Sex-specific facilitation and reproduction of the gynodioecious cushion plant Arenaria polytrichoides on the Himalaya-Hengduan mountains,SW China

When benefiting other beneficiaries,cushion plants may reciprocally receive feedback effects.The feedback effects on different sex morphs,however,remains unclear.In this study,taking the gynodioecious Arenaria polytrichiodes as a model species,we aimed to assess the sex-specific facilitation intensity of cushion plant by measuring the beneficiary cover ratio,and to assess the potential costs in cushion reproductive functions by measuring the flower and fruit cover ratios.The total beneficiary cover ratio was similar between females and hermaphrodites.Females produced much less flowers but more fruits than hermaphrodites.These results suggested that females and hermaphrodites possess similar facilitation intensity,and female cushion A.polytrichoides may allocate more resources saved from pollen production to seed production,while hermaphrodites possibly allocate more resources to pollen production hence reducing seed production.The surface areas covered by beneficiaries produced less flowers and fruits than areas without beneficiaries.In addition,strong negative correlations between beneficiary cover and flower cover were detected for both females and hermaphrodites,but the correlation strength were similar for these two sex morphs.However,the correlation between beneficiary cover and fruit cover was only significantly negative for females,suggesting that beneficiary plants negatively affect fruit reproduction of females while have neutral effects on hermaphrodites.All the results suggest that to facilitate other beneficiaries can induce reproductive costs on cushion A.polytrichoides,with females possibly suffering greater cost than hermaphrodites.Such differentiation in reproductive costs between sex morphs,in long-term perspective,may imply sex imbalance in population dynamics.

Systems Theory-Driven Framework for AI Integration into the Holistic Material Basis Research of Traditional Chinese Medicine

This paper introduces a systems theory-driven framework to integration artificial intelligence(AI)into traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)research,enhancing the understanding of TCM’s holistic material basis while adhering to evidence-based principles.Utilizing the System Function Decoding Model(SFDM),the research progresses through define,quantify,infer,and validate phases to systematically explore TCM’s material basis.It employs a dual analytical approach that combines top-down,systems theory-guided perspectives with bottom-up,elements-structure-function methodologies,provides comprehensive insights into TCM’s holistic material basis.Moreover,the research examines AI’s role in quantitative assessment and predictive analysis of TCM’s material components,proposing two specific AIdriven technical applications.This interdisciplinary effort underscores AI’s potential to enhance our understanding of TCM’s holistic material basis and establishes a foundation for future research at the intersection of traditional wisdom and modern technology.

Transient response of doubly-curved bio-inspired composite shells resting on viscoelastic foundation subject to blast load using improved first-order shear theory and isogeometric approach

Investigating natural-inspired applications is a perennially appealing subject for scientists. The current increase in the speed of natural-origin structure growth may be linked to their superior mechanical properties and environmental resilience. Biological composite structures with helicoidal schemes and designs have remarkable capacities to absorb impact energy and withstand damage. However, there is a dearth of extensive study on the influence of fiber redirection and reorientation inside the matrix of a helicoid structure on its mechanical performance and reactivity. The present study aimed to explore the static and transient responses of a bio-inspired helicoid laminated composite(B-iHLC) shell under the influence of an explosive load using an isomorphic method. The structural integrity of the shell is maintained by a viscoelastic basis known as the Pasternak foundation, which encompasses two coefficients of stiffness and one coefficient of damping. The equilibrium equations governing shell dynamics are obtained by using Hamilton's principle and including the modified first-order shear theory,therefore obviating the need to employ a shear correction factor. The paper's model and approach are validated by doing numerical comparisons with respected publications. The findings of this study may be used in the construction of military and civilian infrastructure in situations when the structure is subjected to severe stresses that might potentially result in catastrophic collapse. The findings of this paper serve as the foundation for several other issues, including geometric optimization and the dynamic response of similar mechanical structures.

Timing theory integrated nursing combined behavior change integrated theory of nursing on primiparous influence

BACKGROUND The comprehension and utilization of timing theory and behavior change can offer a more extensive and individualized provision of support and treatment alternatives for primipara.This has the potential to enhance the psychological well-being and overall quality of life for primipara,while also furnishing healthcare providers with efficacious interventions to tackle the psychological and physiological obstacles encountered during the stages of pregnancy and postpartum.AIM To explore the effect of timing theory combined with behavior change on selfefficacy,negative emotions and quality of life in patients with primipara.METHODS A total of 80 primipara cases were selected and admitted to our hospital between August 2020 and May 2022.These cases were divided into two groups,namely the observation group and the control group,with 40 cases in each group.The nursing interventions differed between the two groups,with the control group receiving routine nursing and the observation group receiving integrated nursing based on the timing theory and behavior change.The study aimed to compare the pre-and post-nursing scores of Chinese Perceived Stress Scale(CPSS),Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale(EPDS),Self-rating Anxiety Scale(SAS),breast milk knowledge,self-efficacy,and SF-36 quality of life in both groups.RESULTS After nursing,the CPSS,EPDS,and SAS scores of the two groups was significantly lower than that before nursing,and the CPSS,EPDS,and SAS scores of the observation group was significantly lower than that of the control group(P=0.002,P=0.011,and P=0.001 respectively).After nursing,the breastfeeding knowledge mastery,selfefficacy,and SF-36 quality of life scores was significantly higher than that before nursing,and the breastfeeding knowledge mastery(P=0.013),self-efficacy(P=0.008),and SF-36 quality of life(P=0.011)scores of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group.CONCLUSION The integration of timing theory and behavior change integrated theory has been found to be an effective approach in alleviating negative mood and stress experienced by primipara individuals,while also enhancing their selfefficacy and overall quality of life.This study focuses on the key concepts of timing theory,behavior change,primipara individuals,negative mood,and quality of life.

Sensitivity impacts owing to the variations in the type of zero-range pairing forces on the fission properties using the density functional theory

Using the Skyrme density functional theory,potential energy surfaces of^(240)Pu with constraints on the axial quadrupole and octupole deformations(q_(20)and q_(30))were calculated.The volume-like and surface-like pairing forces,as well as a combination of these two forces,were used for the Hartree–Fock–Bogoliubov approximation.Variations in the least-energy fission path,fission barrier,pairing energy,total kinetic energy,scission line,and mass distribution of the fission fragments based on the different forms of the pairing forces were analyzed and discussed.The fission dynamics were studied based on the timedependent generator coordinate method plus the Gaussian overlap approximation.The results demonstrated a sensitivity of the mass and charge distributions of the fission fragments on the form of the pairing force.Based on the investigation of the neutron-induced fission of^(239)Pu,among the volume,mixed,and surface pairing forces,the mixed pairing force presented a good reproduction of the experimental data.

The life-history trait trade-offs mediated by reproduction and immunity in the brown planthopper,Nilaparvata lugens Stål

Reproduction and immune defense are costly functions,and they are expected to tradeoff with each other to drive evolution.The brown planthopper(BPH),Nilaparvata lugens Stål(Hemiptera,Delphacidae),is a global superpest that mostly damages rice crops.Yeast-like symbionts(YLS)exist in the abdominal fat body tissue and are tightly associated with the development,growth,and reproduction of BPH.Our previous research demonstrated that mating behavior promotes the release of YLS from the fat body into the hemolymph in the BPH,thereby triggering an immune response.Additionally,the fitness costs related to life-history traits of BPH(such as survival rate)have a strong dependence on the relative abundance of YLS.However,the possible relationship between reproduction and the immune response in BPH has not been identified.In this study,an omics-based approach was used to analyze the transcriptome of fat body tissues in mated and unmated BPH at 72 h post-eclosion,from which two antimicrobial peptide genes,NlDefensin A(NlDfA)and NlDefensin B(NlDfB),were selected since they were highly expressed in mated BPH.Subsequently,the full-length cDNA sequences of the NlDfA and NlDfB genes were cloned and analyzed.qPCR results showed up-regulation of the NlDfA and NlDfB genes in mated BPH when compared to unmated BPH.Spatial-temporal expression analysis indicated that the NlDfA and NlDfB genes were expressed in all tissues and developmental stages,and they were most highly expressed in the fat body at 24 h post-eclosion.Moreover,the symbionts in BPH were significantly inhibited by the in vitro expression of the NlDfA and NlDfB proteins.Furthermore,RNA interference(RNAi)-mediated suppression of NlDfA and NlDfB dramatically increased the relative abundance of YLS in the fat body,while YLS in the hemolymph decreased significantly.These BPHs also displayed some fitness disadvantages in survival,fecundity,hatchability,and possibly the vertical transmission of YLS from hemolymph to egg.Our results indicated that mating could heighten the immunity of BPH by upregulating the expression of the NlDfA and NlDfB genes,which protect the host from pathogen challenges during reproduction.However,the reduced content of YLS may act as a fitness disadvantage in dictating the life-history traits of BPH.This work has significant theoretical and practical implications for the precise green control technology that involves crucial gene targeting,as well as for the“endosymbionts for pest control”strategy in insects.

Asexual Reproduction of Aurelia coerulea Polyps in situ on Settling Plates in Jiaozhou Bay,China

Jellyfish blooms are increasingly prevalent coastal phenomena,with Aurelia coerulea being a significant contributor.The complex life history of jellyfish,featuring a sessile polyp stage,is a key factor in bloom formation,yet it is challenging to study in the field.This study aimed to describe the asexual reproduction of A.coerulea polyps in Jiaozhou Bay,China,and to assess their ability to form sedentary colonies and their relationship with environmental factors.Using settling plates,we observed polyps in situ and documented three asexual reproduction modes:budding,strobilation,and podocyst formation.Environmental parameters including temperature,salinity,dissolved oxygen(DO),chlorophyll a(Chl a),and the biomass of phytoplankton and zooplankton were monitored.Budding was the predominant reproductive method,featuring stolon budding in autumn and direct budding during the winter and spring seasons.Strobilation took place in the colder months,releasing ephyrae between April and May.Polyp abundance was positively correlated with seawater temperature and negatively correlated with DO concentration.Polyps at 1.0 m depth showed higher survivorship and proliferation over 8 months,whereas those at 2.0 m depth experienced a steady decline and died within 4 months.The study enhances our understanding of the life cycle and asexual reproduction strategies of A.coerulea polyps in the field,with implications for predicting and managing jellyfish blooms.The findings underscore the importance of temperature and DO in polyp survival and suggest that initial polyp population proliferation is crucial for long-term survival.

Tissue distribution of cadmium and its effect on reproduction in Spodoptera exigua

Vegetable fields are often contaminated by heavy metals,and Spodoptera exigua is a major vegetable pest which is stressed by heavy metals mainly by feeding.In this study,cadmium accumulation in the tissues of S.exigua exposed to cadmium and its effects on the growth and development of the parents and the offspring were investigated.Under the stress of different concentrations of cadmium(0.2,3.2,and 51.2 mg kg^(-1)),the cadmium content in each tissue of S.exigua increased in a dose-dependent manner.At the larval stage,the highest cadmium accumulation was found in midgut in all three cadmium treatments,but at the adult stage,the highest cadmium content was found in fat body.In addition,the cadmium content in ovaries was much higher than in testes.When F1S.exigua was stressed by cadmium and the F_(2)generation was not fed a cadmium-containing diet,the larval survival,pupation rate,emergence rate and fecundity of the F_(2)generation were significantly reduced in the 51.2 mg kg^(-1)treatment compared to the corresponding F1generation.Even in the F_(2)generation of the 3.2 mg kg^(-1)treatment,the fecundity was significantly lower than in the parental generation.The fecundity of the only-female stressed treatment was significantly lower than that of the only-male stressed treatment at the 3.2 and 51.2 mg kg^(-1)cadmium exposure levels.When only mothers were stressed at the larval stage,the fecundity of the F_(2)generation was significantly lower than that of the F1generation in the 51.2 mg kg^(-1)treatment,and it was also significantly lower than in the 3.2 and 0.2 mg kg^(-1)treatments.The results of our study can provide useful information for forecasting the population increase trends under different heavy metal stress conditions and for the reliable environmental risk assessment of heavy metal pollution.

Charge self-consistent dynamical mean field theory calculations incombination with linear combination of numerical atomic orbitalsframework based density functional theory

We present a formalism of charge self-consistent dynamical mean field theory(DMFT)in combination with densityfunctional theory(DFT)within the linear combination of numerical atomic orbitals(LCNAO)framework.We implementedthe charge self-consistent DFT+DMFT formalism by interfacing a full-potential all-electron DFT code with threehybridization expansion-based continuous-time quantum Monte Carlo impurity solvers.The benchmarks on several 3d,4fand 5f strongly correlated electron systems validated our formalism and implementation.Furthermore,within the LCANOframework,our formalism is general and the code architecture is extensible,so it can work as a bridge merging differentLCNAO DFT packages and impurity solvers to do charge self-consistent DFT+DMFT calculations.

Contract Mechanism of Water Environment Regulation for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Based on Optimal Control Theory

The small and scattered enterprise pattern in the county economy has formed numerous sporadic pollution sources, hindering the centralized treatment of the water environment, increasing the cost and difficulty of treatment. How enterprises can make reasonable decisions on their water environment behavior based on the external environment and their own factors is of great significance for scientifically and effectively designing water environment regulation mechanisms. Based on optimal control theory, this study investigates the design of contractual mechanisms for water environmental regulation for small and medium-sized enterprises. The enterprise is regarded as an independent economic entity that can adopt optimal control strategies to maximize its own interests. Based on the participation of multiple subjects including the government, enterprises, and the public, an optimal control strategy model for enterprises under contractual water environmental regulation is constructed using optimal control theory, and a method for calculating the amount of unit pollutant penalties is derived. The water pollutant treatment cost data of a paper company is selected to conduct empirical numerical analysis on the model. The results show that the increase in the probability of government regulation and public participation, as well as the decrease in local government protection for enterprises, can achieve the same regulatory effect while reducing the number of administrative penalties per unit. Finally, the implementation process of contractual water environmental regulation for small and medium-sized enterprises is designed.

Functional microfluidics:theory,microfabrication,and applications

Microfluidic devices are composed of microchannels with a diameter ranging from ten to a few hundred micrometers.Thus,quite a small(10-9–10-18l)amount of liquid can be manipulated by such a precise system.In the past three decades,significant progress in materials science,microfabrication,and various applications has boosted the development of promising functional microfluidic devices.In this review,the recent progress on novel microfluidic devices with various functions and applications is presented.First,the theory and numerical methods for studying the performance of microfluidic devices are briefly introduced.Then,materials and fabrication methods of functional microfluidic devices are summarized.Next,the recent significant advances in applications of microfluidic devices are highlighted,including heat sinks,clean water production,chemical reactions,sensors,biomedicine,capillaric circuits,wearable electronic devices,and microrobotics.Finally,perspectives on the challenges and future developments of functional microfluidic devices are presented.This review aims to inspire researchers from various fields engineering,materials,chemistry,mathematics,physics,and more—to collaborate and drive forward the development and applications of functional microfluidic devices,specifically for achieving carbon neutrality.

Optimized numerical density functional theory calculation of rotationally symmetric jellium model systems

In real space density functional theory calculations,the effective potential depends on the electron density,requiring self-consistent iterations,and numerous integrals at each step,making the process time-consuming.In our research,we propose an optimization method to expedite density functional theory(DFT)calculations for systems with large aspect ratios,such as metallic nanorods,nanowires,or scanning tunneling microscope tips.This method focuses on employing basis set to expand the electron density,Coulomb potential,and exchange-correlation potential.By precomputing integrals and caching redundant results,this expansion streamlines the integration process,significantly accelerating DFT computations.As a case study,we have applied this optimization to metallic nanorod systems of various radii and lengths,obtaining corresponding ground-state electron densities and potentials.

Density functional theory study of B- and Si-doped carbons and their adsorption interactions with sulfur compounds

Understanding the adsorption interactions between carbon materials and sulfur compounds has far-reaching impacts,in addition to their well-known important role in energy storage and conversion,such as lithium-ion batteries.In this paper,properties of intrinsic B or Si single-atom doped,and B-Si codoped graphene(GR)and graphdiyne(GDY)were investigated by using density functional theory-based calculations,in which the optimal doping configurations were explored for potential applications in adsorbing sulfur compounds.Results showed that both B or Si single-atom doping and B-Si codoping could substantially enhance the electron transport properties of GR and GDY,improving their surface activity.Notably,B and Si atoms displayed synergistic effects for the codoped configurations,where B-Si codoped GR/GDY exhibited much better performance in the adsorption of sulfurcontaining chemicals than single-atom doped systems.In addition,results demonstrated that,after B-Si codoping,the adsorption energy and charge transfer amounts of GDY with sulfur compounds were much larger than those of GR,indicating that B-Si codoped GDY might be a favorable material for more effectively interacting with sulfur reagents.

Local thermal conductivity of inhomogeneous nano-fluidic films:A density functional theory perspective

Combining the mean field Pozhar-Gubbins(PG)theory and the weighted density approximation,a novel method for local thermal conductivity of inhomogeneous fluids is proposed.The correlation effect that is beyond the mean field treatment is taken into account by the simulation-based empirical correlations.The application of this method to confined argon in slit pore shows that its prediction agrees well with the simulation results,and that it performs better than the original PG theory as well as the local averaged density model(LADM).In its further application to the nano-fluidic films,the influences of fluid parameters and pore parameters on the thermal conductivity are calculated and investigated.It is found that both the local thermal conductivity and the overall thermal conductivity can be significantly modulated by these parameters.Specifically,in the supercritical states,the thermal conductivity of the confined fluid shows positive correlation to the bulk density as well as the temperature.However,when the bulk density is small,the thermal conductivity exhibits a decrease-increase transition as the temperature is increased.This is also the case in which the temperature is low.In fact,the decrease-increase transition in both the small-bulk-density and low-temperature cases arises from the capillary condensation in the pore.Furthermore,smaller pore width and/or stronger adsorption potential can raise the critical temperature for condensation,and then are beneficial to the enhancement of the thermal conductivity.These modulation behaviors of the local thermal conductivity lead immediately to the significant difference of the overall thermal conductivity in different phase regions.

The “Dead Universe” Theory: Natural Separation of Galaxies Driven by the Remnants of a Supermassive Dead Universe

This article explores the dead universe theory as a novel interpretation for the origin and evolution of the universe, suggesting that our cosmos may have originated from the remnants of a preceding universe. This perspective challenges the conventional Big Bang theory, particularly concerning dark matter, the expansion of the universe, and the interpretation of phenomena such as gravitational waves.

Comparative study on phase transition behaviors of fractional molecular field theory and random-site Ising model

Fractional molecular field theory(FMFT)is a phenomenological theory that describes phase transitions in crystals with randomly distributed components,such as the relaxor-ferroelectrics and spin glasses.In order to verify the feasibility of this theory,this paper fits it to the Monte Carlo simulations of specific heat and susceptibility versus temperature of two-dimensional(2D)random-site Ising model(2D-RSIM).The results indicate that the FMFT deviates from the 2D-RSIM significantly.The main reason for the deviation is that the 2D-RSIM is a typical system of component random distribution,where the real order parameter is spatially heterogeneous and has no symmetry of space translation,but the basic assumption of FMFT means that the parameter is spatially uniform and has symmetry of space translation.

Foundations of the Scale-Symmetric Theory and the Illusory Total Width of the Off-Shell Higgs Bosons

Here we present the foundations of the Scale-Symmetric Theory (SST), i.e. the fundamental phase transitions of the initial inflation field, the atom-like structure of baryons and different types of black holes. Within SST we show that the transition from the nuclear strong interactions in the off-shell Higgs boson production to the nuclear weak interactions causes that the real total width of the Higgs boson from the Higgs line shape (i.e. 3.3 GeV) decreases to 4.3 MeV that is the illusory total width. Moreover, there appear some glueballs/condensates with the energy 3.3 GeV that accompany the production of the off-shell Higgs bosons.

The Nature of Inertia Explained Using the Field Theory

Analysis of free fall and acceleration of the mass on the Earth shows that using abstract entities such as absolute space or inertial space to explain mass dynamics leads to the violation of the principle of action and reaction. Many scientists including Newton, Mach, and Einstein recognized that inertial force has no reaction that originates on mass. Einstein calls the lack of reaction to the inertial force a serious criticism of the space-time continuum concept. Presented is the hypothesis that the inertial force develops in an interaction of two masses via the force field. The inertial force created by such a field has reaction force. The dynamic gravitational field predicted is strong enough to be detected in the laboratory. This article describes the laboratory experiment which can prove or disprove the hypothesis of the dynamic gravitational field. The inertial force, calculated using the equation for the dynamic gravitational field, agrees with the behavior of inertial force observed in the experiments on the Earth. The movement of the planets in our solar system calculated using that equation is the same as that calculated using Newton’s method. The space properties calculated by the candidate equation explain the aberration of light and the results of light propagation experiments. The dynamic gravitational field can explain the discrepancy between the observed velocity of stars in the galaxy and those predicted by Newton’s theory of gravitation without the need for the dark matter hypothesis.

The Place of Nursing Theory in the Management of Post-Operative Infections in a Hospital Environment: Case of Cibitoke District Hospital

Introduction: Post-operative infections, such as surgical site infections (SSIs), are a significant concern in healthcare settings. Nurses play a crucial role in the prevention and management of these infections. The use of nursing theory could contribute to the prevention of SSIs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of nursing theory in the management of surgical site infections (SSIs) in a hospital environment. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted using descriptive and analytical methods to assess the role of nursing theory in the management of Post-operative infections (POI) in a hospital setting in October 2023. The study population consisted of nurses working in the Surgery, Emergency, and Maternity units at Cibitoke District Hospital. A sample size of 71 nurses working full or part time in the Surgery were invited to participate in this study. A questionnaire was used to collect the data, and SPSS version 21.0 software was used for analysis. Results: The study found that nursing theory did not have any statistically significant place in the management of POI (p-value = 0.523). However, the results showed that experience was the only significant factor influencing the management of POI (p-value = 0.004). This is explained by the analysis of the net effects of the explanatory variable where we noticed that those who had more experience were more likely to manage post-operative infections. The participants’ knowledge regarding nursing theory in the management was poor as they scored less than 30% in all the variables used to measure their knowledge. Conclusion: The study revealed that nurses’ knowledge of nursing theories and their applications in the management of SSIs was poor. Continuing professional development, curriculum review, and in-service training were highly recommended.

A density functional theory study of polarons on different TiO_(2)surfaces

Polarons are widely considered to play a crucial role in the charge transport and photocatalytic performance of materials,but the mechanisms of their formation and the underlying driving factors remain a matter of controversy.This study delves into the formation of polarons in different crystalline forms of TiO_(2)and their connection with the materials'structure.By employing density functional theory calculations with on-site Coulomb interaction correction(DFT+U),we provide a detailed analysis of the electronic polarization behavior in the anatase and rutile forms of TiO_(2).We focus on the polarization properties of defect-induced and photoexcited excess electrons on various TiO_(2)surfaces.The results reveal that the defect electrons can form small polarons on the anatase TiO_(2)(101)surface,while on the rutile TiO_(2)(110)surface,both small and large polarons(hybrid-state polarons)are formed.Photoexcited electrons are capable of forming both small and large polarons on the surfaces of both crystal types.The analysis indicates that the differences in polaron distribution are primarily determined by the intrinsic properties of the crystals;the structural and symmetry differences between anatase and rutile TiO_(2)lead to the distinct polaron behaviors.Further investigation suggests that the polarization behavior of defect electrons is also related to the arrangement of electron orbitals around the Ti atoms,while the polarization of photoexcited electrons is mainly facilitated by the lattice distortions.These findings elucidate the formation mechanisms of different types of polarons and may contribute to understanding the performance of TiO_(2)in different fields.