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Simple Summary: Uridine diphosphate (UDP)-glycosyltransferases (UGTs) are significant phase II detoxification enzymes in insects. In this study, we have utilized CRISPR/Cas9 to generate SfUGT50A15 knockout strains to explore its possible function in governing sensitivity to chemical insecticides or benzoxazinoids. The bioassay results indicated that the SfUGT50A15 knockout strains were significantly more sensitive to chlorantraniliprole, emamectin benzoate, and benzoxazinoids than the wild-type strains. This finding highlights the involvement of SfUGT50A15 in the resistance of Spodoptera frugiperda to chlorantraniliprole, emamectin benzoate, and benzoxazinoids. This study not only presents new molecular targets for controlling S. frugiperda but also establishes a foundation for the control of lepidopteran pests. UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs) are a diverse superfamily of enzymes. Insects utilize uridine diphosphate-glucose (UDP-glucose) as a glycosyl donor for glycosylation in vivo, involved in the glycosylation of lipophilic endosymbionts and xenobiotics, including phytotoxins. UGTs act as second-stage detoxification metabolizing enzymes, which are essential for the detoxification metabolism of insecticides and benzoxazine compounds. However, the UGT genes responsible for specific glycosylation functions in S. frugiperda are unclear at present. In this study, we utilized CRISPR/Cas9 to produce a SfUGT50A15-KO strain to explore its possible function in governing sensitivity to chemical insecticides or benzoxazinoids. The bioassay results suggested that the SfUGT50A15-KO strain was significantly more sensitive to chlorantraniliprole, emamectin benzoate, and benzoxazinoids than the wild-type strains. This finding suggests that the overexpression of the SfUGT50A15 gene may be linked to S. frugiperda resistance to pesticides (chlorantraniliprole and emamectin benzoate) as well as benzoxazinoids (BXDs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To analyse the clinical data of and provide a reference for the care and perinatal health care of twin pregnancy patients with complete hydatidiform mole and a coexistent foetus (CHM & CF).Methods: We searched the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang and VIP databases to comprehensively collect clinical studies on the "clinical characteristics of complete hydatidiform mole and coexisting foetal twin pregnancy". Patients' data were extracted from the literature, and 60 patients were divided into Group A (live newborns not delivered, 47) and Group B (live newborns delivered, 13). The clinical characteristics of the two groups were compared to explore the pregnancy outcomes and influencing factors of persistent gestational trophoblastic disease (pGTD) in patients with CHM & CF.Results: The gestational week of diagnosis (Odd Ratio (OR)=0.203, 95% Confidence Interval (CI)=0.055– 0.753) and number of complications (OR=0.328, 95% CI=0.135– 0.793) were found to be independent influencing factors of pregnancy outcomes in patients with CHM & CF (p < 0.05). Ovulation induction therapy (OR=2.333, 95% CI=0.561– 9.708), preeclampsia (OR=75.000, 95% CI=11.041– 509.486) and the number of complications (OR=4.768, 95% CI=1.914– 11.875) were the independent influencing factors of developing pGTD (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Pregnancy should not be terminated immediately after the early detection of CHM & CF, and multiple factors should be considered. Preeclampsia may indicate a poor prognosis, and ovulation induction may increase the incidence of pGTD. Targeted nursing and psychological nursing should be carried out according to the clinical symptoms of the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prediction of soil properties at different depths is an important research topic for promoting the conservation of black soils and the development of precision agriculture. Mid-infrared spectroscopy (MIR, 2500–25000 nm) has shown great potential in predicting soil properties. This study aimed to explore the ability of MIR to predict soil organic matter (OM) and total nitrogen (TN) at five different depths with the calibration from the whole depth (0–100 cm) or the shallow layers (0–40 cm) and compare its performance with visible and near-infrared spectroscopy (vis-NIR, 350–2500 nm). A total of 90 soil samples containing 450 subsamples (0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, 20–40 cm, 40–70 cm, and 70–100 cm depths) and their corresponding MIR and vis-NIR spectra were collected from a field of black soil in Northeast China. Multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) were used to build prediction models. The results showed that prediction models based on MIR (OM: RMSEp = 1.07–3.82 g/kg, RPD = 1.10–5.80; TN: RMSEp = 0.11–0.15 g/kg, RPD = 1.70–4.39) outperformed those based on vis-NIR (OM: RMSEp = 1.75–8.95 g/kg, RPD = 0.50–3.61; TN: RMSEp = 0.12–0.27 g/kg; RPD = 1.00–3.11) because of the higher number of characteristic bands. Prediction models based on the whole depth calibration (OM: RMSEp = 1.09–2.97 g/kg, RPD = 2.13–5.80; TN: RMSEp = 0.08–0.19 g/kg, RPD = 1.86–4.39) outperformed those based on the shallow layers (OM: RMSEp = 1.07–8.95 g/kg, RPD = 0.50–3.93; TN: RMSEp = 0.11–0.27 g/kg, RPD = 1.00–2.24) because the soil sample data of the whole depth had a larger and more representative sample size and a wider distribution. However, prediction models based on the whole depth calibration might provide lower accuracy in some shallow layers. Accordingly, it is suggested that the methods pertaining to soil property prediction based on the spectral library should be considered in future studies for an optimal approach to predicting soil properties at specific depths. This study verified the superiority of MIR for soil property prediction at specific depths and confirmed the advantage of modeling with the whole depth calibration, pointing out a possible optimal approach and providing a reference for predicting soil properties at specific depths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a precious soil resource, black soils in Northeast China are currently facing severe land degradation. Visible and near-infrared spectroscopy (vis-NIR, 350–2500 nm) and mid-infrared spectroscopy (MIR, 2500–25,000 nm) have shown great potential to predict soil properties. However, there is still limited research on using MIR in situ. The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility of in situ MIR for the prediction of soil total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) and to compare its performance with the use of laboratory MIR, as well as the use of in situ and laboratory vis-NIR. A total of 450 samples from 90 soil profiles, along with their in situ and laboratory spectra of MIR and vis-NIR, were collected in a field with ten different tillage and management practices in a typical black soil area of Northeast China. Partial least square regression (PLSR), random forest (RF) and multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) were used to generate the calibrations between the spectra and the two properties. The results showed that both MIR and vis-NIR were able to predict the TN whether in laboratory or in situ conditions, but neither of them could predict the TP quantitatively since there was no sensitive band on both spectra regarding the TP. The prediction accuracy of the TN with laboratory spectra was higher than that with in situ spectra, for both vis-NIR and MIR. The optimal prediction accuracy of the TN with laboratory MIR (RMSE = 0.11 g/kg, RPD = 3.12) was higher than that of laboratory vis-NIR (RMSE = 0.14 g/kg, RPD = 2.45). The optimal prediction accuracy of in situ MIR (RMSE = 0.20 g/kg, RPD = 1.80) was lower than that of in situ vis-NIR (RMSE = 0.16 g/kg, RPD = 2.14). The prediction performance of the spectra followed laboratory MIR > laboratory vis-NIR > in situ vis-NIR > in situ MIR. The performance of in situ MIR was relatively poor, mainly due to the fact that MIR was more influenced by soil moisture. This study verified the feasibility of in situ MIR for soil property prediction and provided an approach for obtaining rapid soil information and a reference for soil research and management in black soil areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous clinical trials indicated the addition of anti‐PD‐1 antibody remarkably improved the efficacy of trastuzumab and chemotherapy in patients with HER2‐positive gastric/gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer. However, no real‐world experiences have been reported yet. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 1212 patients with gastric/GEJ cancer treated at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital between 2019 and 2022. Among 138 patients with HER2‐positive gastric/GEJ cancer, 47 patients receiving at least two doses of the combination regimen with anti‐PD‐1 antibody, trastuzumab, and chemotherapy were recruited in the study population, and 38 out of 47 patients with measurable disease were included in the efficacy population. Progression‐free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and toxicity profiles were reported. Results: In the study population, 37 (78.7%) received the study therapy as a first‐line treatment. In the efficacy population, the ORR and DCR were 76.3% and 94.7%, respectively. The overall median PFS was 9.1 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 6.3–11.9 months). For the first‐line treatment, the mPFS was 10 months, and 7 months for the second‐line. Among 14 patients who failed the study treatment, three (21.4%) developed brain metastasis as the first failure site. No significant association was found between PFS and the expression of PD‐L1. 22.2% of patients developed grade 3 treatment‐related adverse events (TRAEs). No treatment‐related grade ≥4 adverse events or deaths occurred. Conclusion: This real‐world study validated the combination regimen's high efficacy and good tolerance in patients with HER2‐positive gastric/GEJ cancer. An increased incidence of brain metastasis was observed in patients who failed this regimen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metabolic disorder of the wound microenvironment can lead to a series of serious symptoms, especially chronic wounds, which result in significant pain in patients. At present, there is no effective and widely used wound dressing. Therefore, it is important to develop new multifunctional wound dressings. Hydrogel is an ideal wound dressing for medical nursing because of its abilities to absorb exudate and maintain wound wetting, its excellent biocompatibility, and its ability to provide a moist environment for wound repair. Because of these features, hydrogel overcomes the shortcomings of traditional dressings. Therefore, hydrogel has high medical value and is widely studied. In this study, a biodegradable hydrogel based on polysaccharide was synthesized and used as a wound dressing. The swelling degree and degradability of hydrogel were characterized as the characteristics of the wound dressing. The results showed that the prepared hydrogel was degraded with trypsin and in the soil environment. Furthermore, the wound dressing can effectively inhibit the bacterial environment, promote the deposition of the collagen structure of the wound tissue, and accelerate the healing of the wound. The proposed hydrogel has value in practical medical nursing application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to better prepare and analyze bacterial cellulose-based composite hydrogels, an experimental method based on scanning electron microscopy was proposed. The specific content of the method is to observe the hydrogel through scanning electron microscope, to observe the space between molecules through experiments, and to improve the effect of bacterial cellulose preparation of hydrogel. The experimental results show that the gel preparation effect is best when PEG concentration is not more than observed by scanning electron microscope. It is better to prepare bacterial cellulose complex hydrogel by scanning electron microscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucocorticoid-induced cataract (GIC)-associated biomarkers were screened by ceRNA network construction. The GIC samples' GSE3040 were obtained from the NCBI-GEO database. R's Limma package was used to identify differentially expressed RNAs (DERs) between the normal and GIC samples group (4- and 16-h). The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways enrichment analysis for the mRNAs in the constructed GIC lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA ceRNA regulation network was implemented. A total of 1665 and 1443 DERs were obtained in the 4- and 16-h group, respectively. At two time points, 256 overlapping DERs were identified, of which 210 (17 lncRNAs and 203 mRNAs) had significant differential expression (4 down- and 206 up-regulated). A total of 534 co-expressed ligation pairs (all up-regulated) were obtained. A ceRNA regulation network was constructed. RPS6KA5, GAB1, CCR7, CCL2, COL4A4, and PPARG were obtained and significantly enriched in the 4 KEGG signaling pathways and were featured as GIC target molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The effects of laser parameters on the surface temperature field were evaluated. • The phase transition in the processed region was analytically modelled. • The effects of the process parameters on the geometrical features were analyzed. Surface micro-texturing paves the way for surface functionalization of material and engineering parts with abrasion resistance, hydrophilicity, anti-reflectivity, and antimicrobial properties. Nevertheless, the morphological control of micro-textures with high precision and efficiency is still challenging for advanced applications, especially for lightweight design and corrosion resistance in aerospace and transportation. Despite many stumbling blocks in achieving high-precision micro-textures, the serviced surface properties relate to their surface asperities and micro-textures. Laser surface texturing can be used for surface-functionalization and structuration control of counterparts with textured micro-pits and micro-grooves. With the interaction of pulse laser and materials, the influence of the laser process on the geometrical configuration of the alloy's surface micro-textures was investigated by altering the laser processing parameters. We found that the depth and width of micro-textures are positively correlated with the laser power and scanning times, and negatively correlated with the laser frequency and scanning speed. This research is significant in enabling the active design of non-ferrous metal surface micro-textures, regulating surface properties, and enhancing unique applications in mechanics, biology, medicine, and physiochemistry fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucose and lipid metabolic disorders (GLMDs), such as diabetes, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and obesity, are significant public health issues that negatively impact human health. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) plays a crucial role at the cellular level for lipid and sterol biosynthesis, intracellular calcium storage, and protein post-translational modifications. Imbalance and dysfunction of the ER can affect glucose and lipid metabolism. As an essential trace element, selenium contributes to various human physiological functions mainly through 25 types of selenoproteins (SELENOs). At least 10 SELENOs, with experimental and/or computational evidence, are predominantly found on the ER membrane or within its lumen. Two iodothyronine deiodinases (DIOs), DIO1 and DIO2, regulate the thyroid hormone deiodination in the thyroid and some external thyroid tissues, influencing glucose and lipid metabolism. Most of the other eight members maintain redox homeostasis in the ER. Especially, SELENOF, SELENOM, and SELENOS are involved in unfolded protein responses; SELENOI catalyzes phosphatidylethanolamine synthesis; SELENOK, SELENON, and SELENOT participate in calcium homeostasis regulation; and the biological significance of thioredoxin reductase 3 in the ER remains unexplored despite its established function in the thioredoxin system. This review examines recent research advances regarding ER SELENOs in GLMDs and aims to provide insights on ER-related pathology through SELENOs regulation. [Display omitted] • Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) -resident selenoproteins are important molecules in regulation of ER-associated glucose and lipid metabolism. • ER-resident selenoproteins act as guardians to regulate ER function and homeostasis. • ER-resident selenoproteins may explain the effect of dietary selenium levels on glucose and lipid metabolic disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This paper is concerned with the robust H∞ load frequency control (LFC) of power systems with two time delays in the presence of load disturbance. Firstly, the original power systems with the proportional‐integral (PI)‐type LFC are converted into an output feedback control system with two time delays. Secondly, an improved reciprocally convex inequality is proposed, and a less conservative robust H∞ criterion is derived, which can be used to design the PI‐type LFC with robust H∞ performance. Then, based on the robust H∞ criterion, an algorithm is provided to obtain the PI‐type LFC gain and the time delay margin, which effectively convert the coupled nonlinear terms into linear items without solving the inverse of the matrix with row full rank. Finally, simulations are shown to verify the superiority of the presented method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are essential drivers or suppressors in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by participating in controlling transcription, translation, mRNA stability, and protein degradation protein-protein interaction. TM4SF1-AS1 is recently identified as a tumor-promoting factor in lung cancer. Nevertheless, its function in HCC and related molecular mechanisms remain unknown. Here, our data indicated that either hypoxia or hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor (DMOG) induced the upregulation of TM4SF1-AS1 in HCC cells. HIF-1α knockdown rather than HIF-2α silencing remarkably abrogated hypoxia-upregulated TM4SF1-AS1 expression. Furthermore, we confirmed the elevated expression of TM4SF1-AS1 in HCC tissue samples and cell lines. The silencing of TM4SF1-AS1 prominently inhibited the proliferative, migratory, and invasive abilities of HCC cells. TM4SF1-AS1 depletion significantly blocked hypoxia-enhanced Hep3B cell proliferation and mobility. Interfering TM4SF1-AS1 remarkably reduced TM4SF1 mRNA and protein levels in HCC cells. But TM4SF1-AS1 knockdown did not impact the stability of TM4SF1 mRNA. Hypoxia enhanced the expression of TM4SF1 mRNA, which was subsequently decreased by TM4SF1-AS1 knockdown in HCC cells. We confirmed the positive correlation between TM4SF1 mRNA and TM4SF1-AS1 expression in HCC specimens. Finally, TM4SF1 prominently reversed the inhibitory role of TM4SF1-AS1 depletion in Hep3B cells. In summary, hypoxia-responsive TM4SF1-AS1 was overexpressed in human HCC and contributed to the malignant behaviors of tumor cells by enhancing TM4SF1-AS1 expression. • HIF-1α activated the transcription of TM4SF1-AS1 expression in HCC cells. • TM4SF1-AS1 enhanced HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. • TM4SF1-AS1 positively regulated TM4SF1 expression in HCC cells. • TM4SF1 was a function target of TM4SF1-AS1 in HCC cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the effects of early ambulation on elderly patients' postoperative physical functional outcomes, complications, 90‐day readmission rate, and the length of postoperative hospital stay. Methods: This is a prospective cohort study conducted between June 2019 and December 2019. The study enrolled 86 elderly patients (39 males) with newly diagnosed lumbar degenerative disease undergoing single‐segment decompression and fusion surgerywere enrolled. Of all 86 patients, 39 voluntarily joined the early ambulation group, and 47 joined the regular ambulation group. The early ambulation group included patients ambulated within 4 h postoperatively, whereas the regular ambulation group included patients who were ambulatory at a minimum of 24 h after surgery. Participants' baseline characteristics, surgical information, ambulation ability, degree of pain, functional scores, postoperative complications, 90‐day readmission rate, and length of postoperative hospital stay were recorded. Results: Participants' baseline demographic characteristics were balanced between the early ambulation group and the regular ambulation group. The operative time and blood loss were similar between groups. The time before the first‐time ambulation was 4 ± 0.5 h in the early ambulation group and 28 ± 4.5 h in the regular ambulation group. Ambulating distance was significantly longer in the early ambulation group compared with the regular ambulation group on the 1st (63 ± 45 vs 23 ± 60 m), the 2nd (224 ± 100 vs 101 ± 130 m), and the 3rd (280 ± 102.5 vs 190 ± 170 m) ambulation days based on generalized estimating equation analyses. Generalized estimating equation analyses also demonstrated that the ambulating time was longer in the early ambulation group compared with the regular ambulation group on the 1st (10 ± 5 vs 10 ± 5 min), the 2nd (19 ± 7 vs 15 ± 5 min), and the 3rd (22 ± 16.5 vs 27 ± 12 min) ambulation days. Patients in the regular ambulation group experienced a higher degree of pain than the early ambulation group patients, with an odds ratio of 1.627 (P = 0.002). Short‐term functional independence was superior in the early ambulation group, with a lower Roland–Morris disability questionnaire score (P = 0.008) and Oswestry disability index (P < 0.001). The incidences of postoperative urinary retention (early ambulation group: 7.7%, regular ambulation group: 25.5%, P = 0.030) and ileus (early ambulation group: 0%, regular ambulation group: 12.8%, P = 0.030) were significantly higher in the regular ambulation group. The prevalence of at least one complication rate was significantly lower in the early ambulation group than in the regular ambulation group (early ambulation group, 23.1%; regular ambulation group, 46.8%, P = 0.022). The duration of indwelling of the drainage catheter was shorter in the early ambulation group (early ambulation group, 68 ± 24 h; regular ambulation group, 78 ± 20 h, P = 0.001), and the length of the postoperative hospital stay was also shorter in the early ambulation group (early ambulation group, 4 ± 0 days; regular ambulation group: 5 ± 2 days, P < 0.001). However, there was no statistical difference in the 90‐day readmission rate between groups. Conclusion: Early ambulation improved patients' postoperative functional status, decreased the incidence of complications, and shortened postoperative hospital stay in elderly patients undergoing lumbar decompression and fusion surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the adaptive output-feedback optimal control problem for a class of continuous-time (CT) linear systems with dynamic uncertainties. Data-based controller design algorithm with policy iteration form is developed through adaptive dynamic programming (ADP) technique. In the process of proposed algorithm, only measured input and output information of the system is used to learn optimal control gain, but the exactly knowledge of the system is not required. Different from the existing works, the adaptive controllers learned by the algorithm has certain robustness to the dynamic uncertainties. Three examples are given to test the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we synthesized and characterized a new Co(II)‐based coordination polymer, denoted as {[Co(HL)(dpa)]·H2O}n (1), derived from the H3L ligand and dpa co‐ligand. Single crystal X‐ray diffraction revealed that 1 forms a two‐dimensional (2D) layer and a three‐dimensional (3D) supramolecular structure via hydrogen bonding interactions. Presence of carboxylic acid groups in 1 was confirmed by X‐ray crystallography, prompting investigation into its proton transport properties. Additionally, electrostatic potential surface and nucleophilic index analyses were conducted to simulate potential proton transfer pathways. Furthermore, we prepared nine modified encapsulated materials using 1 as the base material (SDA@1, APH@1, APY@1, TA@1, BA@1, DIC@1, IDZ@1, SCA@1, and TYD@1), and tested their proton conductivity and activation energy compared to pure Nafion membrane and 1, analyzing the influence of different small molecule structures on proton conductivity. Comparative analysis revealed that only SDA@1 exhibited enhanced proton conductivity and reduced activation energy at 303 K, with an improvement rate of 220.8%. We hope that the methods presented herein can provide valuable insights for the design and development of high‐performance proton‐conducting materials, as well as for the exploration of proton conduction mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association between fasting plasma glucose (FPG), an important indicator of overall glycemic status, and the risk of cardiovascular mortality has been well investigated. The longitudinal study can repeatedly collect measured results for the variables to be studied and then consider the potential effects of intraindividual changes in measurement. This study aimed to identify long-term FPG trajectories and investigate the association between trajectory groups and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. A latent class growth mixture modeling (LCGMM) was used to identify FPG trajectories. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate associations between FPG trajectories and the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. A U-shaped relationship between FPG and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality was observed in the restricted cubic spline regression models. Two FPG longitudinal trajectories of low-level (mean FPG = 5.12mmol/L) and high-level (mean FPG = 6.74mmol/L) were identified by LCGMM. After being adjusted for potential confounders, compared with the low-level category, the hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality were 1.23(1.16–1.30) and 1.25(1.16–1.35), respectively, for the high-level group. Long-term FPG trajectories are significantly associated with and potentially impact the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Large‐scale observational studies have summarized transfusion practice using traditional measures of central tendency (e.g., the mean hemoglobin concentration at the time of transfusion). However, the mean hemoglobin concentration fails to identify specific hemoglobin concentration thresholds that drive practice. In the following brief report, we propose a novel measure of "practice discontinuity" that identifies specific practice‐defining hemoglobin thresholds. Study Design and Methods: We used the PINC AI Database (2016–2022) to identify adult patients admitted to an intensive care unit with at least one hemoglobin concentration measurement. For each day that hemoglobin was measured, we identified whether the patient received a red blood cell transfusion using hospital charge codes. We defined the "practice discontinuity" measure as the hemoglobin concentration at which there was the largest increase in transfusion use going from a higher to an incrementally lower hemoglobin concentration. We also calculated the mean and median pretransfusion hemoglobin concentrations. Results: We identified 1,298,367 patients and 4,905,839 patient‐days for inclusion. RBC transfusion occurred in a total of 530,654 (10.8%) patient‐days. The overall pre‐transfusion mean and median hemoglobin concentrations were 8.4 and 8.0 g/dL, respectively. The practice discontinuity measure identified 7.0 g/dL as the hemoglobin concentration at which transfusion use increased the most, from 46.6% of patient‐days at a concentration of 7.0 g/dL to 74.8% of patient‐days at a concentration of 6.9 g/dL. Discussion: We propose that future studies of red blood cell transfusion practice consider inclusion of the practice discontinuity measure to more fully summarize clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing the pressing need for sustainable bioenergy sources amid the growing climate crisis, this study investigates potential crop bioenergy output in the Jianghan Plain, Hubei, China. The research leverages Backpropagation Artificial Neural Network models to predict the accumulated net primary productivity (NPP) of various crops, i.e., single rice, double rice, maize, and wheat, in Jianghan Plain. The models highlight a strong predictive performance, with the SE model achieving an R2 of 0.83 and wheat model an R2 of 0.90, implying these models can be utilized reliably for future NPP forecasting. Our evaluation of past and future NPP values reveals a negative correlation between the increase in NPP values and observed temperature trends. This emphasizes the significant impact of temperature on crop bioenergy potential. For future NPP predictions, scenario (S 3a) under Temperature Control strategies at medium-effort mitigation yields a favourable outcome for all crops, particularly SE. Additionally, the results suggest that aggressive decarbonization and global warming mitigation strategies are vital for enhancing NPP values. However, the study also highlights potential trade-offs and stresses the necessity for region-specific climate reconciliation strategies; for instance, midland counties benefit from temperature control, whereas the sideline favours CO 2 mitigation. The study further investigates the spatial distribution of potential bioenergy, with the southwestern part of the plain holding more bioenergy potential, providing an essential reference for future energy planning. By 2030, in Jianghan Plain, when fully integrated with reasonable climate responses, there could be substantial bioenergy potential from crop residues reaching (1.2–1.9) × 109 MJ, which is 11% less than the current. [Display omitted] • Backpropagation Neural Networks forecast Net Primary Productivity (NPP) precisely. • NPP trends negatively with temperature, affecting bioenergy potential. • Climate strategies vary spatially, boosting potential NPP by 0.8–2.0%. • Southwestern regions may enhance bioenergy potentials, reaching 109 MJ by 2030. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amplitude amplification can improve signal-to-noise ratio, which is of great significance in engineering systems, especially in small-scale MEMS systems. Hesre, we report an approach for achieving amplification of both amplitude and frequency bandwidth using the dual-jump effect in an electric-thermal adjusted arch beam micro-resonator. Through the electrothermal adjustment of an arch beam body, dual-jump in the amplitude-frequency response is observed, where the amplitude and frequency bandwidth of the response of the nonlinear resonator are both instantly amplified. The amplified frequency bandwidth can be greatly regulated by the driving voltage, which provides a novel strategy for sensing or filter applications capitalizing on the intrinsic nonlinear phenomena of micromechanical resonators. [Display omitted] • Highly controllable dual-jump phenomenon is achieved in a micro curved beam. • Amplification of both amplitude and frequency bandwidth is achieved using the dual-jump effect. • The amplified frequency bandwidth can be greatly regulated. • Theoretical analysis effectively elucidates the mechanism of the observed phenomenon. • Provides a novel strategy for sensing or energy collection applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synchronization phenomenon has garnered significant attention and extensive study due to its frequency locking effect, finding applications in diverse fields such as communication networks, neuroscience, and multi-robot systems. Fast frequency locking is crucial for synchronization applications, but there have been few investigations on it so far. In this study, we observed that when a nonlinear micro-oscillator synchronizes with a harmonic perturbation, the frequency and phase of the oscillator do not monotonically approach the locking state. Instead, they experience a period of frequency and phase fluctuations that can be divided into two stages: the slipping stage and the oscillation stage. The first slipping stage is affected by the frequency detuning between the perturbation force and oscillator, while the second oscillation stage time is determined by the configuration of the potential well. This configuration can be reconfigured by adjusting the nonlinearity terms of the micro system through phase delay, feedback strength, or perturbation strength. By reconfiguring the potential well pattern, we achieved a fivefold suppression of the synchronization process. [Display omitted] • Uncover the frequency and phase locking mechanism within synchronized nonlinear oscillators. • Unveil the slip-oscillate two-stage behavior during the process of synchronization. • The energy potential well theory strongly supports our observations. • The synchronization time was compressed to one-fifth of its original value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acid orange II (AO II), a typical azo pigment, is strictly controlled by legislation and prohibited in foodstuffs. Herein, we prepared gold nanoparticles decorated amino-functionalized Cr-based metal-organic frameworks [NH 2 -MIL-101(Cr)@Au] via an in-situ reduction method as a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate for simultaneous adsorption and detection of AO II. Gold nanoparticles are uniformly dispersed on the surface of NH 2 -MIL-101(Cr) owing to its three-dimensional (3D) structure and the interaction between –NH 2 and Au ions, providing more SERS-active "hot spots". These NH 2 -MIL-101(Cr)@Au nanocomposites exhibited selective and high adsorption performance (419.85 mg g−1) for AO II, and could be used as superior SERS substrates for the detection of AO II with a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.05 mg L−1 and wide detection range of 0.05–50 mg L−1 using portable Raman spectrometer. Furthermore, this SERS assay has been successfully used to determine AO II in orange juice and chili powder with good sensitivities. Image 1 • A versatile NH 2 -MIL-101(Cr) coated uniformly gold nanoparticles was fabricated. • A new method for simultaneous adsorption and detection of acid orange II (AO II) was developed. • The adsorption mechanism for AO II was systematically revealed. • Density functional theory was applied to optimize Raman spectra of AO II. • AO II in food samples was rapidly detected with a low limit of detection using SERS method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As graphs continue growing, external storage graph processing systems serve as a promising alternative to distributed in-memory solutions for low cost and high scalability. To obtain high I/O throughput, these systems usually use multiple external storage devices. They adopt the operating system I/O management method based on striped volume, resulting in unsatisfactory performance, such as low sequential bandwidth utilization of each external storage device, limited I/O parallelism and expensive management overhead. In this paper, we analyzed the problems of the operating system I/O management method based on striped volume. Then we designed CSMqGraph, a graph processing system adopts coarse-grained striping method matching sequential large I/O to fully utilize the maximum sequential bandwidth of each external storage device and an I/O management strategy based on multi-external-storage multi-queue making I/O threads dedicated to each external storage device to further improve I/O throughput and fully exploit the parallelism of multiple external storage devices. For different graph algorithms and datasets, our evaluation shows that CSMqGraph consistently outperforms state-of-the-art engines GridGraph by up to 40%, and has better I/O scalability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the incidence and risk factors of superior facet joint violation (FJV) during cortical bone trajectory screw placement in robot‐assisted approach versus conventional technique. Methods: A retrospective study, including 69 patients having cortical bone trajectory (CBT) screw instrumentation for symptomatic degenerated diseases or trauma, was conducted between June 2015 to January 2019. All patients underwent CBT surgery performed by the same team of experienced surgeons. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: a conventional group (CG, 46 cases) and a robot group (RG, 23 cases). The surgical robotic system was used for screw instrumentation in the robot group and the traditional screw instrumentation with fluoroscopic guidance was used in the conventional group. Cortical screws followed a medio‐to‐lateral path in the transverse plane and a caudal‐to‐cephalad path in the sagittal plane. Preoperative and postoperative computed tomography (CT) scans were obtained to determine the degree and incidence of FJV. The violation status of facet joint was evaluated according to the modified classification: grade 0, no violation; grade 1, screw shaft, screw head or rod within 1 mm of or abutting the facet joint, but did not enter the articular facet joint; grade 2, screw shaft, screw head or rod clearly in the facet joint. The following factors that may contribute to the occurrence of FJV were analyzed: age, sex, body mass index (BMI), proximal fusion level, fusion length, the side of screw, preoperative vertebral slip, superior facet angle, and degenerative scoliosis. The chi‐squared test and Student's t‐test were used for analysis of the variables for significance (P < 0.05). Results: FJV occurred in 41.3% of patients in CG and 17.3% of patients in RG. A chi‐squared analysis revealed a significantly lower rate of FJV for RG compared with CG (P = 0.04). In the CG, 17 of the 109 cephalad screws were grade 1 (15.6%), and five were grade 2 (4.6%). In the RG, three of the 46 cephalad screws were grade 1 (6.5%), and three were grade 2 (6.5%). There was a statistically significant difference in the incidence of FJV between the left and right screw with fluoroscopy‐assisted CBT screw instrumentation (P < 0.05). A significant correlation between scoliosis with the FJV was found in CG (P < 0.05) and in RG (P < 0.05). With regard to superior facet angle, a measurement ≥45° was a significant risk factor of FJV in CG (P < 0.05) and in RG (P < 0.05). Conclusions: A robot‐assisted approach could reduce the incidence of FJV compared with the conventional approach in CBT technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper compares transient responses of virtual oscillator control (VOC) to the conventional droop control method, under various inverter terminal voltage amplitude and frequency regulations. The system of interest is an islanded microgrid of three three-phase inverters sharing a resistive load. By letting the two controllers have similar steady-state droop characteristics, the virtual oscillator and droop controlled systems are compared in a small-signal framework with the aid of eigenvalue analyses. The analytical results are verified by simulating the two systems in MATLAB/Simulink. In the simulations, the third inverter in each system is connected to share the load when the other two inverters are already synchronized. Transients are compared by examining synchronization time after the third inverter is connected. The key finding is VOC outperforms droop control in terms of time responses when the terminal voltage frequency regulation range is allowed to be wide; otherwise, the droop control responds faster than the VOC technique. The same conclusions are found for two other load types: constant power load and nonlinear load. In addition, transient energy losses are investigated, which shows positive correlation with the time response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate a microwave photonic single notch filter based on a two-tap delay line structure. Obviously different from previous two-tap filters with periodic notch response, our modified two-tap filter can realize microwave photonic filter (MPF) with single notch response. In the proposed two-tap delay line structure, one tap acts as a phase tunable allpass MPF, while the other tap performs as a frequency tunable bandpass MPF. A single notch MPF is realized by selecting one period of the conventional two-tap filter response. The single notch frequency is tunable over a broad bandwidth by properly setting the phase of the allpass MPF as well as the center frequency of the bandpass MPF. The proposed MPF is theoretically analyzed and experimentally verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measuring the similarity between images is an essential problem in various image processing and pattern recognition applications. In pattern recognition problems, it is indispensable to give formulas for calculating similarity between different patterns. But it is very difficult to find a certain measure that can be successfully applied to all kinds of pattern recognition problems. Intuitionistic fuzzy sets have been successfully applied to various areas such as pattern recognition and medical diagnostics. In intuitionistic fuzzy sets theory, the calculation of the similarity between intuitionistic fuzzy sets is a significant technique for distinguishing the similarity degree between intuitionistic fuzzy sets. The existing similarity measures almost are obtained in the sense of distance. In this paper, we present a novel way to obtain the similarity measure between intuitionistic fuzzy sets from a new perspective. Our main purpose is to show that according to the membership and non-membership functions of intuitionistic fuzzy sets, a triangular norm can induce an inclusion degree. Using this triangular norm and the induced inclusion degree, a similarity measure of intuitionistic fuzzy sets can be obtained. We also prove some properties of the proposed similarity measure between intuitionistic fuzzy sets. As the applications of similarity degree proposed in this paper, we first present an intuitionistic fuzzy clustering algorithm based on similarity degree. Then, the similarity degree proposed in this paper is applied to pattern recognition. At the same time, the numerical examples are employed to illustrate the effectiveness of proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family has a significant impact on individual mental health. Based on social support theory, family system theory and the Mental Health Continuum Short Form (MHC-SF), this research constructed a model of the pathway of perceived family support on psychological well-being and the results empirically clarified that perceived family support has a significant positive relationship with emotional well-being, social well-being, and psychological well-being (P < 0.001). Emotional well-being positively influences social well-being and psychological well-being (P < 0.001). Social well-being positively affects psychological well-being (P < 0.001). There were direct mediating effects of emotional well-being (13.45%), direct mediating effects of social well-being (32.82%) and a serial mediating effect (28.07%) between perceived family support and psychological well-being (P < 0.001). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(ZrHf x VNbMoW)C ceramics with different Hf contents are consolidated by hot-pressing sintering at 2100 °C for 1 h. The influence of Hf content and temperature on phase transition are investigated. The phase transition from single high-entropy phase to multi-phase containing (ZrHfNb)C-rich and (VMoW)C-rich intermediate phases occurs with adding Hf, in relation with relevant larger lattice distortion. Remarkable microstructure refinement is observed with Hf content variation, due to the poor sinterability of Hf and the intermediate phases restricting the atomic motion and diffusion. The refined microstructure and severe lattice distortion lead to the improvement in mechanical properties. The annealing at different temperatures further proves the phase stability, sluggish diffusion effect as well as solid solution diffusion in high-entropy and multi-phase carbides. • The addition of Hf leads to the phase transition from single high-entropy phase to multi-phase. • Due to the poor sinterability of Hf and the restriction of intermediate phases, the microstructure is much refined. • The annealing further proves the phase stability, sluggish diffusion effect as well as solid solution diffusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetoelectric resonance behavior of a simple, bilayered structure of Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 ceramic chip and (Tb,Dy)Fe2/epoxy mixture layer is investigated. Our results show that there occur three kinds of resonance, which are attributed to the first-order flexural, second-order flexural, and radial resonance modes, respectively. The measured phase spectra show a significant phase change around each resonance frequency. The thinner PZT chip is benefit for higher flexural resonance magnetoelectric effect. The magnetoelectric effects measured under open and short electric boundary conditions show different behaviors. This simple bilayered structure exhibits a large charge output of about 300 pC/Oe at the resonance frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sr and Mn metal additives were introduced to regulate the microstructure and electron valence state of LaCoO 3 perovskite catalysts, thereby enhancing the catalytic activity and sulfur resistance of benzene catalytic combustion reaction. On one hand, Sr and Mn may act as an electron promoter to increase the concentration of Co3+ and O ads. On the other hand, Sr and Mn can act as a structure promoter to enhance the specific surface area and promote the dispersion of active Co species. [Display omitted] • Co-doping of Sr and Mn enhances obviously the sulfur resistance of LaCoO 3 catalyst. • La 0.9 Sr 0.1 Co 0.9 Mn 0.1 O 3 exhibited superior catalytic activity in benzene combustion. • Co-doping of Sr and Mn modulated effectively the electronic structure of LaCoO 3. Anti SO 2 poisoning is a major scientific challenge in the field of VOCs catalytic combustion. To enhance sulfur resistance of 3DOM LaCoO 3 perovskite catalysts, the strontium (Sr) and manganese (Mn) elements were doped to regulate and control its microstructure and electronic valence states of active metals. The macropore structure is constructed to accelerate the adsorption and diffusion of benzene and intermediate species and promote the deep oxidation in ordered macropores. Surprisingly, we observed that the co-doping of Sr and Mn components resulted in the superior catalytic performance for benzene catalytic combustion. Especially, the sulfur resistance of LaCoO 3 catalyst was significantly improved due to the doping of Sr and Mn species. Through various characterizations, it is discovered that the doping of Mn component in 3DOM LaCoO 3 perovskite catalyst could promote the formation of active Co3+ species due to the excellent redox properties between Mn&+ and Co&+ species (Mn4++Co2+→Mn3++Co3+), while the co-doping of Sr and Mn elements could produce and form some new active species. On one hand, Sr and Mn may act as an electron promoter to increase the concentration of Co3+ and O ads. On the other hand, Sr and Mn can act as a structure promoter to enhance the specific surface area and promote the dispersion of active Co species. The research provides valuable reference for the development of highly efficient catalysts for the industrial degradation of benzene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rice-crab co-culture system has become the dominant mode of farming due to its advantageous production of crabs. To investigate the effects of different culture modes on trace element accumulation and health risks though consumption, we determined the concentrations of 16 trace elements (Ag, Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Tl, V, Zn) in Chinese mitten crabs (Eriocheir sinensis) from conventional monoculture (CM) and rice-crab co-culture system (RCCS) in two primary producing areas of China. Significant variations were found between CM and RCCS concerning trace element accumulation, with most trace elements showing higher levels in CM than in RCCS, except for Mn and Al. Correlation and PCA analysis indicate that RCCS has less environmental impact than CM. Moreover, the metal pollution index was also higher in CM than in RCCS. Based on the target hazard quotient (THQ), RCCS reduces the health risk associated with trace elements intake compared to CM. THQ values for both modes of culture are less than 1, indicating no or low health risks posed by trace elements in crabs. Further studies are needed in comparing the trace element accumulation in crabs from CM and RCCS within the same geographic area. • The first study aims to investigate the bioaccumulation of trace elements in crabs from different culture modes. • Trace element levels in rice-crab co-culture system (RCCS) were lower than those in conventional monoculture (CM). • Crabs from the RCCS showed lower susceptibility to environmental influences compared to those from the CM. • Consuming crab would not cause considerable risk to human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The treatment strategy for elderly patients older than 80 years with DLBCL has not been defined yet because of poor treatment tolerability and lack of data. The aim of this trial was to retrospectively investigate clinical characteristics, treatment patterns and outcomes of patients older than 80 years diagnosed with DLBCL in China over a 10-year period.Methods: This trial comprised 57 patients, aged ≥ 80 years, who were initial diagnosed as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma from 2007 to 2017. They received at least four cycles of reduced-dose R-CHOP21 (Rituximab 375 mg/m2 day 0, Cyclophosphamide 400 mg/m2 day1, Epirubicin 35 mg/m2 day 1, Vincristine 1 mg day 1, and Prednisone 50 mg/m2 days 1-5). An observational population-based, cohort study was performed.Results: The median age was 82.5 years (range 80-90 years ) and the overall response rate was 73.7%. With a median 36.4-month follow-up, 2-year overall survival (OS) and 2-year progression-free survival were 74.3% and 70.9%, respectively. Using rigorous multivariate analysis, we concluded that NCCN-IPI ≥ 5 was the only predictive poor prognostic factor.Conclusions: High response rate was concluded on very elderly DLBCL patients (≥ 80 years old) with reduced-dose R-CHOP. However, the very elderly patients with NCCN-IPI score ≥ 5 would lead to poor outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virtual oscillator control (VOC) is an emerging non‐linear technique to control the terminal voltage of inverters in ac micro‐grids. This study compares two small‐signal models of VOC, obtained from average VOC dynamics over one ac cycle. The first model from previous literature is based on the approximation of real and reactive power in the average dynamics by the corresponding instantaneous values of power. The second model proposed in this study, in contrast to the first, approximates the average power by filtered power from a second‐order low‐pass filter. The two models are evaluated by eigenvalue and participation analyses. Simulations and experimental results are used to verify the models, by observing transient responses of a three‐phase inverter subject to a step change in the load. The proposed linearised model can tracks transients of the output voltage and current more accurately than the existing technique both in the simulations and experimental tests. The proposed linearised VOC model enables a more precise small‐signal stability and transient analysis of the average VOC dynamics. In conclusion, this improvement benefits stability studies when system parameters are changed or load disturbances are added to virtual oscillator‐controlled inverter‐based micro‐grids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wedge-shaped Ta3N5 nanoflakes with ultrathin top ends and preferentially exposed {010} facets were directly grown on a Ta plate via one-step nitridation. The mixed CsI–Cs2CO3 flux controls the growth kinetics of Ta3N5 and possibly has an impact on the dissolving process of Ta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tantalum nitride (Ta3N5) is one of the most promising photoresponsive semiconductor materials for efficient solar energy conversion, but its fast carrier recombination has hindered research progress severely. Fabricating a heterojunction structure is an effective strategy to promote the charge separation efficiency and thus enhance solar conversion efficiency. Herein, we designed a p-n heterojunction photoanode consisting of n-type Ta3N5 nanorod arrays (NRAs) that grew along the a-axis (light electron effective mass) and p-type Cu2O nanoparticles. This NRA heterojunction shortens the hole diffusion distance, transfers electrons along the a-axis effectively, and enlarges the space charge region. The heterojunction improves the charge separation efficiency of Ta3N5 NRAs significantly, and Ta3N5-Cu2O exhibits a photocurrent density of 9.19 mA cm−2 at 1.6 V vs normal hydrogen electrode (VNHE, pH = 0), an onset potential of 0.326 VNHE, and a maximum incident photon to current efficiency of 60% at 380 nm. Our results demonstrated a potential crystal oriented growth strategy of nanostructured heterojunctions for overcoming the short carrier diffusion distance and fast carrier recombination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrothermal reaction of MnSO4 with the achiral 2-carboxyethyl(phenyl)phosphinate ligand (H2L) afforded a 2 D coordination polymer manganese phosphinate, [Mn(HL)2]n (1) (H2L = 2-carboxyethyl(phenyl) phosphinic acid). It contains two types of dimeric ring motifs, which can generate a layer structure through edge-sharing. The interlayer stacking by C-H...π interactions between the C-H groups of the phenyl rings of HL- and the phenyl rings of the adjacent layers results in its crystallization in a noncentrosymmetric crystal structure with (43)2(46·66·83) topology. Compound 1 shows a second harmonic generation response that is 0.8 times that of urea. The luminescence spectrum indicates an emission maximum at 457 nm, attributed to an intra-ligand emission state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photoelectrochemical performance of photoanode depends significantly on the surface properties. Enormous efforts have been spent on fabricating photoanode with exposure of high-activity facets. However, precise control of the Ta 3 N 5 facet exposure is still highly challenging, due to its harsh fabrication condition. In this study, it was found that Ta 3 N 5 polyhedron can be grew through a bottom-up growth process in molten salt. Molten salt media in a semi-closed reactor provides a steady growth environment so that the Ta 3 N 5 growth units are able to assemble in thermodynamically and kinetically favorable way. The preferential exposed facets are determined to be {001} facets. Due to the stronger built-in electric field on {001} facets and the small effective mass of hole along the [001] axis, an onset potential of 0.6 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) and a photocurrent of 5.6 mA cm −2 at 1.23 versus RHE have been achieved. Our findings may open an avenue to grow the nitride or oxynitride semiconductor crystals with desired structures for achieving efficient solar energy conversion and storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a reconfigurable microwave photonic mixer with multiple functions and wide bandwidth. By changing the photodetection configuration, the mixer can be conveniently reconfigured to realize four functions: single-ended mixing, I/Q mixing, double balanced mixing and image rejection mixing. Furthermore, the filter-free system has a wide bandwidth and the ability to perform both frequency up-conversion and down-conversion. The proposed reconfigurable mixer is based on a dual-polarization dual-parallel Mach–Zehnder modulator (DP-DPMZM). The optical signal is modulated by the DP-DPMZM and split into two orthogonally polarized signals, which are combined by a 90° optical hybrid and detected by photodetectors. The experimental results show that the mixer has a wide bandwidth from 2 GHz to 30 GHz with a 30 dB spur suppression, and the image rejection ratio of the image rejection mixer is over 30 dB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficiently harvesting light and transporting charges are the main challenges for solar water oxidation by Ta3N5 photoanodes. Herein, we discovered a facile KI molten salt route to fabricate highly oriented Ta3N5 nanorod arrays along the [100] crystallographic direction. The size of the nanorods can be finely tuned by controlling the amount of KI flux due to their bottom-up growth mechanism. The array structure enhances the light scattering, which is beneficial for harvesting more light to make up for the light absorption anisotropy of Ta3N5. The preferred [100] growth orientation guarantees electron migration to the substrate, and the enlarged space charge layer facilitates hole migration to the semiconductor–liquid interface. As a result, under AM 1.5 irradiation, the onset potential of the Ta3N5 nanorod array photoanode reaches 0.65 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode, and the current density reaches 4.65 mA cm−2. The design concept that rationally combines the advantages of charge transport and light utilization may offer a new strategy for efficient solar energy conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human Ataxin-3 protein was first identified as a transcript from patients with Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), also known as spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3). Recent studies have demonstrated that Ataxin-3 is involved in gastric cancer and lung cancer. However, the role of Ataxin-3 in testicular cancer (TC) remains poorly understood. This study aims to explore the significance of Ataxin-3 expression in TC. Firstly, we investigated 53 paired TC and para-tumor tissues and found that Ataxin-3 was overexpressed in TC tissues, and this overexpression of Ataxin-3 was correlated with tumor stages. Functionally, Ataxin-3 overexpression promoted cell proliferation, and Ataxin-3 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation. In addition, up-regulation of Ataxin-3 inhibited the expression of PTEN and activated the AKT/mTOR pathway. Conversely, inhibition of Ataxin-3 suppressed the expression of p -AKT and p -mTOR, and increased the expression of p-4EBP1. These findings may provide a better understanding about the mechanism of TC and suggest that Ataxin-3 may be a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for TC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A modified CALPHAD (Calculation of Phase Diagram) model of the coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) of Invar Ni-Fe FCC (Face Center Cubic) alloys was established, based on previous models of heat capacity. The key to the modification is the addition of the new parameters to describe the complicated phase transition around the Invar alloys composition. The parameters of the CALPHAD model were assessed over the whole composition range and in the temperature range from 200 K to 1200 K according to previous CTE data reported in the literature. Using assessed parameters, the calculated CTE values for the Ni-Fe FCC alloys are in remarkable agreement with the experimental test data, especially around the Invar alloys composition. This work provides an effective CALPHAD model to deal with CTE in Ni-Fe FCC alloys, which will be of benefit for the development of Invar alloys and Ni-Fe-base superalloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a useful formalism tool, graph grammars provide a rigorous but intuitive way to specify visual languages. This paper, based on the existing Edge-based Graph Grammar (EGG), proposes a new context-sensitive graph grammar formalism called the Temporal Edge-based Graph Grammar, or TEGG. TEGG introduces some temporal mechanisms to grammatical specifications, productions, operations and so on in order to tackle time-related issues. In the paper, formal definitions of TEGG are provided first. Then, a new parsing algorithm with a decidability proof is proposed to check the correctness of a given graph's structure, to analyze operations’ timing when needed, and to make the computer simulation of the temporal sequence in the graph available. Next, the complexity of the parsing algorithm is analyzed. Finally, a case study on an application with temporal requirements is provided to show how the parsing algorithm of TEGG works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We are interested in a simple max-type recursive model studied by Derrida and Retaux (J Stat Phys 156:268-290, 2014) in the context of a physics problem, and find a wide range for the exponent in the free energy in the nearly supercritical regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Three Lanthanide metal complexes ({[C e (L)(H 2 O) 2 ]·2H 2 O} n (1) {[G d (L)(H 2 O) 2 ]·2H 2 O} n (2), {[S m (L)(H 2 O) 2 ]·2H 2 O} n (3)) were synthesized. • Complexes 1–3 are 2D network of the same structure. • TGA, PXRD and Hirshfeld surface analysis of complexes (1–3) were studied. • Magnetic properties analyses for 1–3 were performed. Three new lanthanide-based two-dimensional network like coordination polymers with formula, {[Ln(L)(H 2 O) 2 ]·2H 2 O} n (Ln = Ce (1), Gd (2), Sm (3), H 3 L = 2-(4-carboxy-phenyl)-1H-imidazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid) have been synthesized hydrothermally and characterized by microanalyses, FT-IR and in case of 1 using single crystal X-ray diffraction. Further, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) have been performed to assess the phase purity and thermal stabilities of all three polymers. Structural analysis showed that adjacent Ce(III) ions in 1 are intra-connected to form infinite metal-carboxylate oxygen 1D alternating chain-shaped building blocks. The nature of intermolecular interactions in 1 have been analyzed using Hirshfeld surface analysis. In addition, the magnetic properties of all three polymers indicate large magnetic anisotropy for 1 and 3 , and ferromagnetic interaction for 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A tachometer was designed and developed using magnetoelectric (ME) composites as the magnetic-field sensor. In the presented design, a simple structure with one permanent magnet and a steel gear was used. Magnetoelectric composites Ni/lead zirconate titanate and metal-glass/lead zirconate titanate were prepared and their sensitivity-field relationship was measured at first. A simulation was conducted to determine the optimal size of the permanent magnet and the dimension of the air gap. According to the magnetic-field distribution in the air gap, the speed sensor was mounted where the ME composites had the highest sensitivity. The practical test results showed that ME composites had much higher and more stable output voltage signal than the coil, especially in the low-speed range. This paper clearly proved the advantage of the ME composites in the application of the tachometer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yield strength is one of the most important physical properties of a solid material, especially far from its melting line. The flyer-impact perturbation method measures material yield strength on the basis of correlation between the yield strength under shock compression and the damping of oscillatory perturbations in the shape of a shock front passing through the material. We used flyer-impact experiments on targets with machined grooves on the impact surface of shock 6061-T6 aluminum to between 32 and 61 GPa and recorded the evolution of the shock front perturbation amplitude in the sample with electric pins. Simulations using the elastic-plastic model can be matched to the experiments, explaining well the form of the perturbation decay and constraining the yield strength of 6061-T6 aluminum to be 1.31–1.75 GPa. These results are in agreement with values obtained from reshock and release wave profiles. We conclude that the flyer-impact perturbation method is indeed a new means to measure material strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The masticatory muscles are the most important contributor to bite force, and the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) receives direct occlusal loading. The present study aimed to investigate condylar remodeling after masseter muscle atrophy in rats. Methods. Sixty 5-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the following 3 groups: the control group, soft diet (SD) group, and botulinum toxin (BTX) group. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the masseter muscles was investigated as well as atrogin-1/MuRF-1 expression. Changes in the condylar head were evaluated by H-E, toluidine blue staining, and contour measurements. The biomechanical sensitive factors PTHrP Ihh, Col2a1, and ColX of condylar cartilage were detected by immunohistochemical staining and western blotting. Furthermore, micro-CT and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining were performed to determine the osteopenia in subchondral bone. Results. The histological and protein analysis demonstrated muscle hypofunction in the SD and BTX groups. Condylar cartilage contour was diminished due to different treatments; the immunohistochemistry and protein examination showed that the expressions of PTHrP, Ihh, Col2a1, and ColX were suppressed in condylar cartilage. A steady osteoporosis in subchondral bone was found only in the BTX group. Conclusion. The current results suggested that a steady relationship between muscular dysfunction and condylar remodeling exists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a model with analytical expressions for the jitter of a ring oscillator (RO) caused by single-tone sinusoidal interference on the power supply. The value of the jitter can be calculated given the static delay of the inverter and the size of the RO. The model explains the relationship between the jitter and the interference parameters, such as frequency and amplitude. Transistor-level simulations and test-board measurements are performed. The jitter calculated from the model corresponds well with the experimental results over a wide frequency range. The positions of the local maxima and minima in the frequency response are precisely calculated by the model. The jitter model is applicable even under large-amplitude interference. The unusual negative-growth behavior in the amplitude response predicted by the model is also observed in the experimental results. The traditional linear theory for the jitter of a ring oscillator is based on the assumption of a small signal. The model in this paper is valid for more general cases, as it can be used to explain and predict key features of jitter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apoptosis of human lens epithelial (HLE) cells is a process closely associated with cataract formation. The aim of the present study was to explore the effects of microRNA (miR)‑181a against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)‑induced apoptosis in HLE cells in vitro. The recombinant lentiviral plasmid pLKO. 1‑puro‑miR‑181a was constructed and used to transfect human HLE‑B3 cells with the short hairpin (sh)RNA to silence the expression of miR‑181a. The apoptotic rate of both HLE‑B3 cells in which miR‑181a expression was stably silenced and in untransfected HLE‑B3 cells was assessed in the presence of H2O2 using flow cytometry. The mRNA expression levels of the apoptosis‑related genes caspase-3 (CASP3) and B‑cell lymphoma‑2‑associated X protein (BAX), and of the potential target genes for miR‑181a, c‑MET, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX‑2) and snail family transcriptional repressor 2 (SNAI2) were measured using reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‑qPCR). Malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) levels were assessed using ELISA. RT‑qPCR analysis revealed that miR‑181a expression was downregulated in HLE‑B3 cells following transfection with miR‑181a‑shRNA. Treatment with H2O2 significantly reduced the viability of HLE‑B3 cells, whereas miR‑181a knockdown was revealed to attenuate the effects on cell viability following H2O2 treatment. In addition, the downregulation of miR‑181a expression significantly decreased H2O2‑induced cell apoptosis, which was accompanied by a downregulation in CASP3 and BAX and COX‑2 expression. Furthermore, the levels of MDA were decreased, whereas the levels of SOD and CAT were increased following miR‑181a silencing. The present findings suggested that miR‑181a knockdown may protect HLE‑B3 cells against H2O2‑induced apoptosis in vitro. The molecular mechanisms involved in the protective effects of miR‑181a silencing may involve the suppression of CASP3, BAX and COX‑2 expression, and the inhibition of MDA generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]