Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) is a group of orofacial pain conditions which is the most common non-dental pain complaint in the maxillofacial region. Due to the complexity of the etiology and often cyclical nature of the disease, the diagnosis and management of TMD remain a challenge where consensus is still lacking in many aspects. While clinical examination is considered the most important process in the diagnosis of TMD, imaging may serve as a valuable adjunct in selected cases. Depending on the type of TMD, many treatment modalities have been proposed, ranging from conservative options to open surgical procedures. In this review, the authors discuss the present thinking in the etiology and classification of TMD, followed by the diagnostic approach and the current trend and controversies in management.

It is found in this paper that ILR-RPCA-back CLR has two problems when dealing with the closure effect of geochemical data. (1) After ilr transformation, RPCA is used for processing. It can be seen from the double-plot diagram that the first principal component and the second principal component transform with the element sequence transformation, and the unique principal component cannot be calculated; (2) the score and the load are transformed into the CLR space through the U matrix. According to the formula CLR=ALR·U, the score result can correspond to the original order of elements. However, the load result obtained by the use of this formula cannot correspond to the original order of elements, and the result can only be obtained through the formula” CLR=UT·ALR”. In order to obtain the best element assemblage of porphyry copper deposit, this paper adopted the mineral assemblage of discovered deposits in Gangdese metallogenic belt for statistical analysis, and obtained that the element assemblage of porphyry copper deposit was Cu, Mo, Au, Ag, W, Bi. Then, by analyzing the singularities of the composite elements, the spatial overlay of the combined element is carried out, and C-A fractal filtering is applied to identify the anomaly and background. In order to facilitate comparison, the different minerals and ore deposit types have been analyzed, the results show that (1) in view of the porphyry copper deposits, recognition effect of combination elements are better than which single element, (2) skarn type copper deposit that it has nothing to do with the porphyry had a high degree of difference, but skarn type copper deposit related to the porphyry had a low degree of difference, (3) This method has a certain advantage over the single element method in porphyry gold deposits, and it can reduce the level of anomalies. Such an advantage is that in the aspect of anomaly evaluation of porphyry copper deposits, the level is reduced at the initial stage of evaluation to reduce the investment in such anomalies, (4) This method has limited ability to distinguish porphyry copper deposit from porphyry molybdenum deposit.

To investigate the differences in cadium (Cd) uptake and translocation among edible rapes and select suitable rape varieties for safe production, a field experiment was carried out with 25 varieties of edible rapes on a farmland polluted with Cd in the central souothern part of Hunan Province. The growing characteristics and Cd contents in rape tissues were measured, and the amount of Cd removed was calculated. The results showed that the growth of 25 rape varieties was not inhibited without withering or inconsistent changes in leaf and so on. The Cd contents in stem-leaf and root of rapes were in the range 0.05-0.26mg·kg-1 and 0.04-0.26mg·kg-1, respectively. Basing on BCF, the stem-leaf showed a greater capacity for Cd transport than root. And the total Cd removed by rape were 0.002-0.016 mg·plant-1. Except for plant height, BCF of soil available Cd from soil to stem-leaf, TCF of Cd from root to stem-leaf and Cd taken away by rape, there was no significant difference among edible rape varieties. Although Cd contents in stem-leaf of 25 rape varieties does not exceed the national safety standards, planting “Lvjin 1”, “Guanyou Qingjing” and “Guanyou brassica” not only reduced soil pollution but also allowed the production of safe leafy rape.

This paper presents an optimized energy management strategy for Li-ion power batteries used on electric vehicles (EVs) at low temperatures. Under low-temperature environments, EVs suffer a sharp driving range loss resulted from the energy and power capability reduction of the battery. Simultaneously, because of Li plating, battery degradation becomes an increasing concern as temperature drops. All these factors could greatly increase the total vehicle operation cost. Prior to battery charging and vehicle operating, preheating battery to a battery-friendly temperature is an approach to promote energy utilization and reduce total cost. Based on the proposed LiFePO4 battery model, the total vehicle operation cost under certain driving cycles is quantified in the present paper. Then given a certain ambient temperature, a target temperature of preheating is optimized under the principle of minimizing total cost. As for the preheating method, a liquid heating system is also implemented on an electric bus. Simulation results show that the preheating process becomes increasingly necessary with a decreasing ambient temperature; however, the preheating demand declines as driving range grows. Vehicle tests verify that the preheating management strategy proposed in this paper is able to save total vehicle operation cost.

A low-cost bio-mass-derived carbon substrate has been employed to synthesize MoS₂@carbon composites through a hydrothermal method. Carbon fibers derived from natural cotton provide a three-dimensional and open framework for the uniform growth of MoS₂ nanosheets, thus constructing hierarchically coaxial architecture. The unique structure could synergistically benefit fast Li-ion and electron transport from the conductive carbon scaffold and porous MoS₂ nanostructures. As a result, the MoS₂@carbon composites, when served as anodes for Li-ion batteries, exhibit a high reversible specific capacity of 820 mAh g^-1, high-rate capability (457 mAh g^-1 at 2 A g^-1), and excellent cycling stability. The superior electrochemical performance makes the MoS₂@carbon composites to be low-cost and promising anode materials for Li-ion batteries.

The aim of this study was to assess the best timing to perform arthrocentesis in the management of temporomandibular disorders with regards to conservative treatment. A systematic search based on PRISMA guidelines, including a computer search with specific keywords, reference list search, and manual search was done. Relevant articles were selected after 3 search rounds for final review based on 6 predefined inclusion criteria, followed by a round of critical appraisal. Eleven publications, including 5 randomized controlled trials and 6 prospective clinical studies informed this review. The studies were divided into 3 groups based on the timing of arthrocentesis: 1). Arthrocentesis as the initial treatment, 2). Early arthrocentesis, and 3). Late arthrocentesis. Meta-analyses compared the efficacy of improvement in mouth opening and pain reduction in the 3 groups. The results were statistically significant and favoured early arthrocentesis, followed by late arthrocentesis in terms of both improvements in mouth opening and pain reduction. All 3 groups showed improvement in mouth opening and pain reduction. We conclude that early arthrocentesis may be able to produce the best clinical results, while arthrocentesis before attempting conservative treatment may produce less favourable outcomes.

The 3x+1 problem is a problem of continuous iteration for integers. According to the basic theorem of arithmetic and the way of iteration, we derive a general formula for continuous iteration for odd integers. Through this formula, we can construct a loop iteration equation and obtain the result of the equation: the equation has only one positive integer solution. In addition, this general formula can be converted into a linear indeterminate equation. The process of solving this equation shows that the relationship between the iteration result and the odd number being iterated is linear. Extending this result to all positive even numbers, we get the answer to the 3x + 1 question.

In previous studies, the authors utilized a single-dimensional operationalization of species density that implies induction of hierarchy and time with certain topologies. For further clarification of induced fractals including the relation to renormalization in physics, here a theoretical development is proposed based on a newly identified fact, namely that scaling parameters for magnetization exactly correspond to imaginary parts of Riemann zeta nontrivial zeros. An analogy to magnetization and accompanying Fake Monster Algebra is invoked to lend support to this theory, along with empirical species density data for a wild Dictyostelia community. A master torus and a Lagrangian/Hamiltonian are derived expressing fractal structures as a solution for diminishing divergent terms in renormalization.

In recent decades, a number of high-profile cases involving fraud as research misconduct have been in the media and resulted in severe consequences for those convicted. According to the increased cases of allegations and coverage in the media, this reflects a heightened awareness that fraudulent actions exist. Nonetheless, the Office of Research Integrity data suggests that despite the growth in the number of the cases of allegation there has not been a commensurate increase in findings of misconduct. The purpose of this paper is to explore misconduct to better understand what it entails. An analysis of misconduct from the perspective of the definitions of allegations and fraud of is conducted and potential frameworks for understanding both are considered. The paper considers serial-positioning effects of primacy and recency on allegation phenomena, as well as supervenience theory and contextualism as a lens for understanding fraud. Discussion of the relational semantics of the core aspects of fraud and de facto grouping of forms of misconduct. It is concluded that the interrogative pronouns of “what” and “when” could be used to categorize forms of misconduct laying the foundation for the next paper that deconstructs the definition of falsification according to the Public Health Service.

The American Academy of Arts and Sciences suggested the definition of science literacy emphasize how crucial understanding the scientific process and the ability to evaluate conflicting scientific evidence is. The purpose of this article is to present an evidence-supported curriculum covering the fundamentals of logic, reasoning, and argumentation skills to address the emphasized basic knowledge, skills, and abilities required to be scientifically literate, which will prepare the public to understand and engage with science meaningfully. An analytic-synthetic approach toward understanding the notion of public is taken using a theoretical biomimetics framework that identifies naturally occurring objects or phenomena that descriptively captures the essence of a construct to facilitate creative problem-solving. In the present case, the problem being solved is how to reconcile what is meant by public, how it ought to be interpreted, the different levels of confidence in science that exist, and various understandings of science all with one another. The results demonstrate there is an inherent denotative-connotative inconsistency in the traditional notion of public that can be explicated through the concept of a fractal allowing for comprehension of the relationship between public confidence in, and understanding of, science.

We live in extraordinary times, where COVID-19 pandemic has brought the whole world to a screeching halt. Tensions and contradictions that surround the pandemic ridden world include the availability, and the lack thereof, various facial protection measures to mitigate the viral spread. Here, we comprehensively explore the different type of facial protection measures, including masks, needed both for the pubic and the health care workers (HCW). We discuss the anatomy, the critical issues of disinfection and reusability of masks, the alternative equipment available for the protection of the facial region from airborne diseases, such as face shields and powered air purifying respirators (PAPR), and the skin-health impact of prolonged wearing of facial protection by HCW. Clearly, facial protection, either in the form of masks or alternates, appears to have mitigated the pandemic as seen from the minimal COVID-19 spread in countries where public mask wearing is strictly enforced. On the contrary, the healthcare systems, that appear to have been unprepared for emergencies of this nature, should be appropriately geared to handle the imbalance of supply and demand of personal protective equipment including face masks. These are two crucial lessons we can learn from this tragic experience.

The will and intellect have been debated philosophically without resolution for centuries. It is for this reason that this article considers doctrines of the will and intellect of two 17^th-century rationalist philosophers, Rene Descartes, and Baruch Spinoza, both of whom were chosen as the focus for analysis because of their prominence and contrasting views. Our objective was to critique the doctrine of the will and intellect to develop an alternate theory that expounds on their previous work. A qualitative exploration was undertaken that compared their respective belief systems of Dualism and Monism. Despite the strengths of their arguments, an analysis of Part V of Spinoza’s Ethics and Discourse on Method and Meditations on First Philosophy by Descartes led the author to determine that both were partially correct in their positions yet consistent with one another. From this conclusion and building upon their work, this article presents the synthesis of the author’s alternate theory regarding the qualitative characteristics of both the will and intellect. An ontological argument against the existence of infinite entities as a corollary with the implication that neither the will, intellect, nor God can be infinite. While the limitation of the conclusions drawn is that they are dependent on the author’s philosophical framework, the originality of this paper is based on the author’s synthesis of one coherent theory from two philosophers espousing contrasting theistic systems and should serve as the foundation for future exploration and debate.

Saikosaponin (SS) a is a compound with various pharmacological properties and easily degraded into SSb1 and SSg in acid condition. In present work another two new degradation products of SSa formed under acid hydrolytic condition were detected and isolated by analytical and semi-preparative liquid chromatography technology, furthermore their structures were characterized as hydroxyl-saikosaponin a and SSb2 by spectral analysis, which is not only essential in stability-indicating method development and validation but also could be used as a worst case to assess the analytical method performance of SSa. Moreover their structural transformation pathways were also proposed.

In the present study, an attempt was made to induce rooting from single-node cuttings of hybrid aspen (Populus tremula L. ×P. tremuloides Michx.) with different concentrations of IAA, IBA and NAA during rooting. Among the three auxins used, NAA showed more effective induction on rooting as compared to IAA and IBA at the whole level. Thereafter, NAA was used further in experiments for anatomical and biochemical investigation. The results showed that it took 12 days from the differentiation of primordium to the appearance of young adventitious roots with NAA application. It was found that endogenous IAA, ZR and GA3 levels increased, but ABA decreased in cuttings with 0.54 mM NAA treatment. In contrast to the endogenous IAA level, NAA had negative effect on IAA-oxidase (IAAO) activity. Similarly, the decreased peroxidase (POD) activity, consistent with down-regulation of expressed levels of POD1 and POD2, was observed in NAA-treated cuttings. Whereas, NAA resulted in a higher activity in polyphenol oxidase (PPO) compared to the control cuttings. Collectively, the study highlighted that 0.54 mM NAA is efficient on rooting in hybrid aspen, and its effect on metabolic changes during rooting is discussed, which provide valuable information for propagating hybrid aspen.

This paper explores the rationale behind Booker T. Washington’s vocationalist philosophy of education for the then recently emancipated black population. Through the use of a critical thinking framework, an analysis of remarks from key speeches and his life according to scholars providing Washington’s prescriptive argument and rhetoric is undertaken. Despite Washington’s intentions, the argument for his vocational approach is demonstrated to be oppressive, myopic, and circular in its logic. The author proposes a framework for understanding the counterintuitive development of vocationalist philosophy based on the dichotomous nature of the human experience’s value-construct and context misalignment. Concordant or discordant dualities that result from misalignment are explained and how to reconcile Washington’s Vocationalism with opposing the philosophy of W.E.B. Du Bois due to equivalence or consistency of values with theoretical constructs is also discussed.

If students do not fully apply themselves, then they may be considered responsible for the result of being inadequately prepared. +- Nevertheless, student outcomes are more likely to reflect a combination of both effort and systematic problems with overall course architecture. Deficiencies in course design result in inadequate preparation that adversely and directly impacts students’ productivity upon entering the workforce. Such an impact negatively influences students' ability to maintain gainful employment and provide for their families, which inevitably contributes to the development of issues concerning their psychological well-being. It is well-documented that incorporating active learning strategies in course design and delivery can enhance student learning outcomes. Despite the benefit of implementing active learning techniques, rarely in the real world will it be possible for techniques to be used in isolation of one another. Therefore, the purpose of this proposed study is to determine the interactive effects of two active learning strategies because, at a minimum, technique-pairs more accurately represent the application of active learning in the natural educational setting. There is a paucity of evidence in the literature directed toward investigating the interactive effects of multiple active learning techniques that this study is aimed at filling. The significance of this research is that, by determining the interactive effects of paired active learning strategies, other research studies on the beneficial effects of using particular active learning technique-pairs will be documented contributing to the literature so that ultimately classroom instruction may be customized according to the determination of optimal sequencing of strategy-pairs for particular courses, subjects, and desired outcomes that maximize student learning.

Dynamic measurement error correction is an effective method to improve the sensor precision. Dynamic measurement error prediction is an important part of error correction, support vector machine (SVM) is often used to predicting the dynamic measurement error of sensors. Traditionally, the parameters of SVM were always set by manual, which can not ensure the model’s performance. In this paper, a method of SVM based on an improved particle swarm optimization (NAPSO) is proposed to predict the dynamic measurement error of sensors. Natural selection and Simulated annealing are added in PSO to raise the ability to avoid local optimum. To verify the performance of NAPSO-SVM, three types of algorithms are selected to optimize the SVM’s parameters, they are the particle swarm optimization algorithm (PSO), the improved PSO optimization algorithm (NAPSO), and the glowworm swarm optimization (GSO). The dynamic measurement error data of two sensors are applied as the test data. The root mean squared error and mean absoluter percentage error are employed to evaluate the prediction models’ performances. The experiment results show that the NAPSO-SVM has a better prediction precision and a less prediction errors among the three algorithms, and it is an effective method in predicting dynamic measurement errors of sensors.

This study aims to analyse whether Chinese companies' R&D investment affects management innovation performance. Also, this dissertation defines management innovation as diversification strategies such as technology and industry diversification and analyzes the impact of these diversification strategies. In particular, this paper analyzes whether R&D investment leads to technology and industry diversification and whether technology diversification creates a mediating effect in the process of R&D investment leading to industry diversification. The analysis results can be summarized as follows: First, R&D investment showed a significant positive relationship with industry diversification. Second, R&D investment shows a significantly positive relationship with technology diversification. Third, technology and industry diversification showed a positive relationship. Fourth, this study examined the mediating role of technology diversification, and it was confirmed that technology diversification plays a mediating role in the effect of R&D investment on industry diversification. R&D investment and business innovation play a key role in the sustainable development of enterprises, and the findings of this paper have important reference value for enterprises' R&D investment decision-making. The results of this study provide the following implications that Chinese companies improve business innovation performance by increasing their R&D investment, promoting innovative R&D, and improving technology diversification and industry diversification strategies.

Leucokinins (LKs) constitute a neuropeptide family first discovered in a cockroach and later identified in numerous insects and several other invertebrates. The LK receptors are only distantly related to other known receptors. Among insects, there are many examples of species where genes encoding LKs and their receptors are absent. Furthermore, genomics has revealed that LK signaling is lacking in several of the invertebrate phyla and in vertebrates. In insects, the number and complexity of LK expressing neurons vary, from the simple pattern in the larva of Drosophila where the entire CNS has 20 neurons of three main types, to cockroaches with about 250 of many different types. Common to all studied insects is the presence or 1-3 pairs of LK-expressing neurosecretory cells in each abdominal neuromere of the ventral nerve cord, that, at least in some insects, regulate secretion in Malpighian tubules. This review summarizes the diverse functional roles of LK signaling in insects, as well as other arthropods and mollusks. These functions include regulation of ion and water homeostasis, feeding, sleep-metabolism interactions, state-dependent memory formation, as well as modulation of gustatory sensitivity and nociception. Other functions are implied by the neuronal distribution of LK, but remain to be investigated.

Research on the development of new lightweight Al-Li alloys using selective laser melting pro-cess has great potential for industrial applications. This paper reports on the development of novel aluminum-lithium alloys using selective laser melting technology. Al-Cu-Li-Mg-Ag-Sc-Zr pre-alloyed powders with lithium contents of 1 wt.%, 2 wt.% and 3 wt.%, respectively, were prepared by inert gas atomization. After SLM process optimization, the microstructure and me-chanical properties of the as-formed specimens were investigated. The densification of the three newly developed alloys are 99.51 %, 98.96 % and 92.01 %, respectively. They all have good form-ability, with the lithium loss rate about 15 %. The as-formed alloy with 1% Li content presents good comprehensive properties with a yield strength of 412.6 ± 16.0 MPa, an ultimate tensile strength of 461.1 ± 11.7 MPa, and an elongation of 13.6 ± 1.1%. The three alloys exhibit a layered molten pool stacking morphology and have a typical heterostructure. The columnar crystals and equiaxed fine grains are alternately arranged, and most of the precipitated phases are enriched at the grain boundaries. The change of Li content mainly affects the precipitation of Cu-containing phase. When the Li content is 1 wt.%, there are θ phase, T1 phase and TB phase. When Li increased to 2 wt.%, T1 and T2 phases precipitated together. When Li reaches 3 wt.%, δ' phase precipitates with T2 phase. This study provides useful guidance for the future SLM form-ing of new crack-free and high-strength Al-Li alloys.

Traditionally understood in reference to distance education, cognitive presence may be defined as "the extent to which the participants in any particular configuration of a community of inquiry can construct meaning through sustained communication. The purpose of this paper was to create a blueprint for the reflective ePortfolio as the capstone project for my graduate degree. The blueprint was accomplished by adapting for use cognitive presence as a tool for both analysis and framing, which has never been done to the best of my knowledge. I considered myself to be a participant in a “community of inquiry” model and substituted the result of my interaction with each of the required instructor-course content pairings I took to serve as fellow participants in this community model. The result of my participation was understood to be the knowledge and experience that I have gained, which was reflected in eight of my academic research papers. These selected papers were the artifacts around which my ePortfolio was ultimately developed and demonstrated my participation as an active member in this community of inquiry constructing meaning through sustained communication.

Organ transplantation centers set criteria for candidate qualification, which has led to disparate healthcare resource allocation practices affecting those with a substance use history. These individuals are denied organ transplants by committees and healthcare providers who assign them lower priority status. The lower priority argument claims that healthcare resources should not be provided equally to individuals failing to share responsibility for not doing enough in addressing the diseases associated with substance use. The purpose of this work is to explore the interrelatedness between the ethics of a merit-based system of moral responsibility and lower priority setting involved in healthcare resource allocation pertaining to those with substance use histories. An integral approach to the argument against the lower prioritists with a focus on the relationship between different organ allocation practices affecting substance users and the justification for resource allocation practices in healthcare and transplant committees. Lower priority setting is challenged, and an argument offered in which substance users are assigned higher priority when relying on “doing enough” in a merit-based system of moral responsibility. It is determined that one cannot substantiate assigning a lower priority status since a lack of success in rehab does not imply a lack of effort. Additionally, neither to confirmatory behavior, nor to non-conforming behavior may freedom be justifiably ascribed in a merit-based system of responsibility because freedom to choose can neither be established a priori, nor a posteriori with respect to meritorious behavior.

The purpose of this paper is to critique the definition of falsification as research misconduct according to the Public Health Service (PHS) in order to better understand what it entails. In support of this purpose, the approach decided upon for analysis was philosophical including framing the issue borrowing from both mereological and epistemological perspectives. Through the consideration given to parthood relations of mereology, we gained insight from a cognitive imperfection standpoint about similarities that exist between the epistemic constraints on knowledge and the nature of violations concerning research misconduct. Findings from the examination of a case study include the significance of accuracy in representation in falsification as misconduct and the core dimensions comprising an instance of falsification, which are Deliberateness, Alteration, and Inclusion. Given that either behavior or actions must occur that violate these three aspects in order to qualify as an instance of misconduct under falsification, the author proposes that, at a minimum, any revisions made to the definition of falsification stipulate what he refers to as the Violation Imperative.

What began nearly a century ago with the contributions of Hollingworth and Asperger, among others, has developed into a field dedicated to the study of gifted individuals with a disability. These twice-exceptional (2e) people and their unique set of needs differ from those of their once-exceptional counterparts on either end of the spectrum and often remain unaddressed or are discovered very late in life resulting in longterm consequences. For those discovered, effective treatment options to improve their quality of life remain uncertain. The goal of the present paper was to determine whether effective interventions exist to improve domain-specific (i.e., social, emotional, or academic) outcomes for people exhibiting both signs of giftedness and disability. A query was performed using evidence databases TRIP and PDQ in addition to University at Buffalo Libraries holdings for "twice-exceptional," "Giftedness," "Disability," and "intervention." The hits were reduced to the four most relevant, freely available studies in English that were selected for critique. Despite the selected studies being found to share methodological similarities that were their strengths and conducive to comparison, they also had threats to validity that served as potential weakness. Not only can directly effective interventions improve specific domains for 2e individuals, but the effects of domain-specific interventions may carry over into another domain resulting in indirect effects.

The state of charge estimation is an important part of the battery management system, the estimation accuracy of which seriously affects the working performance of the lithium ion battery pack. The unscented Kalman filter algorithm has been developed and applied to the iterative calculation process. When it is used to estimate the SOC value, there is a rounding error in the numerical calculation. When the sigma point is sampled in the next round, an imaginary number appears, resulting in the estimation failure. In order to improve the estimation accuracy, an improved adaptive square root - unscented Kalman filter method is introduced which combines the QR decomposition in the calculation process. Meanwhile, an adaptive noise covariance matching method is implied. Experiments show that the proposed method can guarantee the semi-positive and numerical stability of the state covariance, and the estimation accuracy can reach the third-order precision. The error remains about 1.60% under the condition of drastic voltage and current changes. The conclusion of this experiment can provide a theoretical basis of the state of charge estimation in the battery management of the lithium ion battery pack.

Background: primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic cholestatic disease characterized by inflammation and fibrosis of the bile ducts. Cholestasis may lead to hepatic inflammation and fibrosis, and amelioration of cholestasis may allow recovery from inflammatory and fibrotic pathological damage. Prevotella copri (P. copri) intervention have been reported could significantly improve cholestasis and liver fibrosis in DDC-induced PSC mice model. Despite alone P. copri treatment could not recover DDC-induced inflammation, it increased the abundance of Lactobacillus murinus (L. murinus) compared to DDC treatment, which has been reported to have anti-inflammatory effects. The abundance of L. murinus still not recover to normal level may underlie hepatic inflammation in P. copri+DDC mice. Method: alone or in combination interventions of P. copri and L. murinus were used to investigate the molecular mechanism of improvement of PSC inflammation and fibrosis. Results: P. copri and L. murinus significantly reduced the hepatic inflammatory cell aggregation and inflammatory factor expression, as well as the hepatic collagen content and fibrin factor expression in PSC mice. Further analysis of phosphorylation and dephosphorylation levels revealed that P. copri and L. murinus combined intervention in PSC mice inhibited the activity of DDC-activated TGF-β1/Smad pathway, thereby reducing liver inflammation and fibrosis. Conclusion: combination of P. copri and L. murinus inhibits the TGF-β1/Smad pathway and reduces inflammation and fibrosis in PSC.

Lithium rich layered oxides (LRLO) are a wide class of innovative active materials for positive electrodes in lithium-ion (LIB) and lithium-metal secondary batteries (LMB). LRLOs are over-stoichiometric layered oxides rich in lithium and manganese, with general formula Li1+xTM1-xO2, where TM is a blend of transition metals comprising Mn (main constituent), Ni, Co, Fe and others. Due to the very variable composition and the extended defectivity their structural identity is still debated among researchers being likely an unresolved hybrid between a monoclinic (mC24) and a hexagonal lattice (hR12). Once casted in composite positive electrode films and assembled in LIBs or LMBs, LRLOs can delivery reversible specific capacities above 220-240 mAhg-1, thus beyond any other available intercalation cathode material for LIBs, with mean working potential above 3.3-3.4 V vs Li for hundreds of cycles in liquid aprotic commercial electrodes. In this review we critically outline the recent advancements in the fundamental understanding of the physico-chemical properties of LRLO as well as the most exciting innovations in their battery performance. We focus in particular on the elusive structural identity of these phases, on the complexity of the reaction mechanism in batteries as well as on practical strategies to minimize or remove cobalt from the lattice while preserving the outstanding performance upon cycling.

The Gulong shale oil reservoir is formed in freshwater to slightly saline lacustrine basins, mainly consisting of pure shale geological structure, which is quite different from other shale reservoirs around the world. Currently, the development of Gulong shale oil mainly relies on hydraulic fracturing, while the subsequent shut-in period for imbibition has been proven to be an effective method for enhancing shale oil recovery. To clarify the characteristics of fluid occurrence space and the variation of fluid occurrence during saltwater imbibition in Gulong shale, this paper carried out porosity and permeability tests on Gulong shale cores, and analyzed the fluid occurrence space characteristics and imbibition oil recovery based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). In the porosity and permeability tests, the porosity measured by saturation method was calibrated using NMR T2 spectra. Combined with the identification of fractures in shale cores using micro-CT and the analysis of porosity and permeability parameters, it was found that the permeability of shale cores was related to the development of fractures in shale cores. Through the testing and analysis of NMR T1-T2 two-dimensional spectra of the shale cores before and after saturation with oil, it was found that the shale mainly contains heavy oil, light oil, and clay-bound water, and they were distributed in different positions in the T1-T2 spectrum. Finally, the T1-T2 two-dimensional spectra of the shale core at different imbibition stages were analyzed, and it was found that the saltwater mainly entered the minuscule inorganic pores of clay minerals during the imbibition process, and squeezed the larger-sized inorganic pores containing light oil through the hydration expansion effect, thus expelling the light oil from the shale core and achieving the purpose of enhanced oil recovery.

Prosthetic attack is a problem that must be prevented in the current finger vein recognition application. To solve this problem, a finger vein living detection system was established in this article. The system first captures short-term static finger vein video by uniform near-infrared lighting, segments the veins by Gabor filters with current removing, calculates the multi-Scale spatial-Temporal maps(MSTmap) from the selected vein blocks, and trains the MSTmaps in the proposed Light-ViT network for the liveness detection. The MS maps are used to extract the coarse feature and Light-ViT is used to refine the liveness feature and predict the liveness result. Light-ViT, featuring an enhanced L-ViT backbone as its core, is constructed by interleaving multiple MN blocks and L-ViT blocks. This architecture effectively balances the learning of local image features, controls network parameter complexity, and substantially improves the accuracy of liveness detection. The accuracy of the Light-ViT network is verified to be 99.63% on the self-made living / prosthetic finger vein video dataset. This proposed system can also be directly applied to the finger vein recognition terminal after the model lightweighting.

A comprehensive review on symmetry and conditional symmetry is made from the core conception of symmetry and conditional symmetry. For a dynamical system, the structure of symmetry means its robustness against the polarity change of some of the system variables. Symmetric systems typically show symmetrical dynamics and even when the symmetry is broken, symmetric pairs of coexisting attractors are born annotating the symmetry in another way. The polarity balance can be recovered by the combinations of the polarity reverse of system variables, and furthermore, it can also be restored by the offset boosting of some of the system variables if the variables lead to the polarity reverse from their functions. In this case, conditional symmetry is constructed giving a chance for a dynamical system outputting coexisting attractors. Symmetric strange attractors typically represent the flexible polarity reverse of some of the system variables, which brings more alternatives of chaotic signal and more convenience for chaos application. Symmetric and conditionally symmetric coexisting attractors can also be found in memristive systems and circuits. Therefore, symmetric chaotic system and those of conditional symmetry provide sufficient system options for chao-based applications.

The main problem in pursuing multiple extended targets tracking is distinguishing the origins of the measurements. The association of measurements to the possible origins within the target’s extent is difficult, especially for the occlusions or the detection blind zone which cause the intermittent measurements. To solve the problem, a hierarchical network-based tracklets data association algorithm is proposed. At the low level, the min cost network flow model is used to extract possible tracklets from the divided measurement set. At the high-level, the trajectories are estimated from the tracks produced by the previous low level network. The experimental results show that the hierarchical network-based tracklets data association algorithm outperforms the JPDA and RFS-based method when the measurement is intermittently unavailable.

Poly-ether-ether ketone (PEEK) is a great potential thermoplastic in industry and medical treatment and health. In this work, the PEEK/GO and PEEK/MoS2 composites were prepared by a novel hot isostatic pressing method. The addition of GO alters the tribological behaviours mechanism, fatigue wear mechanism is predominant to PEEK/GO composites. However, the combination of abrasive and adhesive wear mechanisms is observed for PEEK/MoS2 composites and PEEK. The reason is the hardness and tensile strength of composites are increased with the appropriate addition of GO. The response time to stable friction state of PEEK/GO and PEEK/MoS2 composites reduces in compared with PEEK, which conduce to shorten running-in time, reduce energy consumption and improve the tribological performances of composites. The addition of GO and MoS2 can effectively decrease the friction coefficient and wear rate, and the optimal content of GO and MoS2 was 0.7 wt.% and 15 wt.%, respectively. The results indicate that PEEK/GO and PEEK/MoS2 are impressive composites that possess super tribological properties.

The rising number of unknown-type attacks on the Internet emphasizes the significance of developing efficient intrusion detection systems, even if machine learning-based techniques can detect unknown types of attacks. The necessity for innovative techniques is highlighted by the possibility that traditional machine learning techniques will not be sufficient for identifying these unknown types of attacks. In this research, we address this difficulty by proposing a deep learning-based solution: the log-cosh variational autoencoder (LVAE). When it comes to understanding intricate data distributions and creating freshly reconstructed data, LVAE inherits the strong modeling skills of the variational autoencoder (VAE). To better imitate discrete features of actual attacks and generate unknown types of attacks, this study develops an effective reconstruction loss term employing the logarithmic hyperbolic cosine (log-cosh) function in the log-cosh variational autoencoder (LVAE). When compared to conventional VAEs, LVAE exhibits promising potential for effectively generating data that closely resembles an unknown attack, a crucial capability for increasing the unknown attack detection rate. To categorize the generated unknown-type data, eight feature extraction and classification techniques were used. Using the most recent CICIDS2017 dataset, numerous experiments were carried out, training under varying amounts of real and unknown-type attacks. Our optimal experimental results outperformed several state-of-the-art techniques with accuracy and average F1 scores of 99.89% and 99.83%, respectively. Outstanding results were also shown by the suggested LVAE strategy for producing unknown attack data. In general, our work sets a strong basis for the accurate and efficient identification of unknown types of attacks and contributes to the development of intrusion detection techniques.

Pavement friction plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety of road networks. Accurately assessing friction levels is vital for effective pavement maintenance and management strategies employed by state highway agencies. Traditionally, friction evaluations have been conducted on a case-by-case basis, focusing on specific road sections. However, this approach fails to provide a comprehensive assessment of friction conditions across the entire road network. This paper introduces a hybrid clustering algorithm, namely the combination of density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN) and Gaussian mixture model (GMM), to perform pavement friction performance rating across a statewide road network. A large, safety-oriented dataset is first generated by integrating network friction and vehicle crash data based on the attributes contributing possibly to friction related crashes. One-, two-, and multi-dimensional clustering analyses, respectively, are then performed to rate pavement friction. The Chi-square test is further employed to validate and identify the practical ratings. It is shown that by effectively capturing the hidden, intricate patterns within the integrated, complex dataset and prioritizing friction-related safety attributes, the hybrid clustering algorithm can produce pavement friction ratings that align effectively with the current practices of the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) in friction management.

The future power equipment tends to take hydrogen or middle/low heat-value syngas as fuel for low emission. The heat transfer of film cooled turbine blade shall be influenced more by radiation. Its characteristic of conjugate heat transfer is studied experimentally and numerically in the paper by considering radiation heat transfer, multi-composition gas and TBC. The Weighted Sum of Gray Gases spectral model and Discrete Transfer Model are utilized to solve the radiative heat transfer in the multi-composition field, while validated against the experimental data for the studied cases. It is shown that the plate temperature increases significantly when considering the radiation and the temperature gradient of the film cooled plate becomes larger. It is also shown that increasing percentage of steam in gas composition results in increased temperature on the film-cooled plate. The normalized temperature of the film-cooled plate decreases about 0.02, as the total percentage of steam in hot gas increases per 7%. As for the TBC effect, it can smooth out the the temperature distribution and insulate the heat to a greater extent when the radiative heat transfer becomes significant.

Drug-target affinity (DTA) prediction is crucial for understanding molecular interactions and aiding drug discovery and development. While various computational methods have been proposed for DTA prediction, their predictive accuracy remains limited, failing to delve into the structural nuances of interactions. With increasingly accurate and accessible structure prediction of targets, we developed a novel deep learning model, named S2DTA, to accurately predict DTA by fusing sequence and structural knowledge of drugs, targets, and pockets using heterogeneous models based on graph and semantic networks. Experimental findings underscored that complex feature representations imparted negligible enhancements to the model’s performance. However, the integration of heterogeneous models demonstrably bolstered predictive accuracy. In comparison to three state-of-the-art methodologies, the supremacy of S2DTA became strikingly apparent. It showcased a noteworthy 25.2% reduction in Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and an impressive 20.1% decrease in Root Mean Square Error (RMSE). Furthermore, S2DTA exhibited substantial advancements in other pivotal metrics, including Pearson Correlation Coefficient (PCC), Spearman, Concordance Index (CI), and R2. These metrics experienced remarkable increments of at least 19.6%, 17.5%, 8.1%, and a remarkable 49.4%, respectively. Finally, we conducted interpretability analysis on the effectiveness of S2DTA by bidirectional self-attention mechanism, fully proving that S2DTA is a valuable and accurate tool for predicting DTA. For further exploration, the source data and code repository can be accessed at https://github.com/dldxzx/S2DTA.

In recent years, since flood disasters have brought immeasurable losses to the city, it is urgent to prevent and solve the flood of stagnant water. Considering the shortage of real-time and accuracy of hydrological analysis, Opencv technology is used in this paper to process the obtained data in real time. For improved Yolov5, BoTNet and GAMAttention Transformer are used to improve Yolov5 to enhance its ability of recognition and prediction to better identify surface gathered water. The prediction rate of the improved Yolov5 is 7.1% higher than that of Yolov7 and 1.7% higher than that of Yolov5.After that, contour preprocessing of the image is carried out through the cropping technology of the identification frame to eliminate relatively unstable factors. The principle of binocular distance measurement is used to measure the three-dimensional coordinates of the actual distance, better constrain the contour proportion of the picture, and then the Opencv technology is used to get the outline of the water, and HSV is combined with better color processing pictures for the identification of the water and contour generation, and the area is obtained to correspond to the corresponding parameters of flood to provide important help in flood prevention and storm drainage.

Blockchain technology (BCT) has the potential for sustainable development, enhancing business efficiency, reducing costs, and strengthening data security. Despite its potential, adoption among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is low due to the need for significant changes in technology infrastructure and the challenge of interoperability. A cross-sectional survey was done with 226 Hong Kong SMEs. The PLS-SEM results highlighted favorable transformation conditions as the most critical factor for SMEs considering the adoption of BCT. These conditions address both internal and external readiness for adopting the disruptive strategy. Other contributing factors to BCT adoption include trust in BCT developers, perceived usefulness and ease of use, government support, and perceived security. The research results contributed to the literature on disruptive technology acceptance, adoption, transformation conditions, technology readiness, and SMEs’ technology adoption. Government-supported policies and initiatives can promote BCT adoption, including educational programs, case studies, and resources for readiness. Financial support and regulatory frameworks can further encourage adoption. BCT developers can demonstrate the value of their systems, effectively communicate potential ROI and cost savings, and provide user-friendly interfaces to increase SMEs’ intention to adopt BCT.

The Paeonia suffruticosa, called as 'Feng Dan', has been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine. In our chemical investigation on the root bark of the plant, five new phenolic dimers, namely paeobenzofuranone A‒E (1‒5), have been characterized. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis including 1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS, UV, and IR, as well as ECD calculations. Compounds 2, 4, and 5 showed cytotoxicity against three human cancer cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 6.7 to 25.1 μM. Compounds 1 and 2 showed certain inhibitory activity on NO production. To the best of our knowledge, the benzofuranone dimers and their cytotoxicity of P. suffruticosa are reported for the first time.

This paper presents an improved droop control strategy for grid-connected inverter power stability and power quality under distorted with consideration of grid fluctuation and inter-harmonics. An instantaneous frequency without PLL and amplitude of capacitor voltage feed-forward control strategy is given to power stability control, meanwhile a grid current feedback control is given by an incomplete derivation with a high-pass filter, so that the harmonics and inter-harmonics current can be suppressed. These approaches can provide both good active and reactive power dynamic response under fluctuation of frequency, and rejection ability against harmonic and inter-harmonic voltage. Based on model of inverter, the proposed control strategies are designed in detail. Simulations and experiments are present to validate the effectiveness of proposed method.

Protein phosphorylation and ADP-ribosylation (ADPr), as two types of post-translational modifications (PTM), are the process of adding phosphate group and ADP-ribose moieties to proteins, respectively. Although both PTM types can occur on many amino acid types, serine is the most common. Serine phosphorylation (pS), serine ADPr (SADPr), and their in situ crosstalks (pSADPr) play essential roles in biological processes. Although in silico classifiers have been developed for predicting pS and SADPr sites, the classifier for predicting pSADPr sites is unavailable. In this study, we developed classifiers to predict pSADPr sites. Specifically, we collected 3250 human pSADPr, 7520 SADPr, 151,227 pS and 80,096 unmodified serine sites. Based on them, we investigated the characteristics of pSADPr sites and constructed three classifiers to predict pSADPr sites from the pS dataset, the SADPr dataset and the protein sequences separately. We built and evaluated five deep-learning classifiers in ten-fold cross-validation and independent test datasets. Three of them (e.g. Convolutional Neural Network with the One-Hot encoding, dubbed CNNOH) performed better than the rest two. For instance, CNNOH had the AUC values of 0.700, 0.914 and 0.954 for recognizing pSADPr sites from the SADPr, pS and unmodified serine sites.Therefore, it is challenging to distinguish pSADPr sites from SADPr sites compared to the other two. It is consistent with our observation that pSADPr's characteristics are more similar to those of SADPr than the rest. Furthermore, we used the classifiers as base classifiers to develop a few stacking-based ensemble classifiers to improve performance. However, none of the ensemble classifiers showed better performances, suggesting that the base classifiers have good enough performances. Finally, we developed an online tool for extensively predicting human pSADPr sites based on the CNNOH classifier, dubbed EdeepSADPr. It is freely available through http://edeepsadpr.bioinfogo.org/.

For adolescents, high aggression is often associated with suicide, physical injury, worse academic performance, and crime. Therefore, there is a need for early identification and intervention for highly aggressive adolescents. The Buss-Warren Aggression Questionnaire (BWAQ) consists of 34 items, and the longer the scale, the more likely participants are to make an insufficient effort response (IER), which reduces the credibility of the results and increases the cost of implementation. The study aimed to develop a shorter BWAQ using machine learning (ML) techniques to reduce the frequency of IER and decrease implementation costs meantime. First, an initial version of the short-form questionnaire was determined using Stepwise Regression and ANOVA F-test. Then, a machine learning algorithm determined the optimal short-form questionnaire (BWAQ-ML). Finally, the reliability and validity of the optimal short-form questionnaire were tested using independent samples. The BWAQ-ML has 88% fewer items than the BWAQ. It has AUC, accuracy, recall, precision, and F1 scores of 0.85, 0.85, 0.89, 0.83, and 0.86, respectively, and good psychometric properties. The BWAQ-ML can effectively measure individual aggression and can be used as a simplified version of BWAQ.

The interface of a structural system in the soil is usually unsaturated. A decrease in the shear strength of the soil-structure interface can degrade the structure, especially under humid conditions. Studying the shear characteristics of the silt-concrete interface using a shear apparatus. Suction-controlled ring shear tests were carried out on the silt-concrete interface for three interface roughness values. The influence of the matric suction (s) and interface roughness (R) on the shear strength index of the silt-concrete interface was analyzed. The test results showed that high values of s and R improved the shear strength of the interface, but the result was affected by the net normal stress (NNS). High values of NNS and R improved the strain-hardening characteristics. NNS, s, and R significantly affected the interface shear shrinkage. The internal friction angle of the saturated interface was smaller than that of saturated silt, whereas the opposite occurred in the unsaturated state. The cohesion and internal friction angle of the interface rose with an increase in R, and they were larger than that of silt. A shear strength model of the silt and interface was established.

With the integrated development of the Internet, wireless sensor technology, cloud computing, and mobile Internet, there has been a lot of attention given to research about and applications of the Internet of Things. A Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) is one of the important information technologies in the Internet of Things; it integrates multi-technology to detect and gather information in a network environment by mutual cooperation, using a variety of methods to process and analyze data, implement awareness, and perform tests. This paper mainly researches the localization algorithm of sensor nodes in a wireless sensor network. Firstly, a multi-granularity region partition is proposed to divide the location region. In the range-based method, the RSSI (Received Signal Strength indicator, RSSI) is used to estimate distance. The optimal RSSI value is computed by the Gaussian fitting method. Furthermore, a Voronoi diagram is characterized by the use of dividing region. Rach anchor node is regarded as the center of each region; the whole position region is divided into several regions and the sub-region of neighboring nodes is combined into triangles while the unknown node is locked in the ultimate area. Secondly, the multi-granularity regional division and Lagrange multiplier method are used to calculate the final coordinates. Because nodes are influenced by many factors in the practical application, two kinds of positioning methods are designed: the unknown node is in the positioning unit or not. When the unknown node is on the side of the positioning unit, we use the method of vector similarity. Moreover, we use the centroid algorithm to calculate the ultimate coordinates of unknown node. When the unknown node is not on the side of the positioning unit, we establish a Lagrange equation containing the constraint condition to calculate the first coordinates. Furthermore, we use the Taylor expansion formula to correct the coordinates of the unknown node. In addition, this localization method has been validated by establishing the real environment.

The fundamental objective is to study the application of multivariate sets of data in Gaussian distribution. This paper examines broad measurements of structure for both Gaussian and non-Gaussian distributions, which shows that they can be described in terms of the infor-mation-theoretic between the given covariance matrix and correlated random variables (in terms of relative entropy). In order to develop the multivariate Gaussian distribution with entropy and mutual information, several significant methodologies are presented through the discussion supported by illustrations, both technically and statistically. The content obtained allows readers to better perceive concepts, comprehend techniques, and properly execute software programs for future study on the topic's science and implementations. It also helps readers grasp the themes' fundamental concepts. Involving the relative entropy and mutual information as well as the potential correlated covariance analysis based on differential equations, a wide range of information is addressed, including basic to application concerns.

This study aims to evaluate the combined assimilation of AGRI infrared radiance and ground-based MWR (Microwave Radiometer) data for predicting short-duration heavy rainfall. The WRFDA 4.3 framework is utilized to establish the data assimilation interface. The structural characteristics of this joint assimilation approach are analyzed using a typical heavy rainfall event in the Kaifeng region of Central China. The findings indicate the following: (1) The joint assimilation of FY-4A AGRI and ground-based MWR data effectively corrects the initial moisture content in model simulations. Data assimilation significantly improves the simulation of 24-hour accumulated rainfall. Furthermore, the joint assimilation of AGRI radiance and MWR data outperforms assimilating either of them individually; (2) In the heavy rainfall stage, from the low level to the high level, strong upward movement occurs in the center of the rainstorm. The water vapor in the process of this rainstorm mainly comes from the westward air transport in front of the high trough. The water vapor is continuously transported to the heavy rainfall belt through this channel, providing sufficient water vapor for the maintenance of the rainstorm; (3) The combination of the interaction between high and low level vorticity and divergence in the atmosphere and the vertical upward movement, the emergence of low level jet and the generation of unstable energy in the atmospheric environment jointly lead to the occurrence of the rainstorm process; and (4) The terrain-sensitive experiment results show that, the existence of the topography of Taihang Mountain changes the precipitation in Kaifeng area, and reducing the terrain height will lead to a 50%-60% decrease in the overall precipitation of the precipitation center, and the precipitation range will also be greatly reduced. An increase of more than 50% in terrain height will lead to an increase in precipitation center, precipitation range and precipitation intensity, and an increase of 10%-20% in overall precipitation; An increase of more than 75% in the terrain height will cause the rain belt to shift eastward by about 0.5°E, and the precipitation center will shift significantly eastward. When the terrain height increased by more than 100%, the precipitation did not continue to increase, which was basically the same as the control test. This paper provides a valuable basis for further improving the application of FY-4A AGRI radiance and ground-based microwave radiometer in numerical weather models.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread over the world for more than one year. COVID-19 often develops life-threatening hypoxemia. Endothelial injury caused by the viral infection leads to intravascular coagulation and ventilation-perfusion mismatch. However, besides above pathogenic mechanisms, the role of alveolar edema in the disease progression has not been discussed comprehensively. Since the exudation of pulmonary edema fluid was extremely serious in COVID-19 patients, we bring out a hypothesis that severity of alveolar edema may determine the size of poorly-ventilated area and the blood oxygen content. Treatments to pulmonary edema (alcohol-oxygen vapor therapy and fluid management) may be great helpful for reducing occurrence of severe cases. Given that late mechanical ventilation may cause mucus (edema fluid) to be blown to the deep of the small airways, oxygen therapy should be given at the early stages. The optimal time and SpO₂ threshold for oxygen therapy are also discussed.

The effective Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system can improve the reliability, safety and economic benefits of microgrid operation. In this research, the lower central controller and upper WEB monitoring system are connected by the SCADA system which is as the hub of microgrid intelligent monitoring platform. This system contains a set of specific functions programmed by Java as a middleware which can provide control and communication between the central controller and the upper monitoring system. The system realizes the real-time data acquisition and storage, the control instructions parsing and transmitting, the microgrid security and stability, the load balancing and resource recovery of the microgrid. All that functions have been tested and verified in the actual operation.

Initial water content significantly affects the efficiency of soil stabilization. In this study, the effects of initial water content on the compressibility, strength, microstructure and composition of a lean clay soil stabilized by compound calcium-based stabilizer were investigated by static compaction test, unconfined compression test, optical microscope observations, environment scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy. The results indicate that as the initial water content increases in the range studied, both the compaction energy and the maximum compaction force decrease linearly and there are less soil aggregates or agglomerations, and smaller proportion of large pores in the compacted mixture structure. In addition, for specimens cured with or without external water supply and under different compaction degrees, the variation law of the unconfined compressive strength with initial water content is different and the highest strength value is obtained at various initial water contents. With the increase of initial water content, the percentage of oxygen element tends to increase in the reaction products of the calcium-based stabilizer, whereas the crystalline mineral of the soil did not change obviously.

The special affine Fourier transform (SAFT) is a useful and powerful analyzing tool in signal processing, optics and communications. In this paper, we mainly discuss the randomized nonuniform sampling and reconstruction for random signals bandlimited in the SAFT domain. First, we show that the nonuniform sampling is identical to the uniform sampling after a pre-filter in the sense of second order statistic characters. Then, we propose an approximate reconstruction based on sinc interpolation for the nonuniform sampling of random signals bandlimited in the SAFT domain. Finally, we give the mean square error estimate for the proposed approximate recovery approach.

In Taiwan, mountainous areas account for approximately two-thirds of the total area. The steep terrain and concentrated rainfall during typhoons cause landslides, which pose a considerable threat to mountain settlements. Therefore, models for analyzing rainfall-induced landslide hazards are urgently required to ensure adequate land use in mountainous areas. In this study, focusing on Pingtung County in southern Taiwan, we developed a landslide hazard index (IRL) to land use. Using FORMOSA-2 and SPOT-5 satellite images, data were collected before and after four typhoons (one in 2009 and three in 2013). The ArcGIS random tree classifier was used for interpreting satellite images to explore surface changes and disasters, which were used to analyze slope disturbances. The product of the maximum 3-h rolling rainfall intensity and effective accumulated rainfall was used as a rainfall trigger index (IRT). Considering environmental and slope disturbance factors, an index of slope environmental strength potential (ISESP) was developed through logistic regression (LR). Landslide hazard to land use was estimated using IRT and ISESP. The average coefficient of agreement (Kappa) was approximately 0.71 (medium to high accuracy); the overall accuracy of slope environmental strength potential analysis was approximately 80.4%. At a constant ISESP, IRT increased with the increasing hazard potential of rainfall-induced landslides. Furthermore, IRT and ISESP were positively correlated with landslide occurrence. When large ISESP values occur (e.g., fragile environment and high land development intensity), small IRT values may induce landslides.

We tested selecting data randomly or proportionally in class imbalanced sample. Collecting data into the training and test set according to the initial ratio of QSOs, galaxies and stars were rec-ommended. We experimented using the original imbalanced data or introducing the class balance technologies: SMOTE, SMOTEENN, SMOTETomek, ADASYN, BorderlineSMOTE1, Border-lineSMOTE2, and RandomUndersampling. The SMOTEENN performed the best in the Sample 1. The LightGBM, CatBoost, XGBoost, and RF were compared when adopting the SMOTEENN using the petroMag_u, petroMag_g, petroMag_r, petroMag_i, petroMag_z, J, H, Ks, W1, W2, W3, W4 magnitudes as features. All of the precisions or recalls exceeded 0.94. The RF cost a little more time than the other three algorithms, but resulted in the best evaluating indicators. Utilizing the SMOTEENN +RF technology, the precision, recall and f1-score for QSOs (galaxies, stars) could achieve 0.98 (0.99, 0.98), 0.99 (0.96, 1.00), 0.98 (0.97, 0.99) respectively in Sample 1. Utilizing the SMOTEENN +RF technology, the precision, recall and f1-score for QSOs (galaxies, stars) could achieve 0.94 (0.96, 0.96), 0.98 (0.90, 0.97), 0.96 (0.93, 0.97) using the petroMag_u, petroMag_g, petroMag_r, petroMag_i, petroMag_z, W1, W2, W3, W4 magnitudes as features.

The spiral tube heat exchange is widely used in large-scale liquefaction process. However, the research on the friction pressure drop of the two-phase flow in the spiral tube is limited, especially for the offshore sloshing condition. In this paper, an experimental system is designed and built, and the effects of sloshing form (roll, pitch, heave), sloshing period (5-15s), mass flux (200-800 kg/(m2·s)), vapor quality (0.3-0.9) and operating pressure (2-4 MPa) on friction pressure drop of methane/ethane (C1/C2) mixture in spiral tube are studied. The result shows that the growth rate of time-averaged friction pressure drop during condensation under sloshing condition is less than 0, which indicates that sloshing will lead to drag reduction. And under the three sloshing parameters, the growth rate of time-averaged friction pressure drop of C1/C2 is reduced by-5.99%%, 5.97% and -6.70% respectively.

This study surveyed the variation in Perfluorinated Compounds (PFCs) concentration entering urban wastewater treatment plants and proposed an optimal PFCS treatment method. The PFCS concentration in influent was shown to be affected by the types of industries and operating rate. The concentration of PFCs in the wastewater treatment effluent was slightly lower than that of influent. Thus, PFCs were considered to have barely been removed by the existing biological treatments. The pilot test result showed that about 10% of PFCs were removed by coagulation and precipitation, and the ozone and chlorine test also showed that few PFCs were removed regardless of the amount of injection. The activated carbon adsorption test showed that the removal was significantly increased by the empty bed contact time, with about a 60% removal in five minutes and over a 90% removal in 15 minutes. Therefore it is determined that a more stable and higher PFCs removal would result from the continuous oxidation processes such as ozone and adsorption processes such as activated carbon rather than a single biological treatment.

Polymeric composites such as Poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK)/carbon fiber (CF) have been widely utilized due to outstanding performances such as high specific strength and specific modulus. The PEEK/CF components via powder-bed fusion additive manufacturing usually show brittle fracture behaviors induced by their poor interfacial affinity and inner voids. These defects are strongly associated with powder packing quality upon deposition. The particle dynamic model has been widely employed to study the interactions of particle motions. Powder property, bulk material property, and interfacial features of composite powders are key factors in the particle dynamic model. In this work, an efficient and systematic material evaluation is developed for composite powders to investigate their deposition mechanism. The discrete element method is utilized to simulate the dynamic behaviors of PEEK/CF composite powders. The powder properties, bulk material properties, and interfacial features of powders are calibrated and justified by experimental measurement, numerical simulation, and design of experiments. The particle dynamic model can well explain the powder flow behaviors and interactions. It reveals that the addition of short CF particles can assist the flow of PEEK powders and improve the packing quality of the composite powders.

The merge areas of freeway work zones include relatively significant safety hazards that have continuously led to urgent safety issues to be solved by the management departments. In order to make up for the cumbersome process of independent identification of rear-end collision and lane change collision on complex road sections, an appropriate identification method of traffic conflicts in the merge area of freeway work zone was explored, this study collected vehicle running tracking data from the merge areas of multiple work zones, using an unmanned aerial vehicle video technique. Based on an inter-frame difference method and the principle of a spatio-temporal context visual tracking algorithm, the vehicles were detected and tracked, and the coordinate data of the vehicles in continuous motion were parsed using MATLAB extension tools. Based on the behavior characteristics of vehicle conflict avoidance, a new identification method for evading severe traffic conflicts is proposed according to the initial velocity, acceleration and accident rate of section traffic. Then, a statistical analysis was performed on the spatial distribution characteristics of the traffic conflicts in typical merge areas. The impacts of the road conditions in work zones, vehicle factors, and traffic flow factors on the traffic conflicts were analyzed. A binomial logistic model was established to identify the main influencing factors. The results show that in the merge area of the freeway work zone, there are serious traffic conflicts between vehicles in the following two situations: (Ⅰ) v∈[7,13.5] m/s and a∈[-3.96,-0.65]m/s2; and (Ⅱ) v∈[13.5,24.3] m/s, and a∈[-3.96,-1.57] m/s2. The probabilities of serious traffic conflicts in the first and last 25 m of the merge area are greater than those in the other sections. The smaller the space between the upstream work zone and the merge area, the greater the probability of serious traffic conflicts between vehicles. When the average vehicle speed is relatively high, the probability of serious conflicts is the highest, i.e., by a multiple of 5.95 from the baseline. Moreover, the probability of serious conflicts between vehicles is higher for larger vehicles, i.e., 4.765 times that for small vehicles. The research results can serve as a reference for freeway management departments to improve the safety levels of merge areas during road work. For example, the probability of serious conflicts can be effectively reduced by setting up reasonable speed limit signs in the work zone, increasing the spacing between work zone and merge area, and appropriately diverting large vehicles.

Nowadays, considering the growing tendency of companies towards e-commerce as well as green production, and dual-channel green supply chain management has become particularly important. This paper investigates pricing decisions within a dual-channel green supply chain framework while considering the capital constraints faced by risk-averse manufacturer. Simultaneously, the impact of the degree of risk aversion, consumer green preferences, and channel preferences on the optimal decision-making process of green supply chain members is analyzed. We address the issue of financial constraints faced by manufacturer through bank loans and trade credit financing and compare the two cases. Our findings illustrate that trade credit financing outperforms bank loan financing in the dual-channel green supply chain. Moreover, pricing decisions under different models are influenced by consumer preferences and risk aversion. Specifically, the greenness of the product, wholesale price, and sale price exhibit negative correlations with manufacturers' risk aversion but positive correlations with consumer preferences.

A variable speed anti-tangling reel mechanism was designed to address the problems of tangling, hanging and rewinding of the tassel wheel and the high paddling loss in the current Chinese rape combine harvester cutting table. The kinematic equations of the reel mechanism were developed, and the analysis showed that the speed in the entry stage is low and the speed in the exit stage is high, and the attitude of the reel teeth change with the rape plant movement during the whole paddling process. A single-factor test and a multi-factor regression orthogonal combination test were carried out using the cutting table loss rate of rape harvesting as the evaluation index. The main and secondary factors affecting the cutting table loss of the variable speed reel were obtained as the reel speed, the machine travel speed and the ground angle of the frame. A mathematical model of regression of cutter loss and the main influencing factors was established, with the coefficient of determination R2 = 0.9918. The optimal combination of parameters for the variable speed reel was obtained with the lowest cutting table loss rate in rape harvesting as the optimization target: reel speed 25r/min, frame parallel to the ground and implement travel speed 0.7m/s. Field validation tests and comparative tests of cutting table loss of the two reels were carried out. The test results show that the regression mathematical model of the cutting table loss is more accurate, and the cutting table loss is reduced by 13.9% with the variable speed reel compared to the cam-action reel, and there are no problems with the paddle teeth hanging and tangling during the paddling process.

Wastes from social economic activities had great impact on water quality thereby limiting water usability for domestic purposes. Sewages discharge from people activities, usually consist of undesirable concentrations of soluble chemicals that infiltrate into the surrounding surface and underground water, and then constitute health risk to the populace. In order to investigate the concentration characteristics and health risk for the local residents in Nandong Underground River Watershed (NURW), eleven common heavy metals in the water body analysis were conducted. Health risk assessment (HRA) was taken to analyze eleven heavy metals of 84 water samples from surface and underground waters in NURW: 36 samples underground water and 48 samples surface water. Our results showed that the heavy metals concentration order is that of Fe > Al > Mn > Zn > As > Cd > Pb > Cr > Ni > Cu > Hg. Correlation analysis indicates that these eleven metal elements have certain similarity on material source and migration transformation. The health risks for local residents exposed to metal elements in the water of NURW mainly from carcinogenic risk (10−6～10−4 a−1) through drinking way, and the health risk of heavy metals exposed to children through drinking way was much higher than adults. The maximum exposing health risks of Cr in both underground and surface water were higher than the recommendation standard (5.0×10-5 a-1) from ICRP, and all the values over the standard (5.0×10-6 a-1) recommended by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the Dutch Ministry of Construction and Environment and the British Royal Society. The results of health risk assessment shows that Cr in the water of NURW was the mainly source of carcinogenic risk for the local residents, following by Cd and As. Consequently, it is necessary to control the three carcinogenic metals when the water was used as drinking water source.

Co-free Li-rich oxide is a promising cathode for low cost high energy density Li-ion battery but presents poor cyclic stability. To address this issue, CeO2 is coated on Co-free Li-rich oxide through a low-temperature aged process, resulting in a novel CeO2-coated Li-rich oxide compo-site. Due to the low-temperature aged process, a uniform CeO2 coating layer of 6 nm in thickness is successfully coated on Co-free Li-rich oxide. With this uniform coating, the resulting CeO2-coated Li-rich oxide composite presents improved cyclic stability as well as rate capability as the cathode of Li-ion battery. The capacity retention of the resulting CeO2-coated Li-rich oxide is enhanced from 67% to 85% after 100 cycles and its capacity retention of 5C/0.05C is enhanced from 10% to 23%, compared with the uncoated sample. Such significant improvements enable this low-temperature aged process to be helpful for the practical application of Li-rich oxide materials, not limited to Co-free Li-rich oxide.

In this study, we had investigated the use of high-pressure homogenization (HPH) as a novel pretreatment method for the extraction of sodium alginate (SA) from Laminaria japonica. Our results demonstrated that under optimal condition of 100 MPa HPH pressure, 4 cycles, pH 6.0, and 0.5% ethylene diaminetetra acetic acid tetrasodium salt (EDTA) concentration (w/v) for 3.0 hours, the extraction yield of HPH reached 34%, which was higher than that achieved by previous methods such as complex enzyme hydrolysis (CE), ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE), and complex enzyme-ultrasonic combined method (CE-UC). To further characterize the extracted SA, we conducted a comprehensive analysis using SEM, FTIR, MRS, NMR, XRD, TGA, and T-AOC assay. Our findings revealed the following: 1) HPH treatment significantly disrupted the structure of L. japonica cells and reduced their crystallinity to 76.27%, the lowest among all pretreatment samples; 2) the extracted SA had a greater tendency to form elastic gels; and 3) the antioxidant activity of HPH-extracted SA reached 0.02942 mgVceq∙mg-1, which was the highest among all tested methods. Based on these results, we concluded that HPH extraction not only increased the yield of SA but also enhanced its antioxidant activity.

The integration of transportation systems with land use through the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) model can effectively promote sustainable development in cities. By increasing the intensive use of land within the supply capacity of urban public transportation, this model can comprehensively improve the efficiency of urban transportation and land use, while also addressing problems such as traffic congestion and environmental pollution. To implement this model, a "Node-Place-Function" (NPF) framework is proposed based on the coordination degree between rail transit and land use in Qingdao. A comprehensive evaluation system is constructed to quantitatively assess the TOD level and comprehensive development level of land use around rail transit stations from three dimensions. By applying the NSGA-II genetic algorithm, a land use allocation optimization model is developed to maximize rail transit station accessibility, land economic benefits, and environmental comfort. The research results guide other cities in China to implement TOD in land use planning and promote coordinated development between urban rail transit and land use.

Crash prediction of the sharp horizontal curve segment (SHCS) of a freeway is an important tool in analyzing safety of SHCSs and in building a crash prediction model (CPM). The design and crash report data of 88 SHCSs from different institutions were surveyed and three negative binomial (NB) regression models and three generalized negative binomial (GNB) regression models were built to prove that the interactive influence of explanatory variables plays an important role in fitting goodness. The study demonstrates the effective use of the GNB model in analyzing the interactive influence of explanatory variables and in predicting freeway basic segments. Traffic volume, highway horizontal radius, and curve length have been formulated as explanatory variables. Subsequently, we performed statistical analysis to determine the model parameters and conducted sensitivity analysis. Among the six models, the result of model 6, which considered interactive influence, is much better than those of the other models by fitting rules. We also compared the actual results from crashes of 88 SHCSs with those predicted by models 1, 3, and 6. Results demonstrate that model 6 is much more reasonable than models 1 and 3.

The promotion of plant growth and suppression of plant disease using beneficial microorganisms is considered an alternative to the application of chemical fertilizers or pesticides in the field. In this study, a coconut-scented antagonistic Trichoderma strain LZ42, previously isolated from Genoderma lucidum-cultivated soil, was investigated for biostimulatory and biocontrol functions in tomato seedlings. Morphological and phylogenetic analyses suggested that strain LZ42 is closely related to T. atroviride. Tomato plants showed increased aerial and root dry weights in greenhouse trials after treatment with T. atroviride LZ42 formulated in talc, indicating the biostimulatory function of this fungus. T. atroviride LZ42 effectively suppressed Fusarium wilt disease in tomato seedlings, with an 82.69% control efficiency, which is similar to that of fungicide treatment. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by T. atroviride LZ42 were found to affect the primary root growth direction and promote the root growth of tomato seedlings in root Y-tube olfactometer assays. The fungal VOCs from T. atroviride LZ42 were observed to significantly inhibit F. oxysporum in a sandwiched Petri dish assay. SPME-GC-MS analysis revealed several VOCs emitted by T. atroviride LZ42; the dominant compound was tentatively identified as 6-pentyl-2H-pyran-2-one (6-PP). 6-PP exhibited a stronger ability to influence the direction of the primary roots of tomato seedlings but not the length of the primary roots. The inhibitory effect of 6-PP on F. oxysporum was the highest among the tested pure VOCs, showing a 50% effective concentration (EC50) of 5.76 μL mL-1 headspace. In conclusion, T. atroviride LZ42, which emits VOCs with multiple functions, is a promising agent for the biostimulation of vegetable plants and integrated management of Fusarium wilt disease.

In order to quickly develop a multi ship collaborative collision avoidance plan in multi ship encounter scenarios, a multi ship collision avoidance decision model is proposed in accordance with the requirements of the International Maritime Collision Avoidance Regulations, taking into account the collision avoidance operations in multi ship encounter scenarios. Firstly, the collision risk between ships is determined by the closest encounter distance (DCPA) and closest encounter time (TCPA). Secondly, a decision objective function is established based on rules, degree of ship deviation, and ship risk. Finally, the prediction mechanism is used to calculate the minimum value of the objective function and complete the collision avoidance decision. The simulation results show that in the scenario of multiple ship encounters, the collision avoidance model can achieve safe collision avoidance with a smaller steering frequency and a shorter col-lision avoidance time. The proposed multi ship collision avoidance model can provide reference for collision avoidance decision-making in multi ship encounter scenarios, which helps to im-prove the collision avoidance efficiency in multi ship collision avoidance

Digital twin, an innovative technology propelled by data and models, plays a seminal role in the digital transformation and intelligent upgrade of ships. This study introduces a digital twin methodology for real-time monitoring of ship structure deformation fields, based on finite discrete strain data, and a visualization tool framework is developed using virtual reality technology. First, the inverse Finite Element Method (iFEM) is employed to derive the deformation field of the ship structure in real time via sensor strain data. Secondly, the deformation field data obtained based on the iFEM algorithm is converted into general visualization data conducive to interpretation within VR applications. Lastly, a digital twin software tool is built to enable synchronous response and interaction between the virtual scene and the physical scene, directly superposing particular virtual objects (data acquired by sensors, CAD virtual models, and deformation field cloud images) onto the physical scene in real-time. The digital twin tool embodies a virtual reality visualization system framework integrating physical data measurement, reconstruction, analysis, expression, storage, rendering and interaction of deformation field data. Through practical application, the flexibility, effectiveness and compatibility of the developed prototype tool are verified. According to the results, the system can enhance the efficiency of scientific communication, model validation, and interdisciplinary sharing during the analysis and evaluation of mechanical properties of ship structures.

Efforts to enhance quality control (QC) practices in chip seal construction have predominantly relied on single surface frictional metrics such as mean profile depth (MPD) or friction number. These metrics assess chip seal quality by targeting issues such as aggregate loss or excessive bleeding, which may yield low friction numbers or texture depths. However, aggregate loss particularly due to snowplow operations doesn't always result in slippery conditions and may lead to uneven surfaces. The correlation between higher MPD or friction number and superior chip seal quality isn't straightforward. This research introduces an innovative machine learning-based approach to enhance chip seal QC. Using a hybrid DBSCAN-Isolation Forest model, anomaly detection is conducted on a dataset comprising 183,794 20-meter MPD measurements from actual chip seal projects across six districts in Indiana. This results in typical 20 m-segment MPD ranges of [0.9, 1.9], [0.6, 2.1], [0.3, 1.3], [1.0, 1.7], [0.6, 1.9], and [1.0, 2.3] for the respective six districts in Indiana. A two-step QC procedure tailored for chip seal evaluation is proposed. The first step calculates outlier percentages across 1-mile segments, with an established limit of 25% outlier segments per wheel track. The second step assesses unqualified rates across projects, setting a threshold of 50% for 1-mile unqualified wheel track segments. While the results are data-specific, this framework offers pavement construction practitioners a foundational QC standard for chip seal projects.

To deal with the uncertainties in modeling offshore wind turbines, we proposed a parameter inversion method for the pile-soil interaction model based on structural health monitoring results and the numerical model. The proposed parameter inversion method has a numerical model, an objective function selected using both the numerical and identified results, and an inverse optimization using a random search algorithm in the assumed parameter space. The parameter results in the minimum optimization objective function are identified as the in-situ parameter. The proposed method is confirmed to converge after some iterations, whatever the initial parameter values are. However, different initial parameter cases may converge to slightly different optimal parameters, implying the pile results are sensitive to geological parameters. Moreover, a comparison with the original design results shows design redundancy or risks. Though the proposed method has several flaws, it can shed some light on the influence of uncertainties in offshore wind turbines, such as soil parameters in geological surveys.

The point cloud is a form of three-dimensional data that comprises various detailed features at multiple scales. Due to this characteristic and its irregularity, point cloud analysis based on deep learning is challenging. While previous works utilize the sampling-grouping operation of PointNet++ for feature description and then explore geometry by means of sophisticated feature extractors or deep networks, such operations fail to describe multi-scale features effectively. Additionally, these techniques have led to performance saturation. And it is difficult for standard MLPs to directly "mine" point cloud. To address above problems, we propose the Detail Activation (DA) module, which encodes data based on Fourier transform after sampling and grouping. We activate the channels at different frequency levels from low to high in the DA module to gradually recover finer point cloud details. As training progresses, the proposed Point-MDA can uncover local and global geometries of point cloud progressively. Our experiments show that Point-MDA achieves superior classification accuracy, outperforming PointNet++ by 3.3% and 7.9% in terms of overall accuracy on the ModelNet40 and ScanObjectNN dataset, respectively. Furthermore, it accomplishes this without employing complicated operations, while exploring the full potential of PointNet++.

To realize the diagnosis of compound faults in gearboxes at different speeds, an "end-to-end" intelligent diagnosis method based on a deep neural network is proposed, named efficiency channel attention-capsule network (ECA-CN). First, the process uses a deep convolutional neural network to extract fault features from the collected raw vibration signals, then embeds the efficient channel attention module to filter important fault features, then uses the capsule network to vectorize the feature space information, and finally calculates the correlation between different levels of capsules by the dynamic routing algorithm to achieve accurate gearbox compound fault diagnosis. The effectiveness of the proposed ECA-CN fault diagnosis method was verified by the composite fault dataset of the 2009 PHM Challenge gearbox, with an average accuracy of 99.63% and a standard deviation of 0.22%. In the comparison experiments with the traditional fault diagnosis method, the average accuracy of the ECA-CN method was improved by 4.62%, and the standard deviation was reduced by 0.58%. The experimental results show that ECA-CN has a more competitive diagnostic performance.

Background: The Micro Hand S robot is the first domestically produced surgical robot that has entered clinical use in China, and this is the first report of its application in colon cancer. Objective: This study aimed to validate the safety and efficacy of the domestically produced Chinese minimally invasive Micro Hand S surgical robot system in complex surgery, such as robotic complete mesocolic excision (R-CME). Methods: From March 2018 to December 2018, 30 patients with right hemicolon cancer underwent R-CME with the Micro Hand S robot system. The operative findings, morbidities, oncological findings and unique characteristics were summarizedwere analyzed. Result: 12 patients with right hemicolon cancer and 18 patients with sigmoid colon cancer underwent RCME with the Micro Hand S robot system. During the study period, the median operative duration was 209 (range, 180-255) min, and the median estimated blood loss volume was 35 (range, 25-75) ml. The median number of lymph nodes harvested was 42 (21-77), and the median postoperative hospital stay was 5 (range, 4-7) days. According to the Clavien-Dindo classification, there were no severe complications except for 7 cases of grade I complications and 5 cases of grade II complications. The conversion rate for all operations was 0%. There were no cases of 30-day readmission or 30-day mortality. Conclusion: Clinical application of domestically produced Chinese minimally invasive surgical robot system “Micro Hand S ” in selected colon cancer patients is technically feasible and safe.

Background: The Micro Hand S robot is the first domestically produced surgical robot that has entered clinical use in China, and this is the first report of its application in colon cancer.Objective: This study aimed to validate the safety and efficacy of the domestically produced Chinese minimally invasive Micro Hand S surgical robot system in complex surgery, such as robotic complete mesocolic excision (R-CME).Methods: From March 2018 to December 2018, 30 patients with right hemicolon cancer underwent R-CME with the Micro Hand S robot system. The operative findings, morbidities, oncological findings and unique characteristics were summarizedwere analyzed.Result: 12 patients with right hemicolon cancer and 18 patients with sigmoid colon cancer underwent RCME with the Micro Hand S robot system. During the study period, the median operative duration was 209 (range, 180-255) min, and the median estimated blood loss volume was 35 (range, 25-75) ml. The median number of lymph nodes harvested was 42 (21-77), and the median postoperative hospital stay was 5 (range, 4-7) days. According to the Clavien-Dindo classification, there were no severe complications except for 7 cases of grade I complications and 5 cases of grade II complications. The conversion rate for all operations was 0%. There were no cases of 30-day readmission or 30-day mortality. Conclusion: Clinical application of domestically produced Chinese minimally invasive surgical robot system “Micro Hand S ” in selected colon cancer patients is technically feasible and safe.

Advances in biomimetic triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have significant implications for electronic skin (e-skin) and human-machine interaction (HMI). Emphasizing the need to mimic complex functionalities of natural systems, particularly human skin, TENGs leverage triboelectricity and electrostatic induction to bridge the gap in traditional electronic devices' responsiveness and adaptability. The exploration begins with an overview of TENGs' operational principles and modes, transitioning into structural and material biomimicry inspired by plant and animal models, proteins, fibers, and hydrogels. Key applications in tactile sensing, motion sensing, and intelligent control within e-skins and HMI systems are highlighted, showcasing TENGs' potential in revolutionizing wearable technologies and robotic systems. This review also addresses the challenges in performance enhancement, scalability, and system integration of TENGs. It points to future research directions, including optimizing energy conversion efficiency, discovering new materials, and employing micro-nanostructuring techniques for enhanced triboelectric charges and energy conversion. The scalability and cost-effectiveness of TENG production, pivotal for mainstream application, are discussed along with the need for versatile integration with various electronic systems. The review underlines the significance of making bioinspired TENGs more accessible and applicable in everyday technology, focusing on compatibility, user comfort, and durability. Conclusively, it underscores the role of bioinspired TENGs in advancing wearable technology and interactive systems, indicating a bright future for these innovations in practical applications.

As a new plant slope protection technology, living stumps can effectively improve slope stability. The current study attemptes to investigate the mechanical characteristics of the root system of living stumps and their reinforcement mechanism on slopes by carrying out a three-dimensional living stump slope modeling test. Using ABS materials, a 3D model of a living elm stump was created by 3D printing and a slope model test was carried out. The reinforcement mechanism of the living stump was studied through a combination of model testing and numerical simulation. The results indicate that, due to the presence of living stumps in the lower and middle parts of the slope, the maximum shear stress area of the soil moved to a deeper direction. The stress state of the soil around the living stump was effectively improved due to the existence of the lateral root system.Living stumps in the lower part of the slope cross the potential sliding surface and transferred the soil shear stress gradually to the root system through root-soil interaction. Moreover, the tap roots and lateral roots of living stumps form a robust spatial structure that bears the shear stress of soil together, thus increasing the stability of the slope.

Graphene/silicon (Si) heterojunction photodetectors are widely studied in detecting of optical signals from near-infrared to visible light. However, performance of the graphene/Si photodetectors is limited by defects created in the growth process and surface recombination at the interface. Herein, a remote plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition is introduced to directly grow graphene nanowalls (GNWs) at a low power, which can effectively improve the growth rate and reduce defects. Moreover, hafnium oxide (HfO2) grown by atomic layer deposition has been employed as an interfacial layer for the GNWs/Si heterojunction photodetector. It is shown that the high-k dielectric layer of HfO₂ acts as an electron blocking and hole transport layer, which minimizes the recombination and reduces dark current. By optimizing the thickness of HfO₂, an extremely low dark current of 3.85×10^(-10) A with a responsivity of 0.19 AW^(-1), as well as a specific detectivity of 1.38×10^12 Jones at zero bias can be obtained for the fabricated GNWs/HfO₂/Si photodetector. This work demonstrates a universal strategy to fabricate high-performance graphene/Si photodetectors.

The water cushion depth of stilling basin with shallow-water cushion is a key factor that affects the flow regime of hydraulic jump in the basin. However, the specific depth at which the water cushion is considered as “shallow” has not be stated clearly for now, and only conceptual description is provided. This paper attempts to specify the best water cushion depth based on the flow regime of hydraulic jump and underflow speed; namely, in case of critical hydraulic jump in the basin, the best water cushion depth is located where the minimum distance to the bottom plate of the stilling basin is 1/5~1/4 of the water cushion depth. The theoretical analysis indicates, at different inclinations of discharge chute (θ) and depth ratios of inlet (m), instead of monotonic change, the Froude number (Fr) at inlet of the stilling basin with shallow-water cushion firstly reduces and then increases as the flow velocity at discharge chute inlet (V) increases; the parameters of inflection point (critical flow velocity and critical Fr) increase as the inclinations of discharge chute (θ) and depth ratios of inlet (m) increase. Such regularity is the theoretical basis for selecting representative study cases. The reliability of the large eddy simulation calculation results are verified by a model test; in the paper, 30 cases including five different Froude numbers and six shallow-water cushion depths are selected, for calculating the hydraulic factors such as flow profile, flow regime and flow velocity in the stilling basin with shallow-water cushion; and the varying pattern between the best depth of stilling basin with shallow-water cushion (depth-to-length ratio) and the inflow Froude number is obtained which indicates that the best depth of stilling basin with shallow-water cushion varies little as the change of the Froude number before reaching the critical Froude number; however, the best depth-to-length ratio of stilling basin with shallow-water cushion increases as the Froude number increases after the critical Froude number is reached. The study results in this paper are of reference significance to design and calculation of the stilling basin with shallow-water cushion.

A debris flows generation related to a poorly sorted mixture of soil, catchment topography and rainfall characteristic. Runoff of some depth on valley resulting from intensive rainfall can incur the sediments movement of beds or adjacent banks. The fluid flow in channel affected by rainfall parameters combinations, such as duration, intensity, cumulative rainfall, etc., is the key factor for debris movement. In this paper, the rainfall characteristics and occurrence conditions of debris flow in Xiongmao gully on July, 26th, 2016, have been explored, combined with field survey and indoor simulation experiment on the collected critical discharge parameters of debris movement. Further, debris distribution and the critical discharge characteristics have been analysed, by means of investigation on the catchment topography and occurrence cause of the debris flow, analysis of the critical discharge parameters on which the channel debris began to move, and K value clustering analysis method to characterize the rainfall pattern of the studied area, the discharge calculation of debris flow occurring in different rainfall patterns. The results have shown that, for the debris flow occurrence in Xiongmao gully, the debris initiation on the middle reaches of the gully provide the majority of solid particles for the disaster on July, 26th, 2016, and the upstream confluent provided catchment. Based on the relationship obtained from laboratory test, in which the calculated critical discharge was 43.8m3/s, less than the peak discharge (Qc =66.7m3/s), calculated by morphological method. In addition, it has been indicated that the dominated rainfall patterns of the studied area are first-quartile and second-quartile, that is, the rainfall is primarily at earlier or middle to preliminary stage of this time rainfall event. The critical discharge for the occurrence of debris flow on July, 26th was achieved 20a rainfall frequency, the larger runoff volume generated on shorten heavily rainfall. Based on individuality characteristics, such as distributed hydrological analysis, critical discharge and rainfall pattern of debris flow, the forewarning could be more efficient.

Sodium substitution Li1-xNaxMn2O4 cathodes were synthesized by a solid-state reaction method. The morphologies and crystal structures of Li1-xNaxMn2O4 were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. All Li1-xNaxMn2O4 samples exhibited a single phase LiMn2O4 spinel structure with good crystallinity. The effect of Na+ ions on the electrochemical performance of Li1-xNaxMn2O4 was investigated by galvanostatic charge-discharge test. The results showed that lithium substituted by sodium deteriorated its capacity retention but enhance its discharge capacity when it worked at large current densities. The initial discharge capacity was 114.2 mAh/g for Li0.94Na0.06Mn2O4, and 93.1 mAh/g remained after 300 cycles at a current density of 2220 mA/g in the voltage range 3.0–4.3 V at room temperature.

The strong coupling between individual quantum emitters and resonant optical micro/nanocavities is beneficial to understand light and matter interactions. Here we propose a plasmonic nanoantenna placed on a metal film to achieve an ultra-high electric field enhancement in the nanogap and ultra-small optical mode volume. The strong coupling between a single quantum dot and the designed structure is investigated in detail by both numerical simulations and theoretical calculations. When a single QD is inserted into the nanogap of the silver nanoantenna, scattering spectra show remarkably large spectral splitting and typical anti-crossing behavior of the vacuum Rabi splitting, which can be realized in the scattering spectra by varying the nanoantenna thickness. Our work shows a possible way to enhance light-matter interaction at a single quantum emitter limit, which can be useful for future quantum and nanophotonic applications.

With the increasing demand for medicinal plants and the increasing shortage of resources, improving the quality and yield of medicinal plants and making more effective use of medicinal plants has become an urgent problem to be solved. In the process of growth and development of medicinal plants, due to the threat of various adversity, there are problems such as nutrient loss and yield decline. Using traditional chemical pesticides to control the stress resistance of plants will cause serious pollution to the environment and even endanger human health. Therefore, it is necessary to find suitable pesticide substitutes from natural ingredients. As an important part of the microecology of medicinal plants, endophytes can promote the growth of medicinal plants, improve the stress resistance of hosts, and promote the accumulation of active components of hosts. Because it has a more positive and direct impact on the host, and can metabolize rich medicinal ingredients, so researchers pay attention to it. This paper reviews the research in recent five years, aiming to provide ideas for improving the quality of medicinal plants, developing more microbial resources, exploring more medicinal natural products, and providing help for the development of the research on medicinal plants and endophytes.

β-cyclodextrin-based star polymers have attracted much interest because of their unique structures and potential biomedical and biological applications. Herein, we synthesized well-defined folic acid (FA)-conjugated and disulfide bond-linked star polymer ((FA-Dex-SS)-βCD-(PCL)14) acted as theranostic nanoparticles for tumor-targeted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and chemotherapy. Theranostic nanoparticles were obtained by loading doxorubicin (DOX) and superparamagnetic iron oxide particles (SPIO) were loaded into the star polymer nanoparticles to obtain ((FA-Dex-SS)-βCD-(PCL)14@DOX/SPIO) theranostic nanoparticles. In vitro drug release studies showed that approximately 100% of the DOX was released from disulfide bond-linked theranostic nanoparticles within 24 h under a reducing environment in the presence of 10.0 mM GSH. DOX and SPIO could be delivered into HepG2 cells efficiently, owing to folate receptor-mediated endocytosis process of the nanoparticles and GSH triggered disulfide-bonds cleaving.Moreover, (FA-Dex-SS)-βCD-(PCL)14@DOX/SPIO showed strong MRI contrast enhancement properties. In conclusion, folate-decorated reduction-sensitive star polymeric nanoparticles are a potential theranostic nanoparticle candidate for tumor-targeted MRI and chemotherapy.

Conventional fertilization practices can lead to many ecological problems, such as nutrient imbalance, soil acidity, and reduced soil fertility in natural rubber plantations. To address these challenges, a field investigation was strategically carried out to substitute inorganic fertilizer with organic fertilizers consisted of six treatments, i.e., no fertilization (CK), inorganic fertilizer (NPK), 25 % replacement of inorganic through organic (25%M), 50 % replacement of inorganic through organic (50%M), 75 % replacement of inorganic through organic (75%M), and 100% organic fertilizer (100%M). The soil physicochemical properties (SOC, TN, AN, C:N, pH, NH4+-N, and NO3--N) and carbon and nitrogen converting enzymes (BG, NAG, and LAP) were all determined. The partial substitution of inorganic fertilizers with organic fertilizers (i.e., 75%M at surface soil layer) showed higher SOC (14.52 g.kg-1), TN (1.06 g.kg-1), AN (20.07 mg.kg-1), C:N (14.63), NH4+-N (10.63 mgkg-1), and NO3--N(11.06 mg.kg-1) than NPK and CK. Such increase in physicochemical properties in partial replacement of inorganic with organic fertilizers plots resulted from higher carbon and nitrogen enzymes activities (BG (143.17 nmol.g-1.h-1), NAG (153.96 nmol.g-1.h-1), and LAP (153.48 nmol.g-1.h-1)) compared to NPK and CK, and further the person correlation and RDA analysis confirmed a significant positive correlation between SOC, AN, and soil enzymes. This study presents a new strategy for assessing the impact of partially replacing inorganic fertilizers with organic fertilizers in rubber plantations, mainly by modifying the soil nutrient composition in tropical regions.

The goal of this paper is to fabricate innovative diaphragm headphones using graphene oxide paper (GOP) and GOP/epoxy nanocomposites (GOPC). Initially, graphene oxide suspension is fabricated, and the vacuum filtration method is adopted to make GOP. Then vacuum bag molding is used to fabricate GOPC from GOP. Hot pressing and associated molds are adopted to fabricate line-indented (GOPC-L) or curve-indented patterns (GOPC-C) on the GOPC. The performance of one kind of GOP and three kinds of GOPC diaphragm headphones is analyzed based on their sound pressure level (SPL) curves achieved by the Soundcheck measurement system. There are four important processing parameters that will influence the performance of the diaphragm, including material type GOP versus GOPC, indented pattern type, sonication time on suspension, and graphene weight fraction in suspension. Compliances of various diaphragms are measured by the Klippel LPM laser measurement system. The results indicate that effects of sonication time and graphene weight fraction on SPL of GOP and GOPC headphones are in reverse, and this is associated with their difference on compliance (modulus), mass, damping ratio, and microstructure uniformity. Either GOPC-L or GOPC-C seems to improve the microstructure of the GOPC, and leads to better SPL performance. The correlation between the previous four factors and SPLs of four kinds of diaphragm headphones is proposed by using scanning electron microscope (SEM) to examine the microstructure of these diaphragms.

The diverse physical appearances and wide density range of polymer bead foams offer immense potential across various applications and future advancements. The multi-scale and multi-level structural features of bead foams involve many fundamental scientific topics. This review presents a comprehensive overview of recent progress in bead foams preparation and molding techniques. Initially, a comparative analysis is conducted among bead foam characteristics of distinct polymers, based on their unique properties. Subsequently, a summary and comparison of molding processes employed for fabricating bead foam parts are provided. Beyond traditional methods like steam-chest molding (SCM) and adhesive-assisted molding (AAM), emerging techniques like in-mold foaming and molding (IMFM) and microwave selective sintering (MSS) are highlighted. Lastly, the bonding mechanisms behind the diverse molding methods are discussed.

Lung cancer remains the leading cancer killer worldwide. Early diagnosis can effectively increase the patient cure rate but existing diagnostic methods limit early lung cancer diagnosis. Therefore, development of a simple but efficient lung cancer screening method is important to improvement of both the diagnosis rate and the survival rate of lung cancer patients. In this study, ten photosensitive materials with high sensitivity and high specificity were screened accurately to construct a microarray sensor that can rapidly identify six types of lung cancer biomarkers in exhaled breath. Results from hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), principal component analysis (PCA) and difference maps showed that the classification of the analytes agreed with structure similarity laws. The detection results from parallel experiments and structurally similar analytes, in turn, cluster into a group; the fingerprints of the different analytes have specific response regions. The well-screened sensor chip fabrication workload and cost were both reduced by approximately two thirds, while the microfluidic device sensitivity and stability increased by approximately 1.3 times their corresponding values before optimization. The dual-channel device also offers real-time contrast detection and synchronous parallel detection functions and has potential application prospects for use in extensive screening of high-risk populations for lung cancer.

Natural products are an important source of antibacterial agents. Canthin-6-one alkaloids have displayed potential antibacterial activity based on our previous work. In order to improve the activity, twenty-two new 3-N-benzylated 10-methoxy canthin-6-ones were designed and synthesized through quaternization reaction. The in vitro antibacterial activity against three bacteria was evaluated by double dilution method. Four compounds (6f, 6i, 6p and 6t) displayed 2-fold superiority (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) = 3.91 µg/mL) against agricultural pathogenic bacteria R. solanacearum and P. syringae than agrochemical propineb. Moreover, the structure–activity relationships (SARs) were also carefully summarized in order to guide the development of antibacterial canthin-6-one agents.

In this paper, a class of coupled competitive neural networks, which subject to disturbance and discontinuous activation functions, is concerned. To realize the fixed-time quasi-bipartite synchronization, an aperiodic intermittent controller is initially designed. Subsequently, by combining the fixed-time stability theory and nonsmooth analysis, several criteria are established to ensure the bipartite synchronization in fixed time. Moreover, synchronization error bounds and settling time estimates are provided. Finally, numerical simulations are presented to verify the main results.

This paper aims to develop a hierarchical risk assessment model using the newly-developed evidential reasoning (ER) rule, which constitutes a generic conjunctive probabilistic reasoning process. In this paper, we first provide a brief introduction to the basics of the ER rule and emphasize the strengths for representing and aggregating uncertain information from multiple experts and sources. Further, we discuss the key steps of developing the hierarchical risk assessment framework systematically, including (1) formulation of risk assessment hierarchy, (2) representation of both qualitative and quantitative information, (3) elicitation of attribute weights and information reliabilities, (4) aggregation of assessment information using the ER rule and (5) quantification and ranking of risks using utility-based transformation. The proposed hierarchical risk assessment framework can potentially be implemented to various complex and uncertain systems. A case study on the fire/explosion risk assessment of marine vessels demonstrates the applicability of the proposed risk assessment model.

Two new dimacrolide sesquiterpene pyridine alkaloids (DMSPAs), dimacroregelines A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the stems of Tripterygium regelii. The structures of both compounds were characterized by extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analyses, as well as HRESIMS data. Compounds 1 and 2 are two rare DMSPAs possessing unique 2-(3′-carboxybutyl)-3-furanoic acid units forming the second macrocyclic ring, representing the first example of DMSPAs bearing an extra furan ring in their second macrocyclic ring system. Compound 2 showed inhibitory effects on the proliferation of human rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblast cell (MH7A) at a concentration of 20 μM.

Hydrogenases are iron-sulfur enzymes that catalyze proton reduction and H₂ oxidation with outstanding efficiency. They are considered blueprints for the design of transition metal complexes, e.g. as heterogenous catalysts in the context of H₂ production from water. Moreover, hydrogenases are biological model systems for metal hydride chemistry and proton-coupled electron transfer. Depending on the composition of the active site cofactor, [NiFe]-hydrogenases are distinguished from [FeFe]-hydrogenases. The former binds a hetero bimetallic nickel/iron site, embedded in the protein by four cysteine ligands. The later, by contrast, carries a homo bimetallic iron/iron site attached to the protein by only a single cysteine. Carbon monoxide and cyanide ligands (CO/CN) at the active site facilitated detailed investigations of hydrogenase catalysis by infrared spectroscopy, owing to strong signals and redox-dependent frequency shifts. However, the details of proton transfer have not been addressed experimentally.We found that specific redox state transitions in [NiFe]- and [FeFe]-hydrogenase can be triggered by visible light to record extremely sensitive ‘light-minus-dark’ infrared difference spectra monitoring key amino acid residues as shown in the ToC figure. As these transitions are coupled to protonation changes, our data allowed investigating dynamic hydrogen-bonding changes that go well beyond the resolution of protein crystallography. In [NiFe]-hydrogenase, photolysis of the bridging hydride ligand in the ‘Ni-C’ state was followed by rapid accumulation of the ‘Ni-SI_a’ state and/or ‘Ni-L’ state. Infrared difference spectra in various isotopic media clearly indicated the formation of a protonated cysteine residue as well as hydrogen-bonding changes involving the COOH group of a glutamic acid residue and a ‘dangling water’ molecule. These findings are in excellent agreement with crystallographic analyses of [NiFe]-hydrogenase in the Ni-R state and allowed devising a molecular precise model of catalytic proton transfer. In [FeFe]-hydrogenase, an external redox dye was used to accumulate the ‘Hred’ state over the oxidized resting state ‘Hox’. Infrared difference spectra of wild-type enzyme and numerous amino acid variants indicated hydrogen-bonding changes involving the COOH groups of two glutamic acid residues. Moreover, we noted the deprotonation of an arginine residue. Crystallographic analyses of [FeFe]-hydrogenase in the Hox state failed to explain the rapid proton transfer due to a ‘breach’ in the succession of residues. To this end, our findings facilitated a molecular precise model of ‘discontinued’ proton transfer.The comparison of catalytic proton transfer in bimetallic hydrogenases emphasizes the role of the outer coordination sphere. We suggest that the stable protonation of a nickel-ligating cysteine in [NiFe]-hydrogenase has a crucial influence on the preferred direction of proton flow and catalysis (i.e., H₂ oxidation). On the contrary, proton transfer in [FeFe]-hydrogenase involves an adjacent cysteine as a relay group that promotes both proton release and proton uptake. We presume that this causes the notable bidirectionality of [FeFe]-hydrogenase. These observations must guide the design of biomimetic compounds for the production or consumption of H₂.

Curcumin is the main secondary metabolites of Curcuma longa and other Curcuma spp, and has been reported to have some potential in preventing and treating some physiological disorders. This study investigated the effect curcumin in inhibiting high-fat diet and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia in rats. Twenty-six male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (170-190 g) were randomly divided into a standard food pellet diet group (Control group), a high-fat diet and streptozotocin group (HF+STZ group), and a high-fat diet combined with curcumin and STZ group (HF+ Cur +STZ group). Compared with the HF+STZ group, the HF+Cur+STZ group exhibited significantly reduced fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), alanine aminotransferase (AST) and aspartate transaminase (ALT) levels, and liver coefficients; in the livers of these rats, the expression of malondialdehyde (MDA) and Bax was downregulated, whereas that of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Bcl-2 was upregulated. Moreover, the liver histology of these rats was improved and resembled that of the control rats. These results suggest that curcumin prevents high-fat diet and STZ-induced hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia, mainly via anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic mechanisms in the liver.

In this study, the effects of various beryllium (Be) addition (Be-free, 0.1, 0.25, 0.50 wt.%) on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and corrosion corrosion of the Al-Mg-Li alloys were systematically investigated. The best performance was obtained in alloy with 0.1 wt.% Be addition. Trace Be addition promotes the grain refinement of the as-cast alloy ingot and contributes positive effects to the recrystallization, bringing improvement of tensile property. Meanwhile, the best anti-corrosion behavior is also presented at 0.1 wt.% Be addition, due to its potential to reduce the width of precipitates free zone (PFZ). As the Be content increase to an excessive level, the comprehensive performance decreases. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that adding trace Be element into Al-Mg-Li alloys has a positive effect on the comprehensive service performance.

Accurate lithium battery diagnosis and prognosis is critical to increase penetration of electric vehicles and grid-tied storage systems. They are both complex due to the intricate, nonlinear, and path-dependent nature of battery degradation. Data-driven models are anticipated to play a significant role in the behavioral prediction of dynamical systems such as batteries. However, they are often limited by the amount of training data available. In this work, we generated the first big data comprehensive synthetic datasets to train diagnosis and prognosis algorithms. The proof-of-concept datasets are over three orders of magnitude larger than what is currently available in the literature. With benchmark datasets, results from different studies could be easily equated, and the performance of different algorithms can be compared, enhanced, and analyzed extensively. This will expend critical capabilities of current AI algorithms, tools, and techniques to predict scientific data.

Li₂MnO₃ is critical component in the well-studied Li-excess cathode materials xLi₂MnO₃•(1- x)LiMO₂ for achieving high lithium storage capacity. In this article, the diffusion of Li ions in Li₂MnO₃ is studied using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation with well-behaved empirical force fields obtained by fitting against the crystal structure from experiment and phonons calculated using Density Function Theory (DFT). We have found two possible tetrahedral hopping channels, 0-TM and 1-TM(Mn⁴⁺) channel, which are differentiated by the face sharing octahedral cations. Simulation results show that the 0-TM channel is active for Li hopping, while 1-TM(Mn4+) channel is inactive. During the delithiation process, the Li ions in the TM layered are firstly removed, then those in the Li layer. However, the Li ions will be trapped in the tetrahedral 0-TM channels as long as the four face sharing octahedral sites are cleared. Up to x=1.0 for Li₂-xMnO₃, almost all the Li ions are located at the tetrahedral sites, forming a regular array along a axis. The de-intercalation of tetrahedral Li ions requires a high voltage (>5.2 V vs. Li/Li+), limiting the practical capacities measured in lab. The diffusion of Mn ions into the Li layers is observed in a deeper delithiated structure (x=1.2 for Li₂-xMnO₃), indicating an initial phase transformation to a spinel-like structure. However, the Mn ions are mainly trapped in the tetrahedral sites in the Li layer, instead of the octahedral sites fin spinel-like structure. A few of Mn ions diffusing into the octahedral sites in Li layers have no face sharing tetrahedral Li ions, revealing a further Li de-intercalation is imperative for the complete phase transformation. Our model is not stable for x≥1.4 in Li₂-xMnO₃. Other charge compensation mechanism should be considered in this high delithiation stage, eg. oxygen release.

Cordyceps sinensis is one rare medicinal fungus produced in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Its quality and price varies hugely with different habitat, and its numerous substitutes have sprung up in functional food markets. This paper aims to discriminate the geographic origin of wild C. sinensis and its substitutes via the element analyzer-isotope ratio mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry. The δ¹³C values of major fatty acids in the lipids of Cordyceps sinensis are characterized unanimously by the variation relation C_18:0 ﹤ C_18:2 ≈ C_16:0 ﹤ C_18:1; while their fluctuation intervals are notably different between those of neutral and polar lipids. The comparative analysis of the δ¹³C ratios of major fatty acids in lipids of Cordyceps sinensis suggests that the δ¹³C patterns may be sensitive potential indicators to discriminate its geographical origin. The δ¹³C values of individual major fatty acids of lipids from the cultivated stromata of Cordyceps militaris (SCM), the fermented mycelia of Hirsurella sinensis (FMH) and Paecilomyces epiali (FMP) range from −31.2‰ to −29.7‰, −16.9‰ to −14.3‰, and −26.5‰ to −23.9‰, respectively. Their δ¹³C pattern of individual major fatty acids may be used as a potential indicator to discriminate the products of natural C. sinensis and its substitutes.

The Eastern Kunlun Fault Zone (EKFZ) is located in a seismic blank area. This study investigates the hydrogeochemical characteristics of varied-temperature springs in the EKFZ to understand the relationship between fractures, fluids and earthquakes. It aids in establishing their induction mechanisms and assists in monitoring the earthquake precursors of the EKFZ. In this study, the main elements, trace elements, hydrogen and oxygen isotopes and strontium isotopes of 23 varied-temperature springs in the EKFZ were analyzed. The results reveal the source of groundwater recharge, hydrochemical types, mineral saturation, and for a select few springs indicative of geothermal activity, collected geothermal reservoir temperatures. The study also explores the relationship between earthquakes and springs, identifying sensitive chemical indicators. Based on continuous monitoring at Maqu Station, we found that before the occurrence of the Maerkang Ms 6.0 earthquake, the concentration of Cl− rose by 2.9 times, and 46 days before the Gande earthquake (Ms = 4.7), the concentrations of Na+ and SO42− significantly increased. Finally, a conceptual model of the hydrogeochemistry of springs is presented to describe the groundwater circulation in the study area. This research is of great significance for the analysis of fluid geochemistry in this area and for assessing the seismic hazards of the EKFZ.

This paper concentrates on the general birth-death processes with two different types of catastrophes. The Laplace transform of transition probability function for birth-death processes with two-type catastrophes are is successfully expressed with the Laplace transform of transition probability function of the birth-death processes without catastrophe. The first effective catastrophe occurrence time is considered. The Laplace transform of its probability density function, expectation and variance are obtained.

High molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS) and Low molecular weight glutenin subunits (LMW-GS) in mature grains play important roles in the formation of glutenin macropolymer and gluten quality. To characterize the expressed glutenin genes of the bread wheat variety Xinmai 26 during seed development, in this study, we measured the dough rheological properties of mature grains through farinograph and gluten testing system, and revealed its strong gluten quality. The compositions of HMW-GS and LMW-GS were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Further, a total of 18 full-length transcripts were obtained by third-generation RNA sequencing, including 5 transcripts of HMW-GS genes and 13 transcripts of LMW-GS genes (8 intact genes and 5 pseudogenes). The deduced protein structures of transcript sequences exhibit the typical HMW-GS and LMW-GS structural characteristics. Moreover, a specific functional marker was developed to make better use of the extra cysteine residue of 1Dx5 subunit. This study provides an efficient method to accurately identify glutenin genes in bread wheat through matching full-length transcripts to their spectrum of glutenin, which will be helpful to understand the contributions of glutenin genes to wheat quality.

Irrigation with water containing a variety of microcystins (MCs) may pose potential threat to normal growth of agricultural plants. The mechanism of microcystin-LR (MC-LR) induced phytotoxicity in rice (Oryza sativa L.) at environmental concentrations is still unknown. Rice seedlings were exposed to MC-LR at concentrations of 0.10, 1.0, 10.0 and 50.0 μg·L−1 in hydroponic nutrient solutions for 7, 15, 20, and 34 days in the current study. The absorption and accumulation in leaf and root tissues, as well as a series of key physio-biochemical process changes in leaves of rice at different exposure time points were measured. Results showed that MC-LR could be detected in rice leaves and roots in all exposure groups, however, a significant accumulation trend of MC-LR in plants (BCF > 1) was only found in the lowest group (0.10 μg·L−1). The time-course study revealed a biphasic response of O2•- levels in rice leaves to the exposure of MC-LR, which was more pronounced in higher concentration groups, which could be attributed to the combined effects of antioxidant and detoxification mechanisms in rice. Exposure to 1.0 - 50.0 μg·L−1 MC-LR resulted in significant depletion of GSH and MDA contents in rice leaves at later exposure times. The changes of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in rice leaves under MC-LR exposure were firstly investigated in the current study. Low MC-LR concentrations promoted NOS activity, whereas high concentrations inhibited NOS activity during the later exposure times, implying that NO may play a role in MC-LR toxicity in rice. Reduced sucrose synthase (SS) activities in rice exposed to MC-LR can reduce the plant's ability to accumulate carbon and thus may be directly related to the reduction in vegetative growth. These findings suggest that even at low concentrations of MC-LR, terrestrial plants' normal physiological status is disrupted, which, when combined with previous findings, helps reveal the mechanism of MC-LR-induced phytotoxicity.

The extracts of Garcinia mangostana L. (mangosteen) are traditionally used for medicinal purposes in Asia. Phenols and xanthones are the two main phenolic compounds with anti-inflammatory activities in the pericarps of mangosteen. A simple and economic reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method has been developed for the simultaneous quantification of phenols (catechin, epicatechin, and procyanidin B2) in mangosteen. The mobile phase was acetonitrile: water (12:88) at 30°C, the flow rate was 1 mL/min, and the detection wavelength was 230 nm. The results showed good linear relationships for catechin from 50-250 ng and for epicatechin and procyanidin B2 from 250-1250 ng. The RP-HPLC fingerprint determination method of total xanthones in mangosteen was also established to provide a new method for quality control of mangosteen extract. The mobile phase was a methanol-water gradient elution at 30°C, the flow rate was 1 mL/min, and the detection wavelength was 320 nm. The similarity of fingerprints of 10 batches of total xanthones was more than 0.90. These methods had good precision, reproducibility, and stability and can be applied in the quality control of mangosteen extracts for medicinal purposes.