Intestinal commensal microbes, called the gut microbiota, play a critical role in host immune homeostasis through active microbial metabolites and innate and adaptive immune responses. Dysbiosis or imbalance of the gut microbiota composition is associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The incidence and prevalence rates of IBD have been increasing worldwide. It is well recognized that butyrate, a microbial metabolite of diet fibers, is a major energy source for colonocytes and plays a crucial role in regulating immune function and maintaining epithelial barrier function and intestinal homeostasis. Emerging evidence suggests that butyrate might be a potential therapeutic agent to treat IBD. In this review, we discuss about gut microbial metabolites, particularly butyrate, the synthesis and metabolism of butyrate, mechanisms of butyrate in immune and epithelial barrier function. Furthermore, we review the current research on various therapeutic implications of butyrate in IBD.

Urbanization-induced land use transition results in a decline in ecosystem services, which has implications for regional ecological security. In order to explore the relationship between ecosystem services and land use transition, this paper utilizes the InVEST model, geographically weighted regression model to examine the impact of land use transition on ecosystem services in the Dongting Lake area (DLA). The results showed that (1) During the period 2000-2020, the intensity and motivation of land-use transition showed obvious spatial and temporal heterogeneity with the variation of urbanization development. (2) Habitat quality and Carbon sequestrations showed a downward trend. In contrast, food supply followed an upward trend; soil conservation and water yield services initially increased and dropped later. The overall spatial changes in habitat quality and Carbon sequestration appear to be insignificant. Food supply shows significant differences in the plains compared to other areas; while soil conservation and water yield service shows significant changes in places other than the DLA. (3) From 2000 to 2020, land use transition dynamics, population density, GDP density, night lighting and transition intensity had mainly negative effects on ecosystem services. Only the Normalized Vegetation Index (NDVI) showed a positive effect on ecosystem services. The results of the research will provide valuable references for the development and implementation of spatial ecological restoration planning and land use policies in the national territory.

The vibration propagates in a media such as a shaft in the form of elastic waves. The propagation characteristics of the waves are affected by the geometry of the media, the material properties as well as the cracks. The study to elastic waves propagating in a shaft with transverse cracks can help to detect them. The transverse crack possesses different crack modes due to different external loads. The influence of the crack mode, the location and the depth to the propagation characteristics is investigated in this paper. Firstly, the local flexibility coefficients with three different modes are deduced. And then, the transfer matrix of the elastic wave can be obtained. Finally, the influence of the crack mode, the location and the depth of the transverse crack as well as the rotating speed to the propagation characteristics is then studied, both in a numerical and an experimental way. It’s found that mode III is the most suitable mode in this paper, the location of the crack will make the stopbands fluctuating, the depth mainly affects the bandwidth of the stopbands, and the increase of the rotating speed will shift up the stopbands without changing their bandwidths.

In addition to provide an extremely clean environment for primary loop of high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTR), the primary helium circulator (PHC) using electromagnetic levitation technology also provides an effective means for vibration control. Besides synchronous vibration produced by mass imbalance and sensor runout, double-frequency vibration produced by unbalanced magnetic pull (UMP) is serious in PHC engineering prototype (PHC-EP). In this paper, we firstly analyzed the mechanism of UMP and the multi-frequency vibration characteristics in combination with the PHC-EP. Then we put forward a distributed iterative learning control (ILC) algorithm and a parallel control scheme to suppress the periodic vibrations. Finally, we verified the methods by carrying out experimental researches on the active magnetic bearing (AMB) bench of PHC-EP. The results show that the methods put forward in this paper have significant control effect on the double-frequency vibration generated by UMP of the PHC-EP, and provide theoretical and practical references for the PHC safe operation in HTR.

The properties of the annual, semiannual and triennial oscillations (AO, SAO and TO) in the middle atmosphere have been investigated using the TIMED/SABER temperature data. The Lomb-Scargle and wavelet spectra were used to determine the dominant oscillations in the background temperature field. The AO is prominent at the mid-latitudes. The AO amplitudes present an asymmetry between the two Hemispheres, being larger in the mesosphere than in the stratosphere. The SAO dominates the tropical regions, with three amplitude maxima at altitudes of 45, 75, and 85 km. The SAOs in the upper mesosphere (75 km) are out of phase with those in the mesopause (85 km) in the tropical regions, which can generate an enhancement of 11 K at each equinox, contributing to the lower mesospheric inversion layer. The TO is significant in the tropical region, with amplitude being maximum at 35, 45 and 85 km. Result shows that there may be potential interaction by the TO with SAO at 85km at the equator. The relation between ENSO and TO has also been discussed. The ENSO signal may modulate the amplitude of the TO, mainly in the lower stratosphere. The real origin of the TO may lie in the wave-mean-flow interaction.

The lengthy maturation period is the key cause of the reduced hot pepper market value. An experiment was performed to assess the effects of R/B/W light qualities on reducing the maturation period. The maturation period was shortened by 16 days under 4R:1B:5W compared to the control. The appearance of the first flower is a limiting factor affecting the maturation period. It exhibited a dark purple color and an abnormal petal under 4R:1B:5W compared to the control, which was associated with increased contents of flavonoids, total organic acids, and phenolics and decreased total amino acid and carbohydrate contents. Plant hormone, flavonoid, ABC transporters, key metabolites (such as amino acid, carbohydrate, organic acid) was associated with first flower development. Ethylene response factors (ERFs) mediated by light, especially ERF021, were identified as potential hub regulators during the development of the first flower due to their involvement in all the associated metabolic pathways.

This study presents a tri-layer broadband metamaterial absorber which operates in the GHz range. The absorber was composed of a polyhedral iron-cobalt alloy/graphite nanosheet material arranged in a flat sheet with two punched-in rings for the top layer, a continuous FR-4 layer at the middle, and a continuous copper layer at the bottom. For the normal incidence of electromagnetic wave, the proposed absorber demonstrated an exceptional broadband absorption in a frequency range of 7.9-14.6 GHz, revealing an absorption exceeding 90%. The absorption magnitude remains to be above 90% in a frequency range of 8-11.1 GHz for transverse-electric-polarized waves at incident angles up to 55°. For both transverse-magnetic- and electric-polarized waves, the absorption exceeds 90% in a frequency range of 9.5-14.6 GHz. The physical mechanism behind the absorption properties is analyzed thoroughly through the electric- and magnetic-field distributions. The obtained results could contribute potentially to the development of microwave applications based on metamaterial absorbers, such as radar-stealth technology, electromagnetic shielding for health safety and reduced electromagnetic interferences for high-performance communications and electronic devices.

In order to further clarify the growth-promoting effect of non-core Metarhizium spp. M. marquandii on plants, M. marquandii SGSF043, which was obtained from the pre-screening in the laboratory, was selected as a test strain, and the effects of the fungus fermentation broth during the stabilization period of the growth of this strain on the growth and growth of maize seeds were investigated by using fermentation broth as a submerged seed. germination, seedling growth, and inter-root soil enzyme activity of seedlings. The results are as follows: In the seed germination test, M. marquandii SGSF043 fermentation liquid had a certain inhibitory effect on the germination of maize seeds, and the 10-times dilution of the fermentation liquid significantly promoted the seed germination, and the effect was the best; After the germination test, the growth of maize germ was promoted by the treatment groups of 10 times and 1,000 times diluent; In the field plot experiment, the 100-fold dilution had the best growth promotion effect, which could promote the growth of cabbage seedlings and increase the seedling biomass. The results show that M. marquandii SGSF043 has the potential to promote the growth of maize and improve the soil environment, which provides a theoretical basis for the research and application of M. marquandii in farmland.

RNA, as an important substance for regulating biological growth and development, has significant implications for visualization research. However, many spontaneously fluorescent substances in plants greatly interfere with the effectiveness of plant bioimaging. Aggregetion- induced emission luminogens (AIEgens), due to their luminescent properties, tunable molecular size, high fluorescence intensity, good photostability, and low cell toxicity, have been widely applied in the animal and medical fields. We have found that AIEgens have great potential as RNA fluorescent probes for efficient imaging in plants. In this review, we first introduce several common RNA labeling forms and point out their pros and cons. We briefly describe the development of AIEgens and the AIE mechanism, and then present various practical applications of AIEgens, including detailed examples of their use as biological markers. To further promote the application of AIE in the field of RNA, we suggest the use of AIEgens to modify target RNA via techniques such as click chemistry or CRISPR/Cas, to achieve RNA visualization in plants. highly possible to modify target RNA with AIEgens in vivo for RNA visualization.

Utilization of wasted heat instead of fuel combustion is effective to reduce primary energy consumption for mitigating global warming problem. Because wasted heat sources are not necessarily located close to areas of heat demand, one of the difficulties is that wasted heat has to be transferred from heat source side to heat demand side, which may require heat transportation over long distance. From this point we proposed and have examined new idea of heat transportation using ammonia-water as the working fluid which system is named Solution Transportation Absorption chiller, in short STA. Our previous studies of STA were mainly the experimental investigation with STA facility which cooling power was 25RT (90kW). As a result, the COP of STA was found almost same value 0.65 with the conventional absorption chiller without depending on the transportation distances. The simulation using AspenHYSYS also examined with same experimental condition. The experimental data showed good agreement with the simulation calculation. In this study, we examined the large-scale cooling power STA on simulation. The examination cooling powers were from 90 kW(25RT) to 3517 kW(1000RT). All cooling power achieved around COP 0.64 including pump power consumptions. In addition, we performed the dynamic simulation. As the results, there was no effect of pipeline size on the cooling capacities and mass flow rates. Furthermore, the stability time of the cooling capacities and mass flow rates were almost same regardless of the pipeline size and cooling capacity. In other words, STA may be achieved the same COP even though having various complex conditions compared with the conventional absorption chiller.

This study investigated how different gamification elements in mobile apps influence users' basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence, relatedness) and subsequent engagement outcomes. Survey data was analyzed using PLS-SEM. Social gamification elements enhanced autonomy and competence needs, while immersive elements boosted autonomy and relatedness. Achievement/progression components increased competence and relatedness perceptions. Interestingly, personal traits did not significantly impact psychological needs. Crucially, satisfying autonomy and relatedness predicted higher user satisfaction and continued usage intentions, highlighting their importance for sustained engagement. Competence influenced satisfaction but not continuance intention. The findings demonstrate the motivational roles of distinct gamification features in fostering need-supportive experiences. Designers should incorporate varied social, immersive, and achievement components to address users' psychological requirements holistically. Prioritizing autonomy and relatedness support appears vital for achieving enjoyable, self-motivated, and persistent user engagement across gamified systems and domains. The study provides actionable insights for optimizing motivational affordances through psychologically-informed gamification implementations.

With the development of nuclear technology application, radiation safety has been widely concerned, and there is an urgent need for novel shielding materials. Among the various options available, non-lead organic composite shielding material has emerged as a promising solution in the field of radiation shielding due to its high strength, easy processing, and light weight. In this study, tungsten/epoxy resin (W/EP) composite samples with tungsten weight fraction from 0% to 60% were prepared. The shielding and mechanical properties of W/EP composites were investigated. The results show that the results showed that the higher the tungsten content, the greater the shielding capacity of W/EP composites, particularly for low-energy gamma ray (γ) shielding. However, the addition of tungsten reduces the impact strength and tensile properties of the material. Overall, for 300 keV γ-ray, W/EP with 30% tungsten content has comparable shielding capacity to ordinary concrete. W/EP composite materials can serve as shielding materials for low-energy γ-rays.

To satisfy the interests of multiple agents and those of comprehensive indicators such as peak-to-valley differences and load fluctuations occurring on the network side, this paper presents a flexible load demand-side response optimization method that considers the benefits of peak-to-valley smoothing. First, load aggregation modelling of air conditioning and electric vehicles was conducted, and the complementarity of the power consumption behaviour of different types of flexible loads was used to improve the responsiveness of the load aggregator. Second, considering demand-side responses and taking into account the interests of both supply and demand, the load fluctuation and peak-to-valley difference on the network side are reduced, and a flexible load double-layer optimization model incorporating the peak-to-valley smoothing benefit is established. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed optimization model is verified by using the KKT condition and the big M method to evaluate this two-layer optimization problem as a single-layer optimization problem. Comparative examples demonstrate that the proposed two-layer optimization method can improve the revenue of the distribution network operators and the load aggregators by using the complementary nature of the load response characteristics of electric vehicles and air conditioners. Moreover, the proposed method can effectively reduce the load peak-to-valley difference and load fluctuation of the distribution network by introducing the peak-to-valley smoothing benefit model.

Alginate extraction is from seaweed, and lignin separation is from by-product corn (stalks and leaves). Alginate/lignin is a synthetic polymer rich in biological activity of great interest. Antioxidant activities of alginate/lignin were evaluated, such as total antioxidant activity, reducing power activity, DPPH free radical scavenging activity, and α – glucosidase inhibition activity. The test of anticancer activity was on four cell lines (Hep G2, fibroblast, MCF-7, and NCI H460). Determination of physical-chemistry characteristics of alginate/lignin was through FTIR, DSC, SEM_EDS, SEM_EDS mapping, XRD, XRF, and 1H-NMR. A study of acute toxicity of alginate/lignin was on Swiss albino mice. The results showed alginate/lignin possessed antioxidant activity such as total antioxidant activity, reducing power activity, especially, α – glucosidase inhibition activity, and no free radical scavenging activity. Alginate/lignin did not be typical in cancer cell lines. Alginate/lignin existed in a thermally stable regular spherical shape in the investigated thermal region. Some specific functional groups of alginate and lignin did not exist in alginate/lignin crystal. Elements such as C, O, Na, and S were popular in the alginate/lignin structure. LD0 and LD100 of alginate/lignin in mice were 3.91 g/kg and 9.77 g/kg, respectively. Alginate/lignin is the potential for application as pharmaceutical materials, functional foods, and supporting diabetes treatment.

Analyzing horse behavior is crucial for assessing training quality, particularly in accurately identifying actions like standing, walking, and running. Research has been conducted both domestically and internationally in this regard; however, challenges persist, including reliance on single sensors, poor real-time performance, and low identification accuracy. In view of these challenges, this study investigated real-time identification of horse behavior based on wearable devices. The system, centered around a microcontroller and utilizing a 4G network as a carrier, employs multi-axis IMU sensors as input sources to perceive horse posture. The study proposed a behavior classification method based on analysis of acceleration thresholds. The method consists primarily of two sequential stages: first, the resultant acceleration interval counting method, which employs a nonlinear segmentation approach for initial behavior classification; and second, the statistical analysis of variance parameters between segments, which when coupled with multi-level threshold processing, achieves a refined classification. Experimental results indicated that the interval counting method alone achieved an accuracy of 87.55%, while for the variance analysis method alone the accuracy was 90.87%. The proposed method, comprising the two stages, reached a classification accuracy of 91.57%, underpinning its usefulness in supporting future equine research.

Extracts of Cordyceps militaris which possess the bioactive capacity such as antimicrobial activity and DPPH-free radical scavenging capacity, are applied to the serum product. This finished serum product has been evaluated the in vitro bioactivity and the stability with expect to find out a good extract with a suitable percentage used for serum product as natural materials on preservatives and antioxidation.

Changing climate conditions and rapidly increasing carbon dioxide emissions have severely affected the global ecosystem and world economy. Governments around the world have paid attention to these resulting challenges and enacted many policies to reduce environmental pollution and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. This study aimed to determine and understand the relationship between innovation, foreign direct investment, economic growth, renewable consumption and CO2 emission in Vietnam. Information was collected annually based on the annual data of the General Statistics Office of Vietnam and World Bank from 2000 to 2022. Data processing was conducted using the STATA 17.0 software. The innovation affects Vietnam’s environmental pollution. Innovation positively affect environmental pollution in Vietnam; if Vietnam’s innovation were to increase by 1%, CO2 emissions would increase by 0.68%. The empirical research results of this study also show that renewable energy consumption has a negative effect on environmental pollution in Vietnam; if renewable energy were consumed at a 1% increase, CO2 emission would decrease by 0.51%. In addition, FDI inflows and economic growth have strongly positive affecting to environmental pollution; if Vietnam’s FDI inflows were to increase 1%, CO2 emissions would increase 1.39%; if Vietnam’s GDP increase 1% then CO2 emission would increase 1.26%. This paper also provides some recommendations that can assist Vietnam in developing a green and sustainable economy in the technology revolution 4.0 to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) over a long-term period.

Three Dimensional Variational data assimilation or analysis (3DVAR) is one of most classical methods for providing the initial values for numerical models. In this method, the dimensions of the background error covariance and the observational error covariance matrices are large. Therefore, it is difficult to get the inverse of the covariance matrices and to reduce the orders of these matrices without information loss. With the use of the Sylvester Equation, on the basis of a new linear regression, a new cost function for 3DVAR was given. For the first-guess m×n field, there is an approximate 1−(m²+n²)/(mn×mn) reduction with m>1 & n>1 by using the cost function. The results of the numerical experiments show that the effect of this algorithm is no worse than that of the old cost function for 3DVAR.

In nonlinear self-consistent system, Lorenz system (Lorenz equations) is a classic case with chaos solutions which are sensitively dependent on the initial conditions. As it is difficult to get the analytical solution, the numerical methods and qualitative analytical methods are widely used in many studies. In these papers, Runge-Kutta method is the one most often used to solve these differential equations. However, this method is still a method based on explicit time scheme, which would be the main reason for the chaotic solutions to Lorenz system. In this work, numerical experiments based on implicit time scheme and explicit scheme are setup for comparison, the results show that: in implicit time scheme, the numerical solutions (counterexamples) are without chaos; for an original volume, the volume shrinks exponentially fast to 0 in common.

Utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to facilitate wireless communication has emerged as a viable and promising strategy aimed at enhancing both current and prospective wireless systems. This approach offers many advantages by establishing line-of-sight connections, optimizing operational efficiency, and enabling flexible deployment capabilities in various terrains. Thus, in this paper, we investigate UAV communication in a relaying network in which a UAV helps communication between a source and two destination users while flying to a location. To have a complete view of our proposed system, we consider both orthogonal multiple access as OFDM and non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) scenarios. Moreover, we apply successive convex optimization (SCO) and the Block-coordinate gradient descent (BCGD) for the sum-rate optimization problems to improve the system performance under constraints of total bandwidth and total power at the ground base station and UAV. The experimental results validate that the achievable secrecy rates are notably enhanced by using our proposed algorithms and show optimal trends for critical parameters, such as transmit powers, the flight trajectory and speed of UAV, and resource allocation of OFDM and NOMA.

Viruses can induce the fusion of infected and neighboring cells, leading to the formation of syncytia. Cell-cell fusion is mediated by viral fusion proteins on the plasma membrane of infected cells that interact with cellular receptors on neighboring cells. Viruses use this mechanism to spread rapidly to adjacent cells or escape host immunity. For some viruses, syncytium formation is a hallmark of infection and a known pathogenicity factor. For others, the role of syncytium formation in viral dissemination and pathogenicity remains poorly understood. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in transplant patients and the leading cause of congenital infections. Clinical HCMV isolates have broad cell tropism but differ in their ability to induce cell-cell fusions, and little is known about the molecular determinants. We developed a system to analyze HCMV glycoprotein B (gB) variants in a defined genetic background. HCMV strains TB40/E and TR were used as vectors to compare the fusogenicity of six gB variants from congenitally infected fetuses with those from three laboratory strains. Five of them conferred the ability to induce fusion of MRC-5 human embryonic lung fibroblasts to one or both backbone strains, as determined by a split GFP-luciferase reporter system. The same gB variants were not sufficient to induce syncytia in infected ARPE-19 epithelial cells, suggesting that additional factors are involved. The system described here allows a systematic comparison of the fusogenicity of viral envelope glycoproteins and may help to clarify whether fusion-promoting variants are associated with increased pathogenicity.

The nature of bone homeostasis is the coordination between the osteoblasts (OBs) and osteoclasts (OCs). However, abnormal activation of osteoclasts (OCs) could compromise the bone homeostasis. Thus, it is imperatively urgent to explore effective medical interventions for patients. NO/guanylate cyclase (GC)/cGMP signaling cascade has been widely reported in regulating bone metabolism, and GC plays a significantly critical role. Vericiguat, a novel oral soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulator, has been firstly reported in 2020 to treat patients with heart failure. However, the effect of Vericiguat on the function of OCs has not been explored. In this present study, we found that the concentration range of Vericiguat between 0-8uM was none- cytotoxic to BMMs. Vericiguat could enhance differentiation of OCs at concentration of 500nM, whereas it inhibited differentiation at 8 uM in terms of the number and size of OCs. In addition, Veirciguat also showed dural effect on RANKL‐induced OC fusion and bone resorption in a concentration‐dependent manner. Further, molecular assay suggested that the dually regulatory effect of Vericiguat on OCs was mediated by the bidirectional activation of IκB-α/NF-κB signaling pathway. Taken together, our present study demonstrated the dual effects of Vericiguat on the formation of functional OCs in a concentration-dependent manner. The regulatory effect of Vericiguat on OCs was mediated by the bidirectional activation of IκB-α/ NF-κB signaling pathway, and a potential balance between IκB-α/ NF-κB signaling pathway and sGC/cGMP/VASP may exist.

This paper draws upon the theory of turbulence in physics to explore the similarities and differences between volatility in financial markets and turbulent phenomena at a statistical physics level. By analogizing the dynamics of financial markets with fluid turbulence, we have developed an innovative analytical framework aimed at deepening the understanding of the complexity inherent in financial markets. Our research methodology includes a comparative analysis of simulated time series data for the Standard & Poor's 500 Index and fully developed turbulent velocity time series. We focus on the similarities in key statistical physical properties, including probability distributions, correlation structures, and power spectral densities. Furthermore, we have established a model of capital flow in financial markets and proposed corresponding solutions. Through computational simulations and data analysis, we find that while financial market volatility shares some statistical characteristics with turbulent phenomena, significant differences exist in the shapes of probability distributions and the temporal scales of correlations. This suggests that although financial markets exhibit patterns akin to turbulence, the behavior of this complex, multi-variable driven system does not completely correspond to natural turbulence, highlighting the limitations of directly applying turbulence theory to financial market analysis. Our study offers a new perspective for the theories of financial markets and the field of econophysics, providing fresh insights into the complexity of financial markets and contributing to the prevention and management of financial risk.

Background: After allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), acute leukemia relapse is common, and asymmetric bone marrow recurrence hasn’t been reported. Because the anatomical distribution of acute leukemia clones in the bone marrow after allo-HSCT is presumed to be diffuse, bone marrow aspirations are performed in single site. Case presentation: We identified two acute leukemia patients, whose leukemic burden in bilateral bone marrow specimens differed significantly. The first case was a 20-year-old man who was diagnosed with acute myelomonocytic leukemia and received haploidentical allo-HSCT. He had been in complete remission for two years and off immunosuppressive medications for a year, with normal peripheral blood count. Routine bone marrow biopsy of his left posterior iliac bone marrow showed 52% leukemia blasts, while the right side had 0% blasts ten days later. Due to the discordant results, the patient refused further intervention and died of high leukocyte syndrome four months later. The second case was a 23-year-old woman who was diagnosed with acute B lymphoblastic leukemia and received HLA-identical sibling allo-HSCT. Although 62% of blasts were found in her left iliac marrow on day +122, 0 % of blasts were found on a sample obtained from the right iliac crest on day +128. Whole-body 18F-FDG PET/CT scans confirmed that the leukemic infiltration in her bone marrow was asymmetric. Considering the higher leukemic burden on the left, we chose the left posterior iliac crest aspiration for further response evaluation. After chemotherapy combined with donor lymphocyte infusion, she achieved transient hematologic complete remission. She died of septic shock with heart failure at +258 days after allo-HSCT before infusion of anti-CD19 donor chimeric antigen receptor T cells. Conclusions: To our knowledge, these are the first case reports of asymmetric bone marrow infiltration of blasts in acute leukemia patients after allo-HSCT. Bilateral posterior iliac crest aspirations or 18F-FDG-PET/CT scans may help distinguish such distribution. If discordant bone marrow specimens are observed, physicians should restrict future bone marrow studies to the more involved side.

This study aims to identify factors associated with anxiety levels of adults living in Singapore before the pandemic and during the COVID-19 outbreak. Data were collected using a cross-sectional web-based survey conducted from July to November 2020 accruing 264 eligible participants. Ordered logistic regression was used to assess Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), ranked as minimal (0-4), mild (5-9), moderate (10-14), and severe (15-21) before the pandemic and during the pandemic. About 74% of participants were female, 50% were aged 25-34, and 50% were married. The GAD-7 level went up from pre-pandemic for both moderate (from 12.5% to 16%) and severe GAD (from 2% to 11%). Alcohol consumption (AOR 1.79, 95% CI 1.04-3.06), loneliness (AOR 1.28, 95% CI 1.05-1.54), and difficulty in switching off social media (AOR 2.21, 95% CI 1.29-3.79) predicted increased GAD-7 levels. The quality of life (AOR 0.84, 95% CI 0.79-0.90) was significantly associated with decreased GAD-7 levels. The results heighten the awareness that early initiation of mental health support is crucial for the population in addition to the various financial support measures provided by the government as they are adapting to live with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lignin is insoluble in water, limiting its use in the synthesis of adhesives. Therefore, in order to increase the amount of lignin raw materials used in the synthesis of adhesives, a kind of aminated lignin compounds was prepared through lignin amination reaction, and conducting structural analysis in this paper. The particle size of the amino lignin is about 100 nm, with the weight average molecular weight of 57,627 g/mol and a water solubility of 0.45g/100ml. The reaction mechanisms were proposed that the phenolic hydroxyl groups of lignin react with ammonia molecules, and thereby successfully introducing amino groups to generate the aminated lignin compounds. Therefore, this article enriches the scientific theory of lignin reactions and provides reference for the widespread application of lignin raw materials in the field of adhesives.

Today, more than 70 million tons of lignin are produced by the pulp and paper industry every year. However, the utilization of lignin as a source for chemical synthesis is still limited due to the complex and heterogeneous lignin structure. The purpose of this study was a selective photodegradation of industrially available kraft lignin in order to obtain appropriate fragments and building block chemicals for further utilization, e.g. polymerization. Thus, kraft lignin obtained from soft wood black liquor by acidification was dissolved in sodium hydroxide and irradiated at a wavelength of 254 nm with and without the presence of titanium dioxide in various concentrations. Analyses of the irradiated products via SEC showed decreasing molar masses and decreasing polydispersity indices over time. At the end of the irradiation period the lignin was depolymerised to form fragments as small as the lignin monomers. TOC analyses showed minimal mineralisation due to the depolymerisation process.

Considering the fault "N-1" checksum and the power flow, the single-phase power flow model is further transformed into a three-phase power flow model, and the asymmetry of the three-phase power flow is measured by the three-phase unbalance factor. The calculation model is linearized by the second-order cone relaxation and the Big-M method. At the same time, the load response and distribution network reconstruction are used to improve the reliability of the power supply network to cope with the power failure. The relationship between power supply capability and power flow constraints, main transformer capacity and distributed power parameters is analyzed by IEEE 33-node three-phase power distribution system. The feasibility of the proposed model and the accuracy of the second-order cone relaxation are verified by numerical examples, which provides a technical reference for distribution network planning.

In order to explore the effects of glutamate on the growth performance, antioxidant capacity and protein metabolism of juvenile Chinese mitten crab. 0%, 1% and 2% glutamate were supplemented to low protein (30%) and normal protein (35%) diets respectively. There were 5 parallel tanks in each treatment, and the feeding duration was 8 weeks. The results showed that dietary glutamate did not significantly affect the weight gain of Chinese mitten crab. Diets supplemented with 2% glutamate significantly decreased the crude protein of crabs. The T-AOC of crabs fed the 30% protein diets was significantly lower than crabs fed the 35% protein diets. At 30% protein level, the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity significantly increased with the increase of glutamate content. Dietary glutamate significantly down-regulated the relative expressions of mTOR, PI3K, S6K1 and 4EBP at 35% protein level. In conclusion, dietary glutamate cannot significantly increase the growth of Chinese mitten crab, but it can improve the antioxidant capacity in Chinese mitten crab under low protein condition.

Ginkgolic acids (GA) have been reported to exhibit anticancer properties, however, the mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the mechanisms of GA C13:0 that was isolated from Ginkgo biloba exocarp (GBE) for anti-proliferation, pro-apoptosis and anti-migration effects in human MCF-7 and mouse 4T-1 breast cancer cells. The cytotoxic effect, apoptosis induction and migration inhibition were measured using MTT, TUNEL and Wound healing assays. The expression of mRNA and protein were determined using qPCR and Western blot. Our results showed that no cytotoxicity was found at concentrations of C13:0 below 100µM. The effects of GA C13:0 was further demonstrated by up-regulation of the Bax/Bcl-2 apoptosis pathway and the expression of Apaf-1 protein in the mitochondria. In addition, GA C13:0 also suppressed cell migration and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) with the increase of E-cadherin expression accompanied by the decrease of Snail, MMP-2, MMP-9 and Vimentin expression. Moreover, GA C13:0 induced cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1B1 expression in aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway. Notably, the up-regulation of CYP1B1 also might play a pivotal regulatory role in mitochondrial and EMT pathways in MCF-7 and 4T-1 cells. Our results may have implications for the development of anticancer agents containing GA as functional additives.

Glycoside Hydrolase 3 (GH3) is a phytohormone-responsive family of genes that has been found in many plant species. It is implicated in the biological activity of indolacetic (IAA) and jasmonic acids (JA), and also affects plant growth and developmental processes and some stresses. In this study, GH3 genes were identified in 48 plants, which belong to algae, moss, fern, gymnosperm and angiosperm. No GH3 representative gene has been found in algae, and our research identified 4 genes in mosses, 19 in ferns, 7 in gymnosperms, and numerous in Angiosperms. The results showed that GH3 genes mainly occur in seed plants. Phylogenetic analysis of all GH3 genes showed three separate clades. Group I was related to JA adenylation, group II was related to IAA adenylation, and group III was separated from group II but the function was not clear. The structure of GH3 protein indicated highly conserved sequence in the plant kingdom. The analysis of JA-adenylation related to gene expression of GH3 in potato (Solanum tuberosum) showed that StGH3.12 highly responded to Methyl Jasmonate (MeJA) treatment. Expression levels of StGH3.1, StGH3.11, and StGH3.12 were high in flower and StGH3.11 expression was also high in stolon. Our research revealed the evolution of the GH3 family, which is useful for studying the precise function about JA-adenylation GH3 genes in S. tuberosum under development and biotic stresses.

ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) responsibility fulfillment increasingly affects enterprise valuation. Although researchers debate about the precise effects, the prevailing view suggests a linear relationship between ESG performance and enterprise value. This study introduces a novel ESG responsibility performance metric through the Regulated Intermediary Model to delve into this relationship within the Chinese context. Our findings reveal an inverted U-shaped relationship between ESG performance and enterprise value, with financing constraints having a significant moderating effect. These findings remain robust after employing instrumental variables to mitigate potential endogeneity. Heterogeneity analysis demonstrates that this inverted U-shaped relationship is particularly pronounced in non-polluting and non-state-owned enterprises. Moreover, a comparison between equity and debt financing mechanisms underscores that improved ESG performance is associated with lower cost of equity financing, thereby enhancing enterprise value. Financial institutions are encouraged to leverage innovative financial instruments to diversify enterprise financing channels and alleviate financing constraints of enterprises that fulfill their ESG responsibilities.

In order to study the effects of soybean isoflavones on the growth performance and lipid metabolism of juvenile Chinese mitten crab, six experimental diets were formulated by gradient supplementation 0%, 0.004% and 0.008% soybean isoflavones at different dietary lipid levels (10% and 15%), which were named to NF-0 group (10% fat and 0% SIF), NF-0.004 group (10% fat and 0.004% SIF), NF-0.008 group (10% fat and 0.008% SIF), HF-0 group (15% fat and 0% SIF), HF-0.004 group (15% fat and 0.004% SIF) and HF-0.008 group (15% fat and 0.008% SIF). All crabs with an initial weight of 0.4 ± 0.03 g were fed for 8 weeks. The results showed that diets supplementation with 0.004% or 0.008% SIF significantly increased the weight gain and specific growth rate of crabs. Diets supplementation with 0.004% or 0.008% SIF significantly reduced the content of non-esterified free fatty acids and triglycerides in the hepatopancreas of crabs at 10% dietary lipid level. Dietary SIF significantly decreased the relative mRNA expressions of elongase of very long-chain fatty acids 6 (elovl6), triglyceride lipase (tgl), sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (srebp-1), carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1a (cpt-1a), fatty acid transporter protein 4 (fatp4), carnitine palmitoyltransferase-2 (cpt-2), Δ9 fatty acyl desaturase (Δ9 fad), carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1b (cpt-1b), fatty acid binding protein 10 (fabp10) and microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (mttp) in the hepatopancreas of crabs. At 15% dietary lipid level, 0.008% SIF significantly increased the relative mRNA expressions of fatty acid binding protein 3 (fabp3), carnitine acetyltransferase (caat), fatp4, fabp10, tgl, cpt-1a, cpt-1b and cpt-2 and significantly down regulated the relative mRNA expressions of Δ9 fad and srebp-1. In conclusion, SIF can improve the growth and utilization of high-fat diet by inhibiting genes related to lipid synthesis and promoting lipid decomposition in juvenile Chinese mitten crab.

Enveloped viruses represent a significant category of pathogens that cause serious diseases in animals. These viruses express envelope glycoproteins that are singularly important during infection of host cells by mediating fusion between the viral envelope and host cell membranes. Despite low homology at protein levels, three classes of viral fusion proteins have, as of yet, been identified based on structural similarities. Their incorporation into viral particles is dependent upon their proper sub-cellular localization after being expressed and folded properly in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). However, viral protein expression can cause stress in the ER, and host cells respond to alleviate the ER stress in the form of the unfolded protein response (UPR); the effects of which have been observed potentiating or inhibiting viral infection. One important arm of UPR is to elevate the capacity of the ER-associated protein degradation (ERAD) pathway, which is comprised of host quality control machinery that ensures proper protein folding. In this review, we provide relevant details regarding viral envelope glycoproteins, UPR, ERAD, and their interactions in host cells.

The pursuit of sustainable wellbeing is one of the research objectives of positive experience design. Driven by this goal, the purpose of this paper is to provide an impact-centered sustainable positive experience design model. Firstly, the literature review method was used to define the research status and concept of impact-centered sustainable design. Secondly, an impact-centered sustainable positive experience design model was constructed, and relevant formulas for concept generation and concept evaluation were proposed. Thirdly, design verification was conducted through a workshop. Finally, the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) questionnaire was used to evaluate and discuss the design model. An impact-centered sustainable positive design model was proposed, which includes the important impact dimensions of sensory experience and meaningful experience on users’ quality of life at different levels: healthy living (pleasure index, health behavior), harmonious community (social connectivity, social contribution), and livable environment (living environment, environmental contribution). Based on positive experience related theory, this study takes long-term impacts as the starting point for sustainable positive experience design, which helps designers to generate design concepts from a systematic and long-term perspective.

The sexual reproduction of ascomycetes is controlled by the mating-type(MAT) locus. (Pseudo)homothallic reproduction has been hypothesized based on genetic data from Hirsutella sinensis (Genotype #1 of Ophiocordyceps sinensis). In this study, the differential occurrence of the mating-type genes in the MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 idiomorphs, which constitute the genetic control of O. sinensis reproduction, was analyzed in 237 strains and 5 genomes of H. sinensis. The mating-type genes were differentially transcribed in H. sinensis Strain L0106, and the MAT1-2-1 transcript in H. sinensis Strain 1229 was alternatively spliced, with an unspliced intron I containing stop codons; these findings constitute O. sinensis reproduction controls at the transcriptional and coupled transcriptional-translational levels. The occurrence of the mating-type genes and a-/α-pheromone receptor genes differed among the 5 H. sinensis genomes. The differential occurrence and transcription of these genes are inconsistent with self-fertilization under (pseudo)homothallism but suggest self-sterility of H. sinensis, which therefore needs a mating partner to achieve sexual outcrossing under heterothallism or hybridization. Consistent occurrence and transcription of the mating-type genes of both the MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 idiomorphs have been reported in natural and cultivated Cordyceps sinensis, but these findings are insufficient to determine the reproduction mode(s) because of the co-occurrence of >90 fungal species and multiple genomically independent genotypes of O. sinensis. The mutant MAT1-1-1 and α-pheromone receptor transcripts in natural C. sinensis result in the N-terminus or middle-truncated proteins, with changes in hydrophobicity and secondary structures of the proteins, suggesting heterogeneous fungal source(s) of the proteins and hybridization reproduction.

In the process of oil and gas development and production, when the flow rate in the wellbore is large, the materials underground will be eroded, causing the operation to be unable to proceed smoothly and reducing the efficiency of oil and gas production. Therefore, optimizing the anti-erosion coating under high-speed flow conditions in wellbore is a very interesting thing. It can greatly improve operational efficiency. In this paper, laser cladding was used to prepare the new coating used in the PDC drill bit. Then, the effects of tungsten carbide and multi-layer graphene on the microstructure and properties of the tungsten carbide coating were studied. The research results indicate that, for new coatings, 60% tungsten carbide and 0.3% graphene are the optimal ratios. After adding WC, the hardness has significantly improved. However, when the WC content further increases more than 30%, the increase in hardness is relatively small. In addition, when the content of graphene is more than 0.3%, the branched structure became thicker, and not only the segregation of Cr, Si and W became very obvious again, but also the segregation of Fe occurred at the Ni enrichment site. The research results contribute to improving oil and gas production and operational efficiency under high-speed fluid flow conditions in the wellbore.

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics has been postponed due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The implications for industries related to the Olympics—tourism, hotels and restaurants, and others—are expected to be affected by reduced demand. Japanese workers in these industries were prepared to offer their hospitality to visitors from around the world. They would be satisfied from not only an increase in income but also in offering visitors a taste of Tokyo’s great hospitality if the Olympics had been held in 2020. However, postponement of the sporting event is likely to have a significant impact on their happiness level. We independently collected individual-level panel data from March to April 2020. Based on this, we found that the happiness level of workers in the tourism and restaurant sectors declined drastically after the announcement of the postponement. Only two weeks later, their happiness level did not alter from the pre-announcement level. This tendency was strongly observed in Tokyo and the surrounding prefectures, but not in other prefectures. However, workers engaged in the tourism and restaurant sectors did not predict a decrease in their income even after the postponement. Combined, these findings indicate that loss of extending hospitality, rather than reduction in income, temporarily reduces the happiness level of workers.

With the rise of serious problems of urbanization and climate change, the call for intelligent and sustainable urban development is increasing nowadays. Therefore, smart cities have become a hot topic in academia, industry, and politics, resulting in the emergency of numerous smart city programs and projects. This study selected 26 evaluation frameworks proposed in recent years or large-scale research projects that have lasted for many years and analyzed and compared them from the 7 aspects of generalizability, comprehensiveness, availability, flexibility, scientific, transparency, and interpretability. The result indicates that the current smart city evaluation framework still needs to be upgraded and updated. These standards can not only guide the development direction and hotspot of the future smart city evaluation model but also serve as a guide for model demanders to test results and an effective tool to verify the framework designed by themselves.

Comprehensively understanding the spatial ecology and habitat preferences of endangered species is essential for population restoration and conservation. We investigated the home range and movement of the endangered Amur soft-shell turtle (Pelodiscus maackii) in the Ussuri River, Heilongjiang Province, Northeastern China. The study involved tracking 19 Amur soft-shell turtles from late June to mid-October, 2022, resulting in complete and partial home range size data for eight subadults and two adults, respectively. The primary analysis focused on eight subadults, and the models that best described daily movement were identified. We also explored the potential factors influencing home range size. Mean movement rate ranged from 39.18 ± 20.04 m to 72.45 ± 29.36 m and was positively correlated with the linear home range and water temperature. The most insightful home range estimate was a 95% kernel density estimate, employing likelihood cross-validation smoothing with constraints set to the river boundaries. The mean home range size was 1.02 ha and was not correlated with body size. Subadults tended to establish well-defined home ranges over time; whereas, defining home ranges for adults proved challenging. This research addresses a gap regarding the ecology of the Amur soft-shell turtle and provides a foundation for future conservation plans.

Background: People with Down syndrome (DS) have a trisomy of chromosome 21 and marked deficits in verbal memory but relatively preserved visuospatial perception. Verbal memories are related to semantic knowledge. Little is known about the organization of semantic knowledge in people with DS, which was the aim of this study. Aims: The extent of false memory in people with DS was examined. Possible differences in the number of false memories induced by nominal and verbal themes were examined. Methods and Procedures: In the study phase, ten word lists with semantically related associates were presented. In the recognition phase, participants made judgments on whether each word had been represented previously as semantically related lures, old words, and semantically unrelated new words. Outcomes and Results: Differences in the processing of nominal and verbal theme-related lures were observed among people with DS. When processing nominal theme-related lures, people with DS showed delayed false positives. When processing verbal theme-related lures, people with DS showed no differences compared to controls. Similar patterns have been observed in people with DS when processing nominal theme-related associates and verbal theme-related associates. People with DS have delayed recognition of associates. When processing unrelated words, they showed significantly higher false positives than controls for both nominal and verbal eliciting themes. Further analyses of the themes revealed differences in false positives across syntactic categories among groups. Conclusions and Implications: People with DS showed a delayed recognition of associates and deviance in recognizing unrelated words in the nominal and verbal theme categories. People with DS were delayed in terms of nouns, but deviated with verbs in associated and unrelated words. Additionally, people with DS showed distinct patterns in processing five nominal lures and three verbal lures, suggesting that they formed false memories differently based on distinct syntactic categories. Thus, it was concluded that people with DS develop a deviant semantic structure. Category-based interventions for people with DS should be implemented in order to improve their semantic knowledge through lexical connections.

As the natural resources are getting exhausted, the concept of sustainable development of region has received increasing attentions, especially for resource-dependent cities. In this paper an innovative method that emergy analysis and IPAT (Human Impact Population Affluence Technology) model were combined in order to analyze the quantitative relationship of economic growth and energy consumption and further to evaluate its overall sustainability level. Taiyuan, a traditional, resource-dependent city in China, is selected as the case study region. The main results show that total emergy of Taiyuan increased from 9.023× 1023 sej in 2007 to 9.116× 1023sej in 2014, with 38% reduction on non-renewable emergy and 125% growth on imported emergy. Regional emergy money ratio (RMB) was reduced by 48% from 5.31× 1013sej/$ in 2007 to 2.74× 1013sej/$ in 2014, indicating that the increasing speed of consuming resources and energy was faster than the increase of GDP, and that Taiyuan’s money purchasing power declined. The lower emergy sustainability index (ESI) indicates that Taiyuan was explored and produced large quantities of mineral resources, which puts more stress on the environment as a consequence, and that this is not sustainable in the long run. The IPAT analysis demonstrates that Taiyuan sticks to the efforts of energy conservation and environmental protection, in order to promote regional sustainable development, it is necessary to take an integrated effort. Policy insights suggest that resourceful regions should improve include energy and resource efficiency, optimizing energy and resourceful structure.

Hyperuricemia (HU), characterized by elevated uric acid (UA) levels in the blood, represents a global health concern associated with various conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, gout, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, renal dysfunction, and neurodegenerative diseases. This review offers a contemporary analysis of HU, encompassing its causes, associated health risks, diagnosis, treatment, and future outlook. Recent studies have underscored the multifaceted origin of HU, implicating genetic predisposition, dietary patterns, lifestyle choices, and environmental influences. Genetic variations affecting enzymes and transporters involved in purine metabolism and UA excretion have been identified, laying the groundwork for personalized treatment strategies. Advances in diagnostic imaging and omics technologies provide enhanced precision in the detection and evaluation of risks. While pharmacological interventions remain central to managing HU, persistent challenges such as treatment resistance prompt exploration of novel drug targets and lifestyle modifications. Chinese herbal medicines offer a potentially alternative approach with fewer side effects. Emerging research on the impact of gut microbiota on UA metabolism opens new therapeutic avenues. Despite progress, challenges such as optimizing treatment duration and understanding long-term effects persist. Collaborative efforts are crucial to address these challenges and advance our comprehension of HU. The integration of precision medicine and holistic patient care approaches holds promise for improving outcomes and enhancing quality of life for individuals with HU.

Three cases of Day-Night Band (DNB) observations of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) onboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) are explored for applications to assess the ocean environment and monitor ocean dynamics. An approach to use the DNB radiance ratio was developed in order to better continuously assess the ocean diurnal and short-term environmental changes with VIIRS DNB observations. In the La Plata River Estuary, the sediment fronts showed 20–25 km diurnal inshore-offshore movements on March 13, 2017. In the waters off the Argentina coast in the South Atlantic, VIIRS DNB measurements provided continuous observations and monitoring of the algae bloom development and migration between 24–26 March 2016. This algae bloom generally kept the same spatial patterns, but moved nearly 20 km eastward in the three-day period. In the Yangtze River Estuary and Hangzhou Bay region in China’s east coast, VIIRS DNB observations also revealed the complicated coastal dynamic changes between 12–14 April 2017. Even though there are still some challenges and limitations for monitoring the ocean environment with VIIRS DNB observations, this study shows that satellite DNB observations can provide additional data sources for ocean observations, especially observations during the nighttime.

The early 2-factor (E2F) family of transcription factors, including E2F1-8, plays a critical role in apoptosis, metabolism, proliferation, and angiogenesis within glioblastoma (GBM). However, the specific functions of E2F transcription factors (E2Fs) and their impact on the malignancy of Bevacizumab (BVZ)-responsive GBM subtypes remain unclear. This study used data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) to explore the impact of eight E2F family members on the clinical characteristics of BVZ-responsive GBM subtypes and possible mechanisms of recurrence after BVZ treatment.To predict the possibility of GBM patient survival and progression, we classified and comparedthe expression of E2Fs according to BVZ-responsive subtypes and employed a machine learning method-TreeBagger, one random forest algorithm. Multiple bioinformatics analyses have shown that the significant increased E2F8 post BVZ treatment may enhance the function of angiogenesis and stem cell proliferation, indicating one of the mechanisms of GBM recurrence after treatment. In addition, BVZ treatment in unresponsive GBM patients may potentially worsen disease progression. Our findings suggest that E2F family members play important roles in GBM malignancy and BVZ treatment response, highlighting their potential as prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets and recommending precise BVZ treatment for GBM patients.

As the embedded device and internet of things (IoTs) concept prevalent in today's world, there is an increasing demand for the security and performance requirements on deploying these devices to private and public sectors. The crucial part of it is to protect privacy, confidentiality and integrity, meanwhile, maintain an adequate level of performance during transmission, storage and access of critical information. While the conventional cryptography methods, such as the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), SHA$-$2 hashing method and RSA and Diffie Hellman for message authentication and identification, work well on systems which have reasonable processing power and memory capabilities. These do not scale well into a world with embedded systems and sensor networks, in conjunction with their nature of smaller size and lower cost. Thus, in the context of resource constrained device, lightweight cryptography methods are proposed to overcome many of the problems of conventional cryptography possessed. This includes constraints related to physical size, processing requirement, memory limitation, energy drain and production cost. This paper provides a survey of the architectures that are defined as replacements for conventional ciphers within an IoTs space and discuss some trends in the design of future lightweight algorithms. The performance metrics are carefully chosen to reflect and assess the suitability for embedded devices. The aim of this research is to identify the various performance metrics applied on different types of symmetric block ciphers especially lightweight ciphers and compare the results on versatile platforms with stream ciphers and public key methods. The comparative analysis on efficient LW cipher will be tested against other similar block ciphers on both MacBook Pro with Intel core and resource constrained device Raspberry Pi with ARM processor.

Purpose: To elucidate the mechanism of CXCR4/EAAT1/GS pathway in CXCL12 regulating invasion and migration in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Methods: Immunohistochemistry for CXCL12, CXCR4, EAAT1 and GS stainings and correlation analysis between them were conducted in MPM and normal tissues. Western blot and real-time PCR were performed to examine the CXCR4, EAAT1 and GS expression in H2052 cells. Wound healing and transwell assay were applied to determine the cell migration and invasion. MTT was utilized to assess cell viability. Results: CXCL12, CXCR4, EAAT1 and GS were highly expressed in MPM tissues and correlated with each other. CXCL12 upregulated both in protein and mRNA levels of CXCR4, EAAT1 and GS in H2052 cells. The EAAT1 and GS expression upregulated or not by CXCL12 were decreased by CXCR4 and EAAT1 knockdown. CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 and EAAT1 antagonist TFB-TBOA also resulted in the same effects as CXCR4 and EAAT1 knockdown, respectively. CXCL12 promoted cell invasion and migration and increased the Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) mRNA level. CXCR4 and EAAT1 knockdown suppressed all these functions. Furthermore, CXCL12 promoted H2052 cells growth in nude mice, both AMD3100 and TFB-TBOA inhibited this promotion. Conclusions: CXCL12 regulated the invasion and migration through CXCR4/EAAT1/GS pathway in H2052 cells.

Theoretical physics addresses the fundamental principles of nature and the mysteries of the universe. In the last century, the theory of relativity challenged people's understanding of time and space, while quantum mechanics revealed various forms of energy. However, the concept of gravity remains elusive. All matter in the universe is composed of energy that can be converted into other forms, yet it is always conserved. However, achieving a state of equilibrium, represented by the equal sign, can be challenging to achieve on both macro and quantum scales. A phenomenon that can transition from one state to infinity is called collision and is essential for understanding natural phenomena and physical processes throughout the universe. In the study of general relativity cannot be three-dimensional problems to gain mathematical inspiration, understand the application of new dimensions. Here, we elucidate the nature of gravity, which inspires the solution of the Riemann hypothesis. Our results show that the conduction mode of dimensional energy is defined by Euler's formula.

The three-pronged sliding universal coupling is a new kind of three-pronged coupling. To study its kinematic and dynamic characteristics, directional cosine matrices are utilized as tools to analyze the coordinate systems by establishing simplified geometric models and corresponding motions. Through the analysis of the motions of the input and output shafts and employing the method of single-force element, a set of equilibrium equations for the forces acting on the output shaft and the input shaft are formulated for solution analysis. The research indicates that during the rotation process, there exists a small angular difference between the input shaft and the intermediate shaft, demonstrating the quasi-constant angular velocity characteristics of the new tripod sliding universal coupling. The curves of the forces and torques acting on each component of the coupling approximate sinusoidal curves. The optimal operating angle range for the new tripod universal coupling is at angle , during which the system exhibits good transmission and mechanical performance.

Purpose: To clarify the mechanism of state anxiety on intertemporal decision-making, two studies were conducted to investigate the role of trait anxiety and inhibitory control. Study 1 examined the moderating effect of trait anxiety. Study 2 continued to investigate the mediating effect of inhibition control on the basis of study 1. Methods: A total of 266 Chinese college students participated. Participants’ state anxiety, trait anxiety and intertemporal decision-making were measured by questionnaires (scales) respectively. And inhibition control was evaluated by two-choice oddball paradigm. Results: The results of Study 1 indicated that state anxiety could predict intertemporal decision-making and that the moderating effect of trait anxiety on this relationship was significant. Study 2 found that inhibitory control could completely moderate the relationship between state anxiety and intertemporal decision-making and that this indirect effect was affected by trait anxiety. Conclusion: 1)Individuals with higher trait anxiety are more inclined to make more impulsive and intertemporal decisions when they have a high level of state anxiety; 2)state anxiety allows inhibitory control ability to have a further effect on intertemporal decision-making; and 3)the higher trait anxiety in individuals, the stronger mediating effect of inhibitory control on the relationship between state anxiety and intertemporal decision-making.

Lithium batteries and an increasing focus on CO₂ reduction have become an integral part of daily life and business for many people. Boron and boron compounds have been widely studied together in the history and development of lithium batteries. With a broad examination of battery components and systems but a boron-centric approach to raw materials, this review seeks to summarize past and recent studies on the following: which boron compounds are studied in lithium battery, in which parts of lithium batteries, what improvements are offered for battery performance, and what improvement mechanisms can be explained. The uniqueness of boron and its extensive application beyond batteries contextualizes the interesting similarity with studies on batteries. The paper predominantly focuses on lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) but also mentions other lithium batteries. At the end, the article aims to predict prospective trends for future studies that may lead to the successful and extensive use of boron compounds on a commercial scale.

A new quinazolinone alkaloid, named peniquinazolinone A (1), as well as eleven known com-pounds, 2-(2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropionamido)-N-methylbenzamide (2), viridicatin (3), viridicatol (4), (±)-cyclopeptin (5a/5b), dehydrocyclopeptin (6), cyclopenin (7), cyclopenol (8), methyl-indole-3-carboxylate (9), 2,5-dihydroxyphenyl acetate (10), methyl m-hydroxyphenylacetate (11), conidiogenone B (12), was isolated from the endophytic Penicillium sp. HJT-A-6. The chemical structures of all compounds were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analysis, including 1D, 2D NMR, and HRESIMS. The absolute configuration at C-13 of peniquinazolinone A (1) was established by applying the modified Mosher’s method. Compounds 2, 3, and 7 exhibited an op-timal promoting effect on the seed germination of Rhodiola tibetica at a concentration of 0.01 mg/mL, while the optimal concentration for compounds 4 and 9 to promote Rhodiola tibetica seed germination was 0.001 mg/mL. Compound 12 showed optimal seed-germination-promoting activity at a concentration of 0.1 mg/mL. Compared with the positive drug 6-benzyladenine (6-BA), compounds 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, and 12 could extend the seed-germination period of Rhodiola tibetica up to the 11th day.

The TiO₂ nanostructures resulted by pyrolysis of TiCl₄ at low temperature of 80 ^oC are found to be a mixture of amorphous TiO₂ complexes and anatase nanostructure whose ratio depends on the pH of the pyrolysis medium. At low pH level, the resulting TiO₂ nanostructure is predominant anatase and gradually shifts to the amorphous TiO₂ complexes with pH level increasing. By means of heat treatment, the amorphous TiO₂ complexes can be converted back to the anatase nanostructure and then transform to rutile with the elevating temperature. Amongst of the TiO₂ nanostructure recovered from amorphous TiO₂ complexes, the anatase shows to be the most effective photocatalyst in decomposition of methylene blue.

Porous tantalum (Ta) is a promising biomaterial and has been applied in orthopedics and dentistry for nearly two decades. The high porosity and interconnected pore structure of porous Ta promise fine bone ingrowth and new bone formation within the inner space, which further guarantee rapid osteointegration and bone-implant stability in long term. Porous Ta has high wettability and surface energy that can facilitate adherence, proliferation and mineralization of osteoblasts. Meanwhile, low elastic modulus and high friction coefficient of porous Ta can effectively avoid stress shield effect, minimize marginal bone loss and ensure primary stability. Accordingly, the satisfactory clinical application of porous Ta based implants or prostheses are mainly derived from its excellent biological and mechanical properties. With the advent of additive manufacturing, personalized porous Ta based implants or prostheses have shown their clinical value in the treatment of individual patient who need specially designed implant or prosthesis. In addition, many modification methods have been introduced to enhance the bioactivity and antibacterial property of porous Ta with promising in vitro and in vivo research results. In any case, choosing suitable patients is of great importance to guarantee surgical success after porous Ta insertion.

Proteomics research has become one of the most important topics in the fields of life science and natural science. At present, research on protein–protein interaction networks (PPINs) mainly focuses on detecting protein complexes or function modules. However, existing approaches are either ineffective or incomplete. In this paper, we investigate function module detection mechanisms in PPIN, including open databases, existing detection algorithms and recent solutions. After that, we describe the proposed solution based on simplified swarm optimization (SSO) algorithm and gene ontology knowledge. The proposed solution implements SSO algorithm for clustering proteins with similar function, and imports biological gene ontology knowledge for further identifying function complexes and improving detection accuracy. Furthermore, we use four different categories of species dataset for experiment: Fruitfly, Mouse, Scere, and Human. The testing and analysis result show that the proposed solution is feasible, efficient and could achieve a higher accuracy of prediction than existing approaches.

Knee osteoarthritis is the most popular type of osteoarthritis that causes extreme pain in elderly. Currently there is no cure for osteoarthritis. To lessen clinical symptoms, glucosamine was suggested. The primary goal of our study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of glucosamine from recent studies. Electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane were used to assess RCT. From the beginning through March 2023, the papers were checked, and if they fulfilled the inclusion criteria, they were then examined. WOMAC and VAS scales were considered as main outcome measure. A total of 15 studies were selected. Global pain was significantly decreased in comparison to placebo, as measured by the VAS index, with an overall effect size SMD of -7.41 ([95% CI] 14.31, 0.51). The WOMAC scale confirmed that pain, stiffness, and physical function had improved, however the effects were insufficient. A statistical update also revealed that there were no reports of serious medication interactions or significant adverse events. To summarize, glucosamine is more effective than a placebo at reducing pain in knee osteoarthritis patients. In long-term treatment, oral glucosamine sulfate 1500 mg/day is believed to be well tolerated.

This paper explores the coordination of the agricultural cooperative to supermarket or E-commerce sup-ply chain, under the condition of quantity loss with a mixed decay function of exponential and logistical distribution. The nature of this process is analyzed, and the corresponding demand and supply functions with single- and multi-stage discount strategies are constructed respectively to create a working model. The optimal discount ratios for supermarkets and agricultural cooperatives in decentralized and central-ized decision-making modes coupled with single- and multi-stage discounts are calculated respectively. Finally, a universal optimal strategy is designed, which can be applied to various quantity decay scenarios and makes the discount strategy more generalized. The results show that discounts can coordinate supply chains more effectively; not only is fresh agricultural produce sold before it starts to rot, but the benefit conflicts arising from both supermarkets vs. cooperatives and traditional vs. E-commerce channels are equilibrated. Further, multi-stage discounts are more effective than single-stage ones, but optimal discount ratios rely on the initial quantity of fresh agricultural produce in the supply chain; its market share in the traditional distribution channel; the potential market size; retail price; the price sensitivity coefficient of the channel; the cross-elasticity coefficient of prices between different channels; and the properties of the quantity loss.

Objective: To use the ancient and modern medical record cloud platform (V2.3.5) to organize and explore the medication patterns of the "Three Causes, Extremity, and One Disease Syndrome Formula" by Chen Wuxuan, and to summarize its therapeutic ideas. Method: Collect and organize the "San Yin Si Tian Fang" in the "San Yin Ji Yi Zheng Fang Lun", and use the modern medical record cloud platform (V2.3.5) to conduct medication frequency statistical analysis, cluster analysis, and complex network analysis. As a result, a total of 16 Chinese herbal medicines were collected in the "Three Causes, Extreme and One Disease Syndrome Formula", involving 75 traditional Chinese medicines. Statistical analysis showed that roasted licorice was the most commonly used, followed by Pinellia ternata, papaya, ginger, and Poria cocos; Medications mainly include warm drugs, sweet and pungent flavors, as well as drugs that promote lung and spleen meridians. Cluster analysis can divide the above-mentioned traditional Chinese medicine into two groups, with specific grouping as follows. Group 1: ginger, white peony, aconite, papaya, and achyranthes bidentata; Group 2: roasted licorice, poria cocos, dried ginger, pinellia ternata, and green peel. Conclusion: The characteristics of the 16 prescriptions are biased towards Xin Gan Wen, emphasizing the regulation of the spleen and stomach, which may be related to the common use of prescription by doctors in the Song Dynasty and the tendency towards warm and dry medication.

Fe-(9, 19, 28, 37)wt.% Cr alloys were corroded at 700 and 800 ^oC for 70 h under 1 atm of N₂, 1 atm of N₂/3.2%H₂O-mixed gas, and 1 atm of N₂/3.1%H₂O/2.42%H₂S-mixed gas. The corrosion rate of Fe-9Cr alloy increased with the addition of H₂O, and furthermore with the addition of H₂S in N₂ gas. Fe-9Cr alloy was always nonprotective. In contrast, Fe-(19, 28, 37) wt.%Cr alloys were protective in N₂ and N₂/H₂O-mixed gas because of formation of the Cr₂O₃ layer. They were, however, nonprotective in N₂/H₂O/H₂S-mixed gas because sulfidation dominated to form the outer FeS layer and the inner Cr₂S₃ layer containing some FeCr₂S₄.

RM (red mud) was acidified with sulphuric acid and the acidified ARM (acidified red mud) was utilized as an innovative adsorption material for treating antibiotic-contained wastewater. The adsorption conditions, kinetics, isotherms, thermodynamics, and mechanism of ARM for CIP (ciprofloxacin) were investigated. Characterization of the ARM involved techniques such as scanning electron microscopy(SEM), transmission electron microscope(TEM), brunauer- emmett-teller (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and NH3-TPD analysis. Adsorption studies were conducted employing response surface methodology (RSM) for experimental design. The results showed that ARM can absorb CIP effectively. The RSM optimal experiment indicated that the most significant model terms influencing adsorption capacity were solution pH, CIP initial concentration and ARM dosage, under which the predicted maximum adsorption capacity achieved 7.30 mg/g. The adsorption kinetics adhered to a pseudo-second-order model, while equilibrium data fitted the Langmuir-Freundlich isotherm, yielding maximum capacity values of 7.35 mg/g. The adsorption process occurred non-spontaneously and absorbed heat, evidenced by ΔG0 values between 2.06 and 0.87 kJ/mol, ΔS0 at 39.41 J/mol/K, and ΔH0 at 13.8 kJ/mol. Analysis using attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) indicated there existed complex reaction between Al-O in ARM and the ester group –COO in CIP. The C=O bond in CIP was likely to undergo a slight electrostatic interaction or be bound to the internal spherical surface of ARM. The findings indicate that ARM is a promising and efficient adsorbent for CIP removal from wastewater.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a type of cancer that arises from the epithelium lining of the oral cavity, hypopharynx, oropharynx, and larynx. Despite advancement of the current treatment to HNSCC, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, the overall survival rate of HNSCC remains poor due to late diagnosis and acquired resistance to treatment. Natural products have been extensively explored as a safer and more acceptable alternative to current treatments, with numerous studies displaying their potential against HNSCC. This review highlights preclinical studies in the past 5 years involving natural products against HNSCC and explores the signalling pathways altered by these products. This review also addresses challenges and future directions of the use of natural products as chemotherapeutic and chemoprevention agents against HNSCC.

With worsening environmental degradation and increasing international demand for human health, plant cell based technology will be more important. The aim of this review is to give an overview regarding key points of current progress and development trend of nature medical and edible plants from the framework of whole plant cell engineering including cell cultures, cell fusion and cell splitting derived biotechnology. Here we sum up three main application trends of medical plants cell cultures covering industrial output, technology upgrading and potential resource development. We also provide classification and typification insights to summarize the development of somatic hybridization in cereal, vegetables crops and other medicinal and edible plants as well as application of artificial polyploidy induction in major medicinal herbs. Development medicinal and edible homologous plants based on modern plant cell engineering will bring us a promising future.

In recent years, the rapid development of computer-aided planning and design technology has provided a new perspective for the study of complex problems such as the generation of architectural complex forms. This study focuses on how to apply parameterization technology to analyze and articulate traditional spatial form composition rules, aiming to minimize reliance on subjective human judgment in the protection and renewal design of the historical style of traditional villages. It aims to establish digital generative design tools to address the challenges of accurately inheriting and innovatively utilizing historical and cultural information in traditional settlements. It introduces how to rely on parameterization technology to analyze the spatial form composition rules, parameter extraction rules, and spatial reconstruction rules of traditional villages, facilitating the complete process from spatial features to parameterization rules, and then to the application of computational methods to deduce spatial features. It also includes case studies demonstrating the application of parameterization technology tools for village protection and explores the role of generative design tools in preserving the spatial style of these settlements.

This study aims to test a model linking destination image, perceived value, tourist satisfaction, and tourist loyalty. Based on a sample of 300 tourists travelling by car from the World Natural Heritage Site of Tianchi, China, a new model of destination image was explored and data were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The results show that perceived value and satisfaction are direct antecedents of destination loyalty. Above all, perceived value and tourist satisfaction mediate the relationship between destination image and loyalty. Finally, this study discusses the theoretical and management implications of the findings in order to boost the tourism industry in the context of car trips.

Alternative fertilizations are essential to minimize the deteriorating effects of chemical fertilizers on soil and water quality/health. Accordingly, the present work investigated the effects of combined organic-inorganic fertilization (COIF) on wheat and rice yields, soil nutrients, and soil Cd accumulation. Hence, seven different treatments were set up: control (CK); conventional fertilization (CF); optimized fertilization (OF); organic fertilizer replacing 25% (T1) and 50% (T2) of OF; and organic nitrogen (N) replacing 25% (M1) and 50% (M2) of OF-N. Overall, significant increases occurred in the yields of COIF crops. Compared with the CF, the highest wheat and rice yields happened in M1 treatment (approximately by18.5%) (P < 0.05). COIF slightly alleviated soil acidification, and improved the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the study soils. Besides, COIF treatments significantly increased the contents of total phosphorus, total potassium, available phosphorus, and available potassium by 6.35 to 16.9 %, 3.17 to 10.9 %, 5.53 to 28.7 %, and 2.6 to 12 %, respectively (P <0.05). Nevertheless, negligible increases took place in Cd content of COIF soils compared with the CK. Altogether, our results concluded on 25% replacement of OF-N by organic N (M1) to effectively improve the fertility/ecological sustainability of the study soils.

This study presented a novel and sustainable method for producing chitin nanocrystals (PA-ChNCs) using phosphoric acid hydrolysis. The produced PA-ChNCs were used as stabilizers for Pickering emulsions and their physicochemical properties as well as stabilization mechanisms were systematically investigated. The PA-ChNCs exhibited small particle sizes and high surface areas, enabling an effective adsorption at the oil/water interface, which prevented coalescence in Pickering emulsions. The particle size and surface charge PA-ChNCs were strongly pH-dependent, which were critical factors for stabilizing Pickering emulsions. The study showed that emulsions with higher O:W ratios (50%) exhibited larger droplets but greater viscosity, forming a stable gel-like matrix that was more stable than emulsions with other O:W ratios after storage for 30 days. Emulsions with higher PA-ChNCs concentrations (2.0 wt%) and higher pH values (pH 10) showed small droplets and high viscosity, leading to stable emulsions. This research contributes to the development of sustainable and effective emulsifiers for use in the food industry, making utilization of seafood waste in an eco-friendly manner possible. Overall, this study highlights the potential of using newly developed PA-ChNCs as stabilizers for Pickering emulsions in food products.

Aim at a better understanding of the flow field around a fully appended Joubert BB2 submarine model and complementing the experimental investigations of the wake of the hydroplanes and sail, the Large eddy simulation (LES) with the dynamic Smagorinsky model is conducted. Three sets of grids with a maximum grid number of up to 228 million are designed, to perform the LES simulation for the Joubert BB2 at 10° yaw conditions, with a freestream Reynolds (Re) number based on the local freestream velocity and the hull length of ReL=2.2×107. And comparison of the wake of the cruciform appendage is made with experiments, to verify the computational accuracy and examine the influence of the spatial resolution. A satisfactory result shows more favorable agreement with experimental measurements as the improvement of spatial resolution, with the relative error of the vortice centers well within 7.2% in the most refined grid arrangement. And under this grid arrangement, the evolution characteristics of three co-rotating vortices originating from the cruciform appendage are further described in detail at straight ahead and 10° yaw conditions.

As a renewable industrial crop, Miscanthus offers numerous advantages, namely high photosynthesis activity (as a C4 plant) and exceptional CO2 fixation rate. These properties make Miscanthus very attractive for industrial exploitation, such as lignin generation. Here, we present a systematic study analyzing the correlation of the lignin structure with Miscanthus genotype and plant portion (stem versus leaf). Specifically, the ratio of the three monolignols and corresponding building blocks as well as the linkages formed between the units have been studied. Depending on the Miscanthus genotype and plant component (leaf versus stem), correlations between chemical structure and properties of the lignins have been determined, i.e. correlations in molecular weight, polydispersity and decomposition temperature. Lignin isolation was performed using non-catalyzed organosolv pulping and the structure analysis includes NREL, FTIR, UV-Vis, HSQC-NMR, TGA, pyrolysis GC/MS. Structural differences were found for stem and leaf-derived lignins. Compared to beech wood lignins, Miscanthus lignins possess lower molecular weight and narrow polydispersities (< 1.5 Miscanthus vs. > 2.5 beech) corresponding to improved homogeneity. In addition to conventional univariate analysis of FTIR spectra, multivariate chemometrics revealed distinct differences for aromatic in-plane deformations of stem versus leaf-derived lignins. These results emphasize the potential of Miscanthus as low-input resource and Miscanthus-derived lignin as promising agricultural feedstock.

Due to the extremely inert surface of the polyester (PET) fabric, a toxic and traditional resorcinol-formaldehyde-latex (RFL) dipping solution is always needs to be used in in rubber composite industry. Unfortunately, other effective methods for fabric surface treatment are in urgent needed to improve the poor bonding interface between the fabric and the rubber matrix. In our study, a facile way to modify PET fabric was developed. Specifically, the fabric is treated by an alkaline solution and a coupling agent with magnetic agitation. Afterwards, the treated fabric/rubber composites are prepared through a co-vulcanization process. Attenuated total reflectance fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to characterize the surface chemical compositions of the modified fabrics. The adhesion behavior is analyzed by the peel test. The results show that the fabric surface is successfully grafted with a coupling agent, and the peel strength reaches 9.8 N/mm after KH550 treatment, which is increased 32% compared with that of the original fabric/rubber composites. In addition, the vulcanization rate and interfacial fracture mechanism are also researched.

The main apple production areas of the Loess Plateau, China limited information on soil and leaf K, Ca, Mg, and micronutrients and their relationships in these orchards. Therefore, we collected soil and leaf samples from the main apple production areas of the Loess Plateau and analyzed them to assess soil and leaf K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Mn, Zn, and Fe as well as to visualize their relationships. The investigated apple orchards in the Loess Plateau exhibited low soil Mn, moderate soil K, Zn, Fe, and high Cu and deficiency of leaf Fe, Moderate of leaf K, Cu, and Zn, high of leaf Ca, Mg, and excessive in leaf Mn. Moreover, soil pH negatively correlated with soil K, Cu, Zn, and Fe and positively related to exchangeable Mg, leaf Mg, and leaf Ca. Exchangeable Ca was negatively related to soil Mg, Cu, Mn, and Fe. Meanwhile, exchangeable K also negative correlation with leaf Mg, indicating the importance of soil pH and exchangeable Ca as an indication of apple produc-tion. In addition, available Zn also negative correlation with leaf Ca and leaf Zn. Soil micronu-trient contents in Shaanxi province trend lower than in other provinces, suggesting that soil Mn and Zn deficiency may be a limiting factor for apple production. Consequently, it is suggested that the soil pH be reduced in the Loess Plateau, replenishing soil organic matter and micronutrients, controlling soil Ca and Mg, and the Loess Plateau must pay attention to controlling K fertilizer application to avoid soil exchangeable cation and enhancing organic fertilizer application to improve soil micronutrients (Zn, Mn, and Fe) are highly necessary and it is necessary to enhance leaf Fe.

This study aims to examine how the activation of nursing roles and professional identification as a nurse can influence moral judgments in terms of deontological and utilitarian inclinations. In Study 1, a priming technique was used to assess the impact of activating the nursing concept on moral reasoning. Participants were randomly assigned to either a nursing prime or neutral prime condition. By using a scrambled-sentences task, participants were prompted to think about nursing-related or neutral thoughts. Following the priming task, participants were asked to respond to 20 moral dilemmas. The process dissociation approach was employed to measure the degree of deontological and utilitarian tendencies in their moral reasoning. In Study 2, participants completed the nursing profession identification scale and the moral orientation scale before engaging in moral judgments similar to those in Study 1. The findings revealed that priming the concept of nursing roles resulted in an increase in deontological clinical inclinations, while having no significant effect on utilitarian inclinations. Additionally, a positive correlation was observed between identification with the nursing profession and deontological clinical inclinations, whereas a negative correlation was found with utilitarian inclinations. Deliberation orientation acted as a complete mediator in the relationship between nursing professional identification and deontological tendencies, and as a partial mediator for utilitarian tendencies.

Local food has continued to become more popular in both the home and as featured ingredients in all segments of food service. Numerous studies have explored the motivating factors for consumer purchasing motivators. However, no known study has explored if there is a correlation between ego and intent to buy local foods. This study adopted a modified version of the Theory of Trying and surveyed a sample of 237 food service buying agents in South Carolina to examine their perceptions of buying local. Results suggest that ego is a predictor of trying to purchase local foods for restaurants. It was also found that the modified model is an acceptable model for predicting buyer intent. These findings support the majority of the studies looking at ego-centric behaviors with green purchases and could potentially help local food suppliers to better market their products to foodservice establishments. This study could also act as the foundation for future studies to explore the full extent of ego’s motivational effect on purchasing intentions in the food service industry.

Root crops grow in the soil deeply and bond with soil closely, which results in that the process of the separation between soil and root becomes the most difficult during the harvesting processes. In order to harvest root crops efficiently, the mechanical harvesting has become the main developing trend. However, high power and high damage rate are still occurred when mechanical harvester gets in touch with the roots. In this paper, we review the research of the development and evaluation of the mechanical harvesting of root crops and its performance optimization on the past years. The process of soil separation mainly consists in the initial separation between root and the ground and further separation between root and adhered soil. In general, the soil-cutting operation in the initial separation and the sieving mechanism in the further separation require high draught and power. And the dramatic friction, impact, pressure and so on, which happen in the components and soil-roots, are the key reasons to lead to root damage. The optimization of harvesting methods and parameters, including the digging shovel shape, working conditions, vibration, and screening way, is more significant in improving the harvesting performance. But there are still some limitations in the research and application of the mechanical harvester for root crops. Future research is suggested to focus on the development of the soil break-up when the digging shovel cutting soil, the insight into the interaction between soil and roots by different external compression loads, and the long-term studies to verify the high-efficiency and low-damage performances of mechanical harvester in practical application.

African swine fever has damaged the foundation of China’s hog industry, caused a serious decline in hog production, highlighted the contradiction between supply and demand in the pork market, and led to major economic and social impacts. This study measured the industrial resilience of 31 Chinese provinces which faced the African swine fever shock and its spatial and temporal differentiation characteristics from 2018-2021 in terms of the two dimensions of resistance and recoverability. Using Geodetector, the study explored the key factors influencing the resilience of China’s hog industry. The results showed that 2018-2019 and 2020-2021 were the resistance and recovery periods of the hog industry under the African swine fever shock, respectively, with poor resilience characterizing the resistance period and improved resilience exemplifying the recovery period. At the early stage of the African swine fever outbreak, Tianjin, Shanxi, Guangxi and Yunnan had robust resistance in the hog industry, and the slaughter rate, economic level, mortality rate, carcass weight and culling rate showed the highest explanation for the resistance. At the most severe stage of the outbreak, the resistance of the hog industry in all provinces was generally poor, and the slaughter rate, per capita consumption and scale level showed the highest explanation for the resistance. In the period of rapid recovery of hog production, the recoverability of each province was very strong, and the industrial structure, culling rate, economic level and resource carrying capacity showed the highest explanation for the recoverability. In the reasonable adjustment period of hog production capacity, the recoverability based on the breeding sow inventory in 13 provinces, including Henan, Shandong and other large hog breeding provinces, was negative, and the scale level, slaughter rate, per capita consumption and resource carrying showed the highest explanation for the recoverability. It is recommended to take measures to enhance the resilience of the hog industry, strengthen the prevention and control of hog epidemics, improve the monitoring and early warning mechanism, and strive to enhance the ability of the hog industry to cope with major animal epidemics.

With the increasingly online exposure of urban public spaces, the new concept of "Internet-celebrity cities" has emerged in China. The online internet-famous sites are the main characteristics of "Internet-celebrity cities". To fully understand online users' preferences in such kind of public spaces, this article took 27 typical riverfront internet-famous sites (RIFS) in Changsha city (China), as an example. Through the online images and review comments on social media platform "Xiaohongshu", the study analyzed users’ perception of RIFS specially on visual and emotional preferences. It revealed the following findings:(1) The popularity of RIFS had a significant head effect and there were far more positive emotions than neutral and negative emotions in review comments. (2) According to 5 different categories of RIFS: modern buildings with river views, restaurants with strong visual impact became the main attractions on commercial RIFS. The art exhibition RIFS attracted visitors to experience traditional culture and highlight their aesthetic pursuits. In the historical and cultural RIFS, people preferred to see the historical buildings with surrounding natural environment, as well as river and mountains views. Ecological Recreational RIFS showed the similar results with the uncultivated RIFS, for the main focus was on the ecological environment, a broader vision and the specific atmosphere. Moreover, the uncultivated RIFS showed more diversified attraction points. This study can provide a new perspective on the waterfront vitality and can offer a targeted and attractive manner for waterfront regeneration that are different from traditional methods.

SARS-CoV2 (corona virus) has spread globally at an unprecedented rate; so far, increasing SARS-CoV2-infected individuals have been identified. Although the situation in China is improving and is currently under control, the outbreak in other countries and its pandemic management is only beginning to develop. Based on 154 SARS-CoV2 genome sequence analyses, we used receptor–ligand docking to identify one potential point mutation (V354F) on the spike structure which enhances spike binding to ACE2 receptors underlying potential super infection. Importantly, the V354F site on spike S1 had been identified in 5/10 infected French patients living in Paris, who sharing 100% identical SARS-CoV2 genomes. With Covid-19 cases increasing rapidly in France that could lead to a new explosion, we suggest that the French government should identify all potential super spreaders and treat them accordingly. In summary, our study provides on of the measures to avoid the potential second worldwide explosion of SARS-CoV2.

The antiradical and antimicrobial activity of lignin and lignin-based films are both of great interest for applications such as food packaging additives. The polyphenol structure of lignin in addition to the presence of O-containing functional groups is potentially responsible for these activities. This study used DPPH assays to discuss the antiradical activity of HPMC/lignin and HPMC/lignin/chitosan films. The scavenging activity (SA) of both binary (HPMC/lignin) and ternary (HPMC/lignin/chitosan) systems was affected by the percentage of the added lignin: the 5% addition showed the highest activity and the 30% addition had the lowest. Both, scavenging activity and antimicrobial activity are depending on the biomass source showing the following trend: organosolv of softwood > Kraft of softwood > organosolv of grass. Testing the antimicrobial activities of lignins and lignin-containing films showed high antimicrobial activities against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria at 35 °C and at low temperatures (0-7 °C). Purification of kraft lignin has a negative effect on the antimicrobial activity while storage has positive effect. The lignin release in the produced films affected the activity positively and the chitosan addition enhances the activity even more for both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Testing the films against spoilage bacteria that grow at low temperatures revealed the activity of the 30% addition on HPMC/L1 film against both B. thermosphacta and P. fluorescens while L5 was active only against B. thermosphacta. In HPMC/lignin/chitosan films the 5% addition exhibited activity against both B. thermosphacta and P. fluorescens.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have emerged as promising materials for organic electronics, including organic photovoltaics (OPVs), organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), and organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Particularly, non-hexagonal ring-fused PAHs are highly desirable due to their unique optoelectronic properties. Herein, a new redox-active azulene-perylene diimide triad 1 and its ring-fused counterpart, diazulenocoronene diimide 2, were synthesized and fully characterized by a combination of NMR, cyclic voltammetry, spectroelectrochemistry, and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy. Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) calculations were performed to gain further insight into various electronic transitions. Interestingly, we found that the adaptive response to acids and bases manifests itself in a reversible two-color-change that can be attributed to changes in the chemical structures.

In this article, we present the use of the coupled land surface model and groundwater flow model SWAT-MODFLOW with the decision support tool WEAP (Water Evaluation and Planning software) to predict future surface water abstraction scenarios in a complex river basin, under conditions of climate change. The modeling framework is applied to the Dee River catchment in Wales, United Kingdom. Regarding hydrology, the coupled model improves overall water balance and low streamflow conditions, compared to a stand-alone SWAT model. The calibrated SWAT-MODFLOW is employed with high resolution climate model data from the UKCP18 project with future scenario of RCP85 from 2020 to 2040. Then, water supply results from SWAT-MODFLOW are fed into WEAP as input for the river reach in the downstream region of the river basin. This system is utilized to create various future scenarios of surface water abstraction of public water supply in the downstream region: maximum licensed withdraw, 50 % authorized abstractions, monthly time series with 1% increase of water use, and maximum water withdraw year based on historical records repeated every year with 1% increase of water use, to estimate the unmet demands and streamflow requirement. This modeling approach can be used in other river basins to manage scenarios of supply and demand.

Robotic path planning is a field of research which is gaining traction given the broad domains of interest to which path planning is an important systemic requirement; the aim being to optimise the efficacy of robotic movements in a defined operational environment. For example, robots have been employed in many domains including: cleaning robots (such as vacuum cleaners), automated paint spraying robots, window cleaning robots, forest monitoring robots, agricultural robots (often driven using satellite and geostationary positional satellite data). Additionally, mobile robotic systems have been utilised in disaster areas and locations hazardous to humans (such as war zones in mine clearance). The coverage path planning problem describes an approach which is designed to determine the path that traverses all points in a defined operational environment while avoiding static and dynamic (moving) obstacles. In this paper we present our proposed Smooth-STC model, the aim of the model being to identify an optimal path, avoid all obstacles, prevent (or at least minimise) backtracking, and maximise the coverage in any defined operational environment. The experimental results in a simulation show that, in uncertain environments, our proposed smooth STC method achieves an almost absolute coverage rate and demonstrates improvement when measured against alternative conventional algorithms.

The sPHENIX experiment is a state-of-the-art jet and heavy flavor physics detector which successfully recorded its first Au + Au collision data at 200 GeV at RHIC. sPHENIX will provide heavy flavor physics measurements covering an unexplored kinematic region and unprecedented precision at RHIC to probe the parton energy loss mechanism, parton transport coefficients in quark-gluon plasma, and the hadronization process under various medium conditions. At the center of sPHENIX, the Monolithic-Active-Pixel-Sensor (MAPS) based VerTeX detector (MVTX) is a high-precision silicon pixel detector. The MVTX provides excellent position resolution and the capability of operating in continuous streaming readout mode, allowing precise vertex determination and recording a large data sample, both of which are particularly crucial for heavy flavor physics measurements. In this work, we will show the general performance of heavy-flavor hadron reconstruction. In addition, we will discuss the commissioning experience with sPHENIX. Finally, we will provide the projection of b-hadron and jet observables and discuss the estimated constraints on theoretical models.

J/ψ, a charmonium bound state made of a charm and an anti-charm quark, has been discovered in the 1970s and confirmed the quark model. Because the mass of charms quarks is significantly above the Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) scale ΛQCD, charmonia are considered as excellent probes to test perturbative Quantum Chromodynamics (pQCD) calculations. Over the past decades, they have been studied extensively at different high energy colliders. However, their production mechanisms, which involves multiple scales, are still not very well understood. Recently, in high multiplicity p+p collisions at RHIC and at the LHC, a significant enhancement of J/ψ production yield has been observed, which suggests a strong contribution from the Multi-Parton Interaction (MPI). This is different from the traditional pQCD picture where charm quark pairs are produced from a single hard scattering between partons in p+p collisions. In this work, we will report the J/ψ normalized production yield as a function of normalized charged particle multiplicity over a board range of rapidity and event multiplicity in the J/ψ→μ+μ− channel with PHENIX Run 15 p+p data at \sqrt{s}=200 GeV. The results are compared with PYTHIA 8 simulations with the MPI option on and off. Finally, the outlooks of J/ψ in p+Au and Au+p collisions along with Color Glass Condensate (CGC) predictions and of multiplicity dependent ψ(2S)/J/ψ ratio in p+p data will be briefly discussed.

With the rapid development in Beijing, there is a critical need to explore the circumstance and reveal the mechanisms of precious urban natural resources. In this context, urban blue space has attracted more and more attention by driving microcirculation, cooling heat islands, and relaxing residential. We extracted the UBS at Beijing using remote sensing, explored the spatial and temporal development in the last two decades via USDA methods, uncovered the full spectrum of landscape patterns from an ecological perspective, and simulated the mechanisms of the UBS area and the landscape quantitatively. We found that: (1) The UBS area in Beijing increased with fluctuation from 2000 to 2020. (2) The spatial clustering has distributed stable with some subtle changes. (3)The ecological circumstance has improved in the last 21 years in Beijing, with the increasing habitat diversity and richness, while the inferior landscape fragmentation has indicated some severe challenges. (4) Natural factors impact urban blue space areas more than social ones, while both similarly influence the UBS landscape. (5) Vegetation circumstances and precipitation are the most important natural factors on both area and landscape of UBS, and population and artificial surface are the most important social factors.

This study assesses the biomethane (CH4) generation and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions resulting from municipal solid waste landfilling in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with a focus on the impact of fugitive CH4 emissions and operation processes in four landfilling scenarios: simple dumping (S1), improved management with leachate treatment (S2), engineered landfill with flaring (S3), and engineered landfill with energy recovery (S4). The study also considered the environmental benefits of carbon sequestration and landfill gas utilization. The LandGEM and IPCC FOD models were used to calculate CH4 generation over the period of 2009-2022, and it was found that approximately 18 and 21 M kg/year of CH4 are released, respectively. The energy potential from CH4 recovery was 51–61 GWh/year. Overall GHG emissions in S2 were the highest, amounting to 409–509 M kg CO2-eq/year, while S1 had lower emissions at 397–496 M kg CO2-eq/year. Flaring captured CH4 in S3 could reduce GHG emissions by at least 55%, and using captured CH4 for electricity production in S4 could mitigate at least 83% of GHG emissions. Electricity recovery (S4) could avoid significant amounts of GHG emissions (˗104.5 kg CO2-eq/tMSW). The study suggests that landfill gas-to-energy could significantly reduce GHG emissions.

The COVID-19 pandemic has expanded globally and caused serious consequence in both health system and the economy. MPV is one of two oral antivirals for COVID-19 with mild-to-moderate symptoms that have received FDA approval so far. This study aims to evaluate the cost-utility of using MPV in COVID-19 treatment. To compare the utility costs of MPV and non-MPV treatments for COVID-19 patients, we used a decision tree model. Data on clinical efficacy, cost, and quality of life were gathered from previous studies. The incremental effective cost ratio (ICER) calculated based on costs incurred and quality-adjusted life years (QALY), was considered as primary out-come. The total cost of MPV treatment and not using MPV was 15,362,516 VND (618 USD) and 15,771,262 VND (634 USD), respectively. The estimated QALY with using-MPV was 28.33, while without MPV was 19.72. The ICER was dominant, resulting in savings of 47,453 VND/QALY (1.9 USD). MPV is a cost-effective medication used to treat COVID-19. In mild-to-moderate COVID-19 patients, MPV considerably lowers costs and improves quality of life. However, several clinical factors of the drug still need to be taken into account.

Yijing possesses inherent principles and logic, and it has achieved consensus as an auxiliary decision-making function. Research on Yijing has been validated in the field of superpsychology, primarily focusing on individuals. However, the universal value of Yijing extends beyond individual divination or telepsychological induction, and there are untapped scientific potential values associated with it. Consequently, many scholars studying Yijing, including those in Chinese medicine, attempt to decipher its internal scientific mechanism through quantitative methods. In summary, scientific quantitative analysis of Yijing can be categorized into several approaches. These include quantification based on Yijing itself (binary and hexagram order), as well as quantification based on mathematical statistics, probability, and calculus. Another approach involves quantification based on expert knowledge, as well as the quantification of timewave curves and Yi-globle. Significant progress has been made in all of these quantitative research areas within the scientific paradigm. Nevertheless, future quantification of Yijing may explore rule-based evolutionary analysis, incorporating artificial intelligence technology, and conduct quantitative analysis based on the evolutionary process and results. There is even potential to deepen this research with tools such as ChatGPT. Additionally, the focus of Yijing divination may shift from individual events to group events, accompanied by space-time modeling and analysis through the construction of a new coordinate system.

A total internal reflection photonic crystal fiber (PCF) based on hexagonal core is proposed for gas sensing in a specific wavelength range. The higher sensitivity and lower confinement loss were realized by the structure of the proposed PCF consists of two layers with circular holes rotated hexagonally around a core region and six slotted air-hole in the cladding based on numerical analysis. The simulation results show that the enhancement of the relative sensitivity has been done by enhancing the diameter of the hexagonal shape air-hole cladding (d1) and the hexagonal arranged holes around the central solid core (d0) in this design. Also, the confinement loss has been reduced by enhancing the ratio of length to width of slotted holes (l/w) and decreasing the cladding air-hole diameters (d1). As the refractive index increases, the wavelength shifts toward the long wavelength. And in a certain temperature range, the transmission characteristics of the device does not change with the temperature. The results are helpful for designing high performance PCF for gas sensing applications.

Prediction of protein-ligand binding affinities is crucial for computational drug discovery. A number of deep learning approaches have been developed in recent years to improve the accuracy of such affinity prediction. While the predicting power of these systems have advanced to some degrees depending on the dataset used for model training and testing, the effects of the quality and quantity of the underlying data have not been thoroughly examined. In this study, we employed erroneous datasets and data subsets of different sizes, created from one of the largest databases of experimental binding affinities, to train and evaluate a deep learning system based on convolutional neural networks. Our results show that data quality and quantity do have significant impacts on the prediction performance of trained models. Depending on the variations in data quality and quantity, the performance discrepancies could be comparable to or even larger than those observed among different deep learning approaches. In particular, the presence of proteins during model training leads to a dramatic increase in prediction accuracy. This implies that continued accumulation of high-quality affinity data, especially for new protein targets, is indispensable for improving deep learning models to better predict protein-ligand binding affinities.

The reliance on cloud computing services and related technologies has increased due to their many benefits, including resource sharing and the need for organizations to maintain their competitive advantage in the digital market. Also, the pace of cloud growth has significantly increased because of COVID-19. Many companies and businesses have shifted their core processes to the cloud for seamless operations during the pandemic. This migration of legacy systems to the cloud creates many opportunities for businesses. However, on the other hand, it may also bring substantial challenges. Hence, a careful decision is needed to align with company goals. In this paper, we demonstrate the need and advantages of cloud computing, followed by highlighting AWS's characteristics as one of the leading cloud service providers. We also discuss the merger of AWS with SDN to improve cloud data security and performance. The outcomes of this study can provide a data migration strategy and guide decision-makers toward a secure and sustainable migration to a cloud computing environment.

Rapid urbanization has dramatically spurred the economic development over the past three decades, especially in China, but has nevertheless had negative impacts on natural resources since it is an irreversible process. Thus, it is essential to timely monitor and quantitatively analysis the changes in land use over time and to identify the landscape pattern variation related to growth mode in different period. This study aims at inspecting spatiotemporal characteristics of landscape pattern respond to land use changes in Xuzhou city during the period from 1985 to 2015. In this connection, we proposed a new spectral index, named the Normalized Difference Enhanced Urban Index (NDEUI), which combines data from NTL (Nighttime light) from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program/Operational Linescan System (DMSP/OLS) with annual maximum Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) to reduce the detection confusion between urban areas and barren land, as well as follows. NDEUI-assisted Random Forests algorithm was implemented to obtain the land use/land cover (LULC) maps of Xuzhou in 1985, 1995, 2005 and 2015, respectively. Here, four different periods viz. 1985–1995, 1995–2005, 2005–2015 and 1985–2015 are chosen for the change analysis of land use and landscape pattern. The results indicated that the urban area has increased by about 30.65%, 10.54%, 68.77%, and 143.75% during the four periods mentioned above at the main expense of agricultural land, respectively. The spatial trend maps revealed that continuous transition from other land use types into urban land has appeared a dual-core development mode throughout the urbanization process, located at the new city region and the Jiawang district, mainly affected by the construction of new city region, freeway and the high railway station. Furthermore, we quantified the patch complexity, aggregation, connectivity and diversity of landscape employing a number of landscape metrics to represent the changes of landscape pattern at both class and landscape level, affected by urbanization during the study period. The results showed that with regard to the four aspects of landscape pattern, there were considerable differences among the four years, mainly owing to the increasing dominance of urbanized land. Spatiotemporal variation of landscape pattern was also conducted on the basis of subgrids in 900 m × 900 m. Combined with the land use changes and spatiotemporal variation of landscape pattern, it can be concluded that different urbanization modes and intensity result in variously the spatiotemporal evolution of landscape patterns. For Xuzhou city, the urban growth mainly appeared a leapfrog mode alone both sides of the roads during the period of 1985 to 1995, and then shifted into edge-expansion mode during the period from 1995 to 2005, whereas the edge-expansion and leapfrog modes coexisted for the period from 2005 to 2015. The high valuable spatiotemporal information generated utilizing RS and GIS in this study may give assistance to urban planners and policymakers to well understand urban dynamics and evaluate their spatiotemporal and environmental impacts at a local level for the sake of sustainable urban planning in the future.

To explore the effects of pymetrozine on the reproductive behavior of N. lugens, we established a bioassay method to accurately evaluate the toxicity of pymetrozine in N. lugens and establish the level of pymetrozine resistance of N. lugens in the field. In this study, pymetrozine’s effects on the fecundity of N. lugens were evaluated using the topical application method and rice-seedling dipping method. Moreover, the resistance of N. lugens to pymetrozine in a pymetrozine-resistant strain (Pym-R) and two field populations (YZ21 and QS21) was determined using the rice-seedling dipping method and fecundity assay methods. The results showed that treatment of N. lugens third-instar nymphs with LC15, LC50, and LC85 doses of pymetrozine resulted in significantly reduced male fertility and female fecundity. In addition, N. lugens adults treated with pymetrozine using the rice-seedling dipping and topical application method also exhibited significantly in-hibited male courtship, fertility, and female receptivity. Using the rice-stem dipping method, pymetrozine resistance was shown to be at high levels in Pym-R (194.6-fold), YZ21 (205.9-fold), and QS21 (212.8-fold), with LC50 values of 522.520 mg/L (Pym-R), 552.962 mg/L (YZ21), and 571.315 (QS21) mg/L. However, when using the rice-seedling dipping or topical application fe-cundity assay method, Pym-R (EC50: 14.370 mg/L, RR=12.4-fold; ED50: 0.560 ng/adult, RR=10.8-fold), YZ21 (EC50: 12.890 mg/L, RR=11.2-fold; ED50: 0.280 ng/adult; RR=5.4-fold), and QS21 (EC50: 13.70 mg/L, RR=11.9-fold) exhibited moderate or low levels of resistance to pymet-rozine. Our studies show that pymetrozine can significantly inhibit the fecundity of N. lugens. The fecundity assay results showed that N. lugens only developed low to moderate levels of resistance to pymetrozine, indicating that pymetrozine can still achieve effective control on the next gen-eration of N. lugens populations.

Background. There is limited evidence on the relationship between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and frailty in older people in Vietnam. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of frailty and its impact on mortality in older patients with end-stage renal disease. Method. This is a prospective, observational study at two large Dialysis Centres in Vietnam from November 2020 to June 2021. Consecutive older patients diagnosed with end-stage renal disease and on dialysis were recruited. Participants’ frailty status was defined by the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS). The study outcome was all-cause mortality at 6th month. Results. A total of 175 participants were recruited (mean age 72.4 years, 58.9% female). Using the cut-point of CFS ≥4, 87.4% of the participants were frail. Mortality at 6th month was 14.9%, 31.9% in participants with CFS ≥7, 12.8% in participants with CFS=6, 7.5% in participants with CFS from 4 to 5, and 4.5% in participants with CFS ≤3 (p=0.001). Cox regression analysis showed that compared to the non-frail participants, the probability of death over 6 months was nearly 2-fold higher in the mildly frail, 3-fold higher in the moderately frail, and 9-fold higher in the severely frail participants. Conclusion. This study demonstrated a very high prevalence of frailty in older patients with end-stage renal disease and dialysis and the significant impact of frailty severity on mortality. Healthcare providers should consider incorporating frailty screening into routine care for older patients with end-stage renal disease and dialysis.

Deep learning methods have been widely used in PolSAR image classification. To learn the polarimetric information, many deep learning methods expect to learn high-level semantic features from original PolSAR data. However, only original data cannot learn multiple scattering features and complex structures for extremely heterogeneous terrain objects. In addition, deep learning methods always cause edge confusion due to the high-level features. To overcome these shortages, we propose a double-channel CNN network combined with an edge-preserving MRF model(DCCNN-MRF) for PolSAR image classification. Firstly, to combine complex matrix data and multiple scattering features together, a double-channel convolution network(DCCNN) is developed, which consists of a Wishart-based complex matrix and multi-feature subnetworks. The Wishart-based complex matrix network can learn the statistical characteristics and channel correlation well, and the multi-feature network can learn high-level semantic features well. Then, a unified network framework is designed to fuse two kinds of features to enhance advantageous features and reduce redundant ones. Finally, an edge preserving MRF model is designed to combine with the DCCNN network. In the MRF model, a sketch map-based edge energy function is designed by defining adaptive weighted neighborhood for edge pixels. Experiments are conducted on four real PolSAR data sets with different sensors and bands. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed DCCNN-MRF method.

Chinese divination of I Ching has a history of thousands of years. The six lines changes in 64 hexagrams have exceeded one billion scenarios, and the inherent laws among them have not been well revealed to this day. By using big data's technology and coin toss method, this paper simulates the change of 64 hexagrams, and explores the probability and proportion of each hexagram during the change from the perspective of quantification, as well as the maximum and minimum conversion rate of hexagram change. This paper summarizes the basic characteristics and the basic law of hexagram change, and accordingly constructs the spatial form of hexagram change, and reveals the hidden secrets of the ancient Book of changes (I Ching). To achieve this goal, we randomly toss three coins 600 million times to generate 100 million hexagrams. According to the basic rules of hexagram divination, we calculate the hexagram changes. The results showed that: (1) Changes of things are mostly simple changes. The probability of 1 billion randomly generated hexagrams from one to three dynamic lines is close to 80%. (2) About 17% of the 64 hexagrams have no dynamic lines, which means that a significant proportion of the 64 hexagrams are invariant. (3) Small probability changing hexagram certainty and large probability changing hexagram uncertainty. (4) After generating one billion hexagrams at random, the topographic map with the probability of changing hexagrams has axial symmetry and fractal geometric characteristics, and the fractal characteristics are mainly manifested in that the changes on both sides of the symmetry are presented based on the triangle background. These results reflect the obvious characteristics and internal regularity of the changes in the 64 hexagrams of the I Ching. This article provides new ideas for scientific exploration of the internal laws of the 64 hexagrams in the I Ching.

This article summarizes Chinese framework for regulating artificial intelligence and integrates evolutionary game theory with cost-benefit analysis to establish a model and simulation. This framework is employed to analyze the behavioral trends among three distinct entities: governmental bodies, third-party independent institutions, and AI companies within the context of regulatory relationship. The findings indicate that: (1) The cost-benefit dynamics within the regulatory legal nexus significantly influence the behaviors of these entities; (2) Under the condition of normalized government regulation approaching full enforcement, the behavioral choices of third-party independent institutions and AI companies exhibit cyclical fluctuations.The paper draws two principal conclusions: (1) The regulatory framework need to be tailored to the specific risks presented by AI and the relative costs and benefits of legal enforcement in different jurisdictions. (2) From a cost-benefit standpoint, government intervention in AI regulation ought to be circumscribed, with government regulation focusing on critical legal risks. Other aspects of regulatory control should be delegated to cooperative legal framework that allows the participation of the independent third-party institution,which brings a nuanced and specialized approach to the governance of AI.

The explosion of data has transformed the world since much more information is available for collection and analysis than ever before. To extract valuable information from the data in different dimensions, various deep learning models have been developed in the past years. Although these models have demonstrated their strong capability on improving products and services in various applications, training them is still a time-consuming and resource-intensive process. Presently, cloud, one of the most powerful computing infrastructures, has been used for the training. However, how to manage cloud computing resources and to perform the training efficiently is still challenging current techniques. For example, general resource scheduling approaches, such as spread priority and balanced resource schedulers, actually do not work well with deep learning workloads. Besides, the resource allocation problem on a cluster can be divide into two subproblems: (1) local resource optimization: improve resource configuration for a single machine; (2) global resource optimization: improve the cluster-wide resource allocation. In this thesis, we propose two novel container schedulers, FlowCon and SpeCon, that are designed to address these two subproblems respectively and specifically to optimize performance of short-lived deep learning applications in the cloud. FlowCon focuses on resource configuration of single-node in a cluster, as show that it efficiently improves deep learning tasks completion time and resource utilization, and reduces the completion time of a specific job by up to 42.06\% without sacrificing the overall system time. SpeCon targets on cluster-wide resource configuration that speculatively migrate slow-growing models to release resources for fast-growing ones. Based on our experiments, SpeCon improves makespan for up to 24.7\%, compared to current approaches.

Forensic detection of non-volatile nitro explosives poses a tough analytical challenge. A colorimetric sensor comprising ultrasonically prepared silica-dye microspheres was developed for sensitive gas detection of cyclohexanone, a volatile marker of explosives 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane (RDX) and 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocane (HMX). The silica-dye composites were synthesized from the hydrolysis of ultrasonically sprayed organosiloxanes under mildly heating conditions (150 ^oC), which yields microspherical, nanoporous structures with high surface area (~300 m²/g) for gas exposure. The sensor inks were deposited on cellulose paper and gave sensitive colorimetric responses to trace amount of cyclohexanone vapors even at sub-ppm levels, with the detection limit down to ~150 ppb. The sensor showed high chemical specificity towards cyclohexanone against humidity and other classes of common solvents, including ethanol, acetonitrile, ether, ethyl acetate, and ammonia. Paper-based colorimetric sensors with hierarchical nanostructures could represent an alternative sensing materials for practical applications in the detection of explosives.

Focused microwave breast hyperthermia (FMBH) employs a phased antenna array to perform beamforming that can focus microwave energy at targeted breast tumors. Selective heating of the tumor endows the hyperthermia treatment with high accuracy and low side effects. The effect of FMBH is highly dependent on the applied phased antenna array. This work investigates the effect of polarizations of antenna elements on the microwave focusing results by simulations. We explore two kinds of antenna arrays with the same number of elements using different digital realistic human breast phantoms. The first array has all the elements’ polarization in the vertical plane of the breast while the second array has half elements’ polarization in the vertical plane and the other half in the transverse plane, i.e., cross polarization. In total 96 sets of different simulations are performed, and the results show that the second array leads to a better focusing effect in dense breasts than the first array. This work is very meaningful for the potential improvement of the antenna array for FMBH, which is of great significance for the future clinical applications of FMBH. The antenna array with cross polarization can also be applied in micro-wave imaging and sensing for biomedical applications.

The last-mile logistics in cities have become an indispensable part of the urban logistics system. This study aims to explore the effective selection of last-mile logistics nodes to enhance the efficiency of logistics distribution, strengthen the corporate distribution image, and further reduce corporate operating costs and alleviate urban traffic congestion. This paper proposes a clustering-based approach to identify urban logistics nodes from the perspective of geographic information fusion. This method comprehensively considers several key indicators, including the coverage, balance, and urban traffic conditions of logistics distribution. Additionally, we employed a greedy algorithm to identify secondary nodes around primary nodes, thus constructing an effective nodal network. To verify the practicality of this model, we conducted an empirical simulation study using the logistics demand and traffic conditions in the Xianlin District of Nanjing. This research not only identified the locations of primary and secondary logistics nodes but also provided a new perspective for constructing the urban last-mile logistics system, enriching the academic research related to logistics node construction. The results of this study are of significant theoretical and practical importance for optimizing urban logistics networks, enhancing logistics efficiency, and promoting the improvement of urban traffic conditions.

This research presents a comprehensive framework for efficiently generating forest fire datasets from Google Earth Engine data sources. The primary contribution of this work lies in providing a methodology to swiftly extract forest fire factors without the need for permissions or access to private datasets, rendering the dataset openly accessible and shared without barriers. Furthermore, given that the remote sensing data used is a global dataset, it can be applied in any region without restrictions. In this study, Peninsular Malaysia is chosen as a case study to demonstrate the framework's effectiveness. The generated dataset includes essential variables including the climate and environment, landcover, topography, and anthropogenic factors facilitating the analysis of fire occurrences. The methodology empowers data scientists, enabling them to leverage their analytical skills on the extracted dataset without requiring specialized remote sensing knowledge. Additionally, this study also showcases the adoption of large language models, specifically GPT-4 with the Noteable plugin, as a tool for conducting preliminary analyses on the generated dataset. Sample analyses reveal that several key features, including the KBDI, LST, PDSI, climate water deficit, and precipitation, significantly impact forest fire occurrences in Peninsular Malaysia. Despite the successful application of the GPT-4 with Noteable plugin, certain limitations and challenges are identified, highlighting the necessity for further validation of the tool's applicability and limitations. This study encourages future research to (1) adopt the proposed framework in other regions, (2) explore more detailed analyses encompassing all variables, and (3) leverage machine learning for advanced forecasting.