Controlling the dynamic behavior of decentralized cluster through centralized approaches

How to control the dynamic behavior of large-scale artificial active matter is a critical concern in experimental research on soft matter, particularly regarding the emergence of collective behaviors and the formation of group patterns. Centralized systems excel in precise control over individual behavior within a group, ensuring high accuracy and controllability in task execution. Nevertheless, their sensitivity to group size may limit their adaptability to diverse tasks. In contrast, decentralized systems empower individuals with autonomous decision-making, enhancing adaptability and system robustness. Yet, this flexibility comes at the cost of reduced accuracy and efficiency in task execution. In this work, we present a unique method for regulating the centralized dynamic behavior of self-organizing clusters based on environmental interactions. Within this environment-coupled robot system, each robot possesses similar dynamic characteristics, and their internal programs are entirely identical. However, their behaviors can be guided by the centralized control of the environment, facilitating the accomplishment of diverse cluster tasks. This approach aims to balance the accuracy and flexibility of centralized control with the robustness and task adaptability of decentralized control. The proactive regulation of dynamic behavioral characteristics in active matter groups, demonstrated in this work through environmental interactions, holds the potential to introduce a novel technological approach and provide experimental references for studying the dynamic behavior control of large-scale artificial active matter systems.

Effective ethanol-to-CO_(2) electrocatalysis at iridium-bismuth oxide featuring the impressive negative shifting of the working potential

Since low overpotential for the anodic ethanol oxidation reaction(EOR)can favor the higher output voltage and power of direct ethanol fuel cells(DEFCs),it is critical to design new EOR catalysts with efficient ethanol-to-CO_(2)activity at low applied potentials.Thereby,carbon-supported Ir-Bi_(2)O_(3)(Ir-Bi_(2)O_(3)/C)catalysts with highly dispersive bismuth oxide on the iridium surface are designed and prepared,which can merit splitting the ethanol C–C bond and promoting the oxidation of C1 intermediates at the bifunctional interfaces.The as-obtained Ir-Bi2O3/C catalysts show superior EOR mass activity of up to ca.2250 m A mgIr-1.Moreover,they exhibit the record lowest onset oxidation potentials(0.17–0.22 V vs.RHE)and the peak potential(ca.0.58 V vs.RHE),being 130–300 m V lower than the previous landmark noble metallic catalysts.Furthermore,an apparent C1 pathway faraday efficiency(FEC1)of 28%±5.9%at 0.5 V vs.RHE can be obtained at Ir-Bi_(2)O_(3)/C.This work might provide new insights into the new anodic EOR catalysts for increasing the power of DEFCs.

Forensic Significance of Messenger RNA and Protein Expression of Genes Downstream of Hypoxia Inducible Factor 2 in Myocardial Tissue for Death Discrimination

Background: As a heterodimeric transcription factor, hypoxia-inducible factor 2 alpha subunit (HIF2A), is an important member of the HIF family. It plays a significant role in the hypoxia adaptation process by regulating the different types of downstream transcription factors and auxiliary regulatory factors. HIF2A-related factors are believed to participate in the progression of myocardial injury or myocardial ischemia, support the protection of ischemic myocardium, and provide guiding significance for the diagnosis and discrimination of sudden cardiac death in forensic pathology. Aim and Objectives: This study aimed to explore the discriminability and applicability of HIF2A-related factors in myocardial infarction cases compared with other causes of death, provide further insights for the forensic diagnosis of heart failure (HF) cases with myocardial infarction, and support the clinical treatment of patients with HF after myocardial infarction. Materials and Methods: The relative expression levels of HIF2A, amphiregulin (AREG), potassium large conductance calcium-activated channel subfamily M β1 (KCNMB1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARA), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and VEGFR2 messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in myocardial tissue samples were performed using quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. A partial least squares-discriminant analysis model was constructed to select the indicators with better identification effects for myocardial infarction cases. The protein levels of HIF2A, AREG, KCNMB1, and PPARA were further detected by immunohistochemistry. The forensic autopsy cases (27 cases in total, postmortem interval <72 h) included seven cases of acute myocardial infarction and ten cases of myocardial ischemia. There were ten cases in the control group, including four cases of traffic injury, one case of injury by fall from height, and five cases of blunt force injury. Results: Characteristic results were observed in the myocardial ischemia/infarction samples. Compared with the control group, the relative mRNA expression levels of AREG, KCNMB1, and PPARA were significantly increased during the progression of myocardial ischemia, but this was not observed for HIF2A, VEGF, or VEGFR2 mRNA. Immunohistochemistry assays further verified the expression levels of the related factors at the protein level, and H and E staining showed signs of angiogenesis and inflammation in the ischemia/infarction group. Conclusions: By controlling the expression of downstream target genes (AREG, KCNMB1, and PPARA) during myocardial cell hypoxia adaptation, HIF2A has a potential significance in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction in forensic medicine. We believe that HIF2A, AREG, KCNMB1, and PPARA can be used as molecular pathological biomarkers for the discrimination of causes of death in myocardial infarction cases.

揭示和调控二氧化碳电还原中甲烷与二碳产物的线性关系

尽管许多催化剂已经被报道用于电化学转换二氧化碳(CO_(2))到甲烷(CH_(4))或者二碳(C_(2))产物,然而目前对各种产物之间的关联的研究仍然不够深入,这阻碍着催化剂设计的进一步发展.本文通过研究商品化铜粉(Cu)作为CO_(2)电还原的阴极催化剂,发现一氧化碳中间体(*CO)在催化剂表面的覆盖度在较大的电位区间内会保持基本不变,且在这个电位区间内,CH_(4)与C_(2)产物的分电流密度呈线性关系,这一结论得到了理论动力学分析的支持.由于*CHO中间体分子是产生CH_(4)(*CHO→CH_(4))与C_(2)产物(*CHO+*CO→C_(2))的共同中间体,我们进一步猜想该线性关系是普遍存在的,且可以通过调节催化剂表面的吸附氢(*H)或者一氧化碳(*CO)的覆盖度,以分别促进CH_(4)或者C_(2)产物的生成,并改变线性关系的斜率.为了验证该猜想,本文合成了碳包覆的铜(Cu@C)催化剂,其中碳层可增加催化剂表面的*H覆盖度从而提高CH_(4)的产生,最高的CH_(4)法拉第效率(FE_(CH_(4)))达到52%,相应的分电流密度为±337 m A cm±2.另一方面,合成了银掺杂的铜催化剂,其中掺杂的银用以产生CO,以进一步提高催化剂表面的*CO覆盖度.该催化剂二氧化碳电还原的选择性变成了C_(2)产物为主,最高C_(2)产物的法拉第效率(FE_(CH_(4)))达到79%,相应的分电流密度为±421 m A cm±2.不仅如此,在这两种催化剂上,CH_(4)与C_(2)产物的分电流密度仍然保持良好的线性关系.本文工作揭示了CH_(4)与C_(2)产物产率的线性关系,以及反应中间分子的调控策略,为电催化二氧化碳还原为不同的产物提供了参考.

水下合成射流对湍流边界层相干结构的影响

采用粒子图像测速系统对水下合成射流控制下的湍流边界层进行了主动控制研究.通过单像素总体互相关算法得到的壁面附近的平均速度剖面表明,流向速度梯度下降,壁面摩擦阻力减小.横流中流向速度的亏损和湍流衰减表明,扰动效应在合成射流注入段下游一定范围内持续存在.利用改进的象限分裂法检测到的相干结构的空间拓扑结果表明,在合成射流的作用下,对湍流阻力起主导作用的扫掠事件受到抑制.采用空间两点相关法观察到近壁条纹的破坏,控制方式对相关系数沿流向的扩展起到抑制作用.基于线性随机估计方法,推导出扰动产生的影响使近壁发夹涡脱离壁面,其诱导环境流体的能力大幅减弱.

Quantitative Analysis of Kruppel‑Like Factor 5‑Related Messenger RNA Transcripts in Ischemic Myocardium for Discrimination of Death Causes

Background:Accumulated studies have demonstrated that Kruppel‑like factor 5(KLF5),a transcription factor,plays an important role in regulating cell proliferation and tissue remodeling through the expression of its downstream genes.KLF5‑related factors are expected to be involved in the healing process after myocardial injury or myocardial ischemic changes,especially for the forensic diagnosis of myocardial ischemic physiopathology.Aim and Objectives:This study aimed to explore the discrimination ability and applicability of KLF5-related factors in SCD caused by MI compared with other causes of death to provide further insights into the forensic diagnosis of myocardial ischemic pathology.Materials and Methods:The relative quantification of F‑Box and WD Repeat Domain Containing 7(FBW7),KLF5,factor‑binding protein(FGFBP)1,and FGFBP2 messenger RNAs(mRNAs)in myocardial tissue samples was performed using real‑time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.KLF5 and FGFBP1/2 protein levels were examined using immunohistochemistry(IHC).The forensic autopsy cases(27 in total,autopsy within 72 h postmortem)included seven cases of acute myocardial infarction and 10 cases of acute myocardial ischemia.There were 10 cases in the control group,including four cases of traffic injury one case of injury by fall from height,one case of electric death,and four cases of blunt force injury.Results:Characteristic results were found in myocardial samples from three groups of deaths:KLF5 and FGFBP1 mRNA levels were significantly elevated in the infarction and ischemia groups,while FBW7 mRNA levels were significantly decreased.FBW7 is an important ubiquitin ligase that can mediate the degradation of KLF5 protein.In addition,FBW7 and FGFBP2 mRNA levels were decreased in the infarction group compared with the ischemia group.The IHC results were consistent with the observed mRNA expression patterns.Conclusions:Quantitative detection of FBW7,KLF5,FGFBP1,and FGFBP2 mRNA transcripts in myocardial tissues supports the pathophysiological study of myocardial ischemic diseases and provides molecular pathological evidence for forensic discrimination of death causes.