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This study aimed to investigate the tribological properties and lubrication mechanisms of three cycloalkane carboxylic acids (cyclopropane, cyclobutane, and cyclopentane) as additives in PAO4 base oil. The testing was conducted in a TiN/steel tribosystem under ball-on-flat reciprocating sliding motion with a maximum contact pressure of 0.9 GPa. Notably, cyclopropane carboxylic acid exhibited excellent anti-friction and anti-wear properties, achieving a microscale coefficient of friction of 0.008 and a wear rate of only 7.0 × 10−8 mm3/N·m. XPS and Raman analyses of the tribofilms revealed that all three cycloalkane carboxylic acids underwent tribochemical reactions during frictional motion to form carbon-based tribofilms with varying contents. Moreover, cyclopropane carboxylic acid exhibited significant tribochemical reactions, forming carbon-based tribofilm with superior tribological properties. This behavior can be attributed to the stability and size of the carbon ring in cycloalkane, which influences its dissociation and the formation of carbon-based tribofilm under high-temperature and contact stress conditions.

Most of the existing oxidation denitrification methods need longer residence time to obtain higher NOx removal efficiency. In this study, urea peroxide (CO(NH 2 ) 2 ·H 2 O 2 ) was first used for removing SO 2 and NOx on diesel engine bench. The addition of ferrous sulfate can enhance the oxidant capacity of the solution. The better removal efficiency and lower nitrate content in liquid can be achieved in short exhaust gas residence time. The raw gas flow and residence time contained the actual application situation in ships and have high reference value. The removal efficiency decreased with the increase of gas flow, and the reaction temperature, urea peroxide concentration, liquid–gas ratio were the main factors. The optimal Fe 2+ concentration of 50 mmol/L and pH value of 4 were determined. The urea peroxide concentration, reaction temperature, and liquid–gas ratio were 9%, 70 ℃, and 10 L/m 3 respectively. The maximum gas treatment capacity was about 100 L/min, and residence time was close to 10 s for the scrubber. The pre-agglomerating method were used to improve the particle capturing efficiency combined with spray technology. The composited method can realize the synchronous and efficient removal of multiple pollutants in a single scrubber. The possibility of application on ship was further increased.

PM (particulate matter) emissions from ships are the main sources of marine atmosphere pollution. Controlling the emissions of particulate matter from ships is related to the sustainable development of the shipping industry. To reduce PM emissions from marine four-stroke diesel engines, DPFs are effective. Our results show that DPF had more than 90% capturing efficiency for both the number and mass emissions of PM, and the capturing efficiency for the accumulation mode was higher than that of the nuclear mode. DPF can also significantly reduce the chemical components of PM in marine diesel exhaust gas. The removal efficiencies for OC and EC were 89.7–91.6% and 84.8–92.8%, respectively, with each particle size range showing over 80% efficiency. SO42− was the ion with the highest content, followed by NH4+, NO3−, Na+, NO2−, and Cl−, with their reduced proportions remaining consistent with the removal efficiency of particulate matter. DPF can also effectively reduce PAH content and toxicity. The use of DPF can greatly improve the impact of ship emissions on the marine atmospheric environment. The appropriate DPF with the best performance can be selected according to the exhaust parameters and particle size distributions with different characteristics.

Background Tissue-engineered bone grafts (TEBGs) that undergo vascularization and neurotization evolve into functioning bone tissue. Previously, we verified that implanting sensory nerve tracts into TEBGs promoted osteogenesis. However, the precise mechanisms and interaction between seed cells were not explored. In this study, we hypothesized that neurotization may influence the osteogenesis of TEBGs through vascularization. Methods We cultured rat Schwann cells (SCs), aortic endothelial cells (AECs), and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) and then obtained BM-MSC-derived induced endothelial cells (IECs) and induced osteoblasts (IOBs). IECs and AECs were cultured in an SC-conditioned medium (SC-CM) to assess proliferation, migration, capillary-like tube formation, and angiogenesis, and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in the supernatants were detected. We established an indirect coculture model to detect the expression of nestin and VEGF receptors in IECs and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-2 in SCs. Then, SCs, IECs, and IOBs were labeled and loaded into a β-tricalcium phosphate scaffold to induce prevascularization, and the scaffold was implanted into a 6-mm-long defect of rat femurs. Three groups were set up according to the loaded cells: I, SCs, and IECs (coculture for 3 days) plus IOBs; II, IECs (culture for 3 days) plus IOBs; III, IOBs. Nestin and TIMP-2 expression and osteogenesis of TEBGs were evaluated at 12 weeks post-implantation through histological and radiological assessments. Results We found that SC-CM promoted IEC proliferation, migration, capillary-like tube formation, and angiogenesis, but no similar effects were observed for AECs. IECs expressed nestin extensively, while AECs barely expressed nestin, and SC-CM promoted the VEGF secretion of IECs. In the coculture model, SCs promoted nestin and VEGF receptor expression in IECs, and IECs inhibited TIMP-2 expression in SCs. The promotion of prevascularized TEBGs by SCs and IECs in group I augmented new bone formation at 6 and 12 weeks. Nestin expression was higher in group I than in the other groups, while TIMP-2 expression was lower at 12 weeks. Conclusions This study demonstrated that SCs can promote TEBG osteogenesis via IECs and further revealed the related specific characteristics of IECs, providing preliminary cytological evidence for neurotization of TEBGs.

UV-curable L(-)–borneol-functionalized antibacterial hydrogels for packaging fresh-cut banana and cherry tomato (UV-LBs) were designed from L(-)–borneol-functionalized polyurethane acrylate prepolymers (LB-PUAs) and thiol-functionalized PVA (PVA-SH) using a thiol-ene click reaction initiated by UV light. UV-LBs exhibit unique properties, including excellent thermal stability, high mechanical performance and quite high antibacterial efficiency. The initial thermal decomposition temperature (Td5), tensile strength and elongation at break are in the range of 225–240 °C, 1.38–2.05 MPa and 44.4–68.6%, respectively. The antibacterial efficiency of UV-LBs against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Monilia albican (M. albican) can reach 67.4%, 75.6% and 83.7%, respectively. The storage time of packaged fresh-cut banana and cherry tomato can be extended from 12 h to 30 h and 4 d to 5 d, respectively.

This study aimed to determine the probability and prognostic factors of colon cancer-specific mortality (CCSM) and noncancer-specific mortality (NCSM) for patients with stage I/II colon cancer and evaluate the association of age on cause-specific mortality. From Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, we identified 33152 patients with stage I/II colon cancer undergoing surgery between 2004 and 2011. The cumulative incidence of CCSM and NCSM was calculated, and competing risk analysis was performed to investigate prognostic factors for cause-specific mortality. In patients <50, 50-75, and >75 years of age, 5-year cumulative incidence of CCSM was 5.7%, 7.8%, and 16.1%, respectively (overall, 10.6%); 5-year cumulative incidence of NCSM was 2.2%, 7.1%, and 26.9%, respectively (overall, 13.8%). The probability of CCSM and NCSM increased with advanced age. The 5-year cumulative incidence of CCSM was higher than NCSM in patients <50 years of age, whereas lower in patients >75 years of age. The probability of CCSM and NCSM was similar in patients 50-75 years of age. Competing-risk multivariable analysis demonstrated that increasing age was a strong predictor of CCSM (per year increase, SHR 1.03,95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-1.04). Age was most predictive of NCSM: (per year increase, SHR 1.08, 95% CI: 1.08-1.08). Age was significantly associated with an increased cumulative incidence of CCSM and NCSM of patients with stage I/II colon cancer underwent surgery. NCSM was a significant competing event and should be adequately considered when performing survival analysis.

In HER2-expressing urothelial cancer, disitamab vedotin plus toripalimab doubled the median progression-free survival, increased the median overall survival, and reduced adverse events as compared with chemotherapy.

The Dung Beetle optimization (DBO) algorithm is an innovative and effective metaheuristic algorithm widely recognised for its excellent numerical optimization performance. However, DBO converges slowly and tends to fall into local optima due to the imbalance between exploration and exploitation, the lack of collaborative search capability and population diversity. To overcome these challenges, this paper proposes a dung beetle optimization algorithm based on multi-strategy collaborative enhancement (MDBO). The algorithm constructs a “search-enhance-escape” collaborative optimization framework through adaptive regulation and elite information sharing, and contains three major innovations: (1) a dual adaptive search strategy, which combines the adaptive contraction mechanism of the leader’s centre of mass and the brownian bidirectional crossover perturbation strength regulation, to enhance the population diversity and collaborative search ability of the dung beetle, achieving a dynamic balance between exploration and exploitation; (2) Elite Enhanced Solution Quality (EESQ) mechanism, which improves the quality of both the current local and global optimal positions and accelerates convergence through structured elite information and dual-phase adaptive perturbation; and (3) Dynamic Oppositional Learning (DOL), which introduces an asymmetric adaptive perturbation in the dung beetle’s foraging and Breeding phases and enhances the ability to escape from local optima. The three act synergistically to achieve a more efficient optimised search. The performance of MDBO is evaluated using the IEEE CEC 2017, CEC 2019 and CEC 2020 benchmarking functions. Compared to the DBO algorithm, the MDBO algorithm improves the convergence accuracy and stability on the CEC2017 benchmark functions by 60.91 % and 63.98 %, respectively. For the CEC2019 benchmark functions, the corresponding improvements are 54.47 % and 41.36 %, while for the CEC2020 benchmark functions, they are 50.71 % and 55.16 %, respectively. In addition, its overall performance is evaluated against two complex real-world engineering problems: UAV path planning and wireless sensor network coverage optimization. The experimental results show that MDBO provides very competitive optimization results compared to DBO, two highly referenced algorithms and five advanced algorithms.

In addressing the issue of excessive high-frequency current ripple at the output port caused by high-frequency switching in traditional dual active bridge DC-DC converters, a low-ripple dual active bridge DC-DC converter was designed by replacing its switching devices with a half-bridge submodule. This converter constructs a decoupling loop for alternating and direct current components on the bridge arms, allowing the alternating components to form a loop between the bridge arms without entering the direct current port, thereby eliminating high-frequency current ripple at the direct current output port. Consequently, the filtering capacitors parallel to the direct current port can be omitted, while also suppressing direct current fault currents. Due to the inherent capacitance structure of the submodule switching devices, soft-switching characteristics are preserved, and conversion efficiency is not compromised. Simulation results based on a MATLAB/Simulink model of 750 V and 10 kW demonstrate that the ripple of this converter is less than 0.07%, a 90% reduction compared to traditional converters, and effectively suppresses fault currents, thereby enhancing system safety.

Background Previous studies have confirmed the higher risk of bladder cancer (BC) and rectal cancer (RC) development among prostate cancer (PCa) patients receiving radiotherapy. In this study, we intend to explore the long-term trend in second BC and RC incidence among PCa patients undergoing radiotherapy. Method We identified first primary PCa patients diagnosed between 1975 and 2014 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-9 cancer registries. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated by calendar year of diagnosis among PCa patients receiving radiotherapy and not. P trends were evaluated using Poisson regression. 10-year cumulative incidence of BC and RC was calculated utilizing competing risk regression model. Result Of PCa patients treated with radiotherapy, SIRs of BC increased from .82 (95% CI: .35- 1.61) in 1980–1984 to 1.58 (95% CI: 1.48–1.68) in 2010-2014 (Ptrend=.003). SIRs of RC increased from 1.01 (95% CI: .27-2.58) in 1980–1984 to 1.54 (95% CI: 1.31–1.81) in 2010-2014 (Ptrend=.025). No statistically significant change in both BC and RC incidence was observed. The 10-year cumulative incidence of BC increased from 1975–1984 (.04%) to 2005–2014 (.15%) among PCa treated with radiotherapy. Simultaneously, the 10-year cumulative incidence of RC was demonstrated to range from 1975–1984 (.02%) to 2005–2014 (.11%). Conclusion we have observed an increasing trend in second BC and RC incidence in PCa patients receiving radiotherapy. There was no significant change in the incidence of second BC and RC in PCa without radiotherapy. These results reflect the increasing clinical burden of second malignant tumors in PCa patients undergoing radiotherapy.