Medication non-adherence remains a persistent hurdle in the management of Major Depressive Disorder. Understanding patient preferences is essential for promoting patient-centered care and enhancing treatment outcomes. This study aimed to quantify patient preferences for antidepressant attributes among Chinese patients using a best-worst scaling experiment via face-to-face surveys in seven psychiatric institutions. Six attributes were assessed: remission rate, sleep disorders, risk of headache or dizziness, risk of gastrointestinal adverse reactions, risk of liver or kidney injury and monthly out-of-pocket costs. A total of 331 participants completed seven choice tasks. Conditional logit, mixed logit and generalized multinomial logit models were applied, with the mixed logit providing the best fit. Patients most strongly preferred higher remission rates (80%, β = 6.06; 55%, β = 3.12), followed by lower risks of liver or kidney injury (1%, β = 1.65) and lower out-of-pocket costs (100 CNY, β = 1.64). Higher risks of gastrointestinal adverse reactions (60%, 35%) and insomnia were least desirable. Remission rate, risk of gastrointestinal adverse effects and sleep disorders were the most influential attributes. In conclusion, these findings highlight key factors shaping antidepressant choice and emphasize the role of patient preferences in guiding treatment selection, thereby supporting more individualized healthcare and improving clinical outcomes.

In this paper, the coupled volume-of-fluid and level set method, immersed boundary method and discrete element method is extended to an axisymmetric configuration to investigate bubble detachment from solid surfaces induced by particle impact. The post-impact dynamics is systematically investigated over a range of Weber numbers (We), particle wettabilities ($\theta _{p}$), density ratios ($k_{\rho }$) and size ratios ($k_{r}$). The results reveal three distinct detachment modes: capillary-wave detachment (CWD), bubble-rebound detachment (BRD) and particle-rebound detachment (PRD). At low We, early spreading over the particle releases surface energy and excites capillary waves that drive contact-line motion and rapid detachment. The spreading follows a power law, with the exponent increasing with We, reflecting the increasing contribution of impact inertia to the spreading process. As We increases, inertial compression suppresses capillary-wave-induced momentum reversal and the detachment mode shifts to BRD, where momentum reversal is achieved through the release of stored deformation energy. At sufficiently high We, particle rebound from the substrate injects a strong upward momentum into the flow, leading to PRD. Kelvin impulse analysis is employed to quantify the evolution of vertical momentum and establish a unified interpretation of the detachment process. A detachment capability factor is further proposed to characterise the competition between interfacial energy release and inertial suppression. Regime maps in the (We, $\theta _{p}$), (We, $k_{\rho }$) and (We, $k_{r}$) parameter spaces are constructed, demonstrating that mode transitions are governed by the balance between capillary-wave-driven momentum generation and inertia-induced suppression.

China impressed the world with its success in containing the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. Many researchers have attributed China’s success to its hybrid mode of urban neighborhood governance, which could effectively mobilize residents to implement strict surveillance and quarantine measures for the state. However, despite their growing attention to urban neighborhood governance, they tend to privilege the government’s role while neglecting residents’ agency, thereby perpetuating the myth of an omnipresent and omnipotent Chinese state and reducing residents to passive objects of governance. This article challenges earlier researchers’ assumptions by exploring a crisis scenario – the lockdown of Shanghai from March to June 2022 – in which the local government’s capacity to surveil and micro-manage individual residents and deliver public services was significantly hampered. Through semi-structured interviews with eighteen individuals who experienced the lockdown in Shanghai, it examines the self-preserving efforts made by Shanghai residents to address the most serious challenge confronting them – supply shortages. It demonstrates that spontaneous organization and autonomous action among Shanghai residents were crucial to their survival during the crisis.

Continuous-wave diamond Raman lasers (DRLs) operated at high pump power commonly suffer from power roll-off and output instability, even when high-thermal-conductivity gain media are employed. These degradations originate from thermally induced cavity-mode mismatch and cavity-length drift, which limit further power scaling. In this work, we establish a thermo–optical chain-linked model that quantitatively describes the coupled evolution of thermal deposition, equivalent thermal lensing, intracavity-mode matching and output power in high-power DRLs, providing a direct physical link between pump power and cavity-length compensation. Based on this model, a peak–valley co-location criterion is proposed to determine the optimal cavity-length compensation point. Both theoretical and experimental results show that the output power exhibits a single-peak dependence on cavity-length offset, while the power stability follows a U-shaped distribution, and their extrema coincide at an optimal compensation value ΔL*. By operating at ΔL*, the maximum Stokes output power increases from 27 to 32 W, and the root mean square power fluctuation decreases from 4.8% to 3.2%. These results demonstrate that thermal-lens-induced performance degradation can be effectively mitigated by cavity-length compensation using a single control parameter, providing a practical design rule for simultaneous enhancement of output power and stability in high-power Raman laser systems.

While the late Llandovery brachiopod faunas of South China are well documented, they are known almost exclusively from shallow-water settings. Here, we present a detailed study of a brachiopod fauna from the Ningqiang Formation (early to middle Telychian) at the Bifengguan section in Sichuan Province, South China. Quantitative analyses, including non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) and network analysis, reveal three successive brachiopod associations. Significantly, the basal Aegiria–Epitomyonia association was characterized by the abundance of the deep-water indicator Epitomyonia. This represents the first definitive record of a deep-water (BA4) community within the Telychian Xiushan Fauna, which was previously thought to be restricted to shallower environments. This basal association is succeeded by the Aegiria–Megaspinochonetes and Fardenia–Striispirifer associations, and this complete succession indicates a shallowing-upward environmental trend from a BA4 to an upper BA3 setting. We interpret this shallowing trend as a response to regional uplift. The initial existence of this deep-water association was likely facilitated by the unique paleogeographical position of the locality, which likely provided a stable habitat for this deep-water community. This study expands the known ecological range of the Xiushan Fauna and underscores the critical role of local paleogeography in shaping benthic community structures during the early Silurian.

Magnetite-enriched mining tailings are a cost-effective and abundant catalytic material with inherent magnetic recyclability. Yet their practical application in catalysis is often constrained by their limited surface area and sluggish reaction kinetics. To address these issues, we developed a facile one-step co-precipitation method to synthesize a magnetic nano-Fe3O4 (MNP) catalyst that exhibits enhanced surface reactivity for efficient activation of H2O2 towards tetracycline (TC) degradation. The system achieved complete (100%) removal of TC at an initial concentration of 20 mg L–1 within 90 min and demonstrated robust catalytic performance across weakly acidic to neutral pH conditions. Mechanistic investigations confirmed that ⋅OH is the primary reactive oxygen species involved, with ⋅O2⁻ and 1O2 providing supplementary contributions to the degradation. Remarkably, the intrinsic magnetic properties ensured efficient MNP catalyst recovery. This work provides a sustainable and scalable wastewater treatment strategy, leveraging mining tailings as a cost-effective resource to treat wastewater while also providing economic and environmental benefits.

Spacecraft assembly facilities (SAFs) house clean rooms where interplanetary spacecraft are built, thereby reducing the bioburden on spacecraft to protect planetary environments from terrestrial microbes that may interfere with the search for life or disturb potential native ecosystems. The most plausible environments for living systems on celestial bodies involve brines with depressed freezing points. Here, we specifically measure the abundance of salinotolerant microbes on SAF surfaces. Most probable number analyses performed with salty liquid media were applied to washes of SAF floor wipes. Microbial abundance was measured using Salt Plains medium at low salt or supplemented with (all w/v) 10% NaCl (1.7 M; aw = 0.92), 50% MgSO4 (2.0 M as epsomite; aw = 0.94), 5% NaClO3 (0.5 M; aw = 0.98), or 5% NaClO4 (0.4 M; aw = 0.98). The abundance of salinotolerant microbes was generally 1 to 10% (102 to 104 cells m−2) of the total population of microbes observed in low-salt medium (105 cells m−2). Microbes were isolated by repetitive streak-plating of positive enrichment cultures and then characterized. All of the 38 isolates were Gram-positive bacteria, mainly spore-forming Bacillaceae, with some Staphylococcus. The isolate collection showed strong tolerance to high concentrations of NaCl (to 30%), MgSO4 (to 50%) and sucrose (to 70%). There also was substantial tolerance to pH (5 to 10) and temperature (4 to 60 °C). Taken together, these SAF isolates are polyextremophiles that are in substantial abundance in the clean rooms where spacecraft are assembled.

Biomechanical intervention on lower limb joints using exoskeletons to reduce joint loads and provide walking assistance has become a research hotspot in the fields of rehabilitation and elderly care. To address the challenges of human-exoskeleton (H-E) kinematic compatibility and knee joint unloading demands, this study proposes a novel rhombus linkage exoskeleton mechanism capable of adaptive knee motion without requiring precise alignment with the human knee axis. The exoskeleton is driven by a Bowden cable system to provide thigh support, thereby achieving effective knee joint unloading. Based on the screw theory, the degrees of freedom (DOF) of the exoskeleton mechanism (DOF = 3) and the H-E closed-loop mechanism (DOF = 1) were analyzed, and the kinematic model of the exoskeleton and the H-E closed-loop kinematic model were established, respectively. A mechanical model of the driving system was developed, and a simulation was conducted to validate the accuracy of the model. The output characteristics of the cable-driven system were investigated under varying bending angles and bending times. A prototype was fabricated and tested in wearable scenarios. The experimental results demonstrate that the exoskeleton system exhibits excellent biocompatibility and weight-bearing support capability. Compatibility tests confirm that the exoskeleton does not interfere with human motion. Through human-in-the-loop optimization, the optimal Bowden cable output force profile was obtained, which minimizes gait impact while achieving a peak support force of 195.8 N. Further validation from wear trials with five subjects confirms the system’s low interference with natural human motion (maximum lower-limb joint angle deviation of only $8^\circ$).

The interaction of helminth infections with type 2 diabetes (T2D) has been a major area of research in the past few years. This paper, therefore, focuses on the systematic review of the effects of helminthic infections on metabolism and immune regulation related to T2D, with mechanisms through which both direct and indirect effects are mediated. Specifically, the possible therapeutic role of helminths in T2D management, probably mediated through the modulation of host metabolic pathways and immune responses, is of special interest. This paper discusses the current possibilities for translating helminth therapy from basic laboratory research to clinical application, as well as existing and future challenges. Although preliminary studies suggest the potential for helminth therapy for T2D patients, their safety and efficacy still need to be confirmed by larger-scale clinical studies.

Spaceflight missions must limit biological contamination on both the outbound and return legs to comply with planetary protection requirements. Depending on the mission profile, contamination concerns may include the potential presence of bioactive molecules as defined by NASA’s Planetary Protection policies. Thus, the present study has examined the temperature and time requirements for sufficient inactivation/degradation of an infectious, heat-stable prion protein (Sup35NM), which serves as a model bioactive molecule. Bovine serum albumin was used to establish the method parameters and feasibility. Differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, analytical reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry were utilized to analyze heat-treated samples, with non-treated samples serving as controls. Heat treatment at 400°C for 5 seconds was found to result in substantial decomposition of Sup35NM. In addition to the disruption of the protein backbone amide bonds, the side chain residues were also compromised. Fragments of molecular weight <4600 were observed by mass spectrometry but the impact of treatment on both the backbone and side chains of Sup35NM suggested that these fragments would not self-associate to create potentially pathogenic entities. The present methodology provided insight into the protein degradation process and can be applied to a variety of treatment strategies (e.g., any form of sterilization or inactivation) to ensure a lack of protein-based contamination of isolated extraterrestrial specimens.

This article provides a comparative discussion of the theories of imperialism developed by three prominent scholars – Paul Samuel Reinsch, Ukita Kazutami, and Liang Qichao – in the 1900s. Such a discussion offers a fresh understanding of imperialism in the East Asian context from three perspectives. First, by revealing inter-textual connections between the three figures’ writings, it sheds light on Japan’s mediating role in the formation of Chinese knowledge of imperialism in a transpacific exchange of ideas. Second, it examines how the theories of imperialism travelled in the unequal international spaces created by practices of imperialism. Last, it draws attention to the consequences of embracing the Western ideal of national empire in East Asia, highlighting the fact that some Japanese and Chinese elites resisted Western imperialism on the one hand, but, on the other, drew inspiration from the ideal of imperialism to formulate their own expansionist agendas.

This research investigates the spanwise oscillation patterns of turbulent non-premixed flames in a tandem configuration, using both experimental methods and large eddy simulations under cross-airflow conditions. Based on the heat release rate (17.43–34.86 kW) and the burner size (0.15 $\times$ 0.15 m), the flame behaves like both a buoyancy-controlled fire (such as a pool fire) and, due to cross-wind effects, a forced flow-controlled fire. The underlying fire dynamics was modelled by varying the spacing between the square diffusion burners, cross-wind velocity and heat release rate. Two flapping modes, the oscillating and bifurcating modes, were observed in the wake of the downstream diffusion flame. This behaviour depends on the wake of the upstream diffusion flame. As the backflow of the upstream flame moved downstream, the maximum flame width of the downstream flame became broader. The flapping amplitude decreased with a stronger cross-wind. Furthermore, the computational fluid dynamics simulation was performed by FireFOAM based on OpenFOAM v2006 2020 to investigate the flapping mechanism. The simulation captured both modes well. Disagreement of the flapping period on the left and right sides results in the oscillating mode, while an agreement of the flapping period results in the bifurcating mode. Finally, the scaling law expressed the dimensionless maximum flame width with the proposed set of basic dimensional parameters, following observations and interpretation by simulations. The results help prevent the potential hazards of this type of basic fire scenario and are fundamentally significant for studying wind-induced multiple fires.

This paper provides an overview of the current status of ultrafast and ultra-intense lasers with peak powers exceeding 100 TW and examines the research activities in high-energy-density physics within China. Currently, 10 high-intensity lasers with powers over 100 TW are operational, and about 10 additional lasers are being constructed at various institutes and universities. These facilities operate either independently or are combined with one another, thereby offering substantial support for both Chinese and international research and development efforts in high-energy-density physics.

We investigate the natural oscillations of sessile drops with a central trapped bubble on a plane using linear potential flow theory, considering both free and pinned contact lines. The system is governed by the contact angle $\alpha$ and the ratio $\tau$ of inner to outer contact line radii. For bubble-containing (BC) hemispherical drops with free contact lines (referred to as free BC semi-drops), the modes mirror half of those in concentric spherical BC drops due to plane symmetry. These modes are labelled ‘plus’ (with greater inner surface deformation) and ‘minus’ (with greater outer surface deformation). As $\tau \to 0$, minus modes converge to those of bubble-free drops. Results show that varying $\alpha$ from $90^\circ$ or pinning the contact line in free BC semi-drops alters the topology of spectral lines, turning original crossings of spectral lines between minus and plus modes into avoided crossings. This shift causes minus and plus modes to form spectral trends with avoided crossings, maintaining their original spectral shapes. In an avoided crossing, two coupled modes cannot be classified as plus or minus due to their comparable inner and outer surface deformations, resulting in mode beating when both are excited, as confirmed by our direct numerical simulations. This study on the impact of inner bubbles on the spectrum may help in predicting bubble size in opaque sessile drops.