Homogeneity of Electro-Mechanical and Optical Characteristics in Ring-Shaped MEMS Shutter Arrays with Subfield Addressing for Interference Microscopy.

We present a MEMS array-based approach for micro-irises called "ring shutter", utilizing subfield addressing for applications in advanced micro-optics, such as interference microscopy. This experimental study is focused on investigating the homogeneity of electro-mechanical and optical characteristics within and between subfields of a lab demonstrator device. The characterization aims to ensure crosstalk-free and swift optical performance, as demonstrated in a previous study.

Capacitance-Voltage Studies on Electrostatically Actuated MEMS Micromirror Arrays.

This article presents the electrostatic actuation performance of micromirror arrays for intelligent active daylight control and energy management in green buildings using a capacitive-voltage (C-V) measurement technique. In order to understand how geometric hinge parameters, initial opening angles, and materials affect the overall efficiency and functionality of the system, micromirror arrays have been analyzed using C-V measurements considering (i) full and broken hinge structures, (ii) 90° and 130° initial tilt angles (Φ), and (iii) different material layer combinations. The measurement results indicate that both an increase in the Young's modulus of the applied materials and increasing the initial tilt angles increase the threshold voltages during the closing process of the micromirrors.

Constructing a Dielectric Fluorinated Solid Electrolyte for Practically Operated All-Solid-State Lithium-Metal Batteries.

The operation of all-solid-state lithium-metal batteries is primarily constrained by an inferior solid electrolyte. Here, we employ a porous dielectric fluorinated electrolyte to encapsulate a Li complex, achieving rapid and stable ion conduction throughout cycling. The electrolyte comprises a porous nanofiber (NF) skeleton made of dielectric fluorinated BaTiO (F-BaTiO) and all-trans block copolymer PVDF--PTFE, with an encapsulated poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-LiTFSI filler.

The Effects of Supplemental Feeding on Methane Emissions from Yak Grazing in the Warm Season.

The yak industry constitutes a pivotal segment of livestock development across the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and adjacent pastoral regions. Existing studies have shown that supplemental feeding for grazing yaks significantly improves meat quality and growth performance, but its effect on enteric methane (CH) emission from yaks has never been reported, so the present experiment aimed to investigate the effect of supplemental feeding of grazing yaks on CH emissions in three different periods of the warm season. Thirty male yaks were randomly assigned to two groups, with 15 yaks per group, The groups were designated as the grazing group (GR), with traditional grazing methods and with an initial body weight of 94.

Protein Requirements and Nutritional Metabolic Characteristics of Yak Calves on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

Understanding the nutritional protein requirements of yak calves is the basis of precise feed formulation. Regulating feed protein can reduce environmental impacts, which is particularly crucial for the rearing and management of yak calves. In this study, we used a combination of comparative slaughter, feeding, and digestibility trials to determine the net protein requirements of suckling yak calves.

Three-Dimensionally Printed Ionogel-Coated Ceramic Electrolytes for Solid-State Lithium Batteries.

Stereolithography three-dimensional (3D) printing technology enables the customization of ceramic-based solid electrolyte structures with desired electrochemical properties; however, formulating slurries that both are highly ceramic-loaded and have low viscosity for printing poses a challenge. Here, we propose an ionogel-coated ceramic approach to prepare a shear-thinning fast-ion conductor ceramic (LiLaZrTaO) slurry, which possesses both a high ceramic content of 50 wt % and a low viscosity of 1.53 Pa·s.

Advancements in MEMS Micromirror and Microshutter Arrays for Light Transmission Through a Substrate.

This paper reviews and compares electrostatically actuated MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical system) arrays for light modulation and light steering in which transmission through the substrate is required. A comprehensive comparison of the technical achievements of micromirror arrays and microshutter arrays is provided. The main focus of this paper is MEMS micromirror arrays for smart glass in building windows and façades.

Yttrium-doped NiMo-MoO heterostructure electrocatalysts for hydrogen production from alkaline seawater.

Active and stable electrocatalysts are essential for hydrogen production from alkaline water electrolysis. However, precisely controlling the interaction between electrocatalysts and reaction intermediates (HO*, H*, and *OH) remains challenging. Here, we demonstrate an yttrium-doped NiMo-MoO heterogenous electrocatalyst that efficiently promotes water dissociation and accelerates the intermediate adsorption/desorption dynamics in alkaline electrolytes.

Microenvironmental modulation breaks intrinsic pH limitations of nanozymes to boost their activities.

Functional nanomaterials with enzyme-mimicking activities, termed as nanozymes, have found wide applications in various fields. However, the deviation between the working and optimal pHs of nanozymes has been limiting their practical applications. Here we develop a strategy to modulate the microenvironmental pHs of metal-organic framework (MOF) nanozymes by confining polyacids or polybases (serving as Brønsted acids or bases).

Effect of Oat Hay as a Substitute for Alfalfa Hay on the Gut Microbiome and Metabolites of Yak Calves.

To evaluate the impact of different roughages on the intestinal microbiota of yak calves, we fed them oat hay in substitution of alfalfa hay, in addition to milk replacer and starter powder. Twenty-one 45-day-old male yak calves were selected and randomly assigned to three groups: the milk replacer + starter + alfalfa hay group (AH), the milk replacer + starter + oat hay group (OH), and the milk replacer + starter + mixed hay group (AO), in which the alfalfa hay and oat hay were administered in a 1:1 ratio. All calves in the three groups were fed the same milk replacer and an equivalent amount of dry matter.

Modification of Intestinal Flora Can Improve Host Metabolism and Alleviate the Damage Caused by Chronic Hypoxia.

Prolonged exposure to hypoxic conditions can lead to reduced appetite, stunted growth, systemic inflammation, and pulmonary hypertension. Previous studies have indicated a correlation between gut dysbiosis and the development of hypoxia-related hazards. We designed an experiment to investigate the effect of microbiota on mitigating hypoxic damage.

Pharmacological Inhibition of the Spliceosome SF3b Complex by Pladienolide-B Elicits Craniofacial Developmental Defects in Mouse and Zebrafish.

Background: Mutations in genes encoding spliceosome components result in craniofacial structural defects in humans, referred to as spliceosomopathies. The SF3b complex is a crucial unit of the spliceosome, but model organisms generated through genetic modification of the complex do not perfectly mimic the phenotype of spliceosomopathies. Since the phenotypes are suggested to be determined by the extent of spliceosome dysfunction, an alternative experimental system that can seamlessly control SF3b function is needed.

Fatty Acids Composition of Pasture Grass, Yak Milk and Yak Ghee from the Four Altitudes of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: A Predictive Modelling Approach to Evaluate the Correlation among Altitude, Pasture Grass, Yak Milk and Yak Ghee.

This study investigates the effect of altitude on the fatty acid composition of pasture grass, yak milk, and yak ghee on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, aiming to understand how environmental factors influence the nutritional quality of these products. Samples were collected from four different altitudes and analyzed for fatty acid profiles using gas chromatography. The analysis reveals that higher altitudes are associated with an increased prevalence of beneficial unsaturated fatty acids, such as oleic acid (C18:1) and linoleic acid (C18:2n6c).

Development and Evaluation of Insulation Materials for Deepwater Cementing.

Marine oil and gas resources are abundant in deepwater regions, where the shallow seabed harbors natural gas hydrate layers due to the cold temperature and high-pressure environment. Hydrates are prone to thermal decomposition, which can compromise the integrity of cement sealing and even lead to accidents like blowouts. While current low-hydrated heat cement systems mitigate hydrate decomposition from cement hydration heat during the waiting period for cementing, they do not address heat transfer from deep strata to shallow hydrate layers through fluid circulation in the tubing during deep oil and gas development.

Expression analysis of genes including Zfhx4 in mice and zebrafish reveals a temporospatial conserved molecular basis underlying craniofacial development.

Background: Embryonic craniofacial development involves several cellular and molecular events that are evolutionarily conserved among vertebrates. Vertebrate models such as mice and zebrafish have been used to investigate the molecular and cellular etiologies underlying human craniofacial disorders, including orofacial clefts. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying embryonic development in these two species are unknown.

Effect of Different Insertion Methods on LMA Protector-Related Complications: A Prospective Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trail.

Objective: The authors compared the effect of 2 insertion methods, namely the conventional laryngeal mask airway (LMA) insertion and the index finger-assisted LMA insertion, on the incidence of complications associated with LMA Protector insertion.

Methods: The authors enrolled 300 patients, who underwent painless bronchoscopy. The patients ranged in age between 18 and 75 and were classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists grade I to III.

The performance of a combination of heparin-binding protein with other biomarkers for sepsis diagnosis: an observational cohort study.

Background: HBP, a novel biomarker released from neutrophils, may induce inflammatory responses and exacerbate vascular permeability, representing the pathophysiological characteristics of sepsis and septic shock. However, it remains uncertain whether the combination of HBP with other biomarkers yields enhanced diagnostic capacity for sepsis. We hypothesized that measurements included IL-6·IL-8·HBP, IL-6·IL-8·HBP/ALB and HBP/ALB which based on HBP will improve its diagnostic efficacy and even better than the traditional infection biomarkers.

An Electron-Coupled Co-ZrO Nanodot Heterojunction Electrocatalyst with Lewis Acid-Base Site Pairs Enables High Redox Reaction Kinetics of Li-S Batteries.

Using electrocatalysts is effective in solving the slow reaction kinetics of polysulfides in Li-S batteries, but designing stable electrocatalysts with an integrated adsorption-catalysis-desorption system is challenging. Here, we report a stable metal-semiconductor (Co-ZrO) heterojunction electrocatalyst fabricated by assembling electron-coupled Co-ZrO nanodots into macroporous carbon nanofibers. The Co-ZrO contact causes interfacial electron enrichment and electron transfer from Co to ZrO, which creates abundant Lewis-acid sites on Co that can adsorb polysulfides.

Experimental Study on the Effect of Polycarboxylate Superplasticizer on the Performance of Cement-Based Grouting Materials.

Polycarboxylate superplasticizers BMC-L and BMC-S were utilized as modifiers in the formulation of novel cement-based grouting materials. Indoor tests were conducted on 32 groups of cement slurries, varying by water-cement ratio (0.5:1 and 0.

ZFHX3 methylation in peripheral blood monocytes as a potential biomarker for pancreatic cancer detection.

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the digestive malignancy with poor prognosis, and there is still a lack of effective diagnostic biomarkers.

Objective: We aimed to explore the diagnostic efficiency of DNA methylation in peripheral blood monocytes (PBMCs) in PDAC.

Methods: 850K BeadChips were used to detect genome-wide methylation of PBMCs.

The footprint of gut microbiota in gallbladder cancer: a mechanistic review.

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is the most common malignant tumor of the biliary system with the worst prognosis. Even after radical surgery, the majority of patients with GBC have difficulty achieving a clinical cure. The risk of tumor recurrence remains more than 65%, and the overall 5-year survival rate is less than 5%.

Efficient nitrogen removal from municipal wastewater using an integrated fixed-film activated sludge process in a novel air-lifting loop reactor: A pilot-scale demonstration.

A novel air-lifting loop reactor combines anoxic, oxic, and settling zones to achieve organic and nutrient removal, as well as solid-liquid separation. To address sludge settling ability and operation stability issues caused by low dissolved oxygen in aerobic zones, this study proposes using modified polypropylene carriers to establish a fixed-film activated sludge (IFAS) system. A pilot-scale demonstration of the IFAS-based air-lifting loop reactor is conducted, and the results show successful operation for approximately 300 days.

Tailoring Practical Solid Electrolyte Composites Containing Ferroelectric Ceramic Nanofibers and All-Trans Block Copolymers for All-Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries.

Ion transport efficiency, the key to determining the cycling stability and rate capability of all-solid-state lithium metal batteries (ASSLMBs), is constrained by ionic conductivity and Li-migration ability across the multicomponent phases and interfaces in ASSLMBs. Here, we report a robust strategy for the large-scale fabrication of a practical solid electrolyte composite with high-throughput linear Li-transport channels by compositing an all-trans block copolymer PVDF--PTFE matrix with ferroelectric BaTiO-TiO nanofiber films. The electrolyte shows a sustainable electromechanical-coupled deformability that enables the rapid dissociation of anions with Li to create more movable Li ions and spontaneously transform the battery internal strain into Li-ion migration kinetic energy.