Hot Field Research Articles

Dealloying of Quasi-High Entropy Alloys: Fabrication of Porous Noble Metals/Metal Oxides

High entropy alloys (HEAs) have been widely studied due to their special crystal structure, but their bulk structure and low specific surface area limit their further application in broader fields. In this work, the dealloying of precious metal Cu35Pd35Ni25Ag5 quasi-HEAs is performed. Porous noble metals with micro prism array structure and porous noble metal PdO/Ag2O/NiO oxides with nano “ligament/pore” structure are obtained by constant potential dealloying and free dealloying, respectively. In this way, the porosification of quasi-HEAs and noble metal oxides is achieved. Moreover, the effects of dealloying parameters on pore morphology and phase structure of dealloyed materials are studied, and the evolution mechanisms of pore structures of different dealloying products are discussed. The work provides strategies for the preparation of porous precious metal quasi-HEAs and porous noble metal oxides by the dealloying method. These products present great potential for application as functional materials in hot fields such as catalysis and energy storage.

Bibliometric analysis of photodynamic research in bladder cancer: trends and future directions.

Recent years have seen the use of photodynamic technologies concerning the detection and therapy of bladder cancer (BC) due to their rapid development and well-established therapeutic impact. However, a thorough analysis and bibliometric assessment of photodynamic technologies publishing trends in BC has not been completed yet. Retrieving bibliographies from the Web of Science Core Collection limited the publication date to December 31, 2023, from January 1, 2004. We used VOSviewer (Version 1.6.19) and CiteSpace (Version 6.4 R1) for both statistical and visualization analysis. We selected a total of 870 documents for analysis. The yearly publication findings show notable upward patterns over the last two decades. The Kochi Medical School in Japan was the most productive school, while the USA was the most productive nation. Japanese researcher Inoue Keiji published the highest number of photodynamic -related articles in BC. The most quoted and prolific journals were the Photodynamic Therapy and Photodiagnosis. According to the keyword analysis, the terms "cystoscopy," "carcinoma in situ," "drug delivery," "follow-up," "hexaminolevulinate," and "impact" are all relatively recent and hot field. Our investigation produced a bibliometric outcome for the field, potentially opening up new research opportunities. We suggest that future research concentrate on in-situ carcinoma identification, photosensitizer invention, medication delivery enhancement, and photodynamic technology follow-up in BC.

Donor-Acceptor Type Carbon Nitride Photocatalysts in Photocatalysis: Current Understanding, Applications and Challenges.

The exploration of photocatalytic materials with efficient charge separation has always been a prominent area of research in photocatalysis. In the preceding years, the strategy of constructing donor-acceptor (D-A) structured materials has gradually been developed in photocatalytic systems, becoming a new research crossroads and attracting extensive interdisciplinary focus. Polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) has gradually been recognized as the primary photocatalytic material for constructing D-A structures due to its attractive exceptional physicochemical stability, electronic band structure, and cost-effectiveness. However, few reports have summarized the research on D-A type PCN at the molecular level. This review focuses on the molecular level design strategies and the performance enhancement mechanisms of D-A type PCN are emphasized from two main aspects: intramolecular D-A and intermolecular D-A. In addition, the concept of dual D-A type PCN is introduced, proposing a new direction for advancing the efficacy of photocatalysts. Subsequently, this review summarizes the application scenarios of D-A type PCN in energy transformation and environmental amelioration. Finally, by elaborating on the main difficulties and opportunities in this hot field, this review can provide inspiration and innovative strategies for developing D-A type PCN and resolving energy and environmental issues.

Review of research and application on digital twin technology

Digital twin is a new technical means to realize the interactive integration of the physical world and the information world. It has been widely used in many business fields and has received more and more attention. Based on the analysis of the connotation and architecture system of digital twin, this paper discusses its key technologies in model construction, data collection and analysis, virtual-reality interaction and visualization, summarizes the research progress of digital twin technology in hot fields such as intelligent manufacturing, smart cities, mining, power monitoring and water conservancy projects, summarizes the existing deficiencies and future development trends, in order to provide reference and inspiration for the development of digital twin technology.

A three-way decision with prospect-regret theory under Pythagorean fuzzy environments

As science and technology continue to advance at a rapid pace, people are facing increasingly complex data, and research on uncertain information technology has become a hot field. Compared to intuitionistic fuzzy sets, Pythagorean fuzzy sets are more tolerant and flexible in representing uncertain information. Therefore, this article mainly focuses on the study of three-way decisions based on Pythagorean fuzzy β covering. First, considering the disadvantages of other methods in comparing the magnitudes of Pythagorean fuzzy numbers, we propose the concept of the ideal positive degree in a Pythagorean fuzzy environment and determine a method for calculating conditional probabilities based on this newly defined ideal positive degree. Second, regret theory and prospect theory are combined to obtain a relative utility function. Then, based on the aforementioned conditional probabilities and relative utility function, a three-way multi-attribute decision-making method based on the Pythagorean fuzzy environment is established. Finally, the three-way multi-attribute decision-making method is utilized to solve the problem of selecting the optimal choice for rural revitalization industrial projects. Through experimental comparison and analysis, the effectiveness and reliability of this method are verified.

Cover Image

COVER PHOTO: In The Scientific Naturalist section of this issue, Lai et al. (Article e4470; doi: 10.1002/ecy.4470) document the Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis) foraging for nectar from the Ethiopian red hot poker (Kniphofia foliosa) in the Bale Mountains of southern Ethiopia. Therophily—the pollination of plants by non‐flying mammals—plays an important role in pollination with up to 87% of flowering plants depending on a wide variety of animal species for their pollination. Examples of carnivore species foraging for nectar are continuing to be discovered and present future opportunities for research of lesser‐known pollen vectors. The cover image from Figure 1 in their paper depicts an Ethiopian wolf nectar foraging in a large Ethiopian red hot poker field of the Web Valley, Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia. Photo credit: Adrien Lesaffre. image

Recent Advances on Electrolyte Additives Regulating the Electrode/electrolyte Interface to Stabilize the Zinc Anode

Energy and environment are the two most serious problems in todays social development. With the depletion of fossil resources such as coal and oil and the deterioration of the environment, the development of renewable energy has become a new trend. As an emerging energy storage technology, aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have attracted widespread attention due to their low cost, high safety, good environmental sustainability, and high energy density. However, problems such as dendrite growth in zinc anode, electrolyte decomposition and cathode dissolution limit its commercial application. In order to overcome these challenges, the research of electrolyte additives has become a hot field. Electrolyte additives can improve the cycle stability and efficiency of aqueous zinc-ion batteries by regulating the electrode/electrolyte interface, stabilizing the zinc anode, and improving the overall performance of the battery.

Implementation of Digital Classroom State System for Teachers and Students Based on Large Models

Deep learning has become a hot field of artificial intelligence, and the deep learning large model framework has become a bridgehead for the active layout of Chinese and foreign technology companies. Large models play a significant role in the application field, greatly improving the efficiency of training and optimization, and contributing to the landing of many innovative artificial intelligence tools. Based on the Chinese PaddlePaddle large model framework, an application system is designed in combination with the intelligent classroom teaching scenario, which uses machine vision algorithms to distinguish and present teachers’ and students’ behaviors, that is, the digitization and multi-classification scheme of class character states. After having digital data, data analysis can be carried out to evaluate the class status of teachers and students, and the traditional subjective judgment such as peacetime grades and teaching ability can be upgraded to the objective judgment of artificial intelligence.

Simultaneous measurement of temperature by Background-oriented Schlieren and speckle interferometry: Comparison and validation

The application of Background-oriented Schlieren (BOS) technology for measuring air flow temperatures is becoming increasingly popular due to its simplicity and practicality. However, there is still a lack of synchronous experimental measurement techniques to verify its measurement accuracy. Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometry (ESPI), as a high-precision measurement technique, is currently being employed in the field of temperature field measurements. In this study, to verify the accuracy of BOS, an innovative optical setup was designed to achieve the synchronous measurement of temperature field by BOS and ESPI. A plate is set in the object beam path of ESPI, and the laser is irradiated on the plate to form a BOS measurement laser speckle background pattern, which forms a BOS measurement system with the camera. The two measurement systems can simultaneously capture speckle patterns before and after the hot air flow field is introduced into the optical path, enabling the calculation of air temperature. This approach avoids errors that may arise from slight variations in the flow field when comparing results from non-synchronous measurements. The quality of the laser speckle is optimized by adjusting the aperture, beam expander and laser power. The measurement accuracy, uncertainty and sensitivity of BOS are evaluated in the reconstruction of the temperature field of the hot air flow above the alcohol lamp flame. The results show that the temperature field measured by BOS is consistent with the temperature field measured by speckle interferometry, and its measurement sensitivity is related to the flow field position and the focal length of the camera.

Research progress of natural products targeting tumor-associated macrophages in antitumor immunity: A review.

As an important innate immune cell in the body, macrophages have a strong ability to phagocytic tumor cells and maintain the innate immune response. Tumor-associated macrophages play a more prominent role in regulating tumor immunity and are currently an important target of antitumor immunity. As a new type of antitumor therapy, tumor immunotherapy has great potential, combined chemotherapy, targeting and other therapeutic means can significantly enhance the antitumor therapy effect. At present, a number of natural products have been proved to have significant immunomodulatory and antitumor effects, and have become a hot field of antitumor immunity research. Studies have found that a variety of natural products, such as polysaccharides, flavonoids, saponins, lactones, and alkaloids, can induce the polarization of M1 macrophages, inhibit the polarization of M2 macrophages, and regulate the expression of immune-related cytokines by targeting specific signaling pathways to enhance the killing effect of macrophages on tumor cells and improve the tumor immune microenvironment, and finally better play the antitumor immune function. In this paper, by summarizing the research results of the specific mechanism of natural products targeting tumor-associated macrophages to exert antitumor immunity in recent years, we discussed the aspects of natural products targeting tumor-associated macrophages to enhance antitumor immunity, in order to provide a new research idea for tumor immunotherapy and further improve the effectiveness of clinical antitumor therapy.

Butterfly-Inspired Multiple Cross-Linked Dopamine-Metal-Phenol Bioprosthetic Valves with Enhanced Endothelialization and Anticalcification.

Valve replacement is the most effective means of treating heart valve diseases, and transcatheter heart valve replacement (THVR) is the hottest field at present. However, the durability of the commercial bioprosthetic valves has always been the limiting factor restricting the development of interventional valve technology. The chronic inflammatory reaction, calcification, and difficulty in endothelialization after the implantation of a glutaraldehyde cross-linked porcine aortic valve or bovine pericardium often led to valve degeneration. Improving the biocompatibility of valve materials and inducing endothelialization to promote in situ regeneration can extend the service life of valve materials. Herein, inspired by the hardening process of butterfly wings, this study proposed a dopamine-metal-phenol strategy to modify decellularized porcine pericardium (DPP). This is a strategy to make dopamine (DA) coordinate trivalent metal chromium ions (Cr(III)) with antiplatelets (PLTs) and anti-inflammatory properties, and then cross-link it with tea polyphenols (TP) to generate a valve scaffold that is mechanically comparable to glutaraldehyde-cross-linked scaffolds but avoids the cytotoxicity of aldehyde and presents better biocompatibility, hemocompatibility, anticalcification, and anti-inflammatory response properties.

A new species of the thorid shrimp genus Lebbeus White, 1847 (Decapoda: Caridea) from the Amami Rift hydrothermal vent field in the Ryukyu region, Japan.

A new species of the thorid shrimp genus Lebbeus White, 1847, is described and illustrated on the basis of two specimens collected from the recently discovered Amami Rift hot vent field in the Ryukyu region in southwestern Japan, at a depth of 628 m. Lebbeus parvirostris sp. nov. is morphologically similar to L. microceros (Krøyer, 1841), L. mundus Jensen, 2006, L. saldanhae (Barnard, 1947), L. schrencki (Bražnikov, 1907), L. spongiaris Komai, 2001, and L. tosaensis Hanamura & Abe, 2003, but differs from all of them in the lack of a pterygostomial tooth on the carapace in the female. Other diagnostic characters useful in differentiating the new species from the aforementioned close relatives are also discussed. Genetic analyses using sequences of two mitochondrial markers, including cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and 16S rRNA, are also presented to provide preliminary support for the status of the new species. Lebbeus parvirostris sp. nov. is the second representative of Lebbeus known from active hydrothermal vents in the Ryukyu region.

Synergies between the circular economy and carbon emission reduction

Climate change and sustainable development drive transformation in economic development models. Carbon emission reduction and the circular economy propel climate change and sustainable development, yet it's unclear if they synergize or counteract each other. This study examines the question from theoretical and practical perspectives. Using a theory-practice framework, bibliometric and big data analyses were conducted on the Web of Science and Chinese case data, totaling 2.29GB, to explore synergies between carbon emission reduction and the circular economy. The study finds predominantly synergistic interactions between the circular economy and carbon emission reduction, with minimal offsetting effects. That is, the circular economy markedly enhances carbon emissions reduction. At the theoretical level, the two fields are gradually evolving towards in-depth research, while at the practical level, collaboration is coalescing around four areas: hot fields, potential fields, auxiliary fields and common goals. A noteworthy contribution of this study is the development of a framework that synergizes theory and practice, providing a structured approach for future research in this domain. By quantifying the synergistic and offsetting relationship between the circular economy and carbon emissions reduction through systematic big data analysis, this research offers insights essential for achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. We also stress the need for diverse case studies and multi-dimensional analyses in ongoing research.

Suspected exertional heat stroke: A case study of worker cooling in a hot and humid field environment.

In the event of a severe occupational heat-related illness, paramedic assistance may not be immediately available. A worker's survival may depend on their co-workers access to efficacious field-based cooling modalities. One cooling method that has been claimed to be practical in field-based settings is the ice towel method. This case study assessed the practicality of the ice towel method in an industrial setting, where criteria for use include cost effectiveness, portability, scalability, and implementation by a single worker under the stress of an emergency. This case study describes the emergency application of the ice towel method while awaiting paramedics, for a worker suffering suspected exertional heat stroke on a remote job site. Ice towels were able to be transported to a remote field site and applied successfully by a single worker under the stress of a potentially life-threatening emergency. The ice towel method was cost effective, scalable, transportable, and rapidly applied in a field-based emergency. This case study demonstrates the importance of organizations assessing their heat-related risks, and determining controls based upon their efficacy and practicality for their unique setting.

Marketing Strategies Comparison for Cartier and Pandora in the Chinese Market------Based on the 4P Model

China has a large population. As the most populous country in the world, it is a market favored by various jewelry brands. At the same time, jewelry brands have always been a hot field. There are many well-known jewelry brands worldwide, such as Cartier, Pandora, Swarovski, Bulgari...Cartier and Pandora have different positioning of their jewelry brands, but they also gain the favor of many consumers. This article will use different data to explain why Pandora and Cartier occupy the jewelry market share in China and use 4P marketing methods to compare their marketing methods and their advantages and disadvantages.

The Disulfide Bond-Mediated Cyclization of Oral Peptides.

'Structure determines function' is a consensus in the current biological community, but the structural characteristics corresponding to a certain function have always been a hot field of scientific exploration. A peptide is a bio-active molecule that is between the size of an antibody and a small molecule. Still, the gastrointestinal barrier and the physicochemical properties of peptides have always limited the oral administration of peptides. Therefore, we analyze the main ways oral peptide conversion strategies of peptide modification and permeation enhancers. Based on our analysis of the structure of natural oral peptides, which can be absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract, we believe that the design strategy of natural stapled peptides based on disulfide bonds is good for oral peptide design. This cannot only be used to identify anti-gastrointestinal digestive structural proteins in nature but also provide a solid structural foundation for the construction of new oral peptide drugs.

Cascadable-Controllable Self-Assembly DNA Tiles for Large-Scale DNA Logic Circuits.

In the last few decades, DNA-based self-assembly tiles has become a hot field in research due to its special applications and advantages. The regularity and strong design methods comprise other DNA-based digital circuit design methods. In addition to the obvious advantages of this method, there are challenges in performing computations based on self-assembly tiles, which have hindered the development and construction of large computing circuits with this method. The first challenge is the creation of crystals from DNA molecules in the output, which has led to the impossibility of cascading. The second challenge of this method is the uncontrollability of the reactions of the tiles, which increases the percentage of computing errors. In this article, these two challenges have been solved by changing the structure of leading tiles so that without the activator strand, tiles remain inactive and cannot be connected to other tiles. Also, when the tiles are activated, single-strand DNA will be released after connecting to other tiles, which will be used as the output of the circuit. This output gives the possibility of cascading to self-assembly designed circuits. The method introduced in this article can be a beginning for the re-development of DNA-based circuit design with the self-assembly tile method.

Coupling relationship and genetic mechanisms of shelf-edge delta and deep-water fan source-to-sink: A case study in Paleogene Zhuhai Formation in south subsag of Baiyun Sag, Pearl River Mouth Basin, China

The coupling relationship between shelf-edge deltas and deep-water fan sand bodies is a hot and cutting-edge field of international sedimentology and deep-water oil and gas exploration. Based on the newly acquired high-resolution 3D seismic, logging and core data of Pearl River Mouth Basin (PRMB), this paper dissected the shelf-edge delta to deep-water fan (SEDDF) depositional system in the Oligocene Zhuhai Formation of Paleogene in south subsag of Baiyun Sag, and revealed the complex coupling relationship from the continental shelf edge to deep-water fan sedimentation and its genetic mechanisms. The results show that during the deposition of the fourth to first members of the Zhuhai Formation, the scale of the SEDDF depositional system in the study area showed a pattern of first increasing and then decreasing, with deep-water fan developed in the third to first members and the largest plane distribution scale developed in the late stage of the second member. Based on the development of SEDDF depositional system along the source direction, three types of coupling relationships are divided, namely, deltas that are linked downdip to fans, deltas that lack downdip fans and fans that lack updip coeval deltas, with different depositional characteristics and genetic mechanisms. (1) Deltas that are linked downdip to fans: with the development of shelf-edge deltas in the shelf area and deep-water fans in the downdip slope area, and the strong source supply and relative sea level decline are the two key factors which control the development of this type of source-to-sink (S2S). The development of channels on the continental shelf edge is conducive to the formation of this type of S2S system even with weak source supply and high sea level. (2) Deltas that lack downdip fans: with the development of shelf edge deltas in shelf area, while deep water fans are not developed in the downdip slope area. The lack of “sources” and “channels”, and fluid transformation are the three main reasons for the formation of this type of S2S system. (3) Fans that lack updip coeval deltas: with the development of deep-water fans in continental slope area and the absence of updip coeval shelf edge deltas, which is jointly controlled by the coupling of fluid transformation at the shelf edge and the “channels” in the continental slope area.

Research on the application of automatic control theory in automatic driving technology

Autonomous driving technology has been widely used and studied in depth in recent years, and has become a hot field in the automotive industry. As one of the core methods to realize automatic driving, automatic control theory provides an important theoretical basis and practical guidance for automatic driving systems. This paper aims to explore the application of automatic control theory to autonomous driving and analyze its potential impact on improving driving safety, comfort and efficiency. This paper first introduces the basic principles and components of the autonomous driving system. Among them, automatic control theory plays an important role in decision-making and execution. Secondly, this paper discusses the specific application of automatic control theory in automatic driving. These include PID controller-based vehicle stability control, model predictive control (MPC) for path planning and trajectory tracking. These applications enable autonomous driving systems to respond in real time to environmental changes and maintain vehicle stability and safety. Finally, the paper discusses the challenges and future directions of automatic control theory in autonomous driving. Future research should focus on further improving the robustness and adaptability of automatic control algorithms to cope with complex driving scenarios and uncertainties. To sum up, automatic control theory plays an important role in automatic driving and has broad application prospects. Through continuous improvement and innovation, automatic control theory will make an important contribution to the realization of safer, more efficient, and more intelligent autonomous driving technology.

Natural radioactivity level in Yemen: A systematic review of radiological studies

This paper aimed to conduct a systematic review of 26 published articles from 13 different regions in the Republic of Yemen related to the study of natural radioactivity (NORM) and enhanced artificial radioactivity (TENORM). The study relied on the analysis of various sample types, including air, groundwater, surface water, hot spring water, soil, sand, rocks, building materials, and oil field samples. It also analyzed the study areas, the types of detectors employed, and the study's timeframe. The analytical results raised significant concerns regarding the high levels of radioactivity observed in many of the studied regions. Moreover, some regions indicated the absence of any prior radiological study, despite apparent effects on the population and the environment, which suggest the presence of potential radionuclide concentration. Based on this study, it is strongly recommended that researchers conduct further radiological studies in regions previously studied over extended periods and in areas where no prior radiological studies have been conducted to assess potential radionuclide concentration.