A multi-objective evolutionary algorithm based on decomposition with an improved hybrid particle swarm optimization (MOEA/D-IHPSO) method is proposed, which aims to enhance the efficiency of automated optimization for antenna geometry. The optimization process includes two stages: optimization problem modeling and algorithm application. In the first stage, the topology optimization regions are selected according to the surface current distribution of the antenna, and a differential grid division strategy is employed to characterize the selected regions, ensuring the modeling accuracy of the key topology areas. By combining the encoded topological parameters of the selected regions with the key size parameters, a hybrid solution vector is formed and subsequently used to generate the initial population. In the second stage, the proposed framework uses new crossover and adaptive mutation operators to accelerate the process of reaching the target solution. Furthermore, MOEA/D-IHPSO incorporates a novel transfer learning-based recombination strategy that directly leverages historical optimization data without requiring surrogate model training, thereby intelligently guiding the search direction. To validate the effectiveness of the method, a dual-polarized omnidirectional antenna is optimized. Experimental results show that the optimization efficiency is improved by 31.8% and 26% compared to IBPSO and MOEA/D-GO algorithms, respectively.

In laser-produced plasma (LPP) extreme ultraviolet (EUV) sources, deformation of a tin droplet into an optimal target shape is determined by its interaction with a pre-pulse laser-generated plasma. This interaction is mediated by a transient ablation pressure, whose complex spatio-temporal evolution remains experimentally inaccessible. Existing modelling approaches are limited: empirical pressure–impulse models neglect dynamic plasma feedback, while advanced radiation hydrodynamics codes often fail to resolve late-time droplet hydrodynamics. To bridge this gap, we propose a radiation two-phase flow model based on a diffuse interface approach. The model integrates radiation hydrodynamics for the plasma with the Euler equations for a weakly compressible liquid, extending a five-equation diffuse interface formulation to incorporate radiation transport, thermal conduction, ionisation and surface tension. This formulation enforces pressure and velocity equilibrium across the diffuse interface region, with closure models constructed to ensure correct jump conditions at interfaces and asymptotically recover the pure-phase equations in bulk regions. Then we apply the model to simulate a benchmark pre-pulse scenario, where a $50\ \unicode{x03BC} \mathrm{m}$ tin droplet is irradiated by a $10\ \mathrm{ns}$ laser pulse. Our axisymmetric simulations capture the rapid plasma expansion and subsequent inertial flattening of the droplet into a thin, curved sheet over microsecond time scales. Notably, the model reproduces experimentally observed features such as an axial jet – rarely replicated in prior simulations. Quantitative agreement with experimental data for sheet dimensions and velocity validates the approach. The proposed model self-consistently couples laser–plasma physics with compressible droplet dynamics, providing a powerful tool for studying plasma–liquid interactions in LPP-EUV source optimisation.

This work presents an integrated modelling study of fast-proton distributions generated by ion cyclotron range of frequency (ICRF) minority heating in the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST). Using a series of high-confinement (H-mode) discharges with increasing ICRF power levels from 0.8 to 2.4 MW, fast protons were produced via minority heating mechanisms and analysed through simulations using the ASCOT code. The results reveal that the fast protons are primarily concentrated near the fundamental cyclotron resonance layer and exhibit strong power-dependent behaviour in both real-space (R–Z) distribution and velocity space, where R is the major radius and Z is the vertical coordinate. As the ICRF power increases, the energetic proton population shows significant spatial broadening and energy enhancement, reaching up to 1 MeV. The fast-ion pitch-angle distribution becomes increasingly anisotropic, with high-energy ions concentrated around $|\textit{v}_{\|}/\textit{v}| \lt 0.5$, where $\nu$ is the magnitude (speed) of the full velocity vector of the particle. Furthermore, the energy density of fast ions aligns well with the ICRF power deposition profile, confirming efficient central-core heating. These findings, which provide insight into fast-ion behaviour and ICRF heating characteristics in EAST plasmas, also support future fast-ion diagnostics and performance control strategies in EAST and similar experimental conditions.

The mechanisms governing generation and amplification of laser-driven electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) in the picosecond (ps) regime remain insufficiently understood. Here, we present a unified theoretical and experimental framework that demonstrates dual-picosecond laser irradiation of solid targets can synergistically enhance EMP emission. By integrating particle-in-cell simulations with three-dimensional electromagnetic modeling, we reveal that the increasing laser focal power density amplifies hot electron emission and strengthens neutralization currents, leading to giant EMP radiations. Experimentally, we validate these predictions at the XG-III and SG-II U picosecond petawatt laser facilities, achieving a record-breaking EMP field strength of 3.08 MV/m – substantially exceeding previously reported values from ps-laser–solid interactions. Furthermore, we demonstrate that EMP characteristics can be precisely tuned via laser and target parameters, enabling controllable, high-field electromagnetic sources. Our findings provide deep insight into the physics of laser-driven EMP amplification and establish a robust platform for developing next-generation high-intensity electromagnetic emitters.

The objective of this study was to investigate the gene-breastfeeding interaction on BMI based on the Chinese National Twin Register (CNTR). The study included 4,573 pairs of same-sex twins aged 2–18 from CNTR. Data were collected using a self-reported questionnaire, and a structural equation model was used to analyze the gene-environment interaction of breastfeeding with BMI in six age groups. Our findings indicate that as age increases, the heritability of BMI shows an increasing trend, being the lowest (h2: 0.08; 95% CI [0.00, 0.19]) in the 6- to 8-year age group and the highest (h2: 0.57, 95% CI [0.44, 0.72]) in the 12- to 14-year age group. Additionally, breastfeeding significantly modified the additive genetic component of BMI in the 6- to 8-year age group and 12- to 14-year age group. In the 6- to 8-year age group, breastfeeding decreased the impact of genes on BMI, with a genetic effect modification coefficient (βa) of −0.19 (−0.25, −0.13). In the 12- to 14-year age group, breastfeeding increased the impact of genes on BMI, with a genetic effect modification coefficient (βa) of 0.08 (0.02, 0.15). In conclusion, as age increases, the genetic influence on children’s BMI becomes more pronounced. Breastfeeding may modulate genetic effects at the ages of 6–8 and 12–14. Given the metabolic diversity of obesity, our findings offer insight into how breastfeeding interacts with genetic background, helping to unravel the complex gene–environment interplay influencing obesity.

Direct-seeding of rice by sowing dry seeds on dry soils often results in poor seedling emergence due to erratic rainfall. Adjusting the sowing depth to a given rainfall pattern may improve rice emergence. To assess risks of crop failure in direct-seeded rice, we developed a platform for modelling and simulation of rice emergence at different sowing depths. We combined the HYDRUS-1D soil simulation model, which simulates the surface soil’s moisture dynamics, with two rice emergence models recently developed by our research group. The platform used 48 years of daily weather data (1977–2024) for the study site as inputs for the soil model to simulate soil moisture and temperature at designated depths. We then input the simulated values and sowing depths into the emergence models to simulate final emergence and the emergence date. The simulated soil water tension at a depth of 1 cm showed huge interannual variation, reaching 10 MPa in dry years. The simulation showed that relative to a 1-cm sowing depth, depths of 4 and 6 cm greatly reduce the probability of crop failure under rainfed conditions (from 8 % to between 1 % and 2 %). Our novel platform for risk assessment should therefore facilitate the use of direct-seeded rice in suboptimal environments. The platform also fills a knowledge gap for simulation of crop establishment in direct-seeded rice under future climate scenarios.

Streptococcus agalactiae, a major bovine mastitis pathogen, poses significant economic and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) challenges. This study evaluated AMR in 128 isolates from Shandong, Hebei and Inner Mongolia using the broth microdilution method. Results showed high sensitivity to most antibiotics (e.g. 100% resistance to penicillin, ceftiofur, amoxicillin, cefquinome and vancomycin) but significant resistance to tetracycline (80.7%) and daptomycin (99.3%). Inner Mongolia isolates exhibited higher resistance and mimimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) values, reflecting regional antibiotic usage differences, guiding mastitis treatment and antibiotic stewardship in China's dairy industry.

The consumption of ultra-processed food (UPF) has been linked to bone metabolism in adults, but its impact on bone mineral density (BMD) in children and adolescents remains unclear. This study analysed data from 4809 children and adolescents aged 8–19 years, drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2018. UPF intake was categorised according to the NOVA classification system, with the percentage of energy derived from UPF divided into quartiles (Q1–Q4). A weighted multiple linear regression model was used to examine the relationship between UPF intake and lumbar spine BMD (LSBMD) and subtotal BMD (SBMD). Stratified analyses were conducted to explore associations across various subgroups. The results indicated that UPF intake was positively associated with LSBMD. This association was significant in girls for both LSBMD and SBMD. Positive correlations with LSBMD also emerged in 12–15 years old and specific subgroups. Moreover, mediation analysis showed total cholesterol mediated 4·8 % of the UPF–LSBMD link, and HDL-cholesterol mediated 0·9 % of the UPF–SBMD one. These findings indicate that UPF intake is associated with increased BMD in children and adolescents. Future research should further investigate the complex effects of UPF on the health of this population.

Extending the concept of economic interdependence to the subnational level, this paper explores how the foreign commercial ties of non-state actors can introduce geopolitical risks to advanced democracies. We examine this phenomenon through the lens of US–China higher education partnerships. Facing budget constraints, public universities in the United States often rely on revenue from international tuition and fees. Due to trade barriers in China, American universities frequently recruit fee-paying Chinese students through joint degree programs (JDPs) established with Chinese partner institutions. These transnational partnerships create asymmetric market dependencies that the Chinese government can exploit. Using newly compiled panel data from the United States, we find that the extensive pre-existing JDP network is significantly correlated with the proliferation of Confucius Institutes (CIs) – a flagship soft power initiative of the Chinese government – on American college campuses. Preliminary evidence from other countries aligns with the patterns observed in the USA. Our findings highlight how China employs a decentralized approach to advance its soft power strategy through higher education ties.

Multi-plane light conversion (MPLC) is a versatile technique that enables arbitrary manipulation of optical fields, and is numerically investigated as a novel avenue for coherent beam combining (CBC) applications. The optical parameters have been investigated to guide the MPLC design, indicating that the number of phase planes and plane spacing serve as pivotal factors. The channel scalability is simulated, revealing that the plane spacing should be increased in a larger array to maintain high performance under a few-plane limit. CBC of up to 1027 lasers has been numerically demonstrated with near-diffraction-limited beam quality (M2 of 1.16 and combining efficiency close to 100%) with only seven phase plates. Beam steering is investigated, revealing that steering capability is related to both the number of multiplexed modes in MPLC and their mode fidelities, and the main-lobe power ratio of 87.1% at one divergence angle is achieved in a 10-mode MPLC with five phase plates.

Previous studies highlighted the health benefits of coffee and tea, but they only focused on the comparisons between different consumptions. Consequently, the association estimate lacked a clear interpretation, as the substitution of beverages and distribution of doses were not explicitly prescribed. We focused on the ‘relative association’ to ascertain the optimal consumption strategy (including total intake and optimal allocation strategy) for coffee, tea and plain water associated with decreased mortality. Self-reported coffee, tea and plain water intake were used from the UK Biobank. Within a compositional data analysis framework, a multivariate Cox model was used to assess the relative associations after adjusting for a range of potential confounders. The lower mortality risk was observed with at least approximately 7–8 drinks/d of total consumption. When the total intake > 4 drinks/d, substituting plain water with coffee or tea was linked to reduced mortality; nevertheless, the benefit was not seen for ≤ 4 drinks/d. Besides, a balanced consumption of coffee and tea (roughly a ratio of 2:3) associated with the lowest hazard ratios of 0·55 (95 % CI 0·47, 0·64) for all-cause mortality, 0·59 (95 % CI 0·48, 0·72) for cancer mortality, 0·69 (95 % CI 0·49, 0·99) for CVD mortality, 0·28 (95 % CI 0·15, 0·52) for respiratory disease mortality and 0·35 (95 % CI 0·15, 0·82) for digestive disease mortality than other combinations. These results highlight the importance of the rational combination of coffee, tea and plain water, with particular emphasis on ensuring adequate total intake, offering more comprehensive and explicit guidance for individuals.

The current study aims to assess associations between trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) levels and mortality and to investigate modification effects of genetics. A total of 500 participants from a family-based cohort study were enrolled from 2005 to 2017 and followed up until 2020 in Fangshan District, Beijing, China. Serum TMAO levels were measured using the ELISA kit. The primary outcomes were all-cause mortality and deaths from CVD and stroke. During a median follow-up time of 7·38 years, thirty-eight deaths were recorded, including twenty deaths due to CVD and nineteen deaths due to stroke. Compared with the lowest TMAO quartile group, the HR for all-cause mortality was 1·35 (95 % CI: 0·44, 4·15), 1·65 (95 % CI: 0·58, 4·64) and 2·45 (95 % CI: 0·91, 6·57), respectively, in higher groups. No association was observed between TMAO and CVD mortality. However, compared with the lowest TMAO concentration group, the HR for stroke mortality was 1·93 (95 % CI: 0·40, 9·39), 1·91 (95 % CI: 0·41, 8·96) and 4·16 (95 % CI: 0·94, 18·52), respectively, in higher groups (Pfor trend = 0·046). Furthermore, polygenic risk score (PRS) for longevity modified the association of TMAO with all-cause mortality (Pfor interaction = 0·008). The risk of mortality (HR = 2·20, 95 % CI: 1·06, 4·57) was higher among participants with lower PRS compared with higher PRS (HR = 1·00, 95 % CI: 0·71, 1·40). The study indicates that elevated serum TMAO levels are potentially associated with long-term mortality risk in rural areas of northern China, especially for stroke deaths. Additionally, it provides novel evidence that genetic variations might modify the association.

High gain greater than 106 is crucial for the preamplifiers of joule-class high-energy lasers. In this work, we present a specially designed compact amplifier using 0.5%Nd,5%Gd:SrF2 and 0.5%Nd,5%Y:SrF2 crystals. The irregular crystal shape enhances the gain length of the laser beam and helps suppress parasitic oscillations. The amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) induced by the high gain is analyzed through ray tracing. The balance between gain and ASE is estimated via numerical simulation. The gain spectral characteristics of the two-stage two-pass amplifier are examined, demonstrating the advantages of using different crystals, with bandwidths up to 8 nm and gains over 106. In addition, the temperature and stress distributions in the Nd,Gd:SrF2 crystal are simulated. This work is expected to contribute to the development of high-peak-power ($\ge$terawatt-class) high-energy (joule-class) laser devices.