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This paper explores direct density modulation of high-current electron beam emission from an RF cold cathode using optical excitation. We theoretically study the photo-assisted field emission of periodically bunched electron beams of various pulse shapes under the combined excitation of an RF field and an optical field, using an exact quantum model. Both continuous-wave (CW) and pulsed optical fields are considered. The emission current pulse amplitude, pulse width, electron number density per pulse, as well as pulse shape and its harmonic contents are investigated in detail. For CW photon sources in the UV to NIR range (i.e., 200–1200 nm), increasing the optical intensity under an RF bias tends to change the current pulse from a Gaussian to sinusoidal-like shape, thus offering strong flexibility to control the frequency components in beam current emission. Pulsed photon sources combined with an RF field can produce sharp, high-current electron bunches with pulse duration comparable with or even less than that of the optical pulse. A contour map of the density modulation depth is constructed for different combinations of RF and laser fields. The results provide insight into unlocking new opportunities to achieve direct density modulation during electron current emission by optical means. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a theoretical analysis of the helical phase steering via a four-wave mixing (FWM) process in a closely cycled double-ladder atomic system. Our focus is to understand the contribution of the two-photon resonant process governed by a probe field and a driving laser in the control of the helical phase. The theoretical analysis allows us to understand the helical phase can be effectively steered when the two-photon resonant condition Δ = − δ is satisfied. Moreover, we investigate the superposition modes of the FWM field and a same-frequency Gaussian beam, which testify the two-photon resonant condition Δ = − δ plays an important role in the steering of the helical phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Purpose Methods Results Conclusions T2 and T2* mapping are crucial components of quantitative magnetic resonance imaging, offering valuable insights into tissue characteristics and pathology. Single‐shot methods can achieve ultrafast T2 or T2* mapping by acquiring multiple readout echo trains. However, the extended echo trains pose challenges, such as compromised image quality and diminished quantification accuracy.In this study, we develop a single‐shot method for ultrafast T2 and T2* mapping with reduced echo train length.The proposed method is based on ultrafast single‐shot spatiotemporally encoded (SPEN) MRI combined with reduced field of view (FOV) and spiral out‐in‐out‐in (OIOI) trajectory. Specifically, a biaxial SPEN excitation scheme was employed to excite the spin signal into the spatiotemporal encoding domain. The OIOI trajectory with high acquisition efficiency was employed to acquire signals within targeted reduced FOV. Through non‐Cartesian super‐resolved (SR) reconstruction, 12 aliasing‐free images with different echo times were obtained within 150 ms. These images were subsequently fitted to generate T2 or T2* mapping simultaneously using a derived model.Accurate and co‐registered T2 and T2* maps were generated, closely resembling the reference maps. Numerical simulations demonstrated substantial consistency (R2 > 0.99) with the ground truth values. A mean difference of 0.6% and 1.7% was observed in T2 and T2*, respectively, in in vivo rat brain experiments compared to the reference. Moreover, the proposed method successfully obtained T2 and T2* mappings of rat kidney in free‐breathing mode, demonstrating its superiority over multishot methods lacking respiratory navigation.The results suggest that the proposed method can achieve ultrafast and accurate T2 and T2* mapping, potentially facilitating the application of T2 and T2* mapping in scenarios requiring high temporal resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) represents a chronic and progressive pulmonary disorder distinguished by a notable mortality rate. Despite the elusive nature of the pathogenic mechanisms, several signaling pathways have been elucidated for their pivotal roles in the progression of this ailment. This manuscript aims to comprehensively review the existing literature on the signaling pathways linked to the pathogenesis of IPF, both within national and international contexts. The objective is to enhance the comprehension of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying IPF and offer a scholarly foundation for the advancement of more efficacious therapeutic strategies, thereby fostering research and clinical practices within this domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Low-frequency intrahost single-nucleotide variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been recognized as predictive indicators of selection. However, the impact of vaccination on the intrahost evolution of SARS-CoV-2 remains uncertain at present. Methods We investigated the genetic variation of SARS-CoV-2 in individuals who were unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or fully vaccinated during Shanghai's Omicron BA.2.2 wave. We substantiated the connection between particular amino acid substitutions and immune-mediated selection through a pseudovirus neutralization assay or by cross-verification with the human leukocyte antigen–associated T-cell epitopes. Results In contrast to those with immunologic naivety or partial vaccination, participants who were fully vaccinated had intrahost variant spectra characterized by reduced diversity. Nevertheless, the distribution of mutations in the fully vaccinated group was enriched in the spike protein. The distribution of intrahost single-nucleotide variants in individuals who were immunocompetent did not demonstrate notable signs of positive selection, in contrast to the observed adaptation in 2 participants who were immunocompromised who had an extended period of viral shedding. Conclusions In SARS-CoV-2 infections, vaccine-induced immunity was associated with decreased diversity of within-host variant spectra, with milder inflammatory pathophysiology. The enrichment of mutations in the spike protein gene indicates selection pressure exerted by vaccination on the evolution of SARS-CoV-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

β‐Galactosidases are crucial enzymes that hydrolyse oligosaccharides and polysaccharides with terminal β‐1,4‐glycosidic bonds. Though the traditional application of β‐Galactosidases has been to catalyse the breakdown of lactose in dairy products, its application extends beyond the production of lactose‐free products since variants capable of facilitating lactose condensation and exhibiting galactosyl transferase activity are extensively utilised for the synthesis of prebiotic galacto‐oligosaccharides. This review analyses β‐Galactosidase in multiple aspects, including sources, classification, characterisation, immobilisation, genetic engineering and applications in terms of whey treatment, biofuel production, production of lactose‐free dietary product, synthesis of galacto‐oligosaccharides and the early detection of cellular senescence and tumours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A one‐dimensional thaw consolidation model considering the density change from pore ice to pore water is established, and the model describes a special type of moving boundary problem with double moving boundaries. An analytical solution for the model under a time‐varying external load is developed using certain form of superposition principle and the similarity type of general solution. Some known solutions in literature can be recovered as special cases of the analytical solution once the density change from pore ice to pore water is neglected. If the thawing front was to cease at certain time, consolidation of thawed soil in a fixed region is then encountered, and an analytical solution for the post‐thawing consolidation problem is developed using the Green's function method. Computational examples of the analytical solutions are presented. First, comparison between our model and classical model of Morgenstern and Nixon (MN model) is conducted, showing the error caused by neglecting the density change from pore ice to pore water. The MN model overestimates the excessive pore water pressure at locations near the soil surface, while underestimates it at locations near the thawing front; the error caused by neglecting the density change becomes more pronounced with increasing ice content of frozen soil. Second, comparison between the thaw consolidation process under an instant load and that under a corresponding exponential load is made. The difference in thaw consolidation behavior between the two situations mainly displays during the early stage, when there is obvious discrepancy between the two external loads; the degree of consolidation and thaw consolidation settlement are more sensitive to the discrepancy in external load than the excessive pore water pressure is. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen energy, as a clean and sustainable energy source, holds the promise of becoming a crucial component of the future energy landscape. Magnesium-based solid-state hydrogen storage materials stand out due to their theoretical capacity of 7.6 wt.% and the ability to maintain stability under ambient conditions, making them highly promising candidates. Nonetheless, the key limitations in development stem of hydrogen energy from the relatively high thermodynamic stability and sluggish kinetics. Carbon materials, owing to their remarkable electronic conductivity, chemical stability, high-temperature resistance, and versatile customizability, provide unique advantages for improving magnesium-based hydrogen storage materials. This article offers a comprehensive overview of modifications and additives, with a primary focus on various carbon materials, aimed at optimizing the hydrogen storage properties of Mg/MgH 2 system. It explores the distinct roles played by different morphologies of carbon materials in enhancing the performance of magnesium-based solid-state hydrogen storage materials. In doing so, this review aims to provide fresh insights and perspectives to propel the research and development of magnesium-based solid-state hydrogen storage materials. • Carbon materials enhance hydrogen storage of MgH 2 via high conductivity and surface area. • CNTs, graphene, MXene, CNS, and AC influence hydrogen storage of MgH 2 based on morphology-dependent properties. • Synergistic carbon-metal catalysts improve both H 2 sorption kinetics and thermodynamics. • Carbon prevents particle growth while metals alter hydrogen storage thermodynamics via intermediates. • Rational design of carbon-metal nanostructures is crucial for optimizing hydrogen storage performance of MgH 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies on precarity among gig workers has turned away from labour process factors to explore the role of the wider social, cultural and institutional environment. Existing western-centred studies in this aspect argue that platforms reproduce racialised and gendered hierarchies to leverage control over vulnerable populations. This study extends this literature by focusing on the migration factor in a non-western context. Using the case of Didi, drawing on ethnographic and interview data, it is argued that migrant drivers' high tolerance for platform precarity should be understood as an imposed position, for they are actually trapped in the platform by China's state-led, tech-driven economic restructuring project, through a new mode of migrant labour differentiation comprising three factors – changes in the labour market, hegemonic gender norms and the reformed hukou system. It thus enriches our understanding of worker precarity in the gig economy by highlighting the impact of migration and the state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichostatin A (TSA), a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, promotes the cytotoxicity of the genotoxic anticancer drug cisplatin, yet the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. Herein, we revealed that TSA at a low concentration (1 μM) promoted the cisplatin-induced activation of caspase-3/6, which, in turn, increased the level of cleaved PARP1 and degraded lamin A&C, leading to more cisplatin-induced apoptosis and G2/M phase arrest of A549 cancer cells. Both ICP-MS and ToF-SIMS measurements demonstrated a significant increase in DNA-bound platinum in A549 cells in the presence of TSA, which was attributable to TSA-induced increase in the accessibility of genomic DNA to cisplatin attacking. The global quantitative proteomics results further showed that in the presence of TSA, cisplatin activated INF signaling to upregulate STAT1 and SAMHD1 to increase cisplatin sensitivity and downregulated ICAM1 and CD44 to reduce cell migration, synergistically promoting cisplatin cytotoxicity. Furthermore, in the presence of TSA, cisplatin downregulated TFAM and SLC3A2 to enhance cisplatin-induced ferroptosis, also contributing to the promotion of cisplatin cytotoxicity. Importantly, our posttranslational modification data indicated that acetylation at H4K8 played a dominant role in promoting cisplatin cytotoxicity. These findings provide novel insights into better understanding the principle of combining chemotherapy of genotoxic drugs and HDAC inhibitors for the treatment of cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnesium-based hydrogen storage alloys have attracted significant attention as promising materials for solid-state hydrogen storage due to their high hydrogen storage capacity, abundant reserves, low cost, and reversibility. However, the widespread application of these alloys is hindered by several challenges, including slow hydrogen absorption/desorption kinetics, high thermodynamic stability of magnesium hydride, and limited cycle life. This comprehensive review provides an in-depth overview of the recent advances in magnesium-based hydrogen storage alloys, covering their fundamental properties, synthesis methods, modification strategies, hydrogen storage performance, and potential applications. The review discusses the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of magnesium-based alloys, as well as the effects of alloying, nanostructuring, and surface modification on their hydrogen storage performance. The hydrogen absorption/desorption properties of different magnesium-based alloy systems are compared, and the influence of various modification strategies on these properties is examined. The review also explores the potential applications of magnesium-based hydrogen storage alloys, including mobile and stationary hydrogen storage, rechargeable batteries, and thermal energy storage. Finally, the current challenges and future research directions in this field are discussed, highlighting the need for fundamental understanding of hydrogen storage mechanisms, development of novel alloy compositions, optimization of modification strategies, integration of magnesium-based alloys into hydrogen storage systems, and collaboration between academia and industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnesium-based hydrogen storage materials have garnered significant attention due to their high hydrogen storage capacity, abundance, and low cost. However, the slow kinetics and high desorption temperature of magnesium hydride hinder its practical application. Various preparation methods have been developed to improve the hydrogen storage properties of magnesium-based materials. This review comprehensively summarizes the recent advances in the preparation methods of magnesium-based hydrogen storage materials, including mechanical ball milling, methanol-wrapped chemical vapor deposition, plasma-assisted ball milling, organic ligand-assisted synthesis, and other emerging methods. The principles, processes, key parameters, and modification strategies of each method are discussed in detail, along with representative research cases. Furthermore, the advantages and disadvantages of different preparation methods are compared and evaluated, and their influence on hydrogen storage properties is analyzed. The practical application potential of these methods is also assessed, considering factors such as hydrogen storage performance, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. Finally, the existing challenges and future research directions in this field are outlined, emphasizing the need for further development of high-performance and cost-effective magnesium-based hydrogen storage materials for clean energy applications. This review provides valuable insights and references for researchers working on the development of advanced magnesium-based hydrogen storage technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat crops underpin contemporary global food security. Predominant wheat production zones in China include the Huang‐Huai‐Hai‐Plain and the Mid‐Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River, although climatic effects on productive potential across these regions vary markedly in space and time. Here, we conducted field experiments during the wheat season of 2015–2018 to examine environmental effects on growth, with fertilization and irrigation provided at levels ensuring that nutrient and water stress exposure was minimal. Yields in Huang‐Huai‐Hai‐Plain and the Mid‐Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River averaged 8950 and 4818 kg ha−1, respectively. Yield variation across regions was primarily related to spike number per unit area and grain number per spike. Maturity biomass was higher in Huang‐Huai‐Hai‐Plain; this translated into higher grain yields. Lower temperature and longer growing duration between emergence and jointing in Huang‐Huai‐Hai‐Plain afforded higher tillering and spike numbers, whereas higher growth rates from jointing to maturity resulted in higher biomass production in Huang‐Huai‐Hai‐Plain compare with the Mid‐Lower Reaches of Yangtze River. Growth rate, grain numbers and yield were positively correlated with the ratio of daily intercepted solar radiation to mean temperature during jointing to anthesis, termed photothermal quotient. Collectively, our results suggest that growth rate accounted for more variation in biomass production compared with growth duration, and the photothermal conditions in the Mid‐Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River were restrictive for spike development and yield formation. Our results help disentangle drivers of crop growth through the development of agro‐environmental conceptual frameworks, enabling a better understanding of yield variability in space and time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to global warming and the disturbance of the interannual variability of precipitation, the frequency of extreme drought events has increased. The impact of global climate change on water resources is becoming increasingly apparent, then it is particularly necessary to explore the carrying capacity of water ecological environment under extreme drought conditions, which can guarantee the ecological water security in river basins. This study takes the Guanzhong area of the Wei River Basin as an example, calculating the water environment carrying capacity of 40 areas in the Weihe Guanzhong area in different levels of years under extreme drought conditions by comprehensive evaluation model of carrying capacity and using geographic information system GIS to display the spatial distribution of water environment carrying capacity in 40 regions. According to the results of the spatial distribution of water environmental bearing capacity, four different schemes are designed to improve the bearing capacity. The first plan reduces the industrial water consumption and irrigation quota by 5%, the second plan increases the industrial water and sewage treatment rate on this basis. the third plan further improves the development and utilization rate of surface and groundwater, and the fourth plan, on the basis of the first three plans, supplies 600 million cubic meters of industrial and agricultural water to Guanzhong region. Through comparative analysis, without taking any measures, under the extreme drought conditions, the water environment carrying capacity of the 40 areas in Guanzhong is all in an unbearable state. Overall, plan 4 has the most significant improvement in the water environment-carrying capacity, especially the Dong zhuang Reservoir of the Jing River which has played a very important role in enhancing the water ecological environment carrying capacity of the downstream water of the Wei River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIn this paper, pure ZnS and Ni-doped ZnS nanostructures (Ni–ZnS) were prepared by facile template-free hydrothermal method. The as-prepared Ni–ZnS was characterized by XRD, SEM, EDS, XPS, and UV–Vis DRS. The effects of different Ni doping amounts and hydrothermal reaction temperatures were investigated. The photocatalytic ability was evaluated for the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation. The results indicated that the doping of Ni effectively enhanced the photocatalytic activity of pure ZnS. Ni–ZnS exhibited significantly enhanced photocatalytic properties, the reaction rate constant (0.01154 min−1) is higher than that of pure ZnS (0.00218 min−1). Carrier separation efficiency and charge transport efficiency were investigated by transient photocurrent response (TPS) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Scavenger test was used to determine the role of active species, combining the analysis results of UV–Vis DRS, TPS, and EIS, accordingly the photocatalytic mechanism of Ni–ZnS was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ternary electrodes represent an exciting strategy to substantially enhance the performance of supercapacitors beyond what binary electrodes offer. However, the interplays among ternary constituents and their possible synergies remain poorly understood. This study investigates a ternary electrode design, wherein ferric oxyhydroxide (FeOOH) and magnesium dioxide (MnO2) are co‐deposited onto carbon nanotube (CNT) mats. The results reveal that the ternary electrode demonstrates a 33.3% reduction in internal resistance and a 59% increase in areal capacitance compared to its binary MnO2/CNT counterpart. Furthermore, the ternary electrode achieves a 25% increase in capacitance compared to the combined capacitances of separate MnO2/CNT and FeOOH/CNT electrodes. These findings demonstrate that combining FeOOH and MnO2 can synergistically enhance electrical conductivity and pseudocapacitance beyond their binary counterparts. This design yields a surface capacitance exceeding 3500 mF cm−2 at an active material loading up to 15 mg cm−2. By pairing with a binary FeOOH/CNT electrode, the resulting asymmetric supercapacitor exhibits an operational voltage window to 1.6 V. To demonstrate the potential of the new design, ternary electrodes are integrated into wearable and structural supercapacitors. The new synergistic ternary electrode approach provides a promising avenue for enhancing energy storage capacitance and expanding the scope of energy storage structure applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design of 3D scenes is of great significance, and one of the crucial areas is interior scene design. This study not only pertains to the living environment of individuals but also has applications in the design and development of virtual environments. Previous work on indoor scenes has focused on understanding and editing existing indoor scenes, such as scene reconstruction, segmentation tasks, texture, object localization, and rendering. In this study, we propose a novel task in the realm of indoor scene comprehension, amalgamating interior design principles with professional evaluation criteria: 3D indoor scene design assessment. Furthermore, we propose an approach using a transformer encoder–decoder architecture and a dual-graph convolutional network. Our approach facilitates users in posing text-based inquiries; accepts input in two modalities, point cloud representations of indoor scenes and textual queries; and ultimately generates a probability distribution indicating positive, neutral, and negative assessments of interior design. The proposed method uses separately pre-trained modules, including a 3D visual question-answering module and a dual-graph convolutional network for identifying emotional tendencies of text. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Luster is one of the vital indexes in pearl grading. To find a fast, nondestructive, and low-cost grading method, optical coherence tomography (OCT) is introduced to predict the luster grade through the texture features. After background removal, flattening, and segmentation, the speckle pattern of the region of interest is described by seven kinds of feature textures, including center-symmetric auto-correlation (CSAC), fractal dimension (FD), Gabor, gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM), histogram of oriented gradients (HOG), laws texture energy (LAWS), and local binary patterns (LBP). To find the relations between speckle-derived texture features and luster grades, four Four groups of pearl samples were used in the experiment to detect texture differences based on support vector machines (SVMs) and random forest classifier (RFC)) for investigating the relations between speckle-derived texture features and luster grades. The precision, recall, F1-score, and accuracy are more significant than 0.9 in several simulations, even after dimension reduction. This demonstrates that the texture feature from OCT images can be applied to class the pearl luster based on speckle changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to delineate the association between menopausal-related symptoms and brain cortical hemodynamics in peri-postmenopause women. Cross-sectional data from a total of 358 Han-Chinese women who visited the Menopause Clinic in the Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital from August 2019 to August 2022. Menopausal-related symptoms were analyzed through Kupperman index (KMI) scale and PSQI scale, while cerebral blood flow was measured using a functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Multiple linear regression model was used to assess the risk factors for subregions of brain hemodynamic response. After adjusting for confounding factors, we identified that menopausal symptom (B = −1.575, 95 % CI (−2.661, −0.488), p = 0.005) and duration of menopause (B = −14.583, 95 % CI (−26.753, −4.192), p = 0.007) were independently associated with the lower brain hemodynamic response in the prefrontal lobe, while in the temporal lobe, overweight (BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2) was negatively associated with the lower brain cortical activity (B = −36.882, 95 % CI (−72.708, −1.056), p = 0.044) after adjusting for other confounding variables. Our findings proposed that menopausal symptom and overweight should be attached great importance to the postmenopausal women, which provides clinical evidence for the feasible early detection and effective prevention such as menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) of brain health in postmenopausal women. • Duration of menopause showed decreasing activation in the prefrontal and temporal region in a graded fashion. • Menopausal symptoms and menopause predicted the independent risk factors for lower hemodynamics response in prefrontal lobe. • Obesity (BMI ≥ 24kg/m2) was identified as the risk factor for lower hemodynamics response in the temporal cortex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five species of the genus Opopaea Simon, 1892 from southern China are recognised, including four new species: Opopaea mangun Tong & Li, sp. nov., Opopaea taibao Tong & Yang, sp. nov., Opopaea wenshan Tong & Zhang, sp. nov. and Opopaea yuhuang Tong & Li, sp. nov. from Yunnan and one newly-recorded species: Opopaea foveolata Roewer, 1963 from Hainan. Detailed diagnoses, descriptions and photomicroscopy images of new species are provided, based on specimens of both sexes. A key to species of the genus Opopaea from China is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most lethal gynecological malignancy with a high mortality rate. Low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor‐related protein 8 (LRP8) is a cell membrane receptor belonging LDL receptor family and is involved in several tumor progressions. However, there is limited understanding of how LRP8 mediates OC development. LRP8 expression level was identified in human OC tissues and cells using immunohistochemical staining and quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays, respectively. Functions of LRP8 in OC progression were evaluated by Celigo cell counting, wound healing, transwell and flow cytometry assays, and the xenograft models. The human phospho‐kinase array analysis was used for screening potential signaling involved in OC development. We observed that LRP8 was overexpressed in OC tissues, and high expression of LRP8 was associated with poor prognosis of OC patients. Functionally, LRP8 knockdown remarkably reduced proliferation and migration of OC cells, and induced apoptosis and S phase cycle arrest. LRP8 deficiency attenuated in vivo tumor growth of OC cells. Moreover, the addition of p53 inhibitor partially reversed the effects of LRP8 knockdown on OC cell proliferation and apoptosis, indicating the involvement of p53 signaling in LRP8‐mediated OC progression. This study confirmed that LRP8/p53 axis contributed to OC progression, which might serve as a novel potential therapeutic target for OC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study fabricated four kinds of CoCrMnFeNiX0.1 (X = Al, Cu, Mo, Ti) high-entropy alloys through rolling with subsequent thermal treatment, to investigate the alloying effects on the microstructural evolution, mechanical properties, and electrochemical corrosion performance. High-density parallel twinning bands were observed in the as-rolled CoCrMnFeNiX0.1 alloys, excluding the Cu0.1 variant, signifying that plastic deformation was dominated by twinning. However, detwinning and thickening of twin layers was observed after annealing. This effect was more pronounced in the rolling direction-normal direction (RD-ND) plane due to the stress state induced by rolling. The introduction of Cu altered the deformation mechanism to a combination of twinning and slipping, resulting in fewer twinning bands. Notably, annealing induced the formation of abundant bamboo-shaped twinning bands (width: ~ 10 nm) in the Cu0.1 alloy, which were correlated with nano precipitated particles. Additionally, the incorporation of Mo or Al elements activated more twinning directions, thereby enhancing plasticity. For the Ti0.1 alloy, the primary factors influencing the altered tensile and electrochemical performances were the formation and growth of few precipitated particles during annealing. Consequently, the strengthening effect can be ranked in the order of Mo > Ti > Al > Cu. Therefore, the addition of Al and Ti is recommended for improving the anticorrosive property and thermal stability of recrystallized grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The corn variety “Zhenghong 507”, which is widely cultivated in hilly and mountainous areas of Southwest China, was assigned as the research object. The discrete element model of the mid-section of the corn ear that can be threshed was established by integrating the Hertz-Mindlin with the bonding V2 contact model, and the crucial bonding parameters were simulated and calibrated. With the measured normal threshing force (6.34 N) and tangential threshing force (4.75 N) of a single kernel as target values, the parameters of bonding characteristics between the kernel and the cob of corn ear were screened and optimized for significance via the Placket-Burman test, steepest ascent test, and the central composite design. The results indicate that the optimal parameter combinations for the normal stiffness and shear stiffness per unit area, normal strength, shear strength, contact radius between kernels, contact radius between cobs, and bonded disk scale were 3.4 × 108 N·m−3, 2.238 × 108 N·m−3, 0.6 × 106 Pa, 0.364 × 106 Pa, 1.87 mm, 16.5 mm and 1.321. Finally, the accuracy of the corn ear DEM model was validated by comparing the simulation to the physical test using the threshing rate as an evaluation index combined with the quality distribution of kernels after threshing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rotor-Active magnetic bearing (rotor-AMB) systems offer significant advantages in power consumption and are increasingly being applied in fluid machinery. However, in such machinery, the impeller and the rotor are commonly connected by bolt fastening. Once a certain pre-tightening force is applied to the bolted connection and the interface contact between the rotor and the impeller is formed, the flexible modal vibration will be excited when the rotor is levitated. The conventional Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller is limited in this vibration suppression and it is essential to increase the damping at bending mode to inhibit vibration. However, the calculation of the optimal phase compensated is based on the rotor-AMB model considering interface contact. In this work, the effect of the interface contact is equivalent to massless spring units, and the disturbance generated by spring units is acted upon the mechatronic system in the way of positive feedback. The detailed description of the transfer function from the disturbance to rotor deformation at fourth bending mode is obtained by theoretical model and system identification. The optimal phase of the system needed to inhibit the disturbance is determined by minimizing the gain of the transfer function at fourth bending mode. A combination of PID control and phase compensation is implemented in the experiment. The results show that the optimal phase is 50° as the calculation and the optimal phase compensation control can sufficiently inhibit the modal vibration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zirconia‐corundum‐mullite composites were prepared from andalusite, ZrO2, and α‐Al2O3 and evaluated for application as solar thermal storage materials in this study. The effects of ZrO2 concentration (0–25 wt%) and sintering temperature(1500–1650°C) on the bending strength, phase composition, microstructure, dimensional stability, and thermal shock resistance of the samples were investigated. The results showed that sample C2 (containing 10 wt% ZrO2) sintered at 1600°C exhibited the best properties. A portion of Y2O3 existed in ZrO2, which excited a small amount of t‐ZrO2 in the sample after sintering, while the other portion of Y2O3 was separated from ZrO2 and participated in the formation of a high‐temperature liquid phase. The liquid phase reduced the dimensional stability of the sample. However, the liquid phase could also promote sintering, reducing the optimal sintering temperature, with lower sintering temperatures increasing the dimensional stability of the sample. Once again, the C2 sample exhibited the highest thermal shock resistance, with a strength loss of 2.76 MPa after 30 thermal shock tests. The thermal storage density(25–1100°C) of C2 was 1121 kJ/kg. In summary, sample C2 exhibits a high degree of dimensional stability and thermal shock resistance and can thus be used as a reliable solar thermal storage material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite record numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs) globally, we know little about the causal effects of intergroup contact between migrants and locals in active conflict settings. We conduct a randomized controlled trial of a vocational skills‐training program implemented by Mercy Corps that enrolled 2597 locals and migrants in near equal numbers in Kandahar, Afghanistan, where IDPs face daily prejudice and discrimination. Courses lasting up to 6 months emphasized collaborative learning and soft skills development. We surveyed participants at endline and followed up 8 months later. While the program provided the most sustained duration of intergroup contact (360–720 h) experimentally evaluated to date, we find no evidence of reported behavioral or attitudinal change by locals (N = 1276) toward migrants generally, regardless of classroom demographics or course duration. Our findings suggest that prolonged contact through vocational training programs is insufficient to improve relations in conflict settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inflammatory response is tightly regulated to eliminate invading pathogens and avoid excessive production of inflammatory mediators and tissue damage. Caspase‐8 is a cysteine protease that is involved in programmed cell death. Here we show the TRIF‐RIPK1‐Caspase‐8 is required for LPS‐induced CYLD degradation in macrophages. TRIF functions in the upstream of RIPK1. The homotypic interaction motif of TRIF and the death domain of RIPK1 are essential for Caspase‐8 activation. Caspase‐8 cleaves CYLD and the D235A mutant is resistant to the protease activity of Caspase‐8. TRIF and RIPK1 serve as substrates of Capase‐8 in vitro. cFLIP interacts with Caspase‐8 to modulate its protease activity on CYLD and cell death. Deficiency in TRIF, Caspase‐8 or CYLD can lead to a decrease or increase in the expression of genes encoding inflammatory cytokines. Together, the TRIF‐Caspase‐8 and CYLD play opposite roles in the regulation of TLR4 signalling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sketching is a common way to depict design ideas freely. Augmented reality technology extends the human–computer interaction space from the screen to the real world, providing a new application space for 3D sketching. However, due to the difficulty of depth perception, it is difficult for sketching strokes to maintain good planar and spatial consistency, making drawing 3D sketches in AR challenging. In this article, we propose FMASketch—a method of drawing mid-air sketches similar to building blocks. The auxiliary surfaces can ensure that the strokes drawn by users can always stay on the same plane as drawing in 2D space. Gestures are used to stitch together multiple drawing planes, and the strokes on the planes form a 3D sketch, which is very similar to how 3D modeling is done on the desktop by drawing different views and assembling them. Experiments have verified the effectiveness of the auxiliary surface generation method and gesture operations in this article. The mid-air sketching method is easy to learn and provides a new idea for rapid modeling in AR scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid-state hydrogen storage technology has emerged as a disruptive solution to the "last mile" challenge in large-scale hydrogen energy applications, garnering significant global research attention. This paper systematically reviews the Chinese research progress in solid-state hydrogen storage material systems, thermodynamic mechanisms, and system integration. It also quantitatively assesses the market potential of solid-state hydrogen storage across four major application scenarios: on-board hydrogen storage, hydrogen refueling stations, backup power supplies, and power grid peak shaving. Furthermore, it analyzes the bottlenecks and challenges in industrialization related to key materials, testing standards, and innovation platforms. While acknowledging that the cost and performance of solid-state hydrogen storage are not yet fully competitive, the paper highlights its unique advantages of high safety, energy density, and potentially lower costs, showing promise in new energy vehicles and distributed energy fields. Breakthroughs in new hydrogen storage materials like magnesium-based and vanadium-based materials, coupled with improved standards, specifications, and innovation mechanisms, are expected to propel solid-state hydrogen storage into a mainstream technology within 10–15 years, with a market scale exceeding USD 14.3 billion. To accelerate the leapfrog development of China's solid-state hydrogen storage industry, increased investment in basic research, focused efforts on key core technologies, and streamlining the industry chain from materials to systems are recommended. This includes addressing challenges in passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and hydrogen refueling stations, and building a collaborative innovation ecosystem involving government, industry, academia, research, finance, and intermediary entities to support the achievement of carbon peak and neutrality goals and foster a clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient modern energy system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With developments in global economic integration and the increase in future economic uncertainty, it is imperative to have the ability to predict future capital in relation to financial capital inflow and outflow predictions to ensure capital optimization is within a controllable range within the current macroeconomic environment and situation. This paper proposes an automated capital prediction strategy for the capital supply chain using time series analysis artificial intelligence methods. Firstly, to analyze the fluctuation and tail risk of the financial characteristics, the paper explores the financial characteristics for measuring the dynamic VaR from the perspectives of volatility, tail, and peak with the Bayesian peaks over threshold (POT) model. Following this, in order to make the modeling more refined, the forecast targets are split before modeling with seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models and Prophet models. Finally, the time series modeling of the wavelet Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) model is carried out using a two-part analysis method to determine the linear separated wavelet and non-linear embedded wavelet parts to predict strong volatility in financial capital. Taking the user capital flow of the Yu'e Bao platform, the results prove the feasibility and prediction accuracy of the innovative model proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Fine mapping of the maize QTL qSRC3, responsible for red silk, uncovered the candidate gene ZmMYB20, which encodes an R2R3-MYB transcription factor, has light-sensitive expression, and putatively regulates genes expression associated with anthocyanin biosynthesis. Colorless silk is a key characteristic contributing to the visual quality of fresh corn intended for market distribution. Nonetheless, the identification of Mendelian trait loci and associated genes that control silk color has been scarce. In this study, a F2 population arising from the hybridization of the single-segment substitution line qSRC3MT1 with red silk, carrying an introgressed allele from teosinte (Zea mays ssp. mexicana), and the recurrent maize inbred line Mo17, characterized by light green silk, was utilized for fine mapping. We found that the red silk trait is controlled by a semi-dominant genetic locus known as qSRC3, and its expression is susceptible to light-mediated inhibition. Moreover, qSRC3 explained 68.78% of the phenotypic variance and was delimited to a 133.2 kb region, which includes three genes. Subsequent expression analyses revealed that ZmMYB20 (Zm00001d039700), which encodes an R2R3-MYB transcription factor, was the key candidate gene within qSRC3. Yeast one-hybrid and dual-luciferase reporter assays provided evidence that ZmMYB20 suppresses the expression of two crucial anthocyanin biosynthesis genes, namely ZmF3H and ZmUFGT, by directly binding to their respective promoter regions. Our findings underscore the significance of light-inhibited ZmMYB20 in orchestrating the spatial and temporal regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis. These results advance the production of colorless silk in fresh corn, responding to the misconception that fresh corn with withered colored silk is not fresh and providing valuable genetic resources for the improvement of sweet and waxy maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The precise release and characterization of nitroxyl (HNO) gas signaling molecule remain a challenge due to its short lifetime to date. To solve this issue, an azobenzene-based HNO donor (Azo-D1) was proposed as a colorimetric and fluorometric chemosensor for HNO releasing, to release both HNO and an azobenzene fluorescent reporter together. Specifically, the Azo-D1 has an HNO release half-life of ∼68 min under physiological conditions. The characteristic color change from the original orange to the yellow color indicated the decomposition of the donor molecule. In addition, the stoichiometry release of HNO was qualitatively and quantitatively verified through the classical phosphine compound trap. As compared with the donor molecule by itself, the decomposed product demonstrates a maximum fluorescence emission at 424 nm, where the increase of fluorescence intensity by 6.8 times can be applied to infer the real-time concentration of HNO. Moreover, cellular imaging can also be achieved using this Azo-D1 HNO donor through photoexcitation at 405 and 488 nm, where the real-time monitoring of HNO release was achieved without consuming the HNO source. Finally, the Azo-D1 HNO donor would open a new platform in the exploration of the biochemistry and the biology of HNO. [Display omitted] • The first azobenzene-based HNO donor (Azo-D1) was developed. • Azo-D1 can release HNO (t 1/2 –68 min) under physiological conditions. • HNO release can be monitored by colorimetric and fluorometric changes. • Cell imagines were successfully obtained using Azo-D1 donor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The red mud was activated by an acid leaching and reprecipitation approach to be used as NH3-SCR catalyst. The effect of acid concentration on the leaching rates of Fe, Ti, Al, Ca and Na was investigated, specifically, the interaction between Fe and Ti components in the obtained red mud-based catalysts was concerned. With the acid concentration increasing (below 3.1 mol/L), more Fe and Ti are leached out, meanwhile, Ti can be incorporated into Fe2O3 phase and the crystallite size of Fe2O3 becomes smaller, and the obtained catalyst exhibits better low-temperature activity and SO2 resistance. The HRM3.1 catalyst obtained at the acid concentration of 3.1 mol/L possesses strongest reducibility, largest amount of surface chemisorbed oxygen and medium surface acidity. The in-situ DRIFTS results show that more NO can be adsorbed and oxidized over the HRM3.1 catalyst to generate more nitrate species, even though in the presence of SO2, alleviating the suppression of SO2 on the NH3-SCR reaction, and thus the SO2 tolerance is enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study shows the impact of information and communication technology (ICT), inflation, economic growth, foreign direct investment (FDI), infrastructural development, and financial development on the global tourism index across all income groups. We use a generalized method of moments technique, novel index of tourism, and ICT in 130 countries from 1995 to 2019. The empirical results infer an increase in tourism due to sustained growth in ICT (all panels), economic growth (all panels), FDI (all panels), financial development (all panels), and infrastructure development (all panels). This study highlights the importance of increasing 4G networking in remote areas and introducing reliable mobile applications to promote smart tourism, which involves setting up a Tourist Information Centre to guide tourists in terms of traveling, accommodation, food, shopping, parking, history of specific places, healthcare services, weather forecasting, and emergencies. The central bank could ensure price stability by using different tools of monetary and fiscal policy while encouraging FDI and ICT infrastructure in the tourism industry, especially in developing countries. Tourism is directly associated with foreign exchange earnings, which in turn increases the financial strength of an economy. Besides, prioritizing investment in infrastructure, particularly in sanitation and waste management, drinking water supply, clean fuel management, and generation of electricity, could bolster tourism. The contribution of this study employs multiple indicators in the form of a composite index (i.e., global tourism index, ICT index, and infrastructure index). In addition, we have developed a global ICT index using several related indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In cold regions, the flow of outside air into a tunnel often causes freeze–thaw damage to the surrounding rock, and insulation methods are usually adopted to avoid this damage. In this study, the heat transfer in a multilayer tunnel structure that includes a rock layer, an initial lining, an insulation layer, and a secondary lining was investigated, and convection between the tunnel air and the inner surface of the tunnel lining was considered. A mathematical model describing the heat transfer process was established, and an analytical solution for the temperature field was developed using Duhamel's principle and the separation-of-variables method. The model and the solution were verified by comparing the computational results of the analytical solution with the computational results and in situ measurements available in the literature. By treating the minimum temperature of the inner surface of the surrounding rock as a function of the insulation thickness, a procedure to determine the minimum insulation thickness that ensures no freeze–thaw damage to the surrounding rock was developed based on the analytical solution using the bisection method. Computational examples were presented, and the effects of different factors on the minimum temperature of the inner surface of the surrounding rock and minimum insulation thickness were investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compute the surface defect contribution to Rényi entropy and supersymmetric Rényi entropy in six dimensions. We first compute the surface defect contribution to Rényi entropy for free fields, which verifies a previous formula about entanglement entropy with surface defect. Using conformal map to S β 1 × H d − 1 we develop a heat kernel approach to compute the defect contribution to Rényi entropy, which is applicable for p-dimensional defect in general d-dimensional free fields. Using the same geometry S β 1 × H 5 with an additional background field, one can construct the supersymmetric refinement of the ordinary Rényi entropy for six-dimensional (2, 0) theories. We find that the surface defect contribution to supersymmetric Rényi entropy has a simple scaling as polynomial of Rényi index in the large N limit. We also discuss how to connect the free field results and large N results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the effect of craft breweries on residential property values. Using a hedonic Difference‐in‐Differences (DID) approach and about 250 thousand housing transactions in Denver, Colorado from 1990 to 2016, we investigate the impact of proximity to a craft brewery on residential property values. We consider three types of residence (single‐family home, row house, and condominiums), three types of brewery (all craft breweries, microbreweries, and brewpubs/taprooms), and two measurements of distance (Euclidian and walk‐time). Our most robust results are found for single‐family homes, whose values enjoy a premium of up to 20.4% for being in proximity to a brewpub/taproom several years after, with the average annual maximum premium around 3%. As expected, premiums decline as distance from breweries increase. Beyond a distance of 0.5 km or a 10‐min walk‐time, the premium for a regional/microbrewery is greater than that for a brewpub/taproom. For single family homes within 4 km or 40‐min walk‐time, the annualized premium ranges between 0.41% and 3.01%. These findings support the narrative that craft breweries are a neighborhood asset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the increasing utilization of communication technology, there is a growing need for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials to adapt to diverse application scenarios. In this study, the self‐destructible EMI shielding films (SEFs) that possess the unique capability to reduce conductivity and shielding efficiency through temperature elevation are introduced. The SEFs effectively fulfill the requirement of triggering EMI shielding failure under specific conditions, which can be achieved by simply spraying a mixture of thermally expandable microspheres (TEMs), conductive fillers, and resin substrates. The segregated structures resulting from the incorporation of TEMs confer exceptional electrical conductivity and superior EMI shielding performance at low conductive filler content. When the ambient temperature surpasses the glass transition temperature of the TEM shell, the thermally expandable characteristics cause a disruption in the conductive path of the SEFs, leading to a significant decline in shielding effectiveness. Additionally, the SEFs exhibit outstanding Joule heating effects (90 °C) at low voltage (1.5 V) within a brief time frame (10 s). Importantly, when employed as Joule heaters, the SEFs possess an intrinsic safety mechanism that automatically ceases operation in the event of circuit overload, thus minimizing any potential risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mosquitoes are the deadliest animal in the word, transmitting a variety of insect-borne infectious diseases, such as malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, and Zika, causing more deaths than any other vector-borne pathogen. Moreover, in the absence of effective drugs and vaccines to prevent and treat insect-borne diseases, mosquito control is particularly important as the primary measure. In recent decades, due to the gradual increase in mosquito resistance, increasing attention has fallen on the mechanisms and effects associated with pathogen infection. This review provides an overview of mosquito innate immune mechanisms in terms of physical and physiological barriers, pattern recognition receptors, signalling pathways, and cellular and humoral immunity, as well as the antipathogenic effects of mosquito symbiotic bacteria. This review contributes to an in-depth understanding of the interaction process between mosquitoes and pathogens and provides a theoretical basis for biological defence strategies against mosquito-borne infectious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current heterogeneous photocatalysis faces the major bottlenecks of limited mass transfer, charge recombination and tedious immobilization of expensive photocatalysts. In this work, fac-Ir(ppy)3 is directly anchored at a low cost via covalent linkage to poly(4-vinyl benzyl chloride) (PVBC) brushes grafted on SiO2 nanoparticles (PVBC@SiO2 NPs) via Friedel–Crafts alkylation, affording PVBC@SiO2 NP-supported fac-Ir(ppy)3 with high luminous efficacies such as emission lifetime and quantum yield. In the reductive cross-coupling of benzaldehydes/acetophenones with 1,4-dicyanobenzene (1,4-DCB), the as-fabricated photocatalyst affords benzhydrols in the same yields as homogeneous fac-Ir(ppy)3, except for o-substituted benzaldehydes/acetophenones. In terms of the same yields as homogeneous fac-Ir(ppy)3, a new catalytic model, named homogeneous-like photocatalysis, is proposed. In this catalytic model, the open stretching of PVBC brushes in DMSO enables the anchored fac-Ir(ppy)3 to catalyse the reaction in a similar manner as homogeneous fac-Ir(ppy)3, effectively avoiding charge recombination and mass transfer limitation. Furthermore, no significant decrease in yield (<5%) is observed over eight catalytic cycles, due to the good chemical and mechanical stabilities of PVBC@SiO2 NP-supported fac-Ir(ppy)3. Overall, the immobilization of fac-Ir(ppy)3 onto the PVBC brushes grafted on SiO2 NPs provides a mass/charge transfer-enhanced platform for supported photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is commonly recognized that in radio frequency capacitive discharges, a higher excitation frequency can yield an enhanced electron heating rate and ion flux. Here, we reveal the low-frequency dependence of the plasma density and ion energy/angular distribution in a low-pressure (2 Pa), dual-frequency (DF) capacitively coupled argon plasma based on a combination of experiments and kinetic particle simulations. As the low frequency (LF, f L ) is decreased from 6.8 MHz to 40 kHz, the plasma density undergoes a moderate decline initially, followed by an increase, reaching a maximum at f L = 400 kHz. The enhanced plasma density is attributed to a combined effect of (i) an attenuated modulation effect of the LF source on the high-frequency electron heating and (ii) enhanced emission of electron-induced secondary electrons. At a lower f L , the ion transit time across the sheath, τ ion , gets comparable to or shorter than the LF period, τ LF , resulting in a higher ion energy with a narrower angular spread. The enhanced ion flux and ion energy in DF discharges operated at low frequencies in the range of hundreds of kHz are beneficial for the high-aspect-ratio plasma etching extensively used in the semiconductor industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CD40 is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily of receptors expressed on a variety of cell types. The CD40–CD40L interaction gives rise to many immune events, including the licensing of dendritic cells to activate CD8+ effector T cells, as well as the facilitation of B cell activation, proliferation, and differentiation. In malignant cells, the expression of CD40 varies among cancer types, mediating cellular proliferation, apoptosis, survival and the secretion of cytokines and chemokines. Agonistic human anti-CD40 antibodies are emerging as an option for cancer treatment, and early-phase clinical trials explored its monotherapy or combination with radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immune checkpoint blockade, and other immunomodulatory approaches. In this review, we present the current understanding of the mechanism of action for CD40, along with results from the clinical development of agonistic human CD40 antibodies in cancer treatment (selicrelumab, CDX-1140, APX005M, mitazalimab, 2141-V11, SEA-CD40, LVGN7409, and bispecific antibodies). This review also examines the safety profile of CD40 agonists in both preclinical and clinical settings, highlighting optimized dosage levels, potential adverse effects, and strategies to mitigate them. [Display omitted] • CD40L-CD40 signaling plays an intricate role in regulation of immune and malignant cells in the tumor microenvironment. • CD40 is linked to both biological and immunological functions. • Preclinical studies and clinical development of CD40 agonism therapies underscore its significance in cancer treatment. • Careful management of dosage optimization and adverse effects is crucial for future design of CD40 agonism cancer therapy. • Cytokine therapies, RAS/RAF/PI3K pathway targeted therapies, and CART therapies can potentially be incorporated with CD40 agonism therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dynamic gravimeter with an atomic interferometer (AI) can perform absolute gravity measurements with high precision. AI-based dynamic gravity measurement is a type of joint measurement that uses an AI sensor and a classical accelerometer. The coupling of the two sensors may degrade the measurement precision. In this study, we analyzed the cross-coupling effect and introduced a recovery vector to suppress this effect. We improved the phase noise of the interference fringe by a factor of 1.9 by performing marine gravity measurements using an AI-based gravimeter and optimizing the recovery vector. Marine gravity measurements were performed, and high gravity measurement precision was achieved. The external and inner coincidence accuracies of the gravity measurement were ±0.42 mGal and ±0.46 mGal after optimizing the cross-coupling effect, which was improved by factors of 4.18 and 4.21 compared to the cases without optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sepsis can cause immune dysregulation and multiple organ failure in patients and eventually lead to death. The gut microbiota has demonstrated its precise therapeutic potential in the treatment of various diseases. This study aimed to discuss the structural changes of the gut microbiota in patients with sepsis and to analyze the differences in the gut microbiota of patients with different prognoses. Methods: We conducted a multicenter study in which rectal swab specimens were collected on the first and third days of sepsis diagnosis. A total of 70 specimens were collected, and gut microbiota information was obtained by 16S rRNA analysis. Results: The relative abundance of Enterococcus decreased in rectal swab specimens during the first three days of diagnosis in patients with sepsis, while the relative abundance of inflammation-associated Bacillus species such as Escherichia coli, Enterobacteriaceae, and Bacteroidetes increased. By comparing the differences in the flora of the survival group and the death group, we found that the abundance of Veillonella and Ruminococcus in the death group showed an increasing trend (p < 0.05), while the abundance of Prevotella_6 and Prevotella S4_BM14 was increased in surviving patients (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, reflecting overall gut microbial composition, was significantly lower on day three of sepsis diagnosis. Changes in the abundance of specific gut microbiota may serve as prognostic markers in patients with sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition bimetal oxides are widely used in the field of electrochemical sensing because of their variable valence and bimetallic synergies. In this work, we demonstrate the facile synthesis of snow-cake like NiCo2O4 nanostructures and its application as a working electrode modification material in enzyme-free glucose electrochemical sensing field. In a three-electrode system, the electrocatalytic oxidation activity for glucose of NiCo2O4 nanostructures is tested. The snow-cake like NiCo2O4 nanostructures are endowed with superior electron-transfer capability, large surface area, and abundant intrinsic redox couples of Ni2+/Ni3+ and Co2+/Co3+ ions. The modified electrode exhibits excellent glucose-sensing properties, such as detection of wide range of glucose concentrations with good linearity and high sensitivity of 983 μA mM−1 cm−2 at 0.45 V operating potential. Moreover, the interference from the commonly interfering species such as ascorbic acid (AA), sodium chloride (NaCl) and uric acid (UA) can be effectively avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Power converters can convert the electrical energy output by power source into specific forms required by target device. They are widely used in various fields such as electrification, transportation, and power systems, and are the core components of the systems. Power converters are composed of power semiconductor devices (such as IGBTs), which are prone to failure due to abnormal conditions and aging degradation, leading to power converter faults. Therefore, over the past twenty years, extensive fault diagnosis methods for power converters have been studied and proposed. Among them, symmetry-based methods have the characteristics of rapid diagnosis speed and strong robustness, but so far there's no systemic summary of such methods. Therefore, this paper reviews the relevant research on fault diagnosis of power converters based on symmetry in recent years, analyzes the mathematical principles of these methods, and compares their diagnostic performance. In addition, two factors that may have an influence on the symmetry are pointed out. This paper provides references and suggestions for the future development and research of power converter fault diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The structure–function characteristics of isolated artificial organelles (AOs) in protocells are mainly known, but there are few reports on clustered or aggregated AOs. To imitate µm-sized complex and heterogeneous cell structures, approaches are needed that enable reversible changes in the aggregation state of colloidal structures in response to chemical, biological, and external stimuli. To construct adaptive organelle-like or cell-like reorganization characteristics, we present an advanced crosslinking strategy to fabricate clustered polymersomes as a platform based on host–guest interactions between azobenzene-containing polymersomes (Azo-Psomes) and a β-cyclodextrin-modified polymer (β-CD polymer) as a crosslinker. First, the reversible (dis)assembly of clustered Azo-Psomes is carried out by the alternating input of crosslinker and adamantane-PEG 3000 as a decrosslinker. Moreover, cluster size dependence is demonstrated by environmental pH. These offer the controlled fabrication of various homogeneous and heterogeneous Azo-Psomes structures, including the size regulation and visualization of clustered AOs through a fluorescent enzymatic cascade reaction. Finally, a temperature-sensitive crosslinking agent with β-CD units can promote the coaggregation of Azo-Psomes mediated by temperature changes. Overall, these (co–)clustered Azo-Psomes and their successful transformation in AOs may provide new features for modelling biological systems for eukaryotic cells and systems biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cyano-Raman label pH-responsive SERS probe was constructed by immobilizing 6-MPN molecules onto the surface of a single urchin Au nanoparticle (AuNP). The effects of different conditions on the synthetic materials were investigated and the optical properties of the single nanoparticles were evaluated. The peak-strength ratio of SERS probes at 1589 cm−1 and 2240 cm−1 exhibited a linear relationship in the pH range 4–7. The properties and stability of the probe were also verified by the acid–base cycle and ion interference tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer immunotherapy using anti‐programmed death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1) antibodies has been used in various clinical applications and achieved certain results. However, such limitations as autoimmunity, tumor hyperprogression, and overall low patient response rate impede its further clinical application. Mounting evidence has revealed that PD‐L1 is not only present in tumor cell membrane but also in cytoplasm, exosome, or even nucleus. Among these, the dynamic and spatial heterogeneous expression of PD‐L1 in tumors is mainly responsible for the unsatisfactory efficacy of PD‐L1 antibodies. Hence, numerous studies focus on inhibiting or degrading PD‐L1 to improve immune response, while a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying spatial heterogeneity of PD‐L1 can fundamentally transform the current status of PD‐L1 antibodies in clinical development. Herein, the concept of spatial heterogeneous expression of PD‐L1 is creatively introduced, encompassing the structure and biological functions of various kinds of PD‐L1 (including mPD‐L1, cPD‐L1, nPD‐L1, and exoPD‐L1). Then an in‐depth analysis of the regulatory mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets of PD‐L1 is provided, seeking to offer a solid basis for future investigation. Moreover, the current status of agents is summarized, especially small molecular modulators development directed at these new targets, offering a novel perspective on potential PD‐L1 therapeutics strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of this study was to report a case of ROCM related to nasogastric intubation who was survived by liposomal amphotericin B (LAmB) combination therapy in situ without orbital exenteration. Case Presentation: A 44-year-old woman presented with a 1-week history of rapidly enlarging swelling on the right nose, cheek, and lower eyelid after underwent gastrointestinal decompression. The lesions were derived from the nasal area where the nasogastric tube had been placed. Based on the biopsy results and clinical manifestations, ROCM was diagnosed. Immediate combination therapy with intravenous LAmB and micafungin and multisection debridement of the right facial region were applied. Postoperative treatment included cleaning, irrigating, and local dressing of the wound area using LAmB. LAmB was also used daily as binocular eye drops against deep infection on the eyeballs. The patient recovered well 4 months later and remained free of disease after 40 months of follow-up. Conclusion: This case adds to our knowledge on the potential risk of nasogastric intubation for mucormycosis infection. Nasogastric tube may be the source of infection associated with ROCM. This report evaluates the beneficial effect of LAmB combination therapy in situ for cleaning, irrigating, local wound dressing, and eye drops on lesion areas. The combination of LAmB as cleaning, irrigating, local dressing solution, and eye drops to control intraocular and intraorbital ROCM infection has not been previously reported to our knowledge. These methods provide multiple choices to substitute for orbital exenteration on the survival of ROCM patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]