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Understanding the behavior of intrinsic defects and helium (He) in tungsten oxides is useful for the application of tungsten (W) in a fusion environment because of the oxidation of W surfaces. The formation and diffusion energies of intrinsic defects and He in monoclinic γ-WO3 have been investigated using first-principles density functional theory calculations. The formation energy and diffusion activation energy of O defects are lower than W defects. O vacancy prefers to diffuse along the ⟨ 001 ⟩ direction, then followed by ⟨ 010 ⟩ and ⟨ 100 ⟩ directions; however, the W vacancy is immobile at temperatures lower than 2000 K. The stability of Schottky defects (SDs) is sensitive to their geometry and orientation. W interstitials prefer to move along the [100] direction, while O interstitials jump around W atoms rather than through the W quasi-cubic centers. He interstitial atoms are predicted to have a high solubility and an anisotropic diffusion mechanism in γ-WO3. In addition, the effect of biaxial strain on the solubility and diffusivity of He interstitials was investigated. He interstitials prefer to reside at individual sites rather than clusters. He atoms are weakly trapped by single vacancies or SDs. Vacancies assist the local migration of nearby He. Correspondingly, He self-clustering and bubble formation are less likely to form in γ-WO3 relative to bcc W. The energetics obtained in this work can be used to predict the microstructure evolution of the WO3 layer on a W substrate exposed to He plasmas at different temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To identify studies and the content of the interventions that have facilitated the implementation of pressure injury (PI) prevention measures in nursing home settings. Design and Method: A scoping review methodology was employed. The author has carried out the following steps successively: Identified this scoping review's questions, retrieved potentially relevant studies, selected relevant studies, charted the data, summarised the results, and consulted with stakeholders from nursing homes in China. Data Sources: Six electronic databases and three resources of grey literature—PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science Core Collection, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Psych INFO, Open Grey, MedNar, ProQuest Dissertations, and Theses Full Texts were searched from January 2002 through May 2022. Results: Forty articles were included, among which the primary interventions were quality improvement, training and education, evidence‐based practice, device‐assisted PI prophylaxis, nursing protocols, and clinical decision support systems. Twenty‐three outcome indicators were summarised in 40 articles, which included 10 outcome indicators, seven process indicators, and six structural indicators. Furthermore, only five articles reported barriers in the process of implementing interventions. Conclusion: The common interventions to promote the implementation of PI prevention measures in nursing homes are quality improvement, training, and education. Relatively limited research has been conducted on evidence‐based practice, clinical decision support systems, device‐assisted PI prophylaxis, and nursing protocols. In addition, there is a paucity of studies examining the impediments to implementing these measures and devising targeted solutions. Therefore, it is recommended that future studies include analysis and reporting of barriers and facilitators as part of the article to improve the sustainability of the intervention. Impact: This article reminds nursing home managers that they should realise the importance of implementation strategies between the best evidence of PI prevention and clinical practice. Also, this review provides the types, contents, and outcome indicators of these strategies for managers of nursing homes to consider what types of interventions to implement in their organisations. TRIAL AND PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: The protocol of this scoping review was published as an open‐access article in June 2022 (Yang et al., 2022). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a variant of the improved discrete velocity method (VIDVM) is proposed for flows in the whole Knudsen number regimes. This method retains the advantage of the improved discrete velocity method (IDVM), which calculates numerical fluxes through a self-adaptive strategy by combining the microscopic reconstruction and the macroscopic reconstruction. Like the IDVM, the microscopic reconstruction for VIDVM is also based on the collisionless Boltzmann solver. However, different from IDVM, the macroscopic reconstruction for VIDVM is established on the Euler solver instead of the Navier–Stokes solver. Considering that the Euler solver merely computes the inviscid fluxes while the Navier–Stokes solver additionally calculates the viscous fluxes, the present method could be more efficient than IDVM. To validate the accuracy and efficiency of the present scheme, some benchmark cases from the continuum regime to the free molecular regime are conducted. Results reveal that the present scheme can predict the flow as well as IDVM, but the present solver is more efficient than IDVM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Grad's 13 distribution function was derived through a third-order Hermite polynomial expansion in terms of peculiar velocity. Recently, it has been adopted to construct a gas kinetic flux solver called G13-GKFS for simulation of flows from the continuum regime to the rarefied regime. However, this Grad's distribution function only considers the contracted polynomials that strictly satisfy orthogonality. In other words, the third-order terms of C i C 1 2 , C i C 2 2 , and C i C 3 2 share the same coefficients ( γ i ). However, the results from the discrete velocity method reveal that those coefficients could be different, especially in the rarefied regime. This may affect the accuracy of numerical results in the rarefied region. In order to consider different coefficients of the third-order terms, we propose a complete third-order polynomial expansion to approximate the distribution function in this work. To show the capability of current distribution function, a new GKFS is developed for flows from the continuum regime to the rarefied regime. Some benchmark cases are solved to demonstrate that the new GKFS outperforms the G13-GKFS in the rarefied regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dendrobium catenatum is a medicinal plant with rich pharmacological activity and wide economic value, and one of its main active components is flavonoids. However, the gene families of the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway of D. catenatum have not been systematically identified and analyzed, and their specific roles are still unclear. In this study, a genome-wide analysis of 11 gene families involved in D. catenatum flavonoid biosynthesis was performed. A total of 55 genes were identified and analyzed for their gene structure, subcellular localization, conserved motifs, phylogenetic relationships, number and location of cis-acting elements and expression at different tissues and ages using bioinformatics software. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the gene family members are evolutionarily conserved. Subcellular localization shows these genes were located in many important components in cell. Analysis of their cis-acting elements showed that a large number of elements responsive to light and MYB transcription factors were present in these genes. The expressions of different genes were significantly different in different tissues and ages of D. catenatum. In conclusion, the gene family members involved in flavonoid biosynthesis in D. catenatum are structurally and functionally diverse and are hypothesized to play different roles in different tissues and ages of D. catenatum. The results of this study provide valuable information for analyzing the biological functions and evolution of the relevant genes in the D. catenatum flavonoid biosynthesis pathway and lay the foundation for further exploring the regulatory mechanisms of these genes in D. catenatum flavonoid biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Siliconization of the tokamak walls is a candidate method to improve plasma confinement in fusion tokamaks containing tungsten plasma facing components (W PFCs). To understand the interactions of silicon (Si) with W, the Si behavior in bulk W, and near three low-index W surfaces ((100), (110) and (111)) has been investigated using first-principles density functional theory. In bulk W, Si interstitial atoms have a low solution ability and high mobility, and Si atoms can be strongly trapped by W vacancies. The interaction between two Si adatoms is responsible for the stability of adatom superstructures on W surfaces, consistent with previous experimental observation (Tsong and Casanova 1981 Phys. Rev. Lett. 47 113). Although the coverage dependence of Si adsorption and diffusion energetics on surfaces is related to surface orientation, the W(110) surface has lower Si adsorption affinity and higher Si diffusivity than either the W(111) or W(100) surfaces. The most stable Si adatom superstructure on W surfaces is: square c(2 × 2) pattern on W(100) covered with 0.5 ML Si; rectangular c(4 × 2) pattern on W(110) with 0.25 ML Si; and rhombus p(1 × 1) pattern on W(111) with 1 ML Si. The coverage dependence of Si mobility on/toward W surfaces is generally related to the stability of the Si superstructures as a function of coverage on each surface. Interestingly, Si adatoms prefer to transport below the surface and into W subsurface by an exchange mechanism with W atoms, indicating the likelihood of epitaxial growth of W silicide layers on W surfaces during the operation of W PFCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, mesoporous nitrocellulose (NC)/graphene oxide (GO) composite aerogel is manufactured by a sol-gel method followed by supercritical carbon dioxide drying. The effects of GO on the microstructure, decomposition, and thermal conductivity are studied. The laser absorption, laser ignition property, and combustion performance of NC aerogel and NC/aerogel are also investigated. The results indicate that NC/GO aerogel is established by the combination of NC nano-fibers and GO sheets, and the aerogels are mesoporous with average pore size at 40 nm. Moreover, the thermal stability of aerogels is decreased by the nano-structure of NC, and the laser absorption is significantly increased by the nano-porous structure and the adoption of GO. In addition, the laser ignition and combustion efficiency are also greatly improved by the nano-porous aerogel structure and the incorporation of evenly uniformly dispersed GO sheets with high photothermal conversion efficiency and thermal conductivity. Laser ignition times reduced by 73.7% and 99.6% are obtained, and flame propagation rates up to 4.7 and 12.3 times are observed for NC aerogel and NC/5 wt. % GO aerogel, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The macroscopic models for solving the pedestrian flow problem can be generally classified into two categories as follows: first-order continuum models and high-order continuum models. In first-order continuum models, the density satisfies the mass conservation law, the speed is defined by a flow-density relationship, and the desired directional motion of pedestrians is determined by an Eikonal-type equation. In contrast, in high-order models, the velocity is governed by the momentum conservation law. In this study, we summarize existing first-order and high-order models and rewrite them in the form of unified scalar or system hyperbolic conservation laws. Next, we apply high-order discontinuous Galerkin methods with a positivity-preserving limiter on unstructured triangular meshes to solve the conservation law and a second-order fast-sweeping scheme to solve the Eikonal equations. Our method can efficiently model real-life complex computational regions and avoid nonphysical solutions and simulation blow-ups. Finally, numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed solution algorithm. The numerical results validate the reliability of the proposed numerical method and highlight the advantages of triangular meshes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction integral is commonly utilized in numerical methods for evaluating the fracture parameter—stress intensity factor—and it can also be used in experiments. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of mesh density on the accuracy and convergence of the stress intensity factors evaluated in experiments using the interaction integral. The interaction integral is applied to the numerical displacement fields obtained by ABAQUS, and then the experimental displacement fields measured by digital image correlation are used to investigate the influence of mesh density on the stress intensity factor. The stress intensity factors estimated using the numerical displacement field and the experimental displacement field were compared at four mesh densities. The numerical results indicate that the higher the mesh density, the more accurate the stress intensity factor. However, there is a discrepancy between the experimental and numerical displacement fields. When using the interaction integration method to evaluate the stress intensity factor in experiments, too high a mesh density will reduce the accuracy and convergence of the stress intensity factor. This paper can provide a basic understanding for evaluating stress intensity factors using the interaction integral in experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we report a facile method for the synthesis of MoS2 nanosheet/MoS2 nanowire homostructures by growing MoS2 nanosheets on the surface of MoS2 nanowires. Benefiting from the uniform coating of MoS2 nanosheets on the surface of MoS2 nanowires, the MoS2 nanosheet/MoS2 nanowire homostructures highly expose their electrocatalytic active edge sites and exhibit an enhanced electrocatalytic performance. It demonstrates a low overpotential of 107 mV at 10 mA/cm² and a small Tafel slope of 64 mV/dec in 0.5 M H2SO4. This work provides an inspiration for the design of efficient electrocatalysts with no stacking and aggregation structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The two most commonly used airway management techniques during general anaesthesia are supraglottic airway devices and tracheal tubes. In older patients undergoing elective non‐cardiothoracic surgery under general anaesthesia with positive pressure ventilation, we hypothesised that a composite measure of in‐hospital postoperative pulmonary complications would be less frequent when a supraglottic airway device was used compared with a tracheal tube. We studied patients aged ≥ 70 years in 17 clinical centres. Patients were allocated randomly to airway management with a supraglottic airway device or a tracheal tube. Between August 2016 and April 2020, 2900 patients were studied, of whom 2751 were included in the primary analysis (1387 with supraglottic airway device and 1364 with a tracheal tube). Pre‐operatively, 2431 (88.4%) patients were estimated to have a postoperative pulmonary complication risk index of 1–2. Postoperative pulmonary complications, mostly coughing, occurred in 270 of 1387 patients (19.5%) allocated to a supraglottic airway device and 342 of 1364 patients (25.1%) assigned to a tracheal tube (absolute difference −5.6% (95%CI −8.7 to −2.5), risk ratio 0.78 (95%CI 0.67–0.89); p < 0.001). Among otherwise healthy older patients undergoing elective surgery under general anaesthesia with intra‐operative positive pressure ventilation of their lungs, there were fewer postoperative pulmonary complications when the airway was managed with a supraglottic airway device compared with a tracheal tube. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water uptake is the fundamental and essential requirement for seed germination. Pecan seed has a hard woody endocarp that plays an important role during water uptake.To explore water uptake during germination, the spatiotemporal pattern of water and effect of the endocarp were analysed using high‐field MRI, dye‐tracing, wax blocking and SEM of water uptake.Isolated seeds completed water uptake in 8 h while whole seeds required 6 days, hence, cracking the endocarp plays an important role. The hilum is the channel through which water enters the seed, while the remainder of the seed coat consist of cells covered with a waxy layer that act as a barrier to water absorption. The region with the highest water content in pecan seed is the edge of the U‐shaped region, and water can progressively diffuse from this U‐shaped region into the whole kernel.We report a new water absorption stage between phase II and phase III of the triphasic model of water uptake of pecan seeds. Cracking the endocarp changed water distribution in pecan seeds, which may trigger further water absorption and radicle elongation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interest exists in utilizing boron (B) wall conditioning of fusion tokamaks containing tungsten (W) plasma facing components, in order to improve plasma confinement. To understand the interactions of B with W surfaces, first-principles density functional theory calculations have been performed to model the adsorption, diffusion, and solution of B near the W(100), W(110), and W(111) surfaces. The results show that B within a distance of 0.6 nm above the surfaces is adsorbed to the surfaces without activation barriers. B atoms are strongly adsorbed on the W(100) surface with an adsorption energy of 7.80 eV, which is 1.22 and 1.35 eV larger than on the W(110) and W(111) surfaces. B diffusion on the W(100), W(110), and W(111) surfaces has an activation energies of 2.08, 1.12, and 1.47 eV, respectively; while, diffusion from the adsorption sites into the bulk requires 2.2–2.3 eV. The B solution energy below a clean W(100) surface is the lowest, followed by the W(111) and W(110) surfaces. B clustering and B-induced surface deformation as a function of B coverage has been investigated. B on the W(100) surface occupy epitaxial sites at coverages of 0–1.25 ML, but form clusters at higher coverages. B clustering on the W(110) and W(111) surfaces is expected throughout the adsorption process. Compared to a clean surface, B atoms on the W(100) reduce the surface effect on the B solution energy below the surface, while the presence of B on the W(110) and W(111) surfaces generally decreases or increases the B solution energy below surfaces, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a radial basis function differential quadrature-based physics-informed neural network (RBFDQ-PINN) is proposed to simulate steady incompressible flows. The conventional physics-informed neural network (PINN) makes use of the physical equation as a constraint to ensure that the solution satisfies the physical law and the automatic differentiation (AD) method to calculate derivatives at collocation points. Although the AD-PINN is expedient in evaluating derivatives at arbitrary points, it is time-consuming with higher-order derivatives and may lead to nonphysical solutions with sparse samples. Alternatively, the finite difference (FD) method can facilitate the calculation of derivatives, but the FD-PINN will increase the computational cost when handling random point distributions, especially with higher-order discretization schemes. To address these issues, the radial basis function differential quadrature (RBFDQ) method is incorporated into the PINN to replace the AD method for the calculation of derivatives. The RBFDQ method equips with high efficiency in the calculation of high-order derivatives as compared with the AD method and great flexibility in the distribution of mesh points as compared with the FD method. As a result, the proposed RBFDQ-PINN is not only more efficient and accurate but also applicable to irregular geometries. To demonstrate its effectiveness, the RBFDQ-PINN is tested in sample problems such as the lid-driven cavity flow, the channel flow over a backward-facing step, and the flow around a circular cylinder. Numerical results reveal that the RBFDQ-PINN achieves satisfactory accuracy without any labeled collocation points, whereas the AD-PINN struggles to solve some cases, especially for high Reynolds number flows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To test the feasibility of ultra-low-dose (ULD) computed tomography (CT) combined with an artificial intelligence iterative reconstruction (AIIR) algorithm for screening pulmonary nodules using computer-assisted diagnosis (CAD). A chest phantom with artificial pulmonary nodules was first scanned using the routine protocol and the ULD protocol (3.28 versus 0.18 mSv) to compare the image quality and to test the acceptability of the ULD CT protocol. Next, 147 lung-screening patients were enrolled prospectively, undergoing an additional ULD CT immediately after their routine CT examination for clinical validation. Images were reconstructed with filtered back-projection (FBP), hybrid iterative reconstruction (HIR), the AIIR, and were imported to the CAD software for preliminary nodule detection. Subjective image quality on the phantom was scored using a five-point scale and compared using the Mann–Whitney U- test. Nodule detection using CAD was evaluated for ULD HIR and AIIR images using the routine dose image as reference. Higher image quality was scored for AIIR than for FBP and HIR at ULD (p< 0.001). As reported by CAD, 107 patients were presented with fewer than five nodules on routine dose images and were chosen to represent the challenging cases at an early stage of pulmonary disease. Among such, the performance of nodule detection by CAD on ULD HIR and AIIR images was 75.2% and 92.2% of the routine dose image, respectively. Combined with AIIR, it was feasible to use an ULD CT protocol with 95% dose reduction for CAD-based screening of pulmonary nodules. • Applied an ultralow dose CT protocol with 95% dose reduction for lung screening. • Artificial intelligence iterative reconstruction (AIIR) improved CT image quality. • A CAD software was used for pulmonary nodule detection on phantom and patients. • Comparable detectability to routine dose CT was found at ultralow dose with AIIR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fast identification of road traffic safety is crucial for improving traffic safety levels. In order to improve the accuracy of road traffic safety identification and reduce the identification time, a fast identification method of road traffic safety based on WOMDI-Apriori algorithm is proposed. Based on the WOMDI-Apriori algorithm, the method searches for frequent itemsets, derives and optimizes association rules to obtain road traffic data mining results. The combination rules between road traffic data are determined, and the road traffic safety risks are classified into levels using the triangular distribution method. Based on the risk level classification results, a road traffic safety fast identification model is built. The road traffic data is inputted into the identification model to obtain relevant identification results. The experimental results show that the accuracy of road traffic safety identification using this method can reach up to 99.8%, with a maximum identification time of 6.2min, the identification recall rate varies from 96% to 100%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction of xenon (Xe) bubbles with small self-defects in uranium dioxide (UO2) has been studied using molecular statics simulations. The results show that the pressure and size of bubbles have a minimal impact on the heterogeneity of the interaction between a charge neutral Xe bubble and charged point defects, while the local charge distribution around the bubble overwhelmingly determines the interaction strength and critical interaction distance. The charge effect on the interactions between Xe bubbles and defects was further confirmed by assessing the point defect interaction energies with negatively or positively charged Xe bubbles. The Xe density, or pressure, has a much smaller effect on the interaction energy between charged bubbles and small defects at least for low and medium pressure bubbles. The interactions between charged Xe bubbles and point defects basically follow the Coulomb electrostatic interaction law, which is independent of the empirical potentials employed for the Xe–UO2 system in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic study has been performed based on a Monte Carlo simulation for the investigation of secondary electron yields, backscattering coefficients, and total electron yields for eight compound semiconductor materials, i.e., AlN, TiN, VN, VC, GaAs, InAs, InSb, and PbS, at different incident electron energies in the range 0.1–10 keV. Our Monte Carlo simulation model is based on the Mott cross section for electron elastic scattering as calculated by a partial wave method and a dielectric functional approach to electron inelastic scattering with the full Penn algorithm. We used Palik's optical data for lower photon energies below 100 eVs and Henke's data for higher photon energies. The cascade production of secondary electrons in electron inelastic scattering and low energy is included in the simulation. The simulated results of electron backscattering coefficients are compared with the experimental data available in the literature. Considering the fact that the experimental data for these compound materials are not available, we have compared them with experimental data for elements having the nearest mean atomic numbers. The simulation predicted much larger backscattering coefficient values than the empirical Staub formula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have performed a systematic Monte Carlo simulation of primary and secondary electron trajectories to predicate the mean escape depth of secondary electron emission for six compound semiconductors, i.e., TiN, VN, GaAs, InAs, InSb, and PbS. Mott's cross section is used for the description of electron elastic scattering in the simulation model, and the full-Penn's dielectric function approach is adopted for the modeling of electron inelastic scattering, where the energy loss function obtained with the optical data is contributed from phonon excitation, interband transition of the loosely bound valance electrons, and inner-shell electron excitations. We have calculated the excitation depth distribution function, emission depth distribution function, and their combining effect in probability depth distribution function at different primary energies for the excited and emitted secondary electrons in these materials. The calculation leads to the primary energy dependence of mean escape depth whose values are found in the range of 0.4–1.4 nm for these materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen (H) solution, migration, and binding to vacancies near the tungsten/tungsten carbide (W/WC) interfaces based on hcp WC or bcc W (W/WCb and Wb/WC) have been studied by first-principles simulations to provide insights into the effect of C on H behavior in W exposed to C deposition in fusion reactors. The H behavior near the W/WC interfaces is related to the tensile or compressive strain due to the lattice match and interfacial effects. Near the W/WCb interface, the H solution energy in hcp WC increases approaching the interface, while it decreases from the W side to the interface. The configuration change of the W slab significantly decreases the H solution energy but has only a modest effect on the H migration energy barrier in comparison with the values in bcc W. The interface enhances the H binding to vacancies in WC layers. Both the interface and configuration adjustment of the W slab reduce the H binding to vacancies on the W side of the interface. Near the Wb/WC interface, H solution energies in both WC and W slabs weakly decrease approaching the interface. The configuration change of the WC slab significantly increases the H solution energy and binding energy to vacancies but decreases the H migration energy barrier in comparison with the values in hcp WC. The H energetics near the W/WC interfaces indicate the likelihood of H localization and diffusion in the W side of the interface, rather than diffusing through the interface into WC layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Fertilisation rate is closely related to the reproductive performance and economic status of chicken laying breeders. In this study, two flocks (n = 1,029 in population I and n = 358 in population II) in the later laying period were used for investigating the individual differences among population fertilisation rates (FRs). 2. The funnel and distal parts of the infundibulum were collected from nine individuals (five with low FR and four with high FR from population II) and RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) method was used to investigate the transcriptome differences in fertilisation. Differences in fertilisation regulation were investigated by comparing the different parts (funnel and distal) of the infundibulum between the low FR and high FR groups. 3. There were notable individual FR differences in both categories. Some individuals had a relative high FR (≥90%) for a long time (>5 days after AI), contrarily, some individuals lost the ability to fertilise eggs in a very short time. 4. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs), such as DUSP7, PPP1R3B, FYB, OVA, OVALX and OVALY may be associated with sperm functional regulation, fertilisation and early-stage fertilised ovum development processes. DEGs such as AVBD1, AVBD2, AVBD6, NFATC2 and BANK1 indicated a severe immune response to sperm survival and fertilisation in the oviduct. 5. The results suggested that individual differences should be considered in the breeding and reproduction process. The DEGs identified in this study may promote our understanding of different fertilisation regulation in laying breeders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phase behavior of carbon at high pressure and the search for carbon structures denser than diamond has been explored for decades showing large discrepancies, with many fundamental questions remaining unresolved. Here we show evidence of melting above the graphite-diamond-liquid (GDL) triple point (∼13 GPa, 4000 K) up to 50 GPa on samples recovered from single flash-heating events using spectroscopic and electron microscopic methods. The results show that for all pressures, diamond melts below the triple point temperature contradicting previous studies, most of which predict a positive slope of the melting curve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the random retail price and retailer's preference for retail price risk aversion, we used mean-variance to describe the uncertainty risk of retail price. To study the impacts of both the retail price uncertainty risk and retail price risk aversion preference on supply chain (SC) decision-making, we constructed a SC game model based on three different power structures, including Manufacturer Stackelberg (MS) game, Retailer Stackelberg (RS) game, and Vertical Nash (VN) game. The results showed that the retail price uncertainty risk and the retailer's retail price risk aversion preference weakened the manufacturer's production effort input, decreased the retailer's enthusiasm for ordering, and damaged the interests of manufacturer and retailer. Under the three different power structures, the production effort input of the manufacturer depended on the production effort affecting wholesale price efficiency and retail price efficiency. The retailer's expected utility was largest under the MS game model and smallest under the VN game model. The manufacturer's profits were closely related to each parameter under the three respective power structures. This study provides theoretical guidance for the decision-making of SC enterprises with retail price risk and retailer with retail price risk aversion preference under different power structure situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel rational spectral collocation is presented in combination with singularity separation method for the second-order singularly perturbed boundary-value problems. The solution is presented in the form u = w + υ; where w is the solution of the corresponding third boundary-value problem and υ is a singular function with explicit expression. The auxiliary third boundary-value problem is solved by the rational spectral collocation method combined with the asymptotic theory (RSCAT). According to the asymptotic analysis, the parameters of the sinh-transformation can be determined according to the location and width of the boundary layers. The parameters in the singular correction can be determined by the boundary conditions of the original problem. The numerical experiments were carried out to demonstrate the computational efficiency and accuracy of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a unique set of 54 overlapping narrow-band and two broader filters covering the entire optical range, the incoming Javalambre-Physics of the Accelerating Universe Astrophysical Survey (J-PAS) will provide a great opportunity for stellar physics and near-field cosmology. In this work, we use the miniJPAS data in 56 J-PAS filters and 4 complementary SDSS-like filters to explore and prove the potential of the J-PAS filter system in characterizing stars and deriving their atmospheric parameters. We obtain estimates for the effective temperature with a good precision (<150 K) from spectral energy distribution fitting. We have constructed the metallicity-dependent stellar loci in 59 colours for the miniJPAS FGK dwarf stars, after correcting certain systematic errors in flat-fielding. The very blue colours, including uJAVA − r, J 0378 − r, J 0390 − r, uJPAS − r , show the strongest metallicity dependence, around 0.25 mag dex−1. The sensitivities decrease to about 0.1 mag dex−1 for the J0400 − r, J0410 − r , and J 0420 − r colours. The locus fitting residuals show peaks at the J 0390, J 0430, J 0510, and J 0520 filters, suggesting that individual elemental abundances such as [Ca/Fe], [C/Fe], and [Mg/Fe] can also be determined from the J-PAS photometry. Via stellar loci, we have achieved a typical metallicity precision of 0.1 dex. The miniJPAS filters also demonstrate strong potential in discriminating dwarfs and giants, particularly the J 0520 and J 0510 filters. Our results demonstrate the power of the J-PAS filter system in stellar parameter determinations and the huge potential of the coming J-PAS survey in stellar and Galactic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ge12.5Se87.5-xTex (0≤x≤45) glasses were selected for elucidating the composition-dependent properties and network structure of Te-containing glasses. With increasing Te content (x), Vickers hardness (Hv) and glass transition temperature (Tg) initially increased and then decreased, showing a compositional threshold at x=27.5. It is found that the compositional trend of Hv and Tg is in good accordance with the structural evolution studied by Raman spectra. The results suggest that the introduction of Te leads to the evolution of the network connectivity and average bond strength of Ge12.5Se87.5-xTex glass structure, which imposes an opposite impact on the structural properties (Hv and Tg). This work provides a new insight to the structure-property correlation of Ge-Se-Te, which would facilitate the understanding of the structural role of Te in ChGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the efficacy of vonoprazan fumarate tablets in refractory reflux esophagitis and to provide new insights into the clinical management of refractory reflux esophagitis. A total of 60 refractory reflux esophagitis E patients meeting the inclusion criteria were recruited and assigned via random number table method to receive either conventional treatments (control group) or vonoprazan fumarate plus conventional treatments (treatment group), with 30 cases in each group. Traditional Chinese medicine decoction was administered for adjuvant therapy. Outcome measures included clinical symptom score, gastroesophageal reflux disease health-related quality of life scores, esophageal mucosal damage, serum inflammatory factors, serum calcitonin gene related peptide, 5-hydroxytryptamine levels and relapse. Vonoprazan fumarate resulted in milder esophageal mucosal damage and symptoms, and a lower incidence of recurrence vs. conventional treatment alone (p<0.05). Patients with vonoprazan fumarate showed higher quality of life and lower inflammatory factor levels vs. those without (p<0.05). No documented safety events were found during the administration of vonoprazan fumarate. Vonoprazan fumarate tablets are effective in acid suppression, reducing serum calcitonin gene related peptide and 5-hydroxytryptamine levels in refractory reflux esophagitis patients, alleviating the inflammatory response and promoting esophageal mucosal healing with a high safety profile. Vonoprazan fumarate tablets supplemented with traditional Chinese medicine decoction offers a viable option for the treatment of refractory reflux esophagitis. Further studies are required prior to clinical promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diffusion and self-clustering nucleation behavior of hydrogen (H) without vacancies below tungsten (W) surfaces are important for understanding the retention of deuterium (D) in W crystals exposed to high-flux and low-energy D plasma. The H migration energy and binding energy of H to self-clusters near the W(100), W(110), and W(111) surfaces have been investigated by first-principles computer simulations using density functional theory. H diffusion from adsorption sites on the W(100), W(110), and W(111) surfaces into solute sites in the bulk requires energies of at least 1.21, 1.78, and 1.80 eV, respectively, while 0.27, 0.31, and 0.24 eV for the reverse process. In addition, the lateral diffusion of H between two subsurface layers below the W surfaces has been investigated. Two H atoms at a depth of 0.08 nm below the W(110) surface have the highest binding energy, followed by H atom pairs below the W(111) and W(110) surfaces. The nucleation and stability of H clusters depend on the surface orientation. A planar configuration between the first nearest neighbor {100} planes is energetically favorable for H self-clustering below the W(100), W(110), and W(111) surfaces. The thermal stability of a platelet containing 16 H atoms below the W surfaces at 300 and 600 K was also studied by ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, which indicate that the H platelet below a W(111) surface is more stable than that below either the W(100) or the W(110) surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of post-growth annealing (PGA) on dot-in-well (DWELL) structures grown on Si substrates has been studied. The photoluminescence (PL) measurements showed that, compared to the DWELL structures directly grown on GaAs, the PGA process induces a distinct difference in the tuning of the emission properties. Then, transmission electron microscopy imaging of the samples revealed that PGA improved the uniformity of quantum dots (QDs) while the size of the QDs increased, in agreement with a corresponding red shift and a decrease of the full width at half maximum in the PL emission spectrum. Finally, energy-dispersive x-ray linescan provided a quantitative analysis of the composition change of DWELL grown on Si in the as-grown, 700 °C annealed, and 800 °C annealed samples. The change in the InL/GaK concentration ratio became gradual between the QDs and surrounding materials after 800 °C annealing. The analysis of the optical properties, morphology evolution, and compositional change of the QDs as a function of the annealing temperature showed good agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study investigated the audiometric and sound localisation results in patients with conductive hearing loss after bilateral Bonebridge implantation. Method: Eight patients with congenital microtia and atresia supplied with bilateral Bonebridge devices were enrolled in this study. Hearing tests and sound localisation were tested under unaided, unilateral and bilateral aided conditions. Results: Mean functional gain was higher with a bilateral fitting than with a unilateral fitting, especially at 1.0–4.0 kHz (p < 0.05, both). The improvement in speech reception threshold in noise with a bilateral fitting was a 2.3 dB higher signal-to-noise ratio compared with unilateral fitting (p < 0.05). Bilateral fitting had better sound localisation than unilateral fitting (p <0.001). Four participants who attended follow up showed improved sound localisation ability after one year. Conclusion: Patients demonstrated better hearing threshold, speech reception thresholds in noise and directional hearing with bilateral Bonebridge devices than with a unilateral Bonebridge device. Sound localisation ability with bilateral Bonebridge devices can be improved through long-term training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The propagation characteristics of shear-horizontal waves in the half-space of n-type piezoelectric semiconductor under initial stresses are studied. The phase velocity in the transcendental equation is obtained based on the three-dimensional theory of a piezoelectric semiconductor. The effects of different boundary conditions, initial carrier density, and initial stresses on the phase velocity and attenuation of shear-horizontal waves are analyzed. The results show that the effect of small initial stresses on the dispersion is negligible, and the wave velocity decreases sharply with increasing initial stresses when it is over a certain value. In particular, the initial stress has little effect on the imaginary part of the wave velocity, and the attenuation will be amplified when the initial stress is large enough. These analytical solutions will be valuable in the design of piezoelectric semiconductor devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Companies face complex decisions when considering investing in green technology innovation versus traditional products. Key factors include financial constraints, risk of failure, and retailer demand uncertainty and risk aversion for new green products. This study constructs three financing models to analyse green tech manufacturer financing strategies and how the likelihood of success and risk tolerance impacts stakeholder behaviours and profits. Results demonstrate interdependencies between financing model chosen, investment willingness, order volumes, and participant earnings based on the success probability and risk appetite towards unproven green innovations. The models provide nuanced insights into investor and retailer uncertainties surrounding green technology, highlighting how perceived chances of success alongside risk preferences influence funding availability, production scales, and profit outcomes. By quantifying these relationships, the study aims to guide manufacturer decisions and promote suitable financing structures to support wider adoption of sustainability-focused technological innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the interaction between hydrogen (H) and helium-vacancy (He-V) complexes in tungsten (W) is important for the development of plasma-facing materials in fusion reactors. H trapping by HexVy complexes in bulk W, as well as the H solution behavior and H trapping by HexV complexes near W(100), W(111), and W(110) surfaces, has been investigated by first-principles computer simulations using density function theory. The results show that the sequential H binding energies to HexV complexes in bulk W decrease with the increasing number of H and He. For the HexV2 complexes in bulk W, H prefers to trap at interstitial sites near the junction of the di-vacancy, where the H can minimize the isosurface of optimal charge density. The most stable interstitial sites for H below W surfaces are dependent on the surface orientation. Our calculations indicate that H atoms tend to prefer a depth of 0.3 nm below the W(100) and W(111) surfaces due to the surface reconstruction. The binding energy of H to a HeV complex near W surfaces has the most significant orientation dependence below the W(111) surface, followed by the W(100) and W(110) surfaces. Compared with the bulk value, the largest difference in the average binding energy of H to the stable HexV complexes at the three W surfaces is about 0.2 eV. Furthermore, the effect of surfaces on the H binding energy to HexV complexes can be ignored for depths greater than 0.65 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Density function theory calculations have been performed to study the stability of small helium-vacancy (He-V) complexes near tungsten (W) surfaces of different orientations. The results show that the stability of vacancies and He-V complexes near W surfaces depends on surface orientation. However, as the depth below the surface increased beyond about 0.65–0.8 nm, the stability of He-V complexes is similar to the bulk. The formation energies of single vacancies and di-vacancies at depths less than 0.2 nm below the W(110) surface are higher than for W(100) or W(111) surfaces, but have lower energies at depths between 0.2 and 0.65 nm. The formation energies of He-V complexes below W surfaces are sensitive to the geometric orientation of the He and vacancy, especially below the W(111) surface. Within about 0.2 nm of the top layer of the three W surfaces, neither a vacancy nor a di-vacancy can trap He. Because of the lower formation energy of He-V complexes and higher He binding energy to vacancies below the W(110) surface, the He desorption from the W(110) surface is less likely to occur than from the W(100) and W(111) surfaces. Our results provide fundamental insight into the differences in surface morphology changes observed in single W crystals with different surface orientations under He plasma exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fa-N curves of ring-welded specimens were obtained by performing tensile-shear fatigue tests to develop a method for accurate prediction of the fatigue lives of ring-welded joints. The correlation, affecting factors, and survival rate of the Fa-N curve were analysed. It was observed that unified S-N curve was required to improve the poor correlation and non-universality deficiencies of the Fa-N curve. Eight types of finite-element models of a ring-welded joint were established and the C_BAR umbrella finite-element model was used as a simplified model of the ring-welded joint. Subsequently, the S-N and P-S-N curves of the ring-welded specimens were obtained. A comparison with the Fa-N curve indicated that the S-N and P-S-N curves were comparatively relevant and universal. Finally, three extrapolation fatigue-assessment methods were proposed to predict the fatigue life of ring-welded joints with unknown plate thicknesses. A comparative analysis was conducted and it was concluded that the prediction using the interpolation extrapolation method had the highest accuracy. The research provides guidance for fatigue-life prediction of ring-welded joints in engineering application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

6-methyl-2,4-dihydroxyphenyl-4-O-methyl-β-D-glucopyranoside is a strong radical scavenger and antioxidant with potential utilization value, but the content in wild Beauveria amorpha is very low, therefore, we tried to clone the glycosidase to catalyze glycosidation of 6-methyl-1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene in vitro. The methyl glucose was replaced with glucose in this study because glucose is cheaper and the methyl group is not necessarily related to its bioactivity. Firstly, we screened out a relative high yield of B. amorpha strain RCEF 3123 and 11 glycosidase genes were cloned from the strain. The genes were expressed in Escherichia coli, the enzymes were purified with Ni magnetic agarose beads and used for biosynthesis in vitro. High performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry analysis showed that β-glucosidase can catalyze glycosidation of 6-methyl-1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene and formation of 6-methyl-2,4-dihydroxyphenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside, meanwhile, 1,4-α-glucosidase can also catalyze glycosidation of 6-methyl-1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene in vitro and probably synthesis of 6-methyl-2,4-dihydroxyphenyl-α-D-glucopyranoside which needs a further study. The strain B. amorpha RCEF 3123 and the synthesis methods of above compounds in vitro have strong utilization potential in industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In intuitionistic fuzzy metric spaces, under various compatible mapping conditions, we propose a common fixed point theorem for four mappings and generalize it to a common fixed point theorem for four finite families of mappings. On the basis of that, we can further extend theorems to the common fixed point theorems of six finite families of mappings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we studied the effect of magnetic interaction on β-relaxations of FexNi72−xSi4.8B19.2Nb4 (x = 0, 10, 30, 50, 72) metallic glasses (MGs). It is found that, with the substitution of Fe by Ni, the β-relaxation changes from a shoulder to an excess wing, suggesting an entropic effect on the suppression of β-relaxation. A peak caused by ferromagnetic transformation appears in the loss modulus curve of Fe30Ni42Si4.8B19.2Nb4 MG with suppressed β-relaxation, which is sensitive to stress and strain. In addition, the β-relaxation can be further varied by annealing under a transverse or longitudinal magnetic field. The results suggest that the entropy-suppressed β-relaxation in MGs can be affected by magnetic interaction that could help to improve their mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, ΔF-N curves are often used to predict the fatigue lives of spot-welded joints, but the method for obtaining these ΔF-N curves is time-consuming, laborious, and non-universal. Tensile-shear fatigue tests were performed to obtain the fatigue lives and the corresponding normalized S-curves of spot-welded joints. Subsequently, the force acting at the spot-welded joints was obtained by extracting the force and moment of the beam element in the shell-element-based finite element model, and the equivalent structural stress at the spot-welded joint was obtained based on the equivalent structural stress method. Finally, the S-N curves of the spot-welded joints were fitted using the least-squares method. A comparison of the S-N curves the spot-welded joints with those of different materials revealed that material type had a significant influence on the S-N curve. To avoid this influence, a method for predicting the S-N curve of the spot-welded joints was proposed based on the relationship between the ratio of the tensile strength and that of the fatigue limit of each material. This research provides guidance for predicting the fatigue life of spot-welded joints in engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Soil nematodes, as key bioindicators, play crucial roles in soil ecological process. Management of grasslands, such as meadow steppes in northeast China, is often done by mowing, which has an impact on soil nematode communities. However, few studies have explored effects of mowing frequency on the community structure and biomass of soil nematodes. Methods: Routine field and laboratory methods concerning plant community, soil properties, and soil nematodes were applied in this study. Soil nematode community structure was analyzed by using nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) and principal component analysis (PCA). The relationships between nematode genus and biotic and abiotic factors were analyzed by redundancy analysis (RDA). Results: High mowing frequency significantly reduced abundance, biomass, and functional or metabolic regimes of soil nematodes in this ecosystem, whereas moderate mowing frequency enhanced those indices and regimes. Conclusions: Our findings showed that changing patterns in nematode indices across the mowing frequency conformed with the intermediate disturbance theory. Variations in soil nematode community were related to changes in belowground biomass, aboveground litter, soil available nitrogen and acidity, and the effects of edaphic and vegetal traits appeared to be trophic or genus-specific. This study has potential benefits for grassland restoration in northeast China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On two-lane freeways with high ratios of fast and slow vehicles, traffic congestion can frequently occur when the traffic volume is significantly lower than the design capacity. This paper studies the traffic flow characteristics on two-lane freeways in the situation. We investigate and analyze detailed traffic flow data collected using roadside laser instrument from a typical two-lane freeway in China. The field data shows that cars and heavy trucks, the main vehicle types, have a huge speed difference. Specifically, in low-density traffic with such high truck ratios that cars cannot freely overtake slow trucks, the traffic flow presents some unique characteristics. A great deal of lane changing occurs during the driving of cars and trucks. Moving bottlenecks occur randomly and frequently in space and time, so the traffic flow state is always unstable. Based on those findings, the active and inactive lane-changing cellular automata model is proposed, and asymmetric lanechanging rules considering cars and trucks are established. The simulated results show that the proposed model can reflect the key traffic flow characteristics. Vehicle segregations, which present vehicles of different types run in different lanes and that vehicles of the same type run in groups, are confirmed by the field data and reproduced by the proposed model. These results can be applied to the existing speed and lane management system of two-lane freeways in China to alleviate congestion and improve capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient improved discrete velocity method (IDVM) with inner iteration is presented to simulate the steady flows in all flow regimes in this work. It is an extension of our previous implicit IDVM to achieve a faster convergence rate. In the previous method, both the discrete velocity Boltzmann equation (DVBE) and the corresponding macroscopic governing equations are solved synchronously, where the computational discrete cost is dominated by the calculation of the DVBE since the number of distribution functions is far larger than that of macroscopic conservative variables. Furthermore, the convergence rate of the calculation of the DVBE is affected by the predicted equilibrium state obtained from the solution of macroscopic governing equations. To provide a more accurate predicted equilibrium state for the fully implicit discretization of the DVBE, an inner iteration is introduced into the solution of macroscopic governing equations, and the flux Jacobian of these equations is evaluated by the difference of numerical fluxes of Navier–Stokes equations rather than the Euler equation-based flux splitting method used in the previous implicit IDVM. This more accurate prediction procedure endows the developed method to accelerate the computation greatly, especially in the continuum flow regime. Numerical results indicate that, in the continuum flow regime, the present method is about one order of magnitude faster than the previous implicit IDVM and one to two orders of magnitude faster than the conventional semi-implicit DVM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The behavior of helium (He) in plasma facing materials (PFMs) is crucial for the performance of PFMs under neutron irradiation in a fusion environment. First-principles density functional theory calculations have been performed to model the solution and diffusion of He in six stoichiometric ground-state tungsten borides (W x B y), including W 2 B, WB, WB 2 , W 2 B 5 , WB 3 and WB 4. The solution energy of He interstitial in W borides linearly decreases with increasing B content, except for the deviation in WB and WB 3. The mechanical and electronic contributions to He solubility in W x B y have been discussed. The calculated diffusion energetics indicates that He transport in W 2 B 5 , WB 3 and WB 4 is much more difficult than in W 2 B, WB and WB 2. Subsequently, we investigate the influence of vacancies on the He behavior. Except for WB 3 , He is more strongly bound in W vacancies rather than B vacancies and the He binding energy to a W vacancy generally decreases with increasing B content in W x B y. These findings can be used to predict the potential influence of He on the properties of different W borides in the fusion environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of conventionally fractionated radiation (conRT) and anti-PD1/PD-L1 has underperformed, speaking to a lack of understanding in the interaction between conRT and the immune response. To begin to address this issue, we have undertaken a comprehensive evaluation of conRT and PD-1/PD-L1 in pre-clinical models. We utilized MOC2 cell lines (+/- CRISPR knock out (KO) of PD-L1) to generate flank tumors in either immunodeficient (Nu/nu) or immunocompetent (C57Bl/6) mice (n=6-10/group) which were treated with 2 Gy x 9d +/- anti-PD1 mAb (250 ug/week x 2) and evaluated for effects on tumor response, measured as tumor volume on day 14 post-conRT. One way ANOVA and with post-hoc comparisons were performed on these values. Additionally, select tumors were analyzed via multi-channel flow cytometry, bulk RNA-Seq, and reverse phase protein array (RPPA). For RNA Seq data, differences between each individual group were analyzed using a moderated t statistic, with adjustment for multiple testing performed by fitting a beta uniform mixture (BUM) model. For RPPA data, two-way ANOVA with post-hoc comparisons were performed. Additional analysis of RNA Seq data to predict immune infiltrate was performed utilizing TIMER2.0, which provides data from 6 models of predicting immune infiltrate. Ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) was performed on RNA-Seq and RPPA data. Interestingly, a modest repression of tumor grow due to PD-L1 KO was observed in Nu/Nu mice (p=0.04), while no effect was seen in the C57Bl/6 model (p=0.3). However, taken as a whole, the combination of conRT and PD-L1 KO in the C57Bl/6 model led to the most numerically meaningful reduction in TGD (p=3e-2 vs. PD-L1 KO; p=3e-3 vs. conRT), with a similar magnitude of effect when conRT was combined with PD1 mAB in a follow-up experiment (p=0.005). Between group comparison of RNA-Seq and RPPA data from tumors collected ∼14-20 days post conRT, followed by IPA analysis of differentially expressed targets identified some of the most significantly affected pathways in the conRT + PD-L1 KO groups being repression of oxidative phosphorylation (p=4.2e-4) from the RNA seq data, accompanied by repression of PI3k/Akt (p=3.9e-20) and an activation of AMPK signaling (p=3.8e-11) in the RPPA. Finally, analysis of predicted immune infiltrate depended upon the methodology used, however a significant reduction in several macrophage lineages was observed in multiple models (CIBERSORT, CIBERSORT-ABS, QUANTISEQ and xCELL). Analysis of flow cytometry data is ongoing. Tumor analysis reveals a potential long-term reduction in oxidative phosphorylation with a concordant upregulation of AMPK signaling in PD-L1 KO tumors treated with conRT pointing to metabolic targeting as a potential therapeutic sensitization strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of point defects is crucial in determining the radiation resistance of materials in a fusion environment. A comprehensive investigation of diffusion mechanisms for intrinsic point defects in six stoichiometric tungsten borides (W x B y), including W 2 B, WB, WB 2 , W 2 B 5 , WB 3 and WB 4 , has been performed using first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations based on the W boride with a minimum formation enthalpy for each involved stoichiometry. The calculations indicate that boron point defects are more mobile than W point defects in each W boride. The activation energy of the W vacancy (V W) diffusion in W borides increases with B content. In general, with increasing B content, the activation energy for one-dimensional (1D) diffusion of B vacancy (V B) slightly decreases, while the activation energy for 3D diffusion of V B does not show a clear trend with B content. V W in B-rich W x B y (y/ x > 1) enhances the mobility of adjacent B lattice atoms. In W 2 B, WB and WB 2 compounds, complex configurations of W interstitials (I W), which involve B displacement, are more energetically stable than single W atoms at interstitial sites; while no or less stable complexes of W interstitials are observed in W 2 B 5 , WB 3 or WB 4. The activation energy for 1D/2D diffusion of I W in B-rich compounds increases with B content, and the 3D diffusion of I W in WB 3 has the largest activation energy. The activation energy for 1D/2D diffusion of B interstitials (I B) generally increases with B content; however, the activation energy for 3D diffusion of I B is dependent on specific W boride composites. This study is helpful in building a database related to the diffusion behavior of defects in stoichiometric W borides. It is important to note pre-existing, as well as irradiation-induced, defects in non-stoichiometric W x B y will impact the diffusion kinetics of all intrinsic species, which needs further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No thermodynamic description was performed for the Co-Mg binary system according to literature review. Consequently, this binary system has been investigated by means of CALPHAD (CALculation of PHAse Diagrams) approach in the present work. The experimental phase diagram and thermodynamic data available in the literature were critically assessed. Based on the reliable literature data, a new set of self-consistent thermodynamic parameters for the Co-Mg system is obtained. The calculated results agree well with the experimental data from the literature, indicating the reasonability of the present thermodynamic optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]