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Purpose: To investigate the differences in surgical results and the objective and subjective quality of vision (QoV) of patients after small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) versus alcohol-assisted photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Methods: Medical records of patients treated with SMILE and PRK were retrospectively examined. Visual quality, biometric parameters, Strehl ratio (SR), and corneal higher-order aberrations (HOAs) within a 6.0 mm area were recorded. The effective optical zone (EOZ) and decentration were measured using a tangential pre-post operation difference map. Subjective QoV and operation satisfaction were evaluated 6 months postoperatively using the Quality of Vision questionnaire. Results: The study comprised 100 eyes treated with SMILE (preoperative mean spherical equivalent (SE), − 4.52 ± 0.81 dioptres (D)) and 69 eyes with PRK (mean SE, − 4.21 ± 1.25 D). Six months postoperatively, the EOZ reduction was significantly larger in the PRK group (P < 0.001). Decentrations were comparable between the groups. Regarding visual symptoms, monocular diplopia was more common following PRK (P = 0.02), and 98 (98.00%) SMILE-treated and 67 (97.10%) PRK-treated patients were satisfied with the QoV. Both groups demonstrated significant increases in total HOAs, coma, and spherical aberration (SA) at 6 months postoperatively compared to preoperatively (P < 0.001); these values were significantly higher in the PRK (P < 0.05) compared to the SMILE group. SR increased significantly only in the PRK group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Although EOZ was more consistent with anticipated treatment and HOAs were fewer in SMILE, high patient-reported satisfaction and good corneal optical quality were achieved in both groups, indicating that both SMILE and alcohol-assisted PRK are excellent options for mild to moderate myopia correction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical properties are essential for polyester materials due to their widespread applications as fibers, films, and engineering accessories. The copolymerization strategy has been developed to enhance polyester properties, but facile-synthesized new materials are still under discovery. In this work, we designed a series of terminal functioned polyesters, for introducing plasticization effects and π-π stacking interactions. The fabrication process can be one-pot achieved via melting polycondensation method. The prepared modified polyesters exhibit significantly improved elongation of break (560%), which is 104% improved compared with pristine poly(ethylene terephthalate). Meanwhile, the maximum toughness reaches 206.1 MJ/m3. The thermal properties, viscoelastic properties, crystallinity properties, and fracture morphologies of the as-prepared polyesters are investigated as well. Results show that great elongation of break, higher crystallinity, and good processability are achieved simultaneously. This work provides a one-pot fabricated terminal functioned polyester with advanced tensile properties, expanding its potential application as engineering materials. [Display omitted] • Polyester has been reinforced after furoic acid modification, resulting in advanced comprehensive tensile properties. • The preparation is one-pot achieved by the green method of bulk polymerization. • The reinforcement principles of plasticization effects and π-π stacking interactions are studied in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The practical applications of superhydrophobic coatings are limited by their tedious preparation processes and unsatisfactory durability in service environments. This study investigated the mechanical performance of a modification-free Ni-graphene superhydrophobic coating synthesized on mild steel via one-step electrodeposition at a thickness of 7.5 µm. A sandpaper abrasion test and scanning electron microscopy were conducted to verify the mechanical stability of the coating. As the coating possessed dual-roughness structures and the top of the micro-scaled hills exhibited a "sacrificial effect" to maintain the lower part of the hierarchical structure, the water contact angle of the Ni-graphene superhydrophobic coating was maintained above 120° after 1000 cm abrasion on a 400-mesh silicon carbide abrasive paper surface under a pressure of 1.63 kPa. Molecular dynamics simulation of nano-indentation and nano-scratching was conducted to capture the mechanical response dynamically and correlate the atomic structure and macroscopic performance. Through the multi-scaled studies, the mechanical stability of the Ni-graphene superhydrophobic coating was determined by the self-lubricating character of graphene, properties of the coating matrix, and dual-level fractal surface structure. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hot halo gas distribution in the inner Milky Way (MW) contains key fossil records of the past energetic feedback processes in the galactic center. Here, we adopt a variety of spherical and disk-like MW halo gas models as initial conditions in a series of simulations to investigate the formation of the Fermi bubbles in the jet-shock scenario. The simulation results are compared directly with relevant X-ray and gamma-ray observations of the Fermi bubbles to constrain the halo gas distribution in the inner Galaxy before the Fermi bubble event. Our best-fit gas density distribution can be described by a power law in radius ne(r) = 0.01(r/1 kpc)−1.5 cm−3. Our study cannot determine if there is an inner density core, which if exists, should be very small with size rc ≲ 0.5 kpc. When extrapolating to large radii r ∼ 50–90 kpc, our derived density distribution lies appreciably below the recently estimated gas densities from ram pressure stripping calculations, suggesting that the halo gas density profile either flattens out or has one or more discontinuities within 10 ≲ r ≲ 50 kpc. Some of these discontinuities may be related to the eROSITA bubbles, and our derived gas density profile may correspond to the hot gas distribution in the inner eROSITA bubbles about 5 Myr ago. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fermi bubbles are two giant bubbles in gamma-rays lying above and below the Galactic Center (GC). Despite numerous studies on the bubbles, their origin and emission mechanism remain elusive. Here we use a suite of hydrodynamic simulations to study the scenario where the cosmic rays (CRs) in the bubbles are mainly accelerated at the forward shocks driven by a pair of opposing jets from Sgr A*. We find that an active galactic nucleus (AGN) jet event that happened 5–6 Myr ago can naturally reproduce the bilobular morphology of the bubbles, and the postshock gas temperature in the bubbles is heated to ∼0.4 keV, consistent with recent X-ray observations. The forward shocks compress the hot halo gas, and at low latitudes, the compressed gas shows an X-shaped structure, naturally explaining the biconical X-ray structure in the ROSAT 1.5 keV map in both morphology and X-ray surface brightness. CR acceleration is most efficient in the head regions of the bubbles during the first 2 Myr. The opposing jets release a total energy of ∼1055 erg with an Eddington ratio of ∼10−3, which falls well in the range of the hot accretion flow mode for black holes. Our simulations further show that the forward shocks driven by spherical winds at the GC typically produce bubbles with much wider bases than observed and could not reproduce the biconical X-ray structure at low latitudes. This suggests that starburst or AGN winds are unlikely the origin of the bubbles in the shock scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Proposed a method to calibrate contact parameters of agricultural particle mixtures. • The contact parameters between tiger nut tubers, stems and soil were calibrated. • RSM was used to analyze the effects of contact parameters on response indicators. • The accuracy of the calibrated parameters was verified by self-flow sieving tests. The lack of calibration methods for the contact parameters of agricultural particle mixtures limits the numerical simulation optimization of agricultural equipment. In this study, a novel method for calibrating contact parameters in agricultural particle mixtures inspired by the Brazil nut effect was proposed. The effectiveness of the proposed method was evaluated using a case study of a tiger nut tuber-stem-soil mixture. The intrinsic and contact parameters of monomaterials were first determined by conventional tests to provide data for vibration simulation tests. Vibration segregation tests were then performed on binary mixtures. The determination coefficient R 2 between the physical and simulation data of the target particle volume concentration in the mixture was used as a response indicator. The second-order response surface regression model between the contact parameters and R 2 was fitted by response surface methodology (RSM). The significance of the effect of the contact parameters on the indicator was quantified, and the optimal values of each parameter were determined. Finally, the applicability and accuracy of the calibrated parameters were verified using the self-flow sieving test. The results showed that the distribution of the mixture on the sieving surface and in the receiving box obtained from the calibrated test best matched the physical test results; at this time, the maximum relative errors of the physical and simulated values of the mass percentages of the tuber, stem and soil in the bin were 8.2%, 7.6%, and 6.5%, respectively, indicating that the calibrated parameters have good applicability and accuracy. The calibration test method can guide the calibration of contact parameters for other agricultural particle mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel superhydrophobic Ni-graphene coating was synthesized by one-step electrodeposition without low surface energy modification. The two-dimensional and three-dimensional morphology were investigated by scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscope, and confocal profilometry. Combining fractal theory and power spectral density analysis, the structural characteristics of the coating surface were quantified by key surface parameters. By building the numerical relationship between surface structure and wetting property, the coating-water contact mode was identified according to the measured contact angle and fractal contact angles calculated from Cassie and Wenzel theories. Additionally, the optimized deposition parameters and the role of graphene on the coating structure were also pinpointed. The results show that the Ni-graphene coating deposited at graphene oxide concentration of 0.20 g·L−1 and deposition current density of 40 mA·cm−2 exhibited dual-level fractal structure in micro- and nano-scales. The Ni-graphene superhydrophobic coating possessed a water contact angle of 156.1° ± 0.6°, a sliding angle of 6.2° ± 0.8°, as well as self-cleaning characteristics, and the wetting system was confirmed to follow the Cassie contact mode. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review discusses the recent progress in graphene-based anti-corrosion coatings with emphasis on the shared and distinct protection mechanisms in different coating systems. [Display omitted] • The anti-corrosion mechanisms of graphene-related coatings are overviewed. • The shared and distinct role of graphene in various coating systems are summarized. • Future research directions for graphene-based anti-corrosion coatings are proposed. Graphene has attracted considerable attention as anti-corrosion material due to its peculiar two-dimensional nanostructure and superior physicochemical properties. Graphene nanosheets can be independently or concertedly applied as the barriers against metal corrosion in the form of thin films, layered structures, or composites. Numerous attempts have been made to establish the correlation between the nanoscale structure and macroscale performance of graphene. In that regard, experimental and computational methods, such as quantum chemistry and molecular simulation, allow one to gain insight into the anti-corrosion mechanisms of graphene-related coatings. This review summarizes up-to-date knowledge about pure graphene and graphene-based composite coatings, including cathodic protection and self-healing coatings. Particular attention is paid to the structure–property relationship and anti-corrosion mechanisms in these systems. Finally, the shared and distinct role of graphene in various coatings and their prospects for future research are discussed as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curcuma wenyujin (C. wenyujin) is a medicinal plant that is traditionally used to treat blood stagnation, liver fibrosis, pain, and jaundice. In this study, we examined the effect of C. wenyujin rhizome extract on hepatic lipid accumulation both in vivo and in vitro. We found that the petroleum ether fraction of C. wenyujin rhizome extract (CWP) considerably reduced the accumulation of lipids in HepG2 cells treated with oleic and palmitic acid. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometry was used to analyze the main chemical constituents of CWP, and 21 sesquiterpenes were identified. In vivo experiments revealed that the administration of CWP significantly reduced the body weight and serum total cholesterol (TC) level of low-density-lipoprotein receptor knockout mice treated with a high-fat diet without affecting their food intake. CWP also significantly reduced the levels of liver TC, liver triglycerides, aspartate transaminase, and alanine transaminase. Histological examination revealed that CWP dose-dependently reduced steatosis in liver tissue, significantly downregulated the expression of lipogenesis genes, and increased the β-oxidation of fatty acids. CWP also significantly increased autophagy-related proteins. In conclusion, CWP rich in sesquiterpenes reduces the accumulation of lipids in vivo and in vitro by improving lipid metabolism and activating autophagy. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functionally graded Ni-graphene coatings with both graphene content and grain size increasing in the thickness direction are electrodeposited by altering the duty cycle in a one-pot plating bath. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) are used to investigate the microstructure and element content. The prepared coatings are tested in synthetic seawater, CO 2 -structured synthetic seawater, and a simulated condition of gathering pipelines (temperature: 40 °C, partial pressure of CO 2 : 2 MPa, flow rate: 0.5 m/s). The corrosion resistances of the coatings are studied using potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and surface observations. These results demonstrate the excellent corrosion resistance of functionally graded Ni-graphene coatings, which potentially provides a promising pathway to mitigate the corrosion problems in the oil and gas industry. Image 1 • A novel functionally graded Ni-graphene coating is prepared. • Both graphene content and grain size increase in the thickness direction. • The FG Ni-Gr coating provides excellent corrosion inhibition for mild steel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamic compaction of rockfill is simulated by the material point method, and the compaction mechanism as well as the factors that influence the compaction efficiency are investigated. The rigid-flexible contact algorithm is further developed to simulate the dynamic contact of the hammer with soil. A density-dependent soil constitutive model for coarse grained soil is proposed, which is applicable for the analysis of soil subjected to high stress, as that under dynamic compaction. The simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental data from the construction site of the Chinese Chengde Airport. A new concept, the "effective energy ratio", defined as the ratio of the plastic strain energy absorbed by volumetric compression deformation to the total tamping energy, is introduced to measure the effective proportion of the energy applied, which induces actual compaction of soil, and the influence factors on the effective energy ratio are studied. Especially, a comprehensive comparison is made between a low drop of a heavy hammer and a high drop of a light hammer. Moreover, an approximate formula for the effective improvement range of dynamic compaction is established, and an appropriate tamping point spacing is suggested through simulations of multipoint tamping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Three novel highly active phthalimide based ionic liquids are synthesized. • 98.7 % yield is achieved under the atmospheric CO 2 pressure and 30 °C. • Contributions of each active components are analyzed by DFT calculations. • Inert cation and moderate basicity of ionic liquid are crucial items. The carboxylative coupling of carbon dioxide (CO 2) with propargyl alcohols is an important pathway to accomplish the reusability of CO 2. Moreover, the α-methylene cyclic carbonates are the critical intermediate to generate the fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals. However, the robust catalyst is still limited to perform this reaction under the mild conditions, especially to obtain the equilibrium among several reaction conditions including reaction time, reaction temperature, and catalyst amount. The novel ionic liquid, [Pth][BTMA], is synthesized in this work to be catalyst for the title reaction along with AgOAc as the co-catalyst. To explore the influence of cation, anion, and Ag salt, other four ionic liquids are utilized to catalyze the reaction along with five different Ag salts. Under the atmospheric pressure and 30 °C, the 98.7 % product yield is achieved by [Pth][BTMA]/AgOAc within 9 h, which are better than most of catalysts in literature. More important, the role of cation and anion in the catalysis is elucidated by the 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Both the moderate basicity and inert cation of [Pth][BTMA] contribute the excellent catalytic activity. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in social interactions and communication and stereotypical patterns of behaviors, interests, or activities. Even with the increased prevalence of ASD, there is no defined standard drug treatment for ASD patients. Currently, stem cells, including human amniotic epithelial cell (hAEC) transplantation, seem to be a promising treatment for ASD, but the effectiveness needs to be verified, and the mechanism has not been clarified. Methods: We intraventricularly transplanted hAECs into a 2-month-old BTBR T+tf/J (BTBR) mouse model of ASD. Behavior tests were detected 1 month later; hippocampal neurogenesis, neuroprogenitor cell (NPC) pool, and microglia activation were analyzed with immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence; the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and TrkB in the hippocampus were determined by real-time PCR or western blotting. Results: After intraventricular injection of hAECs into adult males, social deficits in BTBR mice were significantly ameliorated. In addition, hAEC transplantation restored the decline of neurogenesis and NPCs in the hippocampus of BTBR mice by expanding the stem cell pool, and the decreased levels of BDNF and TrkB were also rescued in the hippocampus of the hAEC-injected BTBR mice. Meanwhile, the transplantation of hAECs did not induce microglial overactivation or excessive production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the hippocampus of BTBR mice. Conclusions: Based on these results, we found that hAEC transplantation ameliorated social deficits and promoted hippocampal neurogenesis in BTBR mice. Our study indicates a promising therapeutic option that could be applied to ASD patients in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Application of graphene coatings to metal anti-corrosion is reviewed. • Corrosion resistance and existing problems of pure graphene coating are presented. • Physical and chemical dispersion methods of graphene are introduced. • Anti-corrosion mechanism of graphene composite coatings is summarized. • Future development directions for graphene anti-corrosive coatings are proposed. Graphene has attracted significant attention for applications in many industrial fields due to its excellent anti-corrosion properties, and a series of satisfactory results have been achieved. In recent years, the scope of research into graphene-based anti-corrosive applications has been extremely diversified and encompasses two aspects: pure graphene coatings and graphene composite coatings. In this study, the application of graphene coatings to metal anti-corrosion is comprehensively reviewed. First, the preparation methods for graphene and pure graphene coatings are described in detail. Second, the corrosion resistance, existing problems, and optimizations of pure graphene coating are presented. Third, methods for improving the dispersibility of graphene, such as chemical modification and surface decoration nanoparticles, are introduced. Next, the corrosion resistance, anti-corrosion mechanism, existing problems, and optimization measures of graphene composite coatings are summarized. Finally, future development directions for graphene anti-corrosive coatings are proposed, and their viability in near-future applications is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Resveratrol (RSV) has been indicated to exhibit beneficial effects on depression and anxiety treatment by suppression of inflammatory processes. Depression triggered by deficiency of estrogen and anxiety-like behaviors are associated with inflammation. The role of RSV in ovariectomized mice is unclear. Objectives: We examine whether the RSV, a Sirt1 activator, alleviates ovariectomy-induced anxiety- and depression-like behaviors through the inhibition of inflammatory processes. Methods: Female C57BL/6J mice (6–8 weeks of age, 17–20 g) were ovariectomized and treated with RSV at a dose of 20 mg/kg for 2 weeks. Depression- and anxiety-like behaviors were compared with vehicle-injected control animals. Immunohistochemistry and qPCR were used to detect inflammation in the hippocampal region. Results: Ovariectomized mice were observed to suffer from anxiety- and depression-like behaviors. These effects were attenuated by treatment with RSV. Immunohistochemical staining results showed that RSV could reverse the increase of microglial activation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. At a molecular level, RSV inhibited the activation of NLRP3 and NF-κB in the hippocampal region caused by deficiency of estrogen. Conclusions: RSV suppressed the production of inflammatory cytokines by enhancing Sirt1 levels. Our findings indicated that RSV-induced Sirt1 activation counteracted estrogen deficiency-induced psychobehavioral changes via inhibition of inflammatory processes in the hippocampus. In anxiety and depression disorders, RSV is supposed to be an effective treatment for postmenopausal changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relevant studies have shown that gut microbiome plays an important role in the occurrence, development and treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). Many studies have also shown that, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) antidepressants can improve the symptoms of depression by changing the distribution of gut microbiome, Here we investigated whether a distinct gut microbiome was associated with Major depressive disorder (MDD), and how it was modulated by SSRIs antidepressants. In this study, we analyzed the gut microbiome composition of 62 patients with first-episode MDD and 41 matched healthy controls, before SSRIs antidepressants treatment, using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. MDD patients characterized as treatment-resistant (TR) or responders (R) to antidepressants by score reduction rate were ≥50 % after SSRIs antidepressants treatment for eight weeks. LDA effect size (LEfSe) analysis found that there were 50 different bacterial groups among the three groups, of which 19 genera were mainly at the genus level. The relative abundance of 12 genera increased in the HCs group, 5 genera in the R group increased in relative abundance, and 2 genera in the TR group increased in relative abundance. The correlation analysis of 19 bacterial genera and the score reduction rate showed that Blautia, Bifidobacterium and Coprococcus with higher relative abundance in the treatment effective group were related to the efficacy of SSRIs antidepressants. Patients with MDD have a distinct gut microbiome that changes after SSRIs antidepressants treatment. Dysbiosis could be a new therapeutic target and prognostic tool for the treatment of patients with MDD. • The difference of gut microbiota composition among individuals may affect the efficacy of SSRIs antidepressants. • Compared with R group, TR group and HCs group had more similar intestinal flora distribution. • Gut microbiota have the potential to predict the efficacy of SSRIs antidepressants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tubular segmented-in-series solid oxide fuel cells (SIS–SOFCs) have the advantages of good thermal shock resistance, mechanical strength, and easy sealing because of their tubular structures, and they gain a high operating voltage due to their series configuration. Previous studies have mainly focused on the optimization of a single cell segment while ignoring the flow and heat transfer between series cells. In this study, a 20-cell in-series SOFC model is developed by coupling the electrochemical reactions and mass, momentum, and heat transfer processes. The temperature and composition have a striped distribution because of the noncontinuous electrochemical reaction area. The discontinuity of the heat generation and the intrinsic limit of the access air cooling lead to temperature nonuniformity, while the uneven temperature and component consumption result in the nonuniform voltage of each series cell. For the problems of nonuniform temperature and voltage distributions in the SIS–SOFC, two effective solutions are proposed and evaluated. By introducing a heat pipe as a fuel inlet tube and increasing the length of the downstream cell in turn, the temperature difference is reduced from 111 K to 25 K, and the voltage difference is decreased from 120 mV to 7 mV at an operating current of 3 A. • A 2D muti-physics model of a 20-cell segmented-in-series SOFC is developed. • The structure causes striped distributions of the temperature and concentration. • The voltage uniformity is influenced by the temperature and concentration. • Using a heat pipe and varying the electrode length greatly improve the uniformity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore exercise adherence and compliance as well as its related factors among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) to provide a basis for clinical intervention strategies. Patients and Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional study of 205 elderly patients with T2DM who regularly visited a Shanghai community health center from August 2020 to July 2021. Exercise adherence and compliance was measured using an exercise adherence and compliance questionnaire, and potential correlates were explored using multiple linear regression analysis. Results: The mean total score of the exercise adherence and compliance questionnaire was 16.72± 5.08. The stepwise regression results revealed that exercise adherence and compliance was positively correlated with self-monitoring (F=3.510, P=0.005), exercise knowledge (r=0.784, P< 0.001), exercise willingness (r=0.556, P< 0.001), professional support (r=0.426, P< 0.001), and self-efficiency (r=0.5, P< 0.001). There was a negative correlation between hypoglycemia and exercise adherence and compliance (F=− 3.672, P< 0.001). Conclusion: Low exercise adherence and compliance was related to low glucose self-monitoring frequency, increased hypoglycemia, less exercise knowledge, less exercise willingness, less professional support, and less self-efficiency. When developing exercise instructions adapted to the cognitive and volitional needs of diabetic patients, it is essential to focus on their daily self-management habits and extrinsic motivation to improve exercise adherence and compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tidal disruption events (TDEs) occurring in active galactic nuclei (AGNs) are a special class of sources with outstanding scientific significance. TDEs can generate ultrafast winds, which should almost inevitably collide with the preexisting AGN dusty tori. We perform analytical calculations and simulations on the wind–torus interactions and find such a process can generate considerable X-ray afterglow radiation several years or decades later after the TDE outburst. This provides a new origin for the years delayed X-rays in TDEs. The X-ray luminosity can reach 1041−42 erg s−1, and the light curve characteristics depend on the parameters of winds and tori. We apply the model to two TDE candidates, and provide lower limits on the masses of the disrupted stars, as well as rigorous constraints on the gas densities of tori. Our results suggest that the observations of the time delay, spectral shape, luminosity, and the light curve of the X-ray afterglow can be used to constrain the physical parameters of both TDE winds and tori, including the wind velocity, wind density, cloud density, and cloud size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the rear-end early warning methods of connected automated vehicles (CAVs) is useful for issuing early warnings and reducing traffic accidents. Establishing a corresponding driving model according to CAV characteristics is necessary when designing intelligent decision and control systems, especially for the safety speed threshold. However, since traffic systems are stochastic, there are random factors that influence car-following behavior. Therefore, this study proposes a rear-end collision warning method for CAVs based on a stochastic local multivehicle optimal speed (SLMOV) car-following model. First, the SLMOV model is proposed to characterize the car-following behavior of CAVs. Simultaneously, a stability analysis and parameter estimation method are discussed. Second, the safety distance between the CAVs changes with time because the speed of the rear vehicles satisfies the SLMOV model, which is used to calculate the safety probability of rear-end CAV collisions through an analysis of the driving process. The speed threshold is assessed by controlling the rear-end collision probability. Third, next-generation simulation (NGSIM) data are used in an empirical analysis of a rear-end collision warning method on the basis of a parameter estimation of the SLMOV model. The results present the speed thresholds of vehicles under different braking deceleration levels. Finally, the merits and demerits of fixed-speed and variable-speed adjustment time intervals are compared by considering driving safety and comfort as evaluation indexes. A reasonable CAV adjustment time interval of 0.4 s is determined. This result can be used to help develop a vehicle loading rear-end collision warning system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to investigate the impact of energy transfer on the evolution of contact binaries. Horizontal turbulence is triggered by the differential rotation induced by meridional circulation, which is a direct consequence of nonuniform heating at the inner critical Roche lobes because of strong rotational and tidal distortions. Thermal energy is transferred by the horizontal turbulence from the more massive star to the less massive one, and horizontal turbulence can be responsible for the redistribution of what is a significant fraction of the total core luminosity. The secondary becomes overluminous and oversized owing to energy transfer from the companion star, whereas the primary shifts toward smaller luminosity and is undersized. The convective regions for primaries are enlarged by the improved radiative temperature gradient. The main region for energy transport is located at the bottom of the common envelope because of a higher local density and enthalpy difference. One can find that thermal structure can be disturbed and display periodic thermal relaxation oscillations between the semidetached stage and the contact stage. W-type W UMa contact binaries acquire efficient energy transfer, which can cause the temperature of secondaries to exceed that of the primaries. However, angular momentum loss owing to nonconservative mass transfer can make the system maintain shallow contact and not evolve from overcontact to semidetached configurations, and the system may appear as an A-type W UMa contact binary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: This prospective, randomized, controlled study aimed to evaluate the effects of flaxseed supplementation on functional constipation and quality of life in adult men and women in China.Methods and Study Design: 90 subjects with functional constipation diagnosed by the Rome IV criteria were enrolled. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive either 50 g/day flaxseed flour with meals (n=60) or 15 mL/day of a lactulose solution on an empty stomach (n=30) every morning for 4 weeks. Wexner constipation scores, stool consistency according to the Bristol Stool Form Scale, and bowel habits (frequency of bowel movements/week, the time spent on defecation) were the primary outcomes. The change in Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life score was the secondary outcome.Results: After 4 weeks, the bowel habits in both groups were significantly improved. The median Wexner constipation score decreased from 14 to 6.5 in the flaxseed group (p<0.001) and from 15 to 9 in the lactulose group (p<0.001). The median defecation frequency per week increased significantly (2 to 7 for flaxseed and 2 to 6 for lactulose, p<0.001 for both groups). The Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life score decreased significantly (-1.34 and -0.66 for flaxseed and lactulose, respectively; p<0.001 for both groups).Conclusions: Flaxseed flour is somewhat more effective at increasing defecation frequency than lactulose, improving bowel movements and promoting life quality of subjects with chronic functional constipation in the Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrogenation of nitrogen‐containing heterocyclic precursors in aqueous medium is quite challenging, especially at low temperature and without imposing molecular hydrogen pressure. In the light of the edges of metal nanoparticles (NPs) possess high selective activity, but most of the exposed metal surface does not. Hence, to influence the activity of the entire NPs surface, the use of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) to obtain the metal NPs encapsulated in the carbon tubes which has been applied frequently. Herein, we design and synthesize a series of metal catalysts encapsulated in N‐doped carbon nanotubes (NCT), which disperse on the hollow N‐doped carbon framework (HNC), via pyrolysis ZIF‐67, ZIF‐67@ZIF‐8, and ZIF‐8@ZIF‐67 step by step. The catalyst of Co@NCT/HNC shows outstanding activity of hydrogenation of quinoline under mild conditions, due to the synergistic effects between Co NPs, NCT and HNC, such as the NCT make the hydrogen reach the surface of the reactant rapidly, and the encapsulated structure can enormously prevent the metal aggregating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Erosion–corrosion is a serious problem in oil and gas gathering and transportation pipeline systems; specifically, the elbow is the weak part. Erosion–corrosion at different locations of a horizontal steel elbow through which a sand slurry was passed at different velocities was studied using weight loss measurement. Erosion samples were characterized using three-dimensional confocal microscopy and computational fluid dynamics was used to characterize the flow patterns and distribution of sand particles in the elbow. The erosion–corrosion rate increased most as the fluid velocity increased from 3.5 to 4.0 m/s. Increasing particle velocity increased the mechanical effects of the particles and induced secondary flow, leading to differing velocity contours in different cross-sections of the elbow, and thereby differing rates of erosion–corrosion. The maximum rate appeared in the outer part (annular angles φ=45, 90, and 135 degrees) and bottom of the inner part (annular angles φ=225, 270, and 315 degrees) of the elbow outlet with an axial angle between 75 and 90 degrees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Developed magnetic-aligned orderly distributed microcapsule coatings. • Achieved multifunction of defect sealing and corrosion inhibition. • Improved the anti-corrosion performance with high utilization efficiency of agents. This paper proposes a straightforward strategy to improve the anti-corrosion performance of coatings by developing a multifunctional self-healing coating with orderly distributed microcapsules (ODM). Linseed oil (LO) and magnetic benzotriazole (BTA) were incorporated in the ODM to act as defect sealer and corrosion inhibitor, respectively. With the application of an external magnetic field, the magnetic BTA microcapsules readily migrated in the liquid-state coating matrix and aligned at the coating/metal interface. The LO microcapsules were then concentrated on the upper portion of the coating by push-out and floating effects. When the content of microcapsules was higher than 15 wt%, the scratches with 300 μm in depth can be completely sealed. As indicated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results, the coating with 15 wt%-ODM showed the best anti-corrosion performance that its low frequency impedance and charge transfer resistance was the highest after exposure in a highly corrosive environment for 48 h. Raman tests confirmed that sufficient amount of BTA inhibitor released by ODM favored the formation of a complete and robust passive film on the metal surface and improved the corrosion resistance of the coating. A long-term protection for the metal substrate can be provided by the released LO healing agent, as suggested by the high scratch sealing efficiency for the 15 wt% ODM coating. This magnetic-aligned orderly distribution approach has potential in designing and application of new generation self-healing coating with both high healing efficiency and low cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethanol (EtOH) exposure during a period comparable to the third trimester in human results in obvious neurotoxicity in the developing hippocampus and persistent deficits in hippocampal neurogenesis. Dexmedetomidine (DEX), a highly selective α-2-adrenergic agonist has been demonstrated to restore the impaired neurogenesis and neuronal plasticity in the dentate gyrus (DG) that follows neurological insult. However, the protective roles of DEX in the EtOH-induced deficits of postnatal neurogenesis in the hippocampus are still unknown. Mice were pretreated with DEX prior to EtOH exposure to determine its protective effects on impaired postnatal hippocampal neurogenesis. Six-day-old neonatal mice were treated with DEX (125 μg/kg) or saline, followed by EtOH at a total of 5 g/kg or an equivalent volume of saline on P7. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were used to evaluate the neurogenesis and activated microglia in the DG. Quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) was utilized to assess the expression of inflammatory factors in the hippocampus. DEX pretreatment attenuated the inhibition of EtOH-mediated hippocampal neurogenesis and the reduction of hippocampal neural precursor cells (NPCs). We further confirmed that DEX pretreatment reversed the EtOH-induced microglia activation in the DG as well as the upregulation of the hippocampal TNFα, MCP-1, IL-6, and IL-1β mRNA levels. Our findings indicate that DEX pretreatment protects against EtOH-mediated inhibition of hippocampal neurogenesis in postnatal mice and reverses EtOH-induced neuroinflammation via repressing microglia activation and the expression of inflammatory cytokines. • DEX reverses the EtOH-induced microglia activation in the dentate gyrus. • DEX restores the up-regulated hippocampal inflammatory factors level. • DEX attenuates the reduction of hippocampal neural precursor cells. • DEX attenuates the inhibition of EtOH-mediated hippocampal neurogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]