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Circular dichroism (CD) spectra play a crucial role in recognition, separation and detection of chiral molecules. Due to the inherent weak CD response of natural chiral molecules, researchers have endeavored to enhance CD signals through various artificial nanostructures. In this study, combining the advantages of both the dielectric and metal materials, we propose a hybrid dielectric-metal nanostructure consisting of a chiral Si nanorod dimer coupled with a symmetric Au cylinder to achieve robust CD responses. Owing to the plasmon resonance of the Au cylinder, the scattering-CD and absorption-CD of the hybrid system have been enhanced, which result in the enhanced extinction-CD response. Furthermore, the distributions of electric field, magnetic field and displacement current density of both the Si dimer and hybrid nanostructure have been meticulously crafted to elucidate the physical mechanisms underlying amplified CD signals. The synergistic coupling between the magnetic fields of dielectric materials and the electric fields of the Au cylinder leads to an increase in the electric field strength and the asymmetry of near-field distributions. Additionally, spatial overlaps between electric and magnetic fields occur. These factors contribute to the enhanced chiral response of the hybrid system. Meanwhile, the CD signal can be flexibly tuned by adjusting the size of the Au cylinder and Si nanorods. This design offers a versatile approach to enhancing the chiral response of dielectric nanostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reduce breast motion with a bra, we need to understand what drives the motion of the breasts, and what variables change as support increases. Quantifying breast-torso coordination and movement complexity across the gait cycle may offer deeper insights than previously reported discrete time lag. We aimed to compare breast-torso coordination and mutual influence across breast support conditions during running. Twelve female participants ran on a treadmill at 10 km h−1 with an encapsulation and compression sports bra, and in no bra. Nipple and torso position was recorded. Vector coding, granger causality and transfer entropy were calculated within gait cycles. In both bra conditions, a greater percentage of gait cycles was spent with the breast and torso in-phase (> 90%) compared to no bra running (~ 66%, p < 0.001), with most time spent in-phase in the encapsulation versus compression bra (p = 0.006). There was a main effect of breast support condition on Granger causality (p < 0.001), both from breast to torso and torso to breast. Transfer of information was highest from torso to breast, compared to breast to torso in all conditions. Overall, these results provide novel insight into the mutual and complex interaction between the breast and the torso while running in different bra conditions. The approaches presented allow for a greater understanding of bra support conditions than existing discrete measures, which may relate to comfort and performance. Therefore, measures of coupling, predictability and transfer of complexity should be employed in future work examining these features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Balance control is an important indicator of mobility and independence in activities of daily living. How the functional coupling between the cortex and the muscle for balance control is affected following stroke remains to be known. We investigated the changes in coupling between the cortex and leg muscles during a challenging balance task over multiple frequency bands in chronic stroke survivors. Fourteen participants with stroke and ten healthy controls performed a challenging balance task. They stood on a computerized support surface that was either fixed (low difficulty condition) or sway-referenced with varying gain (medium and high difficulty conditions). We computed corticomuscular coherence between electrodes placed over the sensorimotor area (electroencephalography) and leg muscles (electromyography) and assessed balance performance using clinical and laboratory-based tests. We found significantly lower delta frequency band coherence in stroke participants when compared with healthy controls under medium difficulty condition, but not during low and high difficulty conditions. These differences were found for most of the distal but not for proximal leg muscle groups. No differences were found at other frequency bands. Participants with stroke showed poor balance clinical scores when compared with healthy controls, but no differences were found for laboratory-based tests. The observation of effects at distal but not at proximal muscle groups suggests differences in the (re)organization of the descending connections across two muscle groups for balance control. We argue that the observed group difference in delta band coherence indicates balance context-dependent alteration in mechanisms for the detection of somatosensory modulation resulting from sway-referencing of the support surface for balance maintenance following stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whether the new type of urbanization implemented in China in the past decade has been effective in regulating urbanization and balancing human development and environmental protection remains to be verified. Therefore, this study develops a framework for assessing population-urbanization–ecological environment interactions by combining the coupling coordination degree model and the decoupling index. Firstly, the proposed framework establishes an indicator system of population, economy, society, space, environmental pressure, ecological governance, ecological status, and ecological services based on two sets of national census data; secondly, this study combines the coupling coordination degree model and decoupling index to comprehensively understand the coupling coordination relationship and the decoupling relationship of the population–urbanization–ecological environment across time and space. Overall, this study contributes to a deepened understanding of coupled population–urbanization–ecological environment interactions and provides a scientific basis for effective guidance on urban–rural management and the balance between human development and environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flexibility, adaptability, and resilience of even simple brains are unmatched by any current technology. Recent unexpected difficulties in realising truly autonomous vehicles, making reliable medical diagnoses, detecting offensive online content and even just recognising faces, show that brains remain significantly functionally more capable than we can currently emulate. Fittingly, in recent years we have made significant progress identifying computational principles that underlie neural function. We are beginning to dispense with the overly simplistic stimulus-driven encode/transmit/decode doctrine. Instead we must embrace the brain's inherent dynamic complexity and emergent properties and explain how plasticity moulds the dynamics to capture useful couplings across brain regions and between the brain, the body, and the world. While certainly not complete, we have sufficient evidence that a synthesis of these ideas could result in a deeper understanding of neural computation and which could potentially be used to construct new AI technologies with unique capabilities. I discuss the relevant neuroscientific principles, the advantages they have for computation, and how they can benefit AI. Limitations of current AI are now generally recognised. I postulate that we understand enough about the brain to immediately offer novel AI formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We give rates of convergence in the almost sure invariance principle for sums of dependent random variables with semi-exponential tails, whose coupling coefficients decrease at a sub-exponential rate. We show that the rates in the strong invariance principle are in powers of log n . We apply our results to iid products of random matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly substituted naphthalene derivatives were prepared via palladium‐catalyzed reaction of 5‐(2‐bromophenyl)pent‐3‐en‐1‐ynes with arylboronic acids. Typically, reaction of 3‐bromo‐4‐(3‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐5‐phenyl‐1‐(p‐tolyl)pent‐2‐en‐4‐yn‐1‐yl)‐N‐methylaniline (1a) with PhB(OH)2 in the presence of Pd(PPh3)4 as the catalyst under basic conditions provided 8‐benzhydryl‐7‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐N‐methyl‐5‐(p‐tolyl)naphthalen‐2‐amine (2a) quantitatively. Overall, 19 new naphthalene compounds were obtained by this methodology and their structures were characterized by spectroscopic methods. In addition, crystal structure of 2j was determined to confirm the structural details. Reaction pathway leading to the desired product is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights The goal of this project was to recycle the waste forming in the production of a flexible, multilayer food packaging film. The film consists of five layers, two polyamides containing three different polymers, a polyethylene and two adhesive layers of maleated polyethylene. The type of the components and the exact composition are not disclosed because they represent proprietary information. The key to recycling is the selection of an appropriate strategy and target product. In this case, glass fiber reinforced PA composites were produced with an acceptable property profile. The properties of the recycled product are comparable to those of commercial composites available on the market. The crucial question was the selection of the glass fiber grade with the appropriate sizing. The selection was further complicated by the possible interaction of the functionalized polymer with the sizing of the fiber. The implementation of the solution is feasible technologically, the properties of the product are comparable to those available on the market, and its price is very advantageous. An engineering material can be produced from flexible multilayer packaging waste. The properties of the recycled product are comparable with those on the market. The selection of the glass fiber is crucial for mechanical properties. The solution is feasible technologically and the final price is competitive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intelligent metasurfaces, as the next‐generation of metasurfaces, have emerged as a versatile artificial electromagnetic (EM) medium capable of adaptively manipulating wave‐matter interactions, especially in the construction of EM space integration and the analogy of wave‐based neural networks. However, current computational landscape for intelligent metasurfaces relies either on time‐consuming full‐wave numerical simulations with excessive computational complexity or on application‐limited physical models that are difficult to consider the coupling effects. Here, a universal graph neural network (GNN) framework is introduced, incorporating the elusive coupling effects inside metasurfaces, enabling rapid and precise characterization with arbitrary‐large size. This framework exhibits exceptional compatibility with physical models, thereby significantly expanding the realm of potential design scenarios. By harnessing the principles of diffraction theory and near‐to‐far transformation algorithms, highly accurate modeling of the scattered fields emanating from metasurfaces is achieved. Through microwave experiments on intelligent metasurfaces, the efficacy of GNN in real‐world scenarios is effectively demonstrated. The utilization of topological strategies to characterize intelligent metasurfaces marks a major leap toward the next‐generation metasurfaces, promising transformative advancements across various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we disclose a new strategy that rapidly and reliably incorporates bromine atoms at distal, secondary C(sp3)−H sites in aliphatic amines with an excellent and predictable site‐selectivity pattern. The resulting halogenated building blocks serve as versatile linchpins to enable a series of carbon‐carbon and carbon‐heteroatom bond‐formations at remote C(sp3) sites, thus offering a new modular and unified platform that expediates the access to advanced sp3 architectures possessing valuable nitrogen‐containing saturated heterocycles of interest in medicinal chemistry settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis review presents a critical examination of the interface for coupling high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) since 2010. This coupling offers a robust analytical approach characterized by exceptional chemical specificity and the capacity to analyze complex multi-component mixtures qualitatively and quantitatively with high sensitivity, particularly in low limit of detection ranges. This coupling enables the identification of individual components of a mixture by IR after their separation by HPLC, although challenges arise from the potential distortion of infrared spectra by mobile phase components. Addressing this issue necessitates the implementation of suitable interfaces, such as flow cells or off-line indirect measurement methods like hot inert gas streams or ultrasonic nebulizers. The key parameters influencing the coupling of HPLC-FTIR include the solvent elimination methods, mode of FTIR technique, and IR background for accurate analyte identification. Moreover, the composition of the mobile phase and the utilization of buffer solutions in the HPLC mobile phase profoundly impact analyte identification by FTIR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Molten catalytic methane pyrolysis coupled with chemical looping combustion technology was developed, and natural gas was used as material gas. It can produce hydrogen along with power generation and solid carbon. Methods The process was simulated by Aspen Plus, and techno-economic feasibility in terms of economic benefits was analysed. The main influencing factors of methane conversion rate, pyrolysis reaction temperature, and PSA separation efficiency were discussed. Results When the feedstock was 600 kmol/h, the system could produce 956 kmol/h hydrogen and 503 kmol/h solid carbon, and the system generating capacity was 9.43 MW. The CO2 capture amount was 208 kmol/h while the capture ratio was 99.75%. The system performance was examined, and the results showed that the total system efficiency was 77.044%, wherein the hydrogen efficiency was 41.059%, the rate of solid carbon production was 31.453%, and the electricity efficiency was 4.532%. Conclusion It was concluded that improving methane conversion and PSA efficiency, and reducing thermal cracking reaction temperature were significantly helpful in increasing product yield and total system efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we have theoretically demonstrated the sensor performance in mid-IR frequency domain by resonance excitation of Bloch surface modes through energy coupling with graphene surface plasmon polaritons in truncated one-dimensional (1D) ternary photonic crystal (TPC) under Kretschmann configuration coupling technique. The involvement of optical anisotropy via graphene monolayer enhances light-matter interaction thus enabling excellent control over the resonance wavelength (RW) of the excited Bloch surface modes (EBSMs). For incident transverse magnetic-polarized electromagnetic waves, the band structure, reflection spectra and field profile are computed using 2 $ \times $ × 2 transfer matrix method. The control over the RW has been established by examining the effect of variation of different model parameters like thickness of truncation layer, refractive index of external medium, temperature, chemical potential and the periodicity of TPC. The variations in periodicity result in the expansion of the range of confinement of EBSMs in photonic band gaps from $ 19 \textrm{THz} $ 19 THz to $ 65 \textrm{THz} $ 65 THz . We proved that the variation in temperature between $ 300^\circ\textrm{K} $ 300 ∘ K and $ 500^\circ\textrm{K} $ 500 ∘ K confines the EBSMs with high coupling efficiency (CE). Also, at room temperature the best achievable quality factor (QF) is 1421 and a high Q.F. of 8170 is attained at $ 260^\circ\textrm{K} $ 260 ∘ K . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the estimation of the nonlinear encoding and responses of a photosensitive Fitz Hugh Nagumo (FHN) neuron-based-meminductor and provides a relevant analysis of its phase synchronization. In the pattern, a Fitz Hugh–Nagumo neuron connected to a meminductor is activated by a photocell, and a time-varying current source is generated by the presence of external optical signals. This coupling is a benchmark circuit with memory similar to artificial eyes with the ability to capture and encode external signals. It is designed with the aim of studying the dynamics of a neuron with a memory effect highlighted through the meminductor. An appropriate dynamical analysis is provided using standard indicators such as bifurcations to point out thorough transitions and the nature of the electrical neuronal activities. Some couplings between two FHN neurons with meminductor using hybrid synapses composed of passive electronic components are achieved. Relevant tools are used to analyze the stability of the synchronization which gives prominent details on the selection of the appropriate coupling. The energy balance of the external system is evaluated which gives the effort to achieve encoding signals and also proves the feasibility of the proposal in real-time implementation. Simulations are performed on FPGA. The results present a good agreement. In many engineering applications, the detection of optical signals is inescapable as well as the synchronization of its signals for the transmission of the stimuli. These results could be useful for the designer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research has introduced custom beam shapes as a novel tool to stabilize laser-based powder bed fusion of metals (PBF-LB/M) and laser welding. To facilitate beam shaping in the future, new processes must be developed. However, the process development in PBF-LB/M and laser welding is time-consuming due to its empirical and iterative approach. In the center of this procedure stands the ex situ analysis of test specimens. The process development could be significantly accelerated by replacing the physical ex situ analysis with digital in situ data analysis. Therefore, this work investigates the possibility of an in situ data-based process characterization under process-near conditions for laser welding and PBF-LB/M. For this, the changes in the degree of absorption over a stepwise increase in laser power are studied for various combinations of laser spot size and beam profiles. The measurements are taken using an integrating sphere within a custom-designed testing setup. Additionally, a high-speed camera was deployed. An intensity-dependent absorption signature was found that describes the changes in the degree of absorption over an increase in mean radiation intensity independent from the beam shapes. This absorption signature contains information about the corresponding process behavior and its characteristic trend. These results are the next steps toward in situ absorption-based process characterization for accelerating process development in PBF-LB/M and laser welding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring effective strategies for improving the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity of transition metal phosphides is of vital importance for boosting hydrogen production via water electrolysis. However, it is still a forbidden challenge. Herein, we introduced a porous and rough Pt-NiCoP catalyst by adding a minimal 1 wt% Pt. The as-prepared sample can deliver outstanding HER activity and stability in alkaline media. A detailed study uncovered that the strong coupling interaction between Pt atoms and NiCoP not only improved the electrical conductivity of the catalyst to facilitate electron transfer but also ensured the exposure of rich active sites. Moreover, Pt atoms can also activate the Ni/Co sites, reduce the water dissociation energy barrier, and then optimize the hydrogen binding energy of NiCoP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Across the wide range of land vertebrate species, spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SOAE) are common, but not always found. The reasons for the differences between species of the various groups in their emission patterns are often not well understood, particularly within mammals. This review examines the question as to what determines in mammals whether SOAE are emitted or not, and suggests that the coupling between hair-cell regions diminishes when the space constant of frequency distribution becomes larger. The reduced coupling is assumed to result in a greater likelihood of SOAE being emitted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to compare the coordination patterns and levels of coordination variability of healthy and injured runners with iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS). Sixty runners divided into four groups (15 healthy males, 15 healthy females, 15 males with ITBS and 15 females with ITBS) ran at a steady and freely chosen pace on an over-ground track, and their coordination patterns of the lower limbs were calculated during 10 running stances using the vector coding technique. Both male and female runners with ITBS showed a greater dominance of the pelvis segment and the anti—phase patterns in the frontal plane thigh—pelvis coupling (p = 0.001, η2 = 0.36). In addition, injured female runners showed a greater hip adduction dominance, whereas injured males presented a greater anti—phase pattern in the transverse plane—frontal plane hip coupling (p = 0.003, η2 = 0.08). The levels of coordination variability during running stance did not change between ITBS injured and healthy runners in any of the couplings. Currently injured runners with ITBS appeared to present altered coordination patterns on the hip couplings that were partly dependent on gender but did not lead to changes in the coordination variability levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As ultra‐high‐definition displays have gained popularity, mitigating the horizontal crosstalk effect in 8K LCD panels is crucial. High display resolution requires narrower signal line integration, intensifying the coupling effect. Traditional methods like Vcom feedback and increasing analog voltage drain‐drain (AVDD) load are slower and less accurate, leading to increased power consumption. In response, we propose an advanced digital signal compensation method. In this study, we developed a predictive model and investigated the intricate relationships among AVDD, Vcom, and storage capacity (Cst) ripples on horizontal crosstalk. Optimizing the ripple change (∆G) by varying the compensation coefficient (a) and decay ratio (τ) significantly reduces crosstalk effects. The digital compensation method allows rapid and precise compensation without delays, reducing horizontal crosstalk in 8K LCD panels from 4% to below 0.9%. This surpasses the requirement of minimizing crosstalk to less than 2%, substantially enhancing the image quality of high‐resolution displays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Coupling between left ventricle (LV) and left atrium (LA) plays a central role in the process of cardiac remodeling during aging and development of cardiac disease. The hydraulic force (HyF) is related to variation in size between LV and LA. The objectives of this study were to: (1) derive an estimate of left atrioventricular HyF using cine- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in healthy subjects with a wide age range, and (2) study its relationship with age and conventional diastolic function parameters, as estimated by reference echocardiography. Methods: We studied 119 healthy volunteers (mean age 44 ± 17 years, 58 women) who underwent Doppler echocardiography and MRI on the same day. Conventional transmitral flow early (E) and late (A) LV filling peak velocities as well as mitral annulus diastolic longitudinal peak velocity (E') were derived from echocardiography. MRI cine SSFP images in longitudinal two and four chamber views were acquired, and analyzed using feature tracking (FT) software. In addition to conventional LV and LA strain measurements, FT-derived LV and LA contours were further used to calculate chamber cross-sectional areas. HyF was approximated as the difference between the LV and LA maximal cross-sectional areas in the diastasis phase corresponding to the lowest LV-LA pressure gradient. Univariate and multivariate analyses while adjusting for appropriate variables were used to study the associations between HyF and age as well as diastolic function and strain indices. Results: HyF decreased significantly with age (R²=0.34, p < 0.0001). In addition, HyF was significantly associated with conventional indices of diastolic function and LA strain: E/A: R²=0.24, p < 0.0001; E': R²=0.24, p < 0.0001; E/E': R²=0.12, p = 0.0004; LA conduit longitudinal strain: R²=0.27, p < 0.0001. In multivariate analysis, associations with E/A (R2 = 0.39, p = 0.03) and LA conduit strain (R2 = 0.37, p = 0.02) remained significant after adjustment for age, sex, and body mass index. Conclusions: HyF, estimated using FT contours, which are primarily used to quantify LV/LA strain on standard cardiac cine MRI, varied significantly with age in association with subclinical changes in ventricular filling. Its usefulness in cohorts of patients with left heart disease to detect LV-LA uncoupling remains to be evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The primary aim was to analyze any coupling of heart rate (HR)/arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) and regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rScO2) and regional cerebral fractional tissue oxygen extraction (cFTOE) during immediate transition after birth in term and preterm neonates to gain more insight into interactions. Methods: The present study is a post hoc analysis of data from 106 neonates, obtained from a prospective, observational study. Measurements of HR, SpO2, rScO2, and cFTOE were performed during the first 15 min after birth. The linear and nonlinear correlation were computed between these parameters in a sliding window. The resulting coupling curves were clustered. After clustering, demographic data of the clusters were de-blinded and compared. Results: Due to missing data, 58 out of 106 eligible patients were excluded. Two clusters were obtained: cluster 1 (N = 39) and cluster 2 (N = 9). SpO2 had linear and nonlinear correlations with rScO2 and cFTOE, whereby the correlations with rScO2 were more pronounced in cluster 2. HR-rScO2 and HR-cFTOE demonstrated a nonlinear correlation in both clusters, again being more pronounced in cluster 2, whereby linear correlations were mainly absent. After de-blinding, the demographic data revealed that the neonates in cluster 2 had significantly lower gestational age (mainly preterm) compared to cluster 1 (mainly term). Discussion: Besides SpO2, also HR demonstrated a nonlinear correlation with rScO2 and cFTOE in term and preterm neonates during immediate transition after birth. In addition, the coupling of SpO2 and HR with cerebral oxygenation was more pronounced in neonates with a lower gestational age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a study on a new method for a visible-light-induced three-component radical coupling. The researchers tested the reaction of selenocarbonates and selenocarbamates and found that increasing the stability of the acyl radical facilitated the reaction. They also explored the reaction under thermal and photochemical conditions and provided detailed experimental data. The research has potential applications in natural-products synthesis and provides insights into the mechanism of the reaction and its potential applications in organic synthesis. [Extracted from the article]

Circadian clocks are internal timing devices that have evolved as an adaption to the omnipresent natural 24 h rhythmicity of daylight intensity. Properties of the circadian system are photoperiod dependent. The phase of entrainment varies systematically with season. Plastic photoperiod-dependent re-arrangements in the mammalian circadian core pacemaker yield an internal representation of season. Output pathways of the circadian clock regulate photoperiodic responses such as flowering time in plants or hibernation in mammals. Here, we review the concepts of seasonal entrainment and photoperiodic encoding. We introduce conceptual phase oscillator models as their high level of abstraction, but, yet, intuitive interpretation of underlying parameters allows for a straightforward analysis of principles that determine entrainment characteristics. Results from this class of models are related and discussed in the context of more complex conceptual amplitude–phase oscillators as well as contextual molecular models that take into account organism, tissue, and cell-type-specific details. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is evidence that right ventricular (RV) contractile function, especially its coupling with the pulmonary circulation, has an important prognostic value in patients with left ventricular dysfunction. Aims: This study aimed to identify the best echocardiographic parameters of RV function and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) alone or in the form of the index of right ventricular-pulmonary artery coupling (RV-PA coupling) to determine the best predictor of 1-year major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), which were defined as cardiovascular death and cardiac decompensation in heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Methods and results: The study enrolled 191 HFrEF patients (mean age 62.28 ± 12.79 years, 74% males, mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 25.53 ± 6.87%). All patients underwent clinical, laboratory, and transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) evaluation, focusing on assessing RV function and non-invasive parameters of RV-PA coupling. RV function was evaluated using fractional area change (FAC), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), and peak tricuspid annular systolic velocity (TAS'). PASP was estimated by peak tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TRVmax) and corrected by assumed right atrial pressure relative to the dimension and collapsibility of the inferior vena cava. The TAPSE/PASP and TAS'/PASP ratios were taken as an index of RV-PA coupling. During the follow-up (mean period of 340 ± 84 days), 58.1% of patients met the composite endpoint. The independent predictors of one-year outcome were shown to be advanced age, atrial fibrillation, indexed left atrial systolic volume (LAVI), LVEF, TAPSE/PASP, and TAS'/PASP. TAS'/PASP emerged as the strongest independent predictor of prognosis, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.67 (0.531–0.840), p < 0.001. Reconstructing the ROC curve 0.8 (0.723–0.859), p < 0.001, we obtained a threshold value of TAS'/PASP ≤ 0.19 (cm/s/mm Hg) (sensitivity 74.0, specificity 75.2). Patients with TAS'/RVSP ≤ 0.19 have a worse prognosis (Log Rank p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study confirmed previously known independent predictors of adverse outcomes in patients with HfrEF—advanced age, atrial fibrillation, LAVI, and LVEF—but non-invasive parameters of RV-PA coupling TAPSE/PASP and TAS'/PASP improved risk stratification in patients with HFrEF. Variable TAS'/PASP has been shown to be the most powerful, independent predictor of one-year outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By the dimension reduction idea, overshoot for random walks, coupling and martingale arguments, we obtain a simpler and easily computable expression for the first-order correction constant between discrete harmonic measures for random walks with rotationally invariant step distribution in R d (d ≥ 2) and the corresponding continuous counterparts. This confirms and extends a conjecture in Jiang and Kennedy (J Theor Probab 30(4):1424–1444, 2017), and simplifies the related expression of Wang et al. (Bernoulli 25(3):2279–2300, 2019). Furthermore, we propose a universality conjecture on high-order corrections for error estimation between generalized discrete harmonic measures and their continuous counterparts, which generalizes the universality conjecture of the first-order correction in Kennedy (J Stat Phys 164(1):174–189, 2016); and we prove this conjecture heuristically for the rotationally invariant case, and also provide several examples of second-order error corrections to check the conjecture by a numerical simulation argument. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3 (SCA3) is a rare genetic ataxia that impacts the entire brain and is characterized as a neurodegenerative disorder affecting the neural network. This study explores how alterations in the functional hierarchy, connectivity, and structural changes within specific brain regions significantly contribute to the heterogeneity of symptom manifestations in patients with SCA3. Methods: We prospectively recruited 51 patients with SCA3 and 59 age‐and sex‐matched healthy controls. All participants underwent comprehensive multimodal neuroimaging and clinical assessments. In SCA3 patients, an innovative approach utilizing gradients in resting‐state functional connectivity (FC) was employed to examine atypical patterns of hierarchical processing topology from sensorimotor to supramodal regions in the cerebellum and cerebrum. Coupling analyses of abnormal FC and structural connectivity among regions of interest (ROIs) in the brain were also performed to characterize connectivity alterations. Additionally, relationships between quantitative ROI values and clinical variables were explored. Results: Patients with SCA3 exhibited either compression or expansion within the primary sensorimotor‐to‐supramodal gradient through four distinct calculation methods, along with disruptions in FC and structural connectivity coupling. A comprehensive correlation was identified between the altered gradients and the clinical manifestations observed in patients. Notably, altered fractional anisotropy values were not significantly correlated with clinical variables. Conclusion: Abnormal gradients and connectivity in the cerebellar and cerebral cortices in SCA3 patients may contribute to disrupted motor‐to‐supramodal functions. Moreover, these findings support the potential utility of FCG analysis as a biomarker for diagnosing SCA3 and assessing treatment efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-loop coupling mechanisms (MCMs) have been widely used in spacedeployable antennas. However, the mobility of MCMs is difficult to analyze due to their complicated structure and coupled limbs. This paper proposes a general method for calculating the mobility of MCMs using geometric algebra (GA). For the independent limbs in the MCM, the twist spaces are constructed by the join operator. For coupled limbs coupled with closed loops in the MCM, the equivalent limbs can be found by solving the analytical expressions of the twist space on each closed loop’s output link. Then, the twist spaces of the coupled limbs can be easily obtained. The twist space of the MCM’s output link is the intersection of all the limb twist spaces, which can be calculated by the meet operator. The proposed method provides a simplified way of analyzing the mobility of MCMs, and three typical MCMs are chosen to validate this method. The analytical mobility of the MCM’s output link can be obtained, and it naturally indicates both the number and the property of the degrees of freedom (DOFs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Micronanoelectronic Technology is the property of Micronanoelectronic Technology Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Leveling control for the platform with four or more legs is the technical mainstay in outrigger leveling of truck cranes, height and leveling control of vehicles, etc. Due to the "implicated coupling" between the platform and legs, the addition of one leg will cause a significant increase in leveling time, severe oscillations in leveling process, deterioration in accuracy and stability, and even leveling failure. For evaluating and selecting an appropriate leveling control scheme, in terms of leveling theory, three control schemes based on the dominant point chasing principle, That is, lowest-point regulation, cyclic regulation, and synchronous regulation, are studied, in which the virtual leg compensation is carefully considered. More importantly, coupling control schemes of independent geometry leveling (GCC), and synchronous geometry leveling and load uniforming (G&LCC), are proposed relying on linearized coupling models established by our team. In terms of verification, considering the elastic deformation reality, electro-mechanical bench tests are conducted for a six-elastic leg support elastic platform. Results confirm that the synchronous regulation has advantages from speed, stability, and safety. And the G&LCC scheme by synchronous regulation has obvious advantages in terms of leveling accuracy, speed, load controllability, and process convergence, and is of good application value for accurate, fast, and reliable leveling of hyperstatic-leg support platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract To reduce breast motion with a bra, we need to understand what drives the motion of the breasts, and what variables change as support increases. Quantifying breast-torso coordination and movement complexity across the gait cycle may offer deeper insights than previously reported discrete time lag. We aimed to compare breast-torso coordination and mutual influence across breast support conditions during running. Twelve female participants ran on a treadmill at 10 km h−1 with an encapsulation and compression sports bra, and in no bra. Nipple and torso position was recorded. Vector coding, granger causality and transfer entropy were calculated within gait cycles. In both bra conditions, a greater percentage of gait cycles was spent with the breast and torso in-phase (> 90%) compared to no bra running (~ 66%, p

The permeability of coal reservoirs is affected by its inherent properties, temperature, stress state, etc. Taking the 13-1 coal seam of Huainan Liuzhuang Coal Mine as the research object, the variation of CH4 permeability under the coupling of volume stress, temperature and gas pressure, and under cyclic confining pressure were studied based on the CH4 permeability test. The results show that the CH4 permeability of coal affected by the coupling of volume stress and gas pressure mainly controlled by the effective stress, and the greater the effective stress is, the lower the permeability is. The effect of gas pressure on CH4 permeability is limited by volume stress, but gas pressure has a greater effect on CH4 permeability than volume stress. The influence of temperature and gas pressure coupling on CH4 permeability is dominated by gas pressure. Permeability decreases with the increase of gas pressure showing a type of “U slide”, and the “slide” change is more obvious than the “U” change. The influence of gas pressure on CH4 permeability is greater than that of temperature, and the increasing gas pressure will reduce the influence of temperature on permeability. The cyclic confining pressure will cause irreversible plastic deformation of the pore fractures, which reduces effective seepage channels in the coal and decreases CH4 permeability. The plastic deformation produced by the first cyclic confining pressure is the largest, and the amount of plastic deformation gradually decreases with the increase of the number of cycles.

Due to antimicrobial activity, nanoparticles (NPs) in combination with antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) can be used to kill drug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. Nanosilver (AgNPs) has broad-spectrum and efficient antimicrobial properties, multiple bacterial inactivation mechanisms, and the ability to fine-tune the conjugation on the surface of antimicrobial peptide-conjugated silver nanoparticles (AMP-AgNPs), which results in higher biosafety of AMP-AgNPs. The review summarized the latest research progress of AMP-AgNPs conjugates and discussed the synthesis method, antibacterial activity, mechanism of action, hemolytic toxicity of AMP-AgNPs conjugates, as well as their applications in medical and food fields. The future development direction of AMP-AgNPs conjugates was also prospected.

Abstract Background Coupling between left ventricle (LV) and left atrium (LA) plays a central role in the process of cardiac remodeling during aging and development of cardiac disease. The hydraulic force (HyF) is related to variation in size between LV and LA. The objectives of this study were to: (1) derive an estimate of left atrioventricular HyF using cine- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in healthy subjects with a wide age range, and (2) study its relationship with age and conventional diastolic function parameters, as estimated by reference echocardiography. Methods We studied 119 healthy volunteers (mean age 44 ± 17 years, 58 women) who underwent Doppler echocardiography and MRI on the same day. Conventional transmitral flow early (E) and late (A) LV filling peak velocities as well as mitral annulus diastolic longitudinal peak velocity (E’) were derived from echocardiography. MRI cine SSFP images in longitudinal two and four chamber views were acquired, and analyzed using feature tracking (FT) software. In addition to conventional LV and LA strain measurements, FT-derived LV and LA contours were further used to calculate chamber cross-sectional areas. HyF was approximated as the difference between the LV and LA maximal cross-sectional areas in the diastasis phase corresponding to the lowest LV-LA pressure gradient. Univariate and multivariate analyses while adjusting for appropriate variables were used to study the associations between HyF and age as well as diastolic function and strain indices. Results HyF decreased significantly with age (R²=0.34, p

In order to further improve the prevention and control level of abnormal gas emission risk in coal mines, the feasibility of combining the prevention and control system of abnormal gas emission risk with immune mechanism was explored. On the basis of expatiating the structure, function and defense mechanism of the risk prevention and control system of abnormal gas emission and biological immune system, the coupling between the risk prevention and control system of abnormal gas emission and biological immune system is studied from the aspects of action object, action mechanism, function and corresponding relationship. The results show that the mechanism of immune system against antigens can be used as a reference for the prevention and control of abnormal gas emission risk. The risk prevention and control system of abnormal gas emission also has “specific immunity” and “nonspecific immunity”. The inducing factor of abnormal gas emission is “antigen”, and the occurrence of abnormal gas emission is “disease” produced in the system.