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Root gap of fillet welds can not be fully controlled in a real welding scenario, while engineers in the industry must provide reasonable maintenance solutions for gaps with different size. Following standard working loads of the International Union of Railways, influences of the dimensions of root gap on the maximum stress amplitude (AMAX) in fillet weld were analyzed. It is found that: 1) The position of the maximum AMAX value calculated based on the standard working conditions coincides with the position of actual fatigue crack; 2) Fillet welds with root gaps of typical size have more than double the AMAX values of fillet welds without root gaps; 3) By using Goodman fatigue limit diagram, the specific disposal scheme of root gap with varying dimensions was determined. These results have a general guiding significance for improving the fatigue properties of structures containing fillet welds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two novel deterministic and stochastic nonlinear hepatitis C virus (HCV) models with nonlinear incidence rates as βSpE,βSpI$$ \beta {S}^pE,\beta {S}^pI $$, and βSpCq$$ \beta {S}^p{C}^q $$, containing acute and chronic infections, are developed, and an endeavor to understand their dynamics has been accomplished. For the former model, both the existence of unique equilibria and the sharp sufficient conditions of globally stable equilibria under different cases are established. Whereafter, the efforts taken to detect the asymptotic behaviors around equilibria, the existence of ergodic stationary distribution, and stochastic extinction of the latter model have been supplemented with meticulous theoretical proofs. At last, several numerical examples and discussions are illustrated to sustain and visualize our theoretical results. Compared and analyzed the numerical and theoretical results, we can find that the noise can influence the dynamics of disease and turn the disease from persistence to extinction. Moreover, several control measures are suggested based on our study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel electrochemical route for efficient cycloaddition of CO 2 and styrene oxide (SO) forming the value-added product of styrene carbonate (SC) was proposed in this manuscript using non-metallic nanocarbon material as the catalyst electrode. The synthesized hollow nanospheres (HNSs) nanocarbon materials exhibited unique advantages of porous structure with thin carbon layer, which effectively facilitated the mass and charge transfer process and promoted the electrochemical reaction kinetics. In addition, correlation between the detailed structure analysis and the catalytic activity evaluation results show that the cooperation of nitrogen and oxygen functionalities on nanocarbon played a vital role in enhancing the catalytic activity of the carbon materials. The optimized HNSs catalyst exhibited high SO conversion of 66.9% and SC selectivity of 99.8% under the chronoamperometry at −0.5 mA for 6 hs, showing great potential in practical applications. The structure-function relations reported here may shed light on the rational design of the nanocarbon catalyst electrode and related reaction system for electrochemical synthesis of SC. [Display omitted] • Electrochemical cycloaddition of CO 2 to value-added SC using non-metallic nanocarbon. • N, O co-doped hollow nanospheres nanocarbon with high mass and electron transport capacity. • N, O co-doped nanocarbon showing SO conversion of 66.9% and SC selectivity of 99.8% at −0.5 mA for 6 hs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability and validity of the BDS-3 precise point positioning ambiguity solution (PPP-AR) is becoming more and more important along with the development of BDS-3 orbit and clock products over long durations. Satellite phase fractional cycle biases (FCBs) are key in PPP-AR, so it is important to ensure the validity and stability of FCBs over a long duration. In this study, we analyzed the validity and stability of BDS-3 phase FCBs by estimating them. The BDS-3 FCB experiments showed that BDS-3 FCBs have the same stability as GPS/GAL/BDS-2. BDS-3 widelane (WL) FCBs also have stable characteristics and the maximal fluctuation value of WL FCBs was found to be 0.2 cycles in a month. BDS-3 narrowlane (NL) FCBs were found to be unstable and the maximal fluctuation value of NL FCBs was more than 0.25 cycles over one day. Analyzing the posteriori residual errors of BDS-3 WL and NL ambiguities showed that the BDS-3 FCBs had the same accuracy as GPS/GAL/BDS-2. However, the ambiguity-fixed rate of BDS-3 was about 70%, which was less than GPS/GAL/BDS-2 in PPP-AR experiments. For this reason, we analyzed the quality of data and the accuracy of orbit and clock products by using different analysis center products. The results showed that the low accuracy of the BDS-3 orbit and clock products was the main reason for the low-ambiguity fixed rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel electrochemically assisted cycloaddition process is proposed, in which highly efficient coupling of CO2 with styrene oxide (SO) can be achieved to form styrene carbonate (SC) as a high‐value‐added product. A series of Cu catalysts with different morphologies and chemical states were fabricated on carbon paper (CP) by using in‐situ electrodeposition, and the sample with nano‐dendrimer structure was found to exhibit a relatively high activity of 74.8 % SC yield with 92.7 % SO conversion under gentle reaction conditions, thus showing its potential for practical applications. The relatively high electrochemically active surface area and charge transfer ability of dendrimer‐like Cu benefited the electrochemical reaction. In particular, the Cu2+ species that were formed in situ during the reaction played a vital role in enhancing the activity and selectivity of the proposed Cu/CP hybrid catalyst. Cu2+ atoms served as active sites that can not only electrochemically activate CO2 but also facilitate the ring opening of SO. Mechanistic analysis suggested that the reaction followed electrochemical and liquid‐phase heterogeneous paths, which provide a new green and sustainable route for efficient utilization of CO2 resources for fine chemical electrosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple object tracking (MOT) is a sophisticated computer vision task that aims to detect and track the trajectories of all objects within a given scene. MOT necessitates the establishment of unique identifiers for each object in the scene and currently, the majority of MOT works adopt tracking-by-detection, using re-identification techniques to associate objects based on appearance or motion features. However, traditional MOT methods may yield suboptimal results when appearance features are unreliable or geometric features are confounded by irregular motions. Consequently, this paper proposes a cascaded matching tracker called IMMSegTrack, which replaces detection boxes with segmentation contours for IoU matching and generates convincing prediction outcomes by blending multiple adaptive Kalman filter models. With the guide of interactive multiple model and pixel-level matching, better performance could be achieved through well-designed cascaded association. Our experimental innovations mainly focus on the prediction and matching aspects within the MOT framework, while tests on DanceTrack and SoccerNet datasets have been conducted using the original models of YOLOv8 to obtain desired results. The relevant codes for the experiments are available at https://github.com/xwh129/IMMSegTrack.git. In addition, it is considerable to retrain model weights and expand the experiments to more datasets for better performance. • Employment of IMM to perform better in irregular motion estimations. • Three-stages cascaded matching to achieve reasonable associations. • Utilizing contours to achieve pixel-level comparisons in IOU matching. • Removals of trajectories on the brim to cut down redundant cached frames. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fatigue simulation calculation based on road traffic loads. • Research the influence of the roof gap on the fatigue life of fillet welds. • The finding can predict the vulnerable zone of antifatigue performance of fillet welds. • The concrete scheme of dealing with different size root gap defects is proposed. The results of failure analysis on the fillet welds of the tie rod seat in HDX2 type vehicle showed that size of root gap around cracks was usually larger than that observed in the region without cracks. Dynamic strain gauges were used to measure the time-strain curve of the zone surrounding the fillet weld in the locomotive traveling process. Then, a transfer matrix was utilized to calculate the time-strain curve of fillet welds and then a rainflow counting method was adopted to obtain hierarchical load spectra in the traveling process, which was used for predicting fatigue damage of fillet welds and safe service mileage. To reveal the influence of the root gap on the fatigue life of fillet welds, a three-factor and five-level orthogonal scheme was designed by taking the height, width and length of the root gap as variables. The calculation results based on road traffic loads indicated that: (1) When there is no gap at the root of fillet weld, the safe service mileage can meet standard requirements; when there is a gap at the root of the fillet weld, the safe service mileage is significantly shortened; (2) When the width, height or length of the root gap of fillet weld increases, the safe service mileage decreases monotonously. Given the same change in size, effect of the change in height of root gap on safe service mileage is the most significant among the three variables considered; (3) The maximum stress at straight line section of weld path was significantly greater than that at the corner section; (4) An inspection and maintenance program for root gaps of various sizes was developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) results in abnormal morphology and gastrointestinal function, such as reduced villi height and crypt depth, thinner mucosa and muscle layers, and reduced brush border enzyme activities, delayed gastric emptying, increased stress response. As a gastrointestinal growth factor, the manner by which the porcine glucagon-like peptide-2 (pGLP-2) microsphere administration restored the gastrointestinal function and growth performance of IUGR piglets was investigated. Fourteen newborn Duroc × (Yorkshire × Landrace) IUGR piglets (0.92 ± 0.113 kg) were assigned into the IUGR (negative control group) and pGLP-2 microsphere groups. The piglets in group pGLP-2 were intraperitoneally administered with 100 mg pGLP-2 microspheres on day 1 after birth. From days 15 to 26 of trial, the body weight of the pGLP-2 group was significantly higher than that of the control. IUGR piglets of group pGLP-2 showed a significantly increased pancreas weight, serum insulin content and activity of lipase and amylase. Injection of pGLP-2 microspheres restored the intestinal absorptive capacity by significantly increasing the mRNA expression of the sodium-glucose cotransporter 1 in the jejunum and the peptide transporter 1 in the jejunum. It also restored the redox balance by increasing the catalase mRNA expression and decreasing the heat shock protein 70 mRNA expression. In addition, this improvement was associated with the significant increase in gut diameter, length and weight. Therefore, it was concluded that the injection of pGLP-2 microspheres was a suitable therapeutic strategy for compensatory growth in low birth weight IUGR piglets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sea surface roughness parameterization and the universal stability function are key components of the evaporation duct prediction model based on the Monin–Obukhov similarity theory. They determine the model's performance, which in turn affects the efficiency and accuracy of electromagnetic applications at sea. In this study, we collected layered meteorological and hydrological observation data and preprocessed them to obtain near-surface reference modified refractivity profiles. We then optimized the sea surface roughness parameterization and the universal stability function using particle swarm optimization and simulated annealing algorithms. The results show that the particle swarm optimization algorithm outperforms the simulated annealing algorithm. Compared to the original model, the particle swarm optimization algorithm improved the prediction accuracy of the model by 5.09% under stable conditions and by 9.97% under unstable conditions, demonstrating the feasibility of the proposed method for optimizing the evaporation duct prediction model. Subsequently, we compared the electromagnetic wave propagation path losses under two different evaporation duct heights and modified refractivity profile states, confirming that the modified refractivity profile is more suitable as the accuracy criterion for the evaporation duct prediction model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the analysis of existing guiding mechanisms, a novel 2-DOF compound compliant parallel guiding mechanism (2-DCCPGM) is proposed in this paper, which has compact structure, long motion range and negligible parasitic displacements. The relationship between the guiding displacements and the driving forces have been obtained from the pseudo-rigid-body (PRB) model of 2-DCCPGM. And the dynamic analysis is taken as well. Some design criteria are put forward, based on the analytical results. To analysis the guiding capability and the dynamic performance of 2-DCCPGM, finite element analysis (FEA) has been carried out. And the results of the static FEA simulations confirmed that the 2-DCCPGM barely generates parasitic displacements. A prototype has been manufactured, and experiments have been conducted to validate the performance of the 2-DCCPGM. And from the experimental results, the 2-DCCPGM has been proved to have satisfactory guiding performance. Moreover, the experiment results have also revealed that the machining deviation of the flexure hinges of 2-DCCPGM could cause parasitic displacements and reduce the guiding linearity of the 2-DCCPGM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintaining forest landscape connectivity is one of the most effective ways to alleviate natural forest fragmentation and biodiversity loss problems. Recently, graph theory based metrics have been used as powerful tools in the assessment of landscape connectivity. However, the functional features of landscape units at different structure levels, based on which outcomes can be enriched and advice can be given for practical applications, have been overlooked. In this study, a series of graph-based connectivity indices was calculated to 1) evaluate the optimal threshold distance, 2) identify the key landscape units at the component and patch levels, and 3) classify the functional types of components and patches and analyze functional patterns at different structural levels. The relationship between patch size and patch functional performance in maintaining landscape connectivity was discussed. With a natural forest area in Minqing County of China as the study area, recommendations regarding forest conservation and connectivity enhancement were provided based on the research conclusions. This study provides a way to comprehensively analyze habitat fragmentation and functional patterns for local forest conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to further understand the characteristics of displacement amplification of bridge-type mechanism, specific analysis is presented in this paper. The average ideal displacement amplification ratio during the deformation process is obtained based on the kinematics theories. Elastic beam theory is adopted to analyze the deformation of the hinges, and a novel formula of theoretical displacement amplification ratio is carried out. A conclusion is reached that the displacement amplification ratio is not related to the material and thickness of structure. Moreover, this conclusion is verified by finite element method. The relationship between displacement amplification ratio and the structural dimensions is analyzed in depth. After the comparisons with existing methods, the formula obtained by elastic beam theory in this paper is proved to be more reliable. And this conclusion is confirmed by the comparison with previous experiment. Furthermore, the influence of geometric nonlinearity of bridge-type mechanism is also well analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrothermal fabrication of hydroxyapatite coatings on Mg alloys has been extensively developed in recent years. However, the applicability of the samples is generally restricted by the porous nature and the brittleness coating. In this work, ammonium polyphosphate was selected as an additive of the hydrothermal synthesis process. A compact microstructure was obtained under the interlocking effect of the polyelectrolytes. The results from nanoindentation, scratch tests, electrochemical analysis, and immersion experiments revealed that the newly developed coating exhibited enhanced mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. Moreover, the role of PPA in the hydrothermal process was illustrated in a schematic figure. • Hydrothermal method was used to prepare a uniform polyphosphate-apatite coating. • The particles in the composite coating could be interlocked by polyphosphate. • The composite coating exhibited enhanced anticorrosion effect for the Mg alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The CA model coupled with a topology deformation technique was developed. [•] Two separate coordinate systems were established to describe the effect of compression on the grain shape. [•] Initial austenite grain size has a pronounced effect on the DRX kinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The rapid degradation of porcine glucagon-like peptide-2 (pGLP-2) by the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) is the main impediment in the development of pGLP-2 as a potential therapeutic agent for intestinal dysfunction and damage. In this study, one mono-modified Lys30-polyethylene glycol (PEG)-pGLP-2 was prepared using mPEG-succinimidyl propionate. To determine the optimized condition for PEGylation, the reactions were monitored by RP-HPLC and MALDI-TOF-MS. Stability was tested in purified DPP-IV in vitro. In vivo, the protective effects for colonic injury were measured in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. The monoPEGylated products reached the maximum yield at 4:1 ratio of mPEG5k-SPA to pGLP-2. An effective method of successfully separating PEGylated pGLP-2 from mPEG-SPA5kD using CM Sepharose Fast Flow resin was established. The half-life of Lys30-PEG-pGLP-2 was 16-fold longer than that of pGLP-2 in DPP-IV. The DSS mice exhibited marked weight loss), which was significantly reduced by Lys30-PEG-pGLP-2 therapy. DSS treatment significantly increased colonic damage score, which was significantly reduced by administration of Lys30-PEG-pGLP-2 in DSS-mice. DSS-induced colitis clearly induced Myeloperoxidase activity in the colon, which was significantly reduced by treatments with 3% DSS-pGLP-2 or 3% DSS-PEG-pGLP-2. These results showed that site-specific Lys30-PEG-GLP-2 was resistant to degradation and reduced the severity of colonic injury in murine colitis. The enhanced biological potency of this product highlighted its potential as a therapeutic agent for intestinal diseases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The reaction mechanisms for the CO hydrogenation to produce CH4 on both fcc-Mo2C (100) and hcp-Mo2C (101) surfaces are investigated using density functional theory calculations with the periodic slab model. Through systematic calculations for the mechanisms of the CO hydrogenation on the two surfaces, we found that the reaction mechanisms are the same on both fcc and hcp Mo2C catalysts, that is, CO→HCO→H2CO→H2COH→CH2 →CH3 →CH4. The activation energy of the rate-determining step (CH3 +H→CH4) on fcc-Mo2C (100) (0.84eV) is lower than that on hcp-Mo2C (101) (1.20eV), and that is why catalytic activity of fcc-Mo2C is higher than hcp-Mo2C for CO hydrogenation. Our calculated results are consistent with the experimental observations. The activity difference of these two surfaces mainly comes from the co-adsorption energy difference between initial state (IS) and transition state (TS), that is, the co-adsorption energy difference between IS and TS is −0.04eV on fcc Mo2C (100), while it is as high as 0.68eV on hcp Mo2C (101), and thus leading to the lower activation barrier for the reaction of CH3 +H→CH4 on fcc-Mo2C (100) compared to that of hcp-Mo2C (101). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Satellite phase fractional cycle biases (FCBs) are crucial to precise point positioning with ambiguity resolution (PPP–AR), and they can improve the accuracy and reliability of a solution. Traditional methods need multiple iterations and need to keep the same reference when estimating satellite phase fractional cycle biases. In this paper, we propose an improved fast estimation of FCB, which does not need any iterations and can select any reference when estimating FCB. We compare the suitability and precision of a traditional and a proposed method by BDS-3 experiments. The results of the FCB experiments show that the calculated time of the proposed method is less than the traditional method and that computation efficiency is increased by 34.71%. These two methods have a similar rate of fixed epochs and ambiguities in the static and dynamic models. However, the time to first fix (TTFF) of the proposed method decreased by 19.69% and 28.83% for the static and dynamic models, respectively. The results show that the proposed method has a better convergence time in PPP–AR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] DFT calculation is used to investigate the ethane hydrogenolysis on Mo2C [•] The reaction mechanism is the same on both fcc and hcp Mo2C. [•] The rate-controlling step is C2H5 →CH2 +CH3. [•] Hcp-Mo2C (101) is more active than Fcc-Mo2C (100). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] We add morphological information of antennal and palpal sensilla of an aquatic predator to those of non-predaceous species in the superfamily Muscoidea. [•] The function of coeloconic sensilla in flies as thermo- or hygroreception and acute vision of predator could account for their absence in the predator, Lispe neimongola. [•] The greater number of basiconic sensilla on the enlarged spoon-like maxillary palps of Lispe neimongola may promise sharper sensitivity for the lifestyle of predator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Portschinskia magnifica Pleske, 1926, is an endangered subcutaneous parasitic fly of voles that mimics bumblebees in appearance. Although the importance of antennae in Diptera has been repeatedly stressed, there is still a lack of morphology information of this group, let alone this species. Antennae of adult P. magnifica were studied with a stereoscopic microscope and scanning electron microscope. Six subtypes of antennal sensilla were observed on the funiculus and arista (one subtype of trichoid sensilla, one subtype of basiconic sensilla, and four subtypes of coeloconic sensilla). Sensilla on the antennal funiculus from one sample of both male and female flies were also mapped. Female P. magnifica bear a larger number of sensilla than males, and more sensilla were discovered on the posterior surface than on the anterior surface. However, what make this species special are the distinct structures and new morphological characteristics discovered in the antenna. The antennal funiculus of P. magnifica is completely enveloped by an antennal pedicel. A large number of branched or unbranched trichoid and basiconic sensilla are identified on the antennal funiculus. These two make the most numerous types of sensilla distributed all over the funicular surface. P. magnifica has the most coeloconic sensilla subtypes in previously studied oestrid flies. A total of four subtypes of coeloconic sensilla are found, with subtype I and subtype II on the proximal and middle part of the antennal funiculus and subtype III and subtype IV on the antennal arista. Two large bristles that resemble mechanoreceptors on the proximal two antennal segments located close to the arista are a unique feature. This has never been described in the oestrid funiculus. Interestingly, these bristles can appear as multi-tipped short structures in some individuals. P. magnifica lacks sensory pits that are usually abundant in other oestrid flies. The size, number, and distribution of sensilla on the male and female antennal funiculus are provided here, armed with a discussion of their presumable sensilla functions and evolutionary trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

: BackgroundOur previous studies have shown that the injection of B16F1 melanoma cells into the mesenteric vein can induce the rapid local release of nitric oxide (NO) in the liver, causing apoptosis of the melanoma cells in the liver sinusoids and inhibiting the subsequent formation of hepatic metastases. In this study, we have investigated the distribution and cellular source of NO in this model.: Materials and methodsIn situ liver perfusion was established in both wild-type (wt) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase knockout (eNOS KO) C57BL/6 mice. A specific fluorescent NO probe, 4,5-diaminofluorescein diacetate (DAF-2 DA) (5 μmol/L), was perfused into the portal venous system to label the liver tissue. Then, a MitoTracker Orange labeled B16F1 melanoma cell suspension (2 × 106 cells/ml) was injected through a portal vein catheter by a peristaltic pump. Images of the liver tissue were taken by confocal microscopy from a selected area to determine the cellular source of NO. For quantification, the fluorescence intensity of this area was measured over time by Fluoview software.: ResultsDiaminotriazolofluorescein (DAF-2T) fluorescence (indicating NO generation) was detected in hepatic parenchymal cells located in the periportal region in both wt C57BL/6 and eNOS KO C57BL/6 mice and was intensified by increased flow rate in the portal venous system. The B16F1 cells arrested in the periportal sinusoids, corresponding to zone 1 of the hepatic acinus. DAF-2T fluorescence was expressed by both sinusoidal lining cells and hepatocytes at the site of tumor cell arrest. The fluorescence intensity of these cells increased ∼2-fold over a time of 500 s. In contrast, there was no increase in the fluorescence intensity of the sinusoidal lining cells and hepatocytes in mice perfused with buffer or in eNOS KO mice perfused with B16F1 cells.: ConclusionThis study demonstrates that NO is produced by hepatic parenchymal cells mainly located in the periportal zones and that the arrest of the B16F1 melanoma cells causes an eNOS-dependent local burst of NO by the sinusoidal lining cells and hepatocytes in the periportal areas. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The FDCA formation rate can be increased by 6.8 times via kinetic modulation strategy. The pH asymmetric electrosynthesis system achieves the best performance in the viewpoint of product yield and formation rate. The programmed reactant feeding process ensures continuous high production rate of the two types of high value-added chemicals. [Display omitted] • The FDCA formation rate can be increased by 6.8 times via kinetic modulation strategy. • The pH asymmetric electrosynthesis system achieves the best performance in the viewpoint of product yield and formation rate. • The programmed reactant feeding process ensures continuous high production rate of the two types of high value-added chemicals. Electrosynthesis has shown promising prospect for producing fine chemicals via a green and sustainable way. In recent years, the electrooxidation of renewable biomass 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) into high value-added product 2, 5-furardicarboxylic acid (FDCA) has become a hot research topic. However, the FDCA yield, and formation rate are difficult to reach high level at the same time. Here, we have designed a paired-electrosynthesis system with a concentration adjustment strategy in to improve the FDCA formation rate while maintaining high FDCA yield. The catalytic performance exceeds most of reported examples from the viewpoint of FDCA yield and formation rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Method Result Conclusion Modified endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy (mERAT) has been proposed as an alternative to laparoscopic appendectomy for the treatment of appendicitis. However, data from children in large samples are lacking. The aim of this article is to evaluate the efficacy between mERAT and laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) in children with uncomplicated appendicitis.We retrospectively analyzed 594 patients with suspected uncomplicated appendicitis from October 2018 to May 2021. A pool of 294 consecutive patients who met the inclusion criteria were ultimately enrolled in this study (228 and 66 patients in mERAT and LA, respectively). Given the differences in baseline clinical data (gender, age), the regression equation including differences in clinical baseline, grouping factor, and white blood cell count was established to address the influence of potential confounding factors.The initial success rate of mERAT management was 96.9%, and the recurrence rate was 6.9% in the mERAT group and 1.7% in the LA group within 1 year, which was no significant difference. But the mERAT group had a lower rate of adverse events. Finally, those results indicated that the treatment modalities, LA or mERAT, had no significant effect on initial success rate (P = 0.99) or recurrence rate (P = 0.17) within 1 year, but a significant effect on the adverse events rate during hospitalization (P = 0.01) in the multivariate regression analysis.Among children with uncomplicated appendicitis, an initial mERAT management strategy had a success rate of 96.9%, which was similar to the LA group at 1 year. This follow‐up supports the feasibility of mERAT alone as an alternative to surgery for uncomplicated appendicitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The frequent occurrences of cyberbullying on social platforms have sparked a great deal of social conflict, and bystander intervention plays a crucial role in preventing the escalation of cyberbullying. This research examines the impact of victim self-disclosure on bystander intervention in cyberbullying through two experimental studies. The studies collected data from March to July of 2022, utilizing a convenience sampling approach to recruit university students as experiment participants. Study 1 recruited 247 valid participants, while Study 2 recruited 522 eligible participants. The results of Study 1 indicate that the perceptible dimensions (frequency, privacy, and valence) of victim self-disclosure impact bystander intervention. Specifically, in a low privacy context, positive self-disclosure increases bystander intervention, while negative self-disclosure does the opposite. The results of Study 2 suggest that the valence of self-disclosure affects bystander intervention through the mediation of victim blaming, with interpersonal distance moderating the impact of victim self-disclosure valence on the extent of victim blaming. This moderated mediation model clarifies the psychological process by which the valence of victim self-disclosure affects bystander intervention. The findings of this study contribute to the understanding of the social psychological process behind bystander intervention, providing a scientific basis and pathway for reducing cyberbullying and fostering a harmonious online environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nonsecretory multiple myeloma (NSMM) is a rare type of multiple myeloma (MM). Few studies have described the clinical features and outcomes of NSMM in novel agents. Additionally, the prognostic characteristics have remained controversial in recent years. Purpose: To investigate the clinical and prognostic features of NSMM and explore the prognostic value of involved free light chain (FLC) levels in NSMM patients in the Chinese population. Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 176 newly diagnosed NSMM cases between January 2005 and December 2021 from 19 clinical centers in China. The control group was selected using a 1:4 propensity score matching technique of newly diagnosed secretory MM, with age, sex and diagnosis time as the matching variables. Results: The median age of NSMM patients was 60 years, and 22.6% of patients were classified as ISS stage 3. The ORR of the NSMM patients was 87.4%, and the CR was 65.8%. Compared to the matched secretory MM patients, more NSMM patients achieved CR after first-line treatment (65.8% vs. 36%, p = 0.000). The ORR of first-line treatment was not significantly different between NSMM and secretory MM (89.45% vs. 84.7%, p = 0.196). The first-line PFS was 27.5 m and 23 m (p = 0.063), and the median OS was 81 m and 70 months (p = 0.401). However, for CR-achieved NSMM and CR-not-achieved NSMM patients, the median PFS was 37 m vs. 16 m (p = 0.021), while the median OS showed no difference (107 m vs. 87 m, p = 0.290). In multivariate analysis, the significant factors for PFS were age ≥ 65 and ISS-3. ISS-3 was the only independent prognostic factor of OS. The iFLC ≥ 50 mg/L group had a high ORR of 97.3%, and the median PFS and OS were 48 m and NR, respectively. Compared to the matched secretory MM, the iFLC ≥ 50 mg/L group also showed more CR and longer OS (NR vs. 70 m, p = 0.006) and PFS (48 m vs. 23 m, p = 0.003). Conclusions: Our results revealed that Chinese NSMM patients are younger and have a higher CR but not superior survival. The subgroup of NSMM patients with iFLC ≥ 50 mg/L had better outcomes than secretory MM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Molecular identification system of Palaearctic Gasterophilus was established. • Barcoding identified all the species except for G. haemorrhoidalis and G. inermis. • A series of morphological characters of third instar larvae were updated. • Two morphological keys are provided for quick and ultrastructural identification. • A new term 'oral plate' instead of 'mandible' was proposed due to uncertain homology. Abstract Species of Gasterophilus are obligate parasites of equids and may induce severe, even lethal myiasis. However, identification of the third instar Gasterophilus larva at the species level is still problematic predominantly due to a shortage of diagnostic morphological features and incomplete molecular libraries. Testing the suitability of three different molecular markers showed that the traditional 650 bp barcode region near the 5′ terminus of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) served as a better tool for species-level identification than a 663 bp region near the 3′ terminus of COI and a 554 bp region near the 5′ terminus of the large subunit ribosomal RNA. We found that barcoding discriminates G. intestinalis , G. nasalis , G. nigricornis and G. pecorum but not G. haemorrhoidalis and G. inermis. A comparative morphological study using scanning electron microscopy was conducted to promote the identification of the third instar larvae. Photographs of fresh mature third instar larvae are provided for all species, and the remarkable green body colour of third instar G. nigricornis is fully documented for the first time. Two morphological keys are provided, one is suitable for quick identification, and the other based on ultrastructural details is provided for further comparative morphological investigation. A new term 'oral plate' instead of 'mandible' was proposed for a pair of sclerites of uncertain homology emerging from the secondary mouth opening. Our data shows that DNA barcodes cannot replace morphology for identification of third instars of Gasterophilus species, and a scaffold is provided for an integrated taxonomic reference system, which will contribute to monitoring gasterophilosis for equid welfare and protection, and also facilitate further studies in functional anatomy, phylogenetic analyses and host-parasite co-evolutionary investigations of Gasterophilus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a common neurological emergency with higher mortality and disability rate than cerebral ischemia. Although diverse therapeutic interventions have been explored for potential neuroprotection from ICH, no effective drugs until now are available for improvement of survival rate or the life quality of survivors after ICH. Just like cerebral ischemia, inflammatory mechanism is highly thought to play a vital role in hemorrhagic brain injury. Ligustilide (LIG) has potent anti-inflammatory effects, which were shown to be closely related to its neuroprotective effects against ischemic brain injury. Senkyunolide H (SH) and senkyunolide I (SI) are natural degradation products of LIG, which contain the mother nucleus structure of LIG as that of phthalide. However, no reports have been retrieved about the neuroprotective effects of the three phthalide compounds on ICH, especially from the perspectives of inflammatory pathways. Accordingly, this study investigated the neuroprotective potentials and mechanisms of LIG, SH and SI on experimental ICH in mice. Methods ICH was induced in adult male CD-1 mice by intracerebral injection of autologous blood. LIG, SH and SI, respectively, was administrated after ICH induction. Neurological deficits, brain edema, injury volume, the number of surviving/dying neurons and inflammatory gene expression were evaluated at 3 days after ICH. Results Neurological deficits, brain edema, neuronal injury, microglia and astrocytes activation as well as peripheral immune cells infiltration were all significantly improved by LIG and SH, yet SI not. Moreover, the expression of TLR4, p-NF-kB p65, TNF-α and IL-6, was significantly downregulated by LIG and SH treatment. So was Prx1 expression and release. Conclusions LIG and SH provide the potent neuroprotective effects against hemorrhagic stroke by inhibiting Prx1/TLR4/NF-kB signaling and the subsequent immune and neuroinflammation lesions. Highlights • Ligustilide holds potent neuroprotective effects on intracerebral hemorrhage. • Senkyunolide H holds potent neuroprotective effects on intracerebral hemorrhage. • Neuroprotection due to inhibition of neuroinflammation by Prx1/TLR4/NF-κB pathway • Senkyunolide I has no marked neuroprotective effects on intracerebral hemorrhage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ketene is photolyzed in a supersonic jet, and the vibrationally excited singlet methylene CH2 (a 1A1), produced is detected by laser-induced fluorescence. The appearance thresholds and yield curves of individual methylene rovibrational states are obtained by scanning the photolysis laser wavelength. As observed previously by probing the (0,0,0) state at lower photolysis energies, there are no barriers to dissociation and nuclear spin is conserved. Sharp steps are observed just above the energetic threshold in each of these photofragment excitation (PHOFEX) curves. This suggests that the rotational state distributions are given by phase space theory (PST). The quantum yield of the (0,1,0)101 rovibrational state is measured and the quantum yield for (0,1,0) inferred. These values are larger than predicted by PST, and are close to values predicted by variational Rice–Ramsberger–Kassel–Marcus (RRKM) theory and by the separate statistical ensembles (SSE) method. This indicates that near the (0,1,0) energy threshold the (0,0,0) yield is constrained, as by a tight transition state. The appearance of steps spaced by the energies of a free CO rotor in the PHOFEX curves close to the thresholds of each vibrational state probed indicates that the near threshold flux of vibrationally excited products is controlled by a loose ‘‘transition state’’ on a vibrationally adiabatic surface. These observations are consistent with the variational RRKM theory for dissociations without barriers in which each product vibrational state evolves on its own vibrationally adiabatic potential surface and has its own transition state. As the energy increases above the threshold for a vibrational state, its transition state moves in along the reaction coordinate and tightens. Thus total rates increase less rapidly with energy than in PST and vibrational distributions are skewed towards higher levels than in PST. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought enormous challenges to both employees and organizations all over the world. Previous studies have found high turnover rates among prison officers since the outbreak of COVID-19. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the mediating role of job burnout between job demands and turnover intention, as well as the moderating role of the perceived efficacy in overcoming COVID-19 in Chinese prison officers. In total, 1316 prison officers were recruited to complete an online questionnaire between May 2022 and June 2022 (during the COVID-19 pandemic). The bootstrapping approach was used to assess the moderated mediation model in this study. The results showed that prison officers' job demands were positively associated with their turnover intention. Job burnout mediated the relationship between job demands and turnover intention. Perceived efficacy in overcoming COVID-19 moderated the effect of job burnout on turnover intention. Based on these results, suggestions were provided to reduce the high turnover rate of prison officers in public health events like the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Birds are considered a good model for indicators of biodiversity response to habitat variations, as they are very sensitive to environmental change. However, continuous observations of habitat alterations from undisturbed landscapes to human-dominated ones, as well as the associated effects on bird biodiversity, are lacking. In this study, New Jiangwan Town in Shanghai, China was selected to illustrate the response of bird species, and thus biodiversity, to habitat loss and fragmentation. Land use/land cover (LULC) data and bird records from 2002 to 2013 were collected and analyzed. The results suggested that, due to urban sprawl, the area of wetland and shrub land had dropped by 82.4% and 87.3% by the end of 2013. Four different urbanization stages were identified in terms of the spatio-temporal variations in the landscape. To measure bird biodiversity, species richness and relative abundance were calculated, and they could account for the overall trend in biodiversity but might mask the process of species replacement. As an indicator of biodiversity accounting, the mean species abundance (MSA) of the original species would not include exotic or invasive species in its calculation, and its value decreased from 100% to 76.8% to 52.2% to 24.5% in the four corresponding stages. Finally, suggested by redundant analysis, the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on bird biodiversity differed in various bird communities, and the area and connectivity of wetlands were the most significant variables. Our findings could provide important information to inform bird biodiversity protection and habitat restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inherited epidermolysis bullosa (IEB) represents a group of rare genetic dermatoses comprising various phenotypes ranging from severe cutaneous and extracutaneous involvement to mild cutaneous fragility. Pathogenic variants have been identified in at least 20 genes responsible for IEB. In the present study, six cases of epidermolysis bullosa were recruited and subjected to a combination of clinical and genetic analysis. The family history of each case was surveyed. Whole exome sequencing was performed to identify the causative variation. The six patients showed typical EB symptoms. In all cases, WES detected the diagnostic variations of the COL7A1 or DST gene. A total of 10 variants were identified and verified. The findings of the present study further expanded the mutation spectrum of IEB, provided evidence for genetic counseling to the affected families, as well as highlighted the complexity of the pathogenesis of IEB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, there are some linearly homomorphic signatures in the standard model, whose security is based on the RSA assumption and Diffie–Hellman assumption. But there are still no lattice-based linearly homomorphic signature in the standard model. How to construct it? It is proposed as a open problem by Freeman [12] . In this paper, we propose the first lattice-based linearly homomorphic signature in the standard model, which settle this open problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is fundamental for detecting upper gastrointestinal (GI) neoplasms. However, the impact of sedation on small neoplasm detection during EGD has not been evaluated. The aim of this study was to investigate whether EGD with sedation could improve small upper GI neoplasm detection. This propensity score-matched retrospective study analyzed the medical records of outpatients undergoing diagnostic EGD at a large tertiary center between January 2013 and December 2018. The primary outcome was the detection rate of small upper GI neoplasms (≤10 mm). The secondary outcomes were biopsy rate and small neoplasms in different anatomic subsites. After propensity score matching, 20,052 patients undergoing diagnostic EGD with or without propofol sedation were identified. A higher detection rate of small upper GI neoplasms was observed in the sedation group (2.80% vs. 2.02%; p <.001). In particular, the detection rate of small cancers in the sedation group was 3-fold higher than that in the no-sedation group (0.16% vs. 0.05%; p =.023). Small neoplasms were more likely identified at the gastric antrum (1.60% vs. 1.09%; p =.002) and angulus (0.66% vs. 0.45%; p =.044) in the sedation group. In addition, endoscopists were more likely to take biopsies when performing sedated EGD (41.4% vs. 36.4%, p <.001), and a higher biopsy rate was associated with an increased detection rate of small neoplasms. Sedation was significantly associated with a higher detection rate of small upper GI neoplasms and might be recommended for improving the quality of EGD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The presence of PVP affects formation and surface structure of RhPt nanoclusters. [•] PVP benefits Rh-atom enrichment on the surface of RhPt nanoclusters. [•] Choice of polymer helps to tune catalytic performance of bimetallic nanocatalyst. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Navigation systems are crucial space detector components. Advancements in optical equipment have made the Celestial Navigation System (CNS) continually more accessible. Ephemeris error, however, limits the CNS navigation accuracy. This paper proposes an autonomous CNS equipped with an ephemeris error correction model. The model provides the navigation stars' high-accuracy ephemeris information for navigation stars based on the coupled effects of the Earth's nutation and precession; this allows for effective positioning and attitude determination of space detector. The navigation star ephemeris errors under the proposed method are significantly improved compared to the traditional Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) star catalog recorded on January 1, 2000. The proposed method also shows more accurate space detector attitude and positioning estimations compared to another existing ephemeris error correction method. The proposed method can be effectively applied to high-accuracy attitude and position estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce a concise and concrete definition of an accurate colon centerline and provide an efficient aura tomatic means to extract the centerline and its associated branches (caused by a forceful touching of colon and small bowel or a deep fold in twisted colon lumen). We further discuss its applications on fly-through path planning and endoscopic simulation, as well as its potential to solve the challenging touching and colon collapse problems in virtual colonoscopy. Experimental results demonstrated its centeredness, robustness, and efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taiji-1 satellite was successfully launched on 31 August 2019, and it has been operating normally in orbit until now. A series of in-orbit experiments were carried out with the inertial sensor, which included the micro-thrust test, drag-free control test and laser interferometer test. Comprehensive performance simulations and tests of the inertial sensor were also carried out prior to the launch of Taiji-1, including the calibration and drop-tower tests. These tests were one of the preconditions for the success of these experiments. The calibration experiments were conducted in a cave-lab using the gravity-inclination method and the scale factors of the inertial sensor along Y- and Z-axis were measured. In addition, 20 drop-tower tests were carried out in the National Microgravity Laboratory of China (NMLC) drop tower and the control stability of all the axes was tested and optimized. A simulation model was used before each test, and the results showed that an accurate simulation prior to each experiment had an important role in ensuring the efficiency and accuracy of the experiment. The circuit-gain switch was realized for the first time during the drop-tower tests. The test results indicated that the microgravity level of the NMLC drop tower could reach about 13 μ g0 along the horizontal axes, offering an important reference for researchers planning to conduct microgravity experiments in the NMLC drop tower. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new Cu(II)-containing coordination polymer formulated as [Cu(H2L2)(H2O)]n (1) has been synthesized by the reaction of Cu(NO3)2·3H2O with a flexible 1,1′-(propane-1,3-diyl)bis(1H-imidazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid (H4L) ligand under hydrothermal conditions. To improve the success rate of the treatment on connective tissue disease, the biological function of 1 was evaluated. First, the expression level of miRNA9 was evaluated with RT-PCR in the connective tissue disease model and normal groups. The influence of the compound on the miRNA9 expression was next explored. The differentiation ability of the tendon stem cell was further measured by evaluating the expression of the PDGF signaling pathway with western blot. Finally, the direct regulation activity of the miRNA9 on PDGF signaling pathway was confirmed with bioinformatic analysis and luciferase reporter assay. Molecular docking was performed to predict the potential binding modes of the complex to PDGF protein, indicating a possible regulation mechanism through DNA interference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional star image identification methods use adjacent stellar angular distances to form identification features. The missed detection of high-magnitude stars due to noise interference affects their identification accuracy. We propose a star image identification method based on perceptual hash features. The multiple Gaussian distribution superposition constructed by stars within a certain range around the center star forms the unique standard identification image of that star, in which the brightness distribution is determined by stellar magnitudes. The perceptual hash feature of the standard identification image is then used as a standard identification feature. The observation feature is extracted from the identification image as-constructed by the star points extracted from the star image. Finally, the observation feature is matched with the standard feature to identify the star image. Simulation results indicate that the proposed method can efficiently identify star images and effectively prevent missed stars from influencing the matching results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A quantitative mineral prediction model including 14 prediction indicators is established. • The deep learning model of cGAN is proposed for data augmentation of geoscientific data. • Using the CNN model as an indirect metric to measure the performance of different data augmentation strategies. Mineral Prospectivity Mapping (MPM) plays a pivotal role in identifying geo-anomalies that are indicative of potential mineralization, drawing upon various geological, geophysical, geochemical, and remote sensing data. With the increasing availability of such data in recent years, data-driven MPM methods have proven effective in discovering new mineral deposits, especially when utilizing machine learning techniques to unveil complex relationships between exploration data and mineral occurrences. Deep learning, specifically Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), has demonstrated its superiority in this regard. However, these models encounter challenges due to the limited and imbalanced nature of geological exploration data. In this study, we address these challenges by proposing the adoption of a Conditional Generative Adversarial Network (cGAN) strategy for data augmentation. Additionally, we employ the sliding window algorithm for comparative analysis, and CNNs are utilized to assess the effectiveness of various data augmentation strategies. The results indicate that the cGAN-based data augmentation strategy exhibits higher resistance to overfitting, a critical concern in MPM applications. Furthermore, this research successfully delineated a prospectivity map for gold deposits in the Hezuo-Meiwu district, Gansu, China, providing valuable insights for future exploration efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Compared with the conventional fixed post-trigger delay in bolus tracking technique, head and neck CTA with individualized post-trigger delay can obtain the optimal scanning time, optimize contrast opacification, and improve vessel attenuation, while also can be seamlessly implemented into clinical workflow and significantly augment image quality. • Head and neck vessel attenuation was significantly higher with individualized post-trigger delay than with fixed post-trigger delay (all p < 0.05), regardless of the branch and location of the measurements. • Both readers rated better image quality with individualized post-trigger delay technique (both p < 0.05), the improved image quality produced by the individualized PTD was confirmed from the subjective assessment. To compare the contrast media opacification of head and neck CT angiography (CTA) between conventional fixed trigger delay and individualized post-trigger delay (PTD). In this prospective study (April–October 2022), 196 consecutive participants were randomly divided into two groups to perform head and neck CTA in bolus tracking with either an individualized PTD (Group A) or a fixed 4-second PTD (Group B). All CT and contrast media protocol parameters were consistent between the two groups. One reader evaluated objective image quality, while two readers rated subjective image quality. Objective image quality was compared between groups via two-sample t -test, while the subjective ratings were compared with chi-square analysis. Participants' clinical information including sex, age, weight, body weight index (BMI), and heart rate were not statistically different between two groups (all p > 0.05). Individualized PTD ranging from 3.5 to 7.9 s (average 5.6 s), which is shorter than fixed delays (p < 0.05). Both readers rated better subjective image quality for the Group A (p < 0.05). The mean vessel enhancement was significantly higher in Group A in all vessels (all p < 0.05). Compared to the fixed post-trigger delay in bolus tracking technique, individualized post-trigger delay could achieve reliable scan timing, optimize vessel opacification and obtain better image quality for head and neck CT angiography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 49-year-old man who underwent endoscopic exchange of a lumen-apposing metal stent after endoscopic ultrasound-guided gastroenterostomy in severe acute pancreatitis.

The article presents a case study of a 74-year-old man with progressive shortness of breath 5 days after laparoscopic distal esophagectomy and total gastrectomy, and mentions that the patient underwent endoscopic purse-string suture after diagnosis of anastomosis leakage in gastrointestinal imaging.

Chemical etching of Si(111) surface by chlorine molecules under 355 and 560 nm irradiation has been studied using a continuous wave supersonic molecular beam. Only two products, SiCl and SiCl2, were observed. The translational energy distributions of the gaseous products have been measured as a function of laser fluence, and can be fitted with Maxwell–Boltzmann distributions. Study on the effect of translational energy of incident chlorine molecules on the reaction rate is also presented for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An adaptive pose tracking method based on sparse feature point clouds matching is proposed to solve the problem of ICP estimation on quadrotor. In the ordinary environment, ICP is calculated by matching the sparse feature point clouds. After the sudden loss of the depth value, the p3p method is used to obtain the world coordinate of the sparse feature point clouds and then complete the ICP calculation, which solves the problem that the traditional RGB-D SLAM algorithm is difficult to estimate camera motion when the depth loss occurs. It is compared with RGBD-SLAM v2 algorithm on TUM public datasets and the performance is verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rotational distributions of CO products from the dissociation of ketene at photolysis energies 10 cm-1 below, 56, 110, 200, 325, 425, 1107, 1435, 1720, and 2500 cm-1 above the singlet threshold (30 116.2 cm-1 ), are measured in a supersonic free jet of ketene. The CO(v‘=0) rotational distributions at 56, 110, 200, 325, and 425 cm-1 are bimodal. The peaks at low J’s, which are due to CO from the singlet channel, show that the product rotational distribution of CO product from ketene dissociation on the singlet surface is well described by phase space theory (PST). For CO(v‘=0) rotational distributions at higher excess energies (1107, 1435, 1720, and 2500 cm-1 ), the singlet and triplet contributions are not clearly resolved, and the singlet/triplet branching ratios are estimated by assuming that PST accurately predicts the CO rotational distribution from the singlet channel and that the distribution from the triplet channel changes little from that at 10 cm-1 below the singlet threshold. The singlet yield shows a rapid increase in the low excess energy region (0–300 cm-1 ), and a slower increase above. The singlet and triplet rate constants are derived from the directly measured total rate constants using the singlet yields. The triplet rate constant increases monotonically with increasing photolysis energy through the singlet threshold region. The singlet rate constant is accurately established in the threshold region and found to increase much less rapidly than predicted by phase space theory. At 2500 cm-1 excess energy, the CO(v‘=1) rotational distribution is obtained, and the ratio of CO(v‘=1) to CO(v‘=0) products for the singlet channel is measured to be 0.045±0.017. This ratio is close to the variational Rice–Ramsberger–Kassel–Marcus (RRKM) calculation 0.038, and the separate statistical ensembles (SSE) prediction 0.041, but much greater than the PST prediction, 0.016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a high demand for the design of high‐performance soft actuators with multi‐stimuli response and easy fabrication. Here, soft bimorph actuators consisting of graphene and polypropylene are fabricated by the drop‐coating of graphene film and subsequent adhesion of polypropylene on the graphene film. The fabrication method is simple, fast, and scalable, and this bimorph actuator exhibits optically and electrically induced actuation with large and reversible deformation (angle change > 100°), fast response (≈8 s), and low driving voltage (≤7 V). The remarkable actuation performance is mainly attributed to the thermally induced expansion of the polypropylene film, bimorph structure, and the energy conversion property of the graphene. Because of the dual‐responsiveness and large‐deformation, this actuator can be used to construct diversely biomimetic devices with smart mechanical output. As an example, an artificial flower composed of four pieces of the actuator is fabricated to show optically and electrically driven blooming. These results open the way for using a simple method for the construction of soft actuators and smart devices toward practical biomimetic applications. A graphene‐based bimorph actuator is fabricated by a simple and scalable method. It shows optically and electrically induced actuation with large, fast, and reversible deformation, mainly due to thermal expansion, bimorph structure, and energy conversion properties of graphene. Based on this actuator, an artificial flower is fabricated to show optically‐ and electrically‐driven blooming, revealing its great application potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethylene response factor (ERF) has been widely studied in regulating fruit ripening in tomato, apple, banana and kiwifruit, but little is known in pear. In this study 1‐methylcyclopropene (1‐MCP) treatment, an inhibitor of ethylene perception, was conducted at approximately 30 days before harvest to delay fruit ripening in a climacteric white pear cultivar Yali. Transcriptome libraries were constructed and sequenced in pre‐ripening, ripening, and 1‐MCP treated fruits. Data analysis showed that 73 candidate genes related to fruit ripening were induced by 1‐MCP, among which two were positively related, namely 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxyla oxidase and an ERF gene (designated as ACO54 and ERF24). Transient transformations in pear fruit revealed that over‐expression of ACO54 enhance transcription level of ERF24 and most ripening‐related genes. Meanwhile, over‐expression of ERF24 raises expression level of ACO54 and partially ripening‐related genes. Moreover, dual‐luciferase and yeast‐one‐hybrid assays unravel an interaction between ERF24 and the ACO54 promoter. Therefore, the ERF24 could directly regulate ACO54 expression by binding to its promoter. These results suggested that the first identified ERF24 is involved in regulating fruit ripening in Chinese white pear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]