The current study examines the interaction between a pitching foil and sediment-laden flows, focusing on how particles affect propulsion performance and the sediment dynamics. We show that the presence of particles weakens vortex formation, reduces flow flux and alters the pressure distribution, leading to a decrease in propulsion efficiency. Additionally, sediment deformation and particle suspension under the flow are observed, driven by fluid–structure coupling rather than direct contact with the foil. The coupled dynamics between the foil’s motion, sediment evolution and particle transport creates a feedback loop that influences both the wake structure and sedimentary patterns. Our results underscore the importance of considering the interactions between the foil, flow and particles for a comprehensive understanding of bio-inspired propulsion in sediment-laden environments. This work provides insights for optimising the design and performance of hydrofoils in real-world granular flows and highlights the need for further investigation into the effects of particle types, concentrations and foil motion modes on propulsion efficiency.

At the low-coherence Kunwu laser facility with a 0.6% bandwidth, we experimentally studied the laser absorption efficiency of laser–target coupling at intensities of (3–5) × 1014 W cm–2. To characterize side scattering across a wide angular range, we developed a novel radiochromic film-based diagnostic system, which enables continuous spatial mapping over approximately π steradians for the first time. The results indicate a substantial reduction in total loss rate (by more than three times) when compared to a monochromatic laser. We focused on analyzing the influence of laser bandwidth on stimulated Brillouin scattering and stimulated Raman scattering (SRS). Notably, we found that the broadband laser enhances SRS at high intensities, which is contrary to the results obtained at low intensities. These results highlight the role of bandwidth as a quantitative control parameter for improving laser–plasma coupling, which is of particular significance for advancing direct-drive inertial confinement fusion.

A reinforcement learning (RL)-based automated antenna topology optimization method is proposed. The proposed framework can be divided into three phases, which are high-quality dataset construction, electromagnetic (EM) simulation acceleration, and RL-driven automated antenna topology optimization. Based on the high-quality dataset, a fully trained enhanced hybrid multilayer perceptron is proposed to replace time-consuming EM simulations. This approach allows the RL to acquire knowledge from the interaction between antenna topology and the environment quickly, reducing the optimization time cost caused by the large number of EM simulations. Additionally, two crucial components, topology bidirectional mapping strategy (TBM) and topology hierarchical analyzation strategy (THA), are introduced in this work to address the compatibility problems between ML and high-dimension antenna topology data. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, a microstrip patch antenna operating at 2.45 GHz is optimized. According to the measurement results, the antenna performance of gain and impedance bandwidth is improved greatly at the same time through the proposed method.

Kaolinite, a widely distributed clay mineral, is extensively applied in construction, industry and agriculture due to its physical, chemical and mechanical properties. This study employed quantum mechanics-based first-principles calculations to investigate the crystal structure, electronic properties and mechanical properties of kaolinite at various temperatures from a microscopic perspective. The main conclusions are as follows: structurally, lattice parameters (a, b, c) and volume increased with temperature, with c showing the largest such increase. The interlayer spacing between silicate tetrahedral and alumina octahedral layers slightly decreased from 0.3733 to 0.3702 Å, indicating that temperature exerts a stronger influence on the interlayer hydrogen bonds than on the covalent bonds within the layers. Electronically, in the 0–750 K range, kaolinite’s band gap narrowed from 5.13 to 5.06 eV; s orbital electrons of Al atoms jumped from the valence to the conduction band, reducing insulation. Mechanically, the elastic constants C11, C22, C33, C44 and C66 decreased while C55 increased with temperature. The bulk modulus declined continuously, whereas the shear modulus and Young’s modulus first increased then decreased. The universal anisotropy index decreased markedly, reducing elastic anisotropy. Temperature (0–750 K) significantly affects kaolinite’s properties. This study provides a reliable theoretical basis for optimizing the physicochemical and mechanical properties of kaolinite-based materials.

This study examines how older adults’ support needs influence intergenerational co-residence through two mediating mechanisms: family power and intergenerational solidarity. Drawing on four waves (2005–2014) of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), structural equation modelling was used on the pooled data to test the mediation model, while cross-lagged panel models examined the dynamic pathways over time. Results show that support needs increase the overall likelihood of co-residence yet exert a small negative direct effect, indicating a suppressor mediation pattern. Support needs significantly reduce older adults’ family power and modestly enhance intergenerational relationships; in turn, lower family power and stronger ties both promote co-residence. The mediating effect of family power is substantially larger and more stable over time, whereas that of intergenerational solidarity is weaker and context-dependent. These results refine the classical power–bargaining model by revealing a contextual reversal in which weaker parental authority, rather than stronger control, increases the feasibility of co-residence, and extend intergenerational solidarity theory by showing that relational cohesion functions as a conditional mechanism shaping living arrangements.

Grasslands are one of the major ecosystem types in drylands. Encroachment of shrubs into grasslands affects the functioning of drylands by altering community structure, with impacts exacerbated under greater intensity of encroachment. Yet, we have a limited understanding of how ecosystem structure responds to the degree of shrub encroachment. Here, we describe a field-based study designed to examine changes in ecosystem structure beneath shrub patches (patch condition) and between patches (spatial distribution pattern of patches) along a gradient in encroachment in a semiarid grassland in Inner Mongolia, China. We found that greater encroachment was associated with wider and taller shrubs with more branches. As shrub encroachment intensified, the area beneath shrubs had more litter and was less exposed to grazing. The landscape was characterized by more discontinuous patches of vegetation and more bare ground as encroachment intensified. Either the patch condition or the patch spatial pattern was shaped mainly by the magnitude of shrub encroachment rather than by the structure of individual shrubs (e.g., height and canopy width). Our study highlights the idiosyncratic response of ecosystem structure (patch condition and patch spatial pattern) to intensifying encroachment, reinforcing the importance of considering the degree of shrub encroachment when managing encroached grasslands.

The Chalbi Desert, located in eastern Africa, is a significant but overlooked archive of the Pleistocene and Holocene periods that could add insight into investigations on human evolution. We revisited southeastern Chalbi Desert landforms between the towns of Kargi and Maikona to improve the chronostratigraphy and provide paleoenvironmental context. Direct U-series and electron spin resonance dating of various fossil teeth recovered from a deflated dune (Qzs) landform at the Farre locality return a mean age of ∼545 ka, which is compatible with biostratigraphic inferences. While this numerical age result should probably be regarded as mostly indicative given the existing uncertainty on the environmental dose rate evaluation, the data set available nevertheless strongly suggests a Middle Pleistocene age for at least some of the fauna. Sedimentology, luminescence, and 14C dating further suggest that this Qzs landform and its contents were modified by alluvial fan development and weathering during denudation in a proximal fan setting through the late Pleistocene into the Holocene. The Qzs landform currently experiences aeolian additions, erosion, and salt-affected soil development in an arid climate. Pedogenic carbonate isotope geochemistry suggests that deflated sand dunes were covered by woody grasslands during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 4 and 3 pluvials, consistent with nearby fan progradation constrained at >35 ka. The desert experienced increased hydrologic activity during late Pleistocene and African humid period pluvials, as evidenced by additional optically stimulated luminescence and 14C dating from fan, dune, and playa contexts. The last significant pluvial episode ended after 4.4 ± 0.3 cal ka BP, which coincides with the final regression of nearby Lake Turkana. This study extends the chronology of Quaternary sediments in the Chalbi Desert to the Middle Pleistocene and offers paleoenvironmental insights into the conditions experienced by Middle Stone Age tool users in the region.

Recent research on zoonotic diseases has increasingly focused on tick-borne illnesses due to their high prevalence in northwestern China. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in yaks (Bos grunniens) within Qinghai Province. A total of 299 blood samples were collected from yaks in Xining City of Qinghai Province and analysed using polymerase chain reaction. Results indicated the absence of several significant zoonotic pathogens, including Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Anaplasma spp. and Coxiella burnetii. However, rickettsiae were detected in the sampled yaks. The overall prevalence of spotted fever group rickettsiae was 46·5%, with a significant difference between females (68·3%) and males (9·09%). Age was also identified as a significant factor influencing infection rates. Furthermore, sequencing analysis revealed that the obtained rickettsial sequences shared 99·04–100% nucleotide identity with Rickettsia raoultii, a species endemic to Qinghai, China. Phylogenetic analysis based on the ompA and gltA genes confirmed that these sequences clustered within the R. raoultii clade. This study demonstrates a high prevalence of R. raoultii infection in yaks from Qinghai. Consequently, the implementation of preventive and therapeutic measures for yaks is recommended to mitigate the risk of transmission. This study did not collect tick samples simultaneously, so the transmission vector cannot be identified. Additionally, uneven sample distribution across some age groups may affect the representativeness of the results.

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.

This study aims to explore the feasibility and accuracy of utilizing large language models (LLMs) to assess the risk of bias (ROB) in cohort studies. We conducted a pilot and feasibility study in 30 cohort studies randomly selected from reference lists of published Cochrane reviews. We developed a structured prompt to guide the ChatGPT-4o, Moonshot-v1-128k, and DeepSeek-V3 to assess the ROB of each cohort twice. We used the ROB results assessed by three evidence-based medicine experts as the gold standard, and then we evaluated the accuracy of LLMs by calculating the correct assessment rate, sensitivity, specificity, and F1 scores for overall and item-specific levels. The consistency of the overall and item-specific assessment results was evaluated using Cohen’s kappa (κ) and prevalence-adjusted bias-adjusted kappa. Efficiency was estimated by the mean assessment time required. This study assessed three LLMs (ChatGPT-4o, Moonshot-v1-128k, and DeepSeek-V3) and revealed distinct performance across eight assessment items. Overall accuracy was comparable (80.8%–83.3%). Moonshot-v1-128k showed superior sensitivity in population selection (0.92 versus ChatGPT-4o’s 0.55, P < 0.001). In terms of F1 scores, Moonshot-v1-128k led in population selection (F = 0.80 versus ChatGPT-4o’s 0.67, P = 0.004). ChatGPT-4o demonstrated the highest consistency (mean κ = 96.5%), with perfect agreement (100%) in outcome confidence. ChatGPT-4o was 97.3% faster per article (32.8 seconds versus 20 minutes manually) and outperformed Moonshot-v1-128k and DeepSeek-V3 by 47–50% in processing speed. The efficient and accurate assessment of ROB in cohort studies by ChatGPT-4o, Moonshot-v1-128k, and DeepSeek-V3 highlights the potential of LLMs to enhance the systematic review process.

We study density properties of orbits for a hypercyclic operator T on a separable Banach space X, and show that exactly one of the following four cases holds: (1) every vector in X is asymptotic to zero with density one; (2) generic vectors in X are distributionally irregular of type $1$; (3) generic vectors in X are distributionally irregular of type $2\frac {1}{2}$ and no hypercyclic vector is distributionally irregular of type $1$; (4) every hypercyclic vector in X is divergent to infinity with density one. We also present some examples concerned with weighted backward shifts on $\ell ^p$ to show that all the above four cases can occur. Furthermore, we show that similar results hold for $C_0$-semigroups.

Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis Guenée (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is a major pest in corn production, and its management remains a significant challenge. Current control methods, which rely heavily on synthetic chemical pesticides, are environmentally detrimental and unsustainable, necessitating the development of eco-friendly alternatives. This study investigates the potential of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae as a biological control agent for O. furnacalis pupae, focusing on its infection efficacy and the factors influencing its performance. We conducted a series of laboratory experiments to evaluate the effects of distance, pupal developmental stage, soil depth, and light conditions on nematode attraction, pupal mortality and sublethal impacts on pupal longevity and oviposition. Results demonstrated that S. carpocapsae exhibited the highest attraction to pupae at a 3 cm distance, with infection declining significantly at greater distances. Younger pupae (<12 h old), were more attractive to nematodes than older pupae, and female pupae were preferred over males. Nematode infection was highest on the head and thorax of pupae, with a significant reduction in infection observed after 24 h. Infection caused 100% mortality in pupae within 2 cm soil depth, though efficacy was reduced under light conditions. Sublethal effects included a significant reduction in the longevity of infected adults and a decrease in the number of eggs laid by infected females compared to controls. These findings underscore the potential of S. carpocapsae as an effective biocontrol agent for sustainable pest management in corn production, offering a viable alternative to chemical pesticides.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum folate levels and the risk of psoriasis by integrating observational study with Mendelian Randomisation (MR) analysis. We firstly conducted an observational study using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Subsequently, genetic instruments were selected for two-sample MR analyses to investigate the causal relationship between serum folate levels and the risk of psoriasis. The observational study showed no significant association between serum folate levels and psoriasis. In the fully adjusted model, neither serum folate level as a continuous variable (OR = 0·99, 95 % CI: 0·98, 1·00, P = 0·071) nor serum folate quartiles Q4 compared to Q1 (OR = 0·83, 95 % CI: 0·58, 1·19, P = 0·309) showed statistical significance. The MR analysis revealed that higher genetically predicted serum folate levels from Icelandic and Danish populations were significantly associated with a reduced risk of psoriasis (OR = 0·63, 95 % CI: 0·45, 0·88, P = 0·005). Similarly, higher genetically predicted serum folate levels from South Asian populations were significantly associated with a lower risk of psoriasis (OR = 0·84, 95 % CI: 0·72, 0·98, P = 0·025). Integrating observational study with MR analysis suggests that serum folate levels are protective factors against psoriasis, indicating that higher serum folate levels may help prevent the onset of the disease.

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. We identified inflammation-related dietary patterns (DP) and explored their associations with obesity among urbanised 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. DP were derived using reduced rank regression with forty-one food groups as predictors and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and prognostic nutritional index as inflammatory response variables. Altitude was classified as high or ultra-high. Two DP were extracted. DP-1 was characterised by having high consumptions of sugar-sweetened beverages, savoury 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 DP 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 DP were associated with increased risks of overweight and/or obesity.

We study the melting process of a solid under microgravity, driven solely by lateral vibrations that are perpendicular to the applied temperature gradient due to the absence of gravity-induced convection. Using direct numerical simulations with the phase-field method, we examine two-dimensional vibration-induced melting in a square cavity over four orders of magnitude of vibrational Rayleigh numbers, $10^5\le Ra_{{vib}}\le 10^9$. Our results show that as melting progresses, the flow structure transitions from a periodic-circulation regime with diffusion-dominated heat transfer to a columnar regime with vibroconvection. The mean height of the liquid–solid interface follows a power-law dependency with time, $\bar {\xi } \sim \tilde t^{1/(2-2\alpha )}$, where $\alpha = 0$ in the periodic-circulation regime and $\alpha = 1/2$ in the columnar regime. We further observe that within the columnar regime, the morphological evolution of the liquid–solid interface is influenced by the interaction of columnar thermal plumes in the central regions and the peripheral flow near the sidewalls. Specifically, we offer a comprehensive analysis of the plume merging behaviour, which is governed by the aspect ratio ($\bar {\xi }$) of the liquid layer and the intensity of vibration, quantified by the effective vibrational Rayleigh number $Ra_{vib}^{eff}$. We identify the relationship between the number of columnar plumes $K_m$ and $Ra_{vib}^{eff}$, finding that $K_m \sim \bar {\xi }^{-1} (Ra_{vib}^{eff})^{\gamma }$ with the fitting scaling exponent $\gamma = 0.150 \pm 0.025$. We subsequently quantify the characteristics of the interface roughness amplitude evolution in microgravity vibroconvection. Our results indicate that the roughness amplitude exhibits a power-law dependence on the mean height of the liquid layer. Drawing from the Stefan boundary condition, we theoretically deduce this dependence under the assumption of a non-uniform heat flux distribution at the interface, where the theory is corroborated by our numerical simulations.

Despite global efforts to end tuberculosis (TB), the goal of preventing catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) due to TB remains unmet. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Guizhou Province, Southwest China. Data were collected from the Hospital Information System and a survey of TB patients who had completed standardized antituberculosis treatment between January and March 2021. Among the 2 283 participants, the average total expenditure and out-of-pocket expenditure were $1 506.6 (median = $760.5) and $683.6 (median = $437.8), respectively. Health insurance reimbursement reduced CHE by 16.8%, with a contribution rate of 24.9%, and the concentration index changed from -0.070 prereimbursement to -0.099 postreimbursement. However, the contribution of health insurance varied significantly across different economic strata, with contribution rates of 6.4% for the lowest economic group and 53.1% for the highest group. For patients from lower socioeconomic strata, health insurance contributed 10.7% to CHE in the prediagnostic phase and 23.5% during treatment. While social health insurance alleviated the financial burden for TB patients, it did not provide sufficient protection for those in lower economic strata or during the prediagnostic stage. This study underscores the need for more effective and equitable subsidy policies for TB patients .

The formation and evolution of unconfined counter-helicity spheromaks merging have been experimentally investigated by using a magnetized coaxial plasma gun. By comparing the time-dependent photodiode signals and plasma radiation images of counter-helicity spheromaks merging and plasma jets merging, it is found that the field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasma formed by counter-helicity spheromaks merging has a distinct contour and a long maintenance time. For plasma jets merging, the resulting plasma has no discernible contours and a shorter lifetime. In addition, it is inferred from these data that stagnation heating and magnetic reconnection events occur during the counter-helicity spheromaks merging, causing a rapid rise in plasma pressure at the merging midplane and sharp kinks in the field lines near the merger region. By changing different operating parameters and observing the impact on the merger characteristics, it is suggested that the qualitative dynamics of the FRC plasma depends on the balance between the plasma pressure and the magnetic pressure. The high discharge voltage breaks the equilibrium in the merged body, while the large gas-puffed mass just weakens the compression effect of the merged body. These results give us an intuitive understanding of the counter-helicity spheromak merger process and its dependence on discharge parameters, and also provide a distinct perspective for the optimal design of FRC.