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In this paper, steel–polyethylene hybrid fiber-reinforced strain-hardening cementitious composites (HECC) are applied in beam–column external joint core region to form a novel HECC/reinforced concrete (RC) composite beam–column joint with reduced anchorage length of beam longitudinal rebar and eliminated transverse rebar, and thus to alleviate rebar congestion and simplify the construction process efficiently especially for precast RC frame structures. Five external beam–column joint specimens are constructed and tested under cyclic loading to illustrate the influences of the anchorage length of beam longitudinal rebar and longitudinal rebar ratio on the seismic performance of beam–column joint. The effects of design parameters on seismic performance, including hysteresis behavior, degradation of strength, energy dissipation capacity, and cracking patterns are discussed in detail. Experimental results indicate that the replacement of normal concrete with HECC in beam–column joint core region could apparently reduce the amount of stirrups in the joint core area while maintaining reliable seismic behavior. Remarkably, specimen with no stirrups in the core area exhibits nearly equivalent seismic behavior to that of the control RC specimen. Furthermore, the application of HECC in joint core area allows for a substantial reduction of the required anchorage length for the beam longitudinal rebar to 9d, which further simplifies the construction process considerably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To avoid the unexpected aggregation and reduce the cytotoxicity of nanomaterials as optical probes in cell imaging applications, we propose a programmed DNA-cube as a carrier for silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) to construct a specific hydrogen sulfide (H2S) responsive platform (Ag NP@DNA-cube) for diagnosing colorectal cancer (CRC) in this study. The DNA-cube maintains good dispersion of Ag NPs while providing excellent biocompatibility. Based on the characteristic overexpression of endogenous H2S in CRC cells, the Ag NPs are etched by H2S within target cells into silver sulfide quantum dots, thereby selectively illuminating the target cells. The Ag NP@DNA-cube exhibits a specific fluorescence response to CRC cells and achieves satisfactory imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) has garnered significant attention due to its unconditional security based on the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics. While QKD has been demonstrated by various groups and commercial QKD products are available, the development of a fully chip-based QKD system, aimed at reducing costs, size, and power consumption, remains a significant technological challenge. Most researchers focus on the optical aspects, leaving the integration of the electronic components largely unexplored. In this paper, we present the design of a fully integrated electrical control chip for QKD applications. The chip, fabricated using 28 nm CMOS technology, comprises five main modules: an ARM processor for digital signal processing, delay cells for timing synchronization, ADC for sampling analog signals from monitors, OPAMP for signal amplification, and DAC for generating the required voltage for phase or intensity modulators. According to the simulations, the minimum delay is 11ps, the open-loop gain of the operational amplifier is 86.2 dB, the sampling rate of the ADC reaches 50 MHz, and the DAC achieves a high rate of 100 MHz. To the best of our knowledge, this marks the first design and evaluation of a fully integrated driver chip for QKD, holding the potential to significantly enhance QKD system performance. Thus, we believe our work could inspire future investigations toward the development of more efficient and reliable QKD systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinal cord injury (SCI) encompasses various pathological processes, notably neuroinflammation and apoptosis, both of which play significant roles. CTLA-4, a well-known immune molecule that suppresses T cell-mediated immune responses, is a key area of research and a focal point for targeted therapy development in treating tumors and autoimmune disorders. Despite its prominence, the impact of CTLA-4 inhibition on inflammation and apoptosis subsequent to SCI remains unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the influence of CTLA-4 on SCI. A weight-drop technique was used to establish a rat model of SCI. To examine the safeguarding effect of CTLA-4 on the restoration of motor function in rats with SCI, the Basso–Beattie–Bresnahan (BBB) scale and inclined plane test were employed to assess locomotion. Neuronal degeneration and apoptosis were assessed using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) and Fluoro-Jade B labeling, respectively, and the activity of microglial cells was examined by immunofluorescence. To evaluate the impact of CTLA4 on SCI, the levels of inflammatory markers were measured. After treatment with the CTLA-4 inhibitor ipilimumab, the rats showed worse neurological impairment and more severe neuroinflammation after SCI. Furthermore, the combination therapy with ipilimumab and durvalumab after SCI had more pronounced effects than treatment with either inhibitor alone. These findings indicate that CTLA-4 contributes to neuroinflammation and apoptosis after SCI, presenting a promising new therapeutic target for this traumatic condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, vanadium diselenide (VSe2), a member of transition metal dichalcogenides, has attracted a great deal of interest in spintronic devices and memory devices due to its unique physical properties. However, it is still a challenge to prepare a continuous VSe2 thin film which is critical for its potential application. Here, we report a continuous single-crystalline 1T-VSe2 thin film grown on mica by pulsed laser deposition. Both x-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy verify the van der Waals epitaxy of the VSe2/mica heterostructure. Free-standing and flexible VSe2 thin films can be obtained and combined with integrated circuit technology, which is of great significance for the application of two-dimensional materials in the field of multifunctional flexible electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although scholars have researched Chinese parents' perspectives on play pedagogy, few investigate the differences between parents of preschoolers and early primary schoolers, non-immigrant and immigrant parents. The present study employs the theoretical framework of parental ethnotheories to describe parental understanding and concerns about the use of play in supporting young children's English learning in China. The nine participants included parents of preschoolers and/or primary schoolers who were non-immigrant and immigrant Chinese parents in Canada. Findings revealed different types of discrepancies concerning parental beliefs and practices. First, there was a gap between parents' beliefs and their practices regarding child-rearing and education. Second, in terms of understanding play, Chinese parents held a slightly different perspective compared to that of western parents in other studies, showing that Chinese parents only valued play's supporting role in the development of non-cognitive aspects, such as improving interest in learning English. Third, parents of preschoolers and early primary schoolers held conflicting attitudes toward the use of play in children's learning. Fourth, immigrant Chinese parents were inclined to follow traditional Chinese notions of child-rearing, revealing discrepant perceptions about child play and rearing compared to western knowing of child-rearing in previous studies. The findings raise implications for educators to balance the pedagogical perspectives of child development and parental ethnotheories of child development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gantry-type dual-axis platforms can be used to move heavy loads or perform precision CNC work. Such gantry systems drive a single axis with two linear motors, and under heavy loads, a high driving force is required. This can generate a pulling force between the drive shafts in the coupling mechanism. In these situations, when a synchronization error becomes too large, mechanisms can become deformed or damaged, leading to damaged equipment, or in industrial settings, an additional power consumption. Effectively and accurately acquiring the synchronized movement of the platform is important to reduce energy consumption and optimize the system. In this study, a fractional-order fuzzy PID controller (FOFPID) using Oustaloup's recursive filter is used to control a synchronous X–Y gantry-type platform. The optimized controller parameters are obtained by the measurement of control errors in a simulated environment. Four optimization methods are tested and compared: particle swarm optimization, invasive weed optimization, a gray wolf optimizer, and biogeography-based optimization. The systems were tested and compared in order to optimize the control parameters. Each of the four algorithms is simulated on four contour shapes: a circle, bow, heart, and star. The simulations and control scheme of the experiments are implemented using MATLAB, and the reference paths were planned using non-uniform rational B-splines (NURBS). After running the simulations to determine the optimal control parameters, each set of acquired control parameters is also tested and compared in the experiments and the results are recorded. Both the simulations and experiments show good results, and the tracking of the X–Y platform showed improved performance. Two performance indices are used to determine and validate the relative performance of the models and results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • This study shows how the delta robot was designed to physically pick-and-place MSW. • Combined with the YOLO-based model, the robot forms the Intelligent MSW Sorter. • IMSWS could automatically sort the multiple MSWs on the conveyor belt. • The mechanical efficiency of the robot dominated IMSWS performance. • Compared with the MSW detection, IMSWS must improve the mechanical efficiency first. Sorting Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) has helped promote the awareness of sustainable development of environment. A robot equipped with an intelligent deep learning (DL) detection algorithm have been proposed to improve the sorting task. But most of the related studies aimed to better the DL algorithms on MSW detection, and few studies integrated the DL algorithms with a robot to identify the dominated factors to Intelligent MSW Sorter (IMSWS). Therefore, this study is to develop IMSWS prototype to better sort MSW, based on the pick-and-place process, and preliminarily evaluate the dominated factors. First, the delta robot prototype was manufactured, and IMSWS was performed with a camera to acquire the RGB image and the height of a MSW in the conveyor belt. The DL algorithm, YOLOv3 or YOLOv4, detected the type and plane location of the MSWs in the conveyor belt. Next, the sequence program transferred the valid MSW data to the delta robot. After the calculation of the absorbed location of the target MSW was made, the arm of this delta robot moved to absorb and then transfer the MSW to the bin. Results showed that the IMSWS prototype could sort the multi-object MSWs in the MSW stream. Both YOLOv3 and YOLOv4 reached high detection accuracy on the MSW image dataset. However, the improvement should be made in the actually moving MSW stream even though the YOLOv4 performed the acceptable detection accuracy. The gripping stability of the arm mainly dominated the performance of IMSWS, and this should be improved first. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerium oxide (CeO 2) is well known to be reducible by hydrogen (H 2), yet the diffusion and solution properties of hydrogen in ceria at elevated temperatures have remained challenging to evaluate. We therefore fabricated nanometer-thin (∼100 nm) cerium oxide films on Si(111) substrates by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and quantitatively investigated the H depth distributions therein by means of resonant 1H(15N,αγ)12C nuclear reaction analysis (NRA) before and after annealing in H 2 gas at 773–973 K. X-ray diffraction (XRD), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) reveal that the as-deposited films exhibit single phase CeO 2 structure and partially reduced stoichiometry (CeO 1.69). H 2 annealing does not largely change the H content of the as-deposited films; in all conditions several atomic percent of hydroxyl (OH) are found to exist in a thin (∼4 nm) surface layer, whereas stably bound hydrogen in the bulk of the films is almost uniformly distributed and of much smaller quantity (∼0.2 at.%) than the oxygen vacancy concentration in the partially reduced ceria. Its low concentration and high thermal stability identify this bulk H species as likely being strongly bound to defects in the polycrystalline films rather than as a hydride species that interacts weakly with O-vacancies. The H diffusion coefficient and activation energy in the ceria films are determined as > 10−18 m2 s−1 at 773–973 K and <1.69 eV, respectively. The observed diffusion activation energy is somewhat larger than theoretical predictions for thermal diffusion of H in stoichiometric bulk CeO 2 , suggesting that defects and oxygen vacancies in the PLD-fabricated ceria thin films possibly have an impact on the H mobility. [Display omitted] • As-deposited films (∼100 nm) are partially reduced stoichiometry (CeO 1.69). • H 2 annealing of CeO 2-x films at 773–973 K results in a partial depletion of OH groups. • H is quite stable as OH in the surface layer up to about 4 nm, but not as hydride in the bulk. • The H species observed in the bulk of the films are rather small abundance (∼0.2 at.%). • Imperfections and vacancies are likely routes for hydrogen diffusion in CeO 2-x thin films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is imperative to achieve the high-quality development of fisheries and green transformation of mariculture. Based on the data of marine aquaculture fisheries in China from 2006 to 2019, this research uses the Super-SBM (Slacks-Based Measure) model to measure the efficiency of marine green aquaculture in China and analyzes the regional gap, evolution trend, and driving factors of marine green aquaculture efficiency in nine coastal provinces in China. The results are as follows: (1) The Super-SBM measurement results showed that the efficiency of marine green aquaculture in China showed a fluctuating upward trend from 2006 to 2019. The results of nuclear density estimation and Dagum Gini coefficient show that there is an obvious regional gap in the efficiency of marine green aquaculture in China, and the regional gap is increasing with time. The Dagum Gini coefficient decomposition results show that inter-regional differences and supervariable density differences were the main sources of marine green aquaculture efficiency. The results of barycentric elliptic standard deviation show that the gravity center of marine green aquaculture efficiency in China shifted to the south from 2006 to 2019, indicating that the efficiency of marine green aquaculture in southern China has had a high degree of improvement. (2) The spatial Markov chain results show that spatial proximity plays a key role in the state transfer of marine green aquaculture efficiency. The higher the efficiency of marine green aquaculture in neighboring provinces, the greater the effect on improving the efficiency of marine green aquaculture in the province. The state transfer of marine green aquaculture efficiency usually occurs between similar horizontal states, and there is less "leapfrog" transfer. (3) The results of the geographic detector show that the number of professional mariculture practitioners is the core driving factor and plays a leading role in the regional gap in the efficiency of marine green aquaculture in China. The explanatory power of the interaction of the two factors on the regional gap of marine green aquaculture efficiency is more than 90%, which is much higher than the explanatory power of a single factor. The regional gap of marine green aquaculture efficiency is the result of multiple driving factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition‐metal phosphides prepared from temperature‐programmed reduction (TPR) are generally known to be unstable and prone to surface structure decomposition upon exposure to air. In this work, air‐stable molybdenum phosphide (MoP) was prepared using TPR modified by sulfur. This catalyst was exposed to ambient atmosphere for up to 150 days and still maintained its surface and bulk structures as the fresh sample derived from in situ reduction. The metal phosphosulfide phase generated during TPR not only contributes to the solid structural properties but also exhibits superior catalytic activity in various hydrofining reactions compared to traditional MoP catalysts. Additionally, this preparation strategy was used to synthesize other sulfur‐doped metal phosphides, such as CoP and Cu3P. Both of these catalysts exhibited excellent air‐stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have conducted Mo isotope analyses of granites and related hydrothermal molybdenite from six Sn-W deposits in the western belt of the Southeast Asian Tin Province (Myanmar and Yunnan, China). Our data show that tin granites have notably heavier Mo isotope compositions (avg. δ98Mo = 0.44 ‰) than arc lavas (avg. δ98Mo = −0.12 ‰). The lack of systematic variation of Mo isotope composition with SiO2, Differentiation Index, Rb/Sr, and Zr/Hf values of the studied tin granites suggests there was no Mo isotope fractionation caused by fractional crystallization of the reduced magma. We infer that the elevated Mo isotope compositions in tin granites are mainly inherited from reduced sedimentary sources with black shales (avg. δ98Mo = 0.44 ‰). We also observed remarkable Mo isotope fractionation during the magmatic-hydrothermal transition. The preferential incorporation of Mo4+ and isotopically light Mo into magmatic sulfides and partitioning of Mo6+ and heavy Mo isotopes into hydrothermal fluids account for significant fluid-melt fractionation of Mo isotopes during fluid exsolution from the reduced melt. The elevated Mo isotope composition in hydrothermal molybdenite from granite-related Sn-W deposits compared to that of porphyry Cu–Mo deposits derives from both the notably heavy Mo isotope signature of the reduced sedimentary sources and fluid-melt fractionation of Mo isotopes during the magmatic-hydrothermal transition. The sequestration of Mo during crystallization of reduced melt and the low Mo precipitation efficiency in the hydrothermal evolution prevents the formation of economic Mo mineralization in reduced magmatic-hydrothermal systems. Combined with published data from different Mo sinks, we propose a Mo cycling and isotope fractionation model for arc and back-arc systems of Andean-type subduction settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the multiple Mottronic and electronic phase transitions as recently discovered in nickelates (e.g., ReNiO3) open up a new paradigm in correlated electronic applications, these applications are largely impeded by the intrinsic material metastability of the perovskite nickelates. Herein, the study demonstrates the analogous multiple electronic phase transition properties in the thermodynamically stable NiO, compared to ReNiO3, from both perspectives of band gap regulation and orbital filling regulation. The adjustment in band gap of NiO with t2g6eg2 orbital configuration is achieved via establishing biaxial tensile or compressive interfacial strains that increase or reduce the material resistivity, respectively. The relaxor ferroelectricity of 0.7Pb(Mg2/3Nb1/3)O3‐0.3PbTiO3 (PMNPT) further enables an electric field adjustable resistance switch (ΔR/R) within NiO/PMNPT heterostructure with higher performances (e.g., ΔR/R of 82% upon a bias voltage of 20 V) than the reported oxides/PMNPT heterostructure. Furthermore, the magnitude in resistance switch of the tensile strained NiO via hydrogenation associated Mottronic process reaches ≈1011 that exceeds the previously reported ones. This study highlights the higher material stability and easier growth of NiO, compared to ReNiO3, with analogous multiple Mottronic and electronic phase transition properties that pave the way to its practical applications in correlated electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Regarding trochanteric hip fractures, one type of posterior coronal fragments was described as the "banana-shaped fragment", while the impact of the banana-shaped fragment on mechanical stability has not been further studied. The current study investigated the association between the banana-shaped fragment and mechanical complications after surgery. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 273 patients treated by proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) in the full analysis. The age, the sex, the fracture side, the follow-up time, the American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, the operators, the fracture classification, the tip-apex distance, the blade positions, the reduction quality and the bone mineral density were analyzed in relation to mechanical complications, through univariate and multivariate approaches. Results: Mechanical complications happened in 33 patients. The banana-shaped fragment (adjusted odds ratio 5.240, 95% CI 2.172 to 12.641; p < 0.001), the tip-apex distance and the reduction quality showed significant association with mechanical complications in both univariate and multivariate analysis. Moreover, for 118 patients with the banana-shaped fragment, we found that the use of wire cerclage couldn't significantly lower the rates of mechanical complications (p = 0.648). Conclusions: The banana-shaped fragment had a negative impact on mechanical stability of trochanteric hip fractures treated by PFNA. In the perioperative period, the BSF should be carefully evaluated, and its specific handling deserves further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To screen out suitable electrode materials and overcome the shortcomings of the existed electrode materials for the application in dye-sensitized solar cells and supercapacitors, NiS 2 /reduced graphene oxide (NiS 2 /rGO) composite material was prepared by a simple one-step hydrothermal method in this paper and applied in the field of both dye-sensitized solar cells and supercapacitors as electrode material. In an electrolyte of 6 M KOH, the NiS 2 /rGO composite material with bilayer capacitance characteristics exhibited a high specific capacitance of 259.20 F g−1 at the current density of 0.6 A g−1, which was significantly higher than that of rGO (188.94 F g−1). Moreover, at a current density of 2 A g−1, the NiS 2 /rGO composite material had 92.85% capacitance retention after 2000 cycles. When applied as counter electrode material for the dye-sensitized solar cells, the NiS 2 /rGO composite material counter electrode exhibited a satisfactory photoelectric conversion efficiency (η) of 3.16% under standard simulated sunlight (AM 1.5 G), which was significantly higher than that of single rGO counter electrode (improved by 90.40%). The NiS 2 /rGO composite electrode material prepared by a simple one-step hydrothermal method is a potential bi-functional composite electrode materials for both dye-sensitized solar cells and supercapacitors. [Display omitted] • NiS 2 /reduced graphene oxide composite was prepared by one-step hydrothermal method. • NiS 2 /reduced graphene oxide exhibits excellent electrochemical performance. • High photoelectric conversion efficiency was obtained for dye sensitized solar cells. • Excellent specific capacitance and durability were obtained for supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report the synthesis of bimetal–organic frameworks (BMOFs) with both Brønsted and Lewis acidities, in which phosphotungstic acid (PTA) was encapsulated in BMOFs. It is efficient in converting starch to 5-hydroxymethyl-furfural (HMF) in deep eutectic solvents (DESs) such as choline chloride and formic acid. The highest yield of HMF (37.94%) was obtained using P0.5/BMOFs1.0 to catalyze starch in a mixed solvent system comprising DESs and ethyl acetate (EAC) (v/v; 2:3) at 180 °C and a reaction time of 10 min. Employing a DES as a cocatalyst and solvent reduced the use of organic solvents. The catalyst showed adequate reusability, and the HMF yield only decreased by 2.88% after six cycles of reuse compared with that of the initial catalyst. This study demonstrates the application potential of BMOFs in the conversion of biomass to useful molecules with commercial and/or research value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the diagnostic value of functional MRI to assess renal interstitial fibrosis in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods: We prospectively recruited 80 CKD patients who underwent renal biopsies and 16 healthy volunteers to undergo multiparametric functional MRI examinations. The Oxford MEST-C classification was used to score the interstitial fibrosis. The diagnostic performance of functional MRI to discriminate interstitial fibrosis was evaluated by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: IgA nephropathy (60%) accounted for the majority of pathologic type in the CKD patients. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) from diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was correlated with interstitial fibrosis (rho = −0.73). Decreased renal blood flow (RBF) derived from arterial spin labeling (rho = −0.78) and decreased perfusion fraction (f) derived from DWI (rho = −0.70) were accompanied by increased interstitial fibrosis. The T1 value from T1 mapping correlated with interstitial fibrosis (rho = 0.67) (all p < 0.01). The areas under the ROC curve for the discrimination of ≤ 25% vs. > 25% and ≤ 50% vs. > 50% interstitial fibrosis were 0.87 (95% confidence interval, 0.78 to 0.94) and 0.93 (0.86 to 0.98) by ADC, 0.84 (0.74 to 0.91) and 0.94 (0.86 to 0.98) by f, 0.93 (0.85 to 0.98) and 0.90 (0.82 to 0.96) by RBF, and 0.91 (0.83 to 0.96) and 0.77 (0.66 to 0.85) by T1, respectively. Conclusions: Functional MRI parameters were strongly correlated with the interstitial fibrosis of CKD. Therefore, it might a powerful tool to assess interstitial fibrosis of CKD noninvasively. Key Points: • In CKD patients, the renal cortical ADC value decreased and T1 value increased significantly compared with healthy volunteers. • Functional MRI revealed significantly decreased renal perfusion in CKD patients compared with healthy volunteers. • The renal cortical ADC, f, RBF, and T1 values were strongly correlated with the interstitial fibrosis of CKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To prospectively investigate the capability of arterial spin labeling (ASL) and intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging (IVIM-DWI) for the identification of early kidney injury in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with normal estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Methods: Fifty-four CKD patients confirmed by renal biopsy (normal eGFR group [eGFR ≥ 90 mL/min/1.73 m2]: n = 26; abnormal eGFR group [eGFR < 90 mL/min/1.73 m2]: n = 28) and 20 healthy volunteers (HV) were recruited. All subjects were examined by IVIM-DWI and ASL imaging. Renal blood flow (RBF) derived from ASL, true diffusion coefficient (D), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D*), and perfusion fraction (f) derived from IVIM-DWI were measured from the renal cortex. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare MRI parameters among the three groups. The correlation between eGFR and MRI parameters was evaluated by Spearman correlation analysis. Diagnostic performances of MRI parameters for detecting kidney injury were assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: The renal cortical D, D*, f, and RBF values showed statistically significant differences among the three groups. eGFR was positively correlated with MRI parameters (D: r = 0.299, D*: r = 0.569, f: r = 0.733, RBF: r = 0.586). The areas under the curve (AUCs) for discriminating CKD patients from HV were 0.725, 0.752, 0.947, and 0.884 by D, D*, f, and RBF, respectively. D, D*, f, RBF, and eGFR identified CKD patients with normal eGFR with AUCs of 0.735, 0.612, 0.917, 0.827, and 0.733, respectively, and AUC of f value was significantly larger than that of eGFR. Conclusion: IVIM-DWI and ASL were useful for detecting underlying pathologic injury in early CKD patients with normal eGFR. Key Points: • The renal cortical f and RBF values in the control group were significantly higher than those in the normal eGFR group. • A negative correlation was observed between the renal cortical D, D*, f, and RBF values and SCr and 24 h-UPRO, while eGFR was significantly positively correlated with renal cortical D, D*, f, and RBF values. • The AUC of renal cortical f values was statistically larger than that of eGFR for the discrimination between the CKD with normal eGFR group and the control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a letter to the editor in response to an article titled "Prospective study of functional outcomes and return to sports after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in the knee." The authors of the letter express their interest in the article and provide some important questions and concerns. They suggest that the rehabilitation regimen outlined in the article may be outdated and recommend incorporating more advanced physical therapy techniques. They also highlight the omission of psychological factors in patient evaluation and suggest that including these factors could provide more insights into the decision to return to sports. Additionally, they call for a more detailed exploration of the factors influencing return to sport after ACL reconstruction. The authors of the letter also mention controversial aspects and hope that their discussion can assist future researchers. [Extracted from the article]

In order to obtain inexpensive Pt-free counter electrode materials for dye-sensitized solar cells and expand the application fields of low-rank coal, lignite-based Ni/C composite was prepared by low-medium temperature pyrolysis method using Huolinhe lignite as raw materials. The structure and chemical components of as-synthesized lignite-based Ni/C composite was characterized by XRD, FT-IR, TG, Raman, SEM, TEM, and XPS, and the electrocatalytic activity of lignite-based Ni/C composite counter electrode was investigated by cyclic voltammetric curve, electrochemical impedance spectrum, and Tafel polarization curve. It is found that the electrocatalytic activity of the lignite was improved after low-medium temperature pyrolysis and composited with Ni species to form lignite-based Ni/C composite, which helps to catalyze the reduction of electrolyte and thus improve the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the solar cells. The photoelectric conversion efficiency (η) of the dye-sensitized solar cells based on the lignite-based Ni/C composite counter electrode was 3.42% (Jsc = 11.49 mA cm−2, Voc = 0.75 V, FF = 0.40) significantly higher than that of the lignite counter electrode (η = 0.20%, Jsc = 3.16 mA cm−2, Voc = 0.72 V, FF = 0.09). This indicates that low-medium temperature pyrolysis and composition with Ni are an effective method to improve the photovoltaic performance of lignite-based counter electrode materials. The lignite-based Ni/C composite was synthesized and applied in counter electrode for DSSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The polypores with shallow pores from tropical Asia and America are studied. Our molecular phylogeny based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), the large subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nLSU), the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (TEF1), and the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB1) demonstrates six clades are formed among Porogramme and related genera. Two new genera, Cyanoporus and Pseudogrammothele, are established, and the six clades represent Porogramme, Cyanoporus, Grammothele, Epithele, Theleporus, and Pseudogrammothele, respectively. The molecular clock analyses estimate the divergence times of the six clades based on a dataset (ITS + LSU + TEF1 + RPB1 + RPB2), and we recognize the mean stem ages of the six genera are earlier than 50 Mya. Three new species in Porogramme were morphologically and phylogenetically confirmed, and they are described as P. austroasiana, P. cylindrica, and P. yunnanensis. Phylogenetic analysis shows that type species of Tinctoporellus and Porogramme are nested in the same clade, and Tinctoporellus is treated as a synonym of Porogramme. Based on our phylogeny, twelve new combinations are proposed, and the differences between the new species and similar or related species are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we are concerned with the stabilization of hybrid stochastic systems with variable delay by discrete-time state feedback control. By using Lyapunov functionals, we obtain an upper bound τ ∗ on the duration τ between two consecutive state observations. Meantime, we show that hybrid stochastic systems with variable delay can be stabilized by discrete-time state feedback control as long as τ < τ ∗ . Finally, two examples are given to demonstrate the applicability of our work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pretherapeutic serological parameters play a predictive role in pathologic risk factors (PRF), which correlate with treatment and prognosis in cervical cancer (CC). However, the method of pre-operative prediction to PRF is limited and the clinical availability of machine learning methods remains unknown in CC. Overall, 1260 early-stage CC patients treated with radical hysterectomy (RH) were randomly split into training and test cohorts. Six machine learning classifiers, including Gradient Boosting Machine, Support Vector Machine with Gaussian kernel, Random Forest, Conditional Random Forest, Naive Bayes, and Elastic Net, were used to derive diagnostic information from nine clinical factors and 75 parameters readily available from pretreatment peripheral blood tests. The best results were obtained by RF in deep stromal infiltration prediction with an accuracy of 70.8% and AUC of 0.767. The highest accuracy and AUC for predicting lymphatic metastasis with Cforest were 64.3% and 0.620, respectively. The highest accuracy of prediction for lymphavascular space invasion with EN was 59.7% and the AUC was 0.628. Blood markers, including D-dimer and uric acid, were associated with PRF. Machine learning methods can provide critical diagnostic prediction on PRF in CC before surgical intervention. The use of predictive algorithms may facilitate individualized treatment options through diagnostic stratification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Numerous studies have shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can regulate the development and progression of human cancers in various ways. Long intergenic non-coding RNA 173 (LINC00173), as a recently discovered non-coding gene, is dysregulated in 11 human cancers. Its aberrant expression is closely associated with diversified biological processes such as proliferation, migration, and invasion. This review systematically summarizes the latest findings concerning the expression and the regulatory mechanisms of LINC00173, which covers the tumorigenesis and chemoresistance, and regulatory targets of LINC00173, thus providing a novel biomarker for cancer prognosis and a therapeutic target. Long non-coding RNAs belong to non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) with a length of more than 200 nucleotides and limited protein-coding ability. Growing research has clarified that dysregulated lncRNAs are correlated with the development of various complex diseases, including cancer. LINC00173 has drawn researchers' attention as one of the recently discovered lncRNAs. Aberrant expression of LINC00173 affects the initiation and progression of human cancers. In the present review, we summarize the recent considerable research on LINC00173 in 11 human cancers. Through the summary of the abnormal expression of LINC00173 and its potential molecular regulation mechanism in cancers, this article indicates that LINC00173 may serve as a potential diagnostic biomarker and a target for drug therapy, thus providing novel clues for future related research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mass transfer efficiency and charge carrier behavior are two crucial factors affecting the photocatalytic performance of a catalyst. Donor–acceptor (DA) structure has shown great potential in facilitating charge carrier migration, extending light response region, and regulating bandgap structure. In this work, a kind of new three-dimensional carbon nitride (3D CN) with the intramolecular DA structure was prepared by incorporating perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylicdianhydride (PY) into the structure of 3D CN and applied for the photoreduction of CO2. The 3D structure greatly improved the specific surface area and facilitated the mass transfer of reactants. Meanwhile, it offered ample active sites for CO2 reduction as well. The introduction of PY into 3D CN led to the formation of the intramolecular DA structure, resulting in a new transition state and remarkably extends the visible light response range. In addition, the spatial separation of electrons and holes in the DA structure significantly reduced the recombination of electron–hole pairs and accelerated the migration of charge carriers. The 3D and DA structures synergistically catalyzed the photoreduction of CO2 with high efficiency and afforded a CO evolution rate of 10.34 μmol g−1 h−1, which is about 10 times higher than 3D CN. A possible reaction mechanism was proposed. Moreover, the reaction was carried out in the absence of any additive, which makes it green and sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), although Pt is commonly used as counter electrode materials owing to its great electrocatalytic activity and conductivity, the high price and small reserves of Pt limit its large‐scale application. In this paper, heteromorphic Ni decorated Fe‐containing carbon nanofibers (Ni/NiO@Fe‐CNFs) was prepared by a thermal synthesis method, and applied as composite counter electrode materials for DSSCs. It was found that the as‐synthesized Ni/NiO@Fe‐CNFs shows better electrocatalytic activity than that of Fe‐CNFs and CNFs for the reduction reaction of triiodide to iodide. The improved electrocatalytic activity is not only attributed to the introduction of Fe2O3 to form Fe‐CNFs, but also attributed to the heteromorphic Ni decoration and their synergistic effect. The photoelectric conversion efficiency of DSSCs with Ni/NiO@Fe‐CNFs counter electrode is 4.81 %, much higher than that of CNFs (0.62 %) and Fe‐CNFs counter electrode (3.65 %), and comparable to the value of Pt counter electrode (5.10 %). Accordingly, the Ni/NiO@Fe‐CNFs is expected to be a potential counter electrode material to replace Pt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic variation in the water surfaces of the river networks within the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau affects the water resource availability for downstream ecosystems and human activities. Small rivers (with a river width less than 30 m) are an important component of this network, but are difficult to map in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Firstly, the width of most rivers is very narrow, at around 20 m, which appears as only one or two pixels in Sentinel-2 images and thus is susceptible to salt-and-pepper noise. Secondly, local mountain shadows, cloud shadows, and snow pixels have spectral characteristics similar to those of rivers, leading to misclassification. Therefore, we propose an automated small river mapping (ASRM) method based on Sentinel-2 imagery to address these two difficulties. A preprocessing procedure was designed to remove the salt-and-pepper noise and enhance the linear characteristic of rivers with specific widths. A flexible digital elevation model (DEM)-based post-processing was then imposed to remove the misclassifications caused by mountain shadows, cloud shadows, and snow pixels. The ASRM results achieved an overall accuracy of 87.5%, outperforming five preexisting remote sensing-derived river network products. The proposed ASRM method has shown great potential for small river mapping in the entire Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted remarkable attention for their distinguished structural designability. Precisely controlling the particle size and improving the structural stability of MOF nanoparticles influence their catalytic activity significantly. In this study, six acids (nitric, hydrochloric, formic, acetic, succinic, and citric acids) were used as modulators to prepare bimetallic MIL-101 (Cr, Sn) (MIL stands for Materials of Institut Lavoisier) via a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. Changes in volumetric, structural, stability, and catalytic properties, size, and shape of MIL-101 (Cr, Sn) were examined using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and N2 adsorption–desorption measurements. All modulators altered the MOF properties. Compared with other samples, acetic acid as a modulator mildly altered the MOF morphology by narrowing their particle size distribution, enhancing the specific surface area, and significantly improving their water and thermal stabilities. The addition of acetic acid was suitable for the catalytic conversion of glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), achieving a 43.1% 5-HMF yield with 91.4% glucose conversion in a mixed solution of γ-valerolactone and saturated salt water at 150 °C after 30 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a cost volume-based neural network for depth inference from multi-view images. We demonstrate that building a cost volume pyramid in a coarse-to-fine manner instead of constructing a cost volume at a fixed resolution leads to a compact, lightweight network and allows us inferring high resolution depth maps to achieve better reconstruction results. To this end, we first build a cost volume based on uniform sampling of fronto-parallel planes across the entire depth range at the coarsest resolution of an image. Then, given current depth estimate, we construct new cost volumes iteratively to perform depth map refinement. We show that working on cost volume pyramid can lead to a more compact, yet efficient network structure compared with existing works. We further show that the (residual) depth sampling can be fully determined by analytical geometric derivation, which serves as a principle for building compact cost volume pyramid. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed framework, we extend our cost volume pyramid structure to handle the unsupervised depth inference scenario. Experimental results on benchmark datasets show that our model can perform 6x faster with similar performance as state-of-the-art methods for supervised scenario and demonstrates superior performance on unsupervised scenario. Code is available at https://github.com/JiayuYANG/CVP-MVSNet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: Starting from an organic multiyne, three steps are normally needed for the preparation of non‐β‐phosphonium functionalized rhoda‐ and irida‐carbolong complexes. Herein, a one‐pot strategy, by mixing a multiyne, a nucleophile, and RhCl(CO)(PPh3)2/AgBF4 or [Ir(CH3CN)(CO)(PPh3)2]BF4, was developed to achieve a series of β‐functionalized rhoda‐ and irida‐carbolong complexes. The β‐substituents in these complexes can be various C‐, N‐ and O‐centered groups, dependent on the nucleophiles used. This strategy provides a new convenient route to construct carbolong complexes, which is important for the further development of carbolong chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In cases of liver lesions or metabolic blockages, the accumulation of bilirubin in the blood can lead to hyperbilirubinemia, resulting in jaundice. Hence, the development of a rapid and highly selective assay strategy for accurately quantifying free bilirubin concentrations in humans is crucial for clinical diagnosis and treatment. In this study, a postsynthetic modification (PSM) strategy was used to obtain UiO-66-PSM (UP) by the aldimine condensation reaction of metal-organic framework UiO-66-NH 2 with 2,3,4-trihydroxybenzaldehyde. UP itself possesses strong fluorescent properties. Subsequently, UiO-66-PSM-Fe (UPF) was synthesized by incorporating Fe3+ onto the UP surface using a one-pot method, where the interaction of Fe3+ with UP induced fluorescence quenching. Bilirubin has a strong binding affinity for Fe3+. Therefore, it can react with the UPF, losing Fe3+ and regaining fluorescence, and thus realizing the detection of bilirubin. In order to further improve the detection outcome and facilitate the application, UPF was loaded onto gelatin methacryloyl hydrogel to construct a fluorescence sensor. This enabled highly sensitive determination of bilirubin with a method limit of detection of 5.67 pM. Furthermore, genuine human urine samples were analyzed, demonstrating the practical application of the assay in discovering human health conditions associated with bilirubin. [Display omitted] • A modified MOF was integrated with GelMA hydrogel as a fluorescence sensing platform. • Fe3+ was incorporated in the MOF for fluorescence turn-on detection of bilirubin. • The sensor showed fast response, and high sensitivity and selectivity for bilirubin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A new polyacrylate-coated ferrous sulfide and layered double hydroxide was designed. • A high synergistic removal of Cr(VI) with Cu(II), Ni(II), or Cd(II) was achieved. • The reusability of the composite was enhanced when Cr(VI) and Cu(II) coexisted. • Synergistic removal mechanisms of heavy metal oxoanions and cations were proposed. Heavy metal oxoanions and cations often co-exist in the environment and it is a critical challenge to achieve their simultaneous and efficient removal due to their presence of opposite charges. Here, a polyacrylate-coated ferrous sulfide and layered double hydroxide (PAA/FeS@LDH) nanocomposite was developed. Results illustrated that PAA/FeS@LDH exhibited excellent reductivity and stability due to the dispersion of PAA and the support by LDH. The removal efficiency of single Cr(VI) (9.73 mg/L) using PAA/FeS@LDH reached 100 % within 120 min, which was significantly higher than that of LDH (35.39 %), FeS (73.13 %), and FeS/LDH (96.47 %). Attractively, an enhanced removal of Cr(VI) (19.46 mg/L) by PAA/FeS@LDH in the presence of Cu(II), Ni(II), or Cd(II) was observed, with Cr(VI) removal efficiency increasing from 49.63 % (single Cr(VI)) to 99.51 %, 82.46 %, and 72.18 % within 30 min, respectively. The adsorption capacities of Cr(VI) significantly enlarged from 140 mg Cr/g (single Cr(VI)) to 221, 175, and 171 mg Cr/g when co-existing with Cu(II), Ni(II), or Cd(II), respectively. Another interesting outcome was the significant enhancement of reusability of PAA/FeS@LDH by the co-existence of Cr(VI) and Cu(II). After 5 cycles, PAA/FeS@LDH could still remove 96.97 % of Cr(VI) together with >70 % of Cu(II) in the mixed solution, by contrast, the removal efficiency of Cr(VI) was only 38.04 % in a single solution. The characterization analysis and density functional theory calculations demonstrated that besides surface reduction, complexation and precipitation, the cation-anion bridge interaction was an essential mechanism of achieving the synergistic removal of heavy metal oxoanions and cations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are an essential part of the vertebrate innate immune system. Piscidins are a family of AMPs specific in fish. In our previous investigation, we identified four paralogous genes of piscidins in the orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coicodes), which exhibited distinct activities against bacteria, fungi, and parasitic ciliated protozoa. Piscidins demonstrated their capability to modulate the expression of diverse immune-related genes; however, their precise immunoregulatory functions remain largely unexplored. In this study, we examined the immunomodulatory properties of putative mature peptides derived from four E. coicodes piscidins (ecPis1S, ecPis2S, ecPis3S, and ecPis4S) in head kidney leukocytes (HKLs) or monocytes/macrophages (MO/MΦ)-like cells isolated from E. coicodes. Our data demonstrate that E. coicodes piscidins exhibit immunomodulatory activities supported by multiple lines of evidence. Firstly, all four piscidins displayed chemotactic activities towards HKLs, with the most potent chemotactic activity observed in ecPis2S. Secondly, stimulation with E. coicodes piscidins enhanced respiratory burst and phagocytic activity in MO/MФ-like cells, with ecPis3S showing the highest efficacy in increasing phagocytosis of MO/MΦ-like cells. Thirdly, mRNA expression levels of chemokine receptors, Toll-like receptors, T cell receptors, and proinflammatory cytokines were modulated to varying extents by the four piscidins in E. coicodes HKLs. Overall, our findings indicate that the immunological activities of these four paralogous piscidins from E. coicodes are exhibited in a paralog-specific and concentration-dependent manner, highlighting their distinct and versatile immunomodulatory properties. This study makes a significant contribution to the field of fish AMPs immunology by elucidating the novel mechanisms through which members of the piscidin family exert their immunomodulatory effects. Moreover, it provides valuable insights for further exploration of fish immunomodulating agents. • E. coicodes paralogous piscidins show the versatile immunomodulatory activities. • E. coicodes piscidin 2 exhibits the strongest chemotactic activity for leucocytes. • E. coicodes piscidin 3 shows the strongest activity to enhance the phagocytosis of MO/MΦ. • Piscidins regulate expression of immune-related genes widely and in paralog-specific manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We appreciate the interest by Drs. Hagiyama and coauthors in our work entitled "Calcar fracture gapping: a reliable predictor of anteromedial cortical support failure after cephalomedullary nailing for pertrochanteric femur fractures". They discussed several pertinent points and it is our pleasure to respond their concerns in order. Firstly, we agree that calcar fracture gap and anteromedial cortical support are different concepts, though both of them were used to evaluate the displacement of fracture reduction quality. Secondly, our primary outcome parameter was the threshold distance of calcar fracture gapping in anteroposterior and lateral fluoroscopies, which was calculated based on sensitivity and specificity by receiver operating characteristic curves. Thirdly, we took immediate post-operative fluoroscopic images in 3 views to describe the initial reduction quality as baseline to compare and calculate the changes with three-dimensional computed tomography, which was taken about one week after operation for confirming secondary stability after head-neck sliding and impaction. Lastly, the parameters selected in multivariable analysis. Future work with better study-design is needed to improve the prediction of patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We appreciate the interest by Drs. Hagiyama and coauthors in our work entitled "Calcar fracture gapping: a reliable predictor of anteromedial cortical support failure after cephalomedullary nailing for pertrochanteric femur fractures". They discussed several pertinent points and it is our pleasure to respond their concerns in order. Firstly, we agree that calcar fracture gap and anteromedial cortical support are different concepts, though both of them were used to evaluate the displacement of fracture reduction quality. Secondly, our primary outcome parameter was the threshold distance of calcar fracture gapping in anteroposterior and lateral fluoroscopies, which was calculated based on sensitivity and specificity by receiver operating characteristic curves. Thirdly, we took immediate post-operative fluoroscopic images in 3 views to describe the initial reduction quality as baseline to compare and calculate the changes with three-dimensional computed tomography, which was taken about one week after operation for confirming secondary stability after head-neck sliding and impaction. Lastly, the parameters selected in multivariable analysis. Future work with better study-design is needed to improve the prediction of patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accuracy of contour tracking is an important issue to be addressed for the X‐Y stage in a machining tool. Applying a better control scheme can help to increase the tracking accuracy with the effects of systems' uncertainties, nonlinearities and disturbances. In this paper, to prevent these negative effects and achieve high accuracy tracking control of the two‐axis motion stage, the adaptive fuzzy wavelet neural network (AFWNN) PI sliding mode controller is proposed. The adaptive algorithm is combined with the basis function of the wavelet neural network and fuzzy system to approximate the plant model functions. Then, the controller with PI sliding mode structure could be built based on the estimated system function. In this method, the time domain positioning property of wavelet and the reasoning of the fuzzy system could provide the well‐estimated plant model. Moreover, the adaptive algorithm and sliding mode control scheme help to reduce the effects of parameter variation and uncertainties. The stability is analyzed via Lyapunov stability theorem to prove the asymptotic stability of the system. In the simulation and experimental results, the contours are planned through the nonuniform rational B‐spline (NURBS), which is considered a high accuracy interpolator. The tested curves consist of circle, bow, heart, star and trident. The average and standard deviations of the tracking errors are compared to other methods to illustrate the performance of the proposed method. The results demonstrate that the method can reduce errors more effectively and have better localization for trajectory tracking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shenzhen River (SZR) is a boundary river of two super-large modern cities and has important wetland ecological functions in the estuary, while it suffered unprecedented pollution during the past decades due to the rapid urbanizing of the catchment area. Twelve parameters of heavy metals (HMs), nutrients (N, P, TOC), and physicochemical indexes (pH, EC) of the SZR sediment from 8 typical sites were analyzed to explore their distribution, risk, and sources. The distribution of sediment parameters was closely related to the urban functional structure, basin topography, and anthropogenic control. Heavy metals (HMs) of SZR sediment were in a contamination degree order of Cd> >Cu> Zn> Pb> Ni> Cr, a combined risk of HMs and tremendous organic threat concentrated at the upper and middle reaches in the lower layer. HMs and nutrients in SZR sediments showed strong inner correlations but were limited influenced by physicochemical properties. Factor, clustering, and multiple linear regression analysis were comprehensively applied for the quantitative source apportionment. Industry-related sources and domestic wastewater were the major contamination sources, while the non-point sources like urban surface runoff, natural sources, and solid waste carrying should be paid special attention to considering their maintained increasing risk. [Display omitted] • SZR (Shenzhen River) sediments are expected to cause multiple HMs (heavy metals) risk and organic threats. • Distributions of SZR sediment contaminants have strong inner correlations and were affected by urbanization and human activities. • Multiple statistical analysis models were comprehensively applied to conduct the quantitative source apportionment. • Non-point pollution sources of SZR sediment were suggested to be paid special attention to. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several 30-m high-resolution global water body datasets have been developed in recent years and raised prospects for studying small (<300 m wide) rivers. River mapping accuracy is a key factor in determining the applicability and usefulness of a certain water body dataset, and accuracy assessment commonly requires numerous water validation points. However, in practice, the number of water validation points is limited, and their spatial distribution is not sufficiently representative (most points are located in lakes, coastal areas, or large rivers). As a result, although current water body datasets perform well to represent global surface water distribution, their ability to map small rivers remains poorly quantified. In this study, we propose that stable and comprehensive river centerlines derived from the Global River Widths from Landsat (GRWL) dataset can be used to generate sufficient and representative validation points, and to estimate the river mapping producer's accuracies. Six 30-m high-resolution, state-of-the-art global water body datasets were evaluated, including four global water body datasets (G1WBM, GIW, GSW, and GSWD) and two land-cover datasets (GlobeLand30 and FROM-GLC). The results show that the small river mapping producer's accuracies (0.51–0.94) estimated for these datasets were considerably lower than their surface water producers' accuracy (0.86–0.99). The estimated river mapping producer's accuracies increase with river width, suggesting that these datasets perform better in mapping large rivers than small rivers. When river width increases from 90 m to 300 m (and above), the average river mapping producer's accuracy of the six water body datasets increases from 0.79 ± 0.12 to 0.94 ± 0.03. Our analysis urges caution when using current global water datasets to study rivers, particularly small rivers narrower than 300 m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automated inspection has proven to be the most effective approach to maintaining quality in industrial-scale manufacturing. This study employed the eye-in-hand architecture in conjunction with deep learning and convolutional neural networks to automate the detection of defects in forged aluminum rims for electric vehicles. RobotStudio software was used to simulate the environment and path trajectory for a camera installed on an ABB robot arm to capture 3D images of the rims. Four types of surface defects were examined: (1) dirt spots, (2) paint stains, (3) scratches, and (4) dents. Generative adversarial network (GAN) and deep convolutional generative adversarial networks (DCGAN) were used to generate additional images to expand the depth of the training dataset. We also developed a graphical user interface and software system to mark patterns associated with defects in the images. The defect detection algorithm based on YOLO algorithms made it possible to obtain results more quickly and with higher mean average precision (mAP) than that of existing methods. Experiment results demonstrated the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed system. Our developed system has been shown to be a helpful rim defective detection system for industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This letter introduces a fully integrated inductive power converter for thermal energy harvesting using the thermoelectric generator (TEG). With a three-step self-start block, the power converter can cold-start from 83 mV. After self-start, the minimum input voltage to sustain the power converter operation is only 6.4 mV. An integrated maximum power point tracking block keeps impedance matching at the TEG output. A novel low-power zero-current switching block realizes accurate switching with little overhead. The proposed power converter is implemented in a 55-nm CMOS process and achieves 81% peak end-to-end efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary geological conditions for hydrothermal systems can be reconstructed using fluid inclusions, which generally requires that fluid inclusions trapped a single homogeneous phase and experienced no mass and volume changes after entrapment (Roedder's Rules). However, heterogeneous entrapment and post-entrapment modifications have been frequently identified in fluid inclusion studies, making the recovery of primary fluid properties from fluid inclusion data challenging or impossible. In this study, we constructed a specific tool, FlincPro, for the calculations of ideal and nonideal Fl uid inc lusion Pro perties in the H 2 O-NaCl system (ideal here refers to fluid inclusions that adhere to Roedder's Rules). Multiple modules have been developed to quantify the variations of fluid inclusion properties caused by heterogeneous entrapment, volume contraction/expansion, and water loss. The developed software illustrates possibilities in the variation of fluid inclusions in a specific assemblage with the input of a certain starting point. We found that compositions of the vapor endmember fluid are more significantly affected by heterogeneous entrapment than the liquid endmember, as the latter may have several orders of magnitude higher salinity and density. Homogenization pressure and temperature of halite-bearing fluid inclusions trapped on the halite liquidus will increase sharply with the addition of halite, but the homogenization behavior will not be changed. Volume contraction/expansion are effective ways to change the homogenization behaviors, especially for high salinity fluid inclusions. Water loss is not likely to cause the homogenization behavior change from total homogenization by vapor disappearance to total homogenization by halite dissolution for a halite-bearing fluid inclusion without additional volume contraction. Low-salinity and low-density fluid inclusions with total homogenization temperature around the critical temperature of water are least affected by post-entrapment modifications. Therefore, the interpretation of fluid inclusions formation depends on more parameters, e.g., petrographic observations, density and composition variations in fluid inclusion assemblages, and geological information, than only microthermometric data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid growth of CZ mono-Si solar cell technology in the global market, the development of cast mono-Si faces challenges in terms of crystal quality and cost. This study introduces the first preparation of a G8+ large-size casting furnace by upgrading a G7 furnace to enhance casting mono-Si's performance and economic benefits. The effects of the G8+ casting furnace on the preparation cost of mono-Si ingot, crystal quality and its impact on the performance of solar cells were thoroughly investigated. Modifying the thermal field and optimizing the seed pavement strategy increased the G8+ cast mono-Si ingot weight to 1600 kg, raised the monocrystalline ratio to approximately 98 %, and achieved an effective yield exceeding 50 %. Solar cells made from G8+ cast mono-Si demonstrated electrical performance comparable to CZ mono-Si cells, achieving an average efficiency of 22.64 % with only a 0.3 % efficiency gap. Consequently, the upsizing of cast mono-Si ingots and adopting rigorous defect control strategies could significantly enhance the electrical performance and manufacturing productivity of cast mono-Si. • The G7 mc-Si casting furnace was successfully upgraded to a G8+ mono-Si casting furnace and the charge weight of G8+ mono-Si ingot is about 1600 kg. • The monocrystallinity of the G8+ mono-Si ingot is approximately 98 %, increasing the ingot yield by about 10 %. • Strict quality management strategies effectively reduced the production of low-efficiency wafers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effective detoxification and removal of arsenite (As(III)) has been widely concerned because of its strong toxicity and migration ability. In this study, we designed a layered double hydroxide-supported polyacrylate stabilized ferrous sulfide composite (PAA/FeS@LDH) and coupled it with UV excitation to purify As(III)-polluted water. The removal efficiency of As(III) under UV irradiation reached almost 100% in 120 min, and the first-order kinetic constant was 3.12 orders of magnitude higher than under dark. UV irradiation significantly accelerated the oxidation and detoxification of As(III) at the interface of PAA/FeS@LDH and treatment solution. It is attributable to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) intermediates, including .O 2 –, .OH, and SO 4 .– under UV irradiation, because of the presence of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs and iron valence states cycles. Importantly, .O 2 – may be rapidly captured and oxidized to 1O 2 on the surface of PAA/FeS@LDH that is also an important contributor to the oxidation removal of As(III). Noticeably, As(III) concentrations in the real water were rapidly reduced to below the guideline limitation of drinking water (10 μg/L) within 20 min under UV irradiation. Our outcomes provide a novel photoexcitation treatment system for the efficient detoxification and removal of As from actual wastewater. [Display omitted] • PAA/FeS@LDH coupled UV achieved an efficient detoxification and removal of As(III). • Non-free radical pathway contributed 9.77 % to the As(III) oxidation detoxification. • As(III) (1148 µg/L) in the real water was reduced to below 10 µg/L within 20 min • The mechanisms of As(III) photooxidation removal by PAA/FeS@LDH was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor hyperthermia is the fifth tumor treatment method after surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and biological therapy, and is also one of the important adjuvant treatment methods for tumors. Hyperthermia can not only directly eliminate tumor cells, but also stimulate the antitumor immune response of the body, and improve the sensitivity of tumor tissues to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. An organoid is a tissue-specific cell cluster formed by 3D culture of various types of cells derived from target organ stem cells, which can reproduce the functions of target organs in vivo. At present, the research models of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in vitro are mainly 2D culture cell line models, and there is no clinical report on tumor hyperthermia using HCC tumoroids. It was hypothesized that this will be a promising research direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age-related cataract (ARC) is the prevalent cause of useful vision loss. Circular RNAs are related to ARC pathogenesis partly through their competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) activity. Herein, we defined the action of hsa_circ_0105558 in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-driven apoptosis and oxidative damage in human lens epithelial SRA01/04 cells. Hsa_circ_0105558, microRNA (miR)-182-5p and activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) were evaluated by a qRT-PCR or immunoblotting method. The hsa_circ_0105558/miR-182-5p and miR-182-5p/ATF6 relationships were predicted by bioinformatics analysis and confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Reactive oxygen species level, glutathione peroxidase level, superoxide dismutase activity, and malondialdehyde level were measured using the matched assay kits. Hsa_circ_0105558 was upregulated in human ARC lens and H2O2-exposed SRA01/04 cells. Suppression of hsa_circ_0105558 attenuated H2O2-driven SRA01/04 cell apoptosis and oxidative damage. Hsa_circ_0105558 targeted miR-182-5p, and reduced miR-182-5p expression reversed the influence of hsa_circ_0105558 depletion on H2O2-driven oxidative damage and apoptosis. ATF6 was a target of miR-182-5p, and miR-182-5p-driven downregulation of ATF6 regulated cell oxidative damage and apoptosis under H2O2 insult. Moreover, hsa_circ_0105558 functioned as a ceRNA to post-transcriptionally control ATF6 expression through miR-182-5p competition. Our study demonstrates that hsa_circ_0105558 modulates SRA01/04 cell oxidative damage and apoptosis under H2O2 insult through the miR-182-5p/ATF6 cascade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate estimation of seepage losses in large-scale canal systems and identification of their impact factors are important for improving water conveyance efficiency in agricultural districts. However, seepage losses can vary widely across different regions and periods, making it difficult to obtain a complete understanding of the variation process based solely on local scale studies. In addition, although there are currently some complex numerical models available for large-canal systems in agricultural districts, they are rarely used in practice due to their complexity. This study evaluated the regional-scale spatio-temporal seepage processes of the Zaohuo canal, a 55 km's sub-main earthen canal located in the Hetao Irrigation District, China, under current and future water-saving conditions using MODFLOW-SWR. In addition, a pre-processing tool was developed to process spatial geographic data and spatial topology between different canals. Furthermore, the sensitivity of different influencing factors, such as the permeability of canal bed sediments, surface and groundwater level, and local lining, was also investigated. The optimal relationship between lining areas when partial lining is used and seepage losses was also investigated. The calculated water conveyance efficiency coefficient is 0.7871, which fits well with the reported results and proves the reliability of the simulation. In addition, it was found that seepage losses are most sensitive to the surface water level of the canal, followed by the permeability of canal bed sediments and then the groundwater level. Moreover, new hybrid lining can reduce the seepage losses by about 92.02%, but ongoing maintenance is vital. When lining the key portion of the canal, the seepage losses will be significantly reduced with the increase of lining area. The seepage losses reduction factor increases by 5.8% for every 1 × 105 m2 increase in lining area when the lining area is below 1 × 106 m2, while the effect is not significant when that limitation is exceeded. This study can support decision-making for water-saving projects in large water conveyance canals in regional-scale agriculture districts. • The regional-scale spatio-temporal seepage losses in large canal have been evaluated. • Seepage losses were calculated based on surface-subsurface model MODFLOW-SWR. • Seepage losses are more sensitive to surface water levels than groundwater levels. • Lining can reduce seepage losses substantially, but ongoing maintenance is vital. • The optimal relationship between lining areas and seepage losses is investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A lateral Schottky barrier diode (SBD) on p-GaN/AlGaN/GaN heterostructure with arrayed p-GaN islands termination (API-SBD) is proposed and investigated in this work. On the basis of the unique design approach, API-SBD presents a reduced reverse leakage current (${I}_{R}$) with one order of magnitude lower than that of counterpart SBD with the only recessed anode (R-SBD). The turn-on voltage (${V}_{ \mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle ON}}$) of API-SBD is nearly the same as that of R-SBD, which shows an effective improvement of the tradeoff between ${V}_{ \mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle ON}}$ and ${I}_{R}$. The breakdown voltage (BV) of API-SBD is obviously improved due to the introduction of p-GaN islands termination by shielding the high electric field from the Schottky junction. In addition, the capacitance of API-SBD is approximately a half of that of R-SBD. The fabricated API-SBD with a 15- $\mu \text{m}$ anode–cathode distance exhibits a ${V}_{ \mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle ON}}$ of ~0.59 V, an ${I}_{R}$ of ~10 nA/mm (at −100 V), and a BV of 1070 V (at ${1}~\mu \text{A}$ /mm). It is worth noting that the fabrication process of API-SBD is fully compatible with that of p-GaN HEMT, which is helpful for the monolithic integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, Au and Ag nanomaterials have been widely used in the determination of glucose owing to their specific properties such as large specific surface area, high extinction coefficient, strong localized surface plasmon resonance effect and enzyme-mimicking activity. Compared with other methods, colorimetric determination of glucose with Au or Ag nanomaterials features the advantages of simple operation, low cost and easy observation. In this review, several typical synthesis methods of Au and Ag nanomaterials are introduced. Strategies for the colorimetric determination of glucose by Au or Ag nanomaterials are elaborated. The challenges and prospects of the application of Au or Ag nanomaterials for colorimetric detection of glucose are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• HK-SA-treated group showed significantly higher IL-6, IL-1β, and TLR2 expression. • LSA-infected group showed significantly higher PTGS2, mPGES-1, and EP4 expression. • LSA induced PGE2 accumulation via the TLR2/MAPKs signaling pathway. Staphylococcus aureus is majorly involved in bovine mastitis; however, it weakly induces pro-inflammatory factors in mammary gland epithelial cells. We aimed to clarify the involvement of S. aureus in other inflammation types and its relationship with inflammatory factor secretion in bovine endometritis. We used live S. aureus (LSA)- and heat-killed S. aureus (HK-SA)-treated bovine endometrial tissue in vitro. The HK-SA-treated group showed significantly higher IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, CXCL1/2 and TLR2 expression than the LSA-infected group. Contrastingly, the LSA-infected group showed significantly higher PTGS2, mPGES-1, and EP4 expression than the HK-SA treated group. There was no significant between-group difference in hyaluronan-binding protein 1 expression, which suggested similar inflammatory responses. H&E results indicated that LSA and HK-SA induced shedding of endometrial gland epithelial cells. The LSA-infected group showed higher high-mobility group box 1 protein expression than the HK-SA treated groups, which indicated differences in signaling pathway activation. Further, the LSA-treated group had higher JNK and p38 MAPK levels while the HK-SA-treated group had higher IκB-α levels. There was no significant between-group difference in the ERK signaling pathway. Our findings indicate that the pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) of S. aureus activate pro-inflammatory factor expression via the TLR2-ERK-NF-κB signaling pathway. Contrastingly, LSA induced PGE 2 accumulation via the TLR2/MAPKs signaling pathway. This is the first report that S. aureus and the PAMPs of S. aureus activate different signaling pathways and that LSA mainly induce PGE 2 accumulation rather than cytokine secretion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]