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During the execution of tasks in a distributed computing system, the master needs to assign new workers to replace lagging workers that usually occur due to various issues such as network problems, hardware failures, software bugs, or high cluster load. If the completed part of tasks by lagging workers is not cached timely, new workers would need to recalculate it, leading to further delays. In the Spark platform, checkpointing allows for the preservation of intermediate results computed by workers in resilient distributed datasets (RDDs) by storing them in Hadoop distributed file system (HDFS). However, storing and retrieving data from HDFS still remains time-consuming. Traditional distributed cache strategies neglect to utilize both coding techniques and different lag probabilities of workers to reduce overhead of caching data. This paper introduces a distributed cache strategy based on Luby transform (LT) codes to enhance system's effectiveness and robustness. An optimization method is designed within prescribed cache limits to guide the selection of RDDs for caching. Additionally, a novel algorithm is proposed for determining the participation of specific partitions in encoding caching under consideration of worker failure probabilities and overhead of encoding and decoding. In the event of worker failure, intermediate data can be swiftly recovered through decoding, and then the standbys can rapidly take over stragglers' tasks, hence markedly mitigating overall task latency. Theoretical analysis and experimental results demonstrate that the LT code-based caching strategy exhibits more efficiency and lower latency compared to recomputation, HDFS-based and weight-based caching methods, and it saves much more memory overhead compared to Redis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) seriously harms soybean quality and yield. In order to understand the effect of a heterogeneous light environment on the disease resistance of intercropped soybeans, we simulated three kinds of light environments to learn the effects of white light, blue light, and far-red light on the SMV resistance of soybeans. The results showed that compared with the control, SMV-infected soybeans showed dwarfing and enhanced defense. The symptoms of leaves under red and blue light were less severe than those under white light, the virus content of infected plants was about 90% lower than under white light, the activity of antioxidant enzymes increased, and the accumulation of reactive oxygen species decreased. The oxidation damage in SMV-infected soybeans was serious under far-red light. Transcriptome data showed that the biostimulatory response, plant–pathogen interaction, and plant hormone signaling pathway gene expression of SMV-infected soybeans were significantly up-regulated under red light compared with the control. Compared with the control, the genes in the biostimulatory response, calcium ion binding, carbohydrate-binding, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, and plant–pathogen interaction pathways, were significantly up-regulated in SMV-infected soybeans under blue light. In far-red light, only 39 genes were differentially expressed in SMV-infected soybeans compared with the control, and most of the genes were down-regulated. Compared with the control, the up-regulation of the salicylic acid (SA) pathway defense gene in SMV-infected soybeans under red light was higher than under other light treatments. Compared with the control, the up-regulation of the jasmonic acid (JA) and ethylene (ET) pathway defense genes in SMV-infected soybeans under blue light was higher than under other light treatments. Compared with the control, most defense-related genes in the SA and JA pathways were inhibited in SMV-infected soybeans under far-red light, while genes in the ET pathway were significantly up-regulated. These results will advance our understanding of the disease resistance mechanism of intercropping soybeans in a heterogeneous light environment and provide new ideas for the prevention and control of viral diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional method for assessing the quality and maturity of loquats has disadvantages such as destructive sampling and being time-consuming. In this study, hyperspectral imaging technology was used to nondestructively predict and visualise the colour, firmness, and soluble solids content (SSC) of loquats and discriminate maturity. On comparison of the performance of different feature variables selection methods and the calibration models, the results indicated that the multiple linear regression (MLR) models combined with the competitive adaptive reweighting algorithm (CARS) yielded the best prediction performance for loquat quality. Particularly, CARS-MLR models with optimal prediction performance were obtained for the colour (R2P = 0.96, RMSEP = 0.45, RPD = 5.38), firmness (R2P = 0.87, RMSEP = 0.23, RPD = 2.81), and SSC (R2P = 0.84, RMSEP = 0.51, RPD = 2.54). Subsequently, distribution maps of the colour, firmness, and SSC of loquats were obtained based on the optimal CARS-MLR models combined with pseudo-colour technology. Finally, on comparison of different classification models for loquat maturity, the partial least square discrimination analysis model demonstrated the best performance, with classification accuracies of 98.19% and 97.99% for calibration and prediction sets, respectively. This study demonstrated that the hyperspectral imaging technique is promising for loquat quality assessment and maturity classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional method for assessing the quality and maturity of loquats has disadvantages such as destructive sampling and being time-consuming. In this study, hyperspectral imaging technology was used to nondestructively predict and visualise the colour, firmness, and soluble solids content (SSC) of loquats and discriminate maturity. On comparison of the performance of different feature variables selection methods and the calibration models, the results indicated that the multiple linear regression (MLR) models combined with the competitive adaptive reweighting algorithm (CARS) yielded the best prediction performance for loquat quality. Particularly, CARS-MLR models with optimal prediction performance were obtained for the colour (R2P = 0.96, RMSEP = 0.45, RPD = 5.38), firmness (R2P = 0.87, RMSEP = 0.23, RPD = 2.81), and SSC (R2P = 0.84, RMSEP = 0.51, RPD = 2.54). Subsequently, distribution maps of the colour, firmness, and SSC of loquats were obtained based on the optimal CARS-MLR models combined with pseudo-colour technology. Finally, on comparison of different classification models for loquat maturity, the partial least square discrimination analysis model demonstrated the best performance, with classification accuracies of 98.19% and 97.99% for calibration and prediction sets, respectively. This study demonstrated that the hyperspectral imaging technique is promising for loquat quality assessment and maturity classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Workflow interruptions are common in modern work systems. Electronic health record (EHR) tasks are typical tasks involving human–machine interactions in nursing care, but few studies have examined interruptions and nurses' mental workload in the tasks. Therefore, this study aims to investigate how frequent interruptions and multilevel factors affect nurses' mental workload and performance in EHR tasks. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary hospital providing specialist and sub-specialist care from June 1st to October 31st, 2021. An observer documented nurses' EHR task interruptions, reactions and performance (errors and near errors) during one-shift observation sessions. Questionnaires were administered at the end of the electronic health record task observation to measure nurses' mental workload for the electronic health record tasks, task difficulty, system usability, professional experience, professional competency, and self-efficacy. Path analysis was used to test a hypothetical model. Results: In 145 shift observations, 2871 interruptions occurred, and the mean task duration was 84.69 (SD 56.68) minutes per shift. The incidence of error or near error was 158, while 68.35% of errors were self-corrected. The total mean mental workload level was 44.57 (SD 14.08). A path analysis model with adequate fit indices is presented. There was a relationship among concurrent multitasking, task switching and task time. Task time, task difficulty and system usability had direct effects on mental workload. Task performance was influenced by mental workload and professional title. Negative affect mediated the path from task performance to mental workload. Conclusions: Nursing interruptions occur frequently in EHR tasks, come from different sources and may lead to elevated mental workload and negative outcomes. By exploring the variables related to mental workload and performance, we offer a new perspective on quality improvement strategies. Reducing harmful interruptions to decrease task time can avoid negative outcomes. Training nurses to cope with interruptions and improve competency in EHR implementation and task operation has the potential to decrease nurses' mental workload and improve task performance. Moreover, improving system usability is beneficial to nurses to mitigate mental workload. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2D tin diselenide and its derived 2D heterostructures have delivered promising potentials in various applications ranging from electronics to energy storage devices. The major challenges associated with large‐scale fabrication of SnSe2 crystals, however, have hindered its engineering applications. Herein, a tin‐extraction synthetic method is proposed for producing large‐size SnSe2 bulk crystals. In a typical synthesis, a Sn‐containing MAX phase (V2SnC) and a Se source are heat‐treated under a reducing atmosphere, by which Sn is extracted from the V2SnC phase as a rectified Sn source to form SnSe2 crystals in the cold zone. After the following liquid exfoliation, the obtained 2D SnSe2 nanosheets have a lateral size of a few centimeters and an atomic thickness. Furthermore, by coupling with 2D graphene to form 2D/2D SnSe2/graphene heterostructured electrodes, as validated by theoretical calculation and experimental studies, the superior Li‐/Na‐ion storage performance with ultralow surface/interface ion transport barriers are achieved for rechargeable Li‐/Na‐ion batteries. This innovative synthetic strategy opens a new avenue for the large‐scale synthesis of selenides and offers more options into the practical application of emerging 2D/2D heterostructure for electrochemical energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The method of temperature measurement with neutron resonance absorption is a non-contact temperature measurement technique, which makes use of the excellent penetration characteristics of neutrons and the Doppler broadening of the neutron resonance absorption cross section to obtain the static and dynamic temperature parameters as well as the temperature distribution in a closed system. The height and width of resonance absorption peak various with object temperature. By appropriate calibration, the temperature would be obtained with measuring neutron resonance absorption. In this paper, the width of neutron resonance absorption of neutron cross section and neutron transmittance various with tungsten coating/foil temperature are investigated. Result shows that variation in the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of resonance peak with square root temperature and width foil thickness are linear. By measuring the FWHM of resonance peak and the thickness of foil, the temperature could be calculated. Based on the FWHM of resonance peak of neutron transmittance, the data library could be generated for remote temperature measuring technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two–dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides endow individually addressable valleys in momentum space at the K and K' points in the first Brillouin zone due to the breaking of inversion symmetry and the effect of spin–orbit coupling. However, the application of 2H–VS2 monolayer in valleytronics is limited due to the valence band maximum (VBM) located at the Γ point. Here, by involving the 2D ferroelectric (FE) CuInP2Se6 (CIPSe), the ferrovalley polarization, electronic structure, and magnetic properties of 2D 2H–VS2/CIPSe heterostructures with different stacking patterns and FE polarizations have been investigated by using first–principles calculations. It is found that, for the energetically favorable AB–stacking pattern, the valley polarization is preserved when the FE polarization of CIPSe is upwards (CIPSe↑) or downwards (CIPSe↓) with the splitting energies slightly larger or smaller compared with that of the pure 2H–VS2. It is intriguing that, for the FE CIPSe↑ case, the VBM is expected to pass through the Fermi energy level, which can be eventually achieved by applying biaxial strain and thus the valleytronic nature is turned off; however, for the CIPSe↓ situation, the heterostructure basically remains semiconducting even under biaxial strains. Therefore, with the influence of proper strains, the FE polar reversal of CIPSe can be used as a switchable on/off to regulate the valley polarization in VS2. These results not only demonstrate that 2H–VS2/CIPSe heterostructures are promising potential candidates in valleytronics, but also shed some light on developing practical applications of valleytronic technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2D heterostructures provide another exciting opportunity for extending the application of 2D materials in energy conversion and storage devices, due to their flexibility in electronic structure modulations and surface chemistry regulations. Herein, by coupling liquid‐exfoliated and mildly oxidized black phosphorus nanosheets (BP‐NSs) with wet‐chemically synthesized 2D nickel Ni(OH)2 nanosheets (NH‐NSs), 2D/2D heterostructured nanosheets (BNHNSs) are rationally constructed with a favorable transition of electron structure and desired intermediate adsorptions for alkaline oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysis. When used as an OER catalyst, to reach a current density of 10 mA cm−2, the overpotential of 2D/2D BNHNSs is only 297 mV, corresponding to a considerable decrease of 22% and 34% compared with the individual 2D NH‐NSs and 2D BP‐NSs, respectively. The structural tracking at the initial reconstruction stage via time‐dependent Raman spectra confirms that the phosphorus oxidization into the P–OH and the phase transformation into oxyhydroxide (NiOOH) significantly promote the electron transfer and electrocatalytic efficiency and thus endow the 2D/2D BNHNSs with much enhanced OER catalytic activity. This work offers new insights on the electron structure modulation of 2D‐based heterostructures and opens new avenues for regulating the adsorption of emerging phosphorene‐based materials for electrocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the complexity of heterogeneous reactions and heterogeneities of individual catalyst particles in size, morphology, and the surrounding medium, it is very important to characterize the structure of nanocatalysts and measure the reaction process of nanocatalysis at the single-particle level. Traditional ensemble measurements, however, only provide averaged results of billions of nanoparticles (NPs), which do not help reveal structure–activity relationships and may overlook a few NPs with high activity. The advent of dark-field microscopy (DFM) combined with plasmonic resonance Rayleigh scattering (PRRS) spectroscopy provides a powerful means for directly recording the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) spectrum of single plasmonic nanoparticles (PNPs), which also enables quantitative measurements. In recent years, DFM has developed rapidly for a series of single-particle catalytic reactions such as redox reactions, electrocatalytic reactions, and DNAzyme catalysis, with the ability to monitor the catalytic reaction process in real time and reveal the catalytic mechanism. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamental principles and practical applications of DFM in measuring various kinds of catalysis (including chemocatalysis, electrocatalysis, photocatalysis, and biocatalysis) at the single-particle level. Perspectives on the remaining challenges and future trends in this field are also proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, molecular dynamics simulations are performed to investigate the mechanical properties of Janus WSSe and MoSSe monolayers considering the effects of structural anisotropy, temperature, and tensile strain rates. The results demonstrate that Janus WSSe and MoSSe monolayers show strong mechanical anisotropy under tension along the armchair and zigzag directions, respectively. This anisotropy displays distinct temperature dependence. When the coupled effects of the temperature and anisotropy are considered for the tensions along the zigzag direction, there is a transition of ductile-to-brittle failure in the Janus WSSe monolayer at the critical temperature range of 80~90 K due to the competition between atomic thermal vibrations and structural bending/wrinkles. This phenomenon is further confirmed by both stress–strain curves and structural evolutions of the systems. Finally, a strain rate hardening mechanism is found when various strain rates are applied, and it demonstrates that the Janus monolayer could maintain stable mechanical properties under different loading conditions. Our investigations provide a helpful reference for subsequent theoretical and experimental studies on the mechanical properties of Janus monolayer structures and could shed some light on the design of promising nanoscale functional devices based on Janus transition-metal dichalcogenides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two‐dimensional materials are excellent candidates for effective gas detection due to the large surface‐volume ratio, however the controllability to adsorb/desorb the gas molecules for recycling use is still a big challenge. In this study, different from previous strategies to modulate gas adsorption behavior via strain and external electric field, a novel approach to achieve gas adsorption control via ferroelectric (FE) switching is proposed. From first principle simulations, it is found that gas molecule adsorptions on Fe and Mn doped defective graphene can be well controlled when it is placed on the surface of FE In2Se3. The adsorption energies and charge transfer can be significantly modulated when the polarization is reversed, due to the polarization dependent electron redistribution and band state shifts near the Fermi level. The hypothesis of the FE controlled gas adsorption is further supported by the adsorption variations under the electric field. These findings provide feasible approaches and design principles for the next generation gas sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible devices have shown great application potential in portable and miniaturized devices. However, work on flexible electrodes for capacitive deionization (CDI) has not been well developed due to the issues of desalination property, processability, and availability under actual bending conditions. Herein, we constructed a kind of flexible lamellar MXene membrane by assembling Ti 3 C 2 T x sheets with both crumpled and perforated structures and studied their desalination performance in conventional planar and bent configurations. The crumpled and perforated features in Ti 3 C 2 T x (C-P-TC) nanosheets could optimize the in-plane and out-of-plane diffusion channels of the stacked samples, respectively, effectively improving the accessibility of membranes. As a result, the desalination performance of such C-P-TC electrodes was superior to that of those assembled from crumpled or perforated sheets alone. Significantly, this flexible C-P-TC electrode still showed excellent performance at real bend deformation, which possessed not only almost the same CDI capacity as the traditional planar configuration but also good cycling stability. This work not merely proposes an alternative strategy to improve the CDI performance of lamellar MXene electrodes by regulating the nanostructures of channels but also confirms their effective deionization ability under real bent state, greatly facilitating the potential use of flexible electrodes in miniaturized CDI devices. [Display omitted] • MXene sheets with crumpled and perforated structures are used to assemble membranes. • These lamellar membranes have abundant diffusion channels and well flexibility. • The membrane electrodes possess superior capacitive deionization performance. • Such flexible electrodes have excellent deionization ability under real bent state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The open-end winding permanent magnet synchronous motor (OW-PMSM) with common DC bus configuration provides a path for zero-sequence current (ZSC). Apart from the zero-sequence voltage (ZSV) generated by inverters modulation, ZSC also comes from the third harmonic back-EMF. However, the third harmonic back-EMF contains the position information of the rotor, which can be extracted by an appropriate strategy to achieve position sensorless drive. In order to achieve sensorless drive and ZSC suppression simultaneously, this paper proposes a novel general-integral extended state observer (GI-ESO) based method. The third harmonic back-EMF of the OW-PMSM is estimated and calculated in three-phase stationary coordinate system by GI-ESO. And then, a single-phase phase lock loop observer (SPLL) is exploited to extract the position and speed information of the rotor. Meanwhile, the estimated third harmonic back-EMF is directly fed forward to SPWM as the ZSV reference, then the output voltages of the inverters contains the ZSV that can exactly counteract the third harmonic back-EMF, so as to realize the suppression of ZSC. Compared with the method of combining the fundamental back-EMF detection and proportional resonance (PR) regulator, this method can realize sensorless drive and ZSC suppression at the same time with only one scheme. Benefiting from the use of GI-ESO, the observer bandwidth can be relatively low, which helps suppress noise and extend the speed range of sensorless operation. Moreover, this method has strong robustness against motor parameters. The proposed strategy is validated by experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The zero-sequence current (ZSC) of open-end winding permanent magnet synchronous motor (OW-PMSM) with common dc bus mainly comes from zero-sequence voltage (ZSV) and third harmonic back electromotive force, so the ZSV levels of voltage vectors in model predictive control (MPC) need to be considered to suppress the ZSC. Different from the conventional MPC methods for OW-PMSM, which usually select the optimal voltage vector under $\alpha \beta {0}$ coordinate system, this article proposes a three-dimension space vector (TDSV) based MPC method under ABC three-phase coordinate system for OW-PMSM with ZSC suppression and switching frequency optimization strategy. Benefiting from the three-phase voltages decoupling feature of OW-PMSM, TDSVs in ABC coordinate system are regularly distributed in a space cube. A simple optimal TDSV selection method is proposed based on subcubes division. TDSV contains the predicted $\alpha -,\beta -,0 - $ axis voltages information, so ZSC suppression is achieved automatically. Furthermore, utilizing the switch states redundancy feature of dual-inverter system, a cost function is designed to optimize the switch states change and reduce the switching frequency without affecting the optimal TDSV selection. The performance and switching frequency reduction effect of the proposed method are verified and compared with the existing methods through experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In high latitude grassland habitats, altricial nestlings hatching in open-cup nests early in the breeding season must cope with cold temperature challenges. Thyroid hormones (triiodothyronine, T3 and thyroxine, T4) and corticosterone play a crucial role in avian thermoregulation response to cold. Investigating the endocrine response of altricial nestlings to temperature variation is important for understanding the adaptive mechanisms of individual variation in the timing of breeding in birds. Methods: We compared nest temperature, ambient temperature, body temperature, plasma T3, T4 and corticosterone levels in Asian Short-toed Lark (Alaudala cheleensis) nestlings hatching in the early-, middle-, and late-stages of the breeding season in Hulunbuir grassland, northeast China. Results: Mean nest temperature in the early-, middle- and late-stage groups was − 1.85, 3.81 and 10.23 °C, respectively, for the 3-day-old nestlings, and 6.83, 10.41 and 11.81 °C, respectively, for the 6-day-old nestlings. The nest temperature significantly correlated with body temperature, plasma T3, T4 and corticosterone concentrations of nestlings. Body temperature of 3-day-old nestlings in the early and middle groups was significantly lower than that of the late group, but there was no significant difference between the nestlings in the early and middle groups. The T4 and T3 concentrations and the ratio of T3/T4 of both 3- and 6-day-old nestlings in the early-stage group were significantly higher compared to the middle and late groups. The corticosterone levels of 3-day-old nestlings were significantly higher in the early-stage group compared to the middle- and late-stage groups. Conclusion: Nestlings hatching early responded to cold temperature by increasing thyroid hormones and corticosterone levels even in the early days of post hatching development when the endothermy has not been established. These hormones may play a physiological role in neonatal nestlings coping with cold temperature challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endometrial cancer combining uterus didelphys is quite rare clinically which partially explains that there is no discussion about young patients' fertility preservation and follow up of tumor outcome.Case Presentation: In this article, we report a case of unilateral endometrial carcinoma found in a young patient with uterus didelphys who was treated with high-efficiency progesterone due to unfinished child-bearing. During the follow-up, the affected uterine endometrium was not reversed by progesterone. So, the patient underwent the abdominal surgery with the left uterus and left fallopian tube resection. We performed three consecutive immunohistochemical studies of the contralateral uterine endometrium to verify the safety of preserving the contralateral uterus and its appendages which preserved her fertility.Conclusions: Endometrial cancer occurring in patients with uterus didelphys is quite rare in child-bearing age. In this case report, we preserved the patient's contralateral uterus based on patient's strong needs and negative IHC analysis of the preserved side uterine endometrium. However, the tumor and fertility outcome require more follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To investigate the mental workload level of nurses aiding the most affected area during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic and explore the subtypes of nurses regarding their mental workload. Design: Cross‐sectional study. Methods: A sample of 446 frontline nurses participated from March 8 to 19, 2020. A latent profile analysis was performed to identify clusters based on the six subscales of the Chinese version of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index. The differences among the classes and the variables including sociodemographic characteristics, psychological capital and coping style were explored. Results: The level of mental workload indicates that the nurses had high self‐evaluations of their performance while under extremely intensive task loads. The following three latent subtypes were identified: 'low workload & low self‐evaluation' (8.6%); 'medium workload & medium self‐evaluation' (35.3%) and 'high workload & high self‐evaluation' (56.1%) (Classes 1, 2, and 3, respectively). Nurses with shared accommodations, fewer years of practice, junior professional titles, lower incomes, nonmanagement working positions, lower psychological capital levels and negative coping styles had a higher likelihood of belonging to Class 1. In contrast, senior nurses with higher psychological capital and positive coping styles were more likely to belong to Classes 2 and 3. Conclusion: The characteristics of the 'low workload & low self‐evaluation' subtype suggest that attention should be paid to the work pressure and psychological well‐being of junior nurses. Further research on regular training program of public health emergency especially for novices is needed. Personnel management during public health events should be focused on the allocation between novice and senior frontline nurses. Impact: This study addresses the level of mental workload of frontline nurses who aid in the most severe area of the COVID‐19 pandemic in China and delineates the characteristics of the subtypes of these nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We investigated subcortical networks in a cohort of relatively large sample of high-functioning with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) adults (n = 74) and matched typically developing (TD) subjects (n = 63) using independent component analysis (ICA), seed-based functional connectivity and machine learning. • Autism severity affected in connectivity strength in the subcortices only within the high-functioning ASD group. • Long-range functional alterations based on subcortices were significantly associated with the core symptoms of ASD. • Our results fill an important knowledge gap regarding distinct functional connectivity patterns of the subcortical networks and emphasized the importance of the subcortices to the potential impact of autism severity. This study explores subcortices and their intrinsic functional connectivity (iFC) in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) adults and investigates their relationship with clinical severity. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data were acquired from 74 ASD patients, and 63 gender and age-matched typically developing (TD) adults. Independent component analysis (ICA) was conducted to evaluate subcortical patterns of basal ganglia (BG) and thalamus. These two brain areas were treated as regions of interest to further calculate whole-brain FC. In addition, we employed multivariate machine learning to identify subcortices-based FC brain patterns and clinical scores to classify ASD adults from those TD subjects. In ASD individuals, autism diagnostic observation schedule (ADOS) was negatively correlated with the BG network. Similarly, social responsiveness scale (SRS) was negatively correlated with the thalamus network. The BG-based iFC analysis revealed adults with ASD versus TD had lower FC, and its FC with the right medial temporal lobe (MTL), was positively correlated with SRS and ADOS separately. ASD could be predicted with a balanced accuracy of around 60.0 % using brain patterns and 84.7 % using clinical variables. Our results revealed the abnormal subcortical iFC may be related to autism symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Planar solid device was applied for gas-phase photoelectrocatalysis CO 2 reduction. • Heat treatment at 130 °C of GO exhibited the best CO yields under visible light. • Structure and surface properties of RGO were key factors for CO 2 reduction efficiency. • Appropriate bias improved photoelectrocatalytic performance of the device. Photoelectric co-catalysis is a promising method for carbon dioxide (CO 2) reduction due to its greater flexibility and higher reaction efficiency. However, the development of gas-phase photoelectrocatalysis is still in progress. Additionally, there is limited information available regarding the intrinsic photocatalytic capability of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and its "structure-activity" relationship. In this study, solid planar photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) devices ITO/RGO/ITO were designed to enable gas-solid PEC CO 2 reduction. The device consists of two strip electrodes functioning as the cathode and anode, biased to create a horizontal electric field that facilitates the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. RGO-130 (heat treatment at 130 °C) presented the best PEC CO 2 reduction efficiency, 2.2 times higher than photocatalysis under visible light irradiation. This enhancement can be attributed to its moderate oxygen content (48.8%), 001 crystal face and "layer upon layer" structure, all of which facilitate the separation and transfer of photogenerated carriers. Therefore, RGO is capable of acting as a stand-alone catalyst for the photocatalytic CO 2 reduction, and the appropriate design of RGO in surface and structure can improve its activity. This work provides a new perspective on research and application of PEC CO 2 reduction, in view of its environmentally safe and conducive to large-scale applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The AgI‐promoted reaction of thiolactams with N‐Boc amino acids yields an N‐(α‐aminoacyl) lactam that can rearrange through an acyl transfer process. Boc‐deprotection results in convergence to the ring‐expanded adduct, thereby facilitating an overall insertion of an amino acid into the thioamide bond to generate medium‐sized heterocycles. Application to the site‐specific insertion of amino acids into cyclic peptides is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex rheology and the phase behavior of thermally sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) microgels have been investigated in both the swollen and collapsed states by using microrheology. To avoid the interactions between the tracer probes and the PNIPAM microgels, such as the adsorption or the depletion effect, the probes of silica (SiO2) particles have been grafted with PNIPAM chains (SiO2-PNIPAM) and characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The successful preparation of SiO2-PNIPAM has also been proved by the investigation of the particle size and morphology with dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) below and beyond the phase transition temperature of PNIPAM. The microrheology of the PNIPAM microgel suspension has been investigated by using the prepared SiO2-PNIPAM particles as microrheological probes, and the results show that the diffusive coefficient of the probes in the swollen state is one-fifth of that in the collapsed state, and the viscosity of the PNIPAM microgel suspension in the swollen state is four times higher than that in the collapsed state, indicating SiO2-PNIPAM is a good probe in the microrheological study of PNIPAM microgel suspensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imaging studies have characterized functional and structural brain abnormalities in adults after premature birth, but these investigations have mostly used univariate methods that do not account for hypothesized interdependencies between brain regions or quantify accuracy in identifying individuals. To overcome these limitations, we used multivariate machine learning to identify gray matter volume (GMV) and amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFF) brain patterns that best classify young adults born very preterm/very low birth weight (VP/VLBW; n = 94) from those born full‐term (FT; n = 92). We then compared the spatial maps of the structural and functional brain signatures and validated them by assessing associations with clinical birth history and basic cognitive variables. Premature birth could be predicted with a balanced accuracy of 80.7% using GMV and 77.4% using ALFF. GMV predictions were mediated by a pattern of subcortical and middle temporal reductions and volumetric increases of the lateral prefrontal, medial prefrontal, and superior temporal gyrus regions. ALFF predictions were characterized by a pattern including increases in the thalamus, pre‐ and post‐central gyri, and parietal lobes, in addition to decreases in the superior temporal gyri bilaterally. Decision scores from each classification, assessing the degree to which an individual was classified as a VP/VLBW case, were predicted by the number of days in neonatal hospitalization and birth weight. ALFF decision scores also contributed to the prediction of general IQ, which highlighted their potential clinical significance. Combined, the results clarified previous research and suggested that primary subcortical and temporal damage may be accompanied by disrupted neurodevelopment of the cortex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report properties of highly conducting n -type cadmium telluride single crystals doped with iodine (CdTe:I). These crystals were grown with dopant concentrations in the range of 1017 cm−3 to 1019 cm−3 by Modified Vertical Bridgman (MVB) melt growth. Post-growth dopant activation, including Cd annealing, Te annealing, and rapid thermal annealing (RTA), was applied to improve free carrier density. The structural, optical, and electrical properties were analyzed by Glow Discharge Mass Spectroscopy (GDMS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Photoluminescence Spectroscopy (PL), optical absorption, Hall measurements, Capacitance-Voltage (CV) measurements, and time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL). The results indicate that Cd annealing is the most effective activation method to get 100 % donor activation (n ≈ 2 ×1018 cm−3), which is close to the room temperature solubility limit of iodine. This leads to the lowest resistivity and the highest mobility. Moreover, this data suggests a potential role of Cd vacancy-related defects on electrical self-compensation. • N-type CdTe:I single crystals with 1017-1019 cm−3 iodine produced. • Post-growth annealing (Cd, Te, or Ar) assessed to improve the free carrier density. • Results indicate iodine's room temperature solubility in CdTe is ≈1018 cm−3. • Cd annealing leads to 100 % donor activation with the highest mobility. • Carrier lifetimes of Cd annealed CdTe:I are close to the radiative limit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a serious complication of assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment. However, there are limited data regarding the ability of the luteal GnRH antagonist cetrorelix to reduce the incidence of moderate and severe OHSS, and the mechanism remains unclear. Thus, we designed a study to assess the effectiveness of cetrorelix to prevent early moderate and severe OHSS in high-risk patients undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation for IVF/ICSI.Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 105 patients with high-risk OHSS undergoing cryopreservation of all embryos were divided into two groups according to their personal choice. The cetrorelix group (n = 65) received 0.25 mg of cetrorelix by subcutaneous injection daily, from days 3 to 5 post-oocyte retrieval (POR); the control group (n = 40) received no drug. The primary outcome measures were the incidence and severity of early moderate and severe OHSS. Secondary measures included serum estradiol levels, ovarian volume, ascites volume, hematocrit values, and WBC count on days 3, 6, and 9 POR. VEGF and EGR-1 levels were assessed, and binary logistic regression analysis was applied to predict associations between clinical variables and OHSS.Results: Ninety-six patients were examined. The incidence of moderate and severe OHSS was significantly lower in the cetrorelix group than in the control group (18.03% and 37.14%, respectively; P = 0.037). Serum estradiol (P = 0.013), white blood cell count (P = 0.031), ascites volume (P = 0.036), EGR-1 (P = 0.025), and VEGF levels (P = 0.015) were significantly higher in the control group on day 6 POR than on day 3 POR, while no increase was observed between day 3 POR and day 6 POR in the cetrorelix group, indicating a faster regression of OHSS symptoms. Cetrorelix intervention was associated with the incidence and severity of OHSS (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.11-0.78, P = 0.014).Conclusion: Cetrorelix effectively reduces the incidence of early moderate and severe OHSS in high-risk women and decreases serum VEGF levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) is one of the major pathogens causing serious soybean losses. Little is known about the genetic structure and evolutionary biology of the SMV population in southwestern China. In this study, 29 SMV isolates were obtained from Sichuan Province, and the genomic regions encoding the first protein (P1) and coat protein (CP) were sequenced. Combined with SMV isolates from the southeastern and northeastern regions of China, the genetic and molecular evolution of SMV was studied. Recombination analysis revealed that intraspecific and interspecific recombination had occurred in the SMV population. A phylogenetic tree based on the P1 gene reflected the geographic origin of the non-interspecific recombinant SMV (SMV-NI), while a tree based on the CP gene did not. Though frequent gene flow of the SMV-NI populations was found between the southeastern and northeastern populations, the southwestern population was relatively independent. Genetic differentiation was significant between the SMV interspecific recombinant (SMV-RI) and the non-interspecific recombinant (SMV-NI) populations. It was interesting to note that there was an almost identical recombination breakpoint in SMV-RI and Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV). Population dynamics showed that SMV-RI might be in an expanding state, while the SMV-NI population is relatively stable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete genome sequence of a wild tomato mosaic virus (WTMV) isolate (named WTMV-Sn) was determined and identified in Solanum nigrum in China. The complete genome of WTMV-Sn is 9,659 nucleotides in length, excluding the poly(A) tail and encodes a polyprotein of 3,074 amino acids. This is the first report of WTMV infecting S. nigrum. Despite the high degree of sequence similarity between the WTMV-Sn and WTMV-XC-1 isolates, the 349 nucleotides at the 5′ terminus of WTMV-Sn appear to have originated by recombination with another isolate. The recombination parent remains unknown, but the recombination region shares 74.57% sequence identity with isolate WTMV-Laichau, which is below the species demarcation threshold for the genus Potyvirus. A pathogenicity test showed that WTMV-Sn can infect tobacco. This suggests that variation in the P1 cistron of WTMV-Sn may contribute to its ability to infect S. nigrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lasting volume reductions in subcortical and temporal‐insular cortices after premature birth suggest altered ongoing activity in these areas. We hypothesized altered fluctuations in ongoing neural excitability and activity, as measured by slowly fluctuating blood oxygenation of resting‐state functional MRI (rs‐fMRI), in premature born adults, with altered fluctuations being linked with underlying brain volume reductions. To investigate this hypothesis, 94 very preterm/very low birth weight (VP/VLBW) and 92 full‐term born young adults underwent structural and rs‐fMRI data acquisition with voxel‐based morphometry and amplitude of low‐frequency fluctuations (ALFF) as main outcome measure. In VP/VLBW adults, ALFF was reduced in lateral temporal cortices, and this reduction was positively associated with lower birth weight. Regions of reduced ALFF overlapped with reduced brain volume. On the one hand, ALFF reduction remained after controlling for volume loss, supporting the functional nature of ALFF reductions. On the other hand, ALFF decreases were positively associated with underlying brain volume loss, indicating a relation between structural and functional changes. Furthermore, within the VP/VLBW group, reduced ALFF was associated with reduced IQ, indicating the behavioral relevance of ALFF decreases in temporal cortices. These results demonstrate long‐term impact of premature birth on ongoing BOLD fluctuations in lateral temporal cortices, which are linked with brain volume reductions. Data suggest permanently reduced fluctuations in ongoing neural excitability and activity in structurally altered lateral temporal cortices after premature birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The paper quantitatively summarizes the distribution and development of pumping distress using various field and laboratory methods. • The paper adopts GPR techniques to assess the structure of asphalt pavements. • The paper identifies potential causes of the pumping phenomenon. • The paper quantifies the extent and severity of the pumping distress. Pumping distress refers to the phenomenon of dynamic water entering a pavement, soaking the cement concrete layer to form slurry, and being pumped out of the pavement void under the action of traffic loading. Pumping distress is frequently reported in high temperature and rainy regions, such as Sichuan province in China. Various factors contribute to pumping distress on bridge decks, but most of these factors have merely been subjected to qualitative assessment. The aim of the study is to conduct a comprehensive quantitative analysis through three years of field investigations and laboratory experiments. The field investigations include ground penetrating radar (GPR), pavement permeability tests, skid resistance tests, and drainage facilities surveys. The quantitative analysis of the field and laboratory inspections revealed that the formation reason, deterioration rate, and damage degree of pumping distress were different between the truck and emergency lanes. The occurrence of pumping distresses was significantly related to the uneven construction of the bridge deck leveling layer, compaction segregation, and poor drainage. Additionally, the influence of pavement thickness uniformity on pumping distress was evaluated by incorporating GPR techniques. Failure in the waterproof adhesion layer resulted in the barrier between the cement concrete deck and the asphalt mixture breaking, which allowed alkaline sources to move and transfer to the pavement layer easily. The outcomes of this study can help bridge authorities and construction contractors choose appropriate design and construction measures to prevent pumping distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Beijing "Coal to Electricity" program provides a unique opportunity to explore air quality impacts by replacing residential coal burning with electrical appliances. In this study, the atmospheric ROS (Gas-phase ROS and Particle-phase ROS, abbreviated to G-ROS and P-ROS) were measured by an online instrument in parallel with concurrent PM 2.5 sample collections analyzed for chemical composition and cellular ROS in a baseline year (Coal Use Year-CUY) and the first year following implementation of the "Coal to Electricity" program (Coal Ban Year-CBY). The results showed PM 2.5 concentrations had no significant difference between the two sampling periods, but the activities of G-ROS, P-ROS, and cellular ROS in CBY were 8.72 nmol H 2 O 2 /m3, 9.82 nmol H 2 O 2 /m3, and 2045.75 µg UD /mg PM higher than in CUY. Six sources were identified by factor-analysis from the chemical components of PM 2.5. Secondary sources (SECs) were the dominant source of PM 2.5 in the two periods, with 15.90% higher contribution in CBY than in CUY. Industrial Emission & Coal Combustion sources (Ind. & CCs), mainly from regional transport, also increased significantly in CBY. The contributions of Aged Sea Salt & Residential Burning sources to PM 2.5 decreased 5.31% from CUY to CBY. The correlation results illustrated that Ind. & CCs had significant positive correlations with atmospheric ROS, and SECs significantly associated with cellular ROS, especially nitrates (r = 0.626, p = 0.000). Therefore, the implementation of the "Coal to Electricity" program reduced PM 2.5 contributions from coal and biomass combustion, but had little effect on the improvement of atmospheric and cellular ROS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the plastic deformation mechanism of pre-void Ni/Ni 3 Al interface alloy under tensile load dependent on the size of pre-existing void in Ni/Ni 3 Al interface is investigated by using molecular dynamics simulations with Embedded Atom Method (EAM) potential. It is interesting that for the special case of infinitely long cylindrical voids, it is found that the pre-void Ni/Ni 3 Al interface structures with relatively smaller radius produce higher yield stresses than the void-free sample, as the smaller voids in interface help to disperse the local energy induced by the interface misfit in elastic tension. The competition between the initial edge dislocation formed from lattice misfit and Shockley partial nucleated from the pre-void contributes to triggering the varying dislocation nucleation and plastic deformation patterns. And it is found that the propagations of the slip bands emitted from Stair-rod dislocation and stacking faults generated from Shockley partial are the main plastic deformation mechanism. Moreover, obvious temperature effects on the stress-strain curves and the Young’s modulus are found in the Ni/Ni 3 Al interface alloy with a constant pre-void radius. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adverse respiratory health effects of PM 2.5 have been studied. However, the epidemiological evidence for the association of specific PM 2.5 sources with health outcomes is still limited. This study investigated the association between PM 2.5 components and sources with a biomarker of acute respiratory inflammation (FeNO) in guards. Personal exposure was estimated by microenvironment samplers and FeNO measurements were carried out before, during and after the Victory Day Military Parade in Beijing. Four sources were determined by factor analysis, including urban pollution, dust, alloy steel abrasion and toxic metals. A mixed-effect model was used to estimate the associations of FeNO with PM 2.5 sources and chemical constituents, controlling for age, BMI, smoke activity, physical activity, waist circumference, temperature and relative humidity. In summary, large concentration decreases in PM 2.5 concentration and PM 2.5 chemical constituents were observed in both roadside and indoor environments during the air control periods, immediately followed by statistically significant decreases in FeNO of roadside guards and patrol guards. Besides, statistically significant increases in FeNO were found to be associated with interquartile range (IQR) increases in some pollutants, with an increase of 1.45 ppb (95% CI: 0.69, 2.20), 0.65 ppb (95% CI: 0.13, 1.17), 1.48 ppb (95% CI: 0.60, 2.35), 0.82 ppb (95% CI: 0.44, 1.20), 0.77 ppb (95% CI: 0.42, 1.11) in FeNO for mass, sulfate, BC, Ca 2 + and Sm, respectively. In addition, compared to alloy steel abrasion and toxic metals, urban pollution and dust factors were more associated with acute airway inflammation for highly-exposed populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes a Ta/Ti bilayer to improve the adhesion between Cu and a dielectric material and to enhance the barrier effect for Cu interconnects in electronic circuits. The addition of Ti improves the adhesion between Ta and Polybenzoxazoles (PBO) from the industry standard of 0B (worst level) to 5B (best level), as evaluated via a peeling test. The results of a comparative study demonstrate that a Ta/Ti bilayer (40 nm/10 nm) enables a higher annealing temperature vs. pure films of either Ta or Ti (50 nm respectively) by preventing diffusive mixing of Cu/Si. Using an accelerated high-temperature testing system, the results show stable annealing at 550 °C for the bilayer as compared to 500 °C for Ta and 350 °C for Ti. Under accelerated low-temperature and long-term conditions, both material systems (Cu/Ta/Ti/PBO/Si and Cu/Ta/Ti/Si) remained stable and reliable. The results suggest the improved diffusion barrier property of the Ta/Ti bilayer is due to the strong Ta/Ti interface and the greater oxygen attraction by the Ti layer. The Ta/Ti bilayer is a promising candidate for use as a diffusion barrier and an adhesion promoter, especially in applications in which the insulation layer exhibits poor adhesive properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Dual attention mechanism module is applied to capture global dependencies and long-range background information. • A new multi-fusion model is proposed to improve the utilization of global information. • The Multi-fusion U-net has a larger receptive field by adding ASPP. • The proposed Multi-fusion U-net exhibits higher detection accuracy compared with other state-of-the-art sealed crack detection algorithms. The Multi-fusion U-Net network based on U-Net is proposed to attain pixel-level detection of sealed cracks. The multi-fusion module, dual attention mechanism, and Atrous Spatial Pyramid Pooling (ASPP) are designed to efficiently capture the details of sealed cracks. The 3163 image set is divided into training, validation, and testing datasets. The training data consist of 2463 image sets. The Multi-fusion U-Net outperforms U-Net and DANet during the training process. The test experimental results indicate that the F-measure and IOU of the Multi-fusion U-Net on the 200 test images are 84.36 % and 72.95 % respectively. Compared with seven state-of-the-art models (i.e., DANet, MACSNet, U-Net, SegNet, DeepLabV3+, PSPNet, SegFormer), the proposed network exhibits higher detection accuracy on the 200 testing images. The average time to process the images for all networks was 49.78 ms/frame, and the proposed network processed the images in 57 ms/frame. Real-time detection of sealed cracks is feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fe 2 O 3 is an appealing anode material due to its high specific capacity (1007 mAh g−1), low cost, natural abundance, and nontoxicity. However, its unstable structure during cycling processes has hindered its potential. In this study, we present a "green" synthesis method to fabricate stable porous Fe 2 O 3 encapsulated in a buffering hollow structure (p -Fe 2 O 3 @ h -TiO 2) as an effective anode material for Li-ion batteries. The synthesis process only involves glucose as an "etching" agent, without the need for organic solvents or difficult-to-control environments. Characterizations of the nanostructures, chemical compositions, crystallizations, and thermal behaviors for the intermediate/final products confirm the formation of p -Fe 2 O 3 @ h -TiO 2. The synthesized Fe 2 O 3 anode material effectively accommodates volume change, decreases pulverization, and alleviates agglomeration, leading to a high capacity that is over eleven times greater than that of the as-received commercial Fe 2 O 3 after a long cycling process. This work provides an attractive, "green" and efficient method to convert commercially abundant resources like Fe 2 O 3 into effective electrode materials for energy storage systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bacteria account for nearly one third of the causes of community-acquired central nervous system infections, and traditional diagnostic methods are based on culture results, which are time-consuming and have a low detection rate leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment. Since metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) has the advantages of high timeliness and only detecting microbial trace gene fragments, it has been used more widely in recent years. Based on this, we explored whether the application of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) mNGS is advantageous in patients with community-acquired purulent meningitis, especially in people who have already used antibiotics. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 63 patients with community-acquired purulent meningitis admitted to the Department of Neurology of Shanxi Bethune Hospital from March 2018 to November 2022. Data were systematically collected and classified into CSF culture group, blood culture group and CSF mNGS group according to different detection methods, and the total detection rate of each method was calculated. Each group of patients was divided into two subgroups according to whether antibiotics were used before sampling. The detection rates of the three groups were compared within and between groups to explore whether mNGS has advantages over traditional methods and the influence of antibiotic use on detection rates of the three methods. Results: Among the 63 patients, the cases of CSF culture, blood culture and CSF mNGS were 56, 46, 44, respectively. The total detection rates of the three methods were 17.86%, 36.96%, 81.82%, with statistical differences (p < 0.05),suggesting that the detection rate of mNGS was higher than CSF culture (p < 0.05) and blood culture (p < 0.05),and the detection rate of blood culture higher than CSF culture (p < 0.05). Further grouping found that without antibiotics, the detection rates of CSF culture, blood culture and CSF mNGS were 28.57%, 56.25% and 88.89%, with statistical differences (p < 0.05), and the detection rate of CSF mNGS was higher than that of CSF culture (p < 0.05), but there was no statistical difference between CSF and blood culture (p > 0.05), nor between blood culture and CSF mNGS (p > 0.05). The detection rates of the three groups with antibiotics were 14.29%, 26.67% and 80.00%, with statistical differences (p < 0.05), and the detection rate of CSF mNGS was still higher than CSF culture (p < 0.05) and blood culture (p < 0.05). However, the detection rate of CSF mNGS also decreased after antibiotics were used for more than 3 days. Conclusions: The detection rate of CSF mNGS in patients with purulent meningitis is higher than traditional methods, especially in patients who have been given antibiotics, but the detection rate will decrease with the extension of antibiotic use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activities primarily depend on the active centers of electrocatalysts. In some oxide electrocatalysts, high‐valence metal sites (e.g., molybdenum oxide) are generally not the real active centers for electrocatalytic reactions, which is largely due to their undesired intermediate adsorption behaviors. As a proof‐of‐concept, molybdenum oxide catalysts are selected as a representative model, in which the intrinsic molybdenum sites are not the favorable active sites. Via phosphorus‐modulated defective engineering, the inactive molybdenum sites can be regenerated as synergistic active centers for promoting OER. By virtue of comprehensive comparison , it is revealed that the OER performance of oxide catalysts is highly associated with the phosphorus sites and the molybdenum/oxygen defects. Specifically, the optimal catalyst delivers an overpotential of 287 mV to achieve the current density of 10 mA cm−2, accompanied by only 2% performance decay for continuous operation up to 50 h. It is expected that this work sheds light on the enrichment of metal active sites via activating inert metal sites on oxide catalysts for boosting electrocatalytic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polygoni Multiflori Caulis is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been used for a long time to treat sleep disorders. However, the multiple chemical composition analysis has not been reported. In this study, a simple, rapid and effective ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry method was established to characterize the components of Polygoni Multiflori Caulis. In addition, a chemical comparative analysis was performed with Polygoni Multiflori Radix, another traditional Chinese medicine from the same plant, through multivariate statistical analysis and semi-quantitative analysis to screen the difference in chemical ingredients between these two herbal medicines from same medicinal plant. A total of 33 peaks were detected within 25 min, and 28 of them were identified or tentatively characterized by comparing the retention time and mass spectrometry data. Based on the results, 12 characteristic components were screened out by multivariate statistical analysis, and their content change trends were compared by semi-quantitative analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black carbon (BC) is a key component of atmospheric particles and has a significant effect on human health. BC can provide reactive sites and surfaces thus absorb quinones which were primarily generated from fossil fuel combustion and/or atmospheric photochemical conversions of PAHs. Oxidation could change the characteristics of BC and increase its toxicity. The comparison of lung damage in mice exposed to BC and 1,4-NQ-coated BC (1,4NQ-BC) particles is investigated in this study. Mice which were intratracheally instilled with particles have a higher expression of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-33 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Also, the IL-6, IL-33 mRNA expression in the lung tissue of mice instilled with 1,4NQ-BC were higher than that of mice instilled with BC. The pathology results showed that the lung tissue of mice instilled with 1,4NQ-BC particles have much more inflammatory cells infiltration than that of mice treated with BC. It is believed that the MAPK and PI3K-AKT pathway might be involved in the 1,4NQ-BC particles caused lung damage. Results indicated that 1,4NQ-BC particles in the atmosphere may cause more damage to health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports an ISFET-based pH sensor utilizing a tantalum pentoxide (TaO) as the sensing layer. Commercial PET film for mass production of touch panel coated with TaO film is used as the extended gate electrode connecting to a MOSFET chip for H ion measurement. The low-cost and plug-and-sense PET sensing file makes the developed sensor is disposable. The high corrosion-resistance of TaO layer greatly extends the lifetime and the pH sensing range for the solid-state sensor. Theoretical Nernst response is adopted to evaluate the sensing performance of the developed pH sensor. Results show that the developed pH sensor exhibits high sensitivity of 24.18 mV/pH and good linearity of R = 0.9798 in the pH range from 1 to 13. In addition, the developed sensor also shows excellent sensing performance including ultra-fast response (<10 s), good repeatability (variation ~0.32 %) and good stability (variation <1 %). Moreover, the developed TaO-based pH sensor shows low interference response to the existence of sodium and potassium interference ions. The developed solid state pH sensor provides a low-cost yet high performance way for developing disposable pH sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new four-dimensional (4D)ab initiopotential energy surface (PES) for Ne–CS2involving theQ1andQ3normal modes for the ν1symmetric stretching vibration and ν3antisymmetric stretching vibration of CS2is presented. The PES is constructed at the coupled-cluster singles and doubles with noniterative inclusion of connected triples [CCSD(T)]-F12 level with a large basis set including midpoint bond functions. Two vibrationally averaged potentials with CS2at the vibrational ground and ν1+ ν3excited states are generated from the 4D potential. Each potential contains a T-shaped global minimum and two equivalent linear local minima. The rovibrational energy levels and bound states are calculated employing radial discrete variable representation/angular finite basis representation and the Lanczos algorithm. In addition, the predicted band origin shift is 0.2514 cm−1for Ne–CS2. The spectroscopic parameters are also predicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • High efficient TiHAP and TiFHAP films were prepared for Cr(VI) reduction. • TiHAP film has better PC and PEC activities than TiO 2 for Cr(VI) reduction. • PC and PEC activities of TiFHAP were enhanced compared to TiHAP film. • PEC reduction of Cr(VI) is mainly occurred on the surface of TiHAP photoanode. Ti-doped hydroxyapatite (TiHAP) is a novel photocatalyst with high adsorption capacity. It shows high photocatalytic activity for the degradation of organic pollutants and sterilization than conventional semiconductors. In this study, highly efficient TiHAP film and fluorine-doped TiHAP (TiFHAP) film were prepared on ITO glass by sol-gel method to investigate their photocatalytic (PC) and photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) reduction towards hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)). Field emission scanning electronic microscope (FESEM), UV–vis spectrophotometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques were used to characterize the morphologies, structure and composition of the samples. In the conditions of 0.5 mol/L Na 2 SO 4 , 0.5 mmol/L citric acid, 0.34 mmol/L Cr(VI) and pH = 3.4, the PC and PEC conversion rates of Cr(VI) over TiHAP film can achieve 70% and 84% under 90 min UV illumination, respectively, which were both higher than TiO 2 film. Fluorine-doped TiHAP film (TiFHAP) showed enhanced PC and PEC activities than TiHAP film, with 5.6 wt% F-doping being the best. A two-compartment system was employed to study the reaction mechanism of the PEC process. Different from the traditional knowing that Cr(VI) would be reduced on photocathode by photoinduced electrons transferred from anode photocatalyst, the result suggested that it was on the surface of TiHAP photoanode where Cr(VI) was mainly reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By applying the multiscale method to the Möbius transformation function, we construct the multiscale analytic sampling approximation (MASA) to any function in the Hardy space . The approximation error is estimated, and it is proved that the MASA is robust to sample error. We prove that the MASA can be expressed by a Hankel matrix, making use of which, a fast algorithm is established to compute the MASA. Since what we acquire in practice may well be the samples on time domain instead of the analytic ones on the unit disc of the complex plane, we establish a fast algorithm for acquiring analytic samples. Numerical experiments are carried out to demonstrate the efficiency of the MASA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Night lighting has been shown to affect wild animals. To date, the effects of night lighting on the metabolic homeostasis of birds that spend short time in urban environments remain unclear. Using model bird species Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata), we investigated the effects of short-term night lighting on liver transcriptome, blood glucose, triglyceride, and thyroxine (T4 and T3) levels in birds exposed to two different night lighting duration periods (three days and six days). After three days of night lighting exposure, the expression of genes involved in fat synthesis in the liver was upregulated while the expression of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation and triglyceride decomposition was downregulated. There was also a reduction in blood triglyceride, glucose, and T3 concentrations. However, after six days of night lighting, the expression of genes associated with fatty acid decomposition and hyperglycemia in the liver was upregulated, while the expression of genes involved in fat synthesis was downregulated. Simultaneously, blood glucose levels and T3 concentration increased. These findings indicate that short-term exposure to night lighting can disrupt the lipid and glucose metabolism of small passerine birds, and longer stopovers in urban area with intense night lighting may cause birds to consume more lipid energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black carbon (BC) is a key component of atmospheric particles and has a significant effect on human health. Oxidation could change the characteristics of BC and increase its toxicity. The comparison of lung damage in mice exposed to BC and ozone-oxidized BC (oBC) particles is investigated in this study. Mice which were intratracheally instilled with particles have a higher expression of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-33 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Also, the IL-6, IL-33 mRNA expression in the lung tissue of mice instilled with oBC was higher than that of mice instilled with BC. The expression of CD3 in the lung tissue of mice intratracheally instilled with oBC was higher than the mice distilled with BC. The pathology results showed that the lung tissue of mice instilled with oBC particles have much more inflammatory cells infiltration than that of mice treated with BC. It is believed that the PI3K-AKT pathway might be involved in the oBC particles caused lung damage. Results indicated that oBC particles in the atmosphere may cause more damage to health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three Sn layers of different grain size were electroplated on Cu foils to investigate the effects of Sn solder grain size on the morphology and evolution of Cu 6 Sn 5 during aging. In the early stage, scallop Cu 6 Sn 5 formed in three joints. For the joint with Sn layer of 2 µm grain size, the Cu 6 Sn 5 grain size was uniform and small, and the scallops had many facets. For the joints with Sn layers of 8 µm and 16 µm grain sizes, the Cu 6 Sn 5 forming along the Sn grain boundary was of larger grain size than that forming inside the Sn grain, so it displayed network shape. And the scallop had fewer facets. As the aging time prolonged, the facets of Cu 6 Sn 5 in the joint with Sn layer of 2 µm grain size became less and the scallop-type gradually transformed into rod-like. For the joints with Sn layers of 8 µm and 16 µm grain sizes, the Cu 6 Sn 5 transformed from scallop-type to granular-like in a ripening growth, leading to the disappearing of Cu 6 Sn 5 crystal network. Moreover, the interfacial intermetallic compound layer tended to be thicker in the joint with Sn layer of smaller grain size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high quality four-dimensional intermolecular PES for Ar–CS 2 involving the Q 1 and Q 3 normal modes for the ν 1 symmetric stretching vibration and ν 3 antisymmetric stretching vibration of CS 2 is presented. Two vibrationally averaged potentials with CS 2 at the vibrational ground and ν 1 + ν 3 excited states are generated from the four-dimensional potential. Each potential has a T-shaped global minimum and two equivalent linear minima. The radial DVR/angular FBR method and the Lanczos algorithm are applied to calculate the rovibrational energy levels and bound states. The predicted band origin shift of the complex is −0.0495 cm −1 . The spectroscopic parameters are also predicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims at establishing a fast numerical algorithm for Bk(f), where f is any function in the Hardy space H2(Td) and k is the scale level. Here, Bk(f) is an approximation to f we recently constructed by applying the multiscale transform to the Cauchy kernel. We establish the matrix expression of Bk(f) and find that it has the structure of a multilevel Hankel matrix. Based on the structure, a fast numerical algorithm is established to compute Bk(f). The computational complexity is given. A numerical experiment is carried out to check the efficiency of our algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]