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Biomolecular condensates formed by multicomponent phase separation play crucial roles in diverse cellular processes. Accurate assessment of individual-molecule contributions to condensate formation and precise characterization of their spatial organization within condensates are crucial for understanding the underlying mechanism of phase separation. Using molecular dynamics simulations and graph theoretical analysis, we demonstrated quantitatively the significant roles of cation-π and π–π interactions mediated by aromatic residues and arginine in the formation of condensates in polypeptide systems. Our findings reveal temperature and chain length-dependent alterations in condensate network parameters, such as the number of condensate network layers, and changes in aggregation and connectivity. Notably, we observe a transition between assortativity and disassortativity in the condensate network. Moreover, polypeptides W, Y, F, and R consistently promote condensate formation, while the contributions of other charged and two polar polypeptides (Q and N) to condensate formation depend on temperature and chain length. Furthermore, polyadenosine and polyguanosine can establish stable connections with aromatic and R polypeptides, resulting in the reduced involvement of K, E, D, Q, and N in phase separation. Overall, this study provides a distinctive, precise, and quantitative approach to characterize the multicomponent phase separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polarization‐sensitive infrared photodetectors have vast application prospects in imaging systems and polarization sensors due to the addition of new detection dimensions beyond wavelength and intensity. However, most polarization‐sensitive photodetectors are operated in the visible wavelength range and still encounter challenges of limited responsivity (R) and polarization ratio (PR) under short‐wave infrared illumination. To address these issues, a vertical heterostructure of β‐In2Se3‐on‐Te is reported, achieving high‐performance and polarization‐sensitive imaging sensors in the short‐wave infrared (SWIR) region. The high R (2 A/W at 1310 nm and 0.71 A/W at 1550 nm) and specific detectivity (2.14 × 109 Jones at 1310 nm and 7.3 × 108 at 1550 nm) are obtained, which surpasses most photodetectors using anisotropic 2D material in the infrared range. Considering the strong anisotropic nature of Te nanosheets, the device exhibits notable polarization sensitivity with a PR value of 4.95 under 1310 nm laser irradiation. This work proposes a multifunctional photodetector for the great applications of ASCII code transmission and polarization‐sensitive infrared imaging, offering a new opportunity for versatile angle‐resolved optoelectronics in the infrared communication band. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forests are vital for terrestrial ecosystems, providing crucial functions like carbon sequestration and water conservation. In the Yellow River Basin, where 70% of forest coverage is concentrated in the middle reaches encompassing Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Shanxi provinces, there exists significant potential for coal production, with nine planned coal bases. This study centered on Jincheng City, Shanxi Province, a representative coal mining area in the Yellow River Basin, and combined the MSPA analysis method and MCR model to generate the five-period forest ecological network of Jincheng City from 1985 to 2022 under the background of coal mining and calculate the degree centrality, closeness centrality, betweenness centrality, and eigenvector centrality; the correlation between the four centralities and carbon sequestration ability is further explored. Simultaneously, employing the RAND-ESU algorithm for motif identification within forest ecological networks, this study integrates the ecological policies of the research area with the specific conditions of the coal mining region to optimize the forest ecological network in Jincheng City. Findings reveal the following. (1) Forest ecological spatial networks: Forest ecological networks exhibit robust overall ecological connectivity in the study area, with potential ecological corridors spanning the region. However, certain areas with high ecological resistance hinder connectivity between key forest ecological nodes under the background of coal mining. (2) Correlation between topological indices and carbon sequestration ecological services: From 1985 to 2022, the carbon sequestration capacity of Jincheng City's forest source areas increased year by year, and significant positive correlations were observed between degree centrality, betweenness centrality, eigenvector centrality with carbon sequestration ecological services, indicating a strengthening trend over time. (3) Motif Recognition and Ecological Network Optimization: During the study, four types of motifs were identified in the forest ecological network of Jincheng City based on the number of nodes and their connections using the RAND-ESU network motif algorithm. These motifs are 3a, 4a, 4b, and 4d (where the number represents the number of nodes and the letter represents the connection type). Among these, motifs 3a and 4b play a crucial role. Based on these motifs and practical considerations, network optimization was performed on the existing ecological source areas to enhance the robustness of the forest ecological network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The realization of controlled modulation of ultrashort pulses in the all-solid-state visible ultrafast lasers is a challenge, limited by the development of advanced optical modulation devices. Here, we reported a Ta2PdSe6 photonic device-based controlled visible ultrafast laser that exploits the polarization-dependent optical response of the Ta2PdSe6 photonic device to modulate the pulse width. Ultrashort pulse widths of 33.3 ps and 36.6 ps can be achieved under the horizontal and vertical polarization emission, respectively. This study presents polarization-dependent photonic devices for solid-state lasers, which might lead to the creation of controlled modulation in visible ultrafast lasers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The high fibre content of whole plants of Broussonetia papyrifera limits its efficient utilization. Ferulic acid esterase (FAE), in combination with xylanase, can effectively cleave the lignin–carbohydrate complex, promoting the function of cellulase. However, little is known about the impact of these additives on silage. To effectively utilize natural woody plant resources, FAE‐producing Lactiplantibacillus plantarum RO395, xylanase (XY) and cellulase (CE) were used to investigate the dynamic fermentation characteristics, fibre and nitrogen components and microbial community structure during B. papyrifera ensiling. RESULTS: Broussonetia papyrifera was either not treated (CK) or treated with FAE‐producing lactic acid bacteria (LP), CE, XY, LP + CE, LP + XY or LP + CE + XY for 3, 7, 15, 30 or 60 days, respectively. In comparison with those in the CK treatment, the L. plantarum and enzyme treatments (LP + CE, LP + XY and LP + XY + CE), especially the LP + XY + CE treatment, significantly increased the lactic acid concentration and decreased the pH and the contents of acid detergent insoluble protein and NH3‐N (P < 0.05). Enzyme addition improved the degradation efficiency of lignocellulose, and a synergistic effect was observed after enzyme treatment in combination with LP; in addition, the lowest acid detergent fibre, neutral detergent fibre, hemicellulose and cellulose contents were detected after the LP + CE + XY treatment (P < 0.05). Moreover, CE, XY and LP additions significantly improved the microbial community structure, increased the relative abundance of Lactiplantibacillus and Firmicutes, and effectively inhibited undesirable bacterial (Enterobacter) growth during ensiling. CONCLUSION: FAE‐producing L. plantarum and the two tested enzymes exhibited synergistic effects on improving the quality of silage, which indicates that this combination can serve as an efficient method for improved B. papyrifera silage utilization. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The guaranteed cost finite-time stability of positive switched fractional-order systems (PSFS) with D-disturbance and impulse is studied based on the Φ -dependent average dwell time (Φ DADT) strategy. Firstly, the finite-time stability of the studied system is proved by constructing a linear co-positive Lyapunov function. Secondly, the system's guaranteed cost analysis is given with the estimated upper bound of the cost. In addition, the finite-time certain and robust controllers are designed to ensure the system's stabilization. A numerical example is finally given to signify the validity of the conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research establishes an emergency evacuation time model specifically designed for subway stations with complex structures. The model takes into account multiple factors, including passenger flow rate, subway facility parameters, and crowd density, to accurately assess evacuation times. It considers the impact of horizontal walking distance, flow rate, subway train size, and stair parameters on the overall evacuation process. By identifying bottleneck points such as gates, car doors, and stairs, the model facilitates the evaluation of evacuation capacity and the formulation of effective evacuation plans, particularly in multiline subway transfer stations. The good consistency is achieved between the calculated evacuation time and simulated results using the Pathfinder software (with the relative error of 5.4%). To address urban traffic congestion and enhance subway station safety, the study recommends implemented measures for emergency diversion and passenger flow control. Additionally, the research presents characteristic mathematical models for various evacuation routes by considering the structural and temporal characteristics of metro systems. These models provide valuable guidance for conducting large-scale passenger evacuation simulations in complex environments. Future research can further enhance the model by incorporating psychological factors, evacuation signage, and strategies for vulnerable populations. Overall, this study contributes to a better understanding of evacuation dynamics and provides practical insights to improve safety and efficiency in subway systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial exudates are organic molecules released by bacteria that have proton- and metal-binding capacities, as well as the ability to facilitate redox reactions. However, the binding sites responsible for these functions are poorly characterized. In this work we examine the concentrations and types of proton active sites through potentiometric titrations of exudate solutions produced from several bacterial species. Additionally, we report the first measurement of sulfhydryl site concentrations of bacterial exudates. Finally, we examine the processes by which these exudates are produced in order to constrain the relative importance of active and passive production of the exudate molecules. Our results demonstrate that, while overall proton-binding behavior is primarily dependent on the amount of organic material produced, the concentration of sulfhydryl sites present on the exudate molecules is species-dependent and is not related to the amount of exudate produced. This result indicates that bulk proton-binding characteristics and total proton-active site concentrations on exudate molecules are relatively constant between species, but that the species of bacteria does impact the functionality of the exudates produced, particularly with respect to binding of chalcophile elements and redox reactions involving those elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic H 2 evolution requires excellent charge separation and fast surface electron injection, whereas it is difficult to achieve with a single semiconductor catalyst. Herein, we present a simple two-step hydrothermal method for coupling metalloid CoS 2 nanospheres with CaIn 2 S 4 micro-flowers, which exhibits a 6-fold increase in the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate as bare CaIn 2 S 4. This activity enhancement surpasses that of noble metal (Pt or AuCu) modified CaIn 2 S 4. During five runs of photocatalytic tests, the composite photocatalysts maintain high photostability, without significant changes in crystal structure or morphology. The charge transfer at CoS 2 /CaIn 2 S 4 interface is revealed by synchronous illumination X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, surface photovoltage spectrum and DFT calculation. According to the mechanism study, it shows that metallic CoS 2 can act as electron traps to speed up electron transfer due to the formation of intimate CoS 2 /CaIn 2 S 4 heterojunctions, while at the same time CoS 2 can serve as active centers to catalytic the water reduction into H 2 molecules. Overall, we propose a simple route to modify a semiconductor photocatalyst that can result in multiple distinct effect including improved charge separation and injection efficiency. [Display omitted] • CoS 2 nanoparticles were deposited on the surface of CaIn 2 S 4 micro-flowers. • 5 wt% CoS 2 cocatalyst coupled with CaIn 2 S 4 shows the highest H 2 evolution rate (960 μmol g−1 h−1). • The AQE of the sample of 5 wt% CoS 2 /CaIn 2 S 4 reaches 3.2% at 480 nm. • Charge transfer process of CoS 2 /CaIn 2 S 4 was elucidated in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saturable absorber is a key component in ultrafast pulsed laser systems, which are pivotal in ultrafast physics, high‐speed communication, etc. 2D materials appear to be superior candidates as saturable absorbers for compact pulsed fiber lasers in recent years due to their wide band response and ease of integration. However, the integration of mode‐locked devices inevitably involves contamination or polymer in the interface between the layered saturable absorber and the fiber, which contributes to a high start‐up threshold for the ultrafast pulsed lasers. This study develops an on‐fiber femtosecond laser with 2D narrow‐gap semiconducting BiCuSeO as a saturable absorber by a fully dry integration process thanks to the controllable growth of freestanding quaternary BiCuSeO nanoflakes. The corresponding thermodynamic growth mechanism is systemically revealed by electron microscopy and bind‐energy calculation. An electrostatic‐force‐assisted transfer method is developed to avoid damage or chemical contamination. The BiCuSeO‐based femtosecond laser shows decent output performance (pulse width, signal‐noise ratio and repetition rate are 395 fs, 61 dB, 17.1 MHz) with an ultra‐low threshold of 30 mW. The strategy of controllable growth of free‐standing 2D material facilitates a clean interface between the saturable absorber and fibers, which is favorable for high‐performance ultrafast photonic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurately predicting downhole risk before drilling in new exploration areas is one of the difficulties. Using intelligent algorithms to explore the complex relationship between multi-source data and downhole risk is a hot research topic and frontier in this field. However, due to the small number and uneven distribution of drilled wells in new exploration areas and the lack of sample data related to risk, the training model has insufficient generalization ability, and thus the prediction is not effective. In this paper, a drilling risk profile (depth domain) rich in geological and engineering information is constructed by introducing a quantitative evaluation method for drilling risk of drilled wells, which can provide sufficient risk sample data for model training and thus solve the small sample problem. For the problem of uneven distribution of drilling wells in new exploration areas, the concept of virtual wells and their deployment methods were proposed. Besides, two methods for calculating rock mechanical parameters of virtual wells were proposed, and the accuracy and applicability of the two methods are analyzed. The LSTM deep learning model was optimized to tap the quantitative relationship between drilling risk profiles and multi-source data (e.g., seismic, logging, and rock mechanical parameters). The model was validated to have an average relative error of 9.19%. The quantitative prediction of the drilling risk profile of the virtual well was achieved using the trained LSTM model and the calculation of the relevant parameters of the virtual well. Finally, based on the sequential Gaussian simulation method and the risk distribution of drilled and virtual wells, a regional 3D drilling risk model was constructed. The analysis of real cases shows that the addition of virtual wells can significantly improve the identification of regional drilling risks and the prediction accuracy of pre-drill drilling risks in unexplored areas can be improved by up to 21% compared with the 3D risk model constructed based on drilled wells only. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, two types of single absorber layer solar cells, Mo/p-CIS/n-CdS/Al-ZnO and Mo/p-CISSe/n-CdS/Al-ZnO, are simulated using the solar cell simulation software (SCAPS-1D), and the effect of the thickness of the absorber layer on the photovoltaic performance of the solar cells is investigated. In addition, the total thickness of the CIS/CISSe gradient bandgap absorber layer was specified to be 2.5 μm in the SCAPS-1D simulations, and the structure of the gradient bandgap solar cell was composed of Mo/p-CISSe/p-CIS/n-CdS/Al-ZnO. Using CdS and SnS2 buffer layers, respectively, the optimal photoelectric conversion efficiency (η) of the CIS/CISSe gradient bandgap solar cell is 23.23% and 23.52% at a CIS/CISSe layer thickness ratio of 1 μm/1.5 μm, which means that SnS2 can be used as a buffer layer for Cd-free solar cells. With the increase in carrier concentration in the buffer layer, the carrier transport mechanism changes from a leakage current mechanism to tunneling current mechanism. As a result, optimal open-circuit voltage (Voc), short circuit current (Jsc), filling factor (FF), and η of Mo/p-CISSe/ p-CIS /n-SnS2/Al-ZnO solar cell are 0.7809 V, 35.31 mA/cm2, 85.29%, and 23.52%, respectively, which uses the best impact parameters including CIS/CISSe absorption layer thickness ratio of 1 μm/1.5 μm, working temperature 300 K, and the carrier concentration of 1E + 18 cm−3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social responsibility can motivate disaster relief nurses to devote themselves to safeguarding rights and interests of people when facing challenges that threaten public health. However, few studies focused on the relationship of moral courage, job-esteem, and social responsibility among disaster relief nurses. Objective: To explore the influence of moral courage and job-esteem on the social responsibility in disaster relief nurses and clarify the relationship model between them. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 716 disaster relief nurses from 14 hospitals in central China through an online survey, including moral courage scale, job-esteem scale, and social responsibility questionnaire. The data were analyzed by Pearson's correlation, and the mechanism of the effect of moral courage and job-esteem on social responsibility was completed. Ethical considerations: This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University (Approval Number: 2019016). Results: Disaster relief nurses' moral courage positively impacted social responsibility (r = 0.677, p < 0.01), and moral courage could affect social responsibility through the mediating role of job-esteem. Conclusion: Job-esteem mediated between moral courage and social responsibility among disaster relief nurses. Nursing managers regular assessment of nurses' moral courage and interventions such as meetings and workshops can reduce moral distress, foster morally courageous behavior, enhance job-esteem, and improve social responsibility performance among disaster relief nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analysis of tectonothermal history of the Yanchang Formation in the western Weibei Uplift and in the northwestern Weihe Basin can reconstruct the cooling history of the southwest most remained Upper Triassic source rock of the North China Plate. Apatite fission-track (AFT) and (U-Th-Sm)/He (AHe) analysis were used to recover the cooling and uplift history of the Upper Triassic here. Ten sandstones from the Middle-Upper Triassic strata yield AFT ages between 179.8 ± 7.4 and 127.6 ± 8.1 Ma. AHe ages of two sandstones have the value of 37.7 ± 2.3–131.1 ± 8.1 and 45.7 ± 2.8–83.5 ± 5.2 Ma. Time-temperature modeling results showed that tectonothermal history of the Yanchang Formation was initially different in time-space relationships but then became almost identical through time followed by different cooling rate. Modeling results of the Triassic strata in the Qianyang area and the Yaojiagou area revealed three different uplift-cooling stages commencing in the Late Jurassic at ∼165 Ma and in Early Cretaceous at ∼110 Ma, respectively, both followed by first similar cooling histories to the Early Miocene at ∼20–23 Ma and then different since the Late Miocene. Uplift-cooling rate since the Late Miocene at ∼8 Ma were different between the Western Weibei Uplift and the Northwestern Weihe Basin. The timing, cooling-uplift rates of the Yaojiagou area, which was mainly controlled by movements related to the Liupanshan Mountains, the Qinling Orogens and the Weibei Uplift, had the earliest onset of uplift-cooling for the Upper Triassic series compared to other regions within the Weibei Uplift. Cooling paths for the Upper Triassic series became uniform regionally in the Early Cretaceous marking a key time for the tectonothermal evolutionary history of Upper Triassic series in the southwestern North China Plate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum superconducting circuit with flexible coupler has been a powerful platform for designing quantum thermal machines. In this Letter, we employ the tunable coupling of two superconducting resonators to realize a heat valve by modulating magnetic flux using a superconducting quantum interference device. It is shown that a heat valve can be realized in a wide parameter range. We find a consistent relation between the heat current and quantum entanglement, which indicates the dominant role of entanglement on the heat valve. It provides an insightful understanding of quantum features in quantum heat machines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The abundance of HBPs, ARGs, and VFs increased along with landfill age. • Old refuse had higher microbial contamination risk than fresh refuse. • Refuse with deposit age of 5–6 years had the highest ARGs and HBPs diversity. • HBPs showed significant positive relationships with ARGs and VFs. • MGEs were the primary factors accounting for the variations in ARGs and VFs. Landfills are reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and pathogens, and humans are exposed to these pollutants during extensive excavation of old landfills. However, the microbial contamination risk of landfilled waste with different ages has not been assessed. In this study, human bacterial pathogens (HBPs), ARGs, and virulence factors (VFs) were systematically determined using metagenomic analysis. Results showed that the abundance of HBPs, ARGs, and VFs increased with landfill age, the percentage of HBPs in refuse with deposit age of 10–12 years (Y10) was 23.75 ± 0.49%, which was higher than that in fresh refuse (Y0, 17.99 ± 0.14%) and refuse with deposit age of 5–6 years (Y5, 19.14 ± 0.15%), indicating that old refuse had higher microbial contamination risk than fresh refuse. Multidrug, macrolide, lincosamide, streptogramine, and tetracycline resistance genes were the primary ARGs, whereas lipooligosaccharides, type IV pili, and polar flagella were the dominant VFs in refuse. The HBPs showed a significant positive correlation with ARGs and VFs. Listeria monocytogenes , Salmonella enterica , Streptococcus pneumoniae , Acinetobacter baumannii , and Escherichia coli possibly possess both multiple ARGs and VFs and could be listed as high-risk HBPs in refuse. Mobile genetic elements, especially transposons, showed positive correlations with most ARGs and VFs, and they were identified as the primary factors accounting for the variations in ARGs and VFs. These findings will help understand the spread of ARGs and VFs in landfills and evaluate the potential risk of microbiological contamination in refuse of different landfill ages, thus providing guidance for preventing disease infection during landfill excavations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discovery of constitutive activation of KIT/PDGFRA tyrosine kinases in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) leads to the development of the targeted drug imatinib. However, the inevitable development of imatinib resistance remains a major issue. Ripretinib is a novel targeted drug that inhibits the activities of a broad spectrum of drug‐resistant KIT/PDGFRA mutants. It was approved in 2020 and is currently recommended by major international guidelines as the fourth‐line and beyond therapy for advanced GISTs. Emerging evidence shows that ripretinib is superior to sunitinib as a second‐line treatment for KIT exon 11‐mutated GISTs due to its activity against highly heterogeneous frequently occurring secondary mutations. This review summarizes current data on the use of ripretinib to treat advanced imatinib‐resistant GISTs. We also propose future research directions to improve the targeted GIST treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To develop deep learning–assisted diagnosis models based on CT images to facilitate radiologists in differentiating benign and malignant parotid tumors. Methods: Data from 573 patients with histopathologically confirmed parotid tumors from center 1 (training set: n = 269; internal-testing set: n = 116) and center 2 (external-testing set: n = 188) were retrospectively collected. Six deep learning models (MobileNet V3, ShuffleNet V2, Inception V3, DenseNet 121, ResNet 50, and VGG 19) based on arterial-phase CT images, and a baseline support vector machine (SVM) model integrating clinical-radiological features with handcrafted radiomics signatures were constructed. The performance of senior and junior radiologists with and without optimal model assistance was compared. The net reclassification index (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) were calculated to evaluate the clinical benefit of using the optimal model. Results: MobileNet V3 had the best predictive performance, with sensitivity increases of 0.111 and 0.207 (p < 0.05) in the internal- and external-testing sets, respectively, relative to the SVM model. Clinical benefit and overall efficiency of junior radiologist were significantly improved with model assistance; for the internal- and external-testing sets, respectively, the AUCs improved by 0.128 and 0.102 (p < 0.05), the sensitivity improved by 0.194 and 0.120 (p < 0.05), the NRIs were 0.257 and 0.205 (p < 0.001), and the IDIs were 0.316 and 0.252 (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The developed deep learning models can assist radiologists in achieving higher diagnostic performance and hopefully provide more valuable information for clinical decision-making in patients with parotid tumors. Key Points: • The developed deep learning models outperformed the traditional SVM model in predicting benign and malignant parotid tumors. • Junior radiologist can obtain greater clinical benefits with assistance from the optimal deep learning model. • The clinical decision-making process can be accelerated in patients with parotid tumors using the established deep learning model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The direct detection of gravitational waves opens the possibility to test general relativity and its alternatives in the strong field regime. Here we focus on the test of the existence of extra dimensions. The classification of gravitational waves in metric gravity theories according to their polarizations in higher-dimensional space-time and the possible observation of these polarizations in three-dimensional subspace are discussed in this work. We also show that the difference in the response of gravitational waves in detectors with and without extra dimensions can serve as evidence for the existence of extra dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating anisotropy and nonlinearity of physical properties in 2D materials is of great importance to the progress of nanoelectronic, nanophotonic, and nano‐optoelectronic applications. In this work, Nb3SeI7, a newly discovered ternary layered material with non‐centrosymmetric lattices, is introduced, which exhibits strong second harmonic generation (SHG), in‐plane anisotropic electricity, and light absorption. Symmetry breaking of 2D Nb3SeI7 induced by the polar off‐center displacement of niobium leads to a high nonlinear optical response with a second‐order susceptibility of 6.71 pm V−1 and a high anisotropic factor of photoresponsivity up to 4.6, which are higher than most of the 2D materials. These properties of 2D Nb3SeI7 create new possibilities for chip‐integrated nonlinear optics devices and future‐proof polarization‐sensitive optoelectronic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate the possible parameter space of Palatini–Horndeski theory with gravitational waves in a spatially flat Universe. We develop a general method for obtaining the speed of gravitational waves in the Palatini formalism in the cosmological background and we find that if the theory satisfies the following condition: in any spatially flat cosmological background, the tensor gravitational wave speed is the speed of light c, then only S = ∫ d 4 x - g [ K (ϕ , X) - G 3 (ϕ , X) □ ~ ϕ + G 4 (ϕ) R ~ ] is left as the possible action in Palatini–Horndeski theory. We also find that when G 5 (ϕ , X) ≠ 0 , the tensor part of the connection will propagate and there are two different tensor gravitational wave speeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of room temperature phosphorescent doping systems were constructed. Benzothiazole groups containing heteroatoms (S, N) and heavy atoms (Br) were applied as the host. Their charge-transferred luminescence mechanism was revealed by molecular dynamics simulations and molecular cluster calculations. Additionally, BCN/BT's excellent anti-counterfeiting performance demonstrated their application potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, some stability and robust stability conditions for switched positive linear systems in which all subsystems are unstable in continuous time and discrete time were obtained using the Φ-dependent dwell time technique and the discretized co-positive Lyapunov functions approach, respectively. The co-positive Lyapunov functions constructed in this study are functions of time during the dwell time, and after that, they are independent of time. In addition, the above method was applied to switched-interval positive systems, and corresponding conclusions are presented. The Φ-dependent dwell time technique used in this paper is more effective than the dwell time and mode-dependent dwell time used in other studies. The results are verified with an illustrative example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With excellent mechanical performances, fiber-reinforced composites usually have a good interface property between fibers and the matrix to achieve effective load transfer. In this paper, a novel approach that the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers were swelled in decalin following a simple process was used to increase the extent of interfacial adhesion achieved between the fibers and epoxy resin (EP) matrix to avoid or reduce the mechanical damage of the fiber caused by etching or coating at the same time. The molecular chain of the amorphous region is stretched to the maximum extent under these conditions, and this helps improve the wettability levels between the fiber and the resin matrix. The maximum interfacial shear strength (2.76 MPa) was recorded for the swollen fibers and epoxy resin at a temperature of 40 ℃ when the swelling time was 7 h. The shear strength was 54.19% higher than the shear strength recorded for the original UHMWPE/EP system. The results reported herein reveal that the swelling method followed by us can be effectively used to improve the interfacial bonding strength between the fibers and the resin matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the accelerated pace of urbanization has increased patch fragmentation, which has had a certain impact on the structure and ecological environment of forest–grass ecological networks, and certain protection measures have been taken in various regions. Therefore, studying the spatiotemporal changes and correlations of ecological service functions and forest–grass ecological networks can help to better grasp the changes in landscape ecological structure and function. This paper takes the Wuding River Basin as the research area and uses the windbreak and sand fixation service capacity index, soil conservation capacity, and net primary productivity (NPP) to evaluate the ecological service capacity of the research area from the three dimensions of windbreak and sand fixation, soil conservation, and carbon sequestration. The Regional Sustainability and Environment Index (RSEI) is used to extract ecological source areas, and GIS spatial analysis and the minimum cumulative resistance (MCR) model are used to extract potential ecological corridors. Referring to complex network theory, topology metrics such as degree distribution and clustering coefficient are calculated, and their correlation with ecological service capacity is explored. The results show that the overall ecological service capacity of sand fixation, soil fixation, and carbon sequestration in the research area in 2020 has increased compared to 2000, and the ecological flow at the northern and northwest boundaries of the river basin has been enhanced, but there are still shortcomings such as fragmented ecological nodes, a low degree of clustering, and poor connectivity. In terms of the correlation between topology indicators and ecological service functions, the windbreak and sand fixation service capacity index have the strongest correlation with clustering and the largest grasp, while the correlation between soil conservation capacity and eigencentrality is the strongest and has the largest grasp. The correlation between NPP and other indicators is not obvious, and its correlation with eccentricity and eigencentrality is relatively large. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sequestration of carbon in forests plays a crucial role in mitigating global climate change and achieving carbon neutrality goals. Carbon use efficiency (CUE) is an essential metric used to evaluate the carbon sequestration capacity and efficiency of Vegetation. Previous studies have emphasized the importance of assessing CUE at specific regions and times to better understand its spatiotemporal variations. The southeastern region of Tibet in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is recognized as one of the most biodiverse areas in China and globally, characterized by diverse vegetation types ranging from subtropical to temperate. In this study, we focused on Nyingchi, which is the largest virgin forest area in southeast Tibet, to explore the spatial-temporal dynamic characteristics of regional CUE based on MODIS remote sensing products. The following results were obtained: (1) On a monthly scale, regional CUE exhibits significant seasonal variations, with varying patterns among different vegetation types. Specifically, the fluctuation of CUE is the lowest in high-altitude forest areas and the greatest in grasslands and barrens. On an annual scale, forests exhibit higher fluctuations than areas with sparse vegetation and the overall volatility of CUE increased over the past 11 years. (2) There are regional differences in the trend of CUE changes, with a substantial downward trend in the Himalayan region and a significant upward trend in the residual branches of the Gangdise Mountains. More than 75% of the regions exhibit no persistent trend in CUE changes. (3) Vegetation type is the main determinant of the range and characteristics of vegetation CUE changes, while the geographical location and climatic conditions affect the variation pattern. CUE in the southern and northern regions of Nyingchi at 28.5°N exhibits different responses to temperature and precipitation changes, with temperature having a more significant impact on CUE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on a limited set of model samples it has been recently shown that semicrystalline polymers exhibit different morphological characteristics depending on the existence and timescale of intracrystalline chain diffusion (ICD) relative to the kinetics of crystal growth. Here, the generality of these reports for the case of so‐called crystal‐fixed polymers without or very slow ICD is tested by providing a detailed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and small‐angle X‐ray scattering analysis of polybutylene succinate (PBS), a biodegradable polyester. By using a combination of NMR techniques covering different timescales it is shown that there is no intracrystalline dynamics on a time scale faster than 1 s, that is, PBS is crystal‐fixed. An expected crystallinity below 50% and the typical morphology consisting of lamellar crystals with a well‐defined crystal thickness and a broad thickness distribution of the amorphous interlayers are confirmed. By combining these results with differential scanning calorimetry measurements, a more precise value could be provided for the enthalpy of melting than previously available. The mechanical properties at room temperature are furthermore influenced by additional insertion crystallization taking place during cooling, which leads to an increase of the mechanical modulus by a factor of ≈2.5 as compared to the state at the end of isothermal crystallization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper focuses on the stability analysis of the input-output finite-time for a class of fractional-order switched singular systems (FOSSS) with D-perturbation. By using the Φ-dependent average dwell time (ΦDADT) approach together with the multiple Lyapunov functions method, some sufficient conditions are derived for the considered system to ensure its input-output finite-time stability in terms of linear matrix inequalities. Then, the output feedback controller is designed to ensure the closed-loop system is input-output finite-time stable. Finally, a numerical example illustrates the superiority of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uplift and exhumation are important factors affecting the preservation of deposits. The anatomy of uplift‐cooling evolution and exhumation in the East Longshou Mountain is of significant research value in understanding changes in the Jinchuan Ni‐Cu‐PGE deposit since its formation. This study uses apatite fission track (AFT) thermochronology to reconstruct the thermal history of the East Longshou Mountain, including the Jinchuan mine, revealing the uplift and exhumation history of the East Longshou Mountain and elucidating the preservation status of the Jinchuan deposit. The AFT ages in the East Longshou Mountain are distributed from 62.3 ± 3.0 Ma to 214.7 ± 14 Ma, with significant differences in ages in distinct areas, the central and pooled ages being consistent within the margin of error. Inverse thermal history models reveal two rapid cooling events associated with exhumation from the Early Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous (200–100 Ma) and since the Miocene (15–0 Ma), the former attributable to the far‐afield response to the closure of the Paleo‐Tethys Ocean and plate assembly at the southern margin of Eurasia, the latter associated with the initial India‐Eurasia plate collision. A slow cooling event from the Early Cretaceous to the Miocene (100–15 Ma) is thought to be related to the arid environment in northwest China since the Cretaceous. These cooling events have diverse responses and cooling rates in different blocks of the East Longshou Mountain: the southwest and centre of which are mainly cooled over 200–120 Ma and 120–0 Ma, with cooling rates of ~0.25 and ~0.33 °C/Ma (~1.25 and ~0.33 °C/Ma in the centre); the Jinchuan mine primarily cooled over 160–100 Ma, 100–15 Ma and 15–0 Ma, with cooling rates of ~1.33, ~0.25 and ~2.00 °C/Ma. These differentiated coolings imply that the uplift of the East Longshou Mountain before the Miocene (~15 Ma) was integral. Strong uplift then occurred in the vicinity of the mining area, which is a critical period for the uplift of the Jinchuan deposit to the surface, meaning that the Jinchuan deposit was exposed no earlier than the Miocene (~15 Ma). Based on mineralization depth information obtained by previous researchers, in conjunction with the calculation and simulation results of this study, it can be seen that the bulk of the Jinchuan intrusion may still be preserved at depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mycobacterium haemophilum is a slow-growing non-chromogenic nontuberculous Mycobacterium species that can cause skin infection or arthritis in an immunocompromised population or in children. Primary infection of the healthy adult cornea is rare. The special requirements for culture make this pathogen difficult to diagnose. The study aims to report the clinical manifestation and treatment process of corneal infection and notify the awareness of M. Haemophilus keratitis among clinicians. This is the first case report of primary M. haemophilum infection in the cornea of healthy adults reported in the literature. Case presentation: A 53-year-old healthy goldminer presented with left eye redness and a history of vision loss for four months. The patient was misdiagnosed with herpes simplex keratitis until M. haemophilum was detected using high-throughput sequencing. Penetrating keratoplasty was performed, and a large number of mycobacteria were detected by Ziehl-Neelsen staining of the infected tissue. Three months later, the patient developed conjunctival and eyelid skin infections that manifested as caseous necrosis of the conjunctiva and skin nodules. After excision and debridement of the conjunctival lesions and systemic antituberculosis drug treatment for 10 months, the patient was cured. Conclusion: M. haemophilum could cause primary corneal infection in healthy adults, which is an infrequent or rare infection. Owing to the need for special bacterial culture conditions, conventional culture methods do not provide positive results. High-throughput sequencing can rapidly identify the presence of bacteria, which aids in early diagnosis and timely treatment. Prompt surgical intervention is an effective treatment option for severe keratitis. Long-term systemic antimicrobial therapy is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A precise transfer matrix was employed to analyze the free vibration characteristics of a cord-reinforced air spring with winding formation under preload conditions. The air spring was abstracted as a rotary combined shell structure with variable winding trajectory characteristics. The rotary structure, which consisted of cylindrical and toroidal shells, was analyzed for its shell pre-stress under preload conditions. The shell pre-stress was combined with the theory of thin shells to create the rotary shell vibration control equations under preload effect. The Helmholtz equation was used to analyze the influence of sound pressure inside shells under the fluid–structure coupling boundary conditions. The rotary shell transfer matrix was derived from the variable winding trajectory equation, geometrical equation, and physical equation of shells. Under the continuous conditions of state vector between the cylindrical and toroidal shells, the shells were combined into a rotary combined shell structure to obtain its total free vibration equation. The shell boundary conditions were considered to solve the natural frequency of the air spring. The calculation results were compared with the prototype test and simulation results to verify the effectiveness and accuracy of the theoretical model. On this basis, we explored the influence of axial half wave number, circumferential wave number, geometrical structure, and material characteristics on the free vibration characteristics of the air spring. The research findings would provide important and significant guidance for the structural design of cord-reinforced air springs with winding formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bellows structure in an air spring can be constantly reinforced to cope with the complicated work environment, but it exerts a stronger and stronger effect on the stiffness characteristics of the air spring. However, there is not any effective way for the parameterized solution of the bellows stiffness of the air spring. With the precise transfer matrix method, the bellows stiffness characteristics of a cord-reinforced air spring with winding formation under preload conditions were analyzed in this paper. The thin-shell theory was used to solve the bellows pre-stress of the air spring under preload conditions. The pre-stress was introduced into the equilibrium equation for the bellows. Based on the geometrical and physical equations for the bellows with the complex cord winding characteristics, the precise integration method was borrowed to construct a transfer matrix for the bellows of the air spring under preload conditions. The state vector of the bellows in the air spring was solved through boundary conditions. The iteration method was adopted to develop the expression for the bellows stiffness characteristics, and combined with the theoretical model of pneumatic stiffness to solve the stiffness characteristics of the air spring. The comparison with the prototype test results verified the validity and correctness of the theoretical model. On this basis, we explored the influence of preload conditions, geometrical structure, and material characteristics on the stiffness characteristics of the air spring. The research findings will provide significant guidance for the structural design and material selection of cord-reinforced air springs with winding formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a common tumor in China. Accurate stages of NPC are crucial for treatment. We therefore aim to develop radiomics models for discriminating early-stage (I–II) and advanced-stage (III–IVa) NPC based on MR images. Methods: 329 NPC patients were enrolled and randomly divided into a training cohort (n = 229) and a validation cohort (n = 100). Features were extracted based on axial contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images (CE-T1WI), T1WI, and T2-weighted images (T2WI). Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) was used to build radiomics signatures. Seven radiomics models were constructed with logistic regression. The AUC value was used to assess classification performance. The DeLong test was used to compare the AUCs of different radiomics models and visual assessment. Results: Models A, B, C, D, E, F, and G were constructed with 13, 9, 7, 9, 10, 7, and 6 features, respectively. All radiomics models showed better classification performance than that of visual assessment. Model A (CE-T1WI + T1WI + T2WI) showed the best classification performance (AUC: 0.847) in the training cohort. CE-T1WI showed the greatest significance for staging NPC. Conclusion: Radiomics models can effectively distinguish early-stage from advanced-stage NPC patients, and Model A (CE-T1WI + T1WI + T2WI) showed the best classification performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extensive studies of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in the last decade have reformed the view of cancer as a tumor cell-centric disease. The tumor microenvironment, especially termed the "seed and soil" theory, has emerged as the key determinant in cancer development and therapeutic resistance. The TME mainly consists of tumor cells, stromal cells such as fibroblasts, immune cells, and other noncellular components. Within the TME, intimate communications among these components largely determine the fate of the tumor. The pivotal roles of the stroma, especially cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), the most common component within the TME, have been revealed in tumorigenesis, tumor progression, therapeutic response, and tumor immunity. A better understanding of the function of the TME sheds light on tumor therapy. In this review, we summarize the emerging understanding of stromal factors, especially CAFs, in cancer progression, drug resistance, and tumor immunity with an emphasis on their functions in epigenetic regulation. Moreover, the importance of epigenetic regulation in reshaping the TME and the basic biological principles underpinning the synergy between epigenetic therapy and immunotherapy will be further discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community stability is a fundamental factor sustaining ecosystem functioning and is affected by species richness and species evenness. The Arctic is warming more rapidly than other biomes, and cryptogam plant species (specifically lichens and bryophytes in this study) are major contributors to tundra biodiversity and productivity. However, to our knowledge, the impacts of warming on cryptogam community stability and the underlying mechanisms have not been investigated. We conducted a 13‐year summer warming experiment in mesic birch hummock tundra vegetation near Daring Lake in the continental interior of low Arctic Canada and recorded patterns of cryptogam species abundance in several different growing seasons. Warming decreased the stability of total community abundance, had no effects on species richness, but increased species evenness and species synchrony. Structural equation model analyses indicated that higher species richness was the principal factor associated with the stronger community abundance stability in the control plots and that this effect was driven primarily by a negative correlation with species synchrony. By contrast, higher species evenness was the principal factor associated with the weakened community abundance stability in the warming plots, and this effect was driven primarily by a positive correlation with species synchrony. Our study suggests that climate warming could reduce cryptogam plant community stability in low Arctic tundra and, therefore, decrease important ecosystem services, including carbon storage and food availability to caribou in northern regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distributed‐order time fractional diffusion model with Dirichlet nonhomogeneous boundary conditions on a finite domain is considered. Four choices of continuous distribution weight functions with mean μ and standard deviation σ are investigated to study their impact on both the short‐time and long‐time solution behavior. An implicit numerical method implemented on a graded mesh is proposed to solve the model and the stability and convergence analysis are presented. Semi‐analytic solutions are also derived for these distributions to assess the accuracy of the scheme. Numerical results highlight that the four continuous distribution weight functions produce a short‐time solution behavior that is consistent with those solutions from the classical time fractional partial differential equation with fractional order γ* = μ. There are however long‐time differences in the solution behavior that become more distinguishable as σ increases. In particular, we find a smaller value of σ produces more diffuse profiles and the diffusion rate slows as σ increases. Furthermore, the asymptotic behavior of the solution may be influenced by the time‐fractional orders ranging between the smallest nonzero weight order and mean μ for the continuous uniform and raised cosine distribution weight functions, respectively. Similar findings are also observed for the truncated normal and beta distributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new Ag(I) coordination polymers, namely [Ag(bpp)]·0.5 n(1,5-NDSA)·n(H2O) (1) and [Ag2(bpp)2]n·n(2,7-NDSA)·2 n(H2O)·n(CH3CN) (2) (Na2(1,5-NDSA) = sodium 1,5-naphthalenedisulfonate dibasic, Na2(2,7-NDSA) = sodium 1,5-naphthalenedisulfonate dibasic, bpp is 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane), were generated via the solution evaporation method under room temperature. Moreover, the solids of these two compounds display strong luminescence emission at RT. And the application values of the compounds against the glioblastoma treatment were determined, and the corresponding mechanism was simultaneously tested. The analysis of CCK-8 was first implemented and the glioblastoma viability was measured. The real-time RT-PCR was next performed, and the signaling pathway activation of VEGF in glioblastoma cells was tested after treating by the above compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the electrodes (PbO 2 , PbO 2 –SiO 2 , PbO 2 –ZrO 2 and PbO 2 –SiO 2 –ZrO 2) were prepared by galvanostatic electrodeposition in a lead nitrate system and used as anode materials for trivalent chromium plating. Physical characterizations show that the successful doping of SiO 2 and ZrO 2 can refine the grain of PbO 2. Electrochemical tests show that the PbO 2 –SiO 2 –ZrO 2 electrode has good electrocatalytic activity and corrosion resistance, which is mainly attributed to the increase of active surface area. In the process of trivalent chromium plating, the initial and increasing range of the cell voltage of the PbO 2 –SiO 2 –ZrO 2 electrode were the lowest, and the amount of hexavalent chromium generated was much smaller than that obtained using the pure PbO 2 electrode, which had obvious advantages in energy savings. This study provides a concise method for PbO 2 electrode modification and provides a reference for the subsequent use of anode materials for trivalent chromium plating and electrodeposition of other metals. [Display omitted] • The PbO 2 –SiO 2 –ZrO 2 electrode doped by nano-oxides was prepared via electrodeposition. • The electrode a large active surface area and excellent electrocatalytic activity. • The functions of SiO 2 and ZrO 2 are to refine grains and promote OER, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coumarin compounds have a variety of biological activities such as anti-tumor, anti-coagulation, anti-HIV, anti-fungal, and insecticidal. Amide and sulfonamide compounds have been used as fungicides for half a century, and dozens of varieties have been developed so far. This study focused on the introduction of carboxamide and sulfonamide moieties in a coumarin core to discover novel derivatives. Based on this strategy, we synthesized two series of novel carboxamide and sulfonamide substituted coumarin derivatives, and their fungicidal activity was also investigated. Some designed compounds possessed potential activities against six phytopathogenic fungi in the primary assays, highlighted by compound 6r. Compound 6r exhibited stronger fungicidal activity against Botrytis cinerea (EC50 = 20.52 µg/mL) and will be the lead structure for further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brachyceran flies constitute a large radiation of the order Diptera, but the phylogenetic relationships among them have remained controversial. In this study, we used next-generation sequencing to determine mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) for six brachyceran flies. Two of these species represent Milichiidae (Aldrichiomyza flaviventris and Phyllomyza obliqua); two representing Chloropidae (Pachylophus sp.) and Sphaeroceridae (Leptocera erythrocera) are the first sequenced members of these groups; and two species from Lauxaniidae (Homoneura sp.) and Syrphidae (Paragus quadrifasciatus) were newly sequenced. Together with the published mitogenomes, we included a total of 187 species representing 40 dipteran families to investigate the phylogeny of Brachycera. The results strongly supported Brachycera as a monophyletic group. The infra-orders Stratiomyomorpha, Tabanomorpha and Xylophagomorpha were retrieved as the earliest brachyceran lineages, but the clade (Stratiomyomorpha + (Xylophagomorpha + Tabanomorpha)) was not supported. In most analyses, Platypezoidea were recovered as the sister-group to Cyclorrhapha. Syrphoidea were non-monophyletic with respect to Pipunculus. Milichiidae were non-monophyletic because of Pachylophus. Sphaeroceroidea were, in most cases, placed as the sister-group to Ephydroidea. Within Calyptratae, Hippoboscoidea were sister to an assemblage of lineages composed of a muscoid grade and Oestroidea, the latter being monophyletic in the Bayesian analyses using the PhyloBayes site-heterogeneous mixture model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper systematically studied heat transfer through two transversely coupled qubits in contact with two types of heat reservoirs. One is the independent heat reservoir which essentially interacts with only a single qubit, the other is the common heat reservoir which is allowed to simultaneously interact with two qubits. Compared to independent heat reservoirs, common reservoirs always suppress heat current in most cases. However, the common environment could enhance heat current, if the dissipation rate corresponding to the higher eigenfrequency is significantly higher than that corresponding to the lower eigenfrequency. In particular, in the case of resonant coupling of two qubits and the proper dissipations, the steady state can be decomposed into a stationary dark state which does not evolve and contributes zero heat current, and a residual steady state which corresponds to the maximal heat current. This dark state enables us to control steady-state heat current with an external control field and design a thermal modulator. In addition, we find that inverse heat currents could be present in the dissipative subchannels between the system and reservoirs, which interprets the suppression roles of common heat reservoirs. We also calculate the concurrence of assistance (COA) of the system and find that heat current and COA have the same trend with temperature, which further indicates that entanglement can be regarded as a resource to regulate heat transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A distributed model predictive control method is used to transform the formation and maintenance problem of fixed-wing UAV formation during flight into an online rolling optimization problem to solve in this paper. Firstly, the state estimation model of the neighborhood UAV is established according to the relative information of the UAV. Secondly, the error state model in the three-dimensional inertial coordinate frame of the UAV is established without considering the time delay, sensor error, and external interference. Thirdly, a cost function is designed by introducing the error state of the UAV in the neighborhood. Finally, four UAVs are used to verify that under the action of the controller, the UAVs can quickly form and maintain the desired formation while tracking the reference line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Permafrost and alpine vegetation are widely distributed in Tibet, which is a sensitive area for global climate change. In this study, we inverted the surface deformation from 22 May 2018 to 9 October 2021 in a rectangular area within the city of Linzhi, Tibet, using the Sentinel1-A data and two time-series interferometric system aperture radar (InSAR) techniques. Then, the significant features of surface deformation were analyzed separately according to different vegetation types. Finally, multiple machine learning methods were used to predict future surface deformation, and the results were compared to obtain the model with the highest prediction accuracy. This study aims to provide a scientific reference and decision basis for global ecological security and sustainable development. The results showed that the surface deformation rate in the study area was basically between ±10 mm/a, and the cumulative surface deformation was basically between ±35 mm. The surface deformation of grassland, meadow, coniferous forest, and alpine vegetation were all significantly correlated with NDVI, and the effect of alpine vegetation, coniferous forest, and grassland on permafrost was stronger than that of the meadow. The prediction accuracy of the Holt–Winters model was higher than that of Holt′s model and the ARIMA model; it was expected that the ground surface would keep rising in the next two months, and the ground surface deformation of alpine vegetation and the coniferous forest was relatively small. The above studies indicated that the surface deformation in the Tibetan permafrost region was relatively stable under the conditions of alpine vegetation and coniferous forest. Future-related ecological construction needs to pay more attention to permafrost areas under grassland and meadow conditions, which are prone to surface deformation and affect the stability of ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuous extraction of mining resources has led to the destruction of landscape space, which has had a great impact on the human living environment and pristine ecosystems. Optimizing the ecological spatial networks of mining areas can restore and enhance the damaged ecological environment. However, there are few cases of ecological spatial network optimization in mining areas, and there are still some shortcomings. Therefore, in this study, we propose an ecological spatial network theory and a synergistic enhancement of ecological functions and carbon sink optimization model (SEEC) for urban restoration in mining areas, emphasizing the functional and carbon sink nature of ecological sources. We selected a typical mining area in Xuzhou City as the study area, explored the changes in the nature and function of the ecological spatial network from 2000 to 2020, and selected the ecological spatial network in the mining area of Xuzhou City in 2020 as the optimization study case, adding 27 ecological stepping stones and 72 ecological corridors. Through the comparison of robustness before and after optimization, we found that the optimized ecological spatial network has a stronger stability and ecological restoration ability. This study provides strategies and methods for ecological restoration projects in national mining cities and also provides references and lessons for ecological restoration in other mining areas in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Necrosis is a type of cell death characterized by plasma membrane rupture and the induction of inflammation. This review focuses on colorectal cancer and outlines the role of programmed necrosis in tumor development. Potential strategies for anti-tumor treatment via targeting programmed necrosis are also discussed. For quite a long time, necrosis was considered a chaotic and unorganized form of cell death. However, studies conducted during the past few decades unveiled multiple types of programmed necrosis, such as necroptosis, pyroptosis and ferroptosis. These types of programmed necrosis have been shown to play crucial roles in mediating pathological processes, including tumorigenesis. Almost all key mediators, such as RIPK3 and MLKL in necroptosis, GSDMD and caspase 1/11 in pyroptosis and GPX4 in ferroptosis, are highly expressed in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). An aberrant increase or decrease in programmed necrosis in IECs has been connected to intestinal disorders. Here, we review the pathways of programmed necrosis and the specific consequences of regulated necrosis in colorectal cancer (CRC) development. Translational aspects of programmed necrosis induction as a novel therapeutic alternative against CRC are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, 20 Cu-20 Ni-54 NiFe2O4-6 NiO (wt%) cermets were prepared via the powder metallurgy process, and the electrolytic corrosion behavior of the cermets at 880 °C and 960 °C was studied through the microstructure analysis by SEM and EDS. Results show that the ceramic phase is seriously affected by chemical corrosion at 880 °C electrolysis, and it is difficult to form a dense ceramic surface layer. A dense ceramic surface layer is formed on the bottom of the anode electrolyzed at 960 °C, and the dense layer thickens with the extension of the electrolysis time. The formation of the dense surface layer is mainly caused by the oxidation of Ni. The oxidation rate of the metallic phase and the corrosion rate of the ceramic phase have an important effect on the formation of the dense layer. In the corrosion process of NiFe2O4 phase, preferential corrosion of Fe element occurs first, and then NiO phase is precipitated from NiFe2O4 phase. After the NiO is dissolved and corroded, the NiFe2O4 grains collapse and the ceramic phase peels off from the anode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aerial images are often applied into disaster area surveillance. High-resolution (HR) aerial images are preferred to monitor the disaster area since they can provide abundant information. However, limited by hardware device and imaging environment, the resolution of captured aerial images may not meet the needs of practical application. Image super-resolution (SR) is an effective way to improve the resolution of captured images in a post-processing manner. Recently, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have demonstrated great success in image SR. However, these CNN models cannot be easily applied to real-world scenarios due to requiring huge storage and computational resources. To reduce resource consumption, we need to decrease network parameters. Recursive network can effectively reduce network parameters, which motivates us to explore a more effective image SR method. In this paper, we proposed a deep recursive dense network (DRDN) to reconstruct HR aerial images. In the DRDN, the proposed recursive dense block (RDB) can fully extract abundant local features and adaptively fuse different hierarchical features of LR image for HR image reconstruction. In addition, the recursive manner of RDB in DRDN can effectively reduce the parameter of network. The experimental results on aerial images demonstrate the superiority of our proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Household garbage rooms release abundant bioaerosols and are an important source of pathogens; however, information on the distribution and survival patterns of pathogens in different waste components is limited. In this study, a culture method and 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing were used to determine bacterial communities, culturable pathogens, and human bacterial pathogens (HBPs). The results showed that abundant culturable bacteria were detected in all waste types, and a large number of S. aureus was detected on the surface of recyclable wastes, whereas S. aureus , total coliforms, Salmonella , Enterococcus , and hemolytic bacteria were detected in food waste and other waste. The activities of these detected pathogenic bacteria decreased after 24 h of storage but re-activated within one week. Factors affecting the emergence of pathogens varied with different waste components. Sequencing results showed that Pseudomonas , Acinetobacter, and Burkholderia were abundant in the waste samples, whereas Achromobacter , Exiguobacteriums, Bordetella , and Corynebacterium were the primary pathogens in the bioaerosol and wall attachment. The results of traceability analysis showed that bioaerosol microbes were mainly derived from raw kitchen waste (5.98%) and plastic and paper contaminated with food waste (19.93%) in garbage rooms. In addition, bioaerosols were the main source of microflora in the wall attachment, which possessed high HBP diversity and required more attention. These findings will help in understanding the microbial hazards in different waste components and provide guidance for the control and risk reduction of bioaerosols during waste management and recycling. [Display omitted] • Abundant Staphylococcus aureus were detected on the surface of recyclable wastes. • Diverse pathogenic bacteria were detected in food wastes and other wastes. • The activities of pathogens decreased after 24 h but re-activated within one week. • Abundant and diverse human bacterial pathogens were detected in the wall attachment. • Raw kitchen waste and contaminated plastic and paper were main sources of bioaerosol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Hierarchical siliceous MFI zeolite was obtained by Al3+-assisted alkali-treatment route. • Inorganic B3+ and Al3+ directed the construction of suitable hierarchical structure. • Acid washing process preserved intrinsic micropores and enhanced VOC diffusion. • BHZ-AT2-AW2 showed high adsorption capacities for VOCs with different molecular sizes. • Construction of new silanol groups was found to contribute to the ethanol adsorption. Efficient removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with different molecular sizes over a single zeolite remains a great challenge, especially under humid conditions. Here, we introduced an innovative base leaching strategy to construct hierarchical pores within high-silica MFI zeolite on premise of maintaining a similar high micropore volume. The key points were the introduction of Al3+ and B3+ as pore directing agents into the base solution and meticulous regulation of the acid washing process. Because of the introduction of mesopores, the adsorption capacities for m-xylene increased by 16.1 times compared to that on conventional MFI adsorbent. Meanwhile, it exhibited comparable adsorption capacities for smaller VOCs, including dichloromethane and toluene. The adsorption capacities for ethanol showed a notable increase, accompanied by a decrease in the desorption temperature. This was attributed to the generation of additional silanol adsorption sites, as confirmed by 1H MAS NMR and in situ FT-IR spectra. Moreover, the optimal adsorbent presented good regeneration performance throughout the four dynamic adsorption–desorption cycling tests for all VOCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]