A Hierarchical Planning Method for AUV Search Tasks Based on the Snake Optimization Algorithm.

In a complex and dynamic battlefield environment, enabling autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) to reach dynamic targets in the shortest possible time using global autonomous planning is a key issue affecting the completion of search tasks. In this study, ahierarchicalAUV task planning method that uses a combination of hierarchical programming and a snake optimization algorithm is proposed for two typical cases where the platform can provide initial target information. This method decomposes the search task problem into a three-level programming problem, with the outer task planning goal of achieving the shortest encounter time between AUV and dynamic targets; the goal of task planning in the middle layer is to achieve the shortest actual navigation time for AUVs under different operating conditions; and the internal task planning is responsible for considering the comprehensive trajectory optimization under navigation constraints such as threat zone, path length, and path smoothness.

Liquid crystal phase behavior of oxalated cellulose nanocrystal and optical films with controllable structural color induced by centripetal force.

Cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) is a sustainable bio-nanomaterial. The distinctive left-handed polarization properties render cellulose nanocrystal a promising candidate for optical film. Due to eco-friendliness, reliability, mildness and simplicity, the oxalate hydrolysis method stands out among various preparation methods for CNC.

Construction of strain responsive Ti-containing carboxymethyl cellulose hydrogel with transitional coordination precursor.

Due to marvelous sensitivity and flexibility, conductive hydrogels are popularly used as strain sensors in intelligent skin and wearable electronic devices fields. However, hydrogel tends to be destroyed after long-term use or in accident, leading to performance degradation. Herein, we developed an environmental-friendly Ti-containing conductive hydrogel.

Potential prognosis and immunotherapy predictor TFAP2A in pan-cancer.

Background: TFAP2A is critical in regulating the expression of various genes, affecting various biological processes and driving tumorigenesis and tumor development. However, the significance of TFAP2A in carcinogenesis processes remains obscure.

Methods: In our study, we explored multiple databases including TCGA, GTEx, HPA, cBioPortal, TCIA, and other well-established databases for further analysis to expound TFAP2A expression, genetic alternations, and their relationship with the prognosis and cellular signaling network alternations.

An eco-friendly versatile superabsorbent hydrogel based on sodium alginate and urea for soil improvement with a synchronous chemical loading strategy.

In this paper, an eco-friendly versatile superabsorbent material was designed for soil improvement, and a synchronous chemical loading strategy was proposed. In this strategy, urea not only acted as fertilizer but also acted as a crosslinker to construct an alginate network. The microstructure, chemical structure, thermal stability and composition of the obtained SA/urea hydrogel were characterized in detail.

Functional analysis of a NPC1 gene from the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae).

Niemann-Pick C (NPC) disease is a neurodegenerative disorder related to cellular sterol trafficking and mutation of NPC1 gene is the main cause for this disease. The function of NPC1 have been reported in a few insects but rarely studied in hemipterans. In the present study, we investigate the function of NPC1 in a hemipteran pest, the whitefly Bemisia tabaci.

Fir sawdust as a low-cost and easily recyclable adsorbent: efficient removal of Pb(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) contaminants from wastewater.

The main pollution sources of heavy metals are the arbitrary discharge of industrial wastewater and waste residues, which cause serious harm to the water environment, soil environment, and human health. In this study, following the principle of waste utilization, a gel adsorbent (AA-SW-AMPS) was prepared by microwave-assisted chemical cross-linking using fir sawdust as raw material. A scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and swelling dynamic experiments were used to investigate the microstructure, reaction mechanism, and water absorption performance of AA-SW-AMPS.

Learning to express causal events in Mandarin Chinese: A multimodal perspective.

Previous research has shown language-specific features play a guiding role in how children develop expression of events with speech and gestures. This study adopts a multimodal approach and examines Mandarin Chinese, a language that features context use and verb serializations. Forty children (four-to-seven years old) and ten adults were asked to describe fourteen video stimuli depicting different types of causal events involving location/state changes.

Advances in Asymmetric Wettable Janus Materials for Oil-Water Separation.

The frequent occurrence of crude oil spills and the indiscriminate discharge of oily wastewater have caused serious environmental pollution. The existing separation methods have some defects and are not suitable for complex oil-water emulsions. Therefore, the efficient separation of complex oil-water emulsions has been of great interest to researchers.

Green Preparation of Durian Rind-Based Cellulose Nanofiber and Its Application in Aerogel.

In this study, a green, highly efficient and low energy consumption preparation method of cellulose nanofiber (CNF) was developed by using agricultural and forestry waste durian rinds as raw materials. The power of ultrasonic treatment was successfully reduced to only 360 W with low molecular weight liquid DMSO. The obtained durian rind-based CNF had a diameter of 8-20 nm and a length of several micrometers.

Preparation of Silica Aerogel/Resin Composites and Their Application in Dental Restorative Materials.

As the most advanced aerogel material, silica aerogel has had transformative industrial impacts. However, the use of silica aerogel is currently limited to the field of thermal insulation materials, so it is urgent to expand its application into other fields. In this work, silica aerogel/resin composites were successfully prepared by combining silica aerogel with a resin matrix for dental restoration.

Comprehensive network analysis of dysregulated genes revealed MNX1-AS1/hsa-miR-4697-3p/HOXB13 axis in ovarian cancer chemotherapy response.

Poor chemotherapy response is the main obstacle of ovarian cancer (OC) treatment. Platinum-refractory and -resistant patients are associated with a worse outcome than platinum-sensitive and partially sensitive patients, but the comprehensive similarities and differences among them are not yet clear. In this study, we analyzed the data of patients with different chemotherapy response in The Cancer Genome Atlas.

Preparation and characterization of modified dual network dust suppression gel based on sodium alginate and soluble starch.

Aiming at the problems of complex environment and serious dust pollution in large open-pit coal yards, a dust suppression gel with a dual network structure was prepared by modifying the soluble starch and sodium alginate with iron ions. The changes of functional groups, thermal stability, and morphology structure before and after the reaction were analyzed by FTIR, TG-DSC, and SEM, and the formation mechanism of the dual network was revealed by XPS. Furthermore, the water absorption and water retention experiments proved that the dual network structure is more conducive to water retention than the single-layer network.

Nonmetal doped carbon nitride nanosheet as photocatalyst for degradation of 4, 5-dichloroguaiacol.

Metal-free photocatalysts for high efficient photocatalytic degradation of pollutants have attracted growing concern in recent years. Herein, relying on density functional theory (DFT) calculations, boron and phosphorus doped CN layers were explored for the potential of utilization as photocatalysts for 4, 5-dichloroguaiacol (4, 5-DCG) removal. Our computations revealed that the adsorption energy of 4, 5-DCG on B@N-doped CN layers were 26.

Wnt/β-catenin signalling: function, biological mechanisms, and therapeutic opportunities.

The Wnt/β-catenin pathway comprises a family of proteins that play critical roles in embryonic development and adult tissue homeostasis. The deregulation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling often leads to various serious diseases, including cancer and non-cancer diseases. Although many articles have reviewed Wnt/β-catenin from various aspects, a systematic review encompassing the origin, composition, function, and clinical trials of the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway in tumour and diseases is lacking.

Preparation and characterization of magnetic modified bone charcoal for removing Cu ions from industrial and mining wastewater.

Heavy metal water pollution is an urgent global problem to be addressed. Copper ions are common toxic heavy metal pollutants in wastewater. In order to remove the excessive copper ions in wastewater, in this study, chicken bone charcoal was modified by sodium dodecyl sulfonate and combined with magnetic nanoparticles prepared with ferric chloride hexahydrate and ferrous sulfate heptahydrate to produce a high efficiency adsorbent.