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Abstract Pleiotropy is frequently detected in agronomic traits of wheat (Triticum aestivum). A locus on chromosome 4B, QTn/Ptn/Sl/Sns/Al/Tgw/Gl/Gw.caas-4B, proved to show pleiotropic effects on tiller, spike, and grain traits using a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population of Qingxinmai × 041133. The allele from Qingxinmai increased tiller numbers, and the allele from line 041133 produced better performances of spike traits and grain traits. Another 52 QTL for the eight traits investigated were detected on 18 chromosomes, except for chromosomes 5D, 6D, and 7B. Several genes in the genomic interval of the locus on chromosome 4B were differentially expressed in crown and inflorescence samples between Qingxinmai and line 041133. The development of the KASP marker specific for the locus on chromosome 4B is useful for molecular marker-assisted selection in wheat breeding.

Silver (Ag) has widespread application potential in the field of non-silicon microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) due to its superior material properties. However, the current Ag-based prototyping technologies are mainly limited by harsh production conditions and poor compatibility with multiple processes. In this work, we present an Ag-based 3D electrodeposition manufacturing relies on synergistic nucleation mechanism, which combines UV-LIGA technology and bottom-up Ag electroplating. Based on the optimized Ag electroplating system, the synergistic nucleation mechanism of Ag is comprehensively investigated through the interplay between electrochemistry and microstructure. During the bottom-up filling process, the nucleation mode gradually transforms from instantaneous to progressive, which corresponds to the transition of Ag crystallization from large grains dominated by (220) crystal face to fine grains controlled by (111) orientation. And the Young's modulus and hardness are increased to 5.5% and 37.8%, respectively. Moreover, the forming capability and application potential of the proposed Ag electrodeposition technique are demonstrated, where the maximum aspect ratio is up to 10. The Ag-based heat sink is fabricated as a proof-of-concept by heterogeneously integrating Ag microchannels with an AlN heat source. It exhibits excellent mechanical stability (τ = 73 MPa, σ0.2 = 257 MPa) and cooling performance approaching 1000 W/cm2. The proposed Ag-based 3D electrochemical deposition technology has controllable processes, multi-integration compatibility, and excellent performance, indicating a broad application prospect in MEMS devices.

Abstract Perovskite photovoltaics, typically based on a solution-processed perovskite layer with a film thickness of a few hundred nanometres, have emerged as a leading thin-film photovoltaic technology. Nevertheless, many critical issues pose challenges to its commercialization progress, including industrial compatibility, stability, scalability and reliability. A thicker perovskite film on a scale of micrometres could mitigate these issues. However, the efficiencies of thick-film perovskite cells lag behind those with nanometre film thickness. With the mechanism remaining elusive, the community has long been under the impression that the limiting factor lies in the short carrier lifetime as a result of defects. Here, by constructing a perovskite system with extraordinarily long carrier lifetime, we rule out the restrictions of carrier lifetime on the device performance. Through this, we unveil the critical role of the ignored lattice strain in thick films. Our results provide insights into the factors limiting the performance of thick-film perovskite devices.

IntroductionIn goal-directed tasks, visual prompts before the appearance of goals can make people ready in advance, which helps them to complete the movement better, and the presentation type of the visual prompt is very important. In previous studies, it has not been clear how different types of visual prompts guide attention in goal-directed tasks.MethodsAccording to the characteristics of goal-directed tasks, our research designed three different prompts: the cue prompt (featuring static arrow), the preparation prompt (involving dynamic countdown), and the combination prompt of cue and preparation information (simultaneously incorporating arrow and countdown). We used event-related potential components (CNV and P300) and graph theory indicators (clustering coefficient and characteristic path length) under the brain function connection to analyze the attention state of the brain.ResultsThe results showed that the combination prompts better guided the participants’ sustained attention during the prompt stage, making them well prepared for the movement. Thus, after the target appeared, the participants had better executive control and achieved a faster response to the target. However, under the combination prompt, the participants consumed more attention resources during the prompt stage.DiscussionWe believe that for the participants with impaired cognitive function, cue prompts or preparation prompts can be considered, which also play a role in guiding the participants’ attention and helping them make motor preparations when less attention resources are consumed. This study provides a neurophysiological and behavioral foundation for the design of visual prompts in goal-directed tasks.

Abstract Radioresistance imposes a great challenge in reducing tumor recurrence and improving the clinical prognosis of individuals having oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). OSCC harbors a subpopulation of CD44(+) cells that exhibit cancer stem-like cell (CSC) characteristics are involved in malignant tumor phenotype and radioresistance. Nevertheless, the underlying molecular mechanisms in CD44( + )-OSCC remain unclear. The current investigation demonstrated that methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) is highly expressed in CD44(+) cells and promotes CSCs phenotype. Using RNA-sequencing analysis, we further showed that Spalt-like transcription factor 4 (SALL4) is involved in the maintenance of CSCs properties. Furthermore, the overexpression of SALL4 in CD44( + )-OSCC cells caused radioresistance in vitro and in vivo. In contrast, silencing SALL4 sensitized OSCC cells to radiation therapy (RT). Mechanistically, we illustrated that SALL4 is a direct downstream transcriptional regulation target of METTL3, the transcription activation of SALL4 promotes the nuclear transport of β-catenin and the expression of downstream target genes after radiation therapy, there by activates the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, effectively enhancing the CSCs phenotype and causing radioresistance. Herein, this study indicates that the METTL3/SALL4 axis promotes the CSCs phenotype and resistance to radiation in OSCC via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and provides a potential therapeutic target to eliminate radioresistant OSCC.

Abstract Photogating effect is the dominant mechanism of most high-responsivity two-dimensional (2D) material photodetectors. However, the ultrahigh responsivities in those devices are intrinsically at the cost of very slow response speed. In this work, we report a WSe2/Ta2NiSe5 heterostructure detector whose photodetection gain and response speed can be enhanced simultaneously, overcoming the trade-off between responsivity and speed. We reveal that photogating-assisted tunneling synergistically allows photocarrier multiplication and carrier acceleration through tunneling under an electrical field. The photogating effect in our device features low-power consumption (in the order of nW) and shows a dependence on the polarization states of incident light, which can be further tuned by source-drain voltages, allowing for wavelength discrimination with just a two-electrode planar structure. Our findings offer more opportunities for the long-sought next-generation photodetectors with high responsivity, fast speed, polarization detection, and multi-color sensing, simultaneously.

A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from wheat landrace Qingxinmai and breeding line 041133 exhibited segregation in resistance to powdery mildew and stripe rust in five and three field tests, respectively. A 16K genotyping by target sequencing (GBTS) single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array-based genetic linkage map was used to dissect the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for disease resistance. Four and seven QTLs were identified for adult-plant resistance (APR) against powdery mildew and stripe rust. QPm.caas-1B and QPm.caas-5A on chromosomes 1B and 5A were responsible for the APR against powdery mildew in line 041133. QYr.caas-1B, QYr.caas-3B, QYr.caas-4B, QYr.caas-6B.1, QYr.caas-6B.2, and QYr.caas-7B detected on the five B-genome chromosomes of line 041133 conferred its APR to stripe rust. QPm.caas-1B and QYr.caas.1B were co-localized with the pleiotropic locus Lr46/Yr29/Sr58/Pm39/Ltn2. A Kompetitive Allele Specific Polymorphic (KASP) marker KASP_1B_668028290 was developed to trace QPm/Yr.caas.1B. Four lines pyramiding six major disease resistance loci, PmQ, Yr041133, QPm/Yr.caas-1B, QPm.caas-2B.1, QYr.caas-3B, and QPm.caas-6B, were developed. They displayed effective resistance against both powdery mildew and stripe rust at the seedling and adult-plant stages.

IntroductionIn studies on consciousness detection for patients with disorders of consciousness, difference comparison of EEG responses based on active and passive task modes is difficult to sensitively detect patients’ consciousness, while a single potential analysis of EEG responses cannot comprehensively and accurately determine patients’ consciousness status. Therefore, in this paper, we designed a new consciousness detection paradigm based on a multi-stage cognitive task that could induce a series of event-related potentials and ERD/ERS phenomena reflecting different consciousness contents. A simple and direct task of paying attention to breathing was designed, and a comprehensive evaluation of consciousness level was conducted using multi-feature joint analysis.MethodsWe recorded the EEG responses of 20 healthy subjects in three modes and reported the consciousness-related mean event-related potential amplitude, ERD/ERS phenomena, and the classification accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the EEG responses under different conditions.ResultsThe results showed that the EEG responses of the subjects under different conditions were significantly different in the time domain and time-frequency domain. Compared with the passive mode, the amplitudes of the event-related potentials in the breathing mode were further reduced, and the theta-ERS and alpha-ERD phenomena in the frontal region were further weakened. The breathing mode showed greater distinguishability from the active mode in machine learning-based classification.DiscussionBy analyzing multiple features of EEG responses in different modes and stimuli, it is expected to achieve more sensitive and accurate consciousness detection. This study can provide a new idea for the design of consciousness detection methods.

An 8-week feeding experiment was conducted on the juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) to evaluate the influence of yeast extract (YE) supplementation in the diet on growth performance, feed utilization, body composition, nutrient digestibility, intestinal histology, and antioxidant capacity. Four experimental diets were formulated with graded levels of yeast extract 0 (YE0), 1% (YE1), 3% (YE3), and 5% (YE5) and fed to turbots (initial body weight: 4.2 ± 0.1 g) with three replicates per diet and 200 fish in each replicate, respectively. The results showed that turbots fed with diets YE1 and YE3 displayed a significantly higher specific growth rate and protein efficiency rate than those fed with diets YE0 and YE5, while the feed conversion ratios in YE1 and YE3 groups were lower than those in YE0 and YE5. Fish fed with diets YE3 and YE5 showed higher body crude protein contents than those in groups YE0 and YE1. The highest apparent digestibility coefficients for dry matter and crude protein, digestive enzyme activities (trypsin, lipase, and amylase), and the height of the intestinal fold were observed in the YE3 group. YE3 treatment displayed a significantly higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity than the YE0 group, while the malondialdehyde (MDA) content in YE1 was significantly lower than those in YE0 and YE5. No significant difference was observed in serum physiological and biochemical parameters among all treatments. Overall, appropriate dietary supplementation of the yeast extract could improve the growth performance, digestibility, and antioxidant capacity of the juvenile turbot, and the recommended yeast extract level in the feed is 2.47%.

IntroductionEndophytes are colonizers of healthy plants and they normally exhibit biocontrol activities, such as reducing the occurrence of plant diseases and promoting plant growth. The endophytic bacterium Bacillus halotolerans Q2H2 (Q2H2) was isolated from the roots of potato plants and was found to have an antagonistic effect on pathogenic fungi.MethodsQ2H2 was identified by morphological observations, physiological and biochemical identification, and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Genes related to the anti-fungal and growth-promoting effects were analyzed using whole-genome sequencing and comparative genomic analysis. Finally, we analyzed the growth-promoting and biocontrol activities of Q2H2 in potato plants using pot experiments.ResultsAntagonism and non-volatile substance plate tests showed that Q2H2 had strong antagonism against Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium commune, Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium brachygibbosum, Rhizoctonia solani and Stemphylium solani. The plate test showed that Q2H2 had the ability to produce proteases, cellulases, β-1,3-glucanase, dissolved organic phosphate, siderophores, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), ammonia and fix nitrogen. The suitable growth ranges of Q2H2 under different forms of abiotic stress were pH 5–9, a temperature of 15–30°C, and a salt concentration of 1–5%. Though whole-genome sequencing, we obtained sequencing data of approximately 4.16 MB encompassed 4,102 coding sequences. We predicted 10 secondary metabolite gene clusters related to antagonism and growth promotion, including five known products surfactin, bacillaene, fengycin, bacilysin, bacillibactin, and subtilosin A. Average nucleotide identity and comparative genomic analyses revealed that Q2H2 was Bacillus halotolerans. Through gene function annotation, we analyzed genes related to antagonism and plant growth promotion in the Q2H2 genome. These included genes involved in phosphate metabolism (pstB, pstA, pstC, and pstS), nitrogen fixation (nifS, nifU, salA, and sufU), ammonia production (gudB, rocG, nasD, and nasE), siderophore production (fhuC, fhuG, fhuB, and fhuD), IAA production (trpABFCDE), biofilm formation (tasA, bslA, and bslB), and volatile compound production (alsD, ilvABCDEHKY, metH, and ispE), and genes encoding hydrolases (eglS, amyE, gmuD, ganB, sleL, and ydhD). The potato pot test showed that Q2H2 had an obvious growth-promoting effect on potato roots and better control of Fusarium wilt than carbendazim.ConclusionThese findings suggest that the strain-specific genes identified in bacterial endophytes may reveal important antagonistic and plant growth-promoting mechanisms.

Broccoli is a rich source of diverse bioactive compounds, but how their contents are influenced by different growing seasons and variations in broccoli head sizes remains elusive. To address this question, we quantified sixteen known bioactive compounds and seven minerals in broccoli with varying head sizes obtained in two different growing seasons. Our results suggest that the contents of vitamin C, total phenols, carotenoids, and glucoraphanin were significantly higher in samples from the summer–autumn season, showing increases of 157.46%, 34.74%, 51.80%, and 17.78%, respectively, compared with those from the winter–spring season. Moreover, chlorogenic acid is a phenolic compound with relatively high contents among the six detected, while beta-sitosterol is the sterol with relatively high contents. Further, principal component analysis was conducted to rank the comprehensive scores of the profiles of phenolic compounds, phytosterols, and minerals, demonstrating that the broccoli samples grown during the summer–autumn season achieved the highest composite scores. Our results indicate that broccoli heads from the summer–autumn season are richer in a combination of bioactive compounds and minerals than those from the winter–spring season based on the composite score. This study extends our understanding of the nutrition profiles in broccoli and also lays the foundation for breeding broccoli varieties with improved nutrition quality.

This paper proposes an optimal tracking control scheme through adaptive dynamic programming (ADP) for a class of partially unknown discrete-time (DT) nonlinear systems based on a radial basis function neural network (RBF-NN). In order to acquire the unknown system dynamics, we use two RBF-NNs; the first one is used to construct the identifier, and the other one is used to directly approximate the steady-state control input, where a novel adaptive law is proposed to update neural network weights. The optimal feedback control and the cost function are derived via feedforward neural network approximation, and a means of regulating the tracking error is proposed. The critic network and the actor network were trained online to obtain the solution of the associated Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman (HJB) equation within the ADP framework. Simulations were carried out to verify the effectiveness of the optimal tracking control technique using the neural networks.

Although supercapacitor technology has been proposed as a promising new-generation energy means for its rapid charging speed and high operation safety, the shortcoming of low energy density has long been a big obstacle due to the low voltage window and storage capacity. In this study, a new kind of electrode material of Fe3S4/Ti3C2Tx has been proposed by a facile in-situ-foaming strategy through the reaction of Na2S with Fe(NO3)3. Herein, the byproducts of trace H2S and H2 gases were found to appear and expel, creating a lot of pores inside the Fe3S4/Ti3C2Tx composites with a cheese-like heterostructure. Therefore, the maximum specific capacity of Fe3S4/Ti3C2Tx-42% is measured up to 305.8 C g−1 at 2 A g−1, 3.4 times that of Fe3S4 and 5.9 times that of Ti3C2Tx. When Fe3S4/Ti3C2Tx-42% is assembled as a cathode for the Al-ion capacitors and Zn-ion capacitors, the devices both possess superior electrochemical performance. Especially for the Zn-ion capacitors, the device exhibits a high power density of 5500 W kg−1 at a maximum energy density of 61 W h kg−1 and a high stability after 10,000 cycles, showing a distinct advantage over previously reported literatures. Density functional theory (DFT) simulation and XPS analysis are used to validate the beneficial transformation mechanism of reactive sites, thus providing a novel idea for solving the poor structural stability of sulfide materials and MXene-based nanomaterials.

Objective: NRF2 is a master transcription factor that regulates the stress response. NRF2 is frequently mutated and activated in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), which drives resistance to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Therefore, a great need exists for NRF2 inhibitors for targeted therapy of NRF2high ESCC. Design: We performed high-throughput screening of two compound libraries from which hit compounds were further validated in human ESCC cells and a genetically modified mouse model. The mechanism of action of one compound was explored by biochemical assays. Results: Using high-throughput screening of two small molecule compound libraries, we identified 11 hit compounds as potential NRF2 inhibitors with minimal cytotoxicity at specified concentrations. We then validated two of these compounds, pyrimethamine and mitoxantrone, by demonstrating their dose- and time-dependent inhibitory effects on the expression of NRF2 and its target genes in two NRF2Mut human ESCC cells (KYSE70 and KYSE180). RNAseq and qPCR confirmed the suppression of global NRF2 signaling by these two compounds. Mechanistically, pyrimethamine reduced NRF2 half-life by promoting NRF2 ubiquitination and degradation in KYSE70 and KYSE180 cells. Expression of an Nrf2E79Q allele in mouse esophageal epithelium (Sox2CreER;LSL-Nrf2E79Q/+) resulted in an NRF2high phenotype, which included squamous hyperplasia, hyperkeratinization, and hyperactive glycolysis. Treatment with pyrimethamine (30 mg/kg/day, p.o.) suppressed the NRF2high esophageal phenotype with no observed toxicity. Conclusion: We have identified and validated pyrimethamine as an NRF2 inhibitor that may be rapidly tested in the clinic for NRF2high ESCC.

BackgroundDue to environmental pollution, changes in lifestyle, and advancements in diagnostic technology, the prevalence of asthma has been increasing over the years. Although China has made early efforts in asthma epidemiology and prevention, there is still a lack of unified and comprehensive epidemiological research within the country. The objective of the study is to determine the nationwide prevalence distribution of asthma using the Baidu Index and China's Health Statistical Yearbook.MethodsBased on China's Health Statistical Yearbook, we analyzed the gender and age distribution of asthma in China from 2011 to 2020, as well as the length of hospitalization and associated costs. By utilizing the Baidu Index and setting the covering all 31 provinces and autonomous regions in China, we obtained the Baidu Index for the keyword 'asthma'. Heatmaps and growth ratios described the prevalence and growth of asthma in mainland China.ResultsThe average expenditure for discharged asthma (standard deviation) patients was ¥5,870 (808). The average length of stay (standard deviation) was 7.9 (0.38) days. During the period of 2011 to 2020, hospitalization expenses for asthma increased while the length of hospital stay decreased. The proportion of discharged patients who were children under the age of 5 were 25.3% (2011), 19.4% (2012), 16% (2013), 17.9% (2014), 13.9% (2015), 11.3% (2016), 10.2% (2017), 9.4% (2018), 8.1% (2019), and 7.2% (2020), respectively. The prevalence of asthma among boys was higher than girls before the age of 14. In contrast, the proportion of women with asthma was larger than men after the age of 14. During the period from 2011 to 2020, the median [The first quartile (Q1)-the third quartile (Q3)] daily asthma Baidu index in Guangdong, Beijing, Jiangsu, Sichuan, and Zhejiang were 419 (279–476), 328 (258–376), 315 (227–365), 272 (166–313), and 312 (233–362) respectively. Coastal regions showed higher levels of attention toward asthma, indicating a higher incidence rate. Since 2014, there has been a rapid increase in the level of attention toward asthma, with the provinces of Qinghai, Sichuan, and Guangdong experiencing the fastest growth.ConclusionThere are regional variations in the prevalence of asthma among different provinces in China, and the overall prevalence of asthma is increasing.

As we all know, waste pollution is one of the most serious environmental issues in the world. Efficient detection of solid waste (SW) in aerial images can improve subsequent waste classification and automatic sorting on the ground. However, traditional methods have some problems, such as poor generalization and limited detection performance. This article presents an anchor-based object detector for solid waste in aerial images (SWDet). Specifically, we construct asymmetric deep aggregation (ADA) network with structurally reparameterized asymmetric blocks to extract waste features with inconspicuous appearance. Besides, considering the waste with blurred boundaries caused by the resolution of aerial images, this article constructs efficient attention fusion pyramid network (EAFPN) to obtain contextual information and multiscale geospatial information via attention fusion. And the model can capture the scattering features of irregular shape waste. In addition, we construct the dataset for solid waste aerial detection (SWAD) by collecting aerial images of SW in Henan Province, China, to validate the effectiveness of our method. Experimental results show that SWDet outperforms most of existing methods for SW detection in aerial images.

Cement-stabilized macadam materials are widely utilized as semi-rigid base materials in road construction. However, conventional cement-stabilized macadam (CCSM) bases often develop shrinkage cracks during early construction and maintenance due to variations in humidity and temperature. Shrinkage cracks can subsequently result in reflective cracks in the asphalt pavement, significantly reducing the overall service life of the road. This study systematically evaluates the shrinkage and mechanical properties of large-size cement-stabilized macadam (LSCSM). Initially, the mix proportion for LSCSM is determined using the Bailey method. Subsequently, an experimental design based on the response surface method is implemented to comprehensively investigate various properties, including unconfined compressive strength, compressive rebound modulus, flexural strength, and the durability aspects of early drying shrinkage and temperature shrinkage through laboratory experiments. Further, the performance differences between CCSM and LSCSM are analyzed comparatively. The findings reveal that the compressive strength of LSCSM surpasses that of CCSM, albeit with comparatively lower compressive rebound modulus and flexural strength. LSCSM demonstrates a unique blend of characteristics, exhibiting traits of both semi-rigid and flexible materials. Furthermore, LSCSM exhibits favorable crack resistance properties, as evidenced by lower dry shrinkage strain, average dry and temperature shrinkage coefficient compared to CCSM. The proposed LSCSM in this study effectively reduces cement dosage and enhances the crack resistance performance of base materials.

The biosynthesis of thyroid hormones is essential for brain and neurological development. It requires iodine as a key component but is also influenced by other nutrients. Evidence for the combined nutrient status in relation to thyroid hormones during pregnancy is limited. We aimed to investigate the joint associations of iodine, selenium, zinc, calcium, magnesium and iron with maternal thyroid functions in 489 pregnant women from Hangzhou, China. Serum levels of six essential minerals and thyroid function parameters were measured during the first antenatal visit. Linear regression, quantile g-computation and Bayesian kernel machine regression were used to explore the individual and joint relationships between the six minerals and thyroid hormones. Linear regression analyses revealed that calcium was positively associated with free triiodothyronine (FT3). Zinc was positively associated with free thyroxine (FT4). Iodine was negatively associated with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and positively associated with FT3 and FT4. The quantile g-computation and BKMR models indicated that the joint nutrient concentration was negatively associated with TSH and positively associated with FT3 and FT4. Among the six minerals, iodine contributed most to thyroid function. The findings suggested that maintaining the appropriate concentration of minerals, either as individuals or a mixture, is important for thyroid health during pregnancy.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) are characterized by dysregulated signaling pathways that are crucial for tumor formation and progression. The efficacy of traditional therapies is limited, particularly in the treatment of PNETs at an advanced stage. Epigenetic alterations profoundly impact the activity of signaling pathways in cancer development, offering potential opportunities for drug development. There is currently a lack of extensive research on epigenetic regulation in PNETs. To fill this gap, we first summarize major signaling events that are involved in PNET development. Then, we discuss the epigenetic regulation of these signaling pathways in the context of both PNETs and commonly occurring—and therefore more extensively studied—malignancies. Finally, we will offer a perspective on the future research direction of the PNET epigenome and its potential applications in patient care.

Paint removal is an essential process in the industrial field. Laser technology provides an effective method of paint removal to replace traditional mechanical and chemical methods. This paper establishes a continuous wave (CW) laser thermal paint removal model based on heat conduction theory and Arrhenius’ law. The paint stripping process of epoxy paint film on the surface of 6061 aluminum alloy via CW laser was studied through simulation and experiment. We found that the carbonization of the paint film during the CW laser paint removal process will inhibit the laser paint removal process. Therefore, the paint removal efficiency of the CW laser is limited. The depth of CW laser paint removal increases linearly with the CW laser power density. However, during the CW laser paint removal process, due to the pyrolysis of the paint film and the reflection of the laser by the substrate, the surface temperature of the material first increases and then decreases. In addition, after laser paint removal, the surface roughness of the material after paint removal is reduced due to the melting of the base material. The model established in this article can provide a theoretical reference for studying the CW laser paint removal process.

This paper is primarily focused on the robust control of an inverted pendulum system based on policy iteration in reinforcement learning. First, a mathematical model of the single inverted pendulum system is established through a force analysis of the pendulum and trolley. Second, based on the theory of robust optimal control, the robust control of the uncertain linear inverted pendulum system is transformed into an optimal control problem with an appropriate performance index. Moreover, for the uncertain linear and nonlinear systems, two reinforcement-learning control algorithms are proposed using the policy iteration method. Finally, two numerical examples are provided to validate the reinforcement learning algorithms for the robust control of the inverted pendulum systems.

We investigate the phenomenon of Hilbert space fragmentation (HSF) in open quantum systems and find that it can stabilize highly entangled steady states. For concreteness, we consider the Temperley-Lieb model, which exhibits quantum HSF in an entangled basis, and investigate the Lindblad dynamics under two different couplings. First, we couple the system to a dephasing bath that reduces quantum fragmentation to a classical one with the resulting stationary state being separable. We observe that despite vanishing quantum correlations, classical correlations develop due to fluctuations of the remaining conserved quantities, which we show can be captured by a classical stochastic circuit evolution. Second, we use a coupling that preserves the quantum fragmentation structure. We derive a general expression for the steady state, which has a strong coherent memory of the initial state due to the extensive number of noncommuting conserved quantities. We then show that it is highly entangled as quantified by logarithmic negativity.

Laser paint removal is a new cleaning technology that mainly removes paint through thermal ablation and mechanical stripping mechanisms. This paper established a thermal-mechanical coupling laser removal model of paint based on the heat conduction equation, Newton’s second law, and Fabbro’s theory. The removal process of epoxy resin paint film on an aluminum alloy surface via a nanosecond pulsed laser was studied using finite element simulations and experimental measurements. The simulation and experimental results show that the nanosecond pulse laser’s primary paint removal mechanism is the mechanical stripping caused by thermal stress and plasma shock. The laser paint removal threshold is 1.4 J/cm2. In addition, due to the different generation times of plasma shock and thermal stress, the mutual superposition of stress waves occurs in the material. This results in a discrepancy between the actual and thermal stress differences. Moreover, the thermal stress difference causes the maximum actual stress difference to fluctuate. The simulation model established in this paper can provide a reference for studying the thermal-mechanical coupling process of laser paint removal.

Energy storage can effectively alleviate the power fluctuation caused by high permeability distributed new energy in AC/DC system. However, due to the state of charge (SOC) of energy storage, AC/DC system is difficult to give full play to the power complementary. Thus, a coordinated control strategy of AC/DC system considering the state of charge of energy storage is proposed in the paper. Firstly, the power balance between subnets of AC/DC system is analyzed to achieve the balance of supply and demand. Then, according to the power control strategy, the AC/DC coordinated control strategy based on energy storage SOC is studied. In order to improve the stable operation ability of the system, the technology of virtual synchronous generator (VSG) is applied. Finally, the validation model is built based on MATLAB/ Simulink platform. The simulation results show that the strategy can effectively coordinate the power interaction between the subnet power supply and the interconnected converter and improve the system stability.

Abstract Background Previous studies demonstrate a reduced risk of thrombosis and mortality with anticoagulant treatment in patients with COVID-19 than in those without anticoagulation treatment. However, an open question regarding the efficacy and safety of therapeutic anticoagulation (T-AC) versus a lower dose, prophylaxis anticoagulation (P-AC) in COVID-19 patients is still controversial. Methods We systematically reviewed currently available randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and observational studies (OBs) from January 8, 2019, to January 8, 2022, and compared prophylactic and therapeutic anticoagulant treatment in COVID-19 patients. The primary outcomes were risk of mortality, major bleeding, and the secondary outcomes included venous and arterial thromboembolism. Subgroup analysis was also performed between critically ill and non-critically ill patients with COVID-19 and between patients with higher and lower levels of D-dimer. Sensitivity analysis was performed to decrease the bias and the impact of population heterogeneity. Results We identified 11 RCTs and 17 OBs fulfilling our inclusion criteria. In the RCTs analyses, there was no statistically significant difference in the relative risk of mortality between COVID-19 patients with T-AC treatment and those treated with P-AC (RR 0.95, 95% CI, 0.78–1.15, P = 0.60). Similar results were also found in the OBs analyses (RR 1.21, 95% CI, 0.98–1.49, P = 0.08). The pooling meta-analysis using a random-effects model combined with effect sizes showed that in the RCTs and OBs analyses, patients with COVID-19 who received T-AC treatment had a significantly higher relative risk of the major bleeding event than those with P-AC treatment in COVID-19 patients (RCTs: RR 1.76, 95% CI, 1.19–2.62, P = 0.005; OBs: RR 2.39, 95% CI, 1.56–3.68, P

Because of the Klinkenberge effect in tight sandstones, errors exist forusing air permeability to reflect its reality, and it is thus important to determine the absolute permeability of tight sandstone.The Gaussian process regression (GPR), a state-of-the-art machine learning algorithm, has advantages in dealing with nonlinear and multidimensional complex problems in the petroleum industry. In this paper, the tight sandstone of the Member-7 of Yanchang Formation in the Jiyuan area of the Ordos Basin was taken as a sample to adopt the GPR model. In the model, the squared exponential and Matern covariance functions were taken as two covariance functions. The absolute permeability of tight sandstone was predicted by parameters including the porosity, volume ratio of unsaturated mercury, displacement pressure and fractal dimension measured by high-pressure porosimetry experiments, and the precision of different GPR models in predicting permeability were studied in combination with error analysis. The results indicate that GPR with Matern gives high precision with a mean magnitude relative error (MMRE), root mean square error (RMSE) and standard deviation (STD) equal to 32%, 0.16 and 0.57, respectively. Particularly, if the permeability is less than 0.1×10-3 μm2, the precision of the Matern model is obviously better than that of the squared exponential model and Winland model, so the Matern model has higher precision for permeability prediction of tight sandstones. In addition, sensitivity analysis reveals that porosity and displacement pressure have the highest and lowest absolute impact values on permeability estimation. The applicability and effectiveness of the GPR model are also demonstrated by means of leverage values and standardized residuals. Therefore, the Matern model can better predict tight sandstone reservoirs with permeabilities less than 0.1×10-3 μm2, and this model plays an important role in the exploration and evaluation for tight sandstone reservoirs.

Objective: As the most popular honey newly developed in the market, blueberry honey has attracted extensive attention in recent years. However, the quality difference of blueberry honey was large on the market because of the limitation of yield, in order to make people better understand blueberry honey, we studied the basic quality characteristics, antioxidant and volatile components of blueberry honey. Methods: The volatile components of blueberry honey were analyzed by GC-MS. The basic physical and chemical indexes of blueberry honey were determined according to the national standard method, the contents of total phenols, total flavonoids, proline, DPPH radical scavenging capacity and total antioxidant capacity in four blueberry honey were determined by spectrophotometry. Results: The test results of physical and chemical properties show that the blueberry honey LM17 collected from Changbai Mountain bee farm was a first-class product (high-quality honey). It did not contain BFF enzyme, SMR, SMB, BS, SMX, macrolides and mannose. It was a pure natural honey without adulteration. The total number of colonies, coliform group, mold count, osmotic yeast count were lower than those of the national standard of honey. The contents of cadmium, lead, coumaphos, fluvalinate and amitraz were far lower than the national standard index of honey or had not been detected. The total antioxidant activity of four blueberry honey samples from strong to weak were LM17>LM-MJ18ZH>LM-MJ18ZZ>LM18TH，there were significant differences in the contents of total phenols, total flavonoids and proline. A total of 60 volatile components were detected in the blueberry honey samples. Among them, 3-methyl-valeric acid, heptanoic acid, cis-linalool, and benzaldehyde belong to the aroma components, and the number of aroma components was more obvious than other scents. Honey (such as Elsholtzia rugulosa Hems L. honey and Linden honey) contained the same amount of aroma substances. It could also be inferred that the fragrance and flavor of blueberry honey should mainly come from these ingredients, among them, the volatile components shared by blueberry and blueberry honey were ethanol，benzaldehyde and octane. The 10 substances included 1-methyl-4-(1-methylvinyl)-benzene, 1,2,4-trimethyl-5-(1-methylethyl)-benzene, (S)-(+)-3-methyl-1-pentanol, cis-5-vinyltetrahydro-α,5-trimethyl-2-furanmethanol, 5,5-dimethyl-3-oxo 1-cyclohexene-1-carbaldehyde, 3-(2,2,6-trimethyl-7-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]hept-1-yl)-2-propenal, (E)-1-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1,3-cyclohexadien-1-yl)-2-buten-1-one，1-{2-[3-methyl-3-(5-methyl-furan-2-yl)-butyl]-oxiran-2-yl}-ethanone, 4,5-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-4-isopropylidene-1H-pyrazole， 8-propoxy-cedrane were the unique volatile component of blueberry honey. Conclusion: Through the analysis of the basic physical and chemical properties, antioxidant content, antioxidant capacity and volatile components of blueberry honey, there were 4 kinds of aroma components in all volatile components of blueberry honey. Based on the study of basic physical and chemical properties, antioxidant, volatile components and aroma components, LM17 was identified as high-quality honey.

Abstract The changes of five pesticides including imidacloprid, triadimefon, fenitrothion, chlorpyrifos-methyl, and chlorpyrifos in wheat flour during Chinese steamed bun and bread processing were systematically investigated. The pesticide residues were determined by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector. Dough mixing step in both Chinese steamed bun and bread processing reduced the concentration of five pesticide residues significantly by 33 to 46%. It was mainly attributed to the increase of moisture content in mixed dough during this step. The reduction of pesticides in fermenting step varied from 2 to 22% in Chinese steamed bun and bread processing. Resting step in both Chinese steamed bun and bread processing has little effect on the pesticide residues with the reduction from 2 to 8%. The five pesticides have different behaviours in steaming step of Chinese steamed bun processing and in baking step of bread processing. During the steaming step, only the concentrations of triadimefon and imidacloprid residues in crust were increased by 52 and 1%, the others in crust and in crumb of Chinese steamed bun were decreased by 4 to 38%. After the baking step, the concentrations of triadimefon and imidacloprid residues in crust, and the triadimefon residue in crumb of bread were increased by 65, 83, and 14%, respectively, the others were all reduced. The processing factors (PFs) for triadimefon and imidacloprid in crust in the steaming and baking steps, for triadimefon in crumb in the baking steps were greater than 1, and the others were all less than 1. Overall, this study provides important references for monitoring pesticide residues in the processing of wheat flour products. The PFs obtained could be helpful for the risk assessment of pesticides in wheat flour products.

Multi-view 3D imaging is an indispensable imaging method for self-driving, 3D modeling, and other fields. However, there remains a scarcity of fast and efficient multi-view 3D imaging methods. In the present study, a snapshot dual-view 3D imaging setup based on the Coded Aperture Imaging method was introduced and experimentally demonstrated. The proposed method can simultaneously obtain 3D information from different views by means of a streak camera and two independent masks. Compared with traditional 3D imaging technology, our technique can meet the integrity and real-time requirements of 3D imaging while reducing the hardware cost of existing multi-view imaging methods.

The FKBP (FK506-binding protein) gene family is an important member of the PPlase protease family and plays a vital role during the processes of plant growth and development. However, no studies of the FKBP gene family have been reported in cucumber. In this study, 19 FKBP genes were identified in cucumber, which were located on chromosomes 1, 3, 4, 6, and 7. Phylogenetic analysis divided the cucumber FKBP genes into three subgroups. The FKBP genes in the same subgroup exhibited similar structures and conserved motifs. The cis-acting elements analysis revealed that the promoters of cucumber FKBP genes contained hormone-, stress-, and development-related cis-acting elements. Synteny analysis of the FKBP genes among cucumber, Arabidopsis, and rice showed that 12 kinds of syntenic relationships were detected between cucumber and Arabidopsis FKBP genes, and 3 kinds of syntenic relationships were observed between cucumber and rice FKBP genes. The tissue-specific expression analysis showed that some FKBP genes were expressed in all tissues, while others were only highly expressed in part of the 10 types of tissues. The expression profile analysis of cucumber FKBP genes under 13 types of stresses showed that the CsaV3_1G007080 gene was differentially expressed under abiotic stresses (high temperature, NaCl, silicon, and photoperiod) and biotic stresses (downy mildew, green mottle mosaic virus, Fusarium wilt, phytophthora capsica, angular leaf spot, and root-knot nematode), which indicated that the CsaV3_1G007080 gene plays an important role in the growth and development of cucumber. The interaction protein analysis showed that most of the proteins in the FKBP gene family interacted with each other. The results of this study will lay the foundation for further research on the molecular biological functions of the cucumber FKBP gene family.

Puccinia striiformis Westend. f. sp. tritici (Pst) pathotype CYR34 is widely virulent and prevalent in China. Here, we report identification of a strpie rust resistance (Yr) gene, designated Yr041133, in winter wheat line 041133. This line produced a hypersensitive reaction to CYR34 and conferred resistance to 13 other pathotypes. Resistance to CYR34 in line 041133 was controlled by a single dominant gene. Bulked segregant RNA sequencing (BSR-Seq) was performed on a pair of RNA bulks generated by pooling resistant and susceptible recombinant inbred lines. Yr041133 was mapped to a 1.7 cM genetic interval on the chromosome arm 7BL that corresponded to a 0.8 Mb physical interval (608.9–609.7 Mb) in the Chinese Spring reference genome. Based on its unique physical location Yr041133 differred from the other Yr genes on this chromosome arm.

Background: It is well known that ginsenosides are the main active ingredients in ginseng, and they have also been important indexes for assessing the quality of ginseng. However, the absolute contents of ginsenosides in ginseng were shown to be varied with the origin, cultivated type, cultivated year and climate. It is a great challenge to distinguish the commercial types of ginsengs according to the content of one or several ginsenosides. Methods: The common commercial types of ginsengs are white ginseng (WG), red ginseng (RG), American ginseng (AG). To clearly illustrate the differences among WG, RG and AG at the ginsenosides level, we established a strategy for the detection and identification of ginsenosides based on an optimized LC-Q-Orbitrap MS/MS method coupled with an in-house database of ginsenosides. Before and after the normalization, the ginsenosides datasheet was analyzed and compared using several state-of-the-art multivariate statistical analysis methods. Results: Here, 81 ginsenosides were identified in different ginseng samples. The majority of the ginsenosides (59 in 81) were all shared by WG, RG and AG. When the shared ginsenosides datasheet was normalized by the level of ginsenoside Ro, our analysis strategy clearly divided the ginseng samples into three groups (i.e., WG, RG and AG groups). We found that the ginsenoside profiles in RG and WG were significantly different from those in AG. The potential markers and multivariate diagnostic models differentiating the three types of ginsengs were also indicated. Conclusion: Our novel methodology based on ginsenoside profiles is more robust than existing methods, and data normalization is required to improve the efficiency of multivariate statistical analysis.

IntroductionEndophytes are non-pathogenic inhabitants of healthy plant tissues and have been found to promote plant growth and health. The endophytic bacterial strain Q2H1 was isolated from the roots of the potato and was identified to exhibit growth-promoting effects in potato plants.MethodsWhole-genome sequencing was performed to reveal the mechanism underlying its growth-promoting effect. The obtained sequencing data of approximately 5.65 MB encompassed 5,533 coding sequences. Of note, nine secondary metabolite gene clusters, including siderophore gene clusters, closely associated with plant growth promotion (PGP) were predicted by antiSMASH software. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that Q2H1 belongs to the genus Peribacillus. By gene function annotation, those genes related to plant growth-promoting activities, including indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) synthesis in tryptophan metabolism, siderophore biosynthetic activity, phosphate solubilization, nitrogen fixation, and related genes, were summarized. IAA (14.4 μg/ml) was presumptively produced by Q2H1 using the Salkowski colorimetric method. A total of five genes, namely, phoU, pstB, pstA1, pstC, and pstS, were annotated for phosphate solubilization, which is associated with the ability of the Q2H1 strain to solubilize phosphate under in vitro conditions.ResultsIt is revealed that genes in the Q2H1 genome associated with nitrogen fixation belonged to three groups, namely, nitrogen fixation (nifU, sufU, salA, and nifS), nitrogen metabolism (nirA, nrtB, and nasA), and glutamate synthesis (glnA, gltB, gltD, and gudB), supported by evidence that Q2H1 grew on medium without nitrogen. We have also identified a siderophore gene cluster located on the chromosome of Q2H1, including seven genes (viz., rbsR, rhbf, rhbE, rhbD, rhbC, rhbA, ddc, and an unknown gene). In the in vitro assay, a prominent brown circle around the colony was produced on the chrome azurol S medium at 48 and 72 h post-inoculation, indicating that the siderophore gene cluster in Q2H1 harbored the ability to produce siderophores.ConclusionIn summary, these findings implied that identifying strain-specific genes for their metabolic pathways in bacterial endophytes may reveal a variety of significant functions of plant growth-promoting mechanisms.

Pore-throat structure is one of the important factors affecting the characteristics of tight sandstone reservoirs. Pore-throat structure of tight sandstone is complex and with strong heterogeneity, thus, conjunction study with fractal theory bas become a promising approach. In this study, casting thin section, scanning electron microscopic observation and rate-controlled porosimetry were performed on tight sandstone samples of the Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin to study the distribution of pores and throats. With fractal principle and method, the fractal dimensions and influencing factors of tight sandstone pores and throats were studied. Results showed that there are clear inflection points on the fractal curves of lgSHg versus lgPc, and according to the mercury pressure corresponding to the inflection points of fractal curves, pores and throats of tight sandstones can be classified to be large and small ones respectively. Fractal dimensions (D) were calculated by the means of slope of the straight part of each curve, and the fractal dimensions of pores and throats greatly varied between large pore-throats and small pore-throats. For the small pore-throats, compaction and cementation effects are strong, mainly developing intercrystalline pores, residual intergranular pores and necked throats. The heterogeneity of small pore-throat is weak, the pore-throat space is less deformed, and the fractal dimensions are small (2 < D < 4). For the large pore-throats, dissolution effect is strong, mainly developing curved lamellar throats, dissolved pores and composite pores. The storage space of large pore-throats is large, and the deformation of large pore-throats is significantly affected by diagenesis. Thus, the heterogeneity of large pore-throat is relatively stronger and the fractal dimensions of large pore-throat are higher (D > 7). It was indicated that diagnosis, including compaction, cementation and dissolution, greatly affected the size and shape of pore-throat in tight sandstone, and determined the fractal characteristics of pore-throat with different scales.

The selective acylation of indoles often requires sensitive and reactive acyl chloride derivatives. Here, we report a mild, efficient, functional group tolerant, and highly chemoselective N-acylation of indoles using thioesters as a stable acyl source. A series of indoleamides have been obtained with moderate to good yields. In addition, heterocycles, such as carbazole, can also be used as nucleophiles in this reaction.

Abstract Background Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered the hepatic component of metabolic syndrome and has attracted widespread attention due to its increased prevalence. Daily dietary management is an effective strategy for the prevention of NAFLD. Quinoa, a nutritious pseudocereal, is abundant in antioxidative bioactive phytochemicals. In the present study, the effects of different amounts of quinoa on the progression of NAFLD and the related molecular mechanism were investigated. Methods Male SD rats were simultaneously administered a high fat diet (HF) and different amounts of quinoa (equivalent to 100 g/day and 300 g/day of human intake, respectively). After 12 weeks of the intervention, hepatic TG (triglyceride) and TC (total cholesterol) as well as serum antioxidative parameters were determined, and hematoxylin–eosin staining (H&E) staining was used to evaluate hepatic steatosis. Differential metabolites in serum and hepatic tissue were identified using UPLC-QTOF-MSE. The mRNA expression profile was investigated using RNA-Seq and further verified using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results Low amounts of quinoa (equivalent to 100 g/d of human intake) effectively controlled the weight of rats fed a high-fat diet. In addition, quinoa effectively inhibited the increase in hepatic TG and TC levels, mitigated pathological injury, promoted the increase in SOD and GSH-Px activities, and decreased MDA levels. Nontarget metabolic profile analysis showed that quinoa regulated lipid metabolites in the circulation system and liver such as LysoPC and PC. RNA-Seq and RT-PCR verification revealed that a high amount of quinoa more effectively upregulated genes related to lipid metabolism [Apoa (apolipoprotein)5, Apoa4, Apoc2] and downregulated genes related to the immune response [lrf (interferon regulatory factor)5, Tlr6 (Toll-like receptor), Tlr10, Tlr11, Tlr12]. Conclusion Quinoa effectively prevented NAFLD by controlling body weight, mitigating oxidative stress, and regulating the lipid metabolic profile and the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism and the immune response.

Industrial Internet of Things (IIoTs) has drawn significant attention in the industry. Among its rich applications, the field’s video surveillance deserves particular interest due to its advantage in better understanding network control. However, existing decoding methods are limited by the video coding order, which cannot be decoded in parallel, resulting in low decoding efficiency and the inability to process the massive amount of video data in real time. In this work, a parallel decoding framework based on the speculative technique is proposed. In particular, the video is first speculatively decomposed into data blocks, and then a verification method is designed to ensure the correctness of the decomposition. After verification, the data blocks having passed the validation can be decoded concurrently in the parallel computing platform. Finally, the concurrent decoding results are concatenated in line with the original encoding order to form the output. Experiments show that compared with traditional serial decoding ones, the proposed method can improve the performance by 9 times on average in the parallel computing environment with NVIDIA Tegra 4 chips, thus significantly enhancing the real-time video data’s decoding efficiency with guaranteed accuracy. Furthermore, proposed and traditional serial methods obtain almost the same peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and mean square error (MSE) metrics at different bit rates and resolutions, showing that the introduction of the speculative technique does not degrade the decoding accuracy.

Under the current trend of power electronics in energy systems, a high percentage of renewable energy transports clean energy to the grid through grid-connected inverters. The pulse-width modulation (PWM) technique brings high-order harmonics near to the switching frequency, and LCL filters with low-pass characteristics become the common choice for grid-connected inverters. However, the low-order harmonics caused by nonideal switching characteristics are difficult to filter out, and the new resonance point introduced by the LCL filter causes a security problem for the energy systems. Firstly, the generation mechanism of the 6 k ± 1 order harmonic and high-frequency resonance from a PV grid-connected inverter is analyzed. Then, a virtual resistor is constructed by the active damping method to absorb the resonant component. Meanwhile, this paper also presents an adaptive modulation voltage compensation method to decrease the low-order harmonics. Finally, the actual measured data of user photovoltaic (PV) and multiple comparative simulations verify these theories. Simulation results show that the proposed coordinated control algorithm reduces the peak of the resonance point, and the rate of low-order harmonics mitigation is more than 50%. The proposed method is suitable for various operating conditions.

Emerging studies have presented an initial picture of the toxic effects of exposure to environmental micro- and nanoplastics. They have indicated that micro- and nanoplastics may induce toxicity by leading to oxidative stress, energy metabolism disorders, gene damage, and so forth in environmental organisms, marine invertebrates and vertebrates, and laboratory mouse models. In recent years, micro- and nanoplastics have been discovered in human fecal samples, placentas, lung tissue, and even blood; thus, micro- and nanoplastics pose an alarming and ever-increasing threat to global public health. However, current research on the health effects of micro- and nanoplastics and the possible adverse outcomes in humans has only presented the tip of the iceberg. More robust clinical data and basic experiments are still warranted to elucidate the specific relationships and mechanisms. In this paper, we review studies on micro- and nanoplastic toxicity from the perspectives of eco-toxicity, the adverse effects on invertebrates and vertebrates, and the impact of micro- and nanoplastics on the gut microbiota and its metabolites. In addition, we evaluate the toxicological role of micro- and nanoplastic exposure and its potential implications in respect to human health. We also summarize studies regarding preventive strategies. Overall, this review provides insights on micro- and nanoplastic toxicity and its underlying mechanisms, opening up scientific avenues for future in-depth studies.

Source-grid-load-storage has represented an interactive characteristic in the active distribution network (ADN). Moreover, power electronic devices have been widely used for source-grid-load-storage with the rapid development of power electronics technology. In this condition, the large-scale distributed source may cause voltage quality degradation, while the application of large-scale power electronics equipment may also lead to serious harmonic distortion. Power quality has become one of the most important issues in the development of ADN. In this paper, the source-grid-load-storage interactive power quality characteristic of the ADN is analyzed. Firstly, considering the source-grid-load-storage interaction in ADN, the voltage deviation and fluctuation are analyzed and the degrees are further quantified. Then, the source-load-storage harmonic models for the power electronic components are built, which is the basis for harmonic analysis. Moreover, the decoupled harmonic power flow algorithm for ADN is proposed to analyze the system harmonic distributions. Finally, considering the location and capacity of photovoltaic and energy storage, the interaction and power quality are analyzed in the IEEE 33-bus distribution system. With the access of energy storage, more than 20% of the voltage deviation and more than 6% of the voltage fluctuation caused by photovoltaics are effectively suppressed, while the harmonic distortion may be further increased.

Objectives: In head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), the interaction between epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) and hypoxia has been confirmed, and corresponding treatment methods have been investigated. Few studies have examined its combined effects and its potential clinical use, however. As a result, we developed a new scoring system based on EMT and hypoxia.Methods: We combined 200 hypoxia-related genes with 1184 EMT-related genes and finally constructed a score risk model containing 14 characteristic factors named the comprehensive index of EMT and hypoxia (CIEH) by the Lasso-Cox regression and univariate Cox regression method, which is used to predict prognosis and to guide treatment planning in HNSCC patients. Furthermore, we examined HNSCC expression of CIEH-related genes using the human protein atlas database.Results: Based on survival analysis results, CIEH value had a high prognostic value in HNSCC patients, a high CIEH value carries a poor prognostic significance in HNSCC. It is noteworthy that the CIEH value was correlated with tumor immune infiltration. Moreover, the CIEH had significant differences in age, stage, N, laterality, and peripheral nerve invasion, and that the CIEH could be an independent prognostic factor.Conclusions: This study constructed a CIEH model containing 14 characteristic factors, including hypoxia-related genes and EMT genes, that may be able to serve as potential biomarkers for HNSCC. According to the 14 characteristic factors in the CIEH model, a diagnostic kit can be packaged in the future to evaluate the survival of patients before tumor surgery and guide the subsequent treatment plan.

Structural optimization of natural products has become one of the most effective ways to develop novel pesticides. In this study, 30 novel pesticide derivatives containing a linear bisamide were synthesized. Then, their insecticidal activities against P. xylostella were evaluated. Results indicate that different bisamide substitutes show different larvicidal structure–activity relationships. At the same time, 2-trifluoroethyl is the most efficient substituent. The bioactivity results showed that most of the desired compounds exhibited better insecticidal activity against P. xylostella than piperine. Among them, compound D28 resulted in 90% mortality at 1 mg/ml concentration. This study provides a novel protocol for the discovery of new insecticides. The molecular docking results indicated that compound D28 could act on γ-aminobutyric acid receptors.

Wheat genotypes resistant to powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici, Bgt) provide a sustainable means for disease control. We developed a pair of near-isogenic lines H962R and H962S with contrasting reactions to powdery mildew from a residue heterozygous line. H962R was resistant to 127 out of the 136 Bgt isolates collected from the major wheat-producing regions of China and showed a similar virulence/avirulence pattern as Fuzhuang 30, Xiaobaidong, and Hongquanmang carrying resistance allele of Pm5e, but H962S was resistant to none of them. A dominant gene was responsible for the powdery mildew resistance of H962R as revealed by the genetic analysis using segregating populations derived from a cross between H962R and H962S. Molecular marker analysis detected a resistance locus, designated PmH962, on a genetic interval of the chromosome arm 7BL where Pm5e resides. This locus was co-segregated with the functional marker of Pm5e. The PCR-based sequence alignment of Pm5e demonstrated that H962R had an identical sequence as Fuzhuang 30 (haplotype HapGA), and H962S possessed the same sequence as the powdery mildew susceptible cultivar Kenong 199. The genomic compositions of lines H962R and H962S were highly comparable as evidenced by only a small percentage of SNP variations detected by the 16K Genotyping by Target Sequencing (GBTS) SNP array and the 90K Illumina iSelect Wheat SNP array. The two lines performed similarly in the yield-related and plant growth traits investigated, except for greater kernel weight in H962R than in H962S. This indicates that Pm5e has no deleterious effect and can be served as an excellent disease resistance gene in wheat breeding.

Visuospatial selective attention can focus attention on a certain spatial area and rationally allocate attentional resources during visual target perception. Previous studies investigated the behavioral advantages of subjects when the target appeared in the upper and lower visual fields. However, the neurophysiological characteristics of the brain are not clear, and there is a lack of comprehensive analysis of the external behavior and the internal neurophysiological characteristics. We designed two task paradigms containing a spatial location orientation task and a visual search task. We used event-related potentials (ERP) components (P1 and P2) and electroencephalogram (EEG) rhythms (theta and alpha) to analyze the attention level and allocation of attention resources of the brain. The results showed that when the target appeared in the lower visual field in the spatial location orientation task, subjects consumed fewer attention resources and demonstrated better behavioral performance. In the visual search task, when the target appeared in the upper left visual field, subjects could better mobilize attention resources and behaved more advantageously. The study provides a basis for the design of the target in the upper and lower visual fields in the rehabilitation task, especially for stroke patients with low attention levels due to attention disorders such as spatial attention deficit.

In public-private partnerships (PPPs), escalation of commitment (EOC) of investors often occurs when receiving negative feedback, leading to a great waste of resources and not conducive to the sustainable development of PPPs. The degree of project completion and decision-making responsibilities of investors with different conscientiousness and neuroticism may affect subsequent resource allocation and further influence their escalation behaviour. Thus, through scenario simulation, this paper constructs path analysis to illustrate the formation mechanism of EOC by investors with diverse conscientiousness and neuroticism in different degrees of decision-making responsibilities and project completion, in which confidence in completing the projects may present a mediating effect. The empirical results show that completion degree and decision-making responsibilities both positively affect investors’ EOC and that the interaction is significant. The impact mechanism of conscientiousness and neuroticism on EOC varies in different project scenarios. Then, some targeted recommendations are proposed to curb EOC. The findings provide scientific evidence for governments to conduct effective governance of EOC in PPPs.

Microglia cells are the main mediators of neuroinflammation. Activation of microglia often aggravates the pathological process of various neurological diseases. Natural chemicals have unique advantages in inhibiting microglia-mediated neuroinflammation and improving neuronal function. Here, we examined the effects of asperosaponin VI (ASA VI) on LPS-activated primary microglia. Microglia were isolated from mice and pretreated with different doses of ASA VI, following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration. Activation and inflammatory response of microglia cells were evaluated by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR), immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Signaling pathways were detected by western blotting. We found that the ASA VI inhibited the morphological expansion of microglia cells, decreased the expression and release of proinflammatory cytokines, and promoted the expression of antiinflammatory cytokines in a dose-dependent manner. ASA VI also activated PPAR-γ signaling pathway in LPS-treated microglia. The anti-inflammatory effects of ASA VI in microglia were blocked by treating PPAR-γ antagonist (GW9662). These results showed that ASA VI promote the transition of microglia cells from proinflammatory to anti-inflammatory by regulating PPAR-γ pathway.

Abstract Blueberries have great beneficial effects due to high level of anthocyanins, especially malvidin. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) can be activated and increase excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) components, which play a central role in liver fibrogenesis. Therefore, activated HSC’s apoptosis can be induced to recover liver fibrosis. Malvidin's effects on apoptosis in rat activated hepatic stellate T6 cells (HSC‐T6) in vitro were investigated here. High concentration of malvidin was found to significantly induce apoptosis, activate caspase‐3, increase malondialdehyde, upregulate Bax, but downregulate Bcl‐2. Moreover, malvidin upregulated the protein levels of some endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)‐typical markers, including caspase‐12, glucose‐regulated protein 78 (GRP78), and CCAAT/enhancer‐binding protein (C/EBP) homologous protein (CHOP), suggesting that malvidin induced HSC apoptosis by the ERS apoptosis pathway as well as the mitochondrial‐dependent pathway. These findings indicated that blueberry anthocyanins, especially malvidin, could induce activated hepatic stellate cell apoptosis and might act as one kind of functional food ingredient or a novel nutraceutical beneficial for liver health.

Lithium sulfur (Li-S) battery has exhibited great application potential in next-generation high-density secondary battery systems due to their excellent energy density and high specific capacity. However, the practical industrialization of Li-S battery is still affected by the low conductivity of sulfur and its discharge product (Li2S2/Li2S), the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfide (Li2Sn, 4 ≤ n ≤ 8) during charging/discharging process and so on. Here, cobalt disulfide/reduced graphene oxide (CoS2/rGO) composites were easily and efficiently prepared through an energy-saving microwave-assisted hydrothermal method and employed as functional interlayer on commercial polypropylene separator to enhance the electrochemical performance of Li-S battery. As a physical barrier and second current collector, the porous conductive rGO can relieve the shuttle effect of polysulfides and ensure fast electron/ion transfer. Polar CoS2 nanoparticles uniformly distributed on rGO provide strong chemical adsorption to capture polysulfides. Benefitting from the synergy of physical and chemical constraints on polysulfides, the Li-S battery with CoS2/rGO functional separator exhibits enhanced conversion kinetics and excellent electrochemical performance with a high cycling initial capacity of 1,122.3 mAh g−1 at 0.2 C, good rate capabilities with 583.9 mAh g−1 at 2 C, and long-term cycle stability (decay rate of 0.08% per cycle at 0.5 C). This work provides an efficient and energy/time-saving microwave hydrothermal method for the synthesis of functional materials in stable Li-S battery.