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Different from the extensive experimental investigations into the thermoelectric (TE) properties of the bulk IV–VI compounds, less attention has been paid to the TE properties of the monolayer IV–VI compounds. Here, we consider the TE transport properties including the Seebeck coefficient, electronic conductance, thermal conductance, power factor, and figure of merit Z T of the undoped and Bi-doped GeS monolayers. Our results show that for both the undoped and Bi-doped monolayers the anisotropy is widely observed in all their TE properties, and the maximum Z T at a certain temperature along the armchair direction is much greater than that along the zigzag direction. Moreover, Bi doping can lead to an increase of the maximum Z T , and there are more Z T peaks appearing near the zero chemical potential. This indicates that the Bi-doped GeS monolayer can work as a TE material at a lower bias voltage, and especially along the armchair direction it can work at zero bias voltage, which obviously strengthens the reliability of the TE devices. As the temperature increases, the maximum Z T will be uniformally increased along the armchair and zigzag directions for both the undoped and Bi-doped GeS monolayers. In the temperature scope from 300 to 800 K, the maximum Z T along the armchair direction of the Bi-doped GeS monolayer will increase from 3.39 to 4.85, which indicates that this Bi-doped GeS monolayer is a promising TE material in a wide-temperature zone. As an application, we have designed the GeS-based TE couples and found that their efficiencies can be greater than 27 % at large temperature differences. This research should be an important guidance for designing a low-voltage, wide-temperature-scope, and high-stability TE device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy equipartition and the energy budget in the jet are important issues for the radiation mechanism of blazars. Early work predominantly concentrated on flat-spectrum radio quasars and a limited number of BL Lacertae (BL Lac) objects. In this paper, we compile 348 high-frequency peaked BL Lac objects (HBLs) based on the catalog of active galactic nuclei (4LAC-DR3) from Fermi-LAT, and employ JetSet to fit the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of these HBLs in the framework of the one-zone lepton model. We aim to determine whether the energy budget is reasonable and whether energy equipartition is satisfied in HBLs. The results of the statistical analysis suggest that: (1) SEDs of HBLs can be reproduced well by using the one-zone lepton model; however, it cannot achieve energy equalization, and the relativistic electron energy density is far greater than the magnetic field energy density, U e ≳ 100 U B ; (2) the majority of HBLs are located in the t cool < t dyn region (where the horizontal coordinate represents the jet power of electrons, while the ordinate indicates the ratio of the dynamic timescale to the cooling timescale), and the jet kinetic power of HBLs is greater than the jet power of radiation; there is a very low radiation efficiency, we deduce that HBLs may have optically thin advection-dominated accretion flows; (3) log ϵ B of HBLs is less than zero, which indicates that the jet kinetic power of HBLs is not affected by Poynting flux; (4) the relationships U e > U Syn ∼ U B , L e ∼ L p > L B ∼ L rad, and log ϵ e > 0.5 are established. These relations indicate that most of the energy of HBLs is stored in the population of low-energy electrons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is dedicated to radial solutions to the Cauchy problem for the fractional Hartree equation with multiplicative noise. First, we establish a stochastic Strichartz estimate related to the fractional Schrödinger propagator. Local well-posedness for the Cauchy problem is proved by using stochastic and radial deterministic Strichartz estimates. Then, based on Itô's formula and stopping time arguments, the existence of a global solution is studied. Finally, we investigate the blow-up phenomenon and give a criterion via localized virial estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background To date, studies have been focused on sleep disturbances of nurses working during night shifts. There is a lack of understanding regarding the sleep quality of nurses working in the rapid rotation system for each type of shift work. Aims To determine the relationship between chronotype and sleep quality according to shift type (i.e. day, evening and night shifts) in nurses working 8-hour rotating shifts. Methods A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted from two tertiary hospitals in South Korea from December 2021 to September 2022, including nurses working 8-hour rotating shifts (N  = 74). They completed questionnaires to measure general, occupational and sleep-related characteristics, chronotype, insomnia severity and daytime sleepiness. Additionally, sleep parameters were collected from actigraphy and sleep diaries for 7 days. Results A total of 64% of nurses had an evening chronotype and 37% of nurses had an intermediate chronotype. Nurses had significantly less total sleep time and worsened sleep latency and efficiency during the day shift compared to other shift types. Compared to nurses with an intermediate chronotype, those with an evening chronotype had poorer sleep quality during day shift work. Conclusions Strategies to enhance nurses' sleep quality during day shifts should consider a two-level approach: individual approaches, such as improving sleep hygiene, and administrative approaches, such as establishing a chronotype-based shift system for scheduling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the shift in chemical physics research towards studying single molecules and nanoparticles instead of bulk samples. Advancements in experimental techniques, such as single-molecule absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, have made this shift possible. The article discusses various observations made through single-molecule spectroscopy, as well as theoretical considerations and applications in biology, materials science, and nanophotonics. It provides a summary of studies conducted using single-molecule spectroscopy in different disciplinary categories, demonstrating its interdisciplinary nature. The article concludes by discussing the challenges and future directions in the field, including integrating particle tracking with time-dependent spectroscopy and actively manipulating nanoscale objects. [Extracted from the article]

In gearing systems with frequent forward and reverse rotation, improper backlash settings will produce serious vibration and impact. This study obtains the precise time-varying backlash of a spur gear pair in thermoelastic coupling conditions. Based on the principle of gear meshing, the phase difference between the meshing and backlash points in the gear transmission process was determined. A new gear backlash model (the segmented backlash model) is proposed. The model considers the influences of the thermoelastic deformation of the meshing point, thermal contact deformation, and oil film thickness on the backlash in thermoelastic coupling conditions. Thermal expansion of the backlash point was directly considered, and a calculation method for each backlash component was presented. The distribution curves of the backlash along the Drive-Side Line of Action (DLoA) and the Back-Side Line of Action (BLoA), as well as the time-varying backlash curve, were obtained. The results show that, compared to the influences of thermoelastic deformation, thermal contact deformation, and thermal expansion on the backlash, the influence of the oil film thickness can be neglected when initially estimating the gear backlash. Mutations in the time-varying backlash emerge at the alternating points of the single- and double-tooth meshing regions and within the double-teeth meshing region. These research findings can be directly applied to the dynamic analysis of gear systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical interactions in plants often involve plant allelopathy and allelobiosis. Allelopathy is an ecological phenomenon leading to interference among organisms, while allelobiosis is the transmission of information among organisms. Crop failures and low yields caused by inappropriate management can be related to both allelopathy and allelobiosis. Therefore, research on these two phenomena and the role of chemical substances in both processes will help us to understand and upgrade agroecosystems. In this review, substances involved in allelopathy and allelobiosis in plants are summarized. The influence of environmental factors on the generation and spread of these substances is discussed, and relationships between allelopathy and allelobiosis in interspecific, intraspecific, plant–micro‐organism, plant–insect, and mechanisms, are summarized. Furthermore, recent results on allelopathy and allelobiosis in agroecosystem are summarized and will provide a reference for the future application of allelopathy and allelobiosis in agroecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The uniaxial tensile and cupping tests of cobalt‐chromium‐iron‐manganese‐nickel high entropy alloy were performed to investigate the effect of solid soluted carbon addition on the strengthening mechanism. The results revealed that at 0.5 at % carbon, the tensile strength, uniform elongation, and cupping strength of the sample were promoted. However, the brittleness fracture appeared by further increasing carbon to 1.0 at %, as caused by the carbides along grain boundary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Recurrent incisional hernias are challenging, and their surgical outcomes have not been well studied. We aimed to analyze the outcomes of recurrent incisional hernia repair in a propensity score-matched cohort study on laparoscopic intra-peritoneal onlay mesh repair (lap. IPOM) versus open sublay repair. Methods: All consecutive patients who had undergone open sublay repair and lap. IPOM of recurrent incisional hernia between January 2015 and December 2021 at a tertiary hernia center was identified. One-to-one propensity score matching was used to achieve a balanced exposure groups at baseline. Results: Of 255 patients, 85/95 with open sublay repair were matched to 85/160 with lap. IPOM. Before matching, the open sublay group had significantly larger hernia defects (6.3 cm vs. 5.0 cm) than the lap. IPOM group. Other major baseline imbalances were also found in body mass index (BMI), obesity and European Hernia Society (EHS) width classification. The pre-match results showed that the lap. IPOM group had significantly shorter operative time (median 75 vs. 95 min) and shorter postoperative hospital stay (median 8 vs. 11 days) compared with the open sublay group. Wound infection (8.4% vs. 1.9%) and hematoma (5.3% vs. 0.6%) occurred more frequently after open sublay repair. After matching, baseline characteristics were well balanced. The recurrence rate and incidence of complications were comparable between the two groups. However, the post-match analysis still showed that lap. IPOM was associated with decreased length of postoperative stay. Conclusion: The outcomes of recurrent incisional hernia surgery after lap. IPOM and open sublay repair appear similar, except that the former had shorter length of postoperative stay. However, the poor outcomes were more likely associated with the unfavorable risk profiles, such as larger defect size, rather than the procedure technique itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To establish and assess a computed tomography (CT)-based radiomics nomogram for identifying malignant and benign Bosniak IIF masses. In total, 150 patients with Bosniak IIF masses were separated into a training set (n= 106) and a test set (n= 44) in a ratio of 7:3. A radiomics signature was calculated based on extracted features from the three phases of CT images. A clinical model was constructed based on clinical characteristics and CT features, and a nomogram incorporating the radiomics signature and independent clinical variables was established. The calibration ability, discrimination accuracy, and clinical value of the nomogram model were assessed. Twelve features derived from CT images were applied to establish the radiomics signature. The performance levels of three machine-learning models were improved by adding the synthetic minority oversampling technique algorithm. The optimised machine learning model was a combination of the minimum redundancy maximum relevance-least absolute shrinkage and selection operator feature screening method + logistic regression classifier + synthetic minority oversampling technique algorithm, which demonstrated excellent identification ability on the test set (area under the curve [AUC], 0.970; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.940–1.000). The nomogram model displayed outstanding discrimination ability on the test set (AUC, 0.972; 95% CI, 0.942–1.000). The CT-based radiomics nomogram was useful for discriminating between malignant and benign Bosniak IIF masses, which improved the precision of preoperative diagnosis. • The nomogram is conducive to identify malignant from benign Bosniak IIF masses. • The radiomics nomogram shows improved diagnostic effectiveness. • The CT-based radiomics nomogram could be helpful for early treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Healthcare workers (HCWs) with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) have a high risk of active tuberculosis and need systematic LTBI screening and treatment. However, acceptance and adherence rates of LTBI treatment are low. Aims To examine the specific reasons for the loss at each LTBI treatment-cascade stage: acceptance, continuation and completion of LTBI treatment in HCWs. Methods This retrospective descriptive study was conducted among 61 HCWs with an interferon-gamma release assay-confirmed LTBI diagnosis who were prescribed LTBI treatment at a tertiary hospital in the Republic of Korea. Data were analysed using Pearson's chi-square, Fisher's exact, independent t -test and Mann–Whitney U- test. A word cloud analysis was used to describe the perceived meaning of LTBI in HCWs. Results HCWs who refused or discontinued LTBI treatment perceived LTBI as 'not a big deal', whereas HCWs who completed LTBI treatment had a high-risk perception of the LTBI prognosis, such as 'frightened about adverse prognosis'. Determinants of non-adherence to the recommended LTBI treatment included a busy work schedule, side effects of anti-tuberculosis agents and the inconvenience of regularly taking anti-tuberculosis agents. Conclusions To ensure LTBI treatment adherence in HCWs, effective interventions that are customized to each stage of the LTBI treatment should be developed, with due consideration of the stage-specific perceived facilitators and barriers in the LTBI treatment cascade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scaling relations for the dispersion coefficients of long-range interactions between the Mu(1s)–Mu(1s, 2s, or 2p) systems and the H(1s)–H(1s, 2s, or 2p) systems are obtained using analytical properties of hydrogenic wavefunctions, which allows us to obtain the dispersion coefficients for Mu(1s)–Mu(1s, 2s, or 2p) systems from the corresponding H(1s)–H(1s, 2s, or 2p) systems. Additionally, the dispersion coefficients of long-range interactions of Mu(1s) with the ground-state H, noble gas atoms He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe, alkali-metal atoms Li, Na, K, and Rb, alkaline-earth atoms Be, Mg, Ca, and Sr, and Cu, Ag, F, and Cl atoms are calculated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cylinder buckling is notoriously sensitive to small geometric imperfections. This is an underlying motivation for the use of knock-down factors in the design process, especially in circumstances in which minimum weight is a key design goal, an approach well-established at NASA, for example. Not only does this provide challenges in the practical design of this commonly occurring structural loadbearing configuration, but also in the carefully controlled laboratory setting. The recent development of 3D-printing (additive manufacturing) provides an appealing experimental platform for conducting relatively high-fidelity experiments on the buckling of cylinders. However, in addition to geometric precision, there are a number of shortcomings with this approach, and this article seeks to describe the challenges and opportunities associated with the use of 3D-printing in cylinder buckling in general, and probing the robustness of equilibrium configurations in particular. This article is part of the theme issue 'Probing and dynamics of shock sensitive shells'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel coupled code shifted M-ary differential chaos shift keying modulation scheme is proposed as a simple and low-cost solution to reference removal. In this scheme, only two information-bearing signals are transmitted. Both signals are modulated by selected Walsh code sequences with specific indices determined by the index bits, and one of them also carries an additional M-ary information symbol. Since these two information-bearing signals are coupled by the same chaotic message bearer, data bits can be easily recovered according to the correlation between these two signals so that the transmission of reference signals can be completely avoided. Theoretical Bit Error Rate (BER) expressions are derived over the additive white Gaussian noise and multipath Rayleigh fading channels. Furthermore, simulations and comparisons indicate that the proposed system can achieve better BER performance with lower complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jet feedback from active galactic nuclei (AGN) is one of the most promising mechanisms for suppressing cooling flows in cool-core clusters. However, the composition of AGN jets and bubbles remains uncertain; they could be thermally dominated, or dominated by cosmic ray proton (CRp), cosmic ray electron (CRe), or magnetic energy. In this work, we investigate the evolution and feedback effects of CRp and CRe dominated jets by conducting 3D magnetohydrodynamic simulations of AGN jet-inflated bubbles in the intracluster medium using the FLASH code. We present the evolution of their energies, dynamics, and heating, and model their expected cavity-power versus radio-luminosity relation (P cav– LR). We find that bubbles inflated by CRe dominated jets follow a very similar dynamical evolution to CRp dominated bubbles even though CRe within bubbles suffer significantly stronger synchrotron and inverse-Compton cooling. This is because, as CRe lose their energy, the jet-inflated bubbles quickly become thermally dominated within ∼30 Myr. Their total energy stops decreasing with CR energy and evolves similarly to CRp dominated bubbles. The ability of CRe and CRp dominated bubbles to heat the intracluster medium is also comparable; the cold gas formed via local thermal instabilities is well suppressed in both cases. The CRp and CRe bubbles follow different evolutionary trajectories on the P cav– LR plane, but the values are broadly consistent with observed ranges for FR-I sources. We also discuss observational techniques that have potential for constraining the composition of AGN jets and bubbles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rheological effect of soil is described by time-dependent modulus, and the expression of deformation modulus in the frequency domain is derived based on viscoelastic theory, so as to analyze the relationship between shear modulus and frequency. Considering the rheology of soil, a continuum dynamic model of pile-soil periodic structure is constructed, and the dispersion equation of shear wave in periodic structure is derived by using multiple scattering method. Through the analysis of numerical examples, the band gap characteristics of shear waves and the influence law of parameters in the row pile foundation of convective soil are studied. The results show that the low frequency shear wave velocity of the rheological soil row pile foundation increases, which makes the band gap position move to the high frequency section, and the greater the relaxation time of the soil, the higher the frequency position of the band gap and the smaller the width. When the filling ratio of the pile foundation is large, the rheology of soil is conducive to broaden the vibration band gap of pile row periodic structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the demand for operation in non-laboratory environments, there has been a trend toward the development of compact, transportable ultra-stable lasers. This paper reports on this sort of laser system assembled in a cabinet. The whole optical part utilizes fiber-coupled devices to simplify the integration. In addition, spatial beam collimation and alignment into the high-finesse cavity are realized by a five-axis positioner and a focus-adjustable fiber collimator, which significantly relax the alignment and adjustment. A theoretical analysis is performed on how the collimator adjusts the beam profile and coupling efficiency. The support structure of the system is specially designed as well so that it features robustness and transportation without performance degradation. The observed linewidth is 1.4 Hz within a duration of 1 s. After subtracting the linear drift of 70 mHz/s, the fractional frequency instability is better than 4 × 10−15, for the averaging time ranging from 1 to 100 s, which is close to the thermal noise limit of the high-finesse cavity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study systematically reviewed scientific evidence regarding the impact of economic growth on physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviors. A keyword and reference search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and EBSCO from the inception of an electronic bibliographic database to November 2021. Studies that met all of the following criteria were included in the review: (1) study designs: observational studies; (2) study subjects: people of all ages; (3) exposure: macroeconomic growth; (4) outcomes: PA or sedentary behaviors/sitting time. 15 studies were identified. Eight among 12 studies found economic growth positively associated with at least one domain/measure of PA, whereas the remaining four found an inverse relationship. One of two studies examined the association of economic growth and physical inactivity found a positive relationship, while another found no significant relationship. Four studies examined the associations between economic growth and sedentary behaviors, and the results were inconclusive. The impact of economic growth on PA is through three main pathways—(a) building and maintaining parks and green spaces, (b) adoption of the modern workplace and high technology, and (c) motorized transportation. Building and maintaining parks and green spaces can effectively promote leisure time physical activity and active commute in developed countries, whereas promoting workplace and transportation-related PA could be prioritized in developing nations. Future research calls for longitudinal study design and further exploration of macro-environmental factors. Policymakers and stakeholders should be informed about the potential PA reduction resulting from economic growth and develop preventive strategies to alleviate the problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus PL60, originally isolated from healthy baby feces, has beneficial activities including resistance to acid and bile acids, immune-enhancing activity, inhibition of various intestinal pathogens, anti-oxidation activity, adherence to the intestines, susceptibility to antimicrobials, an anti-obesity effect, and an anti-fatty liver effect. In the present study, the binding activity of L. rhamnosus PL60 to the HT-29 human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line and mouse intestines was established. L. rhamnosus PL60 increased interleukin-10 production and decreased tumor necrosis factor-α production in a dose-dependent manner in HT-29 cells treated with lipopolysaccharide. Similar results were observed in an in vivo experiment with BALB/c mice fed with L. rhamnosus PL60. Taken together, results from previous studies and the present study establish that L. rhamnosus PL60 is a probiotic candidate for inflammation-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AlCoCrFeNi high entropy alloy coatings were prepared on CrNi3MoVA steel by electrospark deposition technology, and their tribological behavior at different temperatures was investigated by utilizing a reciprocating friction and wear tester, and SEM, EDS and XRD were used to analyze the morphologies, composition and phase structure of AlCoCrFeNi coating. The results show that the as-deposited coating is composed of a single BCC structure with a hardness of 540±40 HV0.1. The wear resistance of AlCoCrFeNi coating at 600 °C is the best among 300 °C, 600 °C and 800 °C, and its wear rate is only 2.53×10-5 mm³/(N·m), which is one order of magnitude lower than that at the other two temperatures. At 600 °C, the main wear mechanism is oxidation wear, and a continuous compact oxide scale formed on the worn surface, which greatly improves the wear resistance of AlCoCrFeNi coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

β-Lactamase inhibition is an integral part of combination therapy to tackle antibiotic resistance. So far clavulanic acid is the only β-lactamase inhibitor that exhibits oral bioavailability. We synthesized new diazabicyclooctane derivatives by replacing the SO3H with CHXCOOR moiety. The antibacterial activity of these compounds, in combination with imipenem, was determined against ten bacterial strains. All compounds showed variable profile of β-lactamase inhibition, however, most of the compounds were potent against K. pneumoniae 700603 with two- to six-fold minimization of MIC value of imipenem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) is an important spintronic device and widely used in storage and sensor applications due to its large tunnel magnetoresistance. Here, we demonstrate that MTJs with an MgO barrier can be used in a straightforward way for accurate and quantitative temperature measurements in buried nanostructures. For this purpose, three intrinsic properties of the MTJ are employed: (i) the temperature dependence of the tunnel resistance, (ii) the temperature dependence of the coercivity of the free layer, and (iii) the temperature dependence of the coercivity of the synthetic antiferromagnet. We compare the three methods for the case in which a metal layer above the MTJ is heated by femtosecond laser pulses and find a good agreement between the different techniques. Our results might contribute to a better understanding of nanoscale thermal transport in multilayer structures for which corresponding simulations are very complicated. Additionally, the developed techniques, which have a high spatial resolution, will be suitable for the study of new physical phenomena where quantitative information about temperature and temperature gradients is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the multiwavelength emission from hadronic and leptonic cosmic rays (CRs) in bubbles around galaxies, analogous to the Fermi bubbles of the Milky Way. The bubbles are modelled using 3D magnetohydrodynamical simulations, and are driven by a 0.3 Myr intense explosive outburst from the nucleus of Milky Way-like galaxies. We compute their non-thermal emission properties at different stages throughout their evolution, up to 7 Myr, by post-processing the simulations. We compare the spectral and spatial signatures of bubbles with hadronic, leptonic, and hybrid hadro-leptonic CR compositions. These each show broadly similar emission spectra, comprised of radio synchrotron, inverse Compton, and non-thermal bremsstrahlung components. However, hadronic and hybrid bubbles were found to be brighter than leptonic bubbles in X-rays, and marginally less bright at radio frequencies, and in γ-rays between ∼0.1 and a few 10s of GeV, with a large part of their emission being driven by secondary electrons formed in hadronic interactions. Hadronic systems were also found to be slightly brighter in high-energy γ-rays than their leptonic counterparts, owing to the π0 decay emission that dominates their emission between energies of 100s of GeV and a few TeV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High power microwave (HPM) sources usually require a well-defined rectangular pulse waveform, which is especially true for the case of long pulse (>100 ns), stable, and high efficiency operation. Most long pulse HPM drivers are realized with pulse forming networks. This paper presents a long pulse driver composed of a conventional Marx generator and metal-oxide varistors (MOVs), utilizing the MOV's nonlinear V–I characteristic. This method is easy to implement, and it has an additional benefit that the voltage can be stabilized even if the load's impedance changes slightly. A low inductance zig-zag folding structure of the MOV is designed to decrease its size and self-inductance. An LC filter is used to reduce the energy loss in the MOV. In the experiment, a 400 kV, 800 ns long pulse is achieved at a foil-less electron diode, and longer than 300 ns HPM generation is obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to identify the absorbed components of raw fuzi in a rat adjuvant arthritis model and evaluate the therapeutic effects of three alkaloids of fuzi's absorbed components, aconitine, hypaconitine and mesaconitine. The adjuvant arthritis model was established by complete Freund's adjuvant injection in Wistar rats. Then the animal's body weight, condition of fur, hind paw volume and immunological parameters, nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, were assessed as markers of inflammation and arthritis. Serum samples from rats treated with oral fuzi extracts were analyzed by ultra performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric and 12 prototypes of fuzi were identified. Aconitine and mesaconitine could substantially reduce the serum levels of nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the adjuvant arthritis model, while hypaconitine did not show obvious effects. The method for the identification of absorbed components of raw fuzi was simple and sensitive. Among the alkaloids, aconitine and mesaconitine might be the major compounds from diester-diterpenoid alkaloids for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The current study connected serum pharmacochemistry study of fuzi with pharmacological experiment in adjuvant arthritis model and discovered the effective substance of fuzi, which could provide plausible evidence for its using, a candidate treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Azimuthal correlations in Z + jet production at large transverse momenta are computed by matching Parton-Branching (PB) TMD parton distributions and showers with NLO calculations via MCatNLO. The predictions are compared with those for dijet production in the same kinematic range. The azimuthal correlations Δ ϕ between the Z boson and the leading jet are steeper compared to those in dijet production at transverse momenta O (100) GeV , while they become similar for very high transverse momenta O (1000) GeV. The different patterns of Z + jet and dijet azimuthal correlations can be used to search for potential factorization-breaking effects in the back-to-back region, which depend on the different color and spin structure of the final states and their interferences with the initial states. In order to investigate these effects experimentally, we propose to measure the ratio of the distributions in Δ ϕ for Z + jet- and multijet production at low and at high transverse momenta, and compare the results to predictions obtained assuming factorization. We examine the role of theoretical uncertainties by performing variations of the factorization scale, renormalization scale and matching scale. In particular, we present a comparative study of matching scale uncertainties in the cases of PB-TMD and collinear parton showers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The elastic–plastic fracture toughness (Jc) is an important mechanical parameter for studying the failure behavior of air plasma-sprayed (APS) thermal barrier coatings (TBC) at high temperatures. Objective: This study aims to: (1) develop an effective test method to characterize the Jc of TBC at high temperatures; (2) acquire accurate Jc data for TBC at high temperatures; (3) analyze the influence of plasticity of top-coat on the Jc characterization. Methods: The elastic–plastic Ramberg–Osgood equation of the ceramic top-coat and the deformation fields of single edge notched tension (SENT) specimens were measured by high-temperature in-situ tension with digital image correlation (DIC) system. The Jc of TBC was calculated by the numerical J-integral with DIC-measured (DIC-J) deformation fields by adopting Ramberg–Osgood equation of the top-coat. The finite element analysis (FEA) method was adopted to analyze the influence of plasticity of top-coat on the Jc characterization. Results: The curves of Jc varying with crack propagation length (Δa) of TBC were obtained and were expressed as JR = 24.47 × [ 1 + 1.0446 × ( Δ a ~ )0.7624] J/m2 and JR = 16.52 × [ 1 + 1.4806 × ( Δ a ~ )0.6742] J/m2 at 800 and 1000 ℃, respectively. Conclusions: A high-temperature in-situ tensile test of SENT specimens combined with the DIC-J method was developed to characterize Jc of TBC. The Jc of TBC displays a rising resistance curve behavior, and FEA results indicated that Jc would be underestimated without considering the plasticity of the top-coat at 800 and 1000 ℃. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nullarbor Plain is underlain by thick cratonic lithospheric mantle that is almost devoid of contemporary seismicity. Analysis of high‐resolution digital elevation models indicates neotectonic fault‐propagation fold traces on the nearly flat karst landscape that locally extend to lengths of >100 km, suggesting potential for hosting large (>7.3–7.5) moment magnitude earthquakes. Along‐strike maximum displacements are not proportional to neotectonic fold surface trace length but are spatially associated with crust‐scale electrical conductors identified in magnetotelluric surveys. Two major conductors penetrate from the upper crust to the uppermost mantle (at depths < 60 km) along crustal scale shear zones. Conductivity in the uppermost mantle shear zones is higher than conductivity at increased depth, suggesting fluid‐enhanced enrichment with hydrogen and/or carbon. Lithospheric fluid localization associated with ancient slab subduction and/or hydrothermal alteration may have weakened pre‐existing faults and enhanced neotectonic faulting in the Nullarbor Plain. Plain Language Summary: Stable cratons on the Earth are generally considered to be immune from large earthquakes. Historical seismic quiescence and a paucity of evidence for geologically recent activity on large intraplate faults can result in an absence or low level of seismic hazard awareness, though intraplate earthquakes have caused more fatalities than interplate earthquakes. Long recurrence intervals commonly obscure evidence for paleo‐earthquakes because surface erosional processes may erode or bury surface ruptures and other neotectonic deformational features. Finding an ideal place that can provide sufficient observations of intracontinental active faults is challenging but pivotal for unraveling intracontinental fault dynamics and seismic hazard assessment. The nearly flat Nullarbor Plain in South‐Central Australia is covered by 100s‐m‐thick limestone, which is cut by reactivated reverse faults propagating upward from the Precambrian basement. The limestone has been exposed to the surface since the mid‐Miocene. The arid climate in this region has helped preserve these neotectonic features from surface erosion. Fault traces with high displacements can be well correlated with patches with high electrical conductivities, which are sensitive to fluids in the lithosphere. With co‐located seismic reflection profiles, gravity, and magnetic maps, we propose that enhanced neotectonic activity is associated with fluids ascending from deeper parts of the lithosphere. Key Points: The Nullarbor Plain in Australia is a cratonic region with neotectonic fault (fold) traces of 7–150 km lengthFault displacement is not positively related to fault length but is spatially linked to high electrical conductors in the lithosphereLithospheric fluid localization is proposed to have weakened pre‐existing faults and enhanced neotectonic faulting in the Nullarbor Plain [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feedback from active galactic nuclei (AGNs) is believed to be the most promising solution to the cooling flow problem in cool-core clusters. Dissipation of sound waves is considered as one of the possible heating mechanisms; however, its relative contribution to heating remains unclear. To estimate the energy budget for heating, we perform 3D hydrodynamic simulations of AGN jet injections in a Perseus-like cluster and quantify the amount of energy stored in the forms of weak shocks and waves. We find that, for a single jet injection with typical parameters in cool-core clusters, |${\sim}9{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$| of the total jet energy is stored in compressional waves (including both shocks and waves). However, due to the destructive effects among randomly phased waves as well as the dissipation of shock energies, in our simulations including self-regulated AGN feedback, no more than |$3{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$| of the total injected energy goes into compressional waves. We further separate the energy contribution from shocks and waves and find that, for a single outburst, the shocks can only contribute to |${\sim}20{-}30{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$| of the total compressional energy in the inner radii and quickly dissipate away. In the self-regulated case where shocks are repeatedly generated, shocks completely dominate over sound waves in the inner region and can still provide |${\sim}40{-}50{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$| of the total compressional energy at outer radii. Our results suggest that the production of sound waves is not as efficient as what was previously found, and thus sound wave dissipation may be a subdominant source of heating in cool-core clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both ruminal microbial structure and functionality might play a role in inter-individual variation in susceptibility for subacute rumen acidosis (SARA) observed in dairy cows. The aims of this study were to determine whether differences between cows with distinct SARA susceptibility were reflected in distinct (1) ruminal microbial communities, (2) salivary bacterial communities, and (3) fermentative capacity of ruminal microbiota assessed in vitro. To test this hypothesis, rumen samples were collected via an esophageal tube on 21 d postpartum from 38 multiparous Holstein cows, which were classified into 4 groups differing in median and mean time of reticular pH below 6 as well as area under the curve of pH below 6.0. During the 21 d postpartum, all cows within a group fulfilled following criteria: susceptible (S, n = 10; mean or median ≥180 min/d), moderately susceptible (MS, n = 7; 60 min/d < mean time of pH below 6 < 180 min/d, and median time of pH below 6 <180 min/d), moderately unsusceptible (MU, n = 11; 10 min/d < mean < 60 min/d, and median time of pH below 6 ≤30 min/d), or unsusceptible (U, n = 10; median = 0 min/d, and mean <10 min/d). Groups did not differ in total daily dry matter intake nor in total, roughage, or concentrate intake during daily 6-h time intervals. Rumen bacterial α-diversity did not differ among groups, but β-diversity varied and bacterial 16S rRNA gene copy numbers were lower in S compared with U cows. The relative abundance of genera Streptococcus , Sharpea , Prevotellaceae_YAB2003 , Succinivibrionaceae_UCG-001 , Ruminococcus , and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-001 were higher in S compared with U cows. In contrast, Lachnospiraceae_ND3007 and Oscillospiraceae_V9D2013 were more abundant in U cows. Although pH-associated, inter-animal differences were also observed in the salivary bacteria, common differences in ruminal and salivary bacterial genera were limited. The functionality of the rumen microbiota was evaluated in vitro through exposure of the microbial inoculum of S and U cows to an anaerobic buffer at pH 5.8 and 6.8, in the presence of sterile supernatant of their own and of dry cows' rumen fluid (2 × 2 design). Generally, the S inoculum produced more volatile fatty acids, except at low pH with dry cows' supernatant, where volatile fatty acid production was completely impaired and lactate accumulation was highest. Compared with the microbes of U cows, microbes of S cows showed less fermentative activity in situations with 2 stress factors (low pH and an unfamiliar environment, i.e., rumen fluid supernatant of dry cows). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generally, the laboratory assessment of allelopathy involves the determination of germination rates and measurements of the roots and shoots elongation of receptor plant species exposed to an allelochemical source (e. g. extracts, leachates, root exudates) or a purified allelochemical. However, these assessments are time consuming and laborious. In the present study, a new centrifuge tube agar profile method (CTAP) was introduced to determine the allelopathic effects of aqueous extracts from 30 plant species on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). The results demonstrated that the water extract of Melilotus officinalis (L.) Pall. had the strongest inhibitory effects on lettuce. Water extract of M. officinalis (L.) Pall. was analyzed by GC-MS, and the allelopathic effects of coumarin on 5-plant species (Lactuca sativa L., Raphanus sativus L., Raphanus sativus L., Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., Lactuca sativa L., and Brassica campestris var. chinensis) were determined by CTAP. The exposure of coumarin at 100 mg·L-1 for 2 days stimulated the growth of radish (Raphanus sativus L.). This study introduces a new method for the rapid determination of allelopathic potential of plants and allelochemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report an investigation of anomalous-Hall resistance (AHR) and spin-Hall magnetoresistance (SMR) in Pt/Ir20Mn80/Y3Fe5O12 (Pt/IrMn/YIG) heterostructures. The AHR of Pt/IrMn/YIG heterostructures with an antiferromagnetic inserted layer is dramatically enhanced as compared to that of the Pt/YIG bilayer. The temperature dependent AHR behavior is nontrivial, while the IrMn thickness dependent AHR displays a peak at an IrMn thickness of 3 nm. The observed SMR in the temperature range of 10-300 K indicates that the spin current generated in the Pt layer can penetrate the IrMn layer (≤3 nm) to interact with the ferromagnetic YIG layer. The lack of conventional anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) implies that the insertion of the IrMn layer between Pt and YIG could efficiently suppress the magnetic proximity effect (MPE) on induced Pt moments by YIG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes the evolution of single-proton states within the odd-A isotopes of 117−133Sb. We identified the monopole force interaction between the π g 7 / 2 and ν h 11 / 2 orbitals as the key driver of the ground-state inversion observed in 121Sb. Moreover, we provide an additional asset for this monopole force by investigating the negative-parity states in 132Sb and demonstrating its manifestation through a comparative assessment of πg - νh multiplets. Our results provide conclusive evidence, for the first time, explaining the ground-state inversion in 121Sb through observations in 132Sb. The increasing occupation and configurations of the orbit π d 5 / 2 revealed that the single-proton property of state 5/2+ remained robust even in the neutron mid-shell region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe air pollution is a serious threat to public health in the Yangtze River Delta region, where high concentrations of particulate matter are often observed in winter. In the present study, a serious aerosol pollution incident in the western Yangtze River Delta, China, was investigated by using joint inversion of CALIPSO and ground-based lidar in Hefei during 17–22 January, 2019. The data of the past two years were used in this study, and four typical weather cases were selected for comparative verification—namely, fi ne weather (less cloud, good air); cloudy weather (good air, no haze); moderate pollution weather (moderate haze, no cloud); and severe pollution weather (heavy haze, cloud). The vertical profile of aerosol backscatter as the satellite passed through Hefei city was given by the data of the CALIPSO satellite-borne lidar, CALIOP, which was compared with the vertical distribution of the range-corrected signal of ground-based lidar. Combined with analysis of meteorological data, the results showed that satellite–ground lidar can be used to observe the effect of aerosol changes on weather effectively. Subsequent experiments observed and tracked severely polluted weather event, and the data on the aerosol boundary layer was obtained which was a severe trans-boundary air pollution. The serious pollution period occurred from 22:00 to 04:00 on January 19 to 20, 2019, when the aerosol boundary layer was at its lowest (less than 0.5 km) and the boundary layer height ranged from 0.5 km to 2.2 km in other periods. Then, based on analysis of near-surface data, the changes in the boundary layer during the pollution process and the possible causes of these changes were analyzed. It was concluded that, during the pollution process, the height of the aerosol boundary layer in the Hefei area showed an obvious negative correlation with the concentration of PM2.5. Finally, HYSPLIT results showed that the source of pollution weather was mainly aerosol particles blown from the north. The results of this study provide a basis for satellite- and ground-based lidar joint observation under different weather types, as well as help in the study of urban weather change and pollution prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technology was combined with nanotechnology to detect the Raman intensity of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in saliva and of three kinds of populations (healthy volunteers, patients with gingivitis, and patients with periodontitis). The Raman intensities of IL-1β and TNF-α in the saliva of the periodontitis group were significantly higher than those of the control and gingivitis groups (P = 0.00). The Raman intensities of the two inflammatory factors in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of the periodontitis group were also significantly higher than those of the other two groups (P = 0.00). In the same group, the Raman intensities of IL-1β and TNF-α showed no significant difference between the saliva and GCF samples, respectively (P > 0.05). Combining SERS technology and nanotechnology can aid in detecting the Raman intensity of inflammatory factors using saliva and GCF more effectively than traditional methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grain refinement is significant for the mechanical properties of engineering alloys. We achieved a bi-ultrafine microstructure in an Mg–12Gd–3Y–0.5Zr alloy through equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) at 300°C. The ECAP not only refined the matrix grains but also broke the large intermetallic particles into fine secondary particles and then rearranged them at the grain boundaries. These fine particles can suppress the growth of the recrystallised grains, as well as promote nucleation for recrystallisation. After four passes of ECAP, a uniform microstructure with both the matrix grain (∼500 nm) and the particle size (∼300 nm) in the ultrafine range was obtained. This unique microstructure resulted in a good combination of strength (>300MPa) and elongation to failure (>35%) at 200°C, which sheds new light on refining microstructure to obtain good mechanical performance at elevated temperatures for Mg alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacillus velezensis is regarded as a potential starter culture for food, due to its biological safety and efficient protein hydrolysis ability. To clarify the diversity of extracellular proteases produced by B. velezensis SW5 isolated from fish sauce, substrate immersing zymography and peptide analysis based on MS were used. A total of 12 proteases were identified in the extracellular fermentation broth of B. velezensis SW5, and it was found that the strain produces some unknown proteases. Among them, only subtilisin E, bacillopeptidase F, and bacillolysin had signal peptides. Subtilisin E comprised the majority of the protease activity of B. velezensis SW5. Both subtilisin E and bacillopeptidase F are serine proteases from S8A peptide subfamily, while bacillolysin is a metalloproteinase in the peptidase M4 family. These proteases formed multiple substrate hydrolysis bands during non-denaturing electrophoresis, indicating that they exist outside the cell in various mature forms. Nine signal peptide-free proteases, from a number of different protease families, such as S8A, G2, M16B, U32, C15, M20B, and M23B, were also identified in the cell-free supernatant of the strain. The composition of extracellular proteases in B. velezensis SW5 is complex, and the catalytic types of these proteases are diverse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study demonstrated the crucial role of Sirt1 gene in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) related to the influence of Sirt1 on oxidative stress and glycolipid metabolism. The 16-week-old genetically diabetic db/db mice were characterized with downregulated expression of Sirt1 in the liver accompanied by hepatomegaly and a larger size of fat vacuoles in hepatocytes. In db/m mice, silencing Sirt1 gene induced hepatic steatosis and significantly increased serum AST. Additionally, the levels of triglycerides in blood and liver of these mice were elevated. However, all pathological changes in the liver of Sirt1-knockdown db/m mice were less pronounced than in 16-week-old db/db mice. Further experiments showed that oxidative stress and PGC-1α-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction are implicated in pathological changes of lipid metabolism in T2DM-induced NAFLD provoked by Sirt1 silencing. This study showed that down-regulation of Sirt1 expression plays the key role in pathological processes developed during T2DM-induced abnormalities of lipid metabolism in the liver. Thus, up-regulation of Sirt1 expression seems to be a promising strategy in early prevention of T2DM-induced NAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluidity of fresh concrete is an important performance, and it can be evaluated by concrete flow process. Before the experiments, the theory of the lateral spread and accumulation were assumed. Then, the velocity and spread characteristics of concrete with different water content on an inclined plane were studied. Spatial filtering velocimetry (SFV) was used to measure the free-surface spreading evolution of concrete of a fixed volume slowly released onto a slope. The velocity gradients along the flow direction were calculated in the steady zone and the results showed that the velocity gradient was a reasonable indicator to assess concrete fluidity. Based on these analysis and results, the flow depth during the flow process was estimated too. [Display omitted] • Spatial filtering velocimetry technique was proposed as a practical non-intrusive method to monitor the fluidity of concrete. • Velocity gradient was proposed as a new parameter to estimate the fluidity of concrete. • The relationship between flow depth and spatial displacement at center region was analyzed. • A common descriptive equation of the whole spreading process was given. • Finding a linear spreading behavior exists in the whole flow process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the evolution of microstructure and mechanical properties of the 2A14-T4 aluminum alloy stationary shoulder friction stir welding (SSFSW) of a T-joint was analyzed. The results showed that the weld surface had almost no thinning, little flashes, and no external defects. Equiaxed crystal grains were formed in the weld nugget zone (WNZ) after full dynamic recrystallization, while incomplete dynamic recrystallization occurred in the thermomechanically affected zone (TMAZ), and the grains grew in the TMAZ. The microstructure of the heat-affected zone (HAZ) coarsened to a certain extent under the action of high temperature. The hardness distribution in the direction of the bottom plate of the joint presented a W-type curve on the whole, and the hardness distribution in the direction of the rib plate presented an N-type curve on the whole. The lowest point of hardness usually appeared at the junction of the first and second welds, as well as on the HAZ-TMAZ interface. The distribution of residual stresses in the SSFSW T-joint was uniform, while the thermal-mechanical rolling effects of the second weld led to the reduction of residual stresses in the first weld. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of mineral salts on an acidophilic mixed culture was investigated. The tested mixed culture included representatives of the genera Leptospirillum, Sulfobacillus, and Acidiplasma. Elimination of each mineral salt studied led to a decrease in the diversity of the mixed culture. The influence of mineral salts and elements in the 9K medium on microbial reproduction follow the sequence: FeSO4·7H2O > MgSO4·7H2O > (NH4)2SO4 > CaNO3 > K2HPO4 > KCl and Fe > N > Mg > K > Ca > P > Cl. In terms of microbial function, the sequence is as follows: FeSO4·7H2O > K2HPO4 > CaNO3 > MgSO4·7H2O > (NH4)2SO4 > KCl and Fe > K > P > Ca > Mg > N > Cl. The significantly influenced genera were Cuniculiplasma, A-plasma, Ferroplasma, Sulfobacillus, and Leptospirillum. Sulfur oxidation and nitrogen fixation were the most severely affected microbial functions. This research provides a basis for the improvement of microbial cultures applied for the bioleaching and optimization of the biometallurgical process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrogen bonding characteristics of water clusters (H2O)n (n=14-17) are investigated by using Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QTAIM). The stabilities of the water clusters are related to the strength and number of hydrogen bonding. The strength of hydrogen bonding is primarily concerned with the characteristic of the donor molecule. The electron densities of bonding critical points of hydrogen bonding formed by DAA, DDAA and DDA molecule as hydrogen-donor (H-donor) are about 0.045 a.u., 0.035 a.u. and 0.025 a.u. respectively. The strength of hydrogen bonding formed by DAA as H-donor is the strongest, and that formed by DDA as H-donor is the weakest. The strength of hydrogen bonding in pentagonal rings is stronger than that in the cubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the complications in the measurement of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), this paper proposes a method using lidar for assessing PM2.5. By calculating the aerosol optical depth (AOD) for MODIS, CALIPSO, and ground-based lidar, the corrected PM2.5 was predicted. The results showed that AOD and PM2.5 had a linear relationship. The linear correlation coefficient between ground-based lidar AOD and PM2.5 was 0.81, and the root-mean-square error (RMSE) and mean deviation (MD) were 24.43 and 18.41, respectively. The linear correlation coefficient between CALIPSO AOD and PM2.5 was 0.8, and its RMSE and MD were 42.91 and 33.25, respectively. The linear correlation between AOD and PM2.5 for VIIRS was approximately 0.7. This paper provides more possibilities for lidar observation and prediction of the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water loss is an essential factor that affects the maintenance of quality of citrus fruit during postharvest handling and storage. Aquaporins (AQPs) play an important role in the transport of water across membranes. However, the expression profiling of AQPs is incomplete for citrus fruits during storage.In this study, a post‐harvest storage experiment was performed using sweet orange fruits to determine changes in water loss and fruit quality. Also, genome‐wide expression analysis of CsAQP genes was carried out in fruit of different citrus varieties during storage.Low humidity storage conditions accelerated the postharvest water loss and texture decline and increased the TSS content in the fruit. A total of 39 non‐redundant CsAQP genes were identified. A comprehensive analysis of these genes demonstrated that all AQPs had conserved filter motifs in the different citrus varieties examined. Moreover, multiple expression analysis revealed AQPs had complex expression profiles upon water loss in citrus fruit, being time‐specific in tight‐skin varieties (orange and pomelo varieties), tissue‐specific between peel and pulp, and variety‐specific between loose‐skin (mandarin varieties) and tight‐skin varieties (such as sweet orange and pummelo).These results indicated that the relative humidity in storage environment affected the postharvest water loss and quality of citrus fruit. Besides, the alternation in AQPs expression may partially account for the different water loss ratio in citrus varieties and the transfer of water between the peel and the pulp of citrus fruit during storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]