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Background: The common spatial patterns (CSP) is a widely used EEG feature extractor for motor imagerybased brain-computer interfaces, with the optimal spatial filter formulated as a generalized Rayleigh quotient. However, the traditional CSP uses Euclidean metric, which ignores the specific geometric structure of symmetry positive definite (SPD) matrices, resulting in issues such as swelling effect, noncomplete space, and indefinite matrices. Methods: To address these limitations, this paper introduces three alternative approaches with considering the geometric properties of SPD matrices. The geometry-aware CSP with diagonalization (gaCSPd) replaces the Euclidean means in the joint diagonalization principle of CSP with Riemannian means. The geometry-aware CSP with maximum discriminative information between classes (gaCSPb) aims to find an optimal projection matrix on a Riemannian manifold while maximizing the Riemannian distance between classes. The geometry-aware CSP with maximum within-class variance (gaCSPw) seeks a low-dimensional submanifold with the maximum intra-class variance in the projected data. Results: Experiment results on two BCI competition datasets demonstrate the competitiveness against state-of-the-art methods and confirm the effectiveness of geometry-aware CSP as a feature extractor for motor imagery-based brain-computer interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing highly active and low-cost electrocatalysts for efficient water electrolysis is of great significance for energy and environment sustainability. In this work, a highly efficient, durable and stable bifunctional electrocatalyst nickel carbide/nickel heterojunction on Ni foam (NF) (Ni3C/Ni@NF) with an interconnected nano-sized nodule architecture was facilely synthesized via an in situ nickel metal– organic framework (Ni-MOF) pyrolysis process at relatively low temperature. The optimized Ni3C/Ni@NF electrode exhibits outstanding catalytic performance with extremely low overpotentials of only 16 and 268 mV at current densities of 10 mA cm−2 for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), respectively. Furthermore, it exhibits overpotential as low as 1.55 V (η10) for overall water splitting. The experimental studies and density functional theory (DFT) calculations clarified that the optimized synergistic effect of the Ni3C/Ni heterojunction triggers the enlarged active surface area and rapid charge transfer, thus enhancing the intrinsic catalytic activity. This work paves a convenient pathway for the rational construction of robust Ni-based heterojunction electrocatalysts with high activity for hydrogen/oxygen production and energy conversion in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the prominent and intractable problems of frequent high temperature alarms of the communication equipment and high energy consumption of air conditioners in Zhengzhou communication outdoor cabinets, a temperature control system with heat pipe as the main part and air conditioner as the auxiliary part is proposed in this paper. A prototype is developed and its applications are discussed. The annual field test shows the system works well, and it has a remarkable energy saving efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of highly efficient and environment friendly methods for arsenic pollution treatment has attracted special attention. Herein, a new polyoxometalate-thiacalix[4]arene-based metal-organic complex [Ag2L(HL)][PW12O40]·2C2H5OH·2CH3CN (1) (L = thiacalix[4]arene-based ligand) was synthesized and applied for BiVO4 (BVO) surface modification to efficiently enhance the simulated sunlight-driven photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of arsenic(III). Compared with the pristine BVO, the removal efficiency of arsenic(III) was drastically increased to 312% at 0.6 V with the optimized 1@BVO photoanode (B1-20) versus the saturated calomel electrode (SCE) under the simulated sunlight (100 mW cm-2). The removal efficiency of arsenic(III) (25 mg L-1) with B1-20 was up to 100% within 40 min with a faradaic efficiency of 45%. More importantly, electron spin resonance measurements and reactive species trapping experiments demonstrated that the Z-scheme heterojunction formation of 1 plays a key role in the enhanced photoelectrocatalytic performance of 1@BVO. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were used to investigate the relationship between the photoelectrocatalytic properties and the structure of 1. This work developed a new photoelectrocatalytic application for the polyoxometalate-thiacalix[4]arenebased metal-organic complexes by their efficient combination with BVO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The northeastern Sichuan area in the northern Yangtze margin has unique Ediacaran geological records, especially the Doushantuo Formation (DST), and become a hot research area in recent years. However, the Cryogenian-Ediacaran (C-E) boundary has not been precisely identified, which restricts the in-depth study of geological information during this crucial transitional period and is unfavorable for a systematic and complete understanding of the Yangtze Block and even the global paleogeographic pattern. This study conducted stratigraphy, sedimentology, and chronostratigraphy to establish the stratigraphic framework and sedimentary evolution of the C-E transition strata in northeastern Sichuan. The results showed that the Ediacaran sediments, without the cap dolomite, unconformably overlaid the Cryogenian sediments in the studied area. The Member II of the DST, characterized by 50e160 m of red-green sandstone (approximately equivalent to the original Chengkou "Guanyinya Formation"), directly overlaid the Cryogenian sediments and displayed a 623 ± 2.3 Ma maximum depositional age from the detrital zircon UePb dating. Regional stratigraphic correlations indicate that the C-E transition strata in northeastern Sichuan had a consistent lithological association and sedimentary sequence characteristics but differed from the Three Gorges. Typically, the upper Nantuo massive glacial diamictites transition to the icebergs rafted lonestone-bearing mudstones at the top, then change upward to DST barrier coast sandstones. The proposed DST of the northeastern Sichuan Basin was divided into three lithostratigraphic members without the regional Member I cap dolomite: (i) Member II purple-red, gray-green sandstone strata, (ii) Member III black mudstone strata, and (iii) Member IV P-Mn bearing strata. During the C-E transition, the study area experienced (i) the global deglaciation stage in the terminal Marinoan glaciation and (ii) the filling-leveling up stage with clastic rocks in the early Ediacaran. Overall, the early Ediacaran of northeastern Sichuan succeeded the paleogeographic features of the late Cryogenian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep Feedforward Neural Networks (FNNs) with skip connections have revolutionized various image recognition tasks. In this paper, we propose a novel architecture called bidirectional FNN (BiFNN), which utilizes skip connections to aggregate features between its forward and backward paths. The BiFNN accepts any FNN as a plugin that can incorporate any general FNN model into its forward path, introducing only a few additional parameters in the cross-path connections. The backward path is implemented as a nonparameter layer, utilizing a discretized form of the neural memory Ordinary Differential Equation (nmODE), which is named ϵ -net. We provide a proof of convergence for the ϵ -net and evaluate its initial value problem. Our proposed architecture is evaluated on diverse image recognition datasets, including Fashion-MNIST, SVHN, CIFAR-10, CIFAR-100, and Tiny-ImageNet. The results demonstrate that BiFNNs offer significant improvements compared to embedded models such as ConvMixer, ResNet, ResNeXt, and Vision Transformer. Furthermore, BiFNNs can be fine-tuned to achieve comparable performance with embedded models on Tiny-ImageNet and ImageNet-1K datasets by loading the same pretrained parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research unveils the profound cultural, artistic, and technological dimensions of ancient musical instruments during the Spring-Autumn and Warring States Periods (approximately 771-221 BCE) in ancient China. Through a multidimensional exploration, it delves into four key variables: Musical Instrument Archaeology, Acoustic Properties and Resonance, Cultural Significance of Music, and Technological Advancements and Artistic Innovation. Historical accounts and archaeological findings converge to paint a vivid picture of the integral role of music in these ancient civilizations. The relics unearthed at various sites, including intricately crafted stringed instruments and resonant percussion artifacts, bear witness to the artistry and craftsmanship of the era. The study further probes the auditory dimensions of these instruments, deciphering the science of sound and exploring the physical attributes that endowed them with their distinct timbre and resonance. This acoustic analysis allows for a profound sonic connection with the past. Moreover, the research underscores the cultural significance of music, revealing how it functioned as a conduit for conveying cultural values, stories, and societal norms. It explores the emotional and communal resonance of music in rituals, ceremonies, and everyday life. Finally, the study reveals the interaction between technological improvements and artistic invention, demonstrating craftsmen' resilience and originality during this transitional era. In essence, this research bridges the gap between the past and the present, providing a thorough knowledge of music's complex function in ancient China and echoing the continuing human interest with music as a cultural light that transcends time and place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a new generation of luminescent materials, aluminate rare earth materials have the characteristics of long luminescent time, adjustable wavelength and high brightness. Aluminate rare earth luminescent materials were prepared by high temperature solid-state method, and the luminescent properties of the luminescent materials were studied. Firstly, the author synthesized magnesium aluminate, calcium aluminates, and zinc aluminate matrix by combustion method. Then aluminate rare earth luminescent materials were prepared by high temperature solid phase method through raw material distribution, raw material mixing, drying, calcination, and post-treatment. Finally, a fluorescence spectrophotometer was used to measure the excitation and emission spectra of the prepared sample material. The research results indicate that the excitation wavelength does not affect the relationship between the emission wavelength and light intensity, the emission spectra of MgAl2O4:Tb3+ and CaAl2O4:Tb3+ exhibit narrowband transition emission states; When the mass fraction of rare earth factor Eu3+ in the activator is 6% and the temperature is 1300 °C, the emission peak intensity of the luminescent material reaches its maximum value, and the luminescence intensity is the best. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the data of 2015 China Household Finance Survey (CHFS), this paper applies the intermediary effect model to identify the intermediate transmission mechanism in which farmland transfers affect agricultural production efficiency. The results show that the output value of households that have transferred farmland is increased by about 27% more than those that have not. In addition, the transfer of farmland has a more significant impact on the agricultural production efficiency of young and middle --aged families. The transfer of farmland from grain production areas has an increased tendency to household output value. The mechanism analysis shows that the transfer of farmland affects agricultural production efficiency in the following two ways. On the one hand, the transfer of farmland can help realize the effective replacement of labor by machinery, increase the mechanization degree of agricultural production, and realize the scale effect of farmland. On the other hand, based on the maximization of their own interests, farmers prefer to plant cash crops and improve agricultural production efficiency through the selection effect. By comparing the above two effects, we found that the planting selection behavior of compacting grain and expanding economic growth is more prominent. Therefore, this article proposes to promote the development of the farmland transfer market and make use of scale advantage. Meanwhile, the self-selection behavior of transferred farmers in planting crops should be valued and young people with advanced concepts to engage in agricultural production activities should be introduced, which inject "fresh blood" into agricultural modernization. However, we should also keep the red line of farmland and alert the phenomenon of "non-agricultural" and "non-grain" in the transfer of farmland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the problems of poor scheduling flexibility and insufficient carbon emission reduction capacity of the current integrated energy system, this paper proposes an optimization scheduling model of integrated energy demand response that combines source-load synergy with reward and punishment stepped carbon trading mechanism. Firstly, the integrated energy system operation architecture including electricity-heat-cooling energy was constructed to harmonize the energy generation side and consumption side and effectively improve the multi-energy complementary capability of the system. Secondly, the reward and punishment stepped carbon trading mechanism is established by combining the initial carbon quota allocation method and the actual carbon emission calculation theory, so that environmental friendliness and economic sustainability are effectively improved. Finally, to minimize the system operating cost, an integrated demand response optimal dispatch model that considers the characteristics of electric, thermal and cooling loads is constructed to determine the optimal dispatch scheme for the integrated energy system. The results of the calculation example indicate that the proposed integrated demand response model has the function of peak reduction and valley correction, energy conservation and carbon reduction, and provides a feasible solution for the integrated energy system optimal scheduling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Thyroid cancer (TC), the most prevalent endocrine malignancy, has been subjected to various treatment methods. However, the efficacy of asiaticoside (AC) for treating TC remains uncertain. Aims: To explore the impact of AC on TC and determine its potential mechanisms of action. Study Design: In vitro and in vivo cell line study. Methods: We evaluated the effects of AC on human TC cell lines, namely TPC-1 and FTC-133. Both in vitro and in vivo experimental validations were conducted. Results: AC significantly diminished the viability and proliferation of TC cells based on the CCK-8 assay and Edu staining findings. Migration and invasion assays revealed that AC effectively curtailed the migration and invasiveness of TC cells. The tube formation assay demonstrated that AC substantially impeded TC cell-induced angiogenesis. Western blot assay revealed that AC significantly reduced the expression levels of TRAF6, HIF-1α, and VEGFA, indicating that AC could potentially exert its anticancer effect by inhibiting the TRAF6/HIF1α pathway. Our in vivo experiments, which involved administering AC to BALB/c nude mice injected with TPC-1 cells, demonstrated significant inhibition of tumor growth and reduction in the expression of Ki-67, TRAF6, HIF-1α, and VEGFA. Conclusion: Our study highlights the significant inhibitory effect of AC on TC, offering fresh insights and potential drug candidates for TC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the proposal of a "smart battery," real-time sensing by rechargeable batteries has become progressively more important in both fundamental research and practical applications. However, many traditional sensing technologies suffer from low sensitivity, large size, and electromagnetic interference problems, rendering them unusable in the harsh and complicated electrochemical environments of batteries. The optical sensor is an alternative approach to realize multiple-parameter, multiple-point measurements simultaneously. Thus, it has garnered significant attention. Through analyzing these measured parameters, the state of interest can be decoded to monitor a battery's health. This review summarizes current progress in optical sensing techniques for batteries with respect to various sensing parameters, discussing the current limitations of optical fiber sensors as well as directions for their future development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider a Markov decision process (MDP) with a Borel state space X⊔ {Δ}, where Δ is an absorbing state (cemetery), and a Borel action space A. We consider the space of finite occupation measures restricted on X\times A and the extreme points in it. It is possible that some strategies have infinite occupation measures. Nevertheless, we prove that every finite extreme occupation measure is generated by a deterministic stationary strategy. Then, for this MDP, we consider a constrained problem with total undiscounted criteria and J constraints, where the cost functions are nonnegative. By assumption, the strategies inducing infinite occupation measures are not optimal. Then our second main result is that, under mild conditions, the solution to this constrained MDP is given by a mixture of no more than J +1 occupation measures generated by deterministic stationary strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown that encouraging students to use self-explanation strategies has proven effective in text-focused learning contexts. However, no study to date has focused on how students' strategy preference moderates the effect of self-explanation strategies on learning from video lectures. The current study investigated how students' self-explanation strategy preference impacts their learning from video lectures by using prompts with a between-within-subjects design strategy preference (i.e., strategy preference vs. no strategy preference; between subject) and with prompt type (i.e., focused vs. open; within-subject), assessing learning performance, cognitive load, attention allocation, quantity and quality of explanation, and behavioral patterns. Study results showed that, compared to students using open prompts and with no self-explanation preference, providing focused prompts improved their learning performance and explanation quality, lowering their cognitive load and enabling them to search for information more accurately. Meanwhile, for students with a self-explanation preference, the two types of prompts used in this study had a similar positive impact on their learning performance and their quality of explanation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the effects of graphene oxide (GO) dimension on the mechanical and dielectric performance of epoxy resin (EP), two kinds of GO with different dimensions were selected and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). The results showed that the two kinds of GO had similar chemical structure, but different average particle sizes of 190.1 nm (SGO) and 1510 nm (MGO), respectively. The mechanical properties, dynamic mechanical properties, and dielectric properties of the EP/GO composites are analyzed using electronic universal testing machine, Rockwell hardness tester, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and broadband dielectric impedance relaxation spectrometer. Results revealed that the GO dimension plays important role in determining the dispersion of the filler in EP matrix, and further determines the mechanical properties and dielectric performance of the composites. EP/SGO with better dispersion of GO in the EP matrix exhibits better mechanical properties, higher glass transition temperature, higher dielectric constant. Related mechanism has been proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Remimazolam tosilate is an ultra-short-acting sedative drug with the advantages of rapid onset and recovery, mild respiratory, and circulatory inhibition. This study primarily investigated the effect of remimazolam on incidence of intraoperative hypotension compared to the widely used propofol in patients undergoing outpatient painless colonoscopy. Methodology: This was a double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial. We randomly divided the eligible patients with outpatient appointment for painless colonoscopy in our hospital into the remimazolam group and the propofol group. The modified observer’s assessment of alert/sedative was used to evaluate the depth of the patient's sedation. The Narcotrend score was monitored throughout the whole process. In the propofol group, propofol 0.5-1.5 mg/kg was infused intravenously as a loading dose, followed by 3 -5 mg/kg/h to maintain a satisfied sedation depth during operation. While, with regarding to the patients in remimazolam grou p, remimazolam 0.05-0.15 mg/kg was induced intravenously as a loading dose, and continuously pumped at a rate of 0.3-0.5 mg/kg/h. SPSS 23.0 software was used to analyze the data. Results: From December 2020 to March 2021, we enrolled 116 eligible patients. The incidence of hypotension during sedation (13.8%) in the remimazolam group was significantly lower than that in propofol (37.9%), and the success rate of remimazolam (98.3%) was slightly lower than propofol (100.0%), but the awakening time was significantly shorter (P < 0.001); The incidence of respiratory inhibition, nausea, vomiting and other adverse events during colonoscopy, remimazolam was significantly lower than that of propofol (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Remimazolam tosilate still has higher circulatory stability than propofol in painless colonoscopy under continuous administration with a loading dose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) is a fundamental cryptographic primitive that allows a prover to convince a verifier of the validity of a statement without leaking any further information. As an efficient variant of ZKP, noninteractive zero-knowledge proof (NIZKP) adopting the Fiat-Shamir heuristic is essential to a wide spectrum of applications, such as federated learning, blockchain, and social networks. However, the heuristic is typically built upon the random oracle model that makes ideal assumptions about hash functions, which does not hold in reality and thus undermines the security of the protocol. Here, we present a quantum solution to the problem. Instead of resorting to a random oracle model, we implement a quantum randomness service. This service generates random numbers certified by the loophole-free Bell test and delivers them with postquantum cryptography (PQC) authentication. By employing this service, we conceive and implement NIZKP of the three-coloring problem. By bridging together three prominent research themes, quantum nonlocality, PQC, and ZKP, we anticipate this work to inspire more innovative applications that combine quantum information science and the cryptography field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective • The purpose of this pilot study is to explore the difference in safety and effectiveness after stenting in patients with extracranial or intracranial vertebral artery stenosis. Methods • The study involved 26 patients treated with stents for ≥70% stenosis between January 1, 2017, and September 8, 2020. The patients were divided into intracranial and extracranial groups based on the location of the target vessel stenosis. The incidence of stroke or death within 30 days, long-term recurrence of ischemic symptoms, and restenosis during follow-up were monitored. Results • Within 30 days, no stroke or death was observed in the 26 patients, During the follow-up period, the risk of recurrence of posterior circulation stroke or transient ischemic attack was 23.1% (6/26). Vascular-related complications were 5.6% vs. 12.5% (P = .529) in the intracranial vs. extracranial stenosis group. After 1 year, stroke or transient ischemic attack of posterior circulation was observed in 12.5% (1/8) vs. 16.7% (3/18) in the intracranial and extracranial stenosis group, respectively. The restenosis rate in the intracranial stenosis group was higher than the extracranial stenosis group (37.5% vs. 28.6%, P > .05). This trend was also found in the asymptomatic restenosis rate (25% vs. 7.1%, P=.527). Conclusions • The study results showed that there was no significant difference in the safety and effectiveness after stenting in extracranial and intracranial vertebral artery stenosis, but intracranial vertebral artery stenosis has a low rate of symptomatic restenosis. Symptomatic restenosis may be an important problem that limits the efficacy of extracranial vertebral artery stenting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past 2 decades, cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been identified as the root cause of cancer occurrence, progression, chemoradioresistance, recurrence, and metastasis. Targeting CSCs is a novel therapeutic strategy for cancer management and treatment. Liver cancer (LC) is a malignant disease that can endanger human health. Studies are increasingly suggesting that changes in the liver mechanical microenvironment are a primary driver triggering the occurrence and development of liver cancer. In this review, we summarize current understanding of the roles of the liver mechano-microenvironment and liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) in liver cancer progression. We also discuss the relationship between the mechanical heterogeneity of liver cancer tissues and LCSC recruitment and metastasis. Finally, we highlight potential mechanosensitive molecules in LCSCs and mechanotherapy in liver cancer. Understanding the roles and regulatory mechanisms of the mechano-microenvironment and LCSCs may provide fundamental insights into liver cancer progression and aid in further development of novel therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-data-throughput and multimodal-acquisition experiments will prevail in next-generation synchrotron beamlines. Orchestrating dataflow pipelines connecting the data acquisition, processing, visualization and storage ends are becoming increasingly complex and essential for enhancing beamline performance. Mamba Data Worker (MDW) has been developed to address the data challenges for the forthcoming High Energy Photon Source (HEPS). It is an important component of the Mamba experimental control and data acquisition software ecosystem, which enables fast data acquisition and transmission, dynamic configuration of data processing pipelines, data multiplex in streaming, and customized data and metadata assembly. This paper presents the architecture and development plan of MDW, outlines the essential technologies involved, and illustrates its current application at the Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility (BSRF). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The canonical transformation and Poisson theory for the second-order generalized mechanical systems based on non-standard power-law Lagrangians are studied. First, the Euler–Lagrange equations and the Hamilton canonical equations for the second-order generalized mechanics with the power-law Lagrangians are established. Second, the canonical transformation theory of the systems is studied by establishing the relationship between old and new variables. Four basic forms of canonical transformation are given, and the transformation formulas in each case are derived. Third, the algebraic structure of the dynamical equations of the systems is studied, and the corresponding Poisson theory is established. Finally, the corresponding examples are presented to illustrate the application of the results we obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biometric technology has transformed human biological characteristics into a new form of privacy, and the misuse of this technology poses challenges to protecting this new privacy. This article initially defines biometric technology and biometric characteristics, further demonstrating why biometric characteristics belong to personal privacy and how biometric technology poses challenges to its protection. Through analysis, this article argues that the essence of these challenges is the conflicts between the ethical principle of privacy protection and the ethical principle of maximizing social benefits. In order to address these challenges, it is necessary first to weigh the fundamental ethical principles. The two basic principles of privacy protection and maximizing social benefits are not mutual antagonism but hierarchy, and this hierarchy should be based on the principle of practical feasibility. That is, applying biometric technology should first meet the principle of practical feasibility and, on this premise, realize the principle of maximizing social benefits based on not infringing on the principle of privacy protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors (ULBs) in children and adolescents are relatively common. Previous studies have shown an association between a single ULBs and emotional and behavioral problems (EBPs); however, few studies have explored the connection between multiple behavioral patterns and EBPs in children and adolescents. Hence, we aimed to investigate the link between ULBs clusters and EBPs among Chinese children and adolescents. From April to May 2019, we used cluster sampling to investigate children and adolescents in grades 1-12 from 14 schools located across six streets of Bao'an District in the city of Shenzhen. We measured emotional and behavioral problems using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). ULBs included the consumption of sugarsweetened beverages, takeaway and fast food consumption, lack of sleep, low outdoor activity, and excessive screen time. We performed clustering of ULBs using the regression hybrid modeling method of latent class analysis (LCA). We analyzed the association between ULBs and EBPs using logistic regression. In total, 30188 children and adolescents remained for analysis, with an average age of 12.44 ± 3.47 years. The LCA revealed four distinct patterns of ULBs: (1) lowest risk; (2) high-risk unhealthy lifestyle behaviors; (3) high-risk dietary unhealthy lifestyle behaviors; and (4) highest risk. Compared to ULBs with the lowest risk, high-risk ULBs, high-risk dietary ULBs, and highest risk ULBs were positively correlated with EBPs, with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) (95% confidence interval [CI]) of 1.27, 1.34 and 2.05, respectively. Children and adolescents who reported engaging in multiple ULBs were also more likely to have poorer EBPs status. This implies that school administrations should pay more attention to the management of dietary and lifestyle behaviors to prevent EBPs in children and adolescents. Our findings highlight the need to focus on multiple clusters of ULBs among adolescents in a preventive care system and to validate EBP that may occur in children who are exposed to ULBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated (Cas) has emerged as the predominant technique for gene editing technique due to its high efficiency and low cost. In the area of zoonosis, CRISPR/Cas is also widely used in different research areas. This paper reviewed the principles of CRISPR/Cas technique and its applications in zoonosis. Moreover, we analyze the shortcomings and weaknesses that currently limit its use, highlight its direction for improvement, and foresee its application prospects in the prevention and treatment of zoonosis. For the purpose of preventing and controlling zoonosis, we need to develop diagnostic method with high sensitivity and specificity, highly protective vaccines, and also better understanding of the pathogenesis. Our review aimed to promote the application and improvement of CRISPR/Cas technique in the above-mentioned areas, and provide brief and comprehensive references for CRISPR/Cas-based research. Through reviewing the advances in CRISPR/Cas-based strategies on zoonosis, we believe that CRISPR/Cas technique will provide more powerful assistance for the prevention and control of zoonosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work provides a new comprehensive assessment method to determine the complex mechanical interaction of adjacent corrosion defects. Firstly, a three-dimensional (3D) finite element model of pipelines containing adjacent defects (involving longitudinally aligned, circumferentially aligned, and diagonally aligned defects) was developed and validated by full-scale burst tests. Then, the synergistic stress interaction between adjacent defects was analyzed, and the relationship between the burst position of the pipeline and defect spacing was determined. At last, the applicability of several commonly used critical spacing rules for identifying the interaction between adjacent defects was compared and discussed in detail. The results show that the failure position of the pipeline containing adjacent defects is related to the relative position of defects. For longitudinally aligned corrosion defects, the stronger the interaction between defects (i.e., the shorter the distance between two defects), the closer the failure position of the pipeline to the center of the defect spacing. For circumferentially aligned corrosion defects, the failure position of the pipe tends to move from the defect edge to the geometric center of the defect with increasing defect spacing. For diagonally aligned defects, the failure position is generally located on the path connecting the defect and the spacing. The currently available evaluation criteria for identifying circumferentially interacting defects display the most accuracy, and the identification effect of diagonally aligned defects is the poorest. In addition, the critical spacing rule proposed by Li presents the highest precision in identifying the interacting defects. The results are expected to provide a stress synergistic failure assessment method for pipelines containing cluster corrosion defects in engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thrixspermum taeniophyllum is described as a new orchid species from Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province of southwest China. It is morphologically similar to T. japonicum, but it differs from the latter in having branched stems, slightly fleshy strapshaped leaves, longer inflorescences with 3–6 flowers and a capitate gynandrium with a lip-shaped mouth opening. Its species status is also supported by molecular phylogenetic analyses, based on nuclear ribosome internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) and three chloroplast DNA fragments (matK, psbA-trnH and trnL-F), which showed distinct systematic boundaries from the most morphologically similar T. japonicum and their morphological relatives T. saruwatarii and T. pygmaeum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary cell wall is a fundamental plant constituent that is flexible but sufficiently rigid to support the plant cell shape. Although many studies have demonstrated that reactive oxygen species (ROS) serve as important signaling messengers to modify the cell wall structure and affect cellular growth, the regulatory mechanism underlying the spatial-temporal regulation of ROS activity for cell wall maintenance remains largely unclear. Here, we demonstrate the role of the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) multicopper oxidase-like protein skewed 5 (SKU5) and its homolog SKU5-similar 1 (SKS1) in root cell wall formation through modulating ROS homeostasis. Loss of SKU5 and SKS1 function resulted in aberrant division planes, protruding cell walls, ectopic deposition of iron, and reduced nicotinamide adeninedinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase-dependent ROS overproduction in the root epidermis-cortex and cortex-endodermis junctions. A decrease in ROS level or inhibition of NADPH oxidase activity rescued the cell wall defects of sku5 sks1 double mutants. SKU5 and SKS1 proteins were activated by iron treatment, and iron over-accumulated in the walls between the root epidermis and cortex cell layers of sku5 sks1. The glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored motif was crucial for membrane association and functionality of SKU5 and SKS1. Overall, our results identified SKU5 and SKS1 as regulators of ROS at the cell surface for regulation of cell wall structure and root cell growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As China enters a new stage of high-quality ecological development, higher demands are placed on the ecological effects of coastal protection projects. Because the traditional hard seawall pays little attention to its impact on the coastal ecological environment, the construction of seawalls along the line cuts off the habitats inside and outside the pond, which makes the regional habitats fragmented, and hinders the migration of organisms. In order to restore and protect the coastal zone, build an ecological seawall, improve the seawall's ability to resist typhoon, storm surge, and other marine disasters, and protect the beach wetlands, water quality, and biodiversity along the seawall, this project started with the study of biological channels, and then systematically carried out the investigations, research, and analysis on the biological resources inside and outside the seawall and along the seawall. The results of research and field investigation showed that there were mainly natural plant communities such as Bolboschoenoplectus mariqueter and Phragmites australis on the beach of Jianshan section. The back slope of the pond was the soil slope with human afforestation as the main vegetation, and the foot of the slope was the protection pond river. Crab was the dominant species in beach and intertidal zone. Referring to the domestic and international biological channel cases, we proposed to set up 8 biological channels in the Jianshan section of the pond as a test section without affecting the structural safety of the seawall, and set up video monitoring equipment to evaluate the use of the channels and provided data support for future design or optimization of the channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the effect of nutritional support combined with early motion based on protection motivation theory in acquired weakness in critically ill patients. Patients treated in Intensive care unit (ICU) after operation from January to December in 2021 were selected as the study subjects. Historial control trial (HCT) was used. Patients admitted from January to June were the control group, and those admitted from July to December were the intervention group. Routine ICU management was used in the control group, and early motion combined with nutritional support was used in the intervention group. The incidence of ICU-acquired weakness (ICU-AW), activities of daily living (ADL), nutritional status, ICU stay, total hospital stay along with mechanical ventilation time were compared between the control and intervention groups. Before intervention, there was no significant difference among PatientGenerated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) score, serum total protein (TP) and albumin (ALB) between the control and intervention groups. After intervention, the incidence of ICUAW, Barthel (BI) score, PG-SGA score, serum TP and ALB in the intervention group were conspicuously better in comparison with control group. The ICU stay, mechanical ventilation time and total hospital stay were significantly shorter than that in the control group. Nutritional support combined with early motion based on protection motivation theory can abate the incidence of ICU-AW, improve the activities of daily living and the nutritional status of patients, and shorten the hospital stay and mechanical ventilation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graph-based recommender system has attracted widespread attention and produced a series of research results. Because of the powerful high-order connection modeling capabilities of the Graph Neural Network, the performance of these graph-based recommender systems are far superior to those of traditional neural network-based collaborative filtering models. However, from both analytical and empirical perspectives, the apparent performance improvement is accompanied with a significant time overhead, which is noticeable in large-scale graph topologies. More importantly, the intrinsic data-sparsity problem substantially limits the performance of graph-based recommender systems, which compelled us to revisit graph-based recommendation from a novel perspective. In this article, we focus on analyzing the time complexity of graph-based recommender systems to make it more suitable for real large-scale application scenarios. We propose a novel end-to-end graph recommendation model called the Collaborative Variational Graph Auto-Encoder (CVGA), which uses the information propagation and aggregation paradigms to encode user–item collaborative relationships on the user–item interaction bipartite graph. These relationships are utilized to infer the probability distribution of user behavior for parameter estimation rather than learning user or item embeddings. By doing so, we reconstruct the whole user–item interaction graph according to the known probability distribution in a feasible and elegant manner. From the perspective of the graph auto-encoder, we convert the graph recommendation task into a graph generation problem and are able to do it with approximately linear time complexity. Extensive experiments on four real-world benchmark datasets demonstrate that CVGA can be trained at a faster speed while maintaining comparable performance over state-of-the-art baselines for graph-based recommendation tasks. Further analysis shows that CVGA can effectively mitigate the data sparsity problem and performs equally well on large-scale datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine the effect of triptolide on rheumatoid arthritis, and the underlying mechanism of action. Methods: Sixty Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were assigned to blank control, model, methotrexate, and triptolide groups (n = 15/group). A rat model of rheumatoid arthritis was established. Each group was given the corresponding treatment. Toe edema and arthritis index of rats were assessed in all the groups. Levels of IL-2, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Serum levels of IL-2, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly higher in model rats than in blank control, while IL-10 level was significantly lower (p < 0.05). In triptolide group, serum IL-2, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly lower than the corresponding levels in model group, but IL-10 was significantly higher. The relative mRNA and protein concentrations of Notch1 and Jagged1 were significantly higher in model rats than in blank control rats, but significantly lower, relative to model rats. Conclusion: Tripterygium wilfordii exerts a good therapeutic effect in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in rats, most likely by inhibiting the activation of Notch1/Jagged1 signal pathway. Thus, it regulates inflammation by regulating the expressions of various inflammatory cytokines, and may be potential agent for the management of rheumatoid arthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective • This study was designed to survey the effect and the mechanism of action of calorie restriction combined with highintensity interval training (HIIT) on the browning of white adipose tissue. Methods • For the human study population, obese adult males were randomly assigned to one of three major groups: the control group (CN group), the calorie restriction combined with HIIT group (CR+HIIT group) and the HIIT group. After 3 months of training, body composition was measured. For the rodent study population, Sprague Dawley rats were randomly split into a normal diet control group (CON group) and an obesity model group. After successful obesity modeling, the latter was divided into the obesity control group (HON group), the calorie restriction plus HIIT group (ONE group) and the HIIT group (OHE group), with 8 animals in each group. A treadmill was used for training 5 days a week for 10 weeks. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), Prdm16 gene, and Cidea gene in visceral adipose tissue were detected with real-time polymer chain reaction (RT-qPCR), while the protein levels of UCP1, PPARγ and PGC-1α in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) were detected by western blot analysis. Results • Body weight and body fat rate in the human experiments demonstrated that fat mass, body weight and body fat rate in the CR+HIIT group were clearly lower than in the CN group. In the rat model, the body fat rate and body weight in the HON group were significantly higher than in the CON group, which indicated that the obesity model was successfully generated. As expected, the body fat rate and body weight in the ONE and OHE groups were considerably lower than in the HON group. Moreover, the body fat rate in the ONE group was considerably lower than in the OHE group. Further investigation indicated that the area under this curve (AUC) of oral glucose tolerance test (AUCOGTT), insulin (INS) levels and fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels in the HON group were more significantly increased than in the CON group, while AUCOGTT and INS levels in the ONE and OHE groups were considerably lower than in the HON group. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining showed that, compared with the CON group, the adipocyte area in the HON group was expanded, but narrowed in the ONE and OHE groups. In addition, the adipocyte area in the ONE group was apparently smaller than in the OHE group. We also compared molecular markers among the groups. RT-qPCR analysis showed that the expression of UCP1, Prdm16 and Cidea had been downregulated in the HON group compared with CON group but upregulated in the HON group compared with the ONE and OHE groups. Western blot analysis indicated that UCP1 in the HON group was lower than in the CON group but higher than in the ONE and OHE groups. In addition, the protein level of UCP1 was upregulated in the ONE group compared with the OHE group. Furthermore, expression levels of PPARγ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) and peroxisome proliferatoractivated receptor gamma (PPARγ) were downregulated in the HON group compared with the CON group, then further downregulated in the ONE and OHE groups compared with the HON group. In addition, the PGC-1α level in the ONE group was greatly improved compared with the OHE group. Conclusion • Calorie restriction integrated with HIIT and HIIT alone upregulates PPARγ, PGC- 1α, as well as UCP1 in VAT of obese rats, promoting the browning of visceral fat and ultimately achieving fat loss. Calorie restriction integrated with HIIT is more effective than HIIT alone for fat loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persea americana Mill. is an important cash crop that contains effective ingredients to reduce cholesterol and protect the cardiovascular system. Presently, the gene regulation mechanism and signal pathway of stress response in P. americana are unclear. To explore the gene expression changes of P. americana under drought and low-temperature stress, the transcripts of P. americana were sequenced under these conditions. The results produced 42,815,960 bp raw reads. Analysis of the related metabolic pathways and differentially expressed genes showed that under drought stress, the gene expression of beta-amylase 3, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and hexokinase were upregulated, while the gene expression of UDP-glycosyltransferase superfamily protein isoform, glucose-1-phosphate adenylyltransferase, and glucose-6-phosphate 1-epimerase were downregulated. Under low-temperature stress, the expression of beta-amylase and shikimate O-hydroxycinnamoyl transferase genes was downregulated. In addition, WRKY, MYB, bHLH, and NAC transcription factors were expressed under drought and lowtemperature stress. Finally, the RNA-Seq data were validated using realtime fluorescence quantitative analysis to identify the key genes of P. americana regulated at the transcriptional level under drought and lowtemperature stress. This study provides a theoretical basis for the selection of drought-resistant and low-temperature tolerant P. americana varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a unified weather-forecast/climate model system, Global-to-Regional Integrated forecast SysTem (GRIST-A22.7.28) currently employs two separate physics suites for weather forecast and typical long-term climate simulation, respectively. Previous AMIP-style experiments have suggested that the weather (PhysW) and climate (PhysC) physics suites, when coupled to a common dynamical core, lead to different behaviors in terms of modeling clouds and precipitation. To explore the source of their discrepancies, this study compares the two suites using a single column model (SCM). The SCM simulations demonstrate significant differences in the simulated precipitation and low clouds. Convective parameterization is found to be a key factor responsible for these differences. Compared with PhysC, parameterized convection of PhysW plays a more important role in moisture transport and rainfall formation. The convective parameterization of PhysW also better captures the onset and retreat of rainfall events, but stronger upward moisture transport largely decreases the tropical low clouds in PhysW. These features are in tune with the previous 3D AMIP simulations. Over the typical stratus-to-stratocumulus transition regime such as the Californian coast, shallow convection in PhysW is more prone to be triggered and leads to larger ventilation above the cloud layer, reducing stratocumulus clouds there. These two suites also have intrinsic differences in the interaction between cloud microphysics and other processes, resulting in different time step sensitivities. PhysC tends to generate more stratiform clouds with decreasing time step. This is caused by separate treatment of stratiform cloud condensation and other microphysical processes, leading to a tight interaction with boundary layer turbulence. In PhysW, all the microphysical processes are executed at the same temporal scale, and thus no such time step sensitivity was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypoxia-ischemia (HI) is a major cause of brain damage in neonates. Mitochondrial dysfunction acts as a hub for a broad spectrum of signaling events, culminating in cell death triggered by HI. A neuroprotective role of melatonin (MT) has been proposed, and mitophagy regulation seems to be important for cell survival. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying MT-mediated mitophagy during HI treatment are poorly defined. Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain and leucine-rich repeat-containing protein X1 (NLRX1) has emerged as a critical regulator of mitochondrial dynamics and neuronal death that participates in the pathology of diverse diseases. This study aimed to clarify whether NLRX1 participates in the regulation of mitophagy during MT treatment for hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD). We demonstrated that MT protected neonates from HIBD through NLRX1-mediated mitophagy in vitro and in vivo. Meanwhile, MT upregulated the expression of NLRX1, Beclin-1, and autophagy-related 7 (ATG7) but decreased the expression of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and translocase of the inner membrane of mitochondrion 23 (TIM23). Moreover, the neuroprotective effects of MT were abolished by silencing NLRX1 after oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). In addition, the downregulation of mTOR and upregulation of Beclin-1 and ATG7 by MT were inhibited after silencing NLRX1 under OGD. In summary, MT modulates mitophagy induction through NLRX1 and plays a protective role in HIBD, providing insight into potential therapeutic targets for MT to exert neuroprotection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as essential players in multiple biological processes. Mitochondrial dynamics, comprising the continuous cycle of fission and fusion, are required for healthy mitochondria that function properly. Despite long-term recognition of its significance in cell-fate control, the mechanism underlying mitochondrial fusion is not completely understood, particularly regarding the involvement of lncRNAs. Here, we show that the lncRNA HITT (HIF-1a inhibitor at translation level) can specifically localize in mitochondria. Cells expressing higher levels of HITT contain fragmented mitochondria. Conversely, we show that HITT knockdown cells have more tubular mitochondria than is present in control cells. Mechanistically, we demonstrate HITT directly binds mitofusin-2 (MFN2), a core component that mediates mitochondrial outer membrane fusion, by the in vitro RNA pull-down and UV-cross-linking RNA-IP assays. In doing so, we found HITT disturbs MFN2 homotypic or heterotypic complex formation, attenuating mitochondrial fusion. Under stress conditions, such as ultraviolet radiation, we in addition show HITT stability increases as a consequence of MiR-205 downregulation, inhibiting MFN2-mediated fusion and leading to apoptosis. Overall, our data provide significant insights into the roles of organelle (mitochondria)-specific resident lncRNAs in regulating mitochondrial fusion and also reveal how such a mechanism controls cellular sensitivity to UV radiation-induced apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic gastroparesis is a common complication of diabetes that may lead to poor nutrition, problems managing blood glucose, and a reduced quality of life. Jiawei Sijunzi soup has been shown to benefit patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis while causing no serious side effects. In this study, we investigated the possible effects of Jiawei Sijunzi soup on the progression of diabetic gastroparesis in a rat model induced by streptozotocin. The results show that Jiawei Sijunzi soup reduced inflammation and oxidative stress and improved the pathological features of gastric tissue in diabetic gastroparesis. The target of Jiawei Sijunzi soup in diabetic gastroparesis was analyzed based on network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques. The results show activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway by Jiawei Sijunzi soup in the rat model of diabetic gastroparesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop an augmented transfer regression learning (ATReL) approach that introduces an imputation model to augment the importance weighting equation to achieve double robustness for covariate shift correction. More significantly, we propose a novel seminon- parametric (SNP) construction framework for the two nuisance models. Compared with existing doubly robust approaches relying on fully parametric or fully non-parametric (machine learning) nuisance models, our proposal is more exible and balanced to address model misspecification and the curse of dimensionality, achieving a better trade-off in terms of model complexity. The SNP construction presents a new technical challenge in controlling the first-order bias caused by the nuisance estimators. To overcome this, we propose a two-step calibrated estimating approach to construct the nuisance models that ensures the effective reduction of potential bias. Under this SNP framework, our ATReL estimator is n1/2-consistent when (i) at least one nuisance model is correctly specified and (ii) the nonparametric components are rate-doubly robust. Simulation studies demonstrate that our method is more robust and efficient than existing methods under various configurations. We also examine the utility of our method through a real transfer learning example of the phenotyping algorithm for rheumatoid arthritis across different time windows. Finally, we propose ways to enhance the intrinsic efficiency of our estimator and to incorporate modern machine-learning methods in the proposed SNP framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural disasters related to the agriculture sector frequently occur in China. This article studied the prevention and control of drought and flood in agricultural lands and the optimization method of planting structures to avoid disaster. Firstly, the impact of the change of input structure on the prevention and control of drought and flood disasters of agricultural lands was analyzed, and the evaluation system of input-output efficiency was constructed. Secondly, the evaluation model was built using the DEA (Data Envelopment Analysis) method to provide the theoretical basis for the quantitative evaluation of input-output efficiency. Taking Jiangxi Province as an example, the input-output data of drought and flood control of agricultural land in twenty cities in 2014- 2017 was analyzed. The results show that the input-output efficiency of 80% of farmland in Jiangxi Province is low, and drought and flood prevention resources are not sufficiently utilized. In addition, the low pure technical and scale efficiency are the main reasons for the low input-output efficiency of drought and flood prevention. The effect of human and financial input in drought and flood prevention of farmland in Jiangxi Province is slightly different for value output and actual output. From the aspects of strengthening the investment in basic facilities and the technical research and development of agricultural products, the optimization strategy for the input structure of drought and flood prevention of agricultural land is put forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new orchid species, Liparis macrosepala, is illustrated and described from Yunnan Province, China, based on morphological and molecular analyses. This plant is characterised by the ovoid-fusiform, slightly compressed pseudobulbs with 4 or 5 leaves with slightly crisped margins on their apical half, dorsal sepal heart-shaped, lip with a bituberculate basal callus and a thickened folded lateral lobe on each side, centrally with one cavity with slightly raised margins, the column with a single pair of broadly triangular, obtuse wings. Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference analyses of combined nrITS and plastid matK DNA sequences place this species in section Cestichis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: miR-140-5p is frequently dysregulated in different types of tumors and has been found to suppress inflammation through TLR4 in lung injury. In the current investigation, we try to decipher the possible function of miR-140-5p in hypoxia-induced nephrotoxicity and renal fibrogenesis in human renal cells. Methods: Hypoxia in HK-2 cells was produced using cobalt chloride (CoCl2). Hypoxia-induced cellular viability and apoptosis were determined by cell viability assay and ELISA-based apoptosis assay, respectively. Western blotting was carried out to measure expression levels of pro-fibrotic and apoptosis-related proteins. Result: The present study observed that upregulation of miR-140-5p significantly decreases apoptosis and increases cell viability in hypoxia challenged HK-2 cells. Furthermore, miR-140-5p over expression decreased expression of pro-apoptotic proteins like Bad and Bax and pro-fibrotic proteins like Collagen I, CTGF and fibronectin. While as, expression of anti-apoptotic protein, namely Bcl-2, was increased in hypoxia-insulted HK-2 cells. Moreover, the luciferase reporter assay confirmed that miR-140-5p targets TLR4. TLR4 knockdown prevents miR-140-5p from performing its suppressive role in hypoxia linked to apoptosis and fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid and accurate determination of the nutrient contents in wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.) is of great significance for identifying the quality and origin of the fruit. Compared to traditional chemical analysis methods, hyperspectral remote sensing has the advantages of high speed and low cost. In this study, the dried fruits of wolfberry (cultivar ‘Ningqi No. 7’) taken from the Huinong, Yinchuan, Zhongning, and Tongxin regions of Ningxia, China, in 2020 were selected as samples. Two methods, the variable importance measure (VIM) under random forest and the successive projection algorithm (SPA), were applied to select the hyperspectral characteristic variables. The test set coefficient of determination (R²p), root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP), and relative percent deviation (RPD) for different pre-treatments and characteristic variable selection methods were compared. Finally, the optimal estimation models of partial least squares regression (PLSR) for the contents of eight nutrients in wolfberry were established. The results were as follows: (1) The variation trends of the original hyperspectral reflectance curves of wolfberries from different yield areas and harvest dates were similar, and the spectral characteristic absorption bands were significantly enhanced after first-order differential transformation. (2) After extracting the characteristic bands using SPA, the RPD values were all above 2.0, and the estimation performance was significantly better than that of the full bands. (3) The optimal estimation model for total sugar (TS), crude protein (CP), and Ca was found to be SG-MSCSPA-PLSR; the optimal estimation model for Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP), Mn, and Zn was found to be SG-2ndD-SPA-PLSR; and the optimal estimation model for Cu and Fe was found to be SG-1st D-SPAPLSR. The results have important reference value for the quality evaluation and origin traceability of wolfberry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study investigated changes in vitamin D levels in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients and the relationship between vitamin D levels and cognitive function. Methods: Thirty-five TBI patients in our hospital were randomly selected, and baseline data were collected. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) plasma levels were determined within a month of hospitalization, and awareness and cognitive function were assessed using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), respectively, on the day of blood collection. The data were statistically analyzed. Results: The MMSE and GCS scores were positively correlated (p < 0.05); higher MMSE scores were associated with higher GCS scores. Moreover, the total score was positively correlated with directional ability, memory, and attention, suggesting high internal consistency of the MMSE score, but no significant correlation with other indicators was observed. 25(OH)D was positively correlated with the injury site (p < 0.05), suggesting that frontal damage has a significant impact on the plasma level of 25(OH)D. Conclusion: The plasma vitamin D level in TBI patients may indicate frontal lobe damage. The overall plasma level of 25(OH)D in TBI patients was not significantly correlated with cognitive function, but the incidence of cognitive impairment was higher with 25(OH)D level between 10 and 30 ng/ml. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric buses (e-buses) have been increasingly introduced to urban transit systems in recent years. E-bus scheduling has become a critical problem to ensure cost-efficient transit service. To support continuous e-bus operation, charging facilities are established at the depots to provide charging service. In real-world scenarios, charging facility capacity measured by the number of chargers is always limited. To reduce charging congestions, it is critical to consider the charging facility capacity in the e-bus scheduling problem. In this study, we addressed a multidepot e-bus scheduling problem considering limited charging facility capacity and vehicle-depot constraint. A mixed-integer programming model based on discrete-event optimization method and a large neighborhood search (LNS) heuristic are proposed to solve the problem. Comprehensive numerical experiments based on the real-world operation cases in Shenzhen were conducted. The results verify the model and show that the LNS heuristic can generate near-optimal solutions for large-scale problem instances. Lack of charging facilities at the depots can lead to more e-buses charging at the peak time regarding the time-of-use tariff, resulting in increased total operational cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influenza A virus of the H7N9 subtype (FLUAV H7N9) emerged in Eastern China provinces in 2013 causing illness in both poultry and humans. Most reported FLUAV H7N9 human cases were related to those associated with the live poultry market chain. From 2013 to 2017, there were five epidemic waves of human infections, and from the end of 2016, the number of human cases increased sharply. To control FLUAV H7N9 in the market chain, the so‐called '1110' policy at live poultry markets and a national vaccination programme were implemented. The relative efficacy of these two measures on the number of poultry and human infections has not been quantified and compared. To explore their efficacy, a cross‐sectional study was conducted in six provinces of China, and the vaccination and surveillance data of H7N9 were analysed. Our survey data showed that poultry vendors were not widely aware of and did not accept the '1110' policy. For subjective and objective factors, some measures of the '1110' policy were not implemented in live bird markets (LBMs). However, the national vaccination programme achieved good immune effects and sharply decreased poultry FLUAV H7N9 infections. The detection rates of FLUAV H7N9 in LBMs and farms gradually decreased since the vaccination programme was implemented. Our analysis also indicated that human infections were closely related to poultry virus carriage rates; therefore, controlling FLUAV H7N9 circulation in poultry was an effective measure to control FLUAV H7N9 infections in humans. Although LBMs play a significant role in human infections, the management measures may not be implemented efficiently; hence, we need to conduct more investigations before developing related policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Cell division cycle 42 (CDC42) regulates neurite outgrowth, neurotransmitter, and T help (Th) cell-mediated neuroinflammation, while its clinical implication in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is not clear. The present study aimed to investigate the correlation of CDC42 with Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells, as well as CDC42' longitudinal change and relation to cognitive function decline in AD patients. Methods: 150 AD patients were enrolled, then their blood Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells were quantified by flow cytometry at baseline; CDC42 was detected by RT-qPCR and MMSE score was assessed at baseline and during 3-year follow-up. Meanwhile, CDC42, Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells were quantified in 30 Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and 30 healthy controls (HCs). Results: CDC42 (p < 0.001) and Th2 cells (p < 0.001) were lowest in AD patients, followed by PD patients, highest in HCs; but Th1 cells (p = 0.001) and Th17 cells (p < 0.001) showed opposite trends. CDC42 was not related to Th1 cells (p = 0.134), positively correlated with Th2 cells (p = 0.023) and MMSE (p < 0.001), while negatively associated with Th17 cells (p < 0.001) in AD patients. CDC42 was only related to Th17 cells (p = 0.048) and MMSE (p = 0.048) in PD patients; and it was not linked with Th1, Th2, Th17 cells, or MMSE in HCs (all p > 0.05). During a 3-year follow-up, CDC42 was gradually declined in AD patients (p < 0.001), its decline was positively correlated with MMSE decline at 1 year (p = 0.004), 2 years (p = 0.005), and 3 years (p = 0.026). Interpretation: CDC42 might have the potency to serve as a biomarker for estimating AD risk and progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser-induced plasma micro-machining (LIPMM) process does well in fabricating high-quality surface microstructures of hard and brittle materials. However, the liquid medium is overheated to induce lots of bubbles to defocus the laser beam, reducing machining stability, and explosive behavior of bubbles destroys the surface quality. Thus, the static and dynamical behaviors of bubbles in LIPMM are comprehensively investigated in this article. First, a series of mechanisms including bubble generation and growth, bubble motion and explosion, and the effect of bubbles behavior on machining characteristics were explained. Second, a volume of fluid (VOF) model of bubble motions in laser-induced plasma micro-machining was established to simulate the dynamical behavior of bubbles under different depths of water layer, which reflect the growth of microbubbles, the aggregation of multiple bubbles, and the floating movement of bubbles. Then, a series of experiments were carried out to reveal bubble static behaviors, and further bubble explosion behaviors on surface integrity, surface defects, and hardness were analyzed. The increase of laser frequency leads to the increase of the maximum attached bubble size. Obstructed by bubble dynamical behaviors, a discontinuous section and the unablated area are observed in the microchannel. The elastic modulus and surface hardness of surface impacted by explosion bubbles are reduced. This research contributes to better understanding bubble behavior related to machining performances in LIPMM of single-crystal silicon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to overcome the problems of long encryption process, low data security and poor anti-attack rate of traditional tobacco enterprise trade data encryption methods, a trade data encryption of tobacco enterprises based on adversarial neural network is proposed. This method optimizes the traditional neural network by generating countermeasure network, so as to form adversarial neural network. In the adversarial neural network, the encryption processing of tobacco enterprise trade data is completed through data feature classification, design of tobacco enterprise trade data encryption protocol and data encryption channel. The experimental results show that the encryption process of this method takes between 6 s and 20 s, and the encryption efficiency is high, and this method can effectively scramble the original arrangement of the data, so as to effectively hide the effective information in the tobacco enterprise trade data, improve the anti-attack rate of the data, and effectively improve the security of the data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The steady-state power quality monitoring data is innovatively applied to the sensitive load analysis scenario. • Using the data collected by the existing terminal, the typical sensitive load types of users are identified non-invasively. • The method exhibits certain anti-interference property that can be expanded to additional related scenarios in the future. This paper focuses on identifying voltage sag-sensitive loads within unknown load type or when the load is already in operation. To achieve this, a new method of sensitive load identification based on power quality monitoring data is proposed. Firstly, the active power RMS monitoring data is used as the base data. The Hodrick-Prescott filtering and sliding mean segmentation are used to divide the period of the voltage sag event. Next, based on the division result, the differences of steady-state power quality monitoring data before and after each event are calculated as the dataset. The dynamic K -means is used to divide various load action areas. Finally, the voltage tolerance curves of each action area are fitted and compared with the preset curves, then according to the constituted rules in this paper, the type of sensitive load contained by user is recognized. The feasibility and accuracy of the proposed method are verified by analyzing the simulation examples and actual power quality monitoring data. © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]