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Vanadium nitride (VN) is a potential cathode material with high capacity and high energy density for aqueous zinc batteries (AZIBs). However, the slow kinetics resulting from the strong electrostatic interaction of the electrode materials with zinc ions is a major challenge for fast storage. Here, VN clusters with nitrogen‐vacancy embedded in carbon (C) (Nv‐VN/C‐SS‐2) are prepared for the first time to improve the slow reaction kinetics. The nitrogen vacancies can effectively accelerate the reaction kinetics, reduce the electrochemical polarization, and improve the performance. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations also prove that the rapid adsorption and desorption of zinc ions on Nv‐VN/C‐SS‐2 can release more electrons to the delocalized electron cloud of the material, thus adding more active sites. The Nv‐VN/C‐SS‐2 exhibits a specific capacity and outstanding cycle life. Meanwhile, the quasi‐solid‐state battery exhibits a high capacity of 186.5 mAh g−1, ultra‐high energy density of 278.9 Wh kg−1, and a high power density of 2375.1 W kg−1 at 2.5 A g−1, showing excellent electrochemical performance. This work provides a meaningful reference value for improving the comprehensive electrochemical performance of VN through interface engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the low matching accuracy of stereo matching algorithms in image regions with specular reflection, this paper proposes a multidimensional fusion stereo matching algorithm named MFANet. The algorithm embeds a multispectral attention module into the residual feature extraction network, utilizing two‐dimensional discrete cosine transforms to extract frequency features. In the pyramid pooling module, a coordinated attention mechanism is introduced to capture relevant positional information. In the cost aggregation part, the MFANet algorithm incorporates a three‐dimensional attention mechanism, focusing on the more important semantic information in high‐level features. By combining detailed information from low‐level features, semantic information from high‐level features, and contextual information, the algorithm generates features that are more conducive to disparity prediction. The MFANet algorithm is evaluated on three standard datasets (SceneFlow, KITTI2015, and KITTI2012). Experimental results demonstrate its robustness against specular reflection interference, accurate prediction of disparities in specular reflection pathological regions, and promising application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the problem that the spray weight could not be adjusted and controlled according to the weight change of the tobacco sheet during the manufacturing process of heat-not-burn tobacco product in real time, a flavoring system was designed based on incremental PID algorithm. The flavoring system was composed of weighing unit, screw pumps, nozzles, and flow sensors. The weight of the tobacco sheet roll was obtained through the weighing unit in real time, then the spray weight was calculated according to the theoretical calculation model, and the screw pumps were driven to output target flow to the nozzles based on incremental PID algorithm, the real-time spray weight was got from the flow sensors, and at last tobacco flavor was sprayed on the tobacco sheet. The results showed that the spray weight could be adjusted and controlled according to the weight change of the tobacco sheet in real time, the maximum overshoot of the flavoring system was 1%, and the maximum adjustment time was 1.8 s, the system had good tracking performance. The deviation ratio of the spray weight was 0.23%~0.52% between the detection value and the theoretical value, the variation of the spray weight within samples was 3.11%~4.17%. It showed that the flavoring system could realize accurate, uniform and stable application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the problem that the spray weight could not be adjusted and controlled according to the weight change of the tobacco sheet during the manufacturing process of heat-not-burn tobacco product in real time, a flavoring system was designed based on incremental PID algorithm. The flavoring system was composed of weighing unit, screw pumps, nozzles, and flow sensors. The weight of the tobacco sheet roll was obtained through the weighing unit in real time, then the spray weight was calculated according to the theoretical calculation model, and the screw pumps were driven to output target flow to the nozzles based on incremental PID algorithm, the real-time spray weight was got from the flow sensors, and at last tobacco flavor was sprayed on the tobacco sheet. The results showed that the spray weight could be adjusted and controlled according to the weight change of the tobacco sheet in real time, the maximum overshoot of the flavoring system was 1%, and the maximum adjustment time was 1.8 s, the system had good tracking performance. The deviation ratio of the spray weight was 0 23%~0. 52% between the detection value and the theoretical value, the variation of the spray weight within samples was 3.11%~4.17%. It showed that the flavoring system could realize accurate, uniform and stable application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, extensive exploration has contributed to significant advancements in the geological formations of the Kuqa Depression. In particular, the Paleogene Kumugeliemu Formation exhibits the development of expansive bedded evaporites. The combination of red sandstone, red mudstone, and gypsum-salt layers holds immense potential as a reservoir and cap association, thereby offering promising prospects for oil and gas exploration. However, our understanding of the sedimentary system and model governing this formation remains limited, impeding progress in the field of oil and gas exploration. To address this gap, this study delved into a detailed examination of the stratigraphy, depositional system, and model of the Kumugeliemu Formation through the application of core samples, logging data, and seismic analyses. The primary objective of this study was to establish a comprehensive theoretical foundation for future oil and gas exploration efforts targeting the Kumugeliemu Formation. The findings revealed a distinct division of the Kumugeliemu Formation into two 3rd order sequences, each characterized by a lowstand systems tract, transgressive systems tract, and highstand systems tract. Moreover, all systems tracts were further subdivided into 14 parasequence sets. During the depositional period of the Kumugeliemu Formation, alluvial fan, delta, and salt lake deposition systems developed from the periphery to the central region of the Kuqa Depression. The alluvial fan mainly exhibited braided channel sedimentary microfacies, whereas the delta region indicated plain distributary channels, submerged distributary channels, and interdistributary sedimentary microfacies. The salt lake area is characterized by shore-shallow lacustrine mud, beach-bar, salt mud flat, and salt flat sedimentary microfacies. Throughout the deposition of the Kumugeliemu Formation, the climate of the Kuqa Depression oscillated between arid and humid. During arid periods, the depression experienced diminished water body extent, heightened salinity levels, and extensive distribution of salt and salt mud flats within the basin, with alluvial fans and delta deposits primarily confined to the basin margins. Conversely, during the humid period, the depression experienced an expansion in the extent of the water bodies, leading to a decrease in salinity levels. The distribution of salt flat and salt mud flat deposits within the basin diminished, whereas alluvial fan and delta deposits advanced extensively across the basin. The establishment and spatial arrangement of the sedimentary system within the Kumugeliemu Formation were governed by a complex interplay of certain factors, such as the semi-closed paleotectonic pattern, paleoclimatic conditions of both dry and wet alternation, and the salt source supply brought by the transgression of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean. The findings of this study offer not only a valuable reference framework for the prospective exploration of hydrocarbon resources within the Kumugeliemu Formation of the Kuqa Depression but also potential insights into the evolution of similar depressions in other basins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, in the mineral flotation process, flotation data are easily influenced by various factors, resulting in non-stationary time series data, which lead to overfitting of prediction models, ultimately severely affecting the accuracy of grade prediction. Thus, this study proposes a de-stationary attention mechanism based on the transformer model (DST) to learn non-stationary information in raw mineral data sequences. First, normalization processing is performed on matched flotation data and mineral grade values, to make the data sequences stationary, thereby enhancing model prediction capabilities. Then, the proposed de-stationary attention mechanism is employed to learn the temporal dependencies of mineral flotation data in the transformed vanilla transformer model, i.e., non-stationary information in the mineral data sequences. Lastly, de-normalization processing is conducted to maintain the mineral prediction results within the same scale as the original data. Compared with existing models such as RNN, LSTM, transformer, Enc-Dec (RNN), and STS-D, the DST model reduced the RMSE by 20.8%, 20.8%, 62.8%, 20.5%, and 49.1%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To meet the complex and diverse demands for low-stress mechanical measurements of fabrics and other flexible materials, two integrated multidimensional force sensors with the same structure but different ranges were explored. They can support both rapid and precise low-noise, high-precision, low-cost, easy-to-use, reliable, and intelligent solutions for the complex measurement of fabric mechanics. Having analysed the mechanical relationship of the parallel beam theory, and considering the specific requirements of fabric measurement, a novel multi-dimensional force sensor is designed, capable of measuring tensile, shear, and buckling properties. Finite element analysis is used to simulate the mechanical performance of this sensor for fabric-loading/unloading measurement, and the sensitivity of the mechanical quantity transfer, the amount of sensor deformation, the stress distribution, and the degree of inter-dimensional coupling have been investigated and verified. The basis for subsequent digital processing is achieved by a low-offset, low-temperature-drift, low-power-consumption analogue front end, 24-bit ADC circuit, and signal conditioning electronics, suitable for the measurement of fabric mechanics under low stress, which is like the end-user requirements. The sensor information channel is supported by a host microcontroller with a DSP and a floating-point processing instruction set. Information processing is performed in time-sharing with the support of a multitasking real-time operating system. The purpose of designing this sensor is to facilitate the development of a new testing instrument, which will adopt the advances of current instruments whilst eliminating their shortcomings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the process of human–robot collaborative assembly, robots need to recognize and predict human behaviors accurately, and then perform autonomous control and work route planning in real-time. To support the judgment of human intervention behaviors and meet the need of real-time human–robot collaboration, the Fast Spatial–Temporal Transformer Network (FST-Trans), an accurate prediction method of human assembly actions, is proposed. We tried to maximize the symmetry between the prediction results and the actual action while meeting the real-time requirement. With concise and efficient structural design, FST-Trans can learn about the spatial–temporal interactions of human joints during assembly in the same latent space and capture more complex motion dynamics. Considering the inconsistent assembly rates of different individuals, the network is forced to learn more motion variations by introducing velocity–acceleration loss, realizing accurate prediction of assembly actions. An assembly dataset was collected and constructed for detailed comparative experiments and ablation studies, and the experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fast progress of artificial intelligence (AI) technology has significantly impacted the field of interpretation. Nonetheless, interpretation education at many Chinese schools and universities is poor quality. It strongly emphasizes theory while providing basic content, resulting in minimal pupil growth. Furthermore, existing interpretation assessment procedures must be revaluated to improve comprehensive instructional growth. Aiming at this problem, this paper systematically constructs the Automatic Interpretation Assessment System by integrating key components. Firstly, this paper explains the significance of interpretation as a cognitive bridge between AI and human cognition by emphasizing the critical relevance of interpretability in AI systems. Second, the research explores the intricacies of the internal workings of backpropagation (BP) neural networks. It explains their structural composition, signal propagation processes, and weight adjustment procedures, all of which are strategically employed to enable optimal learning within the context of the model. Third, it integrates genetic algorithms (GA) with BP neural networks in a unique way, combining the optimization capabilities of GA. This collaborative strategy employs selection, crossover, and mutation strategies to improve system performance and create a strong issue-detection feedback mechanism. Finally, utilizing interpretable AI theory, the study methodically creates the Automatic Interpretation Assessment System. This approach has a three-tier paradigm, with careful evaluation criteria including interpreter ability and skill. The requirements include bilingual competence, extra-lingual knowledge, interpreting abilities, professional excellence, and psychological quality. We comprehensively evaluated using essential parameters such as accuracy, precision, recall, F1 score, and execution time. These results demonstrate that our proposed system excels with an accuracy of 95%, a precision of 94%, a recall of 96%, and an F1-score of 0.95, showcasing its superiority over the other systems. These findings highlight our proposed system effectiveness in reliably assessing interpretation quality and efficient processing capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The permutation flow shop scheduling problem (PFSP) stands as a classic conundrum within the realm of combinatorial optimization, serving as a prevalent organizational structure in authentic production settings. Given that conventional scheduling approaches fall short of effectively addressing the intricate and ever-shifting production landscape of PFSP, this study proposes an end-to-end deep reinforcement learning methodology with the objective of minimizing the maximum completion time. To tackle PFSP, we initially model it as a Markov decision process, delineating pertinent states, actions, and reward functions. A notably innovative facet of our approach involves leveraging disjunctive graphs to represent PFSP state information. To glean the intrinsic topological data embedded within the disjunctive graph's underpinning, we architect a policy network based on a graph isomorphism network, subsequently trained through proximal policy optimization. Our devised methodology is compared with six baseline methods on randomly generated instances and the Taillard benchmark, respectively. The experimental results unequivocally underscore the superiority of our proposed approach in terms of m a k e s p a n and computation time. Notably, the m a k e s p a n can save up to 183.2 h in randomly generated instances and 188.4 h in the Taillard benchmark. The calculation time can be reduced by up to 18.70 s for randomly generated instances and up to 18.16 s for the Taillard benchmark. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation process of FeNiCrCoAl high-entropy alloy at the atomic scale was simulated using molecular dynamics, and its microstructure was analyzed to study its micro-mechanical properties during nanoscale scratching. The simulation results showed that FeNiCrCoAl primarily experienced main frictional forces from the [010] direction and radial frictional forces from the [001] direction during the nanoscale scratching process. All three frictional forces exhibited certain fluctuations, which were partly attributed to the formation of face-centered cubic and hexagonal close-packed atomic structures during frictional wear. In addition, plastic flow was observed continuously within the high-entropy alloy matrix. Furthermore, the effects of temperature and Fe atomic content on the nanoscale scratch characteristics of FeNiCrCoAl high-entropy alloy were investigated. The results indicated that an increase in temperature resulted in a nonlinear decrease in frictional forces and a reduction in the quantity of the two types of phase-transition atomic structures formed. Increasing the Fe atomic content induced lattice distortion effects in the high-entropy alloy, leading to an increase in the potential energy of the matrix and the formation of more phase-transition atomic structures, thus hindering the frictional wear process of FeNiCrCoAl high-entropy alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance the management and protection of crayfish genetic diversity and germplasm resources in Cambaroides dauricus (C. dauricus), a common species of Procambarus clarkii (P. clarkii) was used as a control group to compare the whole mitochondrial genome sequence using Illumina sequencing technology. This study found that the mitochondrial genome of C. dauricus is 15580 bp in length, with a base composition of A (31.84%), G (17.66%), C (9.42%), and T (41.08%) and a C + G content of 27.08%. The C + G in the D-loop is rich in 17.06%, indicating a significant preference. The mitochondrial genome of C. dauricus contains 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, and 2 rRNA genes, with most of the genes labeled in the negative direction, except for a few genes that are labeled in the positive direction. The start codons of the ten coding sequences are ATG, and the quintessential TAA and TAG are the stop codons. This study also found that the Ka/Ks ratios of most protein-coding genes in the mitochondria of both shrimps are lower than 1, indicating weak natural selection, except for nad 2, nad 5, and cox 1. The Ka/Ks ratio of cox 3 is the lowest (less than 0.1), indicating that this protein-coding gene bears strong natural selection pressure and functional constraint in the process of mitochondrial genetic evolution of both shrimps. Furthermore, we constructed phylogenetic analyses based on the entire sequence, which effectively distinguishes the high body from other shrimp species of the genus based on the mitochondrial genome. This study provides molecular genetic data for the diversity investigation and protection of fishery resources with Chinese characteristics and a scientific reference for the evolutionary study of Procambarus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus plants are sensitive to waterlogging, and the roots are the first plant organ affected by hypoxic stress. The AP2/ERF (APETALA2/ethylene-responsive element binding factors) can modulate plant growth and development. However, the information on AP2/ERF genes in citrus rootstock and their involvement in waterlogging conditions is limited. Previously, a rootstock cultivar, Citrus junos cv. Pujiang Xiangcheng was found to be highly tolerant to waterlogging stress. In this study, a total of 119 AP2/ERF members were identified in the C. junos genome. Conserved motif and gene structure analyses indicated the evolutionary conservation of PjAP2/ERFs. Syntenic gene analysis revealed 22 collinearity pairs among the 119 PjAP2/ERFs. The expression profiles under waterlogging stress showed differential expression of PjAP2/ERFs, of which, PjERF13 was highly expressed in both root and leaf. Furthermore, the heterologous expression of PjERF13 significantly enhanced the tolerance of transgenic tobacco to waterlogging stress. The overexpression of PjERF13 decreased the oxidative damage in the transgenic plants by reducing the H2O2 and MDA contents and increasing the antioxidant enzyme activities in the root and leaf. Overall, the current study provided basic information on the AP2/ERF family in the citrus rootstock and uncovered their potential function in positively regulating the waterlogging stress response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although LiNi0.88Co0.09Al0.03O2 with high Ni content has received extensive attention as an inexpensive cathode material possessing high energy density, it also encounters poor cycling issues because of the micro-cracks caused by phase transition and serious side reactions between the electrodes and the electrolyte. In this study, dual-modification of the material is achieved by LiBO2-coating and Mg-doping, aiming to stabilize its crystal structure and reduce its surface activity. Furthermore, a systematic exploration was made into the influence of Mg-doping and LiBO2-coating layers on the particle morphology, crystal structure and electrochemical traits. According to the XRD (X-ray diffraction) outcomes, Mg-doping and LiBO2-coating both expand the interplanar space and lower the Ni2+/Li+ cation mixing. According to the TEM (transmission electron microscopy) and XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) findings, the LiBO2-coating layer is within 25 nm and the Mg-doping heightens the Ni2+ content. In the meanwhile, the electrochemical measurement indicates that dual-modification with LiBO2-coating and Mg-doping was effective in strengthening the discharge ability, rate capability and cycling behavior of LiNi0.88Co0.09Al0.03O2 due to the elevated rate of Li+ diffusion, the constrained electrode side reaction with the electrolyte, and the improved reversibility of the H2 to H3 phase. Besides, the cylindrical 18650 battery with the co-modification cathode show excellent prolonged cycling stability both at room and high temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transferrin plays an important role in iron metabolism and has been reported to be involved in the immune response to environmental stress. In this study, the transferrin gene (LwTf) from Amur ide (Leuciscus waleckii) was cloned and characterized. The cDNA was observed to contain an open reading frame (ORF) of 1998bp and encode a 665-amino-acid-long protein that shares 73.04% identity with the transferrin from silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix). Amino acid alignment analysis showed that LwTf contained an initial peptide and two lobes (N- and C-lobes). Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) analyses showed that the expression levels of LwTf were abundant in the liver of the fish but were also significant in the brain and spleen, with lower expression observed in six other tissues. The temporal expression profiles were detected during the alkaline challenge experiment in alkali-water and freshwater populations of healthy adult Amur ide. LwTf expression was significantly upregulated in the main immune organs (spleen, kidney, and head kidney) of the freshwater Amur ide population compared to that in the alkali-water Amur ide population. Taken together, these results indicate that in Amur ide, LwTf might play an important role in the innate immune response to a high alkaline stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the influence on their offspring health. Methods: Pregnant women with RA (n = 67) who were hospitalized in the Department of Obstetrics, Peking University People's Hospital between January 2007 and September 2021 were included in this study. Participants were evaluated at least once in each trimester and postpartum. Fetal outcomes and RA disease activity were extracted from medical records, and the offspring of enrolled patients were followed up. Associations between RA disease activity, medication use, and pregnancy outcomes were analyzed. Results: The incidence of APOs in our cohort was 43.3%. Postpartum hemorrhage (20.9%) was the commonest complication, followed by premature delivery (11.9%). Previous miscarriages [odds ratio (OR): 1.869, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.053–3.318, P = 0.033] and antinuclear antibody (ANA) positivity (OR:3.168, 95% CI: 1.068–9.768, P = 0.045) were risk factors for APOs. Compared to patients with APOs, the remission rate of disease activity during pregnancy was higher in patients without APOs (P = 0.027). There were no significant differences between patients with and without APOs with respect to daily and cumulative doses of prednisone (P > 0.05). The average age of the offspring was 4.9 years (range 0.3–14 years). Long-term follow-up showed no significant differences in offspring health between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Previous miscarriages and ANA positivity are independent risk factors for APOs in RA patients, while adverse pregnancy outcomes and low-dose prednisone have no effect on offspring health. Key points • Previous miscarriages and ANA positivity are risk factors for APOs in RA patients. • Adverse pregnancy outcomes and low-dose prednisone during pregnancy have no effect on offspring health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on numerical shape functions and the structural stressing state theory, the mechanical properties of the curved prestressed concrete box girder (CPCBG) bridge model under different loading cases are presented. First, the generalized strain energy density (GSED) obtained from the measured strain data is used to represent the stressing state pattern of the structure; then, the stressing state of the concrete section is analyzed by plotting the strain and stress fields of the bridge model. The stressing state pattern and strain fields of the CPCBG are shown to reveal its mechanical properties. In addition, the measured concrete strain data are interpolated by the non-sample point interpolation (NPI) method. The strain and stress fields of the bridge model have been plotted to analyze the stressing state of the concrete cross-section. The internal forces in the concrete sections are calculated by using interpolated strains. Finally, the torsional effects are simulated by measuring the displacements to show the torsional behavior of the cross-section. The analysis and comparison of the internal force and strain fields reveal the common and different mechanical properties of the bridge model. The results of the analysis of the curved bridge model provide a reference for the future rational design of bridge projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitten crab, Eriocheir sensu stricto, is an important indigenous aquatic species and food source in Eastern Asia. Genetic diversity is an important prerequisite for the conservation and utilization of germplasm resources. However, the genetic diversity and differentiation of Eriocheir s. s. remains unclear. This study evaluated population genetic diversity and genetic differentiation of three Eriocheir s. s. populations from Suifenhe (SFH), Liaohe (LH), and Nanliujiang (NLJ), China, based on 19 microsatellite markers. The mean observed number of alleles (Na) was 22.84 alleles, and the mean polymorphism information content (PIC) was 0.86, which demonstrated high genetic diversity. The allele frequency distribution showed an "L" shape, ranging from 0.01 to 0.74. The genetic diversity parameter values of the LH population were higher than those of the other two populations. All pairwise FST values showed significant differences among the three Eriocheir s. s. populations (p < 0.01). The value of Nei's genetic distance (DS) varied from 0.31 (between SFH and NLJ populations) to 0.33 (between SFH and LH populations). Overall, The results illustrate that the three wild Eriocheir s. s. populations have high genetic diversity and high genetic differentiation. This study provides the basis for Eriocheir s. s. utilization in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although metacognition plays a pivotal role in theoretical accounts of mind wandering, their longitudinal relationships have not yet been investigated during the important developmental period of early adolescence. This study aimed to examine the developmental trajectories of spontaneous and deliberate mind wandering and the dynamic associations between metacognition and two types of mind wandering in early adolescence. A sample of 4302 Chinese students beginning in Grade 4 (47.4% female; initial Mage = 9.84, SDage = 0.47) completed questionnaires on five occasions over 2.5 years. The results showed that deliberate mind wandering, but not spontaneous mind wandering, gradually increased from Grade 4 to Grade 6. Metacognition was negatively related to spontaneous mind wandering but positively related to deliberate mind wandering. These findings provide empirical evidence for theoretical viewpoints from both individual differences and developmental perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ubiquitous adoption of public clouds has resulted in the bloom of big data, Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence (AI) and a great capacity for applications. However, the efficient operation of these applications is challenging due to the infrastructure heterogeneity, computing hierarchy, scale distribution, and stochastic user behaviors. Among these challenges, reliability has received intense interest in the cloud community. Most existing research on the reliability of clouds is on fault discovery or fault tolerance. However, a public cloud has a wider range of failures, which makes it difficult to analyze the association between reliability and other indicators. More accurate reliability modeling methods and advanced optimization approaches are needed to ensure the reliable operation of a public cloud. To address these challenges, this article models the reliability of cloud computing from the service perspective and reasonably divides cloud services into the request processing phase and request execution phase when facing multiple users and service types. Moreover, this article combines a variety of AI-based methods, such as autonomous scheduling mechanisms, anomaly detection, and autonomous learning improvement, which can effectively adapt to the dynamic and complex cloud service environment and ensure the service reliability of a public cloud. Numerical results clearly indicate that the proposed service reliability model and autonomous optimizations are efficient for recovering the reliability of cloud computing systems in terms of multiple AI-based failure prognostics and intelligent learning ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to optimize the stiffness and strength and modal characteristics of frame in an electric mining dump truck determined by experiential design, the multi-objectives topology optimization is the most frequently used method. However, each single objective satisfaction degree has fuzziness when it comes to solve engineering problems. In this paper, a novel fuzzy multi-objective topology optimization method based on fuzzy satisfaction variable weight coefficients was presented. Based on the variable density method and SIMP interpolation model, the single objective topology optimization design under different conditions was performed. The fuzzy membership function was utilized to measure the sub-objective fuzzy satisfaction degree of frame. The weight factor of each single objective was dynamically assigned through variable weight approach. In consideration of fatigue stress constraint, the fuzzy multi-objectives topology optimization of frame was conducted through OptiStruct solver. The results showed that the stiffness of optimized frame under forward torsion and post torsion and full torsion conditions was improved by 4.7 %, 7.4 % and 5.4 %, respectively, while the stiffness of optimized frame under bending condition was worsened by 2.7 %. The first order natural frequency of optimized frame was improved by 5.6 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microstructure and γ/γ′ interface misfit of a γ′-richen superalloy during a high-temperature thermal cycle (25–1200 °C) were studied. Then, the analytical models of the total elastic strain energy, plastic work, and mechanical driving force acting on the γ/γ′ interface with respect to misfit were derived to describe the elastic–plastic accommodation of the misfit strain during the thermal cycle. The cubic γ′ precipitate gradually dissolved when the temperature is higher than 900 °C. Tiny secondary γ′ phases precipitated from the supersaturated γ channel during the cooling stage. The lattice misfit was strongly dependent on the variation of the γ′ volume fraction during the thermal cycles. As the elastic–plastic accommodation of the misfit strain, the precipitation of the secondary γ′ had a significant influence on the stress field of the γ matrix. The total molar elastic strain energy first increased and then decreased, reaching a maximum of approximately 600 °C during the cooling stage. The plastic work increased significantly from 1100 to 900 °C, and the increasing trend became smaller when the temperature dropped from 900 to room temperature, which led to the plastic strain gradually accumulate during the cooling process. In addition, the elastic–plastic accommodation of the misfit strain inhibited the precipitation of the secondary γ′ in the cooling stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Characterizing and controlling high-order correlation of quantum systems is key for developing quantum devices and switching technologies. Although conventional static and ultrafast spectroscopy gives access to collective excitations characterizing quantum states, more exotic correlations cannot be easily separated from other contributions. Here we develop density matrix simulations to show that seventh-order-wave-mixing peaks with distinct temperature and field dependences in two-dimensional terahertz nonlinear spectra reveal light-induced correlations in non-equilibrium superconducting states. Above critical terahertz driving, these emerging peaks split from conventional peaks along the second axis introduced by pump-probe relative phase in two-dimensional frequency space. They are photo-generated by correlations between two-photon fluctuations and interacting quasi-particle and quasi-particle/Higgs superconductor excitations. By photo-inducing persistent symmetry breaking via light-wave propagation, we also demonstrate seventh-order-wave-mixing sensing of Higgs collective modes. Our theory suggests to use multi-dimensional spectroscopy for quantum sensing of light-driven superconductivity and paves a path for quantum operations by few-cycle-THz-periodic photocurrent modulation. At ultrafast time scales, for example, through light-matter interactions, exotic phases in quantum systems can be realised but identifying and characterising these phases from other excitations is complex. Here, the authors theoretically demonstrate how to identify the experimental signatures of a non-equilibrium superconducting state using multi-dimensional coherent spectroscopy in the terahertz regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer-modified concrete (PMC) is a promising seismic reinforcement material to improve the ultimate load carrying capacity and ductility of structures. This study investigates the reinforcing effects of PMC on voided concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) columns through axial compression tests on 21 specimens. A meticulous analysis, incorporating void arch height, steel tube thickness, and PMC reinforcement, elucidates failure modes, load-deformation behavior, and strain characteristics. The experimental results demonstrate that PMC reinforcements significantly enhance the structural behavior and load-bearing capacity, improve ductility, and prevent material detachment from excellent bonding and collaborative working properties. A novel calculation model for ultimate load capacity and lateral pressure coefficient of voided CFST columns is developed and validated. Results reveal a distinct improvement in specimen performance post PMC reinforcement, with load-displacement curves resembling intact specimens, mitigating the impact of void defects. Furthermore, PMC-reinforced specimens exhibit effective recovery of load-bearing capacity and ductility, offering a cost-effective alternative to steel tube thickening. Changes in strain and Poisson's ratio curves underscore PMC's ability to restore biaxial compression stress, enhancing stability. Prediction models, rooted in the Double Shear Unified Strength Theory, accurately anticipate ultimate bearing capacity and lateral pressure coefficient, bolstering practical engineering design and repair endeavors. In summation, this study provides comprehensive insights into PMC-reinforced voided CFST columns, facilitating informed structural enhancements and repairs. • PMC demonstrates significant reinforcement effects through its bonding and synergistic properties. • The behavior of specimens is close to that of intact specimens after reinforcement. • Changes in Poisson's ratio reveal the lateral constraint effect on specimens. • Parametric analysis shows PMC boosts specimen strength and ductility. • Theoretical model precisely predicts CFST columns' load capacity and lateral pressure coefficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The ORR on 3d, 4d, and 5d transition metals doped C 7 N 3 (TM-C 7 N 3) are studied by DFT. • All screened TM-C 7 N 3 possess considerable catalytic activity for ORR. • The coordination N atoms can remarkably improve the ORR activity on most of TM-C 7 N 3. • The Rh-C 7 N 3 exhibits best ORR catalytic activity with the overpotential value of 0.32V in this work. Single-atom catalysts (SACs) possess promising potential as materials to catalyze oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on account of high atomic utilization efficiency, tunable electronic structure, and exceptional catalytic performance. The ORR activities of graphite carbonitride (g-C 7 N 3) supported 3d, 4d, and 5d transition metals are investigated. Eleven kinds of TM-C 7 N 3 structures have been found to have good stability by computing formation energy and dissolution potential. Furthermore, density of states analysis shows a strong interaction of the metal atom and the coordination N atoms, which gives satisfactory stability of TM-C 7 N 3. Among eleven TM-C 7 N 3 , the binding energy of reaction species on Rh-C 7 N 3 , Ni-C 7 N 3 , and Pt-C 7 N 3 are closer to those of Pt(111), showing that they have good ORR activity. In addition, good linear relationships exist between the adsorption free energy of *OH (∆ G *OH) and that of *OOH and *O, implying that ∆ G *OH can be put forward as a trustworthy activity descriptor. Promisingly, the η ORR values of Rh-C 7 N 3 , Ni-C 7 N 3 , and Pt-C 7 N 3 are 0.32, 0.38, and 0.44 V, respectively, even lower than the overpotential value of Pt(111). This suggests that these three catalysts demonstrate superior catalytic activity compared to Pt(111). [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the feasibility of applying defect-containing recycled aggregates (RA) in ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) and studied the effect of nanosilica (NS) and steel fiber (SF)) together on its modification. The effects of RA substitution rate, SF content and NS content on the flexural behavior and microstructure of RA-UHPC were analyzed by four-point bending test. The experimental results showed that the specimens without added SF exhibited a linear elastic growth on the load-deflection curve, with a sharp decrease in load after the peak without a significant falling segment. In contrast, the specimens with added SF showed a typical three-phase characteristic with a smoother and flatter descending phase. The cross-distributed SF improves the ductility of the specimens after the peak by bridging effect and changes the damage behavior from quasi-brittle to ductile. Increasing the SF content significantly improved the flexural strength and toughness of the specimens, while increasing the RA substitution rate and NS content slightly decreased the flexural strength. The trends of the residual strengths calculated by the two methods were basically the same, while the specimens with brittle failure had almost no residual strengths. In addition, crack locations could be predicted prior to peak loading using digital image correlation techniques, while SEM analysis revealed the pore space between the cement matrix, interfacial transition zones, and fibers, as well as the ameliorating effects of SF and NS on micro- and macro-scales. These findings are valuable for understanding the flexural mechanism of fiber-nanocomposite concrete. ● RA-UHPC was prepared by incorporating RA in UHPC and co-modified with NS and SF. ● SF improves the flexural strength and toughness of RA-UHPC and transforms its brittleness into ductile failure. ● DIC measurements captured the initiation and evolution patterns of cracks. ● NS filled material's pores and improved ITZ structure between SF and the matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, studies on competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks have become prevalent, and circular RNAs (circRNAs) have crucial implications for the development and progression of carcinoma. However, studies relevant to metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa) are scant. This study aims to discover potential ceRNAs that may be related to the prognosis of mPCa. RNA-Seq data were obtained from the MiOncoCirc database and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Differential expression patterns of RNAs were examined using R packages. Circular RNA Interactome, miRTarBase, miRDB and TargetScan were applied to predict the corresponding relation between circRNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs. The Gene Ontology (GO) annotations were performed to present related GO terms, and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) tools were applied for pathway annotations. Moreover, survival analysis was conducted for the hub genes. We found 820 circRNAs, 81 miRNAs and 179 mRNAs that were distinguishingly expressed between primary prostate cancer (PCa) and mPCa samples. A ceRNA network including 45 circRNAs, 24 miRNAs and 56 mRNAs was constructed. In addition, the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was built, and 10 hub genes were selected by using the CytoHubba application. Among the 10 hub genes, survival analysis showed that ITGA1, LMOD1, MYH11, MYLK, SORBS1 and TGFBR3 were significantly connected with disease-free survival (DFS). The circRNA-mediated ceRNA network provides potential prognostic biomarkers for metastatic prostate cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying the nodes that play significant roles in the epidemic spreading process has attracted extensive attention in recent years. Few centrality measures, such as temporal degree and temporal closeness centrality, have been proposed to quantify node importance based on the topological structure of social contact networks. Most methods estimate the importance of a node from a single aspect, e.g. a higher degree in time snapshot graphs, or shorter distances to other nodes along time-respecting paths. However, this may not be the case in the real world. On the one hand, a node with more nodes on its out streams (i.e. downstream) should be more important because it may affect more nodes along its time-stamped contacting paths once it is infected. On the other hand, a node with more nodes in its in streams (i.e. upstream) deserves closer attention, as it has a higher probability of infection by other nodes. We propose a new temporal centrality measure, upstream and downstream centrality (UD-centrality) with two forms of realizations, i.e. a linear UD-centrality (L-UD) and a product UD-centrality (P-UD) to estimate the importance of nodes based on the temporal structures of social contact networks. We compare our L-UD and P-UD to three classic temporal network centralities through simulations on 14 real-world temporal networks based on the susceptible-infected (SI) model. The comparison results show that UD-centrality can more accurately rank the importance of nodes than the baseline centrality measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanism of bacterial cell size control has been a mystery for decades, which involves the well-coordinated growth and division in the cell cycle. The revolutionary modern techniques of microfluidics and the advanced live imaging analysis techniques allow long term observations and high-throughput analysis of bacterial growth on single cell level, promoting a new wave of quantitative investigations on this puzzle. Taking the opportunity, this theoretical study aims to clarify the stochastic nature of bacterial cell size control under the assumption of the accumulation mechanism, which is favoured by recent experiments on species of bacteria. Via the master equation approach with properly chosen boundary conditions, the distributions concerned in cell size control are estimated and are confirmed by experiments. In this analysis, the inter-generation Green's function is analytically evaluated as the key to bridge two kinds of statistics used in batch-culture and mother machine experiments. This framework allows us to quantify the noise level in growth and accumulation according to experimental data. As a consequence of non-Gaussian noises of the added sizes, the non-equilibrium nature of bacterial cell size homeostasis is predicted, of which the biological meaning requires further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grinding marks is generated on the ground surface after grinding, and it would affect the surface quality, the subsequent polishing process and performance of workpiece. In this paper, the generation mechanism, affecting factors and optimization strategies, and suppression method of grinding marks was summarized. And then, the research trend of grinding marks was pointed out. From the review, some facts about grinding marks were clear. First of all, grinding marks are beneficial or detrimental in different occasions. Besides, the formation of grinding marks is affected by a variety of factors, including the type of processed material, wheel vibration, grinding wheel run out error, grains characteristics, surface structure of grinding wheel, relationship of grinding process parameters, and so on. Meantime, the grinding marks could be optimized with a suitable angle to improve the tribological performance of workpiece and suppressed to enhance the surface quality by truing wheels, matching grinding parameters, subsequent processing methods, and so on. And then, newer and more optimized and suppressed method of grinding marks should be explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brown planthopper [BPH, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål)] is considered one of the most important pests of rice (Oryza sativa L.), which poses a serious threat to rice production. Identifying resistant Oryza germplasm can provide reliable accessions for breeding BPH resistant rice cultivars. In this study, the stem evaluation method (SEM) was first applied to identify the BPH resistance of 1,221 accessions of common wild rice (O. rufipogon Griff.) collected from three different regions of Guangxi Province, China. From this screening, 58 BPH resistant accessions were screened a second time, with 33 accessions ultimately identified as stable, highly resistant germplasm as confirmed by a third identification at the adult‐plant stage. The distribution of the 58 BPH‐resistant common wild rice accessions varies significantly from region to region. Genotypic analyses based on 42 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers revealed that these 58 BPH‐resistant accessions were genetically diverse, reflecting the rich genetic diversity reported in Guangxi common wild rice. Furthermore, results verified that the SEM is efficient for rapid and accurate screening of BPH‐resistant germplasm, especially when a limited number of seeds are available or elite breeding lines need to be screened immediately. Also, SEM is the best method for evaluating BPH resistance at the adult stage because fewer insects are needed, and it is possible to repeat the evaluation in the same crop season. The 33 resistant rice accessions are a potential source of novel BPH resistance genes for developing cultivars with improved BPH resistance. Core Ideas: We used a new stem evaluation method (SEM) to evaluate rice accessions for resistance to BPH.The discovery of these resistant resources will provide more basic resources for further study.Genetic diversity of BPH‐resistant accessions in rice deserves further study.Discovery of resistant resources should focus on sampling from the lower reaches of Xijiang.Guangxi Oryza rufipogon was taken as experimental accessions, which shows superiority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The tumor microenvironment acts a pivotal part in the occurrence and development of tumor. However, there are few studies on the microenvironment of papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC). Our study aims to explore prognostic genes related to tumor microenvironment in PRCC.Methods: PRCC expression profiles and clinical data were extracted from The Cancer Gene Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Immune/stromal scores were performed utilizing the ESTIMATE algorithm. Three hundred fifty-seven samples were split into two groups on the basis of median immune/stromal score, and comparison of gene expression was conducted. Intersect genes were obtained by Venn diagrams. Hub genes were selected through protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction, and relevant functional analysis was conducted by DAVID. We used Kaplan-Meier analysis to identify the correlations between genes and overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Univariate and multivariate cox regression analysis were employed to construct survival model. Cibersort was used to predict the immune cell composition of high and low risk group. Combined nomograms were built to predict PRCC prognosis. Immune properties of PRCC were validated by The Cancer Immunome Atlas (TCIA).Results: We found immune/stromal score was correlated with T pathological stages and PRCC subtypes. Nine hundred eighty-nine differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 1169 DEGs were identified respectively on the basis of immune and stromal score. Venn diagrams indicated that 763 co-upregulated genes and 4 co-downregulated genes were identified. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that 120 genes were involved in tumor prognosis. Then PPI network analysis identified 22 hub genes, and four of which were significantly related to OS in patients with PRCC confirmed by cox regression analysis. Finally, we constructed a prognostic nomogram which combined with influence factors.Conclusions: Four tumor microenvironment-related genes (CD79A, CXCL13, IL6 and CCL19) were identified as biomarkers for PRCC prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last century hundreds of studies have demonstrated that testing is an effective intervention to enhance long-term retention of studied knowledge and facilitate mastery of new information, compared with restudying and many other learning strategies (e.g., concept mapping), a phenomenon termed the testing effect. How robust is this effect in applied settings beyond the laboratory? The current review integrated 48,478 students' data, extracted from 222 independent studies, to investigate the magnitude, boundary conditions, and psychological underpinnings of test-enhanced learning in the classroom. The results show that overall testing (quizzing) raises student academic achievement to a medium extent (g = 0.499). The magnitude of the effect is modulated by a variety of factors, including learning strategy in the control condition, test format consistency, material matching, provision of corrective feedback, number of test repetitions, test administration location and timepoint, treatment duration, and experimental design. The documented findings support 3 theories to account for the classroom testing effect: additional exposure, transfer-appropriate processing, and motivation. In addition to their implications for theory development, these results have practical significance for enhancing teaching practice and guiding education policy and highlight important directions for future research. Public Significance Statement: Testing (class quizzing) yields a variety of learning benefits, even though learners, instructors, and policymakers tend to lack full metacognitive insight into the virtues of testing. The current meta-analysis finds a reliable advantage of testing over other strategies in facilitating learning of factual knowledge, concept comprehension, and knowledge application in the classroom. Overall, testing is not only an assessment of learning but also an assessment for learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates a novel micro-channel flat separated loop heat pipe system for cooling the information technology equipment in the data centres through theoretical and experimental analysis and by assessing the impact of the inlet water temperature on system performance. A computer model is developed to simulate the steady-state performance of the micro-channel flat separated loop heat pipe system. After comparing the experimental and modelling results, the new and conventional system under the same working conditions, the model is validated yielding high accuracy in predicting the performance of the micro-channel flat separated loop heat pipe system with recorded error being limited to 2.16–8.97%. The new system has better performance than the conventional system. Under the operating conditions of heat load intensity of 1,000 W/m2, water flow rate of 0.28 m3/h, refrigerant filling rate of 30%, ambient air temperature of 26°C, and evaporator and condenser height difference of 0.8 m, the performance of the system has been explored at inlet temperature from 15 to 24°C with increments of 3°C. The system's averaged heat transfer efficiency was found to decrease with the increase in inlet temperature. This research provides valuable insight into the data centre information technology equipment cooling, which is of great significance for energy saving and environmentally friendly operation of data centres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The synergistic modification of RAC with nano-silica and hybrid fibers were investigated. • The workability, strength, and microstructure of RAC with different parameters. • DIC measurement effectively displays crack propagation. • 3D-CT scanning characterizes NS particles changing specific pore spaces. The present study was conducted to meet the demand of the construction schedule for emergency repair and construction in special projects by using the recycled aggregates produced by mechanically crushing the demolished materials on-site. The study aims to modify recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) by incorporating silica nanoparticles (NS) and mixed fibers together to meet the needs of the above special project. Here, the properties of 21 kinds of concrete with different NS contents and mixed proportions of fibers were tested, including their fresh properties, hardening properties and microstructure. Their working properties in the fresh state were studied by measuring slump and unit weight; while the mechanical properties after hardening were mainly evaluated in terms of compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, modulus of elasticity and flexural strength, and here the flexural toughness as well as the residual strength of the specimens were calculated using two methods. In addition, the effects of different NS contents, steel fibers and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers on crack development and water absorption were investigated in the microstructure. The pores between the cement matrix, interfacial transition zone (ITZ) and fibers and how they are alteredby NS were characterized by SEM and 3D-CT scans. All these results indicate that NS content has a significant effect on both the workability and mechanical properties of RAC, that steel fibers are beneficial to improve the overall mechanical index of RAC, while PVA fibers have a limited enhancement effect, and that NS particles in the microstructure help to fill the pores of 0.001–0.01 mm3 volume in the cement matrix and improve the performance of the ITZ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a Bacillus megaterium-coated diet on growth performance, digestive enzymes, and intestinal microbial diversity in Songpu mirror carp (Cyprinus specularis Songpu). The fish were manually fed two diets (a control diet and a B. megaterium-coated diet) three times daily until apparent satiation for 56 days. Compared with the control group, supplementation with the B. megaterium-coated diet enhanced the fish growth and significantly reduced the feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05). The activities of foregut amylase and lipase in the treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The activities of foregut, midgut, and hindgut proteases in the treatment group were all higher than those in the control group (P > 0.05). The results of sequencing the 16S rDNA genes of the microbiota through high-throughput sequencing showed that the diversity and abundance of the intestinal microflora increased along with Songpu mirror carp growth. The Songpu mirror carp fed a diet coated with B. megaterium displayed increased proportions of intestinal Bacillus and Lactococcus at the genus level, and both were significantly higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05). These results therefore suggest that dietary B. megaterium application can improve the growth and digestive enzyme activity of Songpu mirror carp and enrich the beneficial genus composition of its main intestinal microflora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. The number and activity of circulating EPCs were enhanced in premenopausal women contrast to postmenopausal females and age-matched males. Here, we investigated whether this favorable effect exists in premenopausal women and age-matched men with cigarette smoking. Methods. In a cross-sectional study, the number and activity of circulating EPCs and nitric oxide production (NO) as well as flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) in both premenopausal women and age-matched men with or without cigarette smoking were studied. Results. Compared with age-matched men with or without smoking, the number and function of circulating EPCs as well as NO level in premenopausal women were obviously higher than that in the former and not affected by smoking. The number and function of circulating EPCs as well as NO level in male smokers were shown to be the most strongly inhibited. Furthermore, there was significant correlation between EPC number and activity, plasma NO level, and NO secretion by EPCs and FMD. Conclusions. Estradiol was deemed to play an important role in enhancing the number and activity of EPCs and NO production in premenopausal women even when affected by smoking, which may be the important mechanisms underlying vascular protection of estradiol in premenopausal women, but not in age-matched men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significant and persistent trajectory-to-trajectory variance are commonly observed in particle tracking experiments, which have become a major challenge for the experimental data analysis. In this theoretical paper we investigate the ergodicity recovery behavior, which helps clarify the origin and the convergence of trajectory-to-trajectory fluctuation in various heterogeneous disordered media. The concepts of self-averaging and ergodicity are revisited in the context of trajectory analysis. The slow ergodicity recovery and the non-Gaussian diffusion in the annealed disordered media are shown as the consequences of the central limit theorem in different situations. The strange ergodicity recovery behavior is reported in the quenched disordered case, which arises from a localization mechanism. The first-passage approach is introduced to the ergodicity analysis for this case, of which the central limit theorem can be employed and the ergodicity is recovered in the length scale of diffusivity correlation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a (molecular) graph G , the first and the second entire Zagreb indices are defined by the formulas M 1 ε G = ∑ x ∈ V G ∪ E G d x 2 and M 2 ε G = ∑ x is either adjacent or incident to y d x d y in which d x represents the degree of a vertex or an edge x. In the current manuscript, we establish some lower bounds on the first and the second entire Zagreb indices and determine the extremal trees which achieve these bounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report new U–Pb isotopic data for detrital zircons from Cambrian–Ordovician strata on the northern margin of the western Yangtze Block, which together with published U–Pb isotopic data for coeval strata in the South China Block, provide critical constraints on the provenance of these sediments and further shed light on the early Palaeozoic position of the South China Block in the context of Gondwana. Detrital zircons in this study yield four major age peaks in the early Palaeoproterozoic, early Neoproterozoic, middle Neoproterozoic and late Neoproterozoic – early Palaeozoic. The dominant age population of 900–700 Ma matches well with magmatic ages from the nearby Panxi–Hannan Belt, which indicates that Cambrian–Ordovician sedimentary rocks in the western Yangtze Block were mainly of local derivation. However, compilations of detrital zircon ages for the Cambrian–Ordovician strata from the Cathaysia Block and the eastern Yangtze Block show that both blocks are dominated by late Mesoproterozoic- and early Neoproterozoic-aged detrital zircons, which suggests a remarkable exotic input with typical Gondwana signatures. According to the integrated detrital zircon age spectra of the Cambrian–Ordovician sedimentary rocks from the entire South China Block and palaeocurrent data, the South China Block should have been linked with North India and Western Australia within East Gondwana. Specifically, the Cathaysia Block was located adjacent to Western Australia, while the Yangtze Block was connected with North India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Histidine kinase (HK) of two-component signal transduction system (TCS) is a potential drug target for treating bacterial infections, and most HKs are bifunctional. We have previously identified the HXXXT motif of HK in HisKA subfamily to perform the phosphatase activity, but the specific working mechanism of the threonine is not well understood. In this paper, we use the phosphate group analog BeF 3 − to capture the enzymatic intermediates between HK853 and RR468 from Thermotoga maritima during dephosphorylation, and demonstrate that the T264 site is essential for populating capable near attack conformers (NAC) between enzyme and substrate to facilitate catalysis. Importantly, mutations at this site can modulate the phosphatase activity of HK. Our results help to understand the TCS signal transduction mechanisms and provide a reference for drug design. • Capture the intermediate state of HK853 enzymatic reaction. • Construct HK853 mutants with different activities based on near attack conformation theory. • Clarify the cooperation between T and H in the H×××T motif. • Elucidate the important role of T264 in the formation of near attack conformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unsteady one‐dimensional flows of two incompressible and immiscible generalized second grade fluids in a rectangular channel are studied. A constant pressure gradient acts in the flow direction, while the channel walls have oscillating translational motions in their planes. The generalization considered in this paper consists into a mathematical model based on constitutive equations of second grade fluid with Caputo time‐fractional derivative in which the history of the shear stress influences the velocity gradient. The velocity and shear stress fields in the Laplace transform domain are obtained. Numerical solutions for the real velocity and shear stress have been found by employing the Stehfest numerical algorithm for the inverse Laplace transform. The influence of the fractional parameters on the velocity and shear stress has been studied by numerical simulations and graphical illustrations. It is found that the memory effects are significant only for small values of the time t. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To predict the Fuhrman grade of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) with a machine learning classifier based on single- or three-phase computed tomography (CT) images. Materials and methods: Patients with pathologically proven ccRCC from February 1, 2009 to September 31, 2018 who were not treated were retrospectively collected for machine learning-based analysis. The texture features were extracted and ranked from precontrast phase (PCP), corticomedullary phase (CMP), nephrographic phase (NP) and three-phase CT images, and open-source gradient boosting from the decision tree library of CatBoost was used to establish a machine learning classifier to differentiate low- from high-grade ccRCC. The performances of machine learning classifiers based on features from single- and three-phase CT images were compared with each other. Results: A total of 231 patients with 232 pathologically proven ccRCC lesions were retrospectively collected. 35, 36, 41, and 22 Features were extracted and ranked from PCP, CMP, NP, and three-phase CT images, respectively. The machine learning model based on three-phase CT images [area under the ROC curve (AUC) = 0.87] achieved the best diagnostic performance for differentiating low- from high-grade ccRCC, followed by single-phase NP (AUC = 0.84), CMP (AUC = 0.80), and PCP images (AUC = 0.82). Conclusion: Machine learning classifiers can be promising noninvasive techniques to differentiate low- and high-Fuhrman nuclear grade ccRCC, and classifiers based on three-phase CT images are superior to those based on features from each single phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employing hypernetted chain (HNC) integral equations and a stability analysis we investigate the structure and phase behavior of bidisperse mixtures of dipolar hard spheres with different size ratios s=σS/σL confined to a plane. The dipole moments of the particles are perfectly ordered along an in-plane direction, yielding anisotropic interactions favoring chain formation. Exploring a range of size ratios and compositions, our study predicts a complex interplay between aggregation phenomena, on the one hand, and volume phase transitions, on the other hand. In dilute, strongly asymmetric systems (s = 0.5), our HNC analysis indicates chain formation of the large particles, while the small particles act as a weakly correlated background. According to our fluctuation analysis, this aggregation behavior results in combined condensation-demixing transitions, with a trend towards pure demixing when the concentration of the large particles, cL, becomes small. In dense systems, the most interesting results are found for intermediate size ratios, s ∼ 0.7-0.8. Here we find signatures of a concentration-driven transition from pure chains of large particles (large cL) to mixed chains with alternating order of large and small particles (small cL). The two regimes are separated by a characteristic 'jump' in the HNC non-solution line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this manuscript, an introduced ionic liquids-ethylene glycol-KOH electrolyte system is proposed. Theoretical calculations and experiments show that ionic liquids with stronger hydrophobicity provide better corrosion inhibition for their spontaneous adsorption behavior and water molecule segregation. In this process, the imidazole ring cations play a major role. The electrolyte system reconstructs the Al/electrolyte interface with poor H 2 O, thus has lower self-corrosion rate for [BMIM]PF 6 and contributes to the uniform dissolution of Al anode. Additionally, discharge performance of the full-cell feature same trend, endowing an outstanding capacity of 1971 mAh g−1 and anode utilization of 66.2% in alkaline [BMIM]PF 6 -ethylene glycol electrolyte. In terms of maintaining the activity of the Al-6061 anode whilst keeping low corrosion rate level, the proposed electrolyte system seems to be potential alternative. [Display omitted] • An aluminum-ionic liquid-alkaline electrolyte interface is constructed for Al-air batteries. • Al-molecular H 2 O-poor interface significantly suppresses the self-corrosion via the initiative adsorption of ionic liquid. • Imidazole ring of studied ionic liquids plays a dominant role in the adsorption behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of road trips and car campsites depends on the construction of road infrastructure. The development of road trips and car campsites is described as follows: • Since 2016, high-speed rail travel and road travel have become the mainstream, and people's travel patterns have undergone significant changes. • China's self-drive tour industry is growing steadily. In 2016, the number of self-drive tour employees reached 2.64 billion, up 12.8% year on year, accounting for 59.5% of the total domestic tourism. • Due to the differences in economic development, transportation infrastructure and tourist attractions in different regions, the proportion of self-drive trips ranged from 49 percent to 65 percent. Road trips in Beijing remained the most popular form of road trips, accounting for 84.32 percent of the total. • In September 2016, six national ministries and commissions jointly issued the Notice on Accelerating the Construction of Self-driving RV Camp [1]. The implementation of the paid leave system, the improvement of road infrastructure, the regulation of scenic spots and the regulation of market behavior have all promoted the significant expansion of motor campsites, thus promoting the development of leisure tourism in China. The development of self-driving tourism and automobile campgrounds depends on the construction of road infrastructure. In this study, we utilized aeronautical reconnaissance coverage geographic information system (ArcGIS), spatial analysis technology and accessibility model to quantitatively examine the accessibility and spatial pattern of automobile campgrounds in Beijing. Our findings reveal that Beijing's automobile campgrounds exhibit a circular distribution pattern, with decreasing accessibility from the center to the periphery areas. The overall accessibility maintains high-level road directivity, with an average travel time to automobile campgrounds ranging from 0.028 to 3.37 h. Access to automobile campgrounds is higher in the central and southern-central regions compared to the northwest and southwest regions, highlighting a highly unbalanced spatial pattern of accessibility. Finally, we provide suggestions for optimizing the accessibility of automobile campgrounds in Beijing based on our research. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser-driven coherent phonons can act as modulated strain fields and modify the adiabatic ground state topology of quantum materials. Here we use time-dependent first-principles and effective model calculations to simulate the effect of the coherent phonon induced by strong terahertz electric field on electronic carriers in the topological insulator ZrTe5. We show that a coherent A1g Raman mode modulation can effectively pump carriers across the band gap, even though the phonon energy is about an order of magnitude smaller than the equilibrium band gap. We reveal the microscopic mechanism of this effect which occurs via Landau–Zener-Stückelberg tunneling of Bloch electrons in a narrow region in the Brillouin zone center where the transient energy gap closes when the system switches from strong to weak topological insulator. The quantum dynamics simulation results are in excellent agreement with recent pump-probe experiments in ZrTe5 at low temperature. Coherent phonons can modify the wavefunction topology of quantum materials, yet the implications for electron dynamics remain to be addressed. The authors use time-dependent approaches to simulate the effect of coherent phonons, induced by strong terahertz laser field, on the electronic carrier dynamics in the topological insulator Zirconium Pentatelluride. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]