 2 O 3 , and Ti 3 O 5 , and possesses a narrow band gap, enabling efficient absorption of visible light. The visible light absorption ability is further enhanced when it forms a heterojunction with plasmonic titanium nitride, which exhibits good carrier separation ability. The results demonstrated that the degradation efficiency of TiO 2-x /TiN@C for levofloxacin under visible light irradiation was significantly superior to that of TiO 2-x @C and TiN without a heterostructure. Characterization tests and mechanistic analysis have revealed that the coupling of the heterostructure with localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) enhances photocatalytic activity. Additionally, the combination of photocatalysis with advanced oxidation methods has exhibited excellent catalytic degradation performance. This research provides novel insights into fabricating efficient LSPR-enhanced photocatalytic systems and a comprehensive understanding of the degradation pathways for LEV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid‐liquid swirling flow is directly affected by the dynamic behavior of discrete droplets. Large eddy simulation combined with the volume‐of‐fluid model (LES‐VOF) was adopted to simulate the dynamic behavior of a CCl4 single droplet under water in a concave‐wall jet. There were three modes of droplets: non‐breakup, binary‐breakup, and multiple‐breakup droplets. The binary‐breakup droplet was sheared by the layer between the jet and the main flow, and the multiple‐breakup droplet was sheared by the boundary layer of the wall. Deformation and breakup were the processes of balancing the internal and external droplet vorticity. The largest pressure difference between the internal and external side of the liquid film was the primary reason for droplet breakup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we study the Beilinson–Bloch–Kato conjecture for motives associated to Rankin–Selberg products of conjugate self-dual automorphic representations, within the framework of the Gan–Gross–Prasad conjecture. We show that if the central critical value of the Rankin–Selberg L-function does not vanish, then the Bloch–Kato Selmer group with coefficients in a favorable field of the corresponding motive vanishes. We also show that if the class in the Bloch–Kato Selmer group constructed from a certain diagonal cycle does not vanish, which is conjecturally equivalent to the nonvanishing of the central critical first derivative of the Rankin–Selberg L-function, then the Bloch–Kato Selmer group is of rank one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this note, we introduce the notion of almost unramified representations of quasi-split unitary groups of even ranks with respect to an unramified quadratic extension of local fields, and study their behavior under the local theta correspondence. These representations are in some sense the least ramified representations that have root number −1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-quality perovskite films are extremely crucial to obtain perovskite solar cells with excellent photovoltaic performance, especially for carbon-based hole transport materials (HTM)-free perovskite solar cells. In this work, a facile and low-cost double two-step method (DT-method) is developed to prepare uniform and pinhole-free CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite films in an ambient atmosphere by utilizing the dissolution-recrystallization of PbI2 in DMF. That is to spin-coat PbI2 and CH3NH3I solution sequentially onto pristine perovskite films prepared by the conventional two-step method. The solar cells fabricated by the DT-method show a dramatic performance improvement, including V oc, J sc, and fill factor reach 0.85 V, 15.56 mA cmâˆ'2, and 0.58 respectively, which increase power conversion efficiency from 3.93% to 7.58% compared with the conventional two-step method. The improvement in performance and stability of solar cells is mainly due to the higher coverage of perovskite films onto the underlying mesoporous TiO2 layer and a negligible amount of PbI2 residue, which can effectively reduce charge recombination and promote the rapid transfer of charge carriers. In summary, this work presents a process for preparing carbon-based HTM-free perovskite solar cells (PSCs) in a high-humidity atmospheric environment (60%â€"85%). This simple device structure and preparation condition can greatly reduce the production threshold and cost of PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Load converter operating in the weak grid potentially suffers harmonic oscillation problems due to the impedance interaction. In this article, considering dc-link voltage dynamics and frequency-coupling effects, the precise sequence impedance models are derived for the traditional load converter (TLC) and the load virtual synchronous machine (LVSM). Based on the derived models, their sequence impedance characteristics are analyzed and compared. The analysis shows that the positive-sequence impedance of the LVSM is generally inductive in the middle- and low-frequency bands, which is basically consistent with the grid impedance characteristics. In contrast, the positive-sequence impedance of the TLC is negative-resistive-capacitive (i.e., phase angle is between -180° and -90°) in the middle- and low-frequency bands and its amplitude-frequency curve is easy to intersect with the amplitude-frequency curve of the grid impedance, which may lead to harmonic oscillation in the weak grid. Furthermore, based on the derived model and Nyquist stability criterion, the effects of the grid impedance and load power on the stability are analyzed for TLC and LVSM, which indicates that the LVSM has better stability in the weak grid than the TLC. Finally, the experimental results validate the correctness of the theoretical analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We collect real world DCPs, unpaired CCPs, and dirty masks and proposed a residual U-Net GAN. • We put forward a residual U-Net conditional GAN to restore real DCPs. • We adopt a weighted multi-features loss to improve the quality of generated photographs. Recently, deep learning has been applied to many image restoration tasks. In this work, we focus on studying an efficient deep learning architecture to restore damaged character photographs (DCPs) which are spoiled by natural or human factors including creases, spots, cracks, light, etc. A large amount of work has focused on image restoration such as super-resolution, image inpainting, image deblurring, and image denoising. However, few studies focus on restoring DCPs based on deep learning since DCPs are varied and complex, along with the difficulty of getting paired training dataset. In this work, we propose a new generative adversarial network (GAN) architecture to restore DCPs. Specifically, a residual U-Net (ResU-Net) GAN (RUGAN) is firstly constructed to generate fake DCPs by employing real DCPs, clear character photographs (CCPs), and dirty masks. Then, a ResU-Net conditional GAN (RUCGAN) is built to restore DCPs by exploiting paired CCPs and fake DCPs. To further improve the quality of restored character photographs, a weighted multi-features loss function is adopted in RUCGAN. Finally, numerical results show that our approach can restore spots, creases, cracks, and other spoiled manners in DCPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current methods based on the traditional i-vectors and deep neural network (DNN) have shown effectiveness on the speaker identification task, especially with the corpus of large scale. However, when the size of the training dataset is small, the overfitting problem may happen and lead to performance degradation. Besides, the robust identification still remains a challenging problem even under the less strict requirements. This paper proposes a novel approach, SpeakerGAN, for speaker identification with the conditional generative adversarial network (CGAN). It allows the adversarial networks for distinguishing real/fake samples and predicting class labels simultaneously. We configure the generator and the discriminator in SpeakerGAN with the gated convolutional neural network (CNN) and the modified residual network (ResNet) to obtain generated samples of high diversity as well as increase the network capacity. The multiple loss functions are combined and optimized to encourage the correct mapping and accelerate the convergence. Experimental results show that SpeakerGAN reduces the classification error rate by 87% and 16% compared with the traditional i-vector system and the state-of-the-art DNN based method. Under the scenario of limited training data, SpeakerGAN obtains significant improvement over the baselines. In the case of taking 1.6 s of each speaker for testing, SpeakerGAN achieves the identification accuracy of 98.20%, which suggests the promise for short-utterance speaker identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Load converters with inertial support are used to enhance the system inertia. However, these converters may fail to operate stably in the weak grid. In this article, sequence impedance modeling and stability comparison analysis are proposed for the load virtual synchronous machine (LVSM) and the load converter with virtual inertia control (LCVIC). First, the universal sequence impedance formulas are derived by considering dc-link voltage dynamics and frequency-coupling effects. Then, the precise sequence impedance models are built for impedance characteristics analysis of LVSM and LCVIC. The analysis shows that the positive-sequence impedance of LVSM is generally inductive in the middle-frequency band, which is basically consistent with the grid impedance. In contrast, the positive-sequence impedance of LCVIC is negative-resistive-capacitive (i.e., phase angle is between −180° and −90°) in the middle-frequency band, which may lead to harmonic oscillation in the weak grid. Furthermore, the effects of grid impedance, load power, and other control parameters on the stability are analyzed for the two load converters based on the derived model and Nyquist stability criterion. The analysis results reveal that LVSM has better stability than LCVIC in the weak grid. Finally, the experimental results validate the correctness of the theoretical analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paleo-pressure reconstruction in sedimentary basins is one of the most important aspects of hydrocarbon accumulation research. In view of the advantages and disadvantages of the current methods for paleo-pressure research, a new method to reconstruct the paleo-pressure is presented in this paper. According to the geological background, quantitative analyses of the factors that might control overpressure were first conducted to clarify the contributions of each mechanism during different geological periods. Pressure evolution was reconstructed by fluid-compaction modelling with constraints imposed by the paleo-pressures obtained from fluid inclusions or differential stress methods. Determining the mechanisms responsible for overpressures during geological history is the basic prerequisite for paleo-pressure research. Thus, quantitative studies were conducted of the contributions of disequilibrium compaction, gas charging, oil cracking, temperature reduction, and tectonic uplift and subsidence to overpressures. Three case studies of paleo-pressure reconstruction were performed for the Sinian strata in the Sichuan Basin, Ordovician strata in the north uplift in the Tarim Basin and the Permian strata in the Sulige Gas Field in the Ordos Basin, where these three study sites are normally pressured, weakly over-pressured and abnormally low pressured at present, respectively. The new method developed in this paper is very important for the practical reconstruction of the paleo-pressure in marine strata and ancient strata in deep basins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A core/shell CoS/MoS 2 microflower with CoS/MoS 2 /CoS dual-heterojunctions, resembling a "ball of yarn," is successfully fabricated using a structure-breaking sulfuration strategy. The unique catalyst design of this system showcases dual built-in electric fields at the hierarchical interfaces, effectively enhancing the adsorption behavior of catalytic intermediates and reducing energy barriers in catalytic reactions for cost-effective hydrogen production and environmentally-friendly sulfion recycling. [Display omitted] • A "ball of yarn" microflower with CoS/MoS 2 /CoS dual-heterojunctions is fabricated via a structure-breaking sulfuration strategy. • The work function difference between CoS and MoS 2 induces electron polarization, creating dual built-in electric fields at interfaces. • The electrocatalytic coupling system only needs a cell voltage of 0.528 V at 10 mA/cm², maintaining long-term durability for over 168 hours. • DFT calculations confirm that CoS/MoS 2 interfaces enhance electron transfer, optimize catalytic adsorption, and lower energy barriers. Substituting the sluggish oxygen evolution reaction with the sulfur oxidation reaction can significantly reduce energy consumption and eliminate environmental pollutants during hydrogen generation. However, the progress of this technology has been hindered due to the lack of cost-effective, efficient, and durable electrocatalysts. In this study, we present the design and construction of a hierarchical metal sulfide catalyst with a gradient structure comprising nanoparticles, nanosheets, and microparticles. This was achieved through a structure-breaking sulfuration strategy, resulting in a "ball of yarn"-like core/shell CoS/MoS 2 microflower with CoS/MoS 2 /CoS dual-heterojunctions. The difference in work functions between CoS and MoS 2 induces an electron polarization effect, creating dual built-in electric fields at the hierarchical interfaces. This effectively modulates the adsorption behavior of catalytic intermediates, thereby reducing the energy barrier for catalytic reactions. The optimized catalyst exhibits outstanding electrocatalytic performance for both the hydrogen evolution reaction and the sulfur oxidation reaction. Remarkably, in the assembled electrocatalytic coupling system, it only requires a cell voltage of 0.528 V at 10 mA cm−2 and maintains long-term durability for over 168 h. This work presents new opportunities for low-cost hydrogen production and environmentally friendly sulfion recycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The cobalt–nickel nanoparticles were fixed within zeolite crystals. • The fixed structure improved the reducing resistance of metal species. • The irreducible metal species efficiently hindered the carburization to improve the catalyst durability. • The fixed catalyst efficiently catalyzed the dry reforming of methane with superior coking and sintering resistance. Dry reforming of methane (DRM) displays a crucial role in CO 2 fixation, but the current catalysts suffer from deactivation from thermodynamically oriented coking and metal sintering. Herein, we reported a catalyst by fixing the cobalt–nickel nanoparticles within the zeolite crystals (CoNi@zeolite), where the SiO x -O-Mδ+ (M = Ni or Co) linkage enhanced the reduction resistance of Co and Ni species compared with the generally supported catalysts, efficiently hindering the deep dehydrogenation of methane, which is well known as a reaction channel for coke formation. In addition, the rigid and thermally stable zeolite framework stabilized the cobalt–nickel nanoparticles to avoid their sintering during the reaction. As a result, the CoNi@zeolite catalyst exhibited a long reaction lifetime and great regenerability in a test for 980 h with reaction gas flow at 1200 L per unit mass of metal species per hour, outperforming conventionally supported metal catalysts. This work enables a proof-of-the-concept design of durable catalysts by zeolite fixation for the reactions in strongly reductive atmospheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel salinization monitoring model based on 3-D feature space had been proposed with the overall accuracy of 93%. • The relative actions of climate change and human activities have been quantitatively distinguished from a new perspective of "' soil solute transport-vegetation response '". • The NDVI ∩ other factors were the dominant factors in the salinization process. • Human activities gradually became the dominant factor in salinization improvement or intensification area. Within the context of global change, the evolution of salinization in the Yellow River Delta has undergone dramatic changes. However, it is not clear how it responds to the combined processes of climate change and human activity（reclamation projects, changes in land-use types, and increases in fertilizer use）Based on the optimal soil salinization monitoring index model, this study retrieved the annual time series data set for salinization from 1984 to 2022 and then analyzed the spatial and temporal evolution patterns of salinization in the modern Yellow River Delta. The mechanism of the response of salinization evolution to climate change and human activities was investigated using Geodetector. The main conclusions were as follows: (1) From 1984 to 2022, the salinization intensity in the northeastern coastal zone of the Yellow River Delta showed an increasing trend, while that in the southwestern inland area showed an improving trend. (2) The high-frequency salinization zones were mainly concentrated near the mainstream and tributaries of the Yellow River, while zones with desalinization, re-salinization, and new salinization zones were mainly distributed in the main stream of the Yellow River. (3) There were obvious differences in the dominant factors in the evolution of salinization in different historical periods. In 1984, soil component factors and vegetation coverage were the dominant factors in the evolution of salinization. In 2022, vegetation coverage and land-use types had the strongest explanatory power for the salinization process. (4) The influence of natural and human activity factors on the salinization process was not independent, but a mutually reinforcing process. The interaction between NDVI and other factors has dominated the evolution of salinization in the Yellow River Delta. From 1984 to 2022, human activities were the dominant factors that promoted the improvement or intensification of salinization in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To grasp the epidemiological trend and drug resistance mechanisms of Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) in Beijing, 302 C. diff isolates were obtained from patients with diarrhea. The sequence types (STs) from mainstream strains were all susceptible to metronidazole, vancomycin, piperacillin/tazobactam, meropenem, and tigecycline but almost resistant to ciprofloxacin and clindamycin. The missense mutation of GyrA/GyrB and RpoB resulted in fluoroquinolone and rifamycin resistance, respectively. Toxigenic strains from clade IV were likely to be missed due to the deficiency of tcdA gene. Four tcdC genotypes were first detected in strains from clade III and IV. The truncating mutation of TcdC disabled its function working as a toxin suppressor. In conclusion, the molecular epidemiology of C. diff in Beijing is different from other regions of China. The antimicrobial resistance patterns and toxin-producing abilities of strains with different STs varied greatly, which suggests that continuous surveillance and control are meaningful and urgent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Tight sandstone gas is an important unconventional hydrocarbon resource, but its exploration is made difficult by the compactness and heterogeneity of the sandstone. Fluid–rock interaction and subsequent cementation play key roles in developing this heterogeneity. We conducted a petrographic, trace element, and isotopic study of the Upper Triassic Xujiahe sandstones from the Sichuan Basin, to investigate fluid–rock interactions and associated diagenetic effects. Carbonate fragments and cements are widespread in these sandstones, and are the primary control on the nature of the Xujiahe sandstone reservoirs. The carbonate cements primarily comprise of calcite and are typically distributed around the margins of sandstone bodies and along fine-grained beds. Carbonate minerals in the centre or at the margin of sandstone units have heavy δ13C carb values of ca. 0‰, whereas δ13C carb is markedly depleted in the transition zone with values as low as −10‰, reflecting a contribution from organic carbon. Manganese, Strontium and Barium generally become enriched in the carbonate cements with diagenesis, and their concentrations correlate with porosity and δ13C carb. Redox sensitive Mn, and fluid-mobile Sr and Ba were analysed to reveal the diagenetic processes and environment of carbonate precipitation. We propose that fluids flowed preferentially along the central parts of sandstone units, associated with mineral dissolution, whereas cementations took place near the margins of the units. Fluid–rock interaction, especially that involving late hydrocarbon-related fluids, greatly enhances the heterogeneity of sandstones and can potentially create high-quality reservoirs in the central parts of tight sandstone units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs (miRs), a class of small non-coding RNAs, have been demonstrated to be involved in the development and progression of human malignancies, including cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC). miR-186 serves a suppressive role in certain common types of human cancer; however, its exact function in CSCC has not been reported previously. In the present study, the expression of miR-186 was significantly increased in CSCC tissues compared with adjacent non-tumour tissues. Overexpression of miR-186 significantly promoted CSCC cell proliferation while inhibiting cell apoptosis. Reticulophagy regulator 1 (RETREG1), a gene that is significantly downregulated in CSCC tissues and cell lines, was identified as a novel target of miR-186. In addition, the expression of RETREG1 was inversely correlated with miR-186 expression in CSCC tissues. Furthermore, the expression of RETREG1 was negatively regulated by miR-186 in CSCC cells, and restoration of RETREG1 attenuated the effects of miR-186 on CSCC cells. Taken together, the results of the current study suggest that miR-186 serves an oncogenic role in CSCC and may be used as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recruitment and retention challenges are very common in mental health randomised trials. Investigators utilise different methods to improve recruitment or retention. However, evidence of the effectiveness and efficiency of these strategies in mental health has not been synthesised. This systematic review is to investigate and assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of different strategies to improve recruitment and retention in mental health randomised trials. Methods and materials: MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Methodology Register and PsycINFO were searched from beginning of record up to July 2016. Randomised trials involving participants with mental health problems which compared different strategies for recruitment or retention were selected. Two authors independently screened identified studies for eligibility. Results: A total of 5,157 citations were identified. Thirteen articles were included, 11 on recruitment and 2 on retention. Three randomised controlled trials compared different recruitment strategies, none of which found statistically significant differences between the interventional recruitment strategies and the routine recruitment methods. Retrospective comparisons of recruitment methods showed that non-web-based advertisement and recruitment by clinical research staff each have advantages in efficiency. Web-based adverts had the lowest cost per person recruited (£13.41 per person recruited). Specialised care referral cost £183.24 per person, non-web-based adverts cost £372.03 per patient and recruitment via primary care cost £407.65 for each patient. Financial incentives, abridged questionnaires and pre-notification had a positive effect on retention rates. Conclusion: The recruitment studies included showed differences in strategies, clinical settings, mental health conditions and study design. It is difficult to assess the overall effectiveness of any particular recruitment strategy as some strategies that worked well for a particular population may not work as well for others. Paying attention to the accessibility of information and consent materials may help improve recruitment. More research in this area is needed given its important implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Objective: Any benefit of oestradiol supplementation with progesterone for luteal support after fresh embryo transfer in in vitro fertilisation/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) cycles remains controversial. In this study, we further addressed this question in cycles using gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist for ovarian stimulation. Design: A retrospective cohort study in a tertiary teaching and research hospital. Patient(s): A total of 1602 patients were given oestradiol valerate (E) in addition to progesterone (P) as luteal support. One thousand six hundred and two patients receiving progesterone alone were selected as the control group. Main outcome measure(s): Live birth rate. Secondary measures included clinical pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate and premature birth rate. Result(s): Clinical pregnancy and live birth rates were similar for the P alone vs the P+E group. In cycles with oestradiol (E2) levels less than 5000 pmol/L on the day of hCG trigger, E supplementation resulted in a significantly higher live birth rate (23.44% vs 32.92%, OR = 1.60 [95% CI 1.05 to 2.46]). In cycles with oestradiol levels 5000 to 10 000 pmol/L on the day of hCG trigger, E supplementation did not increase the live birth rate (34.43% vs 35.42%, OR = 0.90 [95% CI 0.80 to 1.01]). In cycles with oestradiol levels over 10 000 pmol/L on the day of hCG trigger, the live birth rate was significantly lower (36.83% vs 31.37%, OR = 0.78 [95% CI 0.62 to 0.99]) and the premature birth rate was significantly higher (19.66% vs 28.73%,OR = 1.65 [95% CI 1.05 to 2.59]) in the E supplementation group. Conclusion(s): Any benefit of oestradiol supplementation for luteal phase support appears to correlate with the serum oestradiol level on the day of hCG trigger. Oestradiol supplementation is beneficial for improving live birth rate in cycles with oestradiol levels less than 5000 pmol/L, but is not recommended in cycles with oestradiol levels over 10 000 pmol/L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking surrounding woodland soils of Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) G. Don, Prunus ceraifera cv. Pissardii, Ginkgo biloba L. and Ligustrum lucidum in Zhoushan Forest Park of Henan Province as the research objects, the physicochemical properties of sample plots were investigated, and the contents of soil microbial biomass carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and total soil nutrients were determined. The results showed that the carbon-nitrogen ratios and carbon-phosphorus ratios were 8.0-11.4 and 17.1-25.3, respectively; the percentages of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) were 2.84%-5.1%, 2.69%-4.44% and 2.19%-5.62%, respectively. The carbon-nitrogen ratio and carbon-phosphorus ratio of P. ceraifera, G. biloba and L. lucidum forests were significantly lower than that of C. deodara forest (P < 0.05). The MBC/SOC, MBN/TN and MBP/TP ratios of G. biloba forest were the highest, which had significant difference with those of other tree species (P < 0.05). The contents of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus were extremely or significantly correlated with SOC, TN, TP, tree species and human disturbance, but had no correlation with soil pH, slope, slope direction, etc. Tree species and human disturbance also significantly affected the physical and chemical properties closely related to soil microbial biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abundant gas condensates have been proven in the Ordovician carbonate reservoirs in the Tazhong area, the centre of the Tarim Basin, where complicated geological evolution and multiple hydrocarbon accumulations have occurred. Property, geochemistry, and stable carbon isotopes of the Ordovician condensate are characterized to identify the oil and gas origins in the Tazhong area. Fluid inclusion data, combined with numerical modelling methods was used to determine petroleum accumulation processes. Our results suggest that oils are characterized by mixed sources, with 64% of contributions from the Middle‐Upper Ordovician (O2+3) source rocks and 36% of contributions from the Lower‐Middle Cambrian (Є1+2) source rocks. Gases are primarily generated from the thermal cracking of pre‐existing oils in the underlying strata, with a small amount derived from kerogen cracking accompanied with oil generation. Three petroleum filling stages are determined, including the filling of the Є1+2‐derived oils during the Late Hercynian period, filling of the O2+3‐derived oils during the Yanshan period and oil‐cracking‐gas charge during the Himalayan period. The accumulation processes and relative contribution ratios of the two source rocks vary among the reservoirs and are mainly related to the transport system. Due to the lack of faults in the regions away from the No. 1 Fault Belt, the Є1+2‐derived oils are difficult to fill into the Ordovician reservoirs through the gypsolyte, and thus the accumulated oils are mainly from the O2+3 source rocks. The percentage of the O2+3‐derived oils is high in the southeast and northwest segments of the No. 1 Fault Belt, but relatively low in the middle segment and the vicinity of the No. 10 Structure Belt. Likewise, the late gas charge intensity is controlled by regionally varying conduit systems. Gas condensate formed in reservoirs with high gas/oil ratios. Otherwise, light oil retains with respect to low gas/oil ratios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterogeneity is an essential feature of tight sandstones because it is directly related to reservoir quality. The Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation in the Sichuan Basin was used as a case study to analyse the diagenetic constraints on the heterogeneity of tight sandstone reservoirs. The three main diagenetic processes of interest are mechanical compaction, cementation, and dissolution. A dissolution facies, quartz cement facies, and carbonate cement facies present sequentially from the centre to the margin of sand bodies. Abundant feldspars and rock fragments were dissolved to form secondary porosity or filled by carbonate cement. Authigenic chlorite coatings, generated from eogenesis to the deep burial stage, are thickest in high-porosity-samples. The δ 13 C of carbonate cement ranges from −10.56‰ to 1.15‰ (PDB), suggesting multiple sources of carbon, including carbonate fragments, early inorganic carbonate cement, and organically derived CO 2 . Based on δ 18 O, carbonate cementation occurred from 33 °C to 110 °C. Microthermometric data of aqueous inclusions indicate that quartz cement precipitated at a temperature range of 120 °C–140 °C. A summary model of the diagenetic constraints on the heterogeneity of sandstones was constructed. The spatial distribution of digenetic facies is controlled by differences in fluid flow velocity and pH. Fluids, especially hydrocarbons, migrated preferentially within the centre of sand bodies, and caused dissolution. Dissolution generated secondary porosity and provided materials for authigenic mineral precipitation. Carbonate fragments were better preserved and superimposed with later carbonate cement along the sandstone-mudstone boundary. Quartz overgrowths formed after carbonate cementation, and developed in the transition zone between the intervals of carbonate cementation and dissolution. Consequently, the reservoir quality of the Xujiahe sandstones decreases gradually moving from the centre to the margin of the sand bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• GLP-1R was expressed in L02 cells and decreased in insulin resistant (IR) cells. • GLP-1R knockdown decreased glucose utilization and intracellular glycogen content. • GLP-1R knockdown enhanced gluconeogenesis via AKT pathway. • GLP-1R mediated the LG-induced inhibition of lipid accumulation. • GLP-1R knockdown enhanced lipogenesis via the AMPK pathway. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) has previously been found to regulate glycolipid metabolism in the liver by promoting insulin secretion. However, the presence of GLP-1 receptors (GLP-1R) in the human liver has not been determined. In this research, GLP-1R was found to be expressed in L02 cells and decreased in insulin resistant (IR) cells. Compared with LG treatment group, GLP-1R knockdown significantly decreased glucose utilization (from 143.13% to 118.41%.) and intracellular glycogen content (from 122.77% to 105.72%). Furthermore, the transcription levels of PEPCK and G6Pase increased, and the phosphorylation levels of AKT, FOXO1 and GSK3β decreased in siGLP-1R group. Similarly, the contents of triglyceride and total cholesterol in siGLP-1R group increased by 43.23% and 24.19%, respectively. PCR and WB results showed that knockdown of GLP-1R increased the levels of ACC, FAS, and SREBP-1c, and decreased the levels of CPT-1 via AMPK pathway. GLP-1R knockdown changed the LG-induced promotion of glucose utilization and inhibition of lipid synthesis. These findings demonstrated that GLP-1R is the molecular basis for GLP-1 to improve glycolipid metabolism in L02 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) frequently participate in pancreatic cancer (PC) progression. This study focuses on circ_0000106, a novel circRNA, and its potential function in PC development. Circ_00001106, miR-455–3p, and HDAC4 expression levels in PC were determined using qRT-PCR and immunoblotting. RNA immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase reporter assays were performed to verify their binding interactions. Loss-of-function assays, including CCK-8, colony formation, and transwell assays, were used to estimate the proliferative and migratory properties of PC cells. A nude mouse model was constructed to assess the influence of circ_0000106 on tumor formation in vivo. A pronounced elevation of circ_0000106 and HDAC4 and a reduction of miR-455–3p in PC were observed. Circ_0000106 was prone to binding to miR-455–3p, and miR-455–3p further targeted HDAC4. Functionally, the proliferative and migratory properties of PC cells were dampened by the loss of circ_0000106 or HDAC4 and could be potentiated by miR-455–3p inhibition. Moreover, the knockdown of circ_0000106 delayed tumor growth in vivo. Additionally, the downregulation of miR-455–3p attenuated the repressive effects of circ_0000106 deficiency on PC cell migration and proliferation. Loss of HDAC4 exerted similar mitigative effects on miR-455–3p downregulation-stimulated PC cells. In conclusion, circ_0000106 promotes tumor migration and growth in PC by targeting the miR-455–3p/HDAC4 axis. These results suggest that the circ_0000106/miR-455–3p/HDAC4 network could be regarded as a latent target for PC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: ​Develop and validate a nomogram prediction model for hypertension-diabetes comorbidities based on chronic disease management in the community. Patients and methods: The nomogram prediction model was developed in a cohort of 7200 hypertensive patients at a community health service center in Hongshan District, Wuhan City. The data were collected from January 2022 to December 2022 and randomly divided into modeling and validation groups at a 7:3 ratio. The Lasso regression model was used for data dimensionality reduction, feature selection, and clinical test feature construction. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to build the prediction model. Results: The application of the nomogram in the verification group showed good discrimination, with an AUC of 0.9205 (95% CI: 0.8471–0.9527) and a good calibration effect. Decision curve analysis demonstrated that the predictive model was clinically useful. Conclusion: This study presents a nomogram prediction model that incorporates age, waist-height ratio and elevated density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-CHOLESTEROL), which can be used to predict the risk of codeveloping diabetes in hypertensive patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sichuan Basin is overpressured and has experienced a reduction in temperature since the Late Cretaceous due to uplift and denudation. The temperature and pressure of the central Sichuan Basin are investigated utilising borehole data. Pressure positively correlates with temperature in each overpressured system, with a coefficient of 0.851 MPa/°C for the Cambrian pressure system and 1.064 MPa/°C for the Upper Triassic pressure system. Physical simulation experiments carried out with absolute sealing conditions demonstrate that the temperature–pressure relationship in a water-filled system is linear with a gradient of 1.076 MPa/°C, similar to the observed temperature–pressure gradients in the study area. The integration of thermal indicators, including vitrinite reflectance and fluid inclusions, is used to reconstruct the palaeotemperature of the basin. Formation temperatures have decreased since 90 Ma, with a significant decrease since 20 Ma. The amount of cooling varies between hydrocarbon fields as it is dependent on the local extent of exhumation during basin uplift. The Weiyuan field exhibits the greatest amount of cooling, followed by the Moxi field, with the Bajiaochang field experiencing the smallest reduction in temperature. The maximum palaeopressure is calculated to be > 200 MPa in the Cambrian strata and ∼150 MPa in the Upper Triassic strata. The existence of gas within the hydrocarbon fields can change the temperature–pressure relationship, lowering the maximum pressure. However, we propose that temperature reduction is the primary cause of the pressure decrease since 90 Ma and that it controls the present-day overpressure distribution in the basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piezoelectric thin-film micro-sensors and actuators often appear in the form of a diaphragm anchored around its entire boundary. When a micro-device is scaled down in size, its sensitivity reduces and natural frequency increases, drastically lowering its performance. The purpose of the paper is to study the feasibility of introducing through-etched slots to partially release the diaphragm at its anchor. As a result, a micro-device can be scaled down in size without significantly altering its sensitivity and natural frequency. In this paper, we first present a finite element simulation proving the concept. We then describe processing steps to fabricate a lead-zirconate-titanate (PZT) thin-film diaphragm sensor/actuator with a partially released boundary. Challenges encountered in the fabrications, such as cat ear and electrode non-uniformity, are explained and overcome. As a case study, we demonstrate the feasibility to design, fabricate, and test an intra-cochlear micro-actuator probe that employs three partially released PZT diaphragms at the tip of a cantilever. Experimental measurements indicate that the sensitivity is dominated by the diaphragm deflection, while the first natural frequency is dominated by the cantilever structure. Finite element simulations not only confirm the experimental measurements but also optimize diaphragm dimensions for sensor/actuator performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To further improve the catalytic desulfurization function of the Mg-Al spinel sulfur transfer agent in a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit, the reaction paths of SO 2 oxidation by O 2 over the metal oxide surface of CuO (111) and CeO 2 (111) were investigated. In reference to the fact that SO 2 reacting with O 2 over CuO was a Mars-van Krevelen cycle, a similar reaction law for SO 2 oxidation over CeO 2 was also verified by characterization methods (e.g., IR, XPS). Meanwhile, the molecular simulation results indicated that the rate-control step of SO 2 oxidation over CeO 2 (111) and CuO (111) was a SO 3 desorption step. The lower energy barrier in the rate-control step corresponded to better catalytic performance; hence, it could explain the reason that CeO 2 had a better sulfur oxidization transfer performance than CuO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sichuan Basin is a prime petroliferous basin in China, and multiple overpressure systems exist vertically in the central portion of the basin. Understanding the mechanisms and evolution of an overpressure system is significant for petroleum migration and accumulation. DSTs and well logs data reveal that the Upper Triassic overpressures start at a depth of about 1300 m, and the pressure coefficient ( r ) is greater in the northwestern part of the study area ( r >1.8) and relatively lower in the south ( r ≈1.3). Sonic transit times of shales in the Upper Triassic Formation are abnormally high, and velocity-density plots deviate from the normal compaction trend, which demonstrate that disequilibrium compaction should be the primary mechanism of overpressures. Evolution history of overpressure was reconstructed based on numerical modeling method. The results from 1D and 2D modeling indicate that the Upper Triassic overpressures began developing at 195 Ma because of rapid sedimentation in this period. The maximum overpressure appeared at 90 Ma, which is 38 MPa in the Bajiaochang field and 50 MPa in the Anyue field, respectively. After that, pore pressure reduced to current value due to uplift and erosion that began in the Late Cretaceous. Overpressures are higher in the greater depth area and relatively lower at the structural crest. Gas generation from the Upper Triassic source rocks occurred during 160–90 Ma which is coincident with disequilibrium compaction. The contribution of gas generation to the Upper Triassic overpressures is not important, because gases just created small volume increase and likely to be expelled out by the high disequilibrium compaction overpressure in the corresponding period. Permeabilities of 10 −22 –10 −23 m 2 are required for barriers to maintain the overpressure in geological timescale. Overpressure systems in the central portion of the Sichuan Basin appear to be explained by static paradigms. For that, temperature has significant impact on the sealed systems. Greater pressures are preserved in the area with less temperature reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let E be an elliptic curve over $${{\mathbb {Q}}}$$ and A another elliptic curve over a real quadratic number field. We construct a $${{\mathbb {Q}}}$$ -motive of rank 8, together with a distinguished class in the associated Bloch-Kato Selmer group, using Hirzebruch-Zagier cycles, that is, graphs of Hirzebruch-Zagier morphisms. We show that, under certain assumptions on E and A, the non-vanishing of the central critical value of the (twisted) triple product L-function attached to ( E, A) implies that the dimension of the associated Bloch-Kato Selmer group of the motive is 0; and the non-vanishing of the distinguished class implies that the dimension of the associated Bloch-Kato Selmer group of the motive is 1. This can be viewed as the triple product version of Kolyvagin's work on bounding Selmer groups of a single elliptic curve using Heegner points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Model of Cu-loaded 8MR of high SAR LTA built to investigate NO adsorption, conversion and the subsequent O res removal process. • NO adsorption conformations confirmed by adsorption energy, bader charge transfer and PDOS. • Eley-Rideal (E-R) and Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) processes both considered for NO conversion process. • Multiple gaseous reductants (NO, CO, N 2) investigated for O res removal. • Kinetic and thermodynamic data of NO conversion and O res removal obtained and analysed. NO is a principal air pollutant that has received increasing attention due to its harmful impact on the environment and human health. Direct catalytic decomposition of NO to N 2 is a process that carries promising potential with further development of metal-exchanged zeolitic catalysts, while the challenge lies with the thermal durability of the catalysts. Several reports have cited Cu-loaded high silica to aluminium ratio (SAR) Linde Type A (LTA) zeolites to be effective deNOx catalysts with their high catalytic activity and hydrothermal stability, but the detailed mechanisms by which it acts are still poorly understood. In this study, both the Eley-Rideal (E-R) and Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) processes were discussed to elucidate a feasible reaction pathway that allows NO to be directly converted to N 2 O over the loaded-Cu in the eight-member ring (8MR) of the high silica LTA. The results have indicated that the L-H process is the most favourable pathway for the given temperature window (298.15–900 K). In addition, as the oxidation intermediate Cu-O hindered the desired NO conversion, multiple gaseous components (NO, CO, N 2) that frequently existed in the catalytic process were considered for residual O (O res) removal. NO and CO were both determined to be more favourable than N 2 as reductants for the O res removal, in consideration of their kinetic and thermodynamic characters. As a result, the high silica Cu-LTA showed catalytic feasibility in direct NO conversion from mechanistic insights. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main challenges of pedestrian detection are caused by the intra-class variation of pedestrians in clothing, scales, deformations, occlusions, and backgrounds. The prevalent detection frameworks employ a series of dense sliding windows, which are time-consuming. In this work, we equip the detection framework with another new strategy, and extract the new features, to eliminate the above requirements. Segmentation by weighted aggregation (SWA) provides a probability measure to segment objects from complex backgrounds. Perceptual hash (pHash) has shown its power in similar image retrieval because it is modification-tolerant and scale-invariant. The proposed approach uses binarized normed gradients (BING) to efficiently generate a small set of estimation proposals, and formulates SWA and pHash into a joint descriptor, called HASP, to improve the detection performance significantly. Experimental results both on INRIA dataset and ETH dataset have demonstrated the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We prove uniqueness of Fourier–Jacobi models for general linear groups, unitary groups, symplectic groups and metaplectic groups, over an Archimedean local field. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Endosymbionts living in plants and insects are pervasive. Ficus (Moraceae) has very special inflorescences (which we also call figs) enclosed like an urn, and such inflorescence is usually parasitized by fig wasps. Ficus breeds fig wasp larvae in its figs and adult fig wasps pollinate for Ficus, Ficus and its obligated pollinator formed fig-fig wasp mutualism. Previous studies have found that this confined environment in figs may have provided protection for fig wasps and that this has left some imprints on the genome of fig wasps during the coevolution history of figs and fig wasps. Research on the diversity of both bacteria and fungi in figs are fewer. Our study explored the diversity of endosymbionts in Ficus hirta figs. We utilized high-throughput sequencing and biological database to identify the specific microorganism in figs, then conducted microorganism communities' diversity analysis and function annotation analysis. As a result, we identified the dominant endosymbionts in figs, mainly some insect internal parasitic bacteria and fungi, plant pathogen, endophytes, and saprotroph. Then we also found bacteria in Ficus hirta figs were more diversified than fungi, and bacteria communities in female figs and functional male figs were different. These findings may give us more insight into the coevolution and interaction among endosymbiont, fig, and fig wasp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We prove a geometric version of a classical result on the characterization of an irreducible cuspidal automorphic representation of being the base change of a stable cuspidal representation of the quasi-split unitary group associated to the quadratic extension E/F, via the nonvanishing of certain period integrals, called being distinguished. We show that certain cohomology of an automorphic sheaf of GLn,X′ is nonvanishing if and only if the corresponding local system E on X′ is conjugate self-dual with respect to an étale double cover X′/X of curves, which directly relates to the base change from the associated unitary group. In particular, the geometric setting makes sense over any base field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports a comprehensive investigation on the fatigue performance of Q345 steel after natural cooling from different elevated temperatures. First, the single-point group testing method for estimating S – N curves is improved by introducing the Pearson correlation coefficient. An implementation algorithm of the improved method is designed. After the parameters are determined by this algorithm, the corresponding expressions of S – N curves with reliability P and confidence level γ are proposed. Second, fatigue tests are conducted on 40 specimens to investigate the fatigue performance of Q345 steel after natural cooling from the elevated temperatures of 20, 250, 500, and 750 °C. Finally, the effect of elevated temperatures on the fatigue performance of Q345 steel is discussed using the improved single-point group testing method. It is observed that the improved single-point group testing method can be used conveniently to estimate the parameters of the S – N curve expression based on the test data. After natural cooling from the elevated temperatures of 250 to 750 °C, the fatigue life of Q345 steel increases dramatically and then reduces significantly. The fatigue damage growth of Q345 steel is also significantly affected by the elevated temperature. Furthermore, significant differences are observed in the macro and micro fatigue fracture morphology of Q345 steel owing to the influence of the elevated temperature. [Display omitted] • An improved single-point group testing method is proposed to estimate S – N curves. • The fatigue life of fire-affected Q345 steel increases first and then decreases. • Below 500°C, less fatigue damage accumulates during early cyclic loading. • For specimens cooled from 750°C, most of fatigue damage accumulates during cyclic loading before fatigue fracture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]