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Smart grid revolutionizes the current electric power infrastructure by integrating with communication and information technologies. With wireless sensor network, smart grid enables both utilities and customers to transfer, monitor, predict, and manage energy usage effectively and costly. However, the increased application of wireless sensor network also introduce new security challenges, especially related to privacy, connectivity, and security management, causing unpredicted expenditure and disaster to both utilities and consumers. In order to build a reliable wireless sensor network for smart grid, an application review and taxonomy of relevant cyber security and privacy issues is presented in this paper. A unified framework for identification of applications and challenge issues of wireless sensor network in smart grid is developed. Future research directions are discussed at the end of this paper.

Robotic micromanipulation is widely applied in biological research and medical procedures, providing a level of operational precision and stability beyond human capability. Compared with traditional micromanipulators that require assembly from many parts, origami manipulators offer advantages such as small size, lightweight, cost-effectiveness, and scalability. However, there are still requirements in biological application to address regarding stiffness, precision, and dexterity. Achieving a compact and functional parallel mechanism through origami structures remains a challenging problem. Here, we present the Micro-X4, a 4-Degree-of-Freedom (4-DoF) origami micromanipulator, which offers a workspace of 756 mm 3 , with a precision of 346 nm and a stiffness of 2738 N/m. We conduct a series of micromanipulation tasks, ranging from the tissue scale to the subcellular scale, including pattern cutting, cell positioning and puncturing, as well as cell cutting and insertion. Contact force measurement is further integrated to demonstrate precise control over cell operations and puncturing. We envision the Micro-X4 as the foundation for the next generation of lightweight and compact micromanipulation devices. Origami-based soft robotic manipulators offer compactness, cost-effectiveness, and scalability, but challenges related to stiffness, precision, and dexterity remain. To address these issues, the authors introduce the Micro-X4, a 4-degree-of-freedom origami micromanipulator that is capable of achieving three-dimensional translational motion, along with rotation around the central axis of the moving platform.

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have become one of the most considered research directions today, owing to their maximum atom utilization and simple structures, to investigate structure-activity relationships. In the field of non-precious-metal electrocatalysts, atomically dispersed Fe-N 4 active sites have been proven to possess the best oxygen reduction activity. Yet the majority of preparation methods remains complex and costly with unsatisfying controllability. Herein, we have designed a surface-grafting strategy to directly synthesize an atomically dispersed Fe-NVC electrocatalyst applied to the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Through an esterification process in organic solution, metal-containing precursors were anchored on the surface of carbon substrates. The covalent bonding effect could suppress the formation of aggregated particles during heat treatment. Melamine was further introduced as both a cost-effective nitrogen resource and blocking agent retarding the migration of metal atoms. The optimized catalyst has proven to have abundant atomically dispersed Fe-N 4 active sites with enhanced ORR catalytic performance in acid condition. This method has provided new feasible ideas for the synthesis of SACs.

Liquid metal (LM) shows the superiority in smart wearable devices due to its biocompatibility and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. However, LM based fibers that can achieve multifunctional integrated applications with biodegradability remain a daunting challenge. Herein, versatile LM based fibers are fabricated first by sonication in alginate solution to obtain LM micro/nano droplets and then wet‐spinning into LM/alginate composite fibers. By mixing with high‐concentration alginate solution (4–6 wt.%), the LM micro/nano droplets stability (colloidal stability for > 30 d and chemical stability for > 45 d) are not only improved, but also facilitate its spinning into fibers through bimetallic ions (e.g., Ga3+ and Ca2+) chelation strategy. These resultant fibers can be woven into smart textiles with excellent flexibility, air permeability, water/salt resistance, and high temperature tolerance (−196–150 °C). In addition, inhibition of smoldering result from the LM droplets and bimetallic ions is achieved to enhance flame retardancy. Furthermore, these fibers combine the exceptional properties of LM droplets (e.g., photo‐thermal effect and EMI shielding) and alginate fibers (e.g., biocompatibility and biodegradability), applicable in wearable heating devices, wireless communication, and triboelectric nanogenerator, making it a promising candidate for flexible smart textiles. Versatile liquid metal/alginate composite fibers are designed by wet‐spinning method through bimetallic ions chelation strategy. With liquid metal droplets in alginate fibers, smoldering is suppressed, which improves the flame retardancy. These fibers with superior flexibility, high/low temperature tolerance, and water/salt resistance, can be woven into smart wearable textiles with photo‐thermal effect, electromagnetic interference shielding, and triboelectric performance.

“Awesome” is one of the most highly desirable experiences for tourists. This study investigates how tourists’ awe emotion is induced when tourists visit sacred mountains and how the awe experience influences their satisfaction. A survey is administrated at a famous sacred mountain in China—Mount Emei. Results reveal that the awe experience is more elicited by the perceived vastness of natural environment for secular tourists, while is more encouraged by the perceived sanctity of religious ambience for pilgrim tourists. Awe experience is a mediator between the sense of perceptual vastness/sanctity and tourists’ satisfaction. The mediation relationships through awe experience are moderated by the visitor types (pilgrims and secular tourists). Findings suggest that destination marketers should apply tourism strategies to encourage tourists’ sense of awe.

Air pollution is a serious environmental issue across the world and has drawn attention from researchers with different backgrounds. The carbon exhaust from gasoline vehicles is one cause of air pollution. One solution for reducing carbon emissions is to provide green vehicles, such as electric motorcycles, for drivers and passengers, which can help the sustainable development of the environment in an ecological way. This research discusses the market response to electric motorcycles in Macau by focusing on the effects of environmental policy. An environmental technology acceptance model was developed, based on which 325 valid questionnaires were collected. The research demonstrates the impact on motorcyclists’ acceptance of electric motorcycles by considering their perceptions of environmental policy, pollution reduction, the saving of energy, and driving performance; the results can lead to valuable discussions on the environment–technology–society ecosystem in further studies. The research results could help relevant government bodies to develop appropriate environmental policies to encourage motorcyclists to adopt electric motorcycles. Furthermore, the electric motorcycle industry could identify key success factors for developing or promoting electric motorcycles using the study variables.

Background Skull base chordoma is a rare and aggressive bone tumor with a poor prognosis. The basement membrane (BM) plays an pivotal role in tumor progression. However, the involvement of BM-related genes in assessing the prognosis and influencing the biological behavior of skull base chordomas remains unclear. Methods Patients with skull base chordoma undergoing endoscopic endonasal surgery were included in the study (77 patients for bulk transcriptome sequencing and 6 patients for single-cell RNA sequencing). A BM-related genes signature was established and validated using bulk transcriptome data. Additionally, we investigated the oncogenic potential of a key BM-related gene in chordoma cells in vitro. Results A prognostic signature consisting of five BM-related genes was identified through LASSO Cox regression analysis. The accuracy and reliability of this signature were validated by the validation cohort. Multivariate Cox analysis and a nomogram demonstrated that the risk score serves as an independent and reliable prognostic factor for skull base chordoma. Moreover, the BM-related gene signature was significantly associated with the immune microenvironment, immune checkpoint expression, and drug sensitivity. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis revealed both the chordoma tumor cell and the fibroblast contributed to the overall BM signature. Finally, in vitro experiments demonstrated that the knockdown of ITGB3, the hub gene in the signature, inhibited the proliferation and migration of chordoma cells via the PI3K-Akt pathway. Conclusion This study explored the critical role of BM-related genes in skull base chordoma, which affected postoperative recurrence and maligant behavior of chordoma via the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.

Background Sucrose non-fermenting-1-related protein kinases (SnRKs) have been implicated in plant growth and stress responses. Although SnRK3.23 is known to be involved in drought stress, the underlying mechanism of resistance differs between Arabidopsis and rice, and little is known about its function in wheat. Results In the current work, TaSnRK3.23B was detected on the cell membrane and in the nucleus. TaSnRK3.23B overexpression in Arabidopsis promoted reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging via the accumulation of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD) and then conferred significant tolerance to drought. The prediction analysis, yeast two-hybrid, and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays revealed that TaSnRK3.23B interacted with TaCBL2B and TaCBL6B, which are calcineurin B-like (CBL) proteins. The predicted model demonstrated that TaSnRK3 subfamily proteins participate in Ca 2+ signaling mediated by TaCBL2B/TaCBL6B and subsequently provide drought stress tolerance by promoting ROS scavenging in wheat. Conclusions Altogether, the obtained findings contribute to a better understanding of the functions of SnRK3.23 in wheat and offer genetic suggestions for improving drought resistance of wheat.

Rapid prediction of the post-earthquake structural damage to a region is of great importance to community relief and rescue. Detailed information on buildings in earthquake disaster areas is commonly inaccessible in the aftermath of an earthquake. Accurately assessing the seismic damage to urban buildings using limited information is significant. This study proposes a design-strength-based method for regional seismic structural damage prediction based on structural strength. Only a few basic attributes of buildings are required, including the basic building plan size, building height, construction time, and structural type. Theoretically, the method is very brief, and can be applied to all types of structures, including irregular ones, compared with other commonly used regional seismic damage prediction methods. The proposed method is validated with acceptable accuracy and efficiency compared with the refined finite element (FE) model analysis and simplified model analysis. The proposed seismic structural damage prediction method was applied to a university campus, which can serve as a simple reference for community earthquake resistance evaluation and improvement.

The high-voltage system of high-speed trains is now in the form of combined electrical apparatus, which has a high probability of insulation breakdown due to frequent overvoltage during operation. To solve this issue, an electric field simulation model of the high-voltage combined electrical system was established, the electric field distribution of the high-voltage box electrode under overvoltage operating conditions was analyzed, and the air breakdown characteristics under field action were studied. The study shows that under overvoltage conditions, the electric field intensity near the small electrodes of the combined electrical unit is higher than the air breakdown field intensity, and the statistical time delay is approximately 5.94 μs when 150 kV voltage is applied. When the size of the connected electrode is doubled and 150 kV voltage is applied, the statistical delay is about 7.20 μs and the probability of discharge is reduced. Further installation of an insulating partition between the circuit breaker and the ground switch completely solved the problem of low electrical gap insulation capacity. Combined with impulse withstand tests, the effectiveness of the electrode size design was verified, and the research results provided theoretical support for the miniaturization and high-reliability design of vehicle-mounted high-voltage electrical appliances.