Bimetallic Pt nanoparticles play a critical role in various applications, including catalysis, chemical production, fuel cells, and biosensing. In this study, we start with Au@Pt core–shell structure and investigate the evolution of these nanoparticles at elevated temperatures. Our in-situ X-ray diffraction study at elevated temperatures concluded that the onset of Au–Pt alloying occurs between 500 and 600 °C. At higher temperatures, the nanoparticles gradually approached the state of a solid solution, but the composition across the nanoparticles was not uniform even at 1,000 °C. Our results suggest that the alloyed nanoparticles at high temperatures are dominated by one solid solution but contain distinct regions with slightly different compositions.

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a highly destructive polyvorous pest with a wide host range and the ability to feed continuously with seasonal changes. This destructive pest significantly damages crops and can also utilize non-agricultural plants, such as weeds, as alternative hosts. However, the adaptation mechanisms of S. frugiperda when switching between crop and non-crop hosts remain poorly understood, posing challenges for effective monitoring and integrated pest management strategies. Therefore, this study aims to elucidate the adaptability of S. frugiperda to different host plants. Results showed that corn (Zea mays L.) was more suitable for the growth and development of S. frugiperda than wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and goosegrass (Eleusine indica). Transcriptome analysis identified 699 genes differentially expressed when fed on corn, wheat, and goosegrass. The analysis indicated that the detoxification metabolic pathway may be related to host adaptability. We identified only one SfGSTs2 gene within the GST family and investigated its functional role across different developmental stages and tissues by analysing its spatial and temporal expression patterns. The SfGSTs2 gene expression in the midgut of larvae significantly decreased following RNA interference. Further, the dsRNA-fed larvae exhibited a decreased detoxification ability, higher mortality, and reduced larval weight. The findings highlight the crucial role of SfGSTs2 in host plant adaptation. Evaluating the feeding preferences of S. frugiperda is significant for controlling important agricultural pests.

Nd-Hf isotope evolution in arc magmas has been widely used to trace the advance and retreat of subduction zones over time. However, the reliability of this method has been questioned. One way to assess its validity is by comparing it with LaN/YbN or Sr/Yb ratios, which are well-established proxies for crustal thickness. In this study, we present new Nd-Hf isotopic data from the Permian to Triassic Hangay Batholith in the western Mongol-Okhotsk Orogen (Hangay Mountains), to evaluate the role of Nd-Hf isotopes in tracing crustal thickness variations along convergent plate boundaries. Our results show that granitoids from the Hangay Batholith likely originated from partial melting of crustal materials, with a possible mantle contribution. These granitoids have moderate εNd(t) and εHf(t) values, with no significant shift from Permian to Triassic, which contrasts with the continuous crustal thickening indicated by LaN/YbN ratios. This inconsistency between Nd-Hf isotope evolution and crustal thickness variation is likely due to the heterogeneous crustal architecture in this accretionary orogen. Our findings highlight the need for caution when linking Hf and Nd isotope evolution with extensional and contractional tectonics.

Different two-dimensional structural units of layered silicate minerals have different chemical and reaction properties. Sulfuric acid solution mineral-leaching systems with pH of 2.0, 4.0 and 6.0 were constructed to investigate the differential dissolution properties of lizardite (1:1 type), chlorite and talc (2:1 type minerals) and the chemical kinetic mechanism of the mineral–water interface reaction. The results showed that the dissolution efficiency of Mg in lizardite is higher than that of chlorite and talc in acidic environments (pH of 2.0, 4.0 and 6.0). The dissolution efficiency of Mg in chlorite is greater than that of talc for acidic environments when pH is 2.0 and 4.0, but chlorite and talc have nearly identical Mg dissolution efficiencies at a pH of 6.0. This phenomenon is related to the defect site on the tetrahedral sheet of chlorite and is controlled by the change of the dissolution efficiency of Al. The dissolution rates of Mg and Si in lizardite, chlorite and talc decreased with the increase of reaction time in the acidic medium for pH = 2.0, 4.0 and 6.0, and there are two linear dissolution trends at different pH values. The dissolution efficiencies of Mg and Si in lizardite, chlorite and talc were simulated and predicted by establishing a logistic model. It was found that the maximum dissolution efficiency of 2:1 type minerals chlorite and talc are only 4.72% and 1.58%, which is much lower than that of 1:1 type lizardite. This research on the reaction mechanism and dissolution kinetics of lizardite, chlorite and talc not only helps to deepen the understanding of the mineral–water interface interaction, but also reveals the different rules for Mg, Si and Al dissolution in different types of trioctahedral mineral–water interface reactions, and provides a crystal chemical basis for the ion migration and action mechanism of minerals.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong is launching a pioneering BA program in Public Humanities, combining two existing units—Cultural Studies and Cultural Management—to form a socially relevant undergraduate education that promotes community-building, critical and creative skills, and humanities values. Hong Kong’s public sphere has been shrinking, necessitating a deeper reflection and conceptualization of the public within its historical and cultural contexts. The term “public” in Hong Kong has diverse meanings and overlaps with private and communal aspects, influenced by Chinese cultural history and colonial experiences. Despite the decline of civil society, various public activities, such as markets, performances, and talks, continue to foster local culture and community engagement in Hong Kong. The program emphasizes collaboration, participatory arts, and media technology to foster civic agency and public engagement, encouraging students to work with diverse community stakeholders. The program promotes care and connection as guiding principles for community-building, aiming to cultivate responsible citizens and rebuild trust through open communication and meaningful civic participation.

An actively controllable cascaded proton acceleration driven by a separate 0.8 picosecond (ps) laser is demonstrated in proof-of-principle experiments. MeV protons, initially driven by a femtosecond laser, are further accelerated and focused into a dot structure by an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) on the solenoid, which can be tuned into a ring structure by increasing the ps laser energy. An electrodynamics model is carried out to explain the experimental results and show that the dot-structured proton beam is formed when the outer part of the incident proton beam is optimally focused by the EMP force on the solenoid; otherwise, it is overfocused into a ring structure by a larger EMP. Such a separately controlled mechanism allows precise tuning of the proton beam structures for various applications, such as edge-enhanced proton radiography, proton therapy and pre-injection in traditional accelerators.

Seed chemical composition and oxidation after long-term storage may affect seed longevity, seed germination and seedling normality after planting. By screening the entire USDA cultivated peanut germplasm collection for fatty acid composition, we identified the -01 inventory of accession PI 268941 with the following characteristics: (a) two distinct seed fatty acid profiles (high oleate 78.9% and normal oleate 48.19%); (b) two FAD2B genotypes (with and without a functional point mutation of 435DelT within the FAD2B gene); and (c) uniform plant morphology and seed-coat color. This inventory had been stored at −18°C within the same sealed aluminum bag for 30 years and was acquired to investigate the relationship between seed chemical composition and seed performance after planting using individual seed analysis. Our results indicated that (1) the spontaneous point-functional mutation 435T deletion of FAD2B within the accession led to the high and normal oleate seeds; (2) additional unidentified compounds observed during analysis may be due to a higher oxidation rate in normal oleate seeds than in high oleate seeds; (3) the high oleate seeds had significantly higher rates of seed germination and seedling normality than the normal oleate seeds; and (4) the seedling performance highly and significantly correlated with fatty acid composition and extra peaks. Our results suggest that high oleic acid significantly extends the viability of long-term stored peanut seeds. The information revealed in this study will be useful for germplasm preservation as well as the selection of seeds for planting and agricultural production based on seed fatty acid composition and storage length.

We undertake a comprehensive investigation into the distribution of in situ stars within Milky Way-like galaxies, leveraging TNG50 simulations and comparing their predictions with data from the H3 survey. Our analysis reveals that 28% of galaxies demonstrate reasonable agreement with H3, while only 12% exhibit excellent alignment in their profiles, regardless of the specific spatial cut employed to define in situ stars. To uncover the underlying factors contributing to deviations between TNG50 and H3 distributions, we scrutinize correlation coefficients among internal drivers(e.g., virial radius, star formation rate [SFR]) and merger-related parameters (such as the effective mass-ratio, mean distance, average redshift, total number of mergers, average spin-ratio and maximum spin alignment between merging galaxies). Notably, we identify significant correlations between deviations from observational data and key parameters such as the median slope of virial radius, mean SFR values, and the rate of SFR change across different redshift scans. Furthermore, positive correlations emerge between deviations from observational data and parameters related to galaxy mergers. We validate these correlations using the Random Forest Regression method. Our findings underscore the invaluable insights provided by the H3 survey in unravelling the cosmic history of galaxies akin to the Milky Way, thereby advancing our understanding of galactic evolution and shedding light on the formation and evolution of Milky Way-like galaxies in cosmological simulations.

In response to the auxiliary requirements for the treatment and prevention of lumbar diseases, based on the biomechanical characteristics of the human waist, a novel unpowered rigid-flexible coupling waist exoskeleton with multiple degrees of freedom and its human-exoskeleton parallel wearable equivalent research prototype are proposed, further focusing on the encompassing kinematic compatibility and dynamic load-bearing effectiveness of the biomimetic coordination, an in-depth analysis is performed on the multi-body dynamic dimensional synthesis and its methodological research. Initially, based on the rigid-flexible coupling characteristics and experimental biomechanical data of the lumbar region in the sagittal plane, an accurate multi-body system dynamics model of the research prototype, which incorporates the rigid-flexible coupling characteristics, is systematically constructed. Subsequently, to effectively quantify the biomimetic coordination of the exoskeleton, a novel comprehensive optimization index, termed biomimetic load-bearing comfort, is proposed. Finally, by utilizing this index, the exoskeleton is optimized in dimension by employing a thorough combination of multi-dimensional spatial search algorithm and compression factor particle swarm algorithm. The simulation results validate the correctness and effectiveness of both the dynamic dimensional synthesis and its methodology. Furthermore, the study also reveals that the optimized exoskeleton’s passive working mode showcases favorable biomimetic coordination. These results are crucial for progressing the research on the biomimetic load-bearing capacities of other exoskeletons.

Pterotheca Salter, 1853 is an unusual but readily identifiable bellerophontoid gastropod that occurs in the Upper Ordovician to the Llandovery of the lower Silurian in many parts of North America and Europe. Recently, a large collection of Pterotheca was obtained for the first time from the Xiushan Formation of middle Telychian (Llandovery) age in the Hunan Province of South China. This is also the first record of the genus in the low-latitude peri-Gondwanan region. On the basis of the collection, two new species of Pterotheca—P. yongshunensis and P. xiushanensis—were identified and are described herein. The morphologic analysis suggests that close relatives of these new species may be Pterotheca species from the Telychian of Scotland. The new species show continuous variations of marginal apex to submarginal apex, implying that one of the Pterotheca species may be ancestral to the Devonian Aspidotheca Spriesterbach, 1919. The Pterotheca species from South China possibly lived a slowly crawling life on a soft substrate, feeding on algae and/or detritus, and were adapted to a shallow-water setting with substantial terrigenous input. Given that all the known Silurian Pterotheca species occurred in siliciclastic settings, most of which represent sea-level fall and lowstand periods, we demonstrate that geographic isolation and enhanced ocean circulation during the early Silurian regression facilitated the speciation of Pterotheca globally, and the connection of a sea pathway during the Rhuddanian transgression after the end-Ordovician glaciation could have led to the primary dispersal of Silurian Pterotheca.

After right ventricular outflow tract obstruction reconstruction for CHD, surgical pulmonary valve replacement, or transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement may be performed if complicated by moderately severe or severe right ventricular outflow tract dysfunction. However, for patients whose anatomy is not suitable for transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement, surgical pulmonary valve replacement is the only option, but it has a higher rate of perioperative complications and longer hospitalisation for patients. In two cases of severe transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement in which percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation could not be performed directly due to the presence of a large right ventricle, a significant decrease in right ventricular function, and significant widening of the pulmonary arteries, we used a new hybridisation procedure to partially fold and reduce the diameter of the significantly widened pulmonary artery trunk without cardiopulmonary bypass by surgically opening the thorax in a median way, and then successfully implanted a percutaneous self-expanding pulmonary valve valve, with good immediate results in the postoperative period. The postoperative recovery was rapid and the recent results were excellent.

Due to the effects of tolerance, design, and manufacturing deviations, there are clearances in the revolute joints of mechanical arms. These clearances can easily lead to system impacts and vibrations, resulting in a decrease in dynamic performance and affecting the trajectory tracking accuracy of the end effector. The existing dynamic models of mechanisms with clearance in revolute joints lack comprehensiveness, universality, and systematicity, and have not addressed the impact of joint reaction forces within clearance revolute joints on the system. The impact collision problem of the revolute joints with clearance was systematically, accurately, and comprehensively modeled and simulated in this study based on multibody dynamics theory. Based on Hertz’s elastic theory, the LuGre friction model, and joint reaction forces, this paper constructs constraint and mechanical models of revolute joints with clearance based on the theory of multibody dynamics. To facilitate multibody dynamics analysis, the collision impact direction matrix is proposed and used for the first time to transform the mechanical model of revolute joints with clearance into external forces. The dynamic models of mobile parallel and double serial manipulators are then constructed. Through numerical simulations on different clearance amounts, tracking trajectories, and load parameters, the impact of revolute joint clearances on system dynamic performance is analyzed. The engineering significance of this research in dynamic analysis of mobile parallel manipulators under imperfect revolute joint conditions is also discussed.