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Abstract Background Calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK) plays a key role in cotton tolerance to abiotic stress. However, its role in cotton heat stress tolerance is not well understood. Here, we characterize the GhCDPK gene family and their expression profiles with the aim of identifying CDPK genes associated with heat stress tolerance. Results This study revealed 48 GhCDPK members in the cotton genome, distributed on 18 chromosomes. Tree phylogenetic analysis showed three main clustering groups of the GhCDPKs. Cis-elements revealed many abiotic stress and phytohormone pathways conserved promoter regions. Similarly, analysis of the transcription factor binding sites (TFBDS) in the GhCDPK genes showed many stress and hormone related sites. The expression analysis based on qRT-PCR showed that GhCDPK16 was highly responsive to high-temperature stress. Subsequent protein-protein interactions of GhCDPK16 revealed predictable interaction with ROS generating, calcium binding, and ABA signaling proteins. Overexpression of GhCDPK16 in cotton and Arabidopsis improved thermotolerance by lowering ROS compound buildup. Under heat stress, GhCDPK16 transgenic lines upregulated heat-inducible genes GhHSP70, GHSP17.3, and GhGR1, as demonstrated by qRT-PCR analysis. Contrarily, GhCDPK16 knockout lines in cotton exhibited an increase in ROS accumulation. Furthermore, antioxidant enzyme activity was dramatically boosted in the GhCDPK16-ox transgenic lines. Conclusions The collective findings demonstrated that GhCDPK16 could be a viable gene to enhance thermotolerance in cotton and, therefore, a potential candidate gene for improving heat tolerance in cotton.

Abstract The introduction of antiferroelectric filler AgNbO3 into the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymer matrix enhances its energy storage properties of PVDF. However, AgNbO3 and PVDF matrix are incompatible due to their distinct physical and chemical properties, resulting in poor compatibility between the two phases. Surface modification enhances the large difference in physical and chemical properties between the filler and the polymer matrix, and improves the compatibility between the two phases. Silane coupling agents (KH550, KH560), dopamine (DA), and grafted poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were used to modify the surface of AgNbO3 particles, and the effects of different surface modification methods on the energy storage performance of the composites were studied. The PVDF matrix was introduced with 0.3 wt% AgNbO3 particle filler. The results showed that the amino group in KH550 had the strongest binding with PVDF. The ester group in PMMA has a strong binding with PVDF. The epoxy group in KH560 has a weak binding with PVDF, while the amino group in DA has the worst binding with PVDF. The compatibility of the two phases in AgNbO3@KH550/PVDF composites is the best, and the charge distribution on the surface of the filler is uniform. Under an electric field of 350 kV/mm, the energy storage density is 8.48 J/cm3.

Abstract The authors investigate the effects of nanofillers with varying band‐gap energies on the space charge properties, breakdown field strength, and bulk resistivity of epoxy (EP)‐based composites. Additionally, the molecular orbital distribution of both the epoxy resin and nanofillers were examined through density functional theory. Experimental results indicate that the space charge accumulation within silicon dioxide/EP and germanium oxide/EP is reduced, leading to a more uniformly distributed electric field intensity within the specimen when compared to epoxy. As a result, both materials exhibit improved AC breakdown field strength and volume resistivity. Conversely, the amount of charge accumulated within tin dioxide/EP is higher, resulting in lower breakdown field strength than epoxy. The lowest unoccupied molecular orbital and the highest occupied molecular orbital energy level differences between epoxy and nanofillers introduce electron traps and hole traps at the interface, forming interfacial traps that affect the space charge distribution within the specimen, as well as the trap energy levels within the material. From the experimental results, shallow traps promote space charge accumulation and reduce the breakdown field strength, while deep traps have the opposite effect.

Recent research certified that DOT1L and its mutations represented by R231Q were potential targets for the treatment of lung cancer. Herein, a series of adenosine-containing derivatives were identified with DOT1LR231Q inhibition through antiproliferation assay and Western blot analysis in the H460R231Q cell. The most promising compound 37 significantly reduced DOT1LR231Q mediated H3K79 methylation and effectively inhibited the proliferation, self-renewal, migration, and invasion of lung cancer cell lines at low micromolar concentrations. The cell permeability and cellular target engagement of 37 were verified by both CETSA and DARTS assays. In the H460R231Q OE cell-derived xenograft (CDX) model, 37 displayed pronounced tumor growth inhibition after intraperitoneal administration at 20 mg/kg dose for 3 weeks (TGI = 54.38%), without obvious toxicities. A pharmacokinetic study revealed that 37 possessed tolerable properties (t1/2 = 1.93 ± 0.91 h, F = 97.2%) after intraperitoneal administration in rats. Mechanism study confirmed that 37 suppressed malignant phenotypes of lung cancer carrying R231Q gain-of-function mutation via the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. Moreover, analysis of the binding modes between molecules and DOT1LWT/R231Q proteins put forward the “Induced-fit” allosteric model in favor to the discovery of potent DOT1L candidates.

Abstract Background Conventional single-energy CT can only provide a raw estimation of electron density (ED) for dose calculation by developing a calibration curve that simply maps the HU values to ED values through their correlations. Spectral CT, also known as dual-energy CT (DECT) or multi-energy CT, can generate a series of quantitative maps, such as ED maps. Using spectral CT for radiotherapy simulations can directly acquire ED information without developing specific calibration curves. The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility of utilizing electron density (ED) maps generated by a novel dual-layer detector spectral CT simulator for dose calculation in radiotherapy treatment plans. Methods 30 patients from head&neck, chest, and pelvic treatment sites were selected retrospectively, and all of them underwent spectral CT simulation. Treatment plans based on conventional CT images were transplanted to ED maps with the same structure set, including planning target volume (PTV) and organs at risk (OARs), and the dose distributions were then recalculated. The differences in dose and volume histogram (DVH) parameters of the PTV and OARs between the two types of plans were analyzed and compared. Besides, gamma analysis between these plans was performed by using MEPHYSTO Navigator software. Results In terms of PTV, the homogeneity index (HI), gradient index (GI), D2%, D98%, and Dmean showed no significant difference between conventional plans and ED plans. For OARs, statistically significant differences were observed in parotids D50%, brainstem in head&neck plans, spinal cord in chest plans and rectum D50% in pelvic plans, whereas the variance remained minor. For the rest, the DVH parameters exhibited no significant difference between conventional plans and ED plans. All of the mean gamma passing rates (GPRs) of gamma analysis were higher than 90%. Conclusion Compared to conventional treatment plans relying on CT images, plans utilizing ED maps demonstrated similar dosimetric quality. However, the latter approach enables direct utilization in dose calculation without the requirements of establishing and selecting a specific Hounsfield unit (HU) to ED calibration curve, providing an advantage in clinical applications.

The underwater 10CrNi3MoV high-strength low-alloy steel thin-walled part with forming quality up to in-air laser deposition quality was successfully manufactured for the first time. The influencing mechanisms of complicated thermal history and water environment on microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of thin-walled part were researched. Due to austenitization and interlocking effect, the microstructure in the bottom, middle and top (below the 56th layer) areas of underwater sample and the middle area of in-air sample were composed of fine grain ferrite and granular bainite. With the increase of building height, the heat accumulation effect of underwater sample enhanced, resulting in small grain size (GS), high dislocation density, strong solution strengthening effect and low maximum texture strength at the bottom area, while the high proportion of high-angle grain boundaries (HAGBs) at the top area. These resulted in the greatest tensile strength (714 MPa) and microhardness (232 HV) at the bottom area and the highest elongation (11%) at the top area. Due to the cooling effect of water environment, the proportion of HAGBs reduced and there were oxides in fracture. As a result, the horizontal elongation of underwater sample was about 90.9% of in-air sample. Additionally, the GS reduced, and the dislocation density and solution strengthening effect increased, so the microhardness of underwater sample was slightly higher than that of in-air sample. However, due to some microscopic defects, the horizontal and vertical tensile strength of underwater sample were about 97.6% and 90.7% of in-air sample.

To explain the moisture adsorption properties and improve the package material of polydextrose product, the adsorption and desorption isotherms of five domestic samples with initial moisture content (IMC) of 1.01%~4.89% were determined in this study in the range of 20~35 ℃ and ERH10%~90% using a dynamic water sorption analyzer. The adsorption and desorption isotherms were sigmoidal-shaped curves, and there was a hysteresis between desorption isotherm and the adsorption isotherm when ERH was less than 80%. Because polydextrose is an amorphous phase powder, we assumed that the water adsorption process of polydextrose was an equilibrium that existed among the vapor phase, the liquid phase (polylayer adsorption) and the solid solution (monolayer adsorption), and the adsorptive and desorptive sigmoidal-shaped isotherms can be de-convolved into a monolayer (Mh) and a polylayer component (Md) in accordance with Hailwood- Horrobin (HH) model. The polylayer water content of adsorption and desorption showed a sigmoidal increase with increasing ERH. The monolayer water content of desorption remained constant with increasing ERH, while that of the adsorption increased slowly for samples a1 to a4 with IMC 4.87% to 2.35% and decreased almost linearly for sample a5 with IMC 1.01%. As the IMCs of the samples decreased, the molecular weight of the polymer at the sorption site was maximum for sample a1 and minimum for sample a5. Although the FTIR showed the smallest intensity of hydroxyl group (3 416 cm–1) and amorphous structural functional group (1 027 cm–1) for a5 sample, a5 sample had the largest moisture absorption rate. These results suggested that, for the lower moisture content of polydextrose samples processed by different processes, their adsorptive monolayer water content seemed to decrease almost linearly with an increase of ERH. However their adsorptive polylayer water content sigmoidally increased with an increase of ERH, and their moisture absorption rate and hygroscopic capacity increased.

Abstract Background Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative illness marked by the loss of dopaminergic neurons, causing motor symptoms. Oral levodopa replacement therapy remains the gold standard in the treatment of PD. It is, nevertheless, a symptomatic treatment. There is currently no effective treatment for PD. Therefore, new therapies for PD are highly desirable. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) has been shown to improve behavioral functions in PD animal models. It is a new type of neuromodulation approach that combines noninvasiveness with high spatial precision. The purpose of this study is to establish a new clinical protocol for LIPUS in the treatment of movement disorders in patients with PD. Methods This protocol is a single-site, prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT). Forty-eight participants with clinically confirmed PD will be randomly allocated to one of two groups: LIPUS group or sham group. All of the participants continue to use pharmacological therapy as a fundamental treatment. The primary outcome is the difference between groups from baseline to 4 months in the change in the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor score (part III). The secondary outcomes include the rating scales such as the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and other three rating scales, and medical examinations including high-density electroencephalography (hdEEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The primary safety outcome will be assessed at 4 months, and adverse events will be recorded. Discussion This study represents the clinical investigation into the efficacy of therapeutic LIPUS in the treatment of PD for the first time. If LIPUS is determined to be effective, it could offer a practical and innovative means of expanding the accessibility of ultrasound therapy by using a wearable LIPUS device within a home setting. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2100052093. Registered on 17 October 2021.

Abstract Purpose The corneal cap thickness is a vital parameter designed in small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE). The purpose was to investigate the changes in corneal subbasal nerve plexus (SNP) and stromal cells with different cap thicknesses and evaluate the optimized design for the surgery. Methods In this prospective, comparative, non-randomized study, a total of 108 eyes of 54 patients who underwent SMILE were allocated into three groups with different corneal cap thicknesses (110 μm, 120 μm or 130 μm group). The SNP and stromal cell morphological changes obtained from in vivo corneal confocal microscopy (IVCCM) along with their refractive outcomes were collected at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months postoperatively. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the parameters among the three groups. Results The SNPs in the three groups all decreased after surgery and revealed a gradual increasing trend during the 6-month follow-up. The values of the quantitative nerve metrics were significantly lower in the 110 μm group than in the 120 μm and 130 μm groups, especially at 1 week postoperatively. No difference was detected between the 120 μm and 130 μm groups at any time point. Both Langerhans cells and keratocytes were activated after surgery, and the activation was alleviated during the follow-up. Conclusions The SMILE surgeries with 110 μm, 120 μm or 130 μm cap thickness design achieved good efficacy, safety, accuracy and stability for moderate to high myopic correction while the thicker corneal cap was more beneficial for corneal nerve regeneration.

Recent research indicated that ulcers and peripheral vascular disease resulting from drug-resistant bacterial infections are the main causes of delayed healing in chronic diabetic wounds. 5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is a second-generation endogenous photosensitizer. The therapeutic effect and mechanism of ALA-mediated photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-infected wounds in diabetic rats were investigated in this study. The results revealed the promising antibacterial effects of ALA-PDT MRSA in vitro, with a minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of 250 and 500 μM, respectively. ALA-PDT also changed the permeability and structural integrity of bacterial cell membranes by producing reactive oxygen species. Meanwhile, ALA-PDT accelerated wound healing in MRSA-infected diabetic rats, with 5 % ALA-PDT achieving complete sterilization in 14 days and wound closure in 21 days. Treatment with 5 % ALA-PDT additionally improved the histopathological appearance of skin tissue, as well as fibrosis, inflammatory cytokine release, and angiogenesis-related protein expression. These findings indicated that ALA-PDT significantly promoted the healing of MRSA-infected wounds in diabetic rats by eliminating bacteria, inhibiting inflammation, generating granulation tissues, promoting neovascularization, and restoring damaged nerves. In addition, the healing mechanism was related to the activation of inflammatory and angiogenesis pathways through the regulation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 expression and upregulation of CD206, CD31, and VEGF. These findings underscored the potential role of ALA-PDT in promoting the healing of chronic diabetic wounds.

Abstract Bioinspired micropillar adhesives have shown broad application prospects in space capture and docking, due to their strong adhesion, good environmental adaptability, and reusability. However, when performing space missions, unavoidable contact collision with target objects may cause large deformation of the micropillars, resulting in the loss of adhesion ability. This study reports a novel micropillar adhesive through the in‐plane combination of micropillars (IPCM) with different aspect ratios, consisting of small pillars for retaining strong adhesion and large ones for resisting overload‐induced adhesion failure. It is demonstrated that the IPCM array can still maintain 85% of the adhesion peak after static large deformation compared to a general micropillar array composed of the same pillars. The impact of element size and layout of the IPCM, as well as detachment velocity on adhesion performance under high preload is discussed. Furthermore, finite element contact analysis qualitatively reproduces the experimentally observed micropillar deformations and attributes the overload‐induced adhesion failure to the redistribution of surface normal stress. Finally, the potential application of the IPCM in dynamic capture is demonstrated on different objects. The proposed IPCM opens up new design concepts for practical applications of bioinspired adhesives in space capture and docking.

Abstract Since the origin of life, temperatures on earth have fluctuated both on short and long time scales. How such changes affect the rate at which Darwinian evolution can bring forth new phenotypes remains unclear. On the one hand, high temperature may accelerate phenotypic evolution because it accelerates most biological processes. On the other hand, it may slow phenotypic evolution, because proteins are usually less stable at high temperatures and therefore less evolvable. Here, to test these hypotheses experimentally, we evolved a green fluorescent protein in E. coli towards the new phenotype of yellow fluorescence at different temperatures. Yellow fluorescence evolved most slowly at high temperature and most rapidly at low temperature, in contradiction to the first hypothesis. Using high-throughput population sequencing, protein engineering, and biochemical assays, we determined that this is due to the protein-destabilizing effect of neofunctionalizing mutations. Destabilization is highly detrimental at high temperature, where neofunctionalizing mutations cannot be tolerated. Their detrimental effects can be mitigated through excess stability at low temperature, leading to accelerated adaptive evolution. By modifying protein folding stability, temperature alters the accessibility of mutational paths towards high-fitness genotypes. Our observations have broad implications for our understanding of how temperature changes affect evolutionary adaptations and innovations.

For the first time, the underwater wet wire and arc directed energy deposition (UW-WADED) multi-tracks deposition layers with favorable morphology were obtained. The forming characteristics of single-track UW-WADED were determined through response surface methodology. It was found that the power function curve provided the best fit for the profile of single-track UW-WADED owing to its changing plumpness value. Subsequently, the formation characteristics of multi-track UW-WADED with varying intervals were investigated. The deposition layer exhibited the flattest surface and the least root-mean-square deviation, measuring 321.79 μm when the interval was 8 mm. The dynamic process of UW-WADED was unveiled through X-ray high-speed images, leading to the formulation of UW-WADED droplet force model. As the arc bubble expanded, the horizontal component of the air drag force pointed to the opposite side of the molten pool and was the principal factor for the droplets to become spatters in UW-WADED. The mechanism of the defect formation was also revealed. The accumulation of the molten pool on the previous deposition layer coupled with the downflow of the molten slag were the inducers of slag inclusion defect while the exorbitant molten pool increased the likelihood of molten pool explosion and subsequent spatter formation.

High current pulsed electron beam (HCPEB) was used to modify the surface microstructure and performance of AISI 304 stainless steel with different cold-rolling deformation. The phase, microstructure, microhardness, and corrosion performance were characterized and analyzed after cold-rolling and HCPEB treatment. The results show that after cold-rolling, deformation-induced martensites (DMs) are generated in the deformation twin lamellae or at the intersections of multiple twin lamellae, resulting in a grid-like morphology, smaller size, and a certain orientation relationship with the parent austenite. The content of DMs increases with increasing cold-rolling deformation. After HCPEB treatment, many craters with different sizes and similar densities are produced on the sample surface, and the DMs are transformed into austenite again in the surface layer. The difference is that the grain size of the regenerated austenite after HCPEB is much smaller than that of the initial austenite (before cold-rolling). Such high-density equiaxed ultrafine grains (UFGs) of austenite formed after HCPEB present a twin feature, which is the inheritance of the orientation relationship between DMs and austenite formed during rolling. HCPEB treatment can effectively reshape the phase and microstructure of the surface layer of the cold-rolled deformed austenitic steel but reduce the surface hardness and increase pitting corrosion tendency.

Abstract Background As a novel circRNA, BTBD7_hsa_circ_0000563 has not been fully investigated in coronary artery disease (CAD). Our aim is to reveal the possible functional role and regulatory pathway of BTBD7_hsa_circ_0000563 in CAD via exploring genes combined with BTBD7_hsa_circ_0000563. Methods A total of 45 peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples of CAD patients were enrolled. The ChIRP-RNAseq assay was performed to directly explore genes bound to BTBD7_hsa_circ_0000563. The Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis were conducted to reveal possible functions of these genes. The interaction network was constructed by the STRING database and the Cytoscape software. The Cytoscape software were used again to identify clusters and hub genes of genes bound to BTBD7_hsa_circ_0000563. The target miRNAs of hub genes were predicted via online databases. Results In this study, a total of 221 mRNAs directly bound to BTBD7_hsa_circ_0000563 were identified in PBMCs of CAD patients via ChIRP-RNAseq. The functional enrichment analysis revealed that these mRNAs may participate in translation and necroptosis. Moreover, the interaction network showed that there may be a close relationship between these mRNAs. Eight clusters can be further subdivided from the interaction network. RPS3 and RPSA were identified as hub genes and hsa-miR-493-5p was predicted to be the target miRNA of RPS3. Conclusions BTBD7_hsa_circ_0000563 and mRNAs directly bound to it may influence the initiation and progression of CAD, among which RPS3 and RPSA may be hub genes. These findings may provide innovative ideas for further research on CAD.

In this paper, a new type of slow-release algae control agent was prepared by using modified fly ash and cement as the base material and PS (potassium persulfate), an inorganic substance that dissolves algae by destroying their cellular structure, as the active component, and compounding the three in a certain proportion, and the finished product was obtained after 14 days of maintenance. The rate of release is primarily influenced by temperature, particle size, and load, while pH has minimal impact. Specifically, as the temperature increases from 4 °C to 40 °C, the rate of slow release increases from 0.74 mg/g/d to 1.35 mg/g/d. When particle size increased from 3 mm to 5 mm, the slow-release rate decreased from 1.06 mg/g/d to 0.70 mg/g/d. When the load increased from 10 mg/g to 30 mg/g, the slow-release rate also increased from 0.60 mg/g/d to 2.10 mg/g/d. In the algal inhibition experiment, the composite material was selected with a dose of 20 g/L, a loading capacity of 15 mg/g, and a particle size of 3 mm. After 14 days, algae removal rates, ammonia nitrogen, total phosphorus, and COD were found to be 96.55 %, 56.14 %, 78.2 %, and 86.81 %, respectively. The microstructure, elemental composition, and distribution of functional groups in the materials were analyzed using SEM, EDS, and FTIR. The algal suppressor was evenly distributed throughout the substrate surface. Additionally, there was a decrease in metal elements and an increase in hydroxyl groups. The experimental data show that the material is a slow-release algal inhibitor with good performance and practical application value.

Laser melting deposition–produced Ti6Al4V additive manufacturingparts tend to manifest as coarse columnar grains. This paper optimises the laser pulse frequency to manage the microstructuralcharacteristics of Ti6Al4V parts and enhance their tensile properties and corrosion resistance. A fiber laser processing equipment with a laser power of 1200 W and a spot diameter of 2.0 mm was employed for all experiments, which provides pulsed lasers at 4, 40, 400, and 4000 Hz at a scanning speed of 8 mm/s and a duty cycle of 95 % for comparative research.The findings demonstrated that increasing the pulse frequency improved the deposition efficiency.An appropriate pulse frequency could promote the refinement and columnar-to-equiaxed transition (CET) of primary β grains.At 400 Hz, the Ti6Al4V-deposited parts yielded refined equiaxed grains.The average grain size in the middle of the sample was about 206.8 μm,and the microstructure mainly comprised fine α-laths in a lamellar structure, which yielded the best overall performance of the parts, with the ultimate tensile strength and elongation reaching 1083 MPa and 4.09 %, respectively.Therefore, improvingthe structural properties of partsby regulating the deposition process, which is conducive to the online regulation of the forming quality of laser deposition parts, is an effective and feasible approach.

The in-situ analysis of mass transfer behaviours in a novel underwater wire-laser directed energy deposition (ULDED) technique was conducted using in-situ X-ray high-speed imaging. By creating a stable local dry cavity within the water environment, three distinct mass transfer modes were identified: droplet transfer, liquid bridge transfer and spreading transfer modes. The mass transfer behaviours were effectively managed by maintaining the liquid bridge mode to enhance the formability of the metal deposits. The inherent heat treatment effect in ULDED provides a unique opportunity to tailor microstructures and mechanical properties in situ with establishing a thermal environment conducive to the preferred lamellar α+β microstructure instead of the acicular α′ martensite. With increasing heat input, the diffusion-controlled transformation pathway gave rise to the lamellar α+β instead of the martensite decomposition, underpinned by the microstructure morphological characteristics and the crystallographic orientations of constituent phases.

In this study, an underwater in-situ induction heating treatment (UIHT)was carried out to modulate microstructure and improve the performance of underwater laser-directed energy deposition (ULDED) samples. The results showed that the redistributive behaviour of alloying elements during the UIHT process promoted the α′→α + β transition. Furthermore, the high temperature enabled dislocation motion, and the heterogeneous dislocations cancelled each other out, causing a decrease in the dislocation density. Notably, the changes in mechanical properties were primarily attributed to the changes in α grain size and dislocation density. The decomposition of martensite α′, characterised by a high dislocation density, elevated the likelihood of intergranular slip. The homogeneously dispersed α + β microstructure promoted coordinated deformation during slip, enhancing the ductility of the specimen and reducing the anisotropy of its mechanical properties. This study offers valuable guidelines for microgroup tailoring and property modulation of ULDED-repaired titanium alloys.

Abstract The scarcity of up‐to‐date data on the distribution and dynamics of the Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) presented a significant challenge in developing effective conservation strategies and implementing protective measures within China. Currently, most of China's national‐level nature reserves and administrative departments operate at the county level, thereby limiting the applicability of larger‐scale analyses and studies for these administrative entities. This study employed 11 widely used modeling techniques created within the Biomod2 framework to predict suitable habitats for the pangolin at the county scale, while examining the correlation between environmental variables and pangolin distribution. The results revealed that highly suitable habitats in Mingxi County of China encompassed only 49 km2. Within the county‐managed nature reserve, the proportion of highly suitable habitats reached as high as 52%. However, nearly half of these areas, both moderately and highly suitable habitats, remained inadequately addressed and conserved. We found nine administrative villages that necessitated prioritized conservation efforts. The study anticipated an overall expansion in suitable habitats over the ensuing two decades, with significant growth projected in the eastern regions of Xiayang and Hufang Town. This research offered a clear and applicable research paradigm for the specific administrative level at which China operates, particularly pertinent to county‐level jurisdictions with established nature reserves.

As a solution to restore knee function and reduce pain, the demand for Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) has dramatically increased in recent decades. The high rates of dissatisfaction and revision makes it crucially important to understand the relationships between surgical factors and post-surgery knee performance. Tibial implant alignment in the sagittal plane (i.e., posterior tibia slope, PTS) is thought to play a key role in quadriceps muscle forces and contact conditions of the joint, but the underlying mechanisms and potential consequences are poorly understood. To address this biomechanical challenge, we developed a subject-specific musculoskeletal model based on the bone anatomy and precise implantation data provided within the CAMS-Knee datasets. Using the novel COMAK algorithm that concurrently optimizes joint kinematics, together with contact mechanics, and muscle and ligament forces, enabled highly accurate estimations of the knee joint biomechanics (RMSE

AIM: To investigate the refractive status and myopia wearing rate of primary and secondary school students aged 6-18 in Yecheng county, Xinjiang.METHOD: Cross-sectional study. From October 2021 to June 2022, a stratified random sampling method was used to select 81 863 students from 51 primary schools and 30 secondary schools in Yecheng county, Kashgar Prefecture, Xinjiang. Basic data of the students were collected, and non ciliary muscle paralysis optometry was performed to detect naked eye farsightedness and corrected vision with glasses. The refractive status, glasses wearing rate, and full correction rate of students of different ages, genders, and ethnic groups were observed.RESULT: The detection rate of myopia among enrolled students was 13.39%(10958/81863), the wearing rate of glasses was 23.96%(2626/10958), and the full correction rate was 50.57%(1328/2626). The detection rate of myopia shows a certain upward trend with age, and the detection rate of myopia in girls was higher than that in boys(15.75% vs. 10.96%). The detection rates of myopia in Han, Uyghur, and other ethnic students were 68.12%, 12.63%, and 22.42%, respectively.CONCLUSION:The detection rate of myopia and glasses wearing rate were relatively low for students aged 6～18 in Yecheng county, Xinjiang, while the detection rate and glasses wearing rate of myopia among Han students were significantly higher than those of Uyghur and students of other ethnics.

Abstract Objective Using two three-dimensional U-Net architectures for myocardium structure extraction and a distance transformation algorithm specifically for the left circumflex artery, we have designed a fully automated algorithm for coronary artery labeling in coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) images. Methods In this retrospective analysis, a cohort of 157 patients who had undergone coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) was included. An automated coronary artery labeling algorithm was developed using a distance transformation approach to delineate the anatomical segments along the centerlines extracted from the CCTA images. A total of 16 segments were successfully identified and labeled. The algorithm’s outcomes were recorded and reviewed by three experts, and the performance of segment detection and labeling was assessed. Additionally, the level of agreement in manually labeled segments between two experts was quantified. Results When comparing the labels generated by the experts with those produced by the algorithm, it was necessary to modify or eliminate 117 labels (5.4%) out of 2180 segments assigned by the algorithm. The overall accuracy for label presence was 96.2%, with an average overlap of 94.0% between the expert reference and algorithm-generated labels. Furthermore, the average agreement rate between the two experts stood at 95.0%. Conclusions Based on the labels of the clinical experts, the proposed deep learning algorithm exhibits high accuracy for automatic labeling. Therefore, our proposed method exhibits promising results for the automatic labeling of the coronary arteries and will alleviate the burden on radiologists in the near future.

In this paper, a Cr coating was prepared by induction heating and pack-cementation chromizing on AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel. Then, the cold-rolling deformation and annealing treatment were introduced to refine the coarse matrix grains caused by pack-chromizing and improve the overall performance of 304 austenitic stainless steel. The phase composition, element distribution, and microstructure of the coating were carefully characterized. The microhardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance of the coating were tested. The results show that the Cr coating with a thickness of 100 μm is mainly composed of a (Cr,Fe)23C6, (Cr,Fe)7C3, and α-Fe-Cr solid solution. After the cold-rolling deformation and subsequent annealing treatment, the grains are significantly refined and the Cr coating is divided into two layers, consisting of carbon-chromium compounds such as Cr23C6, Cr7C3, Cr2C, and Cr3C2 in the surface layer and a Fe-Cr solid solution in the subsurface layer. The cold-rolling deformation and annealing treatment significantly improved the microhardness and wear resistance of the coated sample, and the corrosion resistance was also better than that of the uncoated sample.

In recent years, with the increase in environmental awareness, people have become more and more concerned about the effectiveness with which coal burns. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has become an important way of coal elemental analysis because of its uncomplicated sample handling, remote sensing capability, and superior sensitivity in identifying a wide range of elements, including both major and minor constituents, down to trace levels. However, the complexity of its mechanism of action, the experimental environmental factors, and the presence of matrix effects in its measurement spectrum have affected the measurement accuracy. In this paper, on the basis of introducing the experimental process and principle of LIBS, we summarize and analyze the influence of each factor on the LIBS detection medium, summarize the mainstream model analysis algorithms, and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each model. While summarizing the LIBS in media detection in recent years, it aims to provide strong support and guidance for subsequent more in-depth exploration and research.

SIP30, characterized by a coiled-coil functional domain, plays a key role in regulating synaptic vesicle exocytosis and is implicated in neuropathic pain resulting from peripheral nerve injury. Because neuropathic pain is studied in primates (including human), domesticated animals, and rodents, we conducted a phylogenetic analysis of SIP30 in selected species of these three groups of mammals. SIP30 exhibits a high degree of sequence divergence in comparison to its protein binding partners SNAP25 and ZW10, which show broad sequence conservation. Notably, we observed an increased rate of change in the highly conserved coiled-coil domain in the SIP30 protein, specifically within primates. This observation suggests an accelerated adaptation of this functional domain in primate species.

SNAP25 (synaptosome-associated protein of 25 kDa) is a core SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment receptor) protein; and the interaction between SNAP25 and other SNARE proteins is essential for synaptic vesicle exocytosis. Identified as a SNAP25 interacting protein, SIP30 (SNAP25 interacting protein at 30 kDa) has been shown to modulate neuropathic pain behavior, and is potentially involved in the cellular process of vesicle exocytosis. Previous study demonstrated that using a vesicle secretion assay in PC12 cells, anti-SIP30 siRNA reduced vesicle exocytosis. We investigated vesicle exocytosis from PC12 cells with FM1-43 fluorescence dye, and demonstrated that anti-SIP30 siRNA reduced the pool of releasable vesicles and the rate of vesicle exocytosis, without affecting the endocytosis and recycling of the exocytosed vesicles. The results show that SIP30 is involved in vesicle exocytosis, suggesting a potential mechanism of SIP30 modulation of neuropathic pain.

Summary: Drug resistance is the leading problem in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) therapy. The contribution of histone methylation in mediating malignant phenotypes of NSCLC is well known. However, the role of histone methylation in NSCLC drug-resistance mechanisms remains unclear. Here, our data show that EZH2 and G9a, two histone methyltransferases, are involved in the drug resistance of NSCLC. Gene manipulation results indicate that the combination of EZH2 and G9a promotes tumor growth and mediates drug resistance in a complementary manner. Importantly, clinical study demonstrates that co-expression of both enzymes predicts a poor outcome in patients with NSCLC. Mechanistically, G9a and EZH2 interact and promote the silencing of the tumor-suppressor gene SMAD4, activating the ERK/c-Myc signaling pathway. Finally, SU08, a compound targeting both EZH2 and G9a, is demonstrated to sensitize resistant cells to therapeutic drugs by regulating the SMAD4/ERK/c-Myc signaling axis. These findings uncover the resistance mechanism and a strategy for reversing NSCLC drug resistance.

An advanced Watt class Hall Micro Thruster (HMT) is offered for Space Gravitational Wave Detection (SGWD), and an investigation has been conducted on its start-up, shutdown, rise, and fall response times. The research involved creating a circuit for thruster discharge and signal acquisition, using a Faraday probe to measure the plasma plume signal generated by the thruster, and characterizing the thrust directly. Ultimately the response time of the thruster is extracted from the discharge current and Faraday current signals. The experimental results demonstrate that the HMT has a response time ranging from 1.08 ms to 16.76 ms at mass flow rates of 0.02 mg/s and 0.04 mg/s, meeting the SGWD requirements for micro thruster response time. This research provides a physical foundation and explanation for the variation of HMT response time with discharge voltage versus mass flow rate with several key parameters that affect HMT plasma discharge, such as neutral gas number density (nn) and ionization mean free path (λi). Furthermore, we have examined several anomalies in the signal. Overall, this research provides a brand-new method for measuring the thrust response time of electric thrusters.

Robots play a critical role as the physical agent of human operators in exploring the ocean. However, it remains challenging to grasp objects reliably while fully submerging under a highly pressurized aquatic environment with little visible light, mainly due to the fluidic interference on the tactile mechanics between the finger and object surfaces. This study investigates the transferability of grasping knowledge from on‐land to underwater via a vision‐based soft robotic finger that learns 6D forces and torques (FT) using a supervised variational autoencoder (SVAE). A high‐framerate camera captures the whole‐body deformations while a soft robotic finger interacts with physical objects on‐land and underwater. Results show that the trained SVAE model learns a series of latent representations of the soft mechanics transferable from land to water, presenting a superior adaptation to the changing environments against commercial FT sensors. Soft, delicate, and reactive grasping enabled by tactile intelligence enhances the gripper's underwater interaction with improved reliability and robustness at a much‐reduced cost, paving the path for learning‐based intelligent grasping to support fundamental scientific discoveries in environmental and ocean research.

Coarse β-columnar grains are often present in Ti–6Al–4V laser-additive-manufactured samples, resulting in anisotropic and inferior fatigue performance under dynamic loading. Fine-equiaxed grains (FEGs) with a mean grain size of approximately 139 μm were successfully obtained by a novel deposition strategy through coordinated regulation of direct energy deposition technological parameters. Microstructures were transformed from α′ martensite to α'' martensite. As a result, the comprehensive performance was significantly improved. Without the use of an argon atmosphere glovebox and post heat treatment, the tensile strength and elongation in the horizontal direction of the FEGs were 1091 MPa and 4.09%, respectively. The corrosion resistance was 11.71-fold higher than that of the coarse columnar grains (CCGs). Improving the microstructure and performance by optimizing pulsed laser parameters is simple, effective, and conducive to online regulation of the quality of laser additive samples.

Abstract Background The family Toxocaridae is a group of zooparasitic nematodes of veterinary, medical and economic significance. However, the evolutionary relationship of Porrocaecum and Toxocara, both genera currently classified in Toxocaridae, and the monophyly of the Toxocaridae remain under debate. Moreover, the validity of the subgenus Laymanicaecum in the genus Porrocaecum is open to question. Due to the scarcity of an available genetic database, molecular identification of Porrocaecum nematodes is still in its infancy. Methods A number of Porrocaecum nematodes collected from the Eurasian marsh harrier Circus aeruginosus (Linnaeus) (Falconiformes: Accipitridae) in the Czech Republic were identified using integrated morphological methods (light and scanning electron microscopy) and molecular techniques (sequencing and analyzing the nuclear 18S, 28S and ITS regions). The complete mitochondrial genomes of the collected nematode specimens and of Porrocaecum (Laymanicaecum) reticulatum (Linstow, 1899) were sequenced and annotated for the first time. Phylogenetic analyses of ascaridoid nematodes based on the amino acid sequences of 12 protein-coding genes of mitochondrial genomes were performed using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference. Results A new species of Porrocaecum, named P. moraveci n. sp., is described based on the morphological and genetic evidence. The mitogenomes of P. moraveci n. sp. and P. reticulatum both contain 36 genes and are 14,517 and 14,210 bp in length, respectively. Comparative mitogenomics revealed that P. moraveci n. sp. represents the first known species with three non-coding regions and that P. reticulatum has the lowest overall A + T content in the mitogenomes of ascaridoid nematodes tested to date. Phylogenetic analyses showed the representatives of Toxocara clustered together with species of the family Ascarididae rather than with Porrocaecum and that P. moraveci n. sp. is a sister to P. reticulatum. Conclusions The characterization of the complete mitochondrial genomes of P. moraveci n. sp. and P. reticulatum is reported for the first time. Mitogenomic phylogeny analyses indicated that the family Toxocaridae is non-monophyletic and that the genera Porrocaecum and Toxocara do not have an affinity. The validity of the subgenus Laymanicaecum in Porrocaecum was also rejected. Our results suggest that: (i) Toxocaridae should be degraded to a subfamily of the Ascarididae that includes only the genus Toxocara; and (ii) the subfamily Porrocaecinae should be resurrected to include only the genus Porrocaecum. The present study enriches the database of ascaridoid mitogenomes and provides a new insight into the systematics of the superfamily Ascaridoidea. Graphical Abstract

The in-situ laser cladding layer on nickel-aluminum bronze was prepared in water environment directly by the underwater wire-feed laser cladding technology for the first time, in which the local dry cavity was generated by a self-designed underwater laser cladding nozzle to protect the cladding zone from water environment. After optimizing the processing parameters such as the protection gas flow rate, laser power and lap ratio, the underwater alloy coatings with good formability without internal defects were obtained, and the interaction mechanism of water environment on the microstructure evolution, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance behavior of cladding was investigated. The results showed that the large cooling rate during underwater laser cladding process inhibited the eutectoid transformation from the high-temperature β phase to the α phase, resulting in an increase in the proportion of the β′ phase and finer α layer structure in the underwater laser cladding layer. Compared with the in-air cladding layer, the grains in the underwater cladding layer were smaller, and more low-angle grain boundaries were observed. The grain refinement and the increase of the β′ phase ratio as well as grain boundaries gave rise to the higher microhardness of the underwater cladding metal. The electrochemical response of the cladding layer was primarily influenced by the presence of copper, resulting in similar corrosion resistance among the cladding layer samples.

At present, there is a global rise in electricity consumption, leading to an accelerated depletion of natural resources due to the reliance on fossil fuels to fulfill this energy demand. Consequently, there exists a worldwide emphasis on enhancing the proportion of renewable energy sources in electricity generation. Biomass, as a renewable energy source, presents a viable alternative to certain fossil energy sources for combustion in electricity generation. This study focuses on a 660 MW coal-fired power plant as the subject of investigation, employing Aspen Plus simulation software (V11) to replicate the operational dynamics of the plant. A model of the direct mixed combustion biomass system within the coal-fired boiler is constructed, and its accuracy is validated against operational data obtained from the power plant. Moreover, a model elucidating the direct co-combustion of biomass in a coal-fired boiler, augmented by flue gas recirculation, was developed through the integration of biomass pre-treatment and flue gas recirculation technologies. This study explores the impacts of varying biomass blending ratios and flue gas recirculation on parameters, including flue gas volume, power generation efficiency, boiler performance, water vapor content, and emissions of pollutants. These findings indicate an inverse relationship between the mixing ratio and various performance metrics as follows: power generation, boiler efficiency, as well as NOX and SO2 content, with larger mixing ratios resulting in diminished values. Furthermore, the incorporation of flue gas recirculation was observed to mitigate furnace temperatures and suppress NOX emissions.

The Laasraoui segmented and Arrhenius flow stress model, dynamic recrystallization (DRX) model, grain size prediction model, and hot processing map (HPM) of Fe-Cr-Mo-Mn steels were established through isothermal compression tests. The models and HPM were proven by experiment to be highly accurate. As the deformation temperature decreased or the strain rate increased, the flow stress increased and the grain size of the Fe-Cr-Mo-Mn steel decreased, while the volume fraction of DRX (Xdrx) decreased. The optimal range of the hot processing was determined to be 1050–1200 °C/0.369–1 s−1. Zigzag-like grain boundaries (GBs) and intergranular cracks were found in the unstable region, in which the disordered martensitic structure was observed. The orderly packet martensite was formed in the general processing region, and the mixed structure with incomplete DRX grains was composed of coarse and fine grains. The microstructure in the optimum processing region was composed of DRX grains and the multistage martensite. The validity of the Laasraoui segmented flow stress model, DRX model, grain size prediction model, and HPM was verified by upsetting tests.

To address surface morphological defects that have a destructive effect on the epitaxial wafer from the aspect of 4H-SiC epitaxial growth, this study thoroughly examined many key factors that affect the density of defects in 4H-SiC epitaxial wafer, including the ratio of carbon to silicon, growth time, application of a buffer layer, hydrogen etching and other process parameters. Through systematic experimental verification and data analysis, it was verified that when the carbon–silicon ratio was accurately controlled at 0.72, the density of defects in the epitaxial wafer was the lowest, and its surface flatness showed the best state. In addition, it was found that the growth of the buffer layer under specific conditions could effectively reduce defects, especially surface morphology defects. This provides a new idea and method for improving the surface quality of epitaxial wafers. At the same time, we also studied the influence of hydrogen etching on the quality of epitaxial wafers. The experimental results show that proper hydrogen etching can optimize surface quality, but excessive etching may lead to the exposure of substrate defects. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully control the conditions of hydrogen etching in practical applications to avoid adverse effects. These findings have important guiding significance for optimizing the quality of epitaxial wafers.

In this study, we systematically explore the impact of C/Si ratio, pre-carbonization time, H2 etching time, and growth pressure on the buffer layer and subsequent epitaxial layer of 6-inch 4H-SiC wafers. Our findings indicate that the buffer layer’s C/Si ratio and growth pressure significantly influence the overall quality of the epitaxial wafer. Specifically, an optimal C/Si ratio of 0.5 and a growth pressure of 70 Torr yield higher-quality epitaxial layers. Additionally, the pre-carbonization time and H2 etching time primarily affect the uniformity and surface quality of the epitaxial wafer, with a pre-carbonization time of 3 s and an H2 etching time of 3 min found to enhance the surface quality of the epitaxial layer.

The long-term operation of motors induces substantial alterations in the surface conductivity and nonlinear coefficient of anti-corona paint, diminishing its efficacy and jeopardizing the longevity of large motors. Hence, the development of high-performance anti-corona paint holds paramount importance in ensuring motor safety. In this study, we integrate two nano-fillers, namely silicon carbide (SiC) and organic montmorillonite (O-MMT), into a composite matrix comprising micron silicon carbide and epoxy resin (SiC/EP). Subsequently, three distinct types of anti-corona paint are formulated: SiC/EP, Nano-SiC/EP, and O-MMT/SiC/EP. Remarkably, O-MMT/SiC/EP exhibits a glass transition temperature about 25 °C higher than that of SiC/EP, underscoring its superior thermal properties. Moreover, the introduction of nano-fillers markedly augments the surface conductivity of the anti-corona paint. Aging tests, conducted across varying temperatures, unveil a notable reduction in the fluctuation range of surface conductivity post-aging. Initially, the nonlinear coefficients exhibit a declining trend, succeeded by an ascending trajectory. The O-MMT/SiC/EP composite displays a maximum nonlinearity coefficient of 1.465 and a minimum of 1.382. Furthermore, the incorporation of nanofillers amplifies the dielectric thermal stability of epoxy resin composites, with O-MMT/SiC/EP showcasing the pinnacle of thermal endurance. Overall, our findings elucidate the efficacy of nano-fillers in enhancing the performance and longevity of anti-corona paint, particularly highlighting the exceptional attributes of the O-MMT/SiC/EP composite in bolstering motor safety through improved thermal stability and electrical properties.

In this study, a 4H-SiC homoepitaxial layer was grown on a 150 mm 4° off-axis substrate using a horizontal hot wall chemical vapor deposition reactor. Comparing C3H8 and C2H4 as C sources, the sample grown with C2H4 exhibited a slower growth rate and lower doping concentration, but superior uniformity and surface roughness compared to the C3H8-grown sample. Hence, C2H4 is deemed more suitable for commercial epitaxial wafer growth. Increasing growth pressure led to decreased growth rate, worsened thickness uniformity, reduced doping concentration, deteriorated uniformity, and initially improved and then worsened surface roughness. Optimal growth quality was observed at a lower growth pressure of 40 Torr. Furthermore, the impact of buffer layer growth on epitaxial quality varied significantly based on different C/Si ratios, emphasizing the importance of selecting the appropriate conditions for subsequent device manufacturing.

The critical structural parameters are optimized and studied using the numerical simulation method to improve the resolution and stability of the Micro-Thrust Measurement Platform (MTMP). Under two different ground random vibration environments, the parameters, such as pivot thickness, pendulum rod length, and pivot structure, are focused on analyzing the influence of the system’s resolution and stability. The results show that when the thickness of the pivot is 0.04 mm or 0.2 mm, and the pendulum rod length is 2 m, the effect of ground random vibration on the MTMP is minimized. At 0.1 mHz, it can reach 0.0057 μN/Hz. In the series double-pivot structure, an appropriate increase in the distance between the sheets can further optimize the above conclusions. The results and analysis within this study can provide support for the engineering design of the MTMP.

AIM: To investigate the myopia and hyperopia reserve among Uyghur children aged 6～12 in Yecheng county of Xinjiang.METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, a total of 50 151 Uyghur students aged 6～12 years from Yecheng county of Xinjiang underwent comprehensive vision screening, including automatic computer optometry, indoor remote light box E-word standard logarithmic visual acuity chart(GB 11533), to measure the naked eye distant vision and corrected vision with lens.RESULTS: From October 2021 to January 2022, the spherical equivalent(SE)of 6-12 year old Uyghur myopic children was -0.875(-1.625, -0.625)D, and the detection rate of myopia was 6.75%(3384/50151)in Yecheng county of Xinjiang. The SE of the myopic children aged 6～12 was -0.75(-1.125, -0.625)D, -0.75(-1.125, -0.625)D, -0.875(-1.125, -0.625)D, -0.875(-1.375, -0.625)D, -0.875(-1.6, -0.625)D, -0.875(-1.625, -0.625)D, -1.25(-2.125, -0.75)D, respectively. The SE of non-myopic children aged 6～12 was +0.25(-0.125, +0.5)D, and the detection rate of insufficient hyperopia reserve was 75.51%. The SE of the non-myopic children aged 6～12 was +0.25(-0.125, +0.5)D, +0.25(0, +0.5)D, +0.125(-0.125, +0.5)D, +0.25(-0.125, +0.5)D, +0.125(-0.125, +0.5)D, +0.125(-0.125, +0.5)D, +0.25(-0.125, +0.625)D, respectively. The detection rates of myopia children aged 6～12 were 6.78%, 5.64%, 5.72%, 5.36%, 5.01%, 6.82%, 12.14%, respectively. The detection rates of insufficient hyperopia reserve children aged 6～12 were 91.67%, 92.04%, 92.91%, 83.85%, 68.89%, 54.01%, 26.71%, respectively. The detection rate of insufficient hyperopia reserve in non-myopic girls aged 9～12 years old was higher than that in boys(χ2=8.94, 19.99, 19.91 and 39.11, all P

In underwater wet welding, a hydrogen-rich arc atmosphere generated by the thermal decomposition of water leads to extremely high diffusible hydrogen content and defects such as pores and cracks in the weld. In the present study, a neutral slag system was designed and verified for its protection in underwater wet flux-cored arc welding. This neutral slag system forms a stable protective layer of molten salt on the surface of the molten pool, mechanically isolating the molten metal from the water environment and effectively delaying heat loss. More crucially, it also retained the chemical metallurgical dehydrogenation component. When pure Ni belt was used as the outer metal, weld joints free of porosity were obtained, and the diffusible hydrogen content of the deposited metal was 3.61 mL/100 g, close to the level of onshore welding. This neutral slag system was further extended to the use of a pure Fe belt, where the diffused hydrogen content of the molten metal was 10.40 mL/100 g.

In this work, a high-frequency pulsed laser-welding process was successfully implemented to fabricate a Ti–6Al–4V alloy butt joint. The microstructure of each zone of the welded joint was systematically characterized by carrying out scanning electron microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction measurements. In addition, the corrosion resistance of the welded joint was tested using traditional electrochemical and local electrochemical methods, while the main factors affecting corrosion resistance and the mechanism of the galvanic corrosion were also thoroughly investigated. From the acquired results, it was demonstrated that the α′ martensitic phases constituted the microstructure in the fusion zone (FZ), where the grain size, grain orientation, and misorientation distribution of the different zones varied, and the α′ martensitic and bulk α covered the heat-affected zone (HAZ). The corrosion resistance in the HAZ was slightly better than that in the base material, and both were worse than that of the FZ, which was related to the phase type. In addition, the corrosion current density values of FZupper were about 1/4.6 and 1/2.6 those of FZmiddle and FZdown, respectively, which was attributed to differences in the grain size and grain orientation. The FZ was protected as a cathode during galvanic corrosion, which is of great importance for ensuring the service life of the component during practical applications.

ObjectiveRed cell distribution width (RDW) and serum calcium (Ca) levels are predictors of in-hospital mortality in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients. However, their sensitivity and specificity are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether the RDW to Ca ratio (RCR) acquired on admission can be used to predict the in-hospital mortality of AMI patients.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study extracted clinical information from the Medical Information Market for Intensive IV (MIMIC-IV) database on 2,910 AMI patients enrolled via propensity score matching (PSM). Prognostic values were assessed using a multivariate logistic model and three PSM approaches. Analysis was performed based on stratified variables and interactions among sex, age, ethnicity, anemia, renal disease, percutaneous transluminal coronary intervention (PCI), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, dementia, diabetes, paraplegia, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score.ResultsA total of 4,105 ICU-admitted AMI patients were analyzed. The optimal cut-off value of the RCR for in-hospital mortality was 1.685. The PSM was performed to identify 1,455 pairs (2,910) of score-matched patients, with balanced differences exhibited for nearly all variables.The patients’ median age was 72 years (range, 63–82 years) and 60.9% were male. The risk of in-hospital mortality incidence increased with increasing RCR levels. After adjusting for confounders, the risk ratio for the incidence of in-hospital mortality for high RCR was 1.75 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.60–1.94, P = 0.0113] compared to that associated with low RCR in the PSM cohort. High RCR was also substantially implicated in in-hospital mortality incidence in the weighted cohorts [odds ratio (OR) = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.62–1.94, P = 0.0129]. Assessment of RCR in three groups showed that patients with high RCR also had a higher risk of in-hospital mortality (OR = 3.04; 95% CI, 2.22–4.16; P

Abstract Sparse view 3D reconstruction has attracted increasing attention with the development of neural implicit 3D representation. Existing methods usually only make use of 2D views, requiring a dense set of input views for accurate 3D reconstruction. In this paper, we show that accurate 3D reconstruction can be achieved by incorporating geometric priors into neural implicit 3D reconstruction. Our method adopts the signed distance function as the 3D representation, and learns a generalizable 3D surface reconstruction model from sparse views. Specifically, we build a more effective and sparse feature volume from the input views by using corresponding depth maps, which can be provided by depth sensors or directly predicted from the input views. We recover better geometric details by imposing both depth and surface normal constraints in addition to the color loss when training the neural implicit 3D representation. Experiments demonstrate that our method both outperforms state-of-the-art approaches, and achieves good generalizability.

Effect of Sm addition on the microstructure and tensile properties of as-extruded Mg–xSm–0.4Zr (x = 1, 2, 3, 4 wt.%) alloys have been investigated by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, electron backscatter diffraction and transmission electron microscope. The results indicat that all the extruded alloys exhibit a fully dynamically recrystallized (DRXed) microstructure. When the Sm content exceeds 3 wt.%, the as extruded sheet dynamic precipitate the Mg41Sm5 particles during hot extrusion. Sm addition could refine the grain size and weaken the texture of the as-extruded alloy, significantly enhance the strength and ductility of the as-extruded alloy. When the Sm content is 3 wt.%, the alloy sheet displays a good balance of strength and ductility. The Mg–3Sm–0.4Zr sheet shows YS and UTS of 144.5 MPa and 280.7 MPa along ED, the YS and UTS are 163.8 MPa and 280.7 MPa for 45°and 192 MPa and 283.9 MPa for TD. The ε along the ED, 45°and TD are 22.3%, 21.6% and 19.8%, respectively. The dominant strengthening mechanisms include grain boundary strengthening, solid solution strengthening and precipitation strengthening.

In this work, we investigate a wireless powered communication network (WPCN) where multiple sources are jointly utilized for wireless power transfer (WPT). By consuming the energy harvested from the these WPT sources, a set of sensors are expected to accomplish reliable transmissions carried by finite blocklength (FBL) codes. This work proposes a fairness-aware resource allocation design with low-complexity in such a multi-source WPCN, where the practical nonlinear energy harvesting process is considered (including the effects of components nonlinearity in rectifier circuits and mutual interference between multiple radio frequency signals). In particular, a joint power and blocklength optimization problem minimizing the maximum reliability of all short packet transmissions is considered. To cope with the formulated extremely intractable nonconvex problem, we decompose it into two subproblems, i.e., a power allocation problem and a blocklength allocation problem, nevertheless, both of which are still nonconvex. To address the power allocation subproblem, auxiliary variables are introduced. Subsequently variable substitutions are performed to convert the problem into one being analytically tractable, and an efficient iterative approach is provided via applying the successive convex approximation technique. For the blocklength allocation problem, we for the first time verify the convexity of error probability with respect to blocklength under a harvested energy constraint, which is of great theoretical value and can be extended to numerous applications with energy limitations. Finally, by alternatingly addressing the two subproblems, an efficient sub-optimal solution to the original problem is achieved. We provide numerical results to validate and evaluate the proposed design, and a set of guidelines are provided for practical system designs.

Abstract Background The design of cap thickness for small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) plays a role in post-laser vision correction (post-LVC) corneal biomechanics. This study aimed to compare the corneal biomechanical characteristics following SMILE with different cap thicknesses of 110 μm, 120 μm, and 130 μm for myopia and myopic astigmatism correction. Methods Seventy-five patients (146 eyes) who underwent SMILE with designed cap thickness of 110 μm, 120 μm, and 130 μm were recruited at the Eye Center of Beijing Tongren Hospital between August 2020 and November 2021. Visual acuity, refraction, and corneal biomechanical parameters were measured preoperatively, 1 week and 1, 3, 6 months postoperatively. One-way analysis of variances (ANOVA) with Bonferroni correction or Kruskal-Wallis test was performed to compare the parameters among different groups. Repeated-measures analysis of variance with Bonferroni correction or Friedman test was applied for comparing the parameters within different follow-up times. Results Uncorrected distance visual acuity of 110-μm group was better only at 1-week and 1-month postoperatively (P = 0.012, 0.037). There were no significant differences in spherical equivalent, nor in Corvis biomechanical index-laser vision correction (CBI-LVC). All the parameters reached stability at 3-month postoperatively. Integrated radius (IR) and deformation amplitude ratio 2 mm (DA ratio 2 mm) in 120-μm and 130-μm groups were higher than 110-μm group at 1-month postoperatively (P = 0.019, 0.002). So was Ambrósio relational thickness (ARTh) at 6-month postoperatively (P = 0.011). Stiffness parameter at applanation A1 (SP-A1), stress-strain index (SSI), biomechanically corrected intraocular pressure (bIOP) and central corneal thickness (CCT) were highest in 130-μm group, followed by 120-μm group, then 110-μm group at 3-month (P

As an extremely important energy source, improving the efficiency and accuracy of coal classification is important for industrial production and pollution reduction. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a new technology for coal classification which has the ability to rapidly analyze coal compared with traditional coal analysis methods. In the practical application of LIBS, a large amount of labeling data is usually required, but it is quite difficult to obtain labeling data in industrial sites. In this paper, to address the problem of insufficient labeled data, a semi-supervised classification model (SGAN) based on adversarial neural network is proposed, which can utilize unlabeled data to improve the classification accuracy. The effects of labeled and unlabeled samples on the classification accuracy of the SGAN model are investigated, and the results show that the number of labeled and unlabeled samples are positively correlated, and the highest average classification accuracy that the model can achieve is 98.5%. In addition, the classification accuracies of SGAN and other models (e.g., CNN, RF) are also compared, and the results show that, with the same number of labeled samples in the three models, SGAN performs better after the number of unlabeled samples reaches a certain level, with an improvement of 0.7% and 2.5% compared to the CNN and RF models, respectively. This study provides new ideas for the application of semi-supervised learning in LIBS.