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Dynamic responses of copper titanates to alternating electric fields with different strengths are characterized in terms of dielectric spectrums. This work extends the introduction of quasipolaron surface polarization (QSP). A collective of quasipolarons pinned at grain surfaces is involved in the electric polarization, which is confirmed by the quadratic polarization–permittivity relation. Because electric polarization is a macroscopic quantum effect, the QSP is described in terms of the density of states (DOS). As a sign of reverse ferroelectricity, dielectric hysteresis loops of reverse-S shape reveal that the characteristic remnant polarization is proportional to the DOS ratio of quasipolaron surface excited to ground states. Although the DOS of the surface ground state is dependent on the mole ratio of quasipolaron quantity, both the DOS and the energy levels of surface excited states show the intrinsic angular-frequency dependence in a power function manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate cannulation of the adrenal vein is challenging during adrenal venous sampling (AVS) because of the variations in adrenal vein anatomy. This study aimed to investigate the adrenal venous morphology in Chinese and improve the success rate of AVS. A total of 221 participants with primary aldosteronism (PA) who underwent AVS were enrolled. Compare the morphology among subgroups divided according to sex, body mass index (BMI), and with or without adenoma. The success rate of right, left, and bilateral AVS was 98.60%, 97.20%, and 96.85%, respectively. The triangular pattern was the most common (39.37%) on the right side, while the glandlike pattern (70.14%) on the left. The proportion of adrenal venous morphology varies among patients with different sexecs (χ2 = 21.335, P < .001), BMI (χ2 = 10.642 P = .031), and with or without adenoma (χ2 = 10.637, P = .031) on the right side, and the male, obese and adenoma group showed a higher proportion of glandlike pattern than triangular pattern. If only dependent on computed tomography, 9.05% of patients incorrectly diagnose the dominant side, 14.48% of patients would have inappropriate surgery meanwhile 25.34% of patients would miss the surgical opportunity. In conclusion, the most common types of right and left adrenal venous morphology were triangular pattern and glandlike pattern, respectively. Sex, BMI, and the presence of adenoma affected right adrenal venous morphology. Adequate knowledge of the adrenal venous morphology is critical for improving the success rate of AVS and making an appropriate treatment for PA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report an unprecedented Ni‐catalyzed direct monofluoromethylthiolation of acyl chlorides, in situ generated from carboxylic acids, with elemental sulfur (S8) as the S source and fluoroiodomethane (ICH2F) as the CH2F radical source to produce a series of monofluoromethylthioesters in moderate to good yields. This approach features excellent functional group tolerance and broad substrate scope. Additionally, the late‐stage monofluoromethylthiolation of complex bioactive molecules can also be accomplished using this method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate and swift estimation of the future performance degradation of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) is crucial for the health management of PEMFC. However, most existing studies primarily concentrate on uncovering the inherent patterns of performance degradation parameters, neglecting the fundamental relationships and pattern variations between performance degradation and other characteristic parameters (such as flow rate, temperature, and pressure). This paper seeks to address this research gap. To that end, we delve into feature parameters, extracting underlying patterns of feature evolution to construct a feature exploration-based framework for predicting PEMFC performance degradation. Initially, Time-Varying Filtered Empirical Mode Decomposition (TVF-EMD) is employed to decompose each feature variable, isolating the core information of the features. Furthermore, to reduce the computational burden caused by redundant features, Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP) is used to perform dimensionality reduction on the decomposed feature subsequences, ensuring the efficiency and representativeness of the extracted features. Finally, to overcome the shortcomings of long short-term memory networks (LSTM) in terms of convergence and the effective use of time series information, we introduce an innovative Mogrifier LSTM (M-LSTM) model to enhance the accuracy of PEMFC performance degradation predictions. The experimental and validation results demonstrate that the extraction of feature parameters significantly enhances the predictive precision of the baseline model. Relative to the compared models, there was an improvement of at least 16.859% in Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), a minimum increase of 23.333% in Mean Absolute Error (MAE), and a boost of no less than 0.913% in the coefficient of determination (R 2 ). Simultaneously, the proposed predictive framework demonstrates good stability and accuracy in predicting PEMFC performance degradation. • Developed a novel feature processing framework for predicting the performance degradation of PEMFC. • Employed TVF-EMD in conjunction with UMAP to extract evolving trends and cyclical patterns of feature parameters. • Introduced an innovative M-LSTM network to enhance the interaction between historical information and current inputs. • Feature processing framework improves single-model performance degradation predictions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reaction regioselectivity of gem‐difluoroalkenes is dependent on the intrinsic polarity. Thus, the reversal of the regioselectivity of the addition reaction of gem‐difluoroalkenes remains a formidable challenge. Herein, we described an unprecedented reversal of regioselectivity of hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) to gem‐difluoroalkenes triggered by Fe−H species for the formation of difluoroalkyl radicals. Hydrogenation of the in situ generated radicals gave difluoromethylated products. Mechanism experiments and theoretical studies revealed that the kinetic effect of the irreversible HAT process resulted in the reversal of the regioselectivity of this scenario, leading to the formation of a less stable α‐difluoroalkyl radical regioisomer. On basis of this new reaction of gem‐difluoroalkene, the iron‐promoted hydrohalogenation of gem‐difluoroalkenes for the efficient synthesis of aliphatic chlorodifluoromethyl‐, bromodifluoromethyl‐ and iododifluoromethyl‐containing compounds was developed. Particularly, this novel hydrohalogenation of gem‐difluoroalkenes provided an effect and large‐scale access to various iododifluoromethylated compounds of high value for synthetic application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reaction regioselectivity of gem‐difluoroalkenes is dependent on the intrinsic polarity. Thus, the reversal of the regioselectivity of the addition reaction of gem‐difluoroalkenes remains a formidable challenge. Herein, we described an unprecedented reversal of regioselectivity of hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) to gem‐difluoroalkenes triggered by Fe−H species for the formation of difluoroalkyl radicals. Hydrogenation of the in situ generated radicals gave difluoromethylated products. Mechanism experiments and theoretical studies revealed that the kinetic effect of the irreversible HAT process resulted in the reversal of the regioselectivity of this scenario, leading to the formation of a less stable α‐difluoroalkyl radical regioisomer. On basis of this new reaction of gem‐difluoroalkene, the iron‐promoted hydrohalogenation of gem‐difluoroalkenes for the efficient synthesis of aliphatic chlorodifluoromethyl‐, bromodifluoromethyl‐ and iododifluoromethyl‐containing compounds was developed. Particularly, this novel hydrohalogenation of gem‐difluoroalkenes provided an effect and large‐scale access to various iododifluoromethylated compounds of high value for synthetic application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through defect modulation, ZrB 2 powder was controllably synthesized using the carbon thermal reduction (CTR) method, with boron powder serving as a novel additive. Thermodynamic data for the ZrO 2 -B 2 O 3 -C system in the presence of boron were calculated using HSC thermodynamic software. Additionally, TG-DSC thermal analysis combined with XRD was used to investigate the reaction process. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to analyze the defect structure and grain surface characteristics of the reaction products. The results indicate that the reaction of B with ZrO 2 and C exothermically alters the nucleation environment of ZrB 2 grains. The helical dislocations generated act as a source of crystal growth steps, promoting the growth of smooth interfaces and leading to a transformation of the ZrB 2 grain growth mechanism. Quantitative calculations of the dislocation density of ZrB 2 powders, using the convolutional multiple whole profile fitting (CMWP-fit), suggest that the inclusion of boron as an additive can modulate the defect concentration of the products. ZrB 2 powders with varied dislocation densities were achieved through meticulously controlled synthesis methods, followed by subsequent densification via hot pressing sintering. The results indicated that the relative density of ZrB 2 ceramics increased from 83.9 % to 96.7 % as the dislocation density of the powder increased from 2.7 × 1013 m−2 to 7.6 × 1014 m−2 with the rise in boron content from 0 wt% to 3 wt%. In addition, the defects create extra sintering-driving forces that induce a shift in the densification mechanism from grain boundary diffusion to dislocation slip during hot-pressing sintering. This shift results in an increase in the apparent activation energy from 105 kJ/mol to 210 kJ/mol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-rise buildings are inherently vulnerable to substantial wind-induced forces. The increasing complexity of building designs has posed challenges in calculating wind loads, while traditional methods involving physical models have proven to be intricate and time-consuming. In order to overcome these obstacles, this paper investigates a theoretical methodology aimed at streamlining the computation of wind loads. In the initial theoretical exploration, a simplified mathematical model based on Green's function is introduced to take into account the interaction between wind loads and building geometry, while the model is not user-friendly and difficult to solve for complex polygonal buildings. To overcome this challenge, the study incorporates numerical simulations to extend the ideas and refine the methodology. To simplify the problem from a three-dimensional to a two-dimensional context, a bold tangential field assumption is made, assuming the wind pressure distribution remains similar across horizontal sections at different heights. The Schwarz–Christoffel formulation is then employed to facilitate the transformation. By integrating Green's functions and conformal mapping to solve potential flow problems beyond the boundary layer, a comprehensive mathematical derivation is established. The above broadens the applicability of the mathematical theory and provides a new direction for estimations of high-speed wind load on buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Revised Sociosexual Orientation Inventory (SOI-R) is a measurement tool for assessing an individual's willingness to engage in uncommitted sexual relations. Despite its widespread use in various contexts, no studies have validated the use of this instrument in China. Therefore, the current study aimed to assess the reliability and validity of an existing Chinese translation of the SOI-R. A total of 2,209 participants were recruited and randomly divided into two groups: exploratory factor analysis was conducted on one group and confirmatory factor analysis on the other, with 161 participants from the total sample recruited to assess the test–retest reliability. Criterion validity was measured by testing the correlations between sociosexuality and sexual desire, mate value, sexual attitudes, and personality traits. The results confirmed a three-factor structure (sociosexual behaviors, attitudes, and desire) for the SOI-R. Furthermore, the findings demonstrated good reliability (internal consistency and test–retest stability) and validity (criterion validity, convergent validity, and discriminant validity) of the SOI-R, supporting its suitability as an assessment tool for sociosexual orientation in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It was imperative to identify latent biomarkers pertinent to malignancies, given the pivotal role targeted molecular therapies play in tumor treatment investigations. This study aimed to assess the validity of HAUS1 as an indicator for survival prognosis and immune responses in prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD) via single‐cell and bulk RNA‐sequencing. Related data on HAUS1 expression in PRAD were obtained from online databases, followed by comprehensive analyses to delineate its associations with survival prognosis, implicated pathways, and immune responses. Besides, the expression pattern of HAUS1 in PRAD was also verified in vitro, by using qRT‐PCR, Western blot analysis, and immunohistochemistry. We found HAUS1 was downregulated in PRAD compared with normal tissues, as verified in vitro by qRT‐PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry (p < 0.05). Single‐cell RNA‐sequencing analysis indicated that HAUS1 had relatively higher expressions in B cells, Mono/Macro cells, and Endothelial cells compared with other cell types. Cox regression analysis revealed HAUS1 could serve as an independent indicator for the overall survival prognosis of PRAD (p < 0.05). Spearman correlation analyses revealed HAUS1 was closely related to the tumor microenvironment, immune cell infiltration levels, immune checkpoints, and immune cell pathways (p < 0.05). Furthermore, HAUS1 expression was found to be closely related to the immunotherapeutic response of patients receiving clinical intervention (p < 0.05). Collectively, our findings underscored the significant role of HAUS1 in PRAD prognosis and immune response, thereby presenting a novel and promising avenue for investigating the clinical utility of immunotherapy in PRAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Aral Sea, located in Central Asia, has undergone significant reduction in surface area owing to the combined impacts of climate change and human activities. This reduction has led to a regional ecological crisis and profound repercussions on ecosystem services. Investigating the spatiotemporal variations and synergistic trade-offs of ESs in the Aral Sea basin is crucial for fostering the integrated development of the region’s socioeconomic ecology. This study utilizes the Future Land-Use Simulation and InVEST models to analyze future land-use scenarios, integrating CMIP6 projections to assess the quality of four key ecosystem services: water production, soil conservation, carbon storage, and habitat quality over two timeframes: the historical period (1995–2020) and the projected future (2021–2100). Employing Spearman correlation, the study explores the trade-offs and synergies among these ecosystem services. Findings reveal that the primary forms of land-use change in the Aral Sea basin are the reduction in water area (− 49.59%) and the rapid expansion of urban areas (+ 504.65%). Temporally, habitat quality exhibits a declining trend, while carbon storage shows an increasing trend, and water production and soil retention fluctuate initially decreasing and then increasing. Spatially, water production and carbon storage demonstrate an increasing trend from the northwest to the southeast. Habitat quality exhibits a higher spatial pattern in the southeast and south, contrasting with lower spatial patterns in the north and west. Low-level soil conservation is predominantly distributed in the northwest, while medium to low-level soil conservation is prevalent in the east of the basin. The trade-off and synergy analysis indicates that between 1995 and 2020, a trade-off relationship existed between carbon storage and habitat quality and water production, whereas synergies were observed between soil conservation and carbon storage, water production and habitat quality, and soil conservation. The correlation between water production and soil conservation emerges as the strongest, whereas the correlation between carbon storage and habitat quality appears to be the weakest. The dynamic spatiotemporal changes, trade-offs, and collaborative relationships of ESs constitute major aspects of ecosystem service research, holding substantial implications for the effective management of the regional ecological environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pumilio RNA-binding family member 1 (PUM1) has been implicated in both the progression of colorectal cancer and the regulation of inflammation. The role of PUM1 in the polarization of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) into the M2 phenotype has not yet been reported in hepatocellular carcinoma. Using the PUM1-knockout mice model, flow cytometry, and IHC, we validated the role of PUM1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) TAMs. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) or student’s t-tests was used to compare the experimental groups. We found that PUM1 inhibited anti-tumor immunity in HCC through TAM-mediated inhibition of CD8+ T cells. We also showed that PUM1 promotes the transformation of TAMs into pro-tumorigenic M2-like phenotypes by activating cAMP signaling pathway. This study emphasized the potential of PUM1 as a target for immunotherapy in HCC through TAMs. The present study revealed the molecular mechanism underlying the pro-tumor role of PUM1 in HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) have emerged as a family of polymeric materials which are being increasingly investigated for interdisciplinary applications. Their high electrical conductivity, excellent thermal/mechanical stability, low vapor pressure, and easy processibility render PILs exceptionally attractive as versatile platforms for green chemistry. Recent decades have witnessed fruitful efforts devoted to the development of PIL-based green chemistry platforms, achieving significant discoveries that will unfold their uniqueness in catalysis, separation, sensors, electrolyte, and functional materials. However, few review papers offer comprehensive discussion on PILs' application in the green chemistry field. In this review, we initially introduce the structure and types of PILs, which is followed by a systematical summary of the synthesis of PILs in terms of direct polymerization of monomer, polymerization after monomer modification, and modification of polymers. Furthermore, several aspects of the application of PILs related to green chemistry are highlighted, such as sensors, separation, catalysis, electrolytes for energy storage devices, and as versatile precursors yielding functional materials. Current challenges and corresponding research directions in PILs for green chemistry are clarified, to make PILs truly green platforms for existing technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How to tune the activity and reversibility of oxygen anion redox (OAR) is a critical issue for O3‐type sodium‐ion battery (SIB) cathodes. Herein, the key role of electronegativity‐difference configuration on the activation of OAR is find out, and further tune electronegativity‐difference configuration with La incorporation to construct non‐bonded O 2p orbitals and achieve the reversible anionic redox in O3‐type NaMn1/3Fe1/3Ni1/3O2. Owing to the special extranuclear electronic structure of La3+ [Xe], the La electron cloud is difficult to be disturbed by the O electron cloud, and some O electrons do not participate in the formation of ionic bonds, thus retaining the non‐bonded electrons of O 2p and activating OAR. Moreover, La3+ doping also decreases the Coulomb force between Na+ and O2− favoring Na+ migration as well as strengthening the La─O bonds inhibiting the irreversible phase transition. La2O3 coating layer also plays a role on inhibiting the reaction between molecular oxygen and the electrolyte, and making OAR reversible. After modification, the cycling stability is significantly improved (86.9% vs 27.3%@2C@200cycles; 90.8% vs 52.9%@5C@300 cycles). This study presents some insights on OAR activation mechanism and offers a facile strategy to improve the activity and reversibility of OAR for designing high performance SIBs cathodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil salinisation is a pervasive form of land degradation posing a significant threat to the global environment. Saline soil, covering roughly 10% of the total land area, represents a crucial reserve of land resources. The use of super absorbent polymer (SAP) impacts capillary water movement through the soil because of its exceptional water absorption and retention capabilities. SAP is expected to influence the intricate water‐salt migration processes and their redistribution within soil. This study employed soil column experiments to investigate the impacts of varying SAP dosages (A), heights (B) and thicknesses (C) on soil water and salt transport in the Tianjin Binhai New Area, China. The main findings showed that: (1) average capillary water rise rate decreased with SAP dosage increase. The groundwater recharge trend in time was like that of capillary water rise height; (2) SAP usage increased water and salt content on the application layer and reduced surface soil salt accumulation; (3) the best SAP combination for application was 1.1% SAP at 17–18 cm from the groundwater level. This study provides basic effective SAP application strategies for preventing soil salinisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hillslope‐gully system serves as the primary contributor to both runoff and sediment yield. The WEPP (Water Erosion Prediction Project) model is often applied to investigate erosion characteristics at hillslope scale, demonstrating a high level of accuracy in simulating water erosion. In this study, according to in situ field monitoring (2014–2020) at a Pisha sandstone hillslope on the Loess Plateau, China, a total of 50 rainfall events' data were used as climatic data to calibrate the soil parameters, and 11 different vegetation patterns and four slope gradients of hillslope‐gully systems were installed as inputs for the management and slope data, respectively. In systems A, B, C and D, the hillslope gradients were defined as 5°, 8°, 10° and 12° and the gully gradients as 15°, 20°, 25° and 30°, respectively. The results showed that the steeper the slope, the more severe the erosion. However, there was a critical value for the effect of slope on runoff. When the slope exceeded 8° and the gully exceeded 20°, the runoff no longer increased further and even decreased. The reduction in runoff in hillslope‐gully systems was in the following order (in mm): system D (3.4 ± 0.14) > system C (3.4 ± 0.14) > system B (3.39 ± 0.14) > system A (3.12 ± 0.13). Increasing vegetation cover could reduce erosion. Differences in runoff between vegetation patterns were not significant (p > 0.05) and ranged from 8% to 26%. However, there were significant differences in the sediment yield reduction benefits of different vegetation patterns (p < 0.05), ranging from 17% to 66%. It was observed that vegetation located in the lower slope produced a more pronounced effect in mitigating sediment when the degree of cover was the same. We conclude that implementing watershed management strategies based on the vegetation and topographic attributes of hillslope‐gully systems within the Loess Plateau, especially on Pisha sandstone hillslopes, serves as the fundamental approach to achieving sustainable watershed management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scalar fields play an important role in constructing modified gravity theories. In the case of a single scalar field with timelike gradient, the corresponding Lagrangian in the unitary gauge takes the form of spatially covariant gravity (SCG), which is proved useful in analyzing and extending the generally covariant theories. In this work, we apply the SCG method to the scalar-nonmetricity theory, of which the Lagrangian is built of the nonmetricity tensor and a scalar field. We derive the 3+1 decomposition of the geometric quantities and especially covariant derivatives of the scalar field up to the third order in the presence of a nonvanishing nonmetricity tensor. By fixing the unitary gauge, the resulting Lagrangian takes the form of a SCG with nonmetricity, in which all the ingredients are spatial tensors. We then exhaust the scalar monomials of SCG with nonmetricity up to d = 3 with d the total number of derivatives. Since the disformation tensor plays as an auxiliary variable, we take the Lagrangian with d = 2 as an example to show that after solving the disformation tensor, we can get an effective SCG theory for the metric variables but with modified coefficients. Our results provides a novel approach to extending the scalar-nonmetricity theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cronobacter sakazakii in powdered infant formula (PIF) can infect infants with a mortality rate of up to 80%. In this study, a propidium monoazide–loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (PMA‐LAMP) assay was developed for fast and cost‐effective visual detection of viable C. sakazakii. The detection could be finished in 75 min and the results could be identified by the naked eye. The detection limits of the assay were as low as 1.2 × 101 cfu/mL and 1.2 × 102 cfu/mL for gel electrophoresis and naked eyes respectively. Finally, the assay also showed good reliability in the artificially contaminated PIF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Space-based gravitational wave detection is extremely sensitive to disturbances. The Keplerian configuration cannot accurately reflect the variations in spacecraft configuration. Planetary gravitational disturbances are one of the main sources. Numerical simulation is an effective method to investigate the impact of perturbation on spacecraft orbits. This study shows that, in the context of the Taiji project, Earth's gravity is an essential factor in the change in heliocentric formation configuration, contributing to the relative acceleration between spacecrafts in the order of O (10 − 6) m · s − 2 . Considering 00:00:00 on 27 October 2032 as the initial orbiting moment, under the influence of Earth's gravitational perturbation, the maximum relative change in armlengths and variation rates of armlengths for Taiji is 1.6 × 10 5 km , 32 m · s − 1 , respectively, compared with the unperturbed Keplerian orbit. Additionally, by considering the gravitational perturbations of Venus and Jupiter, the armlength and relative velocity for Taiji are reduced by 16.01 % and 17.45 % , respectively, compared with when only considering that of Earth. The maximum amplitude of the formation motion indicator changes with the orbit entry time. Results show that the relative velocity increase between the spacecrafts is minimal when the initial orbital moment occurs in July. Moreover, the numerical simulation results are inconsistent when using different ephemerides. The differences between ephemerides DE440 and DE430 are smaller than those between DE440 and DE421. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Women with overweight or obesity are recommended to lose weight before conception to optimize pregnancy outcomes. However, the obstetrical implications of prepregnancy weight loss have been minimally examined. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between prepregnancy weight loss and maternal metabolic and inflammatory profiles during a subsequent pregnancy. Methods: This study was a retrospective analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data (2003–2018). Participants were women who were pregnant at the time of assessment. Prepregnancy weight loss was described as percent weight change based on self‐reported baseline (1 year before pregnancy) and prepregnancy weight. Metabolic (e.g., blood pressure [BP]) and inflammatory biomarkers (i.e., high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein [hs‐CRP]) were determined by standard medical tests. Statistical analyses included linear regressions with appropriate imputation, weighting, and variance estimation techniques. Results: Participants (N = 236) reported a mean percent weight loss of 4.6% (standard error [SE] = 0.3%) during the year before pregnancy. Regression models showed that prepregnancy weight loss was inversely associated with levels of total cholesterol (β = −1.24, p = 0.01), low‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (β = −0.79, p < 0.01), and high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (β = −0.18, p < 0.01). The effect of prepregnancy weight loss on BP, insulin sensitivity, and hs‐CRP was not significant, although there was a trend toward higher levels of diastolic BP (β = 0.24, p = 0.07) and hs‐CRP (β = 0.10, p = 0.08). Conclusions: This study found favorable changes in lipid profiles following prepregnancy weight loss. Due to limitations such as a relatively small sample size, self‐reported weight measures, and missing data on several outcome variables, future studies are needed to confirm study findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A measurement performed on a quantum system is an act of gaining information about its state. However, in the foundations of quantum theory, the concept of information is multiply defined, particularly in the area of quantum reconstruction, and its conceptual foundations remain surprisingly under-explored. In this paper, we investigate the gain of information in quantum measurements from an operational viewpoint in the special case of a two-outcome probabilistic source. We show that the continuous extension of the Shannon entropy naturally admits two distinct measures of information gain, differential information gain and relative information gain, and that these have radically different characteristics. In particular, while differential information gain can increase or decrease as additional data are acquired, relative information gain consistently grows and, moreover, exhibits asymptotic indifference to the data or choice of Bayesian prior. In order to make a principled choice between these measures, we articulate a Principle of Information Increase, which incorporates a proposal due to Summhammer that more data from measurements leads to more knowledge about the system, and also takes into consideration black swan events. This principle favours differential information gain as the more relevant metric and guides the selection of priors for these information measures. Finally, we show that, of the symmetric beta distribution priors, the Jeffreys binomial prior is the prior that ensures maximal robustness of information gain for the particular data sequence obtained in a run of experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Recently N-Fluoroarenesulfonamides (ArSO2NHF) were found to be promising precursors for the preparation of N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide derivatives without applying F2. However, very few studies have discussed the mass spectrometric behaviors of ArSO2NHF with N-F structure. Methods: In this article, we applied high-resolution electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS/MS) to study the effect on the mass spectrometric behaviors of ArSO2NHF after the introduction of the F-atom to the N-atom of ArSO2NH2. Results: High-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS) experiments showed that ArSO2NHF produced only good signals in negative ion mode, and the dominating product ion SO2F- at m/z 83 was observed in all HR-ESIMS/MS of ArSO2NF- with different substituents in the Ar group. The formation of the product ion SO2F- was proof of the gas-phase F-atom migration rearrangement from the N-atom to the S-atom in ESI-MS/MS of ArSO2NF-. Conclusion: To fully explain the gas-phase reaction mechanism from ArSO2NF- to SO2F-, we studied the HR-ESI-MS/MS of deprotonated ArSO2NHF and also performed theoretical calculations. Both results confirmed that ArSO2NF- first underwent Smiles rearrangement to yield intermediate I (INT1) ArNFSO2-, and then the F-atom of ArNFSO2- migrated from the N-atom to the S-atom to form intermediate II (INT2) ArN-SO2F, which finally dissociated to SO2F- at m/z 83 with loss of a neutral nitrene (ArN). All these results showed that the formation of the product ion SO2F- from ArSO2NF- was a common and intrinsic gas-phase reactivity of ArSO2NF-. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of China's market‐oriented transformation, the marketization of urban land transfer (MULT) plays an important role. However, the intrinsic link between MULT and carbon emissions remains unclear. This study aims to revise the assessment methodology of MULT using large‐scale land transaction record data and tested its impact on carbon emissions at the city level. The results indicate that the competitive bidding mechanism of MULT suppresses “bottom line” competition between local authorities and has beneficial effects on carbon emissions reduction. Further analysis shows that MULT has indirectly reduced carbon emissions by industrial structure optimization. The heterogeneity test showed that the effectiveness of MULT on carbon emissions varies significantly across cities with different levels of resource endowment and location. The lag effect test shows that MULT has a negative impact on carbon emissions in the current year and second year but is no longer significant in the third year. This research expands the understanding of the intrinsic link between institutional and sustainable development, providing new insights and policy rationale for mitigating the environmental crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial infections have emerged as the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Herein, we developed a dual‐channel fluorescence "turn‐on" sensor array, comprising six electrostatic complexes formed from one negatively charged poly(para‐aryleneethynylene) (PPE) and six positively charged aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) fluorophores. The 6‐element array enabled the simultaneous identification of 20 bacteria (OD600=0.005) within 30s (99.0 % accuracy), demonstrating significant advantages over the array constituted by the 7 separate elements that constitute the complexes. Meanwhile, the array realized different mixing ratios and quantitative detection of prevalent bacteria associated with urinary tract infection (UTI). It also excelled in distinguishing six simulated bacteria samples in artificial urine. Remarkably, the limit of detection for E. coli and E. faecalis was notably low, at 0.000295 and 0.000329 (OD600), respectively. Finally, optimized by diverse machine learning algorithms, the designed array achieved 96.7 % accuracy in differentiating UTI clinical samples from healthy individuals using a random forest model, demonstrating the great potential for medical diagnostic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial infections have emerged as the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Herein, we developed a dual‐channel fluorescence "turn‐on" sensor array, comprising six electrostatic complexes formed from one negatively charged poly(para‐aryleneethynylene) (PPE) and six positively charged aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) fluorophores. The 6‐element array enabled the simultaneous identification of 20 bacteria (OD600=0.005) within 30s (99.0 % accuracy), demonstrating significant advantages over the array constituted by the 7 separate elements that constitute the complexes. Meanwhile, the array realized different mixing ratios and quantitative detection of prevalent bacteria associated with urinary tract infection (UTI). It also excelled in distinguishing six simulated bacteria samples in artificial urine. Remarkably, the limit of detection for E. coli and E. faecalis was notably low, at 0.000295 and 0.000329 (OD600), respectively. Finally, optimized by diverse machine learning algorithms, the designed array achieved 96.7 % accuracy in differentiating UTI clinical samples from healthy individuals using a random forest model, demonstrating the great potential for medical diagnostic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we employed the principle of Relative Mode Transfer Method (RMTM) to establish a model for a single pendulum subjected to sudden changes in its length. An experimental platform for image processing was constructed to accurately track the position of a moving ball, enabling experimental verification of the pendulum's motion under specific operating conditions. The experimental data demonstrated excellent agreement with simulated numerical results, validating the effectiveness of the proposed methodology. Furthermore, we performed simulations of a double obstacle pendulum system, investigating the effects of different parameters, including obstacle pin positions, quantities, and initial release angles, on the pendulum's motion through numerical simulations. This research provides novel insights into addressing the challenges associated with abrupt and continuous changes in pendulum length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a multifunctional solvent, deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have numerous potential applications in a variety of fields due to their low vapor pressure, tunability, environmental friendliness, and the ability to dissolve a wide range of chemicals. DESs serve as solvents, templates, and functionalization agents, among other functions, in the synthesis of functional materials, all of which are covered in this work. In addition, recent developments in the creation of different functional materials utilizing DESs are reviewed, as is the mechanism of DES activity throughout the preparation process and their potential to control the material's characteristics. The inherent features, cost-effectiveness, and environmental friendliness of DESs are highlighted in the study, and it is argued that this makes them a potential green platform. Finally, the potential, key problems, and limitations of DESs are outlined for use in materials science. It is anticipated that this study will be a resource for proponents and users of green chemistry, assisting them in reducing pollution, boosting productivity, and reaping the rewards of progress in the development of DESs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In geotechnical engineering, it is of great importance to study the mechanical properties of the interface between geomaterials and structure. In order to understand the shear behavior of the interface between soil-rock mixture and structure, the discrete element method is used to simulate the interface shear test of soil-rock mixture and rough structural plane. Two confining pressures and three roughness are considered. In terms of mechanical properties, macro-mechanical behavior and micro-mechanical behavior are analyzed. In terms of deformation, in order to identify the local area that plays a critical role in the interface, three methods are used to quantitatively describe the shear band thickness, including localized deformation, new contact, and particle displacement. Particle displacement is a physical quantity that can be directly observed in laboratory tests, while localized deformation must be calculated and analyzed. And new contact is a quantity that can be captured by discrete element simulation. Different analysis methods of shear band thickness are suitable for analyzing different problems by different test methods. The results show that the thickness of shear band increases with the increase of structural plane roughness. The mechanism of this phenomenon is explained by the microscopic particle inlay and the active and passive earth pressure on both sides of the structural plane unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Observational studies indicated that individuals with osteoporosis could be at an increased risk of periodontitis. This study aimed to investigate whether there is a causal association of bone mineral density (BMD) with periodontitis using Mendelian randomization (MR). Materials and Methods: Summary statistics were sourced from genome‐wide association study on BMD measured at different skeletal sites, including estimated heel BMD (eBMD, N = 426,824), forearm BMD (FA‐BMD, N = 8143), femoral neck BMD (FN‐BMD, N = 32,735), and lumbar spine BMD (LS‐BMD, N = 28,498). Genetic variants of periodontitis (N = 45,563) and loose teeth (N = 461,031) were used as outcome surrogates. Inverse variance weighted meta‐analysis (IVW) was adopted as main analyses. Other sensitivity MR approaches were used to boost power and account for pleiotropy. Results: IVW results suggested no evidence for a causal association of any phenotypes of BMD with periodontitis (eBMD, odds ratio [OR] = 0.984, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.885–1.083; FA‐BMD, OR = 1.028, 95%CI = 0.864–1.193; FN‐BMD, OR = 1.033, 95%CI = 0.896–1.169; LS‐BMD, OR = 0.991, 95%CI =0.878–1.103; all P > 0.65). Such null associations were consistent through other sensitivity MR approaches. Similarly, no significant causal effects of BMD on loose teeth were found. Conclusions: Within the limitation of the study, our MR estimates suggested that a decreased BMD is unlikely to substantially increase the risk of periodontitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unsteady partial differential equations (UPDE) with convection term gives a clear descriptions for the solidification process of a slab in dynamic production of continuous casting. To give a suitable setting value of secondary cooling water flow rate for the dynamic control system, this study investigates an optimal control problem (OCP) of UPDE with convection term. Firstly, control vector discretization of OCP and the solution of UPDE are given. Secondly, due to the rapidity for gradient, this paper analyzes the expression of the gradient calculation method based on Hamiltonian function costate system by approximate treatment, matrix calculation and composite trapezoidal integral method. Thirdly, an improved three-term spectrum conjugate gradient algorithm (ITSCGA) is proposed to solve the OCP of UPDE, and the global convergence of the ITSCGA is demonstrated. Lastly, the performance of ITSCGA is demonstrated by experimental simulations. The results demonstrate that the ITSCGA provides a smaller temperature fluctuations, and improves the quality of a slab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social and spatial mobility have been subject to substantial recent sociological and policy debate. Complementing other recent work, in this paper we explore these patterns in relation to higher education. Making use of high‐quality data from the higher education statistics agency (HESA), we ran a set of multilevel models to test whether the local authority areas where young people grow up influence social and spatial mobility into a higher professional or managerial job on graduation. We found entry to these patterns reflect pre‐existing geographies of wealth and income, with more affluent rural and suburban areas in South‐East England having higher levels of entry to these occupations. Graduates clustered from major cities tended to be spatially immobile and those from peripheral areas further away from these cities show a higher density of long‐distance moves following graduation. We also explored the intersection between social and spatial mobility for graduates with the economic geography of Britain, showing that access to high‐class occupations is not necessarily associated with long‐distance moves across most British districts. Our evidence further suggests that the ‘London effect’, where working‐class students have higher school attainment than their peers elsewhere, may not continue through to graduate employment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the aging population continues to increase, aging-related inflammation, oxidative stress, and neurodegenerative diseases have become serious global health threats. Resveratrol, a star molecule in natural polyphenols, has been widely reported to have physiological activities such as anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotection. However, its poor water solubility, rapid metabolism, low bioavailability and poor targeting ability, which limits its application. Accordingly, a brain-targeted resveratrol liposome (ANG-RES-LIP) was developed to solve these issues. Experimental results showed that ANG-RES-LIP has a uniform size distribution, good biocompatibility, and a drug encapsulation rate of over 90%. Furthermore, in vitro cell experiments showed that the modification of the targeting ligand ANG significantly increased the capability of RES to cross the BBB and neuronal uptake. Compared with free RES, ANG-RES-LIP demonstrated stronger antioxidant activity and the ability to rescue oxidatively damaged cells from apoptosis. Additionally, ANG-RES-LIP showed the ability to repair damaged neuronal mitochondrial membrane potential. In vivo experiments further demonstrated that ANG-RES-LIP improved cognitive function by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation levels in the brains of aging model mice, repairing damaged neurons and glial cells, and increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor. In summary, this study not only provides a new method for further development and application of resveratrol but also a promising strategy for preventing and treating age-related neurodegenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the existence and uniqueness of positive solutions for a class of a fractional differential equation system of Riemann–Liouville type on infinite intervals with infinite-point boundary conditions. First, the higher-order equation is reduced to the lower-order equation, and then it is transformed into the equivalent integral equation. Secondly, we obtain the existence and uniqueness of positive solutions for each fixed parameter λ > 0 by using the mixed monotone operators fixed-point theorem. The results obtained in this paper show that the unique positive solution has good properties: continuity, monotonicity, iteration, and approximation. Finally, an example is given to demonstrate the application of our main results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the pathogenesis of ventricular hypoplasia in pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PA-IVS), a type of hypoplastic right heart syndrome. The study utilizes patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and single-cell RNA sequencing to investigate the differentiation and proliferation of cardiomyocytes in PA-IVS. The findings suggest that impaired cardiomyocyte proliferation and abnormal lineage differentiation may contribute to the development of right ventricle hypoplasia in PA-IVS. Additionally, metabolic dysfunction and elevated mitochondrial activity are observed in PA-IVS iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. Further research using 3-dimensional iPSC-derived cardiac organoids is recommended to better understand the specific defects in hypoplastic right heart syndrome. [Extracted from the article]

Accurate and reliable estimation of performance degradation in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) can contribute to the maintenance and risk management of fuel cell systems. However, current research overly emphasizes model ensemble strategies and data preprocessing, neglecting the improvement of internal mechanisms within the models. Few models can adequately capture the long-term dependencies of relevant features. In this study, a dual-stage attention mechanism (DA) network structure called DA-LSTM was developed based on the Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) neural network to predict the performance degradation of PEMFCs. In the first stage, an input attention mechanism is introduced, utilizing an encoder to adaptively extract important information from each time step of the input features. In the second stage, a temporal attention mechanism is employed to obtain relevant temporal attention factors across all time steps. The proposed approach is tested on various datasets and exhibits favorable predictive performance for PEMFC performance degradation. When compared to different models, the DA-LSTM consistently outperforms other models, demonstrating superior stability and predictive capability. Additionally, the visualization of attention weights explains the relationship between input features and the performance degradation of PEMFC. This enables real-time monitoring of fuel cell systems, which in turn helps prolong the lifespan of PEMFC. • A model for accurately predicting the performance degradation of PEMFC has been proposed. • The proposed model is capable of reliably achieving multi-step prediction of PEMFC performance degradation. • A dual-stage attention mechanism is employed to extract both feature and temporal information. • A interpretable deep learning network model has been constructed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myopia, a common ophthalmic disorder, places a high economic burden on individuals and society. Genetic and environmental factors influence myopia progression; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unelucidated. This paper reviews recent advances in circadian rhythm, intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs), and dopamine (DA) signalling in myopia and proposes the hypothesis of a circadian rhythm brain retinal circuit in myopia progression. The search of relevant English articles was conducted in the PubMed databases until June 2023. Based on the search, emerging evidence indicated that circadian rhythm was associated with myopia, including circadian genes Bmal1, Cycle, and Per. In both humans and animals, the ocular morphology and physiology show rhythmic oscillations. Theoretically, such ocular rhythms are regulated locally and indirectly via the suprachiasmatic nucleus, which receives signal from the ipRGCs. Compared with the conventional retinal ganglion cells, ipRGCs can sense the presence of light because of specific expression of melanopsin. Light, together with ipRGCs and DA signalling, plays a crucial role in both circadian rhythm and myopia. In summary, regarding myopia progression, a circadian rhythm brain retinal circuit involving ipRGCs and DA signalling has not been well established. However, based on the relationship between circadian rhythm, ipRGCs, and DA signalling in myopia, we hypothesised a circadian rhythm brain retinal circuit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wilms' tumor is a malignant renal cancer that arises within the pediatric urinary system. This study intended to investigate how a novel long non-coding RNA LINC01339 functions in the pathogenesis of Wilms' tumor. An elevated miR-135b-3p expression as well as reduced levels of LINC01339 and ADH1C were observed in Wilms' tumor. LINC01339 mediated ADH1C expression by directly binding to miR-135b-3p. The enforced LINC01339 or ADH1C markedly hindered cell growth and migration in Wilms' tumor. The LINC01339 overexpression also repressed the growth of Wilms' tumors in vivo, whereas miR-135b-3p overexpression exerted the opposite effects on Wilms' tumor cells in vitro. Additionally, upregulating miR-135b-3p reversed LINC01339's effects on the cellular processes of Wilms' tumor cells, whereas ADH1C overexpression offset the cancer-promoting influence of miR-135b-3p upregulation on Wilms' tumor progression. Therefore, LINC01339 prevents Wilms' tumor progression by modulating the miR-135b-3p/ADH1C axis. Our findings substantiate that the LINC01339/miR-135 b-3p/ADH1C regulatory axis has potential to be a target for the treatment of Wilms' tumor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate an optimal control problem (OCP) for three-dimensional (3D) unsteady partial differential equations with convection term (UPDECT), extensively applied to the solidification process of billets. Firstly, we introduce the mathematical model of OCP and adopt a life cycle model method (LCMM) to numerically solve the 3D UPDECT. Secondly, the Lipschitz continuity of the cost function gradient is proved using the adjoint approach as a numerical method for designing optimal control systems. The cost function gradient of OCP for 3D UPDECT is analyzed based on a Hamiltonian costate system. Thirdly, we propose a modified trinomial conjugate gradient method (MTCGM) to solve the OCP for 3D UPDECT and prove the global convergence of MTCGM. Finally, the MTCGM is applied to the experimental simulation of continuous casting. According to experiment results, the optimizer based on MTCGM can significantly accelerate the convergence speed and reduce the iterative numbers, and the MTCGM provides a more stable temperature control effect. • An optimal control problem (OCP) for three-dimensional unsteady partial differential equation is studied. • The Lipschitz continuity of cost function gradient in the OCP is proved, and the Lipschitz constant is obtained. • The expression of gradient calculation of the OCP is analyzed based on Hamiltonian costate system. • A modified trinomial conjugate gradient method (MTCGM), and the global convergence of the MTCGM is proved. • The effectiveness of MTCGM is verified by experimental simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The abnormal expression of human DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) is closely related with the occurrence and development of a wide range of human cancers. DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase-1 (DNMT1) is the most abundant human DNA methyltransferase and is mainly responsible for genomic DNA methylation patterns. Abnormal expression of DNMT1 has been found in many kinds of tumors, and DNMT1 has become a valuable target for the diagnosis and drug therapy of diseases. Nowadays, DNMT1 has been found to be involved in multiple cancers such as pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, bladder cancer, lung cancer, gastric cancer and other cancers. In order to achieve early diagnosis and for scientific research, various analytical methods have been developed for qualitative or quantitative detection of low-abundance DNMT1 in biological samples and human tumor cells. Herein, we provide a brief explication of the research progress of DNMT1 involved in various cancer types. In addition, this review focuses on the types, principles, and applications of DNMT1 detection methods, and discusses the challenges and potential future directions of DNMT1 detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is still a challenge to explore durable and highly efficient non-precious metal-based electrocatalysts, especially transition metal phosphides (TMPs), with favorable nanoarchitectures towards the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, we demonstrate an effective NaCl hard template strategy combined with subsequent high temperature phosphorization to prepare MoP nanocrystals encapsulated in N-doped three-dimensional carbon networks (MoP/NC). Due to the excellent integration of uniform electrocatalytic active constituents and a unique porous conductive carbonaceous framework, the hierarchical heterostructures exhibit robust HER activity to achieve 10 mA cm−2 at relatively low overpotential in acidic (130 mV) and alkaline (150 mV) media, respectively, and present superior cyclability and durability to bulk MoP. This work provides a versatile route to design and construct multi-dimensional TMP/carbonaceous matrix composites to be applied in the electrocatalytic HER and even other energy storage and conversion applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a new multi-objective topology and size optimization framework is developed for the joint concept–detailed design of stiffened panels. The normalized exponential weighted criterion (NEWC) is suggested to explore the Pareto-optimal topology point. A triple-weighting strategy (TWS) using the optimal combined weight model (OCWM) is presented to derive ideal sub-objective weights desired by NEWC. A three-stage continuation (TSC) technique with penalization power increasing by one is introduced to assist NEWC in multi-objective topology optimization considering symmetry constraints. Then, a segmented size optimization (SSO) method assisted by automation technology is used for the curved stiffened panel obtained by NEWC to fulfil the detailed design. Comparisons with the classical dual-weighting methods, average method (AM), and weighted sum method (WSM) verify the validity of TWS, OCWM and NEWC, respectively. The contrast of the multi-objective detailed design with the typical stiffened panel illustrates the improvement of SSO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a high-energy-consuming sector, China's light sector should have received more attention for its carbon emissions (CO2e). However, the literature on energy-related CO2e in China's light sector is limited at present. This paper aims to assess the impact of China's light sector on CO2e. This paper applies the energy consumption technique, input-output analysis technique, and structural decomposition model to analyze China's light sector energy-related CO2e and emission reduction from the input-output perspective. The results show that the energy structure effect, energy intensity effect, and input structure effect are the main restraining factors for the growth of the light sector energy-related CO2e, which are caused by the expansion of the energy utilization structure on the supply side of the light sector. The final demand effect is the factor promoting the growth of the light sector energy-related CO2e. It reveals that the final demand products in the light sector still have high environmental degradation features. Policymakers should actively enhance and rationally adjust the demand for the light sector in numerous industries to avoid the resource waste caused by the excessive expansion of the light sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: There is an aberrant expression of NBAT-1 in various human cancers, which was proven to limit the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of tumour cells via multiple approaches. Most existing research focuses on sample size and discrete outcomes. Thus, a quantitative meta-analysis was performed to elucidate the prognostic value of lncRNA NBAT-1 expression in cancer patients. Materials and methods: Using Web of Science and PubMed, two researchers independently identified relevant studies to explore the association between the pathological features of human cancers and NBAT-1 expression levels. Then two scholars conducted literature screening according to exclusion criteria and admission criteria, and finally conducted statistical analysis through data extraction with StataSE 12.0. Results: A total of 12 eligible studies with 1600 patients were included in the meta-analysis eventually. It is indicated that the low expression level of lncRNA NBAT-1 was closely related to distant metastasis [RR = 0.50, 95% CI (0.33, 0.76), and P = 0.00], deep tumour invasion [RR = 0.62, 95% CI (0.49,0.80), and P = 0.00], poor histological grade [RR = 0.68, 95% CI (0.57, 0.81), and P = 0.00], advanced TNM stage [RR = 0.66, 95% CI (0.55, 0.79), and P = 0.00], large tumour volume[RR = 0.72, 95% CI (0.55, 0.93), and P = 0.01], and lymph node metastasis [RR = 0.62, 95% CI (0.46, 0.84), and P = 0.00], suggesting that it may serve as biomarkers for patients with poor prognosis. Conclusion: Reduced expression of NBAT-1 can predict poor prognosis in several cancers, as found in the meta-analysis, demonstrating that NBAT-1 can serve as a promising prognostic factor of human cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies a novel method of the dynamic event-triggered mechanisms and the predictive control scheme for discrete-time networked linear systems subject to network delays and DoS attacks in both sensor-to-controller (S − C) and controller-to-actuator (C − A) channels. First, by assuming maximum allowable duration of DoS attacks, predictive control scheme is used to proactively offset the adverse impacts of communication constraints. Second, to further save communication resources, dynamic event-triggered mechanisms are configured on sensor and controller sides, respectively. Next, sufficient condition is derived for discrete-time networked linear systems under predictive control and dynamic event-triggered mechanisms, which guarantees the resulting closed-loop system's asymptotical stability. Finally, a simulation example is used to confirm the availability and applicability of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium phenoxide is considered as one of the potentially promising hydrogen storage materials due to its high hydrogen capacity and enhanced thermodynamic properties. However, efficient catalysts are needed to overcome kinetic barriers of the hydrogenation and dehydrogenation processes. In the present work, an ultrafine amorphous Ru–B alloy catalyst was synthesized by a solid-phase ball milling of RuCl 3 with NaBH 4 and subsequently tested for the hydrogenation of sodium phenoxide in an aqueous solution at room temperature. The conversion of phenoxide is significantly improved by 48.9 % on the Ru 3.9 B alloy catalyst compared with pristine Ru nanoparticles. Kinetic studies revealed that the hydrogenation of sodium phenoxide is of first-order with respect to H 2 pressure and zero-order to the concentration of sodium phenoxide over the Ru 3.9 B catalyst. Characterizations showed that the electronic structure of Ru is well modulated by B, leading to an electron-rich state of Ru. The highly active catalysis may be due to the fine dispersion, amorphous state, and electron-rich state of Ru in the ultrafine alloy. [Display omitted] • Amorphous Ru–B alloy was synthesized without any supports or protecting agents. • Room temperature hydrogenation of phenoxide was achieved over Ru–B alloy catalyst. • The electron-rich state structure of Ru is well modulated by B. • The amorphous nature and unique electronic structure lead to outstanding activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent sapphire and magnesium aluminum spinel (MgAl 2 O 4) ceramic was first brazed using La 2 O 3 -SiO 2 -B 2 O 3 -Nb 2 O 5 (LSBN) or La 2 O 3 -SiO 2 -B 2 O 3 -Nb 2 O 5 -MgO (LSBNM) glass filler. The Al 2 O 3 layer was formed at MgAl 2 O 4 /LSBN interface or sapphire/LSBNM interface, which caused the decrease of light transmission of joints. To avoid the formation of this interface layer, sapphire/LSBN/LSBNM/MgAl 2 O 4 joints with double glass interlayers were fabricated by using a two-step joining method consisting of high-temperature coating and low-temperature bonding. After the first step of high-temperature coating, no interfacial layer was observed in sapphire/LSBN glass and MgAl 2 O 4 /LSBNM glass samples. During the bonding process, low bonding temperature (750 °C) resulted in cracks and unbonding, while high bonding temperature (950 °C) caused the crystallization of glass interlayers. However, when the bonding temperature was 850 °C, the in-line transmission and shear strength of the sapphire/MgAl 2 O 4 joints reached 78.3% and 52 MPa, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deafness is a common sensory disorder. In China, approximately 70% of hereditary deafness originates from four common deafness-causing genes: GJB2, SLC26A4, GJB3, and MT-RNR1. A single-tube rapid detection method based on 2D-PCR technology was established for nine mutation sites in the aforementioned genes, and Sanger sequencing was used to verify its reliability and accuracy. The frequency of hotspot mutations in deafness genes was analysed in 116 deaf students. 2D-PCR identified 27 genotypes of nine loci according to the melting curve of the FAM, HEX, and Alexa568 fluorescence channels. Of the 116 deaf patients, 12.9% (15/116) carried SLC26A4 mutations, including c.919-2A > G and c.2168A > G (allele frequencies, 7.3% and 2.2%, respectively). The positivity rate (29.3%; 34/116) was highest for GJB2 (allele frequency, 15.9% for c.235delC, 6.0% for c.299_300delAT, and 2.6% for c.176-191del16). Sanger sequencing confirmed the consistency of results between the detection methods based on 2D-PCR and DNA sequencing. Common pathogenic mutations in patients with non-syndromic deafness in Changzhou were concentrated in GJB2 (c.235delC, c.299_300delAT, and c.176-191del16) and SLC26A4 (c.919-2A > G and c.2168 A > G). 2D-PCR is an effective method for accurately and rapidly identifying deafness-related genotypes using a single-tube reaction, and is superior to DNA sequencing, which has a high cost and long cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies on China's arid and semi-arid regions, particularly the Tarim River Basin (TRB), have shown an increase in the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events. This research examines the link between meteorological droughts, as measured by the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), and hydrological droughts, as indicated by the Standardized Runoff Index (SRI) and the Standardized Terrestrial Water Storage Index (STI), over various time scales. Historical data indicate that SPEI drought frequency (DF) was 14.3–21.9%, with prevalent events in the northern oases. SRI DF ranged from 9.0% to 35.8%, concentrated around the Taklamakan and Kumtag Deserts, while STI DF varied between 4.4% and 32.7%, averaging 15% basin-wide. Future projections show an increased DF of SPEI in deserts and a decrease in oases; SRI DF decreased in deserts but increased in oases. STI changes were more moderate. The study also found a higher risk of drought progression from SPEI to SRI in the southwestern and northeastern oases, exceeding 50% probability, while central and eastern TRB had lower risks. The western TRB and inner Taklamakan Desert faced higher risks of SPEI to STI progression, with probabilities over 45%, in contrast to the lower risks in the eastern and central oases. The concurrence of SRI/STI with moderate to extreme SPEI droughts led to a higher probability and area of SRI/STI droughts, whereas consistent SPEI types showed a reduced induced probability and extent of SRI/STI droughts. This study enhances the understanding of drought propagation from meteorological to hydrological droughts in the TRB and contributes to the prevention of hydrological drought to a certain extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent sapphire and magnesium aluminum spinel (MgAl 2 O 4) ceramic was first brazed using La 2 O 3 -SiO 2 -B 2 O 3 -Nb 2 O 5 (LSBN) or La 2 O 3 -SiO 2 -B 2 O 3 -Nb 2 O 5 -MgO (LSBNM) glass filler. The Al 2 O 3 layer was formed at MgAl 2 O 4 /LSBN interface or sapphire/LSBNM interface, which caused the decrease of light transmission of joints. To avoid the formation of this interface layer, sapphire/LSBN/LSBNM/MgAl 2 O 4 joints with double glass interlayers were fabricated by using a two-step joining method consisting of high-temperature coating and low-temperature bonding. After the first step of high-temperature coating, no interfacial layer was observed in sapphire/LSBN glass and MgAl 2 O 4 /LSBNM glass samples. During the bonding process, low bonding temperature (750 °C) resulted in cracks and unbonding, while high bonding temperature (950 °C) caused the crystallization of glass interlayers. However, when the bonding temperature was 850 °C, the in-line transmission and shear strength of the sapphire/MgAl 2 O 4 joints reached 78.3% and 52 MPa, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While there is an extensive body of research on the influence of climate warming on total soil microbial communities, our understanding of how rhizosphere and non‐rhizosphere soil microorganisms respond to warming remains limited. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated the impact of 4 years of soil warming on the diversity and composition of microbial communities in the rhizosphere and non‐rhizosphere soil of a temperate steppe, focusing on changes in root exudation rates and exudate compositions. We used open top chambers to simulate warming conditions, resulting in an average soil temperature increase of 1.1°C over a span of 4 years. Our results showed that, in the non‐rhizosphere soil, warming had no significant impact on dissolved organic carbon concentrations, compositions, or the abundance of soil microbial functional genes related to carbon and nitrogen cycling. Moreover, soil microbial diversity and community composition remained largely unaffected, although warming resulted in increased complexity of soil bacteria and fungi in the non‐rhizosphere soil. In contrast, warming resulted in a substantial decrease in root exudate carbon (by 19%) and nitrogen (by 12%) concentrations and induced changes in root exudate compositions, primarily characterized by a reduction in the abundance in alcohols, coenzymes and vitamins, and phenylpropanoids and polyketides. These changes in root exudation rates and exudate compositions resulted in significant shifts in rhizosphere soil microbial diversity and community composition, ultimately leading to a reduction in the complexity of rhizosphere bacterial and fungal community networks. Altered root exudation and rhizosphere microbial community composition therefore decreased the expression of functional genes related to soil carbon and nitrogen cycling. Interestingly, we found that changes in soil carbon‐related genes were primarily driven by the fungal communities and their responses to warming, both in the rhizosphere and non‐rhizosphere soil. The study of soil microbial structure and function in rhizosphere and non‐rhizosphere soil provides an ideal setting for understanding mechanisms for governing rhizosphere and non‐rhizosphere soil carbon and nitrogen cycles. Our results highlight the distinctly varied responses of soil microorganisms in the rhizosphere and non‐rhizosphere soil to climate warming. This suggests the need for models to address these processes individually, enabling more accurate predictions of the impacts of climate change on terrestrial carbon cycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]