An optimized EEGNet decoder for decoding motor image of four class fingers flexion.

As a cutting-edge technology of connecting biological brain and external devices, brain-computer interface (BCI) exhibits promising applications on extensive fields such as medical and military. As for the disable individuals with four limbs losing the motor functions, it is a potential treatment way to drive mechanical equipments by the means of non-invasive BCI, which is badly depended on the accuracy of the decoded electroencephalogram (EEG) singles. In this study, an explanatory convolutional neural network namely EEGNet based on SimAM attention module was proposed to enhance the accuracy of decoding the EEG singles of index and thumb fingers for both left and right hand using sensory motor rhythm (SMR). An average classification accuracy of 72.91% the data of eight healthy subjects was obtained, which were captured from the one second before finger movement to two seconds after action. Furthermore, the character of event-related desynchronization (ERD) and event related synchronization (ERS) of index and thumb fingers was also studied in this study. These findings have significant importance for controlling external devices or other rehabilitation equipment using BCI in a fine way.

Electron Injection via Interfacial Atomic Au Clusters Substantially Enhance the Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic H2 Production of the PF3T Enclosed TiO2 Nanocomposite.

A hybrid composite of organic-inorganic semiconductor nanomaterials with atomic Au clusters at the interface decoration (denoted as PF3T@Au-TiO2 ) is developed for visible-light-driven H2 production via direct water splitting. With a strong electron coupling between the terthiophene groups, Au atoms and the oxygen atoms at the heterogeneous interface, significant electron injection from the PF3T to TiO2 occurs leading to a quantum leap in the H2 production yield (18 578 µmol g-1 h-1 ) by ≈39% as compared to that of the composite without Au decoration (PF3T@TiO2 , 11 321 µmol g-1 h-1 ). Compared to the pure PF3T, such a result is 43-fold improved and is the best performance among all the existing hybrid materials in similar configurations. With robust process control via industrially applicable methods, it is anticipated that the findings and proposed methodologies can accelerate the development of high-performance eco-friendly photocatalytic hydrogen production technologies.

Construction of lncRNA-mediated ceRNA network to reveal clinically relevant lncRNA biomarkers in glioblastomas.

Cross-talk between competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) play key roles in tumor development. In this study, we performed exon-level expression profiling on 26 glioblastomas (GBMs) and 6 controls to identify long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) of GBM initiation and progression using lncRNA-mediated ceRNA network (LMCN). The mRNA and lncRNA expression data, as well as miRNA-target interactions were firstly collected. Then, we used hypergeometric test to detect the lncRNA-mRNA interactions, followed by the construction of LMCN based on Pearson correlation coefficient. With the goal of investigation of the network organization, degree distribution of LMCN was performed. Next, the synergistic, competing lncRNA modules were identified using jActiveModule plug-in of Cytoscape. Moreover, we implemented the pathway analysis for its mRNAs in the module to explore the functions of significant lncRNAs. Using the criteria of degrees >50, 8 hub genes were identified, including EPB41L4A-AS1, ZRANB2-AS2, XIST, HOTAIR, TRAF3IP2-AS1, TPT1-AS1, PVT1 and DLG1-AS1. Furthermore, 1 synergistic, competitive module was identified. In this module, lncRNAs XIST and PVT1 were also the hubs in the synergistic, competing lncRNA module. Functional annotation demonstrated that 5 pathways were identified, including cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, and mTOR signaling pathway. We have successfully identified several hubs (such as XIST and PVT1) and significant pathways (for instance, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, and neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions) for GBM via establishing the LMCN. These findings might offer potential biomarkers to early diagnose, and predict GBM prognosis in the future.

Microstructure and performance of rare earth element-strengthened plasma-facing tungsten material.

Pure W and W-(2%, 5%, 10%) Lu alloys were manufactured via mechanical alloying for 20 h and a spark plasma sintering process at 1,873 K for 2 min. The effects of Lu doping on the microstructure and performance of W were investigated using various techniques. For irradiation performance analysis, thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS) measurements were performed from room temperature to 1,000 K via infrared irradiation with a heating rate of 1 K/s after implantations of He(+) and D(+) ions. TDS measurements were conducted to investigate D retention behavior. Microhardness was dramatically enhanced, and the density initially increased and then decreased with Lu content. The D retention performance followed the same trend as the density. Second-phase particles identified as Lu2O3 particles were completely distributed over the W grain boundaries and generated an effective grain refinement. Transgranular and intergranular fracture modes were observed on the fracture surface of the sintered W-Lu samples, indicating some improvement of strength and toughness. The amount and distribution of Lu substantially affected the properties of W. Among the investigated alloy compositions, W-5%Lu exhibited the best overall performance.

Effects of zirconium element on the microstructure and deuterium retention of W-Zr/Sc2O3 composites.

Dense W and W-Zr composites reinforced with Sc2O3 particles were produced through powder metallurgy and subsequent spark plasma sintering (SPS) at 1700 °C and 58 MPa. Results showed that the W-1vol.%Zr/2vol.%Sc2O3 composites exhibited optimal performance with the best relative density of up to 98.93% and high Vickers microhardness of approximately 583 Hv. The thermal conductivity of W-Zr/Sc2O3 composites decreased initially and then increased as the Zr content increased. The moderate Zr alloying element could combine well with Sc2O3 particles and W grains and form a solid solution. However, excess Zr element leads to agglomeration in the grain boundaries. W-1vol.%Zr/2vol.%Sc2O3 composite had a good deuterium irradiation resistance very closing to pure tungsten compared with the other Zr element contents of composites. Under 500 K, D2 retention and release of them were similar to those of commercial tungsten, even lower between 400 K to 450 K. Pre-irradiation with 5 keV-He(+) ions to a fluence of 1 × 10(21) He(+)/m(2) resulted in an increase in deuterium retention (deuterium was implanted after He(+) irradiation), thereby shifting the desorption peak to a high temperature from 550 K to 650 K for the W-1vol.%Zr/2vol.%Sc2O3 composite.

Chemical Synthesis and Oxide Dispersion Properties of Strengthened Tungsten via Spark Plasma Sintering.

Highly uniform oxide dispersion-strengthened materials W-1 wt % Nd2O3 and W-1 wt % CeO2 were successfully fabricated via a novel wet chemical method followed by hydrogen reduction. The powders were consolidated by spark plasma sintering at 1700 °C to suppress grain growth. The samples were characterized by performing field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy analyses, Vickers microhardness measurements, thermal conductivity, and tensile testing. The oxide particles were dispersed at the tungsten grain boundaries and within the grains. The thermal conductivity of the samples at room temperature exceeded 140 W/m·K. The tensile tests indicated that W-1 wt % CeO2 exhibited a ductile-brittle transition temperature between 500 °C and 550 °C, which was a lower range than that for W-1 wt % Nd2O3. Surface topography and Vickers microhardness analyses were conducted before and after irradiations with 50 eV He ions at a fluence of 1 × 1022 m-2 for 1 h in the large-powder material irradiation experiment system. The grain boundaries of the irradiated area became more evident than that of the unirradiated area for both samples. Irradiation hardening was recognized for the W-1 wt % Nd2O3 and W-1 wt % CeO2 samples.

Mechanical properties and microstructural change of W-Y2O3 alloy under helium irradiation.

A wet-chemical method combined with spark plasma sintering was used to prepare a W-Y2O3 alloy. High-temperature tensile tests and nano-indentation microhardness tests were used to characterize the mechanical properties of the alloy. After He-ion irradiation, fuzz and He bubbles were observed on the irradiated surface. The irradiation embrittlement was reflected by the crack indentations formed during the microhardness tests. A phase transformation from α-W to γ-W was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Polycrystallization and amorphization were also observed in the irradiation damage layer. The W materials tended to exhibit lattice distortion, amorphization, polycrystallization and phase transformation under He-ion irradiation. The transformation mechanism predicted by the atomic lattice model was consistent with the available experimental observations. These findings clarify the mechanism of the structural transition of W under ion irradiation and provide a clue for identifying materials with greater irradiation resistance.