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In order to greatly improve the photocatalytic properties, corn-like ZnO/ZnS heterojunctions with a particle size of about 60–71 nm have been synthesized by the solvothermal method and the subsequent sulfuration process. A declining trend is found for the specific surface area with increasing sulfuration time. The corn-like ZnO/ZnS heterojunctions exhibit good photocatalytic properties. With increasing sulfuration time, the degradation rate increases first and then decreases. The best degradation rate is observed for the heterojunction sulfurated for 90 min. The strong broad luminescence band is extremely beneficial to the absorption of visible light by multiphoton process. In addition, the energy transfer from ZnS to ZnO contributes to charge separation, forming a type-II heterojunction mechanism. After one cycle of photocatalytic process, except that corns become more broken, variation of particle size and shape is very small. The degradation speed of RhB after a second cycle of photocatalytic process is slower than the first one except when using the sample sulfurated for 360 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study explores the Fano-type interference effect in a microstrip photonic crystal (PC) heterostructure integrated with a varactor-loaded split ring resonator (SRR), both experimentally and numerically. This effect capitalizes on the PC heterostructure's ability to provide a broad continuous spectrum, while the embedded SRR offers a narrow discrete pathway. Through coherent interference between these elements, a sharp asymmetric Fano-type transmission spectrum emerges, accompanied by a notable group delay. Furthermore, the composite configuration exhibits an electric field enhancement at the Fano resonant frequency, enhancing the nonlinear sensitivity of the transmission spectrum. The nonlinear tunability of the Fano resonance is demonstrated by applying distinct input powers, allowing for the realization of a high-performance bistable electromagnetic switch and diode in the microwave regime. The proposed configuration exhibits key features such as significant transmission contrast, low threshold intensity, and relatively high transmission amplitude, all within a compact device volume, thanks to the Fano resonant mechanism in the PC heterostructure. This design paves the way for the implementation of active metamaterials-assisted components in micro- or nano-photonic circuits, with potential applications in advanced optical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussionMycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) is the most common pathogen of community-acquired pneumonia in children. However, the role of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in the pathogenesis of MP is unclear.Both the level of NETs were detected between the 60 MP pneumonia patients and 20 healthy controls, whose the clinical characteristics were compared. Additionally, NETs formation induced by community-acquired respiratory distress syndrome (CARDS) toxin was also analyzed through transcriptome sequencing.The levels of cell-free DNA, Cit-H3, and MPO-DNA complexes were significantly increased in the patients with MP pneumonia. Importantly, both cell-free DNA and LDH were higher in hospitalized patients with severity than those without severity. In addition, CARDS toxin induced the NETs formation in vitro and in vivo. Transcriptomics GO and KEGG pathway analysis indicate that NOD like receptor signaling pathway and Toll-like receptor signaling pathway are significantly enriched. Finally, we found that DNase I significantly attenuated the higher levels of Cit-H3, and up-regulation of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) by down-regulating the expression of NLRP3 and Caspase1(p20) in the lung tissues.These results indicate that inhibiting excessive activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes, and NETs formation may alleviate MP pneumonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon fiber‐reinforced composites are widely used in aerospace, rail transportation, and new energy vehicles due to their small specific gravity as well as good mechanical and chemical properties. Additive manufacturing of continuous carbon fiber‐reinforced polymer composites is an innovative composite manufacturing technique. In this paper, bending and shear specimens with different hatch spacing and layer thicknesses were prepared by fused filament fabrication (FFF) technique and subjected to three‐point bending experiments and interlayer shear experiments, respectively. The results showed that the maximum flexural strength and flexural modulus of the fabricated parts were 383.81 MPa and 41.23 GPa, respectively, and the maximum interlayer shear strength was 13.64 MPa. Finally, an optimized criterion for determining fiber kinking, fiber breakage, and matrix damage was proposed by considering in situ strength variations induced by process parameters. This new model was subsequently validated and could provide a method for fracture predicting of additive manufactured carbon fiber‐reinforced composites. Highlights: CCFRC parts with different porosities were prepared by adjusting the layer thickness and hatch spacing.The bending and interlaminar shear damage mechanisms of CCFRC fabrications are revealed, and the effects of layer thickness and hatch spacing on their mechanical properties are investigated.Introduction of additive manufacturing factors to optimize failure models for CCFRC parts.Introduction of additive manufacturing coefficients to accurately predict the interlaminar shear strength of CCFRC parts by AM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, 3D braided composites are considered for high-performance piezoelectric energy harvester designing, and a 3D braided composite piezoelectric energy harvester (3D BCPEH) is proposed. The advantage of 3D BCPEH is that the natural frequency of the device can be adjusted by adjusting the stiffness of the spring, making the natural frequency of the device close to the vibration frequency of the environment, thereby achieving the best harvesting effect of the energy harvester. During the vibration process, spring support can cushion the impact and stress on the piezoelectric energy harvester, thereby protecting the device from damage and helping to improve the stability and performance of the system. Finite element analysis is used to obtain the elastic modulus, shear modulus, and Poisson's ratio of 3D braided composites with varying braiding angles. Based on Hamilton's variational principle, the vibration control equation of the spring supported 3D BCPEH is derived. The effects of spring rate, braiding angle, external excitation acceleration, external load resistance, and structure size on the output response of 3D BCPEH are simulated and analyzed. The validity of the proposed 3D BCPEH with spring support is confirmed by the simulation results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, the Polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP)‐assisted CdS/PbI2 heterojunction UV–visible photodetector is constructed by the sol–gel spin coating method. The X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectrometer demonstrate the synthesis and successful complexation of PVP, CdS, and PbI2. The UV–visible absorption spectroscopy and UV photoelectron spectroscopy measurements of CdS and PbI2 are carried out to prove that the CdS and PbI2 form a type II heterojunction. Compared with pure CdS film photodetector, the CdS (PVP)/PbI2 heterojunction photodetector has self‐powered characteristics, and exhibits excellent photoconductivity in the UV–visible with higher switching ratios, detection rates, and faster response times of 1.1 × 105, 9.77 × 1011 Jones, and 20 ms, respectively, which has great potential in the field of UV–visible self‐powered photodetector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) straw decomposition and nutrient release (N, K, and P) processes were investigated using a 3-pool model (labile, intermediate, and resistant) to understand the determinant factors. Methods: A two-year field experiment was carried out with a split-plot design: the main plot contained two irrigation regimes, while the subplot contained three peanut straw incorporation rates. A total of 216 nylon-mesh bags consisting of peanut straw were buried at a depth of 20 cm, and were removed at 6 winter wheat growth stages (overwintering, double ridge, jointing, flowering, grain filling, and maturity), and the nutrient release (N, P and K) from the peanut straw was measured. Results: The decomposition dynamics of the labile and intermediate pools were similar in both years. The straw incorporation rate, rather than the irrigation regime, controlled the decomposition process, which increased with increased straw incorporation rates. At a high incorporation rate, the released N, P, and K from the peanut straw were approximately 39%, 30%, and 87% of the required regional fertilizer input for winter wheat, respectively. Furthermore, the N released from straw decomposition was strongly related to the released K as indicated by the stoichiometry ratio. The random forest model predicted that temperature, precipitation, and initial straw nutrients were the main drivers of peanut straw decomposition. Conclusions: We determined the nutrient stoichiometry and release characteristics of peanut straw decomposition, and found that in comparison to irrigation, the straw incorporation rate exhibits a more profound effect on the peanut straw decomposition process. Highlights: Peanut straw decomposition increases with incorporation rate than irrigation. The relative N release is synergistic with relative K release. High straw incorporation rate provides 30–40% of required N and P for wheat growth. Temperature, precipitation, and initial nutrient amount are the main drivers of straw decomposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local heat and active site coordination of the catalyst to improve electrocatalytic water splitting performance. [Display omitted] • An electrolyzer required only a 1.5 V battery or a 1.53 V solar panel to drive overall water splitting. • The presence of NIR irradiation leads to a 24.6 % and 15.8 % increase in catalytic efficiency for HER and OER. • The combination of a generic heterostructure based on Co 9 S 8 with other electrocatalysts also contributes to the enhancement of the photothermal effect. • The heterostructure exhibited strong bifunctional activities and stabilities in both the OER and HER. The increase of reaction temperature of electrocatalysts and the construction of heterogeneous structures is regarded as an efficient method to improve the electrocatalytic water splitting activity. Here, we report an approach to enhance the local heat and active sites of the catalyst by building a heterostructure with Co 9 S 8 to significantly improve its electrocatalytic performance. The as-fabricated Co 9 S 8 @Ce-NiCo LDH/NF electrode possesses a notable photothermal ability, as it effectively converts near-infrared (NIR) light into the local heat, owing to its significant optical absorption. Leveraging these favorable qualities, the prepared Co 9 S 8 @Ce-NiCo LDH/NF electrode showed impressive performance in both hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) (η 100 = 144 mV) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) (η 100 = 229 mV) under NIR light. Compared to the absence of the NIR light, the presence of NIR irradiation leads to a 24.6 % increase in catalytic efficiency for HER and a 15.8 % increase for OER. Additionally, other dual-functional electrocatalysts like NiCo-P, NiFeMo, and NiFe(OH) x also demonstrated significantly enhanced photothermal effects and improved catalytic performance owing to the augmented photothermal conversion when combined with Co 9 S 8. This work offers novel pathways for the development of photothermal-electrocatalytic systems that facilitate economically efficient and energy-conserving overall water splitting processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ensuring precise prediction of the remaining useful life (RUL) for bearings in rolling machinery is crucial for preventing sudden machine failures and optimizing equipment maintenance strategies. Since the significant interference encountered in real industrial environments and the high complexity of the machining process, accurate and robust RUL prediction of rolling bearings is of tremendous research importance. Hence, a novel RUL prediction model called CNN-VAE-MBiLSTM is proposed in this paper by integrating advantages of convolutional neural network (CNN), variational autoencoder (VAE), and multiple bi-directional long short-term memory (MBiLSTM). The proposed approach includes a CNN-VAE model and a MBiLSTM model. The CNN-VAE model performs well for automatically extracting low-dimensional features from time–frequency spectrum of multi-axis signals, which simplifies the construction of features and minimizes the subjective bias of designers. Based on these features, the MBiLSTM model achieves a commendable performance in the prediction of RUL for bearings, which independently captures sequential characteristics of features in each axis and further obtains differences among multi-axis features. The performance of the proposed approach is validated through an industrial case, and the result indicates that it exhibits a higher accuracy and a better anti-noise capacity in RUL predictions than comparable methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The influence of rotation on shear horizontal waves in a multiferroic composite semiconductor is studied. • As with semiconductor properties, the rotation will also cause dispersion and attenuation of shear horizontal waves. • Regardless of rotation or non-rotation, waves gain can be achieved by applying a biasing electric field. • Our work identifies several critical inflection points such as wave amplitude from attenuation to gain. • The results can be extended to design the surface acoustic wave gyroscopes and smart devices with composite semiconductor. In this work, the propagation characteristics of shear horizontal waves in a piezomagnetic and piezoelectric semiconductor layered structure with rotation are studied. The dispersion equation of shear horizontal waves in the rotating multiferroic composite semiconductor is obtained in the framework of coupled field theory including Coriolis and centrifugal forces. By solving the dispersion equation in complex domain, the influence of rotation on the shear horizontal waves is deeply analyzed, and the effects of steady-state carrier concentration and biasing electric field in the presence and absence of rotation are obtained, respectively. Similar to the semiconductor properties, the results show that the rotation will also cause dispersion and attenuation of shear horizontal waves. Besides, the wave speed decreases with the increase of the angular rate and the frequency shift occurs. The rotation sensitivity at long wavelengths near the surface is greater than those at short wavelengths deep into the half-space. Importantly, the increase in wave speed and amplitude gain can be achieved by applying an appropriate biasing electric field regardless of rotation or non-rotation. Specially, several critical points such as attenuation from large to small with rotation, wave speed from decrease to increase and wave amplitude from attenuation to gain in the biasing electric field are obtained. The results could be helpful for the design of surface acoustic wave gyroscopes and piezoelectric semiconductor devices related to magnetic fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: WOX genes are a class of plant-specific transcription factors. The WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) family is a member of the homeobox transcription factor superfamily. Previous studies have shown that WOX members play important roles in plant growth and development. However, studies of the WOX gene family in blueberry plants have not been reported. Results: In order to understand the biological function of the WOX gene family in blueberries, bioinformatics were used methods to identify WOX gene family members in the blueberry genome, and analyzed the basic physical and chemical properties, gene structure, gene motifs, promoter cis-acting elements, chromosome location, evolutionary relationships, expression pattern of these family members and predicted their functions. Finally, 12 genes containing the WOX domain were identified and found to be distributed on eight chromosomes. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that the blueberry WOX gene family had three major branches: ancient branch, middle branch, and WUS branch. Blueberry WOX gene family protein sequences differ in amino acid number, molecular weight, isoelectric point and hydrophobicity. Predictive analysis of promoter cis-acting elements showed that the promoters of the VdWOX genes contained abundant light response, hormone, and stress response elements. The VdWOX genes were induced to express in both stems and leaves in response to salt and drought stress. Conclusions: Our results provided comprehensive characteristics of the WOX gene family and important clues for further exploration of its role in the growth, development and resistance to various stress in blueberry plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haze or cloud always shrouds satellite images, obscuring valuable geographic information for military surveillance, natural calamity surveillance and mineral resource exploration. Satellite image dehazing (SID) provides the possibility for better applications of satellite images. Most of the existing dehazing methods are tailored for natural images and are not very effective for satellite images with non-homogeneous haze since the semantic structure information and inconsistent attenuation are not fully considered. To tackle this problem, this study proposes a hierarchical semantic-guided contextual structure-aware network (SCSNet) for spectral satellite image dehazing. Specifically, a hybrid CNN–Transformer architecture integrated with a hierarchical semantic guidance (HSG) module is presented to learn semantic structure information by synergetically complementing local representation from non-local features. Furthermore, a cross-layer fusion (CLF) module is specially designed to replace the traditional skip connection during the feature decoding stage so as to reinforce the attention to the spatial regions and feature channels with more serious attenuation. The results on the SateHaze1k, RS-Haze, and RSID datasets demonstrated that the proposed SCSNet can achieve effective dehazing and outperforms existing state-of-the-art methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China, older adults whose only child has died are known as shiduers ; these people are not only deeply impacted by their individual bereavement from losing their child but are also influenced by macro institutional factors. To further investigate this unintended consequence of the one-child policy and to illustrate the mechanism of influence of institutional factors on the sufferings and grief experiences of this population, this study conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with 20 shiduers in Wuhan, China. In line with Ulrich Beck's theory of risk society, the findings argue that the crises inherent in institutional factors not only affect the post-loss experiences of shiduers in harmful ways but also pose a number of life difficulties that are difficult to control and mitigate. More importantly, most shiduers ' life difficulties are rationalized, gradually transforming into manufactured and widespread shidu risks that persist long-term throughout their aging process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: The sugar supply in the medium affects the apical hook development of Arabidopsis etiolated seedlings. In addition, we provided the mechanism insights of this process. Dicotyledonous plants form an apical hook structure to shield their young cotyledons from mechanical damage as they emerge from the rough soil. Our findings indicate that sugar molecules, such as sucrose and glucose, are crucial for apical hook development. The presence of sucrose and glucose allows the apical hooks to be maintained for a longer period compared to those grown in sugar-free conditions, and this effect is dose-dependent. Key roles in apical hook development are played by several sugar metabolism pathways, including oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis. RNA-seq data revealed an up-regulation of genes involved in starch and sucrose metabolism in plants grown in sugar-free conditions, while genes associated with phenylpropanoid metabolism were down-regulated. This study underscores the significant role of sugar metabolism in the apical hook development of etiolated Arabidopsis seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal oxides have attracted more and more attention as common candidates for photodetectors. However, most metal oxide detectors are limited by the shortcomings such as wide bandgap, high manufacturing cost, and slow response speed. Herein, a UV–vis Bi2O3/In2O3 heterojunction photodetector is successfully achieved by a two‐step spin coating method. Based on X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy measurements, the crystal form and morphology of the Bi2O3/In2O3 heterojunction are determined. The UV–vis absorption spectroscopy and UV photoelectron spectroscopy tests indicate that the Bi2O3/In2O3 forms a type II heterojunction and the successful combination of the two enhances the light detection capability of the photodetector. Additionally, the Bi2O3/In2O3 heterojunction photodetector possesses a self‐powered characteristic with a responsivity, detectivity, and response time of 0.66 mA W−1, 5.78 × 1010 Jones, and 1.90 s, respectively. The above results demonstrate that the multilayer Bi2O3/In2O3 heterojunction is a promising UV–vis broadband photodetector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkaline water electrolysis (AWE) plays a crucial role in the realization of a hydrogen economy. The design and development of efficient and stable bifunctional catalysts for both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are pivotal to achieving high‐efficiency AWE. Herein, WC1‐x/Mo2C nanoparticle‐embedded carbon nanofiber (WC1‐x/Mo2C@CNF) with abundant interfaces is successfully designed and synthesized. Benefiting from the electron transfer behavior from Mo2C to WC1‐x, the electrocatalysts of WC1‐x/Mo2C@CNF exhibit superior HER and OER performance. Furthermore, when employed as anode and cathode in membrane electrode assembly devices, the WC1‐x/Mo2C@CNF catalyst exhibits enhanced catalytic activity and remarkable stability for 100 hours at a high current density of 200 mA cm−2 towards overall water splitting. The experimental characterizations and theoretical simulation reveal that modulation of the d‐band center for WC1‐x/Mo2C@CNF, achieved through the asymmetric charge distribution resulting from the built‐in electric field induced by work function, enables optimization of adsorption strength for hydrogen/oxygen intermediates, thereby promoting the catalytic kinetics for overall water splitting. This work provides promising strategies for designing highly active catalysts in energy conversion fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkaline water electrolysis (AWE) plays a crucial role in the realization of a hydrogen economy. The design and development of efficient and stable bifunctional catalysts for both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are pivotal to achieving high‐efficiency AWE. Herein, WC1‐x/Mo2C nanoparticle‐embedded carbon nanofiber (WC1‐x/Mo2C@CNF) with abundant interfaces is successfully designed and synthesized. Benefiting from the electron transfer behavior from Mo2C to WC1‐x, the electrocatalysts of WC1‐x/Mo2C@CNF exhibit superior HER and OER performance. Furthermore, when employed as anode and cathode in membrane electrode assembly devices, the WC1‐x/Mo2C@CNF catalyst exhibits enhanced catalytic activity and remarkable stability for 100 hours at a high current density of 200 mA cm−2 towards overall water splitting. The experimental characterizations and theoretical simulation reveal that modulation of the d‐band center for WC1‐x/Mo2C@CNF, achieved through the asymmetric charge distribution resulting from the built‐in electric field induced by work function, enables optimization of adsorption strength for hydrogen/oxygen intermediates, thereby promoting the catalytic kinetics for overall water splitting. This work provides promising strategies for designing highly active catalysts in energy conversion fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the prodromal stage of dementia. In this stage, reasonable intervention measures can help to delay the decline of cognitive function. Supplementation of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3PUFAs) may be beneficial to delay the decline of cognitive function in the elderly. Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of docosapentaenoic acid (DHA) or/and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) supplements in the elderly with MCI. Methods: Eight electronic databases, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, VIP, SinoMed, Web of Science, CNKI, and WANFANG DATA, were searched for related articles from inception until January 2022. Subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses were performed to detect confounding variables. Standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were determined. Heterogeneity was evaluated by I2 statistics. Publication bias was detected using funnel plots. Stata12.0 was used for Begg's and Egger's test to quantify whether publication bias. Linear relationship between global cognition and covariates was examined in meta-regression analysis. Results: Twelve studies (n = 1,124) were included. The methodological quality of research is mostly medium. Compared with placebo, n-3PUFAs supplements have benefits on global cognition [SMD = 0.51, 95% CI(0.12, 0.91), p = 0.01]. No significant differences were observed between intervention group and placebo on language fluency, executive functions, and depression. Conclusion: Our findings indicated DHA and/or EPA supplements have benefits on global cognition, and it may also reduce the level of blood amyloid-β (Aβ)-related biomarkers (e.g., Aβ40, Aβ42) and inflammatory factors (e.g., 1L-6, 1L-10). Since there are only two relative articles, more research is needed in the future to clarify the relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pythagorean fuzzy sets, as a generalization of intuitionistic fuzzy sets, have a wide range of applications in many fields including image recognition, data mining, decision making, etc. However, there is little research on clustering algorithms of Pythagorean fuzzy sets. In this paper, a novel clustering idea under Pythagorean fuzzy environment is presented. Firstly, the concept of feature vector of Pythagorean fuzzy number (PFN) is presented by taking into account five parameters of PFN, and some new methods to compute the similarity measure of PFNs by applying the feature vector are proposed. Furthermore, a fuzzy similarity matrix by utilizing similarity measure of PFNs is established. Later, the fuzzy similarity matrix is transformed into a fuzzy equivalent matrix which is utilized to establish a novel Pythagorean fuzzy clustering algorithm. Based on the proposed clustering algorithm, a novel multiple attribute decision making (MADM) method under Pythagorean fuzzy environment is presented. To illustrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed technique, an application example is offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reservoirs characterized by shale–sandstone interbedded structures are extensively dispersed throughout China, and understanding the propagation mode of hydraulic fractures is a prerequisite for shale gas exploitation engineering. In this study, hydraulic fracturing tests were conducted using horizontal wells subjected to true triaxial compression conditions to elucidate the mechanism by which the initiated layer lithology and stress state influence the fracture morphology. Furthermore, the propagation mode of the fractures and the consequential effects on fracture network formation were investigated. The findings demonstrate four distinct interaction modes between the shale–sandstone interfaces and hydraulic fractures. The lithology of the initiated layer influences the fracture propagation trajectory, thereby affecting the propagation modes at the shale–sandstone interface and resulting in varying effects on layer penetration. The stress difference exerts a significant controlling influence on the fracturing behavior, enhancing the possibility of interconnecting multiple rock layers characterized by substantial stress differences. Highlights: Hydraulic fracturing tests of shale–sandstone interbedded structure were conducted.Four interaction modes between fracture and lithology interface are noted.Fracture propagation modes are explored using acoustic emission parameters.Formation effect of the fracture network was evaluated using fractal dimension method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon‐based packaging is highly suitable for miniaturised and cost‐effective integrated systems. However, traditional silicon‐based antenna‐in‐package (AiP) has disadvantages, such as high loss, low efficiency and narrow bandwidth. A glass‐silicon active package system architecture is proposed. Its active part is integrated on a silicon substrate, while the antenna array in the package system is made of glass, which has high radiation efficiency. The proposed antenna structure is an H‐type aperture‐coupled microstrip patch antenna. The authors use a ball grid array to form cavity and two shielding structures to improve the scanning performance of the array. Furthermore, by adding grounding points, the resonance singularity within the shielding structure is eliminated. A test array, composed of 8 × 8 elements was fabricated for the purpose of validating the design. It can achieve wide‐angle scanning greater than ±60° and bandwidth of 29%. This design can be applied for ka‐band communications and radar systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on investigating the mechanism of the astragaloside IV-induced bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell exosome (AS-IV-MSC-exo)/microRNA(miR)-411/HIF-1α axis in affecting vascular neovascularization and protecting cardiac function in myocardial infarction (MI) mice. Exosomes (MSC-exo and AS-IV-MSC-exo) were separated by differential centrifugation and then characterized. MI mouse models were established by left anterior descending coronary artery ligation. Echocardiography was used to evaluate cardiac function. HE staining and Masson staining were performed to observe myocardial histopathology. Capillary density in the myocardium via immunohistochemistry and quantified the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) via RT-qPCR. The expression of miR-411 and HIF-1α was tested by RT-qPCR and western blot and the targeting relationship of miR-411 and HIF-1α was verified by bioinformatics website and dual luciferase reporter gene assay. Exosomes with lipid bi-layer membrane structure, expressing exosomal surface marker proteins, and being taken up by cardiomyocytes could be successfully isolated utilizing ultracentrifugation. Intramyocardial injection of MSC-exo could restore cardiac function, decrease myocardial pathological changes and collagen deposition, and promote neovascularization in MI mice; the effect of AS-IV-MSC-exo was more significant. The ability of AS-IV-MSC-exo to restore cardiac function, lower myocardial pathological changes and collagen deposition, and promote neovascularization in MI mice was diminished when miR-411 expression in AS-IV-MSC-exo was reduced. Mechanistically, miR-411 was found to target and inhibit HIF-1α expression. Overexpression of HIF-1α impaired the impact of AS-IV-MSC-exo on improving cardiac function and promoting neovascularization in MI mice. AS-IV-MSC-exo improves cardiac function and promoted neovascularization via the miR-411/HIF-1α axis, thereby ameliorating MI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Co-WS 2 heterostructure, loaded on nanofibers with faster electron transport rates, was designed and developed using a top-down approach to achieve high HER performance in alkaline electrolytes. Driven by the inherent electric field induced by the work function difference between Co and WS 2 , efficient electron transfer at the interface optimizes the adsorption energy of reaction intermediates and boosts catalytic activity. [Display omitted] Designing and developing cost-effective, high-performance catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is crucial for advancing hydrogen production technology. Tungsten-based sulfides (WS x) exhibit great potential as efficient HER catalysts, however, the activity is limited by the larger energy required for water dissociation under alkaline conditions. Herein, we adopt a top-down strategy to construct heterostructure Co-WS 2 nanofiber catalysts. The experimental results and theoretical simulations unveil that the work functions-induced built-in electric field at the interface of Co-WS 2 catalysts facilitates the electron transfer from Co to WS 2 , significantly reducing water dissociation energy and optimizing the Gibbs free energy of the entire reaction step for HER. Besides, the self-supported catalysts of Co-WS 2 nanoparticles confining 1D nanofibers exhibit an increased number of active sites. As expected, the heterostructure Co-WS 2 catalysts exhibit remarkable HER activity with an overpotential of 113 mV to reach 10 mA cm−2 and stability with 30 h catalyzing at 23 mA cm−2. This work can provide an avenue for designing highly efficient catalysts applicable to the field of energy storage and conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Damage caused by the rice striped stem borer (SSB), Chilo suppressalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is much more severe on indica/xian rice than on japonica/geng rice (Oryza sativa) which matches pest outbreak data in cropping regions of China. The mechanistic basis of this difference among rice subspecies remains unclear. Using transcriptomic, metabolomic and genetic analyses in combination with insect bioassay experiments, we showed that japonica and indica rice utilise different defence responses to repel SSB, and that SSB exploited plant nutrition deficiencies in different ways in the subspecies. The more resistant japonica rice induced patterns of accumulation of methyl jasmonate (MeJA—part of a defensive pathway) and vitamin B1 (VB1—a nutrition pathway) distinct from indica cultivars. Using gene‐edited rice plants and SSB bioassays, we found that MeJA and VB1 jointly affected the performance of SSB by disrupting juvenile hormone levels. In addition, genetic variants of key biosynthesis genes in the MeJA and VB1 pathways (OsJMT and OsTH1, respectively) differed between japonica and indica rice and contributed to performance differences; in indica rice, SSB avoided the MeJA defence pathway and hijacked the VB1 nutrition‐related pathway to promote development. The findings highlight important genetic and mechanistic differences between rice subspecies affecting SSB damage which could be exploited in plant breeding for resistance. Summary Statement: This manuscript demonstrates that striped stem borer (SSB) avoided one defence pathway and hijacked another nutrition‐related pathway to promote development. The findings highlight important genetic and mechanistic differences between rice subspecies affecting SSB damage which could be exploited in plant breeding for resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the impressive achievement of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) in grasping image priors from extensive datasets, they have been widely utilized for tasks related to image restoration. Recently, there is been significant progress in another category of neural architectures—Transformers. These models have demonstrated remarkable performance in natural language tasks and higher‐level vision applications. Despite their ability to address some of CNNs limitations, such as restricted receptive fields and adaptability issues, Transformer models often face difficulties when processing images with a high level of detail. This is because the complexity of the computations required increases significantly with the image's spatial resolution. As a result, their application to most high‐resolution image restoration tasks becomes impractical. In our research, we introduce a novel Transformer model, named DehFormer, by implementing specific design modifications in its fundamental components, for example, the multi‐head attention and feed‐forward network. Specifically, the proposed architecture consists of the three modules, that is, (a) multi‐scale feature aggregation network (MSFAN), (b) the gated‐Dconv feed‐forward network (GFFN), (c) and the multi‐Dconv head transposed attention (MDHTA). For the MDHTA module, our objective is to scrutinize the mechanics of scaled dot‐product attention through the utilization of per‐element product operations, thereby bypassing the need for matrix multiplications and operating directly in the frequency domain for enhanced efficiency. For the GFFN module, which enables only the relevant and valuable information to advance through the network hierarchy, thereby enhancing the efficiency of information flow within the model. Extensive experiments are conducted on the SateHazelk, RS‐Haze, and RSID datasets, resulting in performance that significantly exceeds that of existing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although fullerene derivatives such as [6,6]‐phenyl‐C61/C71‐butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM/PC71BM) have dominated the the photoactive acceptor materials in bulk heterojunction organic solar cells (OSCs) for decades, they have several drawbacks such as weak absorption, limited structural tunability, prone to aggregation, and high costs of production. Constructing non‐fullerene small molecules with three‐dimensional (3D) molecular geometry is one of the strategies to replace fullerenes in OSCs. In this study, a 3D molecule, contorted hexa‐cata‐hexabenzocoronene tetra perylenediimide (HBC‐4‐PDI), was designed and synthesized. HBC‐4‐PDI shows a wide and strong light absorption in the whole UV‐vis region as well as suitable energy levels as an acceptor for OSCs. More importantly, the 3D construction effectively reduced the self‐aggregation of c‐HBC, leading to an appropriate scale phase separation of the blend film morphology in OSCs. A preliminary power conversion efficiency of 2.70 % with a champion open‐circuit voltage of 1.06 V was obtained in OSCs with HBC‐4‐PDI as the acceptor, which was the highest among the previously reported OSCs based on c‐HBC derivatives. The results indicated that HBC‐4‐PDI may serve as a good non‐fullerene acceptor for OSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a composite control algorithm for the radio telescope servo control system to address the target tracking and matched/mismatched disturbance suppression problems. The algorithm consists of the equivalent-input-disturbance (EID) approach and the optimal control method. An EID estimator is developed using the difference between the estimated output of the state observer and the measurement output and then the estimate of the EID is fed forward into the control input to reject the disturbance. A cost function with clear physical meaning is selected and the weighting parameters are adjusted for the optimal controller to improve tracking performance. Considering the nonminimum phase characteristics of the radio telescope system, the state observer gain is computed using the linear matrix inequality (LMI) method. The system stability is analyzed using the small gain theorem, and the linear quadratic regulator (LQR) control method is utilized to determine the state feedback gain. Finally, the composite controller is designed for an identified telescope model. Simulation results show that for the tracking performance, the settling time of proposed method is 1.13 s and reduces by about 0.32 s and 0.87 s than that of the ADRC controller and PI controller, respectively. For the antidisturbance performance, the RMS value and the maximum error of the proposed method are 0.0039 and 0.0128, which are 42.86% and 40.38% of the ADRC controller and 30.71% and 27.77% of the PI controller, respectively, which indicates that the proposed method has better control performance. In addition, the proposed controller has certain robustness to systematic parameter perturbations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to investigate the clinical value of inflammatory factors for predicting anastomotic leakage (AL) after laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery and establish a nomogram model to assess the probability of its occurrence. Patients and Methods: Data of 637 patients who underwent laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery between June 2019 and June 2022 were collected. Differences in procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and white blood cell (WBC) levels before surgery and on postoperative day (POD) 3 and 5 were compared between patients with and without AL (AL and non-AL groups, respectively). The diagnostic accuracy was determined using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), and a nomogram model was developed. Results: Post-operative AL occurred in 46 (7.2%) patients. Procalcitonin, CRP, and WBC levels on POD 3 and 5 were higher in the AL group than in the non-AL group. The AUCs of PCT, CRP, and WBC levels for predicting AL on POD 3 were 0.833, 0.757, and 0.756, respectively, which were better than those on POD 5 (AUC = 0.669, 0.581, and 0.588, respectively). The nomogram model for AL was developed based on five variables (PCT, CRP, WBC, American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA] grade and comorbidities), and it had an AUC of 0.922. Calibration curves demonstrated that the nomogram had good fit. The Delong test showed that the AUC of the nomogram for predicting the probability of AL was higher than that of PCT alone (z = 2.311, p = 0.02). Conclusions: Procalcitonin measured on POD 3 seems to be a promising negative predictor of AL after laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery. Furthermore, the nomogram model developed in our study, which utilizes a series of predictors that can be easily accessed, has demonstrated potential to further improve the prediction accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given any line in the plane, we strengthen the Littlewood conjecture by two logarithms for almost every point on the line, thereby generalising the fibre result of Beresnevich, Haynes, and Velani. To achieve this, we prove an effective asymptotic equidistribution result for one-parameter unipotent orbits in SL (3 , R) / SL (3 , Z) . We also provide a complementary convergence statement, by developing the structural theory of dual Bohr sets: at the cost of a slightly stronger Diophantine assumption, this sharpens a result of Kleinbock's from 2003. Finally, we refine the theory of logarithm laws in homogeneous spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanostructured conjugated polymers are of widespread interest due to their broad applications in organic optoelectronic devices, biomedical sensors and other fields. However, the alignment of conjugated nanostructures perpendicular to a surface remains a critical challenge. Herein, we report a facile method to directly self‐assemble a poly(3‐(2‐ethylhexyl)thiophene), P3EHT‐based block copolymer into densely aligned micellar brushes through surface‐initiated living crystallization‐driven self‐assembly. The presence of an ethyl pendant on the side group intrinsically moderates the crystallization rate of the polythiophene main chains, and hence favors the controlled living growth of long conjugated fibers and the subsequent fabrication of conjugated micellar brushes. The corona of the micellar brush can be further decorated with platinum nanoparticles, which enables the formation of erect nanoarrays with heights up to 2700 nm in the dried state. This also renders the micellar brush catalytically active toward hydrogen evolution reaction, which shows a low overpotential of 27 mV at 10 mA cm−2. Notably, the P3EHT‐based micellar brush can simultaneously grow with polyferrocenyldimethylsilane, PFS‐based micellar brush on the same surface without any significant interference between the two systems. Thus, these two micellar brushes can be patterned through site‐selective immobilization of two types of seeds followed by independent living self‐assembly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ortho C−H methylation and ipso C−O alkenylation of aryl triflates was regio‐selectively achieved in one pot by palladium/norbornene (NBE) synergistic catalysis. This work provides an efficient method for preparing poly‐substituted aromatics with (deuterated) methyl and alkenyl groups from the readily available phenoxides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the endothelialization of covered and bare stents deployed in the canine carotid arteries and subclavian arteries for treating experimental aneurysms and arteriovenous fistulas, twenty aneurysms were created in 10 dogs, and 20 fistulas in another 10 dogs. The Willis balloon-expandable covered stent and a self-expandable covered stent were used to treat these lesions, and a self-expandable bare stent was deployed in the subclavian artery for comparison. Followed up for up to 12 months, the gross observation, pathological staining, and scanning electronic microscopic data were analyzed. Two weeks after creation of animal model, thirty self-expandable covered stents and ten balloon-expandable covered stents were deployed. Fifteen bare stents were deployed within the left subclavian arteries. Twenty days after stenting, the aneurysm significantly shrank. At 6 months, the thrombi within the aneurysm cavity were organized. Three to 12 months later, most covered and bare stents were covered by a thin transparent or white layer of endothelial intima. Layers of intima or pseudomembrane were formed on the stent 20–40 days after stent deployment. Over three months, the pseudomembrane became organized, thinner, and merged into the vascular wall. Under scanning electronic microscopy, the surface of covered and bare stents had only deposition of collagen fibers and rare endothelial cells 20–40 days after stenting. From three to ten months, the endothelial cells on the internal surface of stent became mature, with spindle, stripe-like or quasi round morphology along the blood flow direction. Over time, the endothelial cells became mature. In conclusion, three months after deployment in canines' arteries, the self-expandable bare and covered stents have mostly been covered by endothelial cells which become maturer over time, whereas the balloon-expandable covered stents do not have complete coverage of endothelial cells at three months, especially for protruding stent struts and areas. Over time, the endothelialization will become mature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanostructured conjugated polymers are of widespread interest due to their broad applications in organic optoelectronic devices, biomedical sensors and other fields. However, the alignment of conjugated nanostructures perpendicular to a surface remains a critical challenge. Herein, we report a facile method to directly self‐assemble a poly(3‐(2‐ethylhexyl)thiophene), P3EHT‐based block copolymer into densely aligned micellar brushes through surface‐initiated living crystallization‐driven self‐assembly. The presence of an ethyl pendant on the side group intrinsically moderates the crystallization rate of the polythiophene main chains, and hence favors the controlled living growth of long conjugated fibers and the subsequent fabrication of conjugated micellar brushes. The corona of the micellar brush can be further decorated with platinum nanoparticles, which enables the formation of erect nanoarrays with heights up to 2700 nm in the dried state. This also renders the micellar brush catalytically active toward hydrogen evolution reaction, which shows a low overpotential of 27 mV at 10 mA cm−2. Notably, the P3EHT‐based micellar brush can simultaneously grow with polyferrocenyldimethylsilane, PFS‐based micellar brush on the same surface without any significant interference between the two systems. Thus, these two micellar brushes can be patterned through site‐selective immobilization of two types of seeds followed by independent living self‐assembly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrospun scaffolds play important roles in the fields of regenerative medicine and vascular tissue engineering. The aim of the research described here was to develop a vascular scaffold that mimics the structural and functional properties of natural vascular scaffolding. The mechanical properties of artificial vascular tissue represent a key issue for successful transplantation in small diameter engineering blood vessels. We blended silk fibroin (SF) and fibrin to fabricate a composite scaffold using electrospinning to overcome the shortcomings of fibrin with respect to its mechanical properties. Subsequently, we then carefully investigated the morphological, mechanical properties, hydrophilicity, hemocompatibility, degradation, cytocompatibility and biocompatibility of the SF/fibrin (0:100), SF/fibrin (15:85), SF/fibrin (25:75), and SF/fibrin (35:65) scaffolds. Based on these in vitro results, we implanted SF/fibrin (25:75) vascular scaffold subcutaneously and analyzed its in vivo degradation and histocompatibility. The fiber structure of the SF/fibrin hybrid scaffold was smooth and uniform, and its fiber diameters were relatively small. Compared with the fibrin scaffold, the SF/fibrin scaffold clearly displayed increased mechanical strength, but the hydrophilicity weakened correspondingly. All of the SF/fibrin scaffolds showed excellent blood compatibility and appropriate biodegradation rates. The SF/fibrin (25:75) scaffold increased the proliferation and adhesion of MSCs. The results of animal experiments confirmed that the degradation of the SF/fibrin (25:75) scaffold was faster than that of the SF scaffold and effectively promoted tissue regeneration and cell infiltration. All in all, the SF/fibrin (25:75) electrospun scaffold displayed balanced and controllable biomechanical properties, degradability, and good cell compatibility. Thus, this scaffold proved to be an ideal candidate material for artificial blood vessels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the case of a 69-year-old female patient with leukocytosis and no tumor history and was diagnosed with chronic neutrophilic leukemia (CNL). Topics discussed include treatment given to the patient, how the fusion partner of KMT2A (Lysine methyltransferase 2A) was identified, and finding on cytogenetic analysis.

The insulated core transformer (ICT) power supply is widely employed in electron beam accelerators (EBAs) due to its high power, heightened efficiency, and stable operation. However, the segmented-core structure of the ICT power supply increases magnetic leakage, which leads to it adversely affecting the consistency of the output voltages in the rectifier stages. Currently, numerous studies focus on stage voltage compensation, including turns compensation, capacitor compensation, dummy primary winding compensation, and full-parameter compensation. This paper presents a unified simulation model and an improved gradient-based genetic algorithm, which can also optimize the parameters of the four compensation methods. Based on this, the performance of the power supply using the four compensation methods under different ICT energy levels and power supply requirements is studied, and the selection suggestions are given. This work fills the gap in the performance comparison and application research of various compensation methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the effect of individualized nutritional interventions on head and neck cancer (HNC) patients receiving radiotherapy and provide a basis for improving the quality of life for those patients. Methods: A convenience sampling method was adopted to select HNC patients as the study objects. The Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 scale (NRS2002) was used to screen the nutritional risk in 108 HNC patients receiving radiotherapy, and the patients were randomly divided into control group and observation group. Routine dietary guidance was conducted in the control group, and individualized nutritional intervention was applied in the observation group. Results: Six months after the intervention, the albumin levels (37.40 ± 4.03 g/L), hemoglobin levels (128.70 ± 15.22 g/L), and body mass index scores (BMI) (23.96 ± 3.23 kg/m2) of the observation group were all better than to those of control group (t = 2.370, 2.216, and 3.135, respectively, and P < 0.05 in all). Six months after the intervention, the anxiety and depression scores in observation group (27.6 ± 7.2 points, 27.3 ± 2.2 points) were lower than those in control group (38.6 ± 9.6 points, 37.9 ± 3.3 points). The quality-of-life score in the observation group was higher than that in control group. The nursing satisfaction in the observation group (96.43%) was higher than that in the control group (75.00%). Conclusion: The implementation of individualized nutritional intervention has promoted the improvement of laboratory indicators, weight, and BMI of head and neck cancer patients, reduced the risk of malnutrition of head and neck cancer patients, improved their quality of life, reduced the occurrence of adverse reactions during radiotherapy, and promoted long-term efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Touch cultures have both differences and commonalities in different regions. The Touch Experiences and Attitudes Questionnaire (TEAQ) is a widely applicable self-report tool. The purpose of our research was to examine the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of TEAQ for Chinese college students. We translated the 57 items of the original TEAQ into Chinese and assessed its cultural and linguistic adaptation in Chinese context. Two samples were recruited for the assessment of validity and reliability. The Social Support Rating Scale, Index of Well-being Scale and Security Questionnaire were chosen as criterion-related validity indicators. Item analysis, principal component analysis and confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the simplified Chinese version of TEAQ contained 18 items in three factors: Attitude to Intimate Touch, Childhood Touch and Current Positive Touch, with a cumulative variance contribution rate of 57.12%. The 3-factor model had good validity and reliability. The TEAQ was positively correlated with social support, sense of security and well-being. There were demographic differences in sex and left-behind experience. We anticipate the simplified TEAQ will be a valuable tool for the research of touch among Chinese college students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of molecular derivatives of biological dyes is of great importance for the green transformation of the printing, dyeing, and textile industries. In this study, B3LYP density functional methods are used to optimize the geometric configuration of the selected molecules and to explore the relationship between the structure and color of biological dye molecules and their color mechanism. This study focuses on the analysis of polyenes, quinones, indoles, and azide biological dyes in colors commonly used in the textile industry: blue, yellow, purple, red, green, and so on. Quantum chemical investigations show that the conjugate structure of a biological dye is directly related to its color and that the group or structure affecting the conjugate structure will in many cases cause a change in color. In addition, time-dependent density functional theory spectral calculations with the CAM-B3LYP functional for UV-Vis spectra show that in the visible band, the color of the remaining band after subtracting the absorption wavelengths was exactly the same as the color of the pigment. These results indicate that the color of the pigment is exactly complementary to the light absorption color of the material. Our study provides theoretical guidance for the design of molecular derivatives of biological dyes and is expected to promote the green transformation of the textile, printing, and dyeing industries to a certain extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider a class of possibly non-convex and non-smooth optimization problems arising in many contemporary applications such as machine learning, variable selection and image processing. To solve this class of problems, we propose a proximal gradient method with extrapolation and line search (PGels). This method is developed based on a special potential function and successfully incorporates both extrapolation and non-monotone line search, which are two simple and efficient acceleration techniques for the proximal gradient method. Thanks to the non-monotone line search, this method allows more flexibility in choosing the extrapolation parameters and updates them adaptively at each iteration if a certain criterion is not satisfied. Moreover, with proper choices of parameters, our PGels reduces to many existing algorithms. We also show that, under some mild conditions, our line search criterion is well defined and any cluster point of the sequence generated by the PGels is a stationary point of our problem. In addition, by making assumptions on the Kurdyka–Łojasiewicz exponent of the objective in our problem, we further analyze the local convergence rate of two special cases of the PGels, including the widely used non-monotone proximal gradient method as one case. Finally, we conduct some preliminary numerical experiments for solving the ℓ 1 regularized logistic regression problem and the ℓ 1 - 2 regularized least squares problem. The obtained numerical results show the promising performance of the PGels and validate the potential advantage of combining two acceleration techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the enablers of green image have been studied extensively, most prior studies have focused on the net effects of individual factors. In addition, the existing literature overlooks how green image is shaped by different paths and the impact of these paths on different performance. From the configurational perspective, we identify how the configurations of green human resource management (GHRM) depend on perceived institutional pressure to shape a favorable green image. Using data from 317 Chinese manufacturers, we conduct fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis and propensity score matching analysis to explore the configurations that achieve a favorable or unfavorable green image and whether a favorable green image formed by different configurations improves firm performance. The results reveal five equifinal paths of GHRM that depend on perceived institutional pressure and can enhance green image and three that can shape an unfavorable green image. We also find that favorable green images shaped by distinct configurations have different effects on firm performance. This research enriches the literature on green image and provides novel insights for enhancing green image and subsequent firm performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the pursuit of investigating the intricate interplay among enterprise digital transformation, supply chain performance, and precision management within the context of the era of big data, this research undertakes an empirical inquiry employing a structured questionnaire survey. This research commences by scrutinizing the impact of digital transformation on enterprise supply chain (ESC) performance, elucidating the strategic application of precision management in the digital transformation process, and subsequently offers comprehensive elucidations encompassing digital transformation, ESC performance, and precision management from diverse analytical perspectives. Subsequently, an array of research hypotheses is postulated and systematically substantiated through rigorous data analysis. Notably, the outcomes of the experimentation attest to the robustness of the questionnaire designed for this research, manifesting Cronbach's α coefficients that consistently surpass the threshold of 0.8 across all dimensions. Moreover, the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) values, surpassing 0.82, further endorse the instrument's reliability and validity, rendering it eminently suitable for experimental deployment. Subsequently, in the correlation analysis, a statistically significant relationship is discerned between the dual dimensions of digital transformation and the dual facets of ESC performance and precision management, ultimately affirming the validity of hypotheses H1a, H1b, H2a, H2b, H3a, H3b, H4a, and H4b. In the regression analysis, the coefficients of determination for the two regression models are 0.478 and 0.557, further confirming the hypotheses proposed in this research. The conclusion suggests that digital transformation is an evolving process, and enterprises should adopt a stance of continuous improvement and innovation. Regular assessments of the effectiveness of digital transformation should be conducted, with adjustments and improvements made based on feedback results. Therefore, this research provides valuable insights into the analysis of the relationship between digital transformation and ESC and precision management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wide application of CdSe quantum dots (QDs) increases its stress risk to sewage treatment systems. This study evaluated the response of nitrification performance, floc characteristics and microbial community of nitrifying sludge under long-term exposure to CdSe QDs. Results showed CdSe QDs (≥ 1 mg/L) would decrease the activity of ammonia monooxygenase (AMO). Under the stress of 30 mg/L CdSe QDs, the activity of AMO was reduced by 66%, while the activities of hydroxylamine oxidase and nitrite oxidoreductase were enhanced by 19.1% and 26%, respectively. Thus, the final nitrification effects were not adversely affected, and the production rates of NO 2 −-N and NO 3 −-N were accelerated. Additionally, CdSe QDs improved biomass concentration in sludge and maintained the stability of sludge settleability. High throughput sequencing analysis showed that CdSe QDs evidently reduced the abundance and diversity of microbial community in nitrifying sludge. The abundances of amino acid metabolism and lipid metabolism were enriched. Moreover, CdSe QDs decreased the fluorescence intensity of tryptophan-like protein from 2,326 to 1,179 a.u. in loosely bound extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) and from 3,792 to 3,117 a.u. in tightly bound EPSs. To relieve CdSe QD stress, the polysaccharide content increased from 0.31 to 0.61 mg/g MLSS and intracellular antioxidant defense was activated. With CdSe QD level increasing to 30 mg/L, the total antioxygenic capacity and the activities of catalase were enhanced up to 411% and 143.2%, respectively. Thereby, CdSe QDs had little adverse effects on cell membrane integrity, microbial metabolism and the abundance of Nitrospirae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Double-sided lapping is currently the mainstream manufacturing method for obtaining plane-parallel optical workpieces with high surface shape accuracy, and the fixed abrasive lapping pad is the main machining tool. However, the effect of pad surface morphology on the workpiece surface shape has rarely been studied, and its formation mechanism has not yet been revealed. In this paper, based on probabilistic statistics and contact mechanics, an analytical model that takes into account the pad surface morphology for predicting the workpiece surface shape evolution is developed. Notably, this model considers the cross-scale relationship between the formation of lapped surface shape and the scratching process of a single abrasive grain in material removal for the first time. Furthermore, the real-time dynamical contact relationship between the workpieces and the measured actual pad surface morphology is also considered. The surface shape and peak-to-valley value of the workpiece under different parameters were simulated and analyzed, and the influence mechanism of the local profile and macro shape of the lapping pad on the lapped workpiece surface shape are clarified. Moreover, the double-sided lapping trial experiments were performed to validate the theoretical model, and the experimental results demonstrated good agreement with the simulation results. The maximum error of the surface shape evolution prediction model is less than 14.6 %. This result verifies the correctness and validity of the established model. This work not only provides new ideas for controlling the workpiece surface but also forms the theoretical basis for understanding the double-sided lapping process. • A new mathematical model is established considering the pad surface morphology. • The cross-scale connection and real-time dynamical change for MRD are considered for the first time. • The influence mechanism of the pad surface morphology on the workpiece surface shape are clarified. • The M-shaped pad produce convex shape, while the G-shaped pad produces concave shape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To develop a clinical model for predicting high axillary nodal burden in patients with early breast cancer by integrating ultrasound (US) and clinicopathological features. Methods and materials: Patients with breast cancer who underwent preoperative US examination and breast surgery at the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University (centre 1, n = 250) and at the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University (centre 2, n = 97) between January 2012 and December 2016 and between January 2020 and March 2022, respectively, were deemed eligible for this study (n = 347). According to the number of lymph node (LN) metastasis based on pathology, patients were divided into two groups: limited nodal burden (0–2 metastatic LNs) and heavy nodal burden (≥ 3 metastatic LNs). In addition, US features combined with clinicopathological variables were compared between these two groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were conducted to identify the most valuable variables for predicting ≥ 3 LNs in breast cancer. A nomogram was then developed based on these independent factors. Results: Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the cortical thickness (p < 0.001), longitudinal to transverse ratio (p = 0.001), absence of hilum (p < 0.001), T stage (p = 0.002) and Ki-67 (p = 0.039) were significantly associated with heavy nodal burden. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, cortical thickness (p = 0.001), absence of hilum (p = 0.042) and T stage (p = 0.012) were considered independent predictors of high-burden node. The area under curve (AUC) of the nomogram was 0.749. Conclusion: Our model based on US variables and clinicopathological characteristics demonstrates that can help select patients with ≥ 3 LNs, which can in turn be helpful to predict high axillary nodal burden in early breast cancer patients and prevent unnecessary axillary lymph node dissection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Cobalt-based catalysts are one of the preferred materials for effective activation of hydrogen peroxide, and metal element doping and active site dispersion are effective methods to enhance their catalytic activity. In this work, manganese-doped cobalt silicate@diatomite composites with enhanced photo-Fenton-like oxidation performance were prepared and used for degradation of methyl orange (MO) dyes. Experiments showed that manganese doping increased the specific surface area of the samples and decreased the band gap energy of the materials. Moreover, the samples doped with manganese elements had better photo-Fenton-like properties. The degradation of methyl orange by Co0.25MnSi@DE/H 2 O 2 -UV reached more than 95%. In addition, density-functional theory (DFT) calculations showed that the Mn-doped samples were more prone to activate H 2 O 2 than non-manganese-doped samples, and the synergistic effect from using a bimetallic catalyst increased the photo-Fenton oxidation activity in the system. ESR spectroscopy and bursting tests indicated that the possible degradation mechanism consisted of hydroxyl radicals and superoxide radicals generated by the synergistic effect of cobalt ions and manganese under UV radiation. This study thus presents a feasible idea for the preparation of cobalt-based photo-Fenton catalysts that also provides a basis for understanding the catalytic mechanism analysis of other types of bimetallic catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Two-dimensional (2D) beta indium sulfide (β -In 2 S 3) shows great potential in photocatalytic hydrogen production due to its broad-spectrum response, relatively negative conduction band edge, high carrier mobility and low toxicity. However, the high charge recombination rate limits the application of In 2 S 3. Here, we in-situ grew 2D cadmium sulfide (CdS) on the surface of In 2 S 3 doped with copper ions (Cu2+) to construct a heterojunction photocatalyst that suppresses charge recombination. The in-situ grown method and shared sulfur composition were conducive to forming the efficient interface contact between In 2 S 3 and CdS, promoting charge transfer and showing the high spatial charge separation rate, resulting in a hydrogen production rate of 868 µmol g-1h−1. The induced Cu2+ extended the light absorption range and stabilized the photocatalyst. By creating stable 2D/2D heterojunction photocatalysts with high charge separation efficiency, this work opens new possibilities for applying In 2 S 3 materials in photocatalytic hydrogen production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Explosive shock wave protection is an important issue that urgently needs to be solved in the current military and public security safety fields. Non-metallic protective structures have the characteristics of being lightweight and having low secondary damage, making them an important research object in the field of equivalent protection. In this paper, the numerical simulation was performed to investigate the dynamic mechanical response of non-metallic annular protective structures under the internal blast, which were made by the continuous winding of PE fibers. The impact of various charges, the number of fiber layers, and polyurethane foam on the damage to protective structures was analyzed. The numerical results showed that 120 PE fiber layers could protect 50 g TNT equivalent explosives. However, solely increasing the thickness of fiber layers cannot effectively enhance the protection efficiency. By adding polyurethane foam in the inner layer, the stress acting on the fiber could be effectively reduced. A 30 mm thick polyurethane layer can reduce the equivalent stress of the fiber layer by 41.6%. This paper can provide some reference for the numerical simulations of non-metallic explosion protection structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of bioactive scaffolds by mimicking bone tissue extracellular matrix is promising for bone regeneration. Herein, inspired by the bone tissue composition, a novel pearl powder (PP) hybrid fish gelatin methacrylate (GelMa) hydrogel scaffold loaded with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) for bone regeneration is presented. With the help of microfluidic‐assisted 3D printing technology, the composition and structure of the hybrid scaffold can be accurately controlled to meet clinical requirements. The combination of fish skin GelMa and PP also endowed the hybrid scaffold with good biocompatibility, cell adhesion, and osteogenic differentiation ability. Moreover, the controlled release of VEGF enables the scaffold to promote angiogenesis. Thus, the bone regeneration in the proposed scaffolds could be accelerated under the synergic effect of osteogenesis and angiogenesis, which has been proved in the rat skull defect model. These features indicate that the PP hybrid scaffolds will be an ideal candidate for bone regeneration in clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hard–soft carbon hybrid materials, harvesting the expanded interlayer spacing of hard carbon and the high conductivity of soft carbon, hold great promise as anode materials for potassium‐ion batteries, but efficient and precise structural control remains a major challenge. Herein, hollow porous bowl‐like hard–soft carbon hybrid materials (BHSCs) are facilely synthesized by an in situ hard‐template strategy. It is found that the outer and inner walls of the hard carbon bowls are uniformly wrapped by graphene‐like soft carbon, which accelerates electron transport and promotes the insertion of potassium ions. Finite element simulation further reveals that the soft–hard–soft carbon shell structure releases stress during the insertion of potassium ions. As a result, BHSC anode exhibits an extraordinary rate capability (209 mAh g−1 at 10 A g−1) and excellent cycle stability with a capacity of 208 mAh g−1 after 5000 cycles at 2 A g−1. Impressively, the as‐assembled potassium‐ion hybrid capacitor based on BHSC anode delivers a great energy/power density (116 Wh kg−1/12980 W kg−1) and outstanding capacity retention of 83% after 8000 cycles. This work provides guidance for rational structural design of hard–soft carbon hybrid materials to improve their potassium‐ion storage performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]