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.

Recent experiments and simulations have sparked growing interest in the study of Rayleigh–Bénard convection in very slender cells. One pivotal inquiry arising from this interest is the elucidation of the flow structure within these very slender cells. Here we employ tomographic particle image velocimetry, for the first time, to capture experimentally the full-field three-dimensional and three-component velocity field in a very slender cylindrical cell with aspect ratio $\Gamma =1/10$. The experiments cover a Rayleigh number range $5.0 \times 10^8 \leqslant Ra \leqslant 5.0 \times 10^9$ and Prandtl number 5.7. Our experiments reveal that the flow structure in the $\Gamma =1/10$ cell is neither in the multiple-roll form nor in the simple helical form; instead, the ascending and descending flows can intersect and cross each other, resulting in the crossing events. These crossing events separate the flow into segments; within each segment, the ascending and descending flows ascend or descend side by side vertically or in the twisting manner, and the twisting is not unidirectional, while the segments near the boundary can also be in the form of a donut like structure. By applying the mode decomposition analyses to the measured three-dimensional velocity fields, we identified the crossing events as well as the twisting events for each instantaneous flow field. Statistical analysis of the modes reveals that as $Ra$ increases, the average length of the segments becomes smaller, and the average number of segments increases from 2.5 to 3.9 in the $Ra$ range of our experiments.

Network meta-analysis (NMA), also known as mixed treatment comparison meta-analysis or multiple treatments meta-analysis, extends conventional pairwise meta-analysis by simultaneously synthesizing multiple interventions in a single integrated analysis. Despite the growing popularity of NMA within comparative effectiveness research, it comes with potential challenges. For example, within-study correlations among treatment comparisons are rarely reported in the published literature. Yet, these correlations are pivotal for valid statistical inference. As demonstrated in earlier studies, ignoring these correlations can inflate mean squared errors of the resulting point estimates and lead to inaccurate standard error estimates. This article introduces a composite likelihood-based approach that ensures accurate statistical inference without requiring knowledge of the within-study correlations. The proposed method is computationally robust and efficient, with substantially reduced computational time compared to the state-of-the-science methods implemented in R packages. The proposed method was evaluated through extensive simulations and applied to two important applications including an NMA comparing interventions for primary open-angle glaucoma, and another comparing treatments for chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

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.

Based on a 4f system, a 0° reflector and a single laser diode side-pump amplifier, a new amplifier is designed to compensate the spherical aberration of the amplified laser generated by a single laser diode side-pump amplifier and enhance the power of the amplified laser. Furthermore, the role of the 4f system in the passive spherical aberration compensation and its effect on the amplified laser are discussed in detail. The results indicate that the amplification efficiency is enhanced by incorporating a 4f system in a double-pass amplifier and placing a 0° reflector only at the focal point of the single-pass amplified laser. This method also effectively uses the heat from the gain medium (neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet) of the amplifier to compensate the spherical aberration of the amplified laser.

Language control in the bilingual brain has remained in the limelight of research over the past decades. However, the mechanisms underlying bilingual language control may be more intricate than typically assumed due to the hierarchical nature of language. This study aimed to investigate the dynamics of bilingual language control at the phonetic level. Participants, who were speakers of Chinese, English and German, named the letters of the alphabet in English (L2) or German (L3) following an alternating language-switching paradigm. Two sets of letters were selected, differing in the phonological similarity of their pronunciation across the two languages, thereby allowing the exploration of cross-language phonological influences. Each participant completed two sessions of letter-naming tasks. In one session, seven phonologically similar letters were randomly repeated either in single-language blocks or in alternate-language blocks. In the other session, seven phonologically dissimilar letters were similarly manipulated. The results indicated local inhibition, reflected by switch costs and global inhibition, reflected by mixing costs. Reversed language dominance, another indicator of global inhibition, was not observed. However, there was a tendency for larger global inhibition to be applied to the more dominant language. Moreover, there was significantly faster naming for phonologically similar letters compared to dissimilar ones, suggesting a facilitation effect for both English and German, irrespective of whether letter naming occurred in single- or alternate-language blocks. These findings provided evidence for the role of inhibitory and facilitative mechanisms at the phonetic level, suggesting language-specific control in the bilingual brain and underscoring the complexity and dynamics of managing language control across multiple levels of processing.

Research findings based on the data of current automatic identification systems (AISs) can only be applied to some parts of navigation research owing to their insufficient mining depth. Previously, route planning research has been based on the waypoint and corresponding optimised algorithm without considering the actual navigation situation and sailing habits. The planned route considerably differs from the actual sailing route, and the application result is undesirable. A novel solution to support the route planning problem has been introduced owing to the large accumulation of AIS big data. In this study, the ship navigable route framework (SNRF) which is reflected by real data via mining AIS big data serves as the basic network for the planned maritime route. This study uses the concept of manifold distance based on AIS big data to build a maritime SNRF through high-density searching. It can provide basic theoretical support for actual navigation distance calculation, route planning and route accessibility inspection in the future.

Although it is well established that gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with fetal overgrowth in singleton pregnancies, little is known about its role in twins. We aimed to explore the relationship between GDM and the longitudinal fetal growth in twin pregnancies. This was a retrospective matched cohort study of GDM and non-GDM twin pregnancies delivered ≥36 weeks without other complications. All the women performed ≥3 ultrasounds after 22 weeks. Linear mixed models (LMMs) were used to explore the relationships between longitudinal fetal growth trajectories and GDM. Group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) and generalized estimating equation (GEE) were applied to identify the latent growth patterns and investigate their relationships with GDM. In total, 215 GDM and 645 non-GDM twins were included, the majority of the patients did not require medication therapy (n = 202, GDMA1). LMM revealed that, compared with non-GDM, GDM was associated with an average increase in fetal weight of 4.36 g (95% CI [1.25, 7.48]) per week. GBTM and GEE further revealed that GDM increased the odds of fetal weight trajectory to nearly 40% of the total fetal weight trajectory, classified into the high-speed group (aOR = 1.39, 95% CI [1.03, 1.88]), associating with a 49.44 g (95% CI [11.41, 87.48]) increase in birth weight. Subgroup analysis revealed that all these differences were only significant among the GDMA1 pregnancies (p < .05). GDM (GDMA1) is significantly associated with an increase in fetal weight during gestation in twin pregnancies. However, this acceleration is mild, and its significance requires further exploration.

The Early-Middle Jurassic impression/compression macroflora and the palynoflora from the Qaidam Basin in the northeastern Qinghai-Xizang (Tibetan) Plateau have been well studied; however, fossil wood from this region has not been previously documented systematically. Here, we describe an anatomically well-preserved fossil wood specimen from the Lower Jurassic Huoshaoshan Formation at the Dameigou section in northern Qinghai Province, northwestern China. This fossil exhibits typical Metapodocarpoxylon Dupéron-Laudoueneix et Pons anatomy with usually araucarian radial tracheid pits and variable cross-field pits, representing a new record for Metapodocarpoxylon in the Qaidam Basin. This discovery indicates that trees with this type of wood anatomy were not confined to northern Gondwana but also grew in more northerly regions in Laurasia. The wood displays distinct growth rings, with abundant, well-formed earlywood and narrow latewood. This observation, along with previous interpretations based on macroflora, palynoflora and sedimentological data, suggests that a warm and humid climate with mild seasonality prevailed in the region during the Early Jurassic.

The effect of the polarizations of two counter-propagating relativistic laser pulses interacting with subwavelength thin solid-density foil is investigated. Three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations and analytical modelling show that the interaction and resulting transverse instability depend strongly on the polarization directions as well as the intensity distribution of the resultant light field in the foil. The left- and right-handed circularly polarized laser pair with the same phase at the common focal spot in the ultrathin foil leads to the strongest distortion of the foil. The fastest growing mode and maximum growth rate depend mainly on the laser intensity. For all polarization and phase-difference combinations, the instability is weakest when the two laser pulses are exactly out of phase at the common focusing point in the foil.

Adaptation to the dynamic environment and variable task sequence is the critical ability for robot navigation and task execution. The Cyclic Networking Rapidly-exploring Random Tree (CNRRT) method is proposed to obtain the optimal path in real time and realize long-term path planning ability in a complex dynamic environment. The cyclic branch is introduced to the acyclic graph of Rapidly-exploring Random Tree (RRT) method, which forms a decentralized path network in the configuration space. An iterative searching strategy is built to search for the optimal path in the network. The branch prune, reconnection, and regrowth processes enable the decentralized network to efficiently respond to dynamic changes in the environment. The CNRRT can search for the real-time optimal path in the dynamic environment, dealing with the configuration and task changes robustly. Besides, the CNRRT is consistent for scenarios with long-term task sequence without significant performance fluctuation. Simulations and real-world comparative experiments verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.

In rural China, male offspring are traditionally regarded as the primary heirs of household assets, particularly land. This study examines the impact of offspring gender composition on long-term agricultural investment behavior, using commercial organic fertilizer application as an example of a strategic long-term investment in farmland. Based on cross-sectional data from 4090 rice farming households across 10 cities (counties) in Hubei province, collected between 2021 and 2023, this analysis identifies three key findings. First, the absence of male offspring significantly reduces long-term agricultural investments, a result that remains robust even when addressing potential endogeneity biases using instrumental variable techniques. Second, households without male heirs exhibit stronger present-oriented preferences and diminished social capital, which further hinder long-term agricultural investments. Third, the negative impact of not having male offspring is more pronounced when the current agricultural decision-maker is male and when land marketization is underdeveloped. These findings underscore the complex interplay between gender norms and agricultural behavior, revealing significant socioeconomic implications of inheritance practices. The study provides insights into addressing these challenges by emphasizing the importance of promoting gender equality and advancing land marketization to enhance equitable land use and support long-term agricultural investment.

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) formations for bearing-only passive detection are increasingly important in modern military confrontations, and the array of the formation is one of the decisive factors affecting the detection accuracy of the system. How to plan the optimal geometric array in bearing-only detection is a complex nondeterministic polynomial problem, and this paper proposed the distributed stochastic subgradient projection algorithm (DSSPA) with layered constraints to solve this challenge. Firstly, based on the constraints of safe flight altitude and fixed baseline, the UAV formation is layered, and the system model for bearing-only cooperative localisation is constructed and analysed. Then, the calculation formula for geometric dilution of precision (GDOP) in the observation plane is provided, this nonlinear objective function is appropriately simplified to obtain its quadratic form, ensuring that it can be adapted and used efficiently in the system model. Finally, the proposed distributed stochastic subgradient projection algorithm (DSSPA) combines the idea of stochastic gradient descent with the projection method. By performing a projection operation on each feasible solution, it ensures that the updated parameters can satisfy the constraints while efficiently solving the convex optimisation problem of array planning. In addition to theoretical proof, this paper also conducts three simulation experiments of different scales, validating the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method for bearing-only detection array planning in UAV formations. This research provides essential guidance and technical reference for the deployment of UAV formations and path planning of detection platforms.

Substantial changes resulting from the interaction of environmental and dietary factors contribute to an increased risk of obesity, while their specific associations with obesity remain unclear. Identify inflammation-related dietary patterns (DPs) and explore their associations with obesity among urbanized Tibetan adults under significant environmental and dietary changes.Totally, 1826 subjects from the suburbs of Golmud City were enrolled in an open cohort study, of which 514 were followed up. Height, weight, and waist circumference were used to define overweight and obesity. DPs were derived using reduced rank regression with 41 food groups as predictors and hs-CRP and prognostic nutritional index as inflammatory response variables. Altitude was classified as high or ultra-high. Two DPs were extracted. DP-1 was characterized by having high consumptions of sugar-sweetened beverages, savory snacks, and poultry, and a low intake of tsamba. DP-2 had high intakes of poultry, pork, animal offal, and fruits, and a low intake of butter tea. Participants in the highest tertiles (T3) of DPs had increased risks of overweight and obesity (DP-1: OR=1.37, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.77; DP-2: OR=1.48, 95% CI: 1.18, 1.85) than those in the lowest tertiles (T1). Participants in T3 of DP-2 had an increased risk of central obesity (OR=2.25, 95% CI: 1.49, 3.39) than those in T1. The positive association of DP-1 with overweight and obesity was only significant at high altitudes, while no similar effect was observed for DP-2. Inflammation-related DPs were associated with increased risks of overweight and/or obesity.

The ubiquitous marine radiocarbon reservoir effect (MRE) constrains the construction of reliable chronologies for marine sediments and the further comparison of paleoclimate records. Different reference values were suggested from various archives. However, it remains unclear how climate and MREs interact. Here we studied two pre-bomb corals from the Hainan Island and Xisha Island in the northern South China Sea (SCS), to examine the relationship between MRE and regional climate change. We find that the MRE from east of Hainan Island is mainly modulated by the Southern Asian Summer Monsoon-induced precipitation (with 11.4% contributed to seawater), rather than wind induced upwelling. In contrast, in the relatively open seawater of Xisha Island, the MRE is dominated by the East Asian Winter Monsoon, with relatively more negative (lower) ΔR values associated with high wind speeds, implying horizontal transport of seawater. The average SCS ΔR value relative to the Marine20 curve is –161±39 14C years. Our finding highlights the essential role of monsoon in regulating the MRE in the northern SCS, in particularly the tight bond between east Asian winter monsoon and regional MRE.