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Slow slip events (SSEs) release tectonic strain without causing sudden ground shaking. SSEs have been observed at many subduction zones, some dynamically triggered by stress changes due to the passage of seismic waves. However, there are limited observations of SSEs induced by post‐seismic deformation. Here, we report a significant increase in the recurrence rate of SSEs in the shallow portion of the Nicoya megathrust following the 2012 Mw 7.6 earthquake. These shallow SSEs occurred immediately updip of the large afterslip zone and their recurrence rate returned to pre‐earthquake level 1.5 years after the earthquake. In contrast, deeper SSE recurrence rate remained unchanged. Coulomb Failure Stress modeling indicates the shallow SSE area experienced substantial stress perturbation during afterslip, while the deeper megathrust did not. We interpret this temporarily increased shallow SSE recurrence rate to be driven by static stress loading from large afterslip.

The hot spot effect is an important factor that affects the power generation performance and service life in the power generation process. To solve the problems of low detection efficiency, low accuracy, and difficulty of distributed hot spot detection, a hot spot detection method using a photovoltaic module based on the distributed fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor is proposed. The FBG sensor array was pasted on the surface of the photovoltaic panel, and the drift of the FBG reflected wavelength was demodulated by the tunable laser method, wavelength division multiplexing technology, and peak seeking algorithm. The experimental results show that the proposed method can detect the temperature of the photovoltaic panel in real time and can identify and locate the hot spot effect of the photovoltaic cell. Under the condition of no wind or light wind, the wave number and variation rule of photovoltaic module temperature value, environmental temperature value, and solar radiation power value were basically consistent. When the solar radiation power fluctuated, the fluctuation of hot spot cell temperature was greater than that of the normal photovoltaic cell. As the solar radiation power decreased to a certain value, the temperatures of all photovoltaic cells tended to be similar.

To solve the problems of low detection efficiency and inability to adapt to distributed measurement in traditional detection methods, a water temperature field detection system based on a fiber Bragg grating string was designed. In this system, six fiber Bragg gratings with different center wavelengths are connected in series on a single fiber optic cable based on wavelength division multiplexing technology. The fiber Bragg grating string is encapsulated in stainless steel tube and vertically fixed in the measured water body of the fish pond. The space division multiplexing technology is employed to collect information from multiple fiber Bragg grating strings. Water temperature measurement experiments were conducted in the summer pond environment. The experimental results show that the daily variation curve of temperature in each water layer of the fish pond is relatively smooth and approximates a cosine function with a 24-hour period. In summer, the daily average water temperature in the pond is no more than 1°C higher than the average air temperature. The difference between the maximum and the minimum water temperature is approximately 2°C. During the daytime, the temperature gradually decreases from the surface to the deeper water layers, whereas at night, the temperature variation among the water layers is minimal. As depth increases, the amplitude of the water temperature curve oscillations gradually decreases, exhibiting exponential decay. However, the peak time gradually lags behind. There is a correlation between the temperatures of the water layers in the fish pond, and the smaller the distance between the water layers, the stronger the correlation. The experimental results obtained in this study are highly significant for real-time services in aquatic planting and aquaculture. Additionally, this measurement method can provide valuable reference and guidance for measuring temperature fields in other fluids.

Limited resident’s participation in the stock market has become a key constraint to the capital market development. Utilizing the 2019 China Household Financial Survey (CHFS) data, our paper designs probit models to examine the peer effects of residents’ stock market participation and explore the intermediary mechanisms with a multiple intermediary model. We find that: (1) Resident involvement in stock market decision-making exhibits significant peer effects. (2) Heterogeneity analysis reveals that males and rural residents display more pronounced peer effects than females and urban residents. Additionally, middle-aged residents demonstrate more potent peer effects than their younger and older counterparts, with the intensity of peer effects correlating with education levels. (3)We observe that the peer effects of market participation operate by altering economic expectations and enhancing residents’ financial literacy. (4) Further investigation establishes that individuals engaging in stock market investments manifest peer effects when deciding whether to diversify their stock portfolio. This study holds reference value for analyzing the impact of social interaction on financial behaviors and regulating individuals’ financial conduct.

Rectal cancer is a prevalent global malignancy. Recurrence and metastasis significantly impact patient survival over the long term. This study aims to identify independent risk factors associated with distant metastases in rectal cancer (RC) patients and develop a prognostic columnar-line diagram. This retrospective analysis encompasses data from 1,118 RC patients treated at the Department of Anorectal Surgery, Chifeng Municipal Hospital, between December 2015 and October 2023. These patients were diagnosed with stage I-IV RC. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models identified risk factors for distant metastases development. The median follow-up duration was 61.3 months (range 2.24–96.33 months). The identified factors linked to distant metastases in RC included hemoglobin levels, body mass index (BMI), leukocyte neutrophil percentage, tumour diameter, pathology type, differentiation degree, number of detected lymph nodes, and T and N stages. These factors are significant risk indicators for distant metastases in RC patients. Incorporating these identified risk factors into a columnar-line diagram effectively predicts the likelihood of distant metastasis in RC patients. This approach aids in devising precise treatment strategies during the initial patient consultation.

This study investigates methods to enhance the energy conversion efficiency of electromagnetic repulsion mechanisms. Initially, a model considering the influence of the resistance coefficient on electromagnetic repulsion mechanisms is developed based on electromagnetic principles. Sensitivity analysis of the resistance coefficient is conducted to elucidate its role in energy conversion efficiency. Subsequently, finite element analysis techniques are applied to simulate electromagnetic repulsion mechanisms across varying resistance coefficients to determine the optimal value. Experimental validation of theoretical models and numerical simulation results is then performed, with precise adjustments made to the resistance coefficient during experiments, and energy conversion efficiency accurately measured under diverse conditions. The results indicate a significant improvement in energy conversion efficiency following resistance coefficient optimization. Numerical simulations reveal that setting the resistance coefficient to 0.85Ω yields optimal energy conversion efficiency, with a 23.5% enhancement over the pre-optimized state. Experimental validation corroborates these findings, demonstrating an average 22% increase in energy conversion efficiency compared to the unoptimized state. Comparative analysis with related studies demonstrates an average improvement of 23.5% in energy conversion efficiency, with the maximum enhancement reaching 25.0%. This underscores the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed optimization model. This discovery offers new avenues for designing and enhancing electromagnetic repulsion mechanisms and presents opportunities for improving energy efficiency and performance in associated applications.

Leprosy is a chronic disease that severely affects the skin and nerves, sometimes leading to disability. The deformities deepen stigma and discrimination, even among patients who have been cured. Consequently, leprosy patients are more likely to suffer from mental illnesses than other diseases. A cross-sectional study was conducted in four Chinese provinces (Fujian, Yunnan, Shandong, and Guizhou), including patients who had completed the full course of multidrug therapy (MDT). We assessed anxiety and depression using the SAS and SDS scales, and functional ability using the ADLs. Influencing factors were analyzed with multiple linear regression, and structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine the relationships between anxiety, depression. A total of 382 valid questionnaires were received, with a participation rate of 95.5%. Among the participants, 24.08% reported anxiety, 22.51% reported depression, 45.81% experienced impairments in ADLs, and 65.18% had at least one of these conditions. Notably, 3.66% of patients experienced anxiety, depression, and ADL impairments concurrently. Multiple linear regression results showed that the No. of other chronic diseases ( P  = 0.004), income ( P  = 0.016), live with patients ( P  = 0.005), and other ethnic ( P <0.001) have a significant correlation with anxiety (R 2  = 0.546). Duration of disease ( P  = 0.014), No. of other chronic diseases ( P  = 0.000), live with patients ( P  = 0.015), and live with family ( P  = 0.040) were associated with depression (R 2  = 0.155). SEM results indicated that the paths SDS-SAS, SDS-No.of other chronic diseases, and ADLs-SAS had the highest direct effects of 0.75(95CI%:0.656 ~ 0.834), 0.56(95%CI:0.103 ~ 1.016) and − 0.33(95%CI:-0.490~-0−165). The association between SAS and the (No.of other chronic diseases) was also indirectly influenced by SDS (0.420), exceeding the direct effect (0.040). Similarly, the indirect effect (−0.240) of SAS between SDS and ADLs was higher than the direct effect (−0.100). This study demonstrates that Chinese leprosy patients exhibit high levels of anxiety and depression, which are associated with impaired daily functioning. Mental health is influenced by multiple factors, including comorbid chronic diseases, living arrangements, disease duration, ADLs, income, and ethnicity. SEM revealed that anxiety mediates the impact of depression on functional limitations, highlighting the complex interplay between psychological factors and physical functioning. These findings underscore the need for comprehensive care strategies and psychosocial interventions to improve mental health and overall well-being in leprosy patients.

Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors hold great promises for ultra-scaled transistors. In particular, the gate length of MoS 2 transistor has been scaled to 1 nm and 0.3 nm using single wall carbon nanotube and graphene, respectively. However, simultaneously scaling the channel length of these short-gate transistor is still challenging, and could be largely attributed to the processing difficulties to precisely align source-drain contact with gate electrode. Here, we report a self-alignment process for realizing ultra-scaled 2D transistors. By mechanically folding a graphene/BN/MoS 2 heterostructure, source-drain metals could be precisely aligned around the folded edge, and the channel length is only dictated by heterostructure thickness. Together, we could realize sub-1 nm gate length and sub-50 nm channel length for vertical MoS 2 transistor simultaneously. The self-aligned device exhibits on-off ratio over 10 5 and on-state current of 250 μA/μm at 4 V bias, which is over 40 times higher compared to control sample without self-alignment process. The simultaneous scaling down of the channel length and gate length of 2D transistors remains challenging. Here, the authors report a self-alignment process to fabricate vertical MoS 2 transistors with sub-1 nm gate length and sub−50 nm channel length, exhibiting on-off ratios over 10 5 and on-state currents of 250 μA/μm at 4 V bias.

Although the initial research focused on glycolysis, mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation has become a major target of cancer cells. Cytochrome C oxidase assembly factor 6 (COA6) is a conserved assembly factor necessary for complex IV biogenesis. Nevertheless, the clinical predictive value of COA6, especially its correlation with immune cell infiltration in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), has not yet been elucidated. COA6 exhibited higher expression levels in LUAD cells and tumor tissues compared to normal tissues. Additionally, heightened COA6 expression was associated with reduced overall survival (OS) and advanced tumor stage. Apart from its role in mitochondrial respiratory processes, COA6 may be involved in the process of antigen binding, immunoglobulin receptor binding. Interestingly, we observed a positive correlation between COA6 expression and tumor mutational burden (TMB), as well as a significant association with decreased immune cell infiltration. COA6 was linked to resistance against gemcitabine and etoposide. We verified that COA6 was highly expressed in LUAD experimentally and cell proliferation was inhibited after COA6 knockdown. Thus, we conclude that the expression of COA6 was correlated with reduced immune cell infiltration. Additionally, COA6 functioned as a biomarker for drug sensitivity and the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global health concern, and healthcare workers (HCWs) face a relatively high risk of TB infection because of their frequent exposure. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a TB infection control education program implemented in Jiangsu Province, China, by assessing changes in HCWs’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP). This study, carried out from December 2019 to October 2023, included pre- and post-intervention surveys administered to HCWs in selected drug-resistant hospitals. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to assess the changes in KAP scores before and after the implementation. Additionally, multivariate regression and Spearman correlation tests were conducted to explore potential relationships between KAP scores and factors such as gender, age, duration of employment, department, and program participation. The mean score for knowledge and attitudes increased after the implementation (7.40 vs. 9.96, p  = 2.769e−15; 35.29 vs. 36.05, p  = 0.008652). In contrast, the practice score slightly decreased (39.22 vs. 37.14, p  = 0.003767), which may be due to many “not applicable” answers. Moreover, a positive, weak but significant relationship was observed between attitudes and practices. This study revealed significant improvements in knowledge and attitude and a slight decrease in the practice scores, indicating that education led to enhanced knowledge and attitude, but greater efficacy in translating knowledge into practice is needed. The correlation between attitude and practice indicates further efforts to improve HCWs’ attitudes to potentially enhance their practice, thereby diminishing the risk of TB infection.