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Uranium and plutonium’s 5f electrons are tenuously poised between strongly bonding with ligand spd-states and residing close to the nucleus. The unusual properties of these elements and their compounds (e.g., the six different allotropes of elemental plutonium) are widely believed to depend on the related attributes of f-orbital occupancy and delocalization for which a quantitative measure is lacking. By employing resonant X-ray emission spectroscopy (RXES) and X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy and making comparisons to specific heat measurements, we demonstrate the presence of multiconfigurational f-orbital states in the actinide elements U and Pu and in a wide range of uranium and plutonium intermetallic compounds. These results provide a robust experimental basis for a new framework toward understanding the strongly-correlated behavior of actinide materials.

A new methodology based on mixed linear models was developed for mapping QTLs with digenic epistasis and QTL x environment (QE) interactions. Reliable estimates of QTL main effects (additive and epistasis effects) can be obtained by the maximum-likelihood estimation method, while QE interaction effects (additive x environment interaction and epistasis x environment interaction) can be predicted by the-best-linear-unbiased-prediction (BLUP) method. Likelihood ratio and t statistics were combined for testing hypotheses about QTL effects and QE interactions. Monte Carlo simulations were conducted for evaluating the unbiasedness, accuracy, and power for parameter estimation in QTL mapping. The results indicated that the mixed-model approaches could provide unbiased estimates for both positions and effects of QTLs, as well as unbiased predicted values for QE interactions. Additionally, the mixed-model approaches also showed high accuracy and power in mapping QTLs with epistatic effects and QE interactions. Based on the models and the methodology, a computer software program (QTLMapper version 1.0) was developed, which is suitable for interval mapping of QTLs with additive, additive x additive epistasis, and their environment interactions.

With growing environmental concerns, the focus on greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions in transportation has increased, and the combination of smart microgrids and electric vehicles (EVs) brings a new opportunity to solve this problem. Electric vehicle routing problem with time windows (EVRPTW) is an extension of the vehicle routing problem (VRP) problem, which can reach the combination of smart microgrids and EVs precisely by scheduling the EVs. However, the current genetic algorithm (GA) for solving this problem can easily fall into the dilemma of local optimization and slow iteration speed. In this paper, we present an integer hybrid planning model that introduces time of use and area price to enhance realism. We propose the GA-A* algorithm, which combines the A* algorithm and GA to improve global search capability and iteration speed. We conducted experiments on 16 benchmark cases, comparing the GA-A* algorithm with traditional GA and other search algorithms, results demonstrate significant enhancements in searchability and optimal solutions. In addition, we measured the grid load, and the model implements the vehicle-to-grid (V2G) mode, which serves as peak shaving and valley filling by integrating EVs into the grid for energy delivery and exchange through battery swapping. This research, ranging from model optimization to algorithm improvement, is an important step towards solving the EVRPTW problem and improving the environment.

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of inoculating with different fungi on the structural characteristics of soil fungal communities and the nutrient absorption of blueberry plants. The fungi DSE ( Phialocephala fortinii ), SS ( Penicillium pinophilum ), ZB ( Cladosporium cladosporioides ), QMK ( Chaetomium globosum ), and LZ ( Schizophyllum commune ) were selected for this study. The soil fungal diversity and community structure in the blueberry rhizosphere were compared after inoculation with these different mycorrhizal fungi. The fungal diversity in the blueberry rhizosphere soil was significantly higher after inoculation with DSE, QMK, and ZB than after inoculation with SS and LZ. The dominant class, order, family, and genus of soil fungi were Eurotiomycetes (25.49–36.91%), Eurotiales (24.78–35.00%), Aspergillaceae (24.47–34.74%), and Penicllium (24.34–34.63%), respectively. Among all the fungal treatments, DSE led to the highest abundance of dominant classes, orders, families, and genera. Inoculation with SS, LZ, and DSE increased the contents of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in blueberry plants. The uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium were highest in DSE-inoculated plants. The nitrogen content was significantly higher in ZB-inoculated plants than in the control. A TOPSIS analysis showed that among the five fungi, DSE was the best strain to improve the diversity of the blueberry rhizosphere fungal community and promote nutrient uptake by blueberry plants, followed by LZ and ZB. These findings provide scientific data for the development and utilization of soil microbial resources, and provide useful information for improving the cultivation and production of blueberries.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a 1-week intermittent itraconazole dosing schedule for onychomycosis. Methods: In this multicenter, open-label study, 646 patients received itraconazole 200 mg twice daily for 1 week/month, followed by 3 weeks without therapy. Patients with fingernail infections received 2 treatment cycles, patients with toenail or combined toenail and fingernail infections received 3 cycles. Efficacy was evaluated at week 9 (2-month regimen), week 13 (3-month regimen) and 3, 6 or 9 (toenails only) months after completion of therapy. Results: Clinical and mycologic cure rates for fingernails were greater than 90% 6 months after completion of 2 treatment cycles. Clinical and mycologic cure rates for toenails were 84 and 98%, respectively, 9 months after completion of 3 cycles. Treatment was well tolerated; adverse events (mostly mild) occurred in 4.6% of patients. Conclusion: A 1-week intermittent itraconazole dosing regimen is a safe and effective treatment for onychomycosis.

PtSe 2 and CuSe monolayers obtained by selenization of a metal substrate are shown to intrinsically form periodic patterns by varying the amount of Se atoms deposited. These patterns are used for the localized absorption of molecules and nanoclusters. Two-dimensional (2D) materials have been studied extensively as monolayers 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , vertical or lateral heterostructures 6 , 7 , 8 . To achieve functionalization, monolayers are often patterned using soft lithography and selectively decorated with molecules 9 , 10 . Here we demonstrate the growth of a family of 2D materials that are intrinsically patterned. We demonstrate that a monolayer of PtSe 2 can be grown on a Pt substrate in the form of a triangular pattern of alternating 1T and 1H phases. Moreover, we show that, in a monolayer of CuSe grown on a Cu substrate, strain relaxation leads to periodic patterns of triangular nanopores with uniform size. Adsorption of different species at preferred pattern sites is also achieved, demonstrating that these materials can serve as templates for selective self-assembly of molecules or nanoclusters, as well as for the functionalization of the same substrate with two different species.

Dopamine signaling in nucleus accumbens is essential for cocaine reward. Interestingly, imaging studies have reported blunted dopamine increases in striatum (assessed as reduced binding of [ 11 C]raclopride to D 2 /D 3 receptors) in detoxified cocaine abusers. Here, we evaluate whether the blunted dopamine response reflected the effects of detoxification and the lack of cocaine-cues during stimulant exposure. For this purpose we studied 62 participants (43 non-detoxified cocaine abusers and 19 controls) using positron emission tomography and [ 11 C]raclopride (radioligand sensitive to endogenous dopamine) to measure dopamine increases induced by intravenous methylphenidate and in 24 of the cocaine abusers, we also compared dopamine increases when methylphenidate was administered concomitantly with a cocaine cue-video versus a neutral-video. In controls, methylphenidate increased dopamine in dorsal (effect size 1.4; P <0.001) and ventral striatum (location of accumbens) (effect size 0.89; P <0.001), but in cocaine abusers methylphenidate’s effects did not differ from placebo and were similar whether cocaine-cues were present or not. In cocaine abusers despite the markedly attenuated dopaminergic effects, the methylphenidate-induced changes in ventral striatum were associated with intense drug craving. Our findings are consistent with markedly reduced signaling through D 2 receptors during intoxication in active cocaine abusers regardless of cues exposure, which might contribute to compulsive drug use.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric condition characterized by intrusive thoughts and urges and repetitive, intentional behaviors that cause significant distress and impair functioning. The OCD Collaborative Genetics Association Study (OCGAS) is comprised of comprehensively assessed OCD patients with an early age of OCD onset. After application of a stringent quality control protocol, a total of 1065 families (containing 1406 patients with OCD), combined with population-based samples (resulting in a total sample of 5061 individuals), were studied. An integrative analyses pipeline was utilized, involving association testing at single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and gene levels (via a hybrid approach that allowed for combined analyses of the family- and population-based data). The smallest P -value was observed for a marker on chromosome 9 (near PTPRD , P =4.13 × 10 − 7 ). Pre-synaptic PTPRD promotes the differentiation of glutamatergic synapses and interacts with SLITRK3. Together, both proteins selectively regulate the development of inhibitory GABAergic synapses. Although no SNPs were identified as associated with OCD at genome-wide significance level, follow-up analyses of genome-wide association study (GWAS) signals from a previously published OCD study identified significant enrichment ( P =0.0176). Secondary analyses of high-confidence interaction partners of DLGAP1 and GRIK2 (both showing evidence for association in our follow-up and the original GWAS study) revealed a trend of association ( P =0.075) for a set of genes such as NEUROD6 , SV2A , GRIA4 , SLC1A2 and PTPRD . Analyses at the gene level revealed association of IQCK and C16orf88 (both P <1 × 10 − 6 , experiment-wide significant), as well as OFCC1 ( P =6.29 × 10 − 5 ). The suggestive findings in this study await replication in larger samples.