Ion-Cage Interpretation for the Structural and Dynamic Changes of Ionic Liquids under an External Electric Field

In many applications, ionic liquids (ILs) work in a nonequilibrium steady state driven by an external electric field. However, how the electric field changes the structure and dynamics of ILs and its underlying mechanism still remain poorly understood. In this paper, coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations were performed to investigate the structure and dynamics of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium nitrate ([EMIm]­[NO₃]) under a static electric field. The ion cage structure was found to play an essential role in determining the structural and dynamic properties of the IL system. With a weak or moderate electric field (0–10⁷ V/m), the external electric field is too weak to modify the ion cage structure in an influential way and thus the changes of structural and dynamic properties are negligible. With a strong electric field (10⁷–10⁹ V/m) applied, ion cages expand and deform apparently, leading to the increase of ion mobility and self-diffusion coefficient with electric field, and the self-diffusion of ions along the electric field becomes faster than the other two directions due to the anisotropic deformation of ion cages. In addition, the Einstein relation connecting diffusion and mobility breaks down at strong electric fields, and it also breaks down for a single ion species even at moderate electric fields (linear-response region)

On Doping Eu³⁺ in Sr_0.99La_1.01Zn_0.99O_3.495: The Photoluminescence, Population Pathway, De-Excitation Mechanism, and Decay Dynamics

Eu³⁺, with the 4f⁶ electronic configuration, generally exhibits bright red f-f emissions arising from its ⁵D₀ multiplet, and Eu³⁺ doped phosphors have attracted lots of attention for applications in lighting and display fields. However, the electron population mechanisms between relevant Eu³⁺ excited states as well as charge-transfer state (CTS) still need to be further clarified since the puzzles on these issues limit the exploration of new luminescent materials and the improvement of the luminescence efficiency of the potential phosphors. In this work, a series of Sr_0.99[La_{(1–<i>x</i>)}Eu_<i>x</i>]_1.01Zn_0.99O_3.495 phosphors was prepared by a high-temperature solid-state reaction technique and was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements at different temperatures, infrared (IR) spectrum, and diffusion reflectance spectra (DRS) at room temperature (RT). The temperature-, doping concentration-, and excitation wavelength-dependent luminescence properties were systematically studied to clarify the population pathway, de-excitation mechanism, and decay dynamics of Eu³⁺ in this low-phonon-frequency compound. The impacts of cross relaxation (CR) and multiphonon relaxation (MPR) processes on the luminescence and decay spectra were investigated in detail. The special coordination polyhedron around Eu³⁺ played a dominant role in the intense Eu^3+ 5D₀–⁷F₄ emission. The CTS peaks shifted to longer wavelengths with increasing temperatures, which seems to relate to the lattice expansion at higher temperatures

Chemically Specific Systematic Coarse-Grained Polymer Model with Both Consistently Structural and Dynamical Properties

The coarse-grained (CG) model serves as a powerful tool for the simulation of polymer systems; its reliability depends on the accurate representation of both structural and dynamical properties. However, strong correlations between structural and dynamical properties on different scales and also a strong memory effect, enforced by chain connectivity between monomers in polymer systems, render developing a chemically specific systematic CG model a formidable task. In this study, we report a systematic CG approach that combines the iterative Boltzmann inversion (IBI) method and the generalized Langevin equation (GLE) dynamics. Structural properties are ensured by using conservative CG potentials derived from the IBI method. To retrieve the correct dynamical properties in the system, we demonstrate that using a combination of a Rouse-type delta function and a time-dependent short-time kernel in the GLE simulation is practically efficient. The former can be used to adjust the long-time diffusion dynamics, and the latter can be reconstructed from an iterative procedure according to the velocity autocorrelation function (ACF) from all-atomistic (AA) simulations. Taking the polystyrene as an example, we show that not only structural properties of radial distribution function, intramolecular bond, and angle distributions can be reproduced but also dynamical properties of mean-square displacement, velocity ACF, and force ACF resulted from our CG model have quantitative agreement with the reference AA model. In addition, reasonable agreements are observed in other collective properties between our GLE-CG model and the AA simulations as well

Table_1_Growth of tomato and cucumber seedlings under different light environments and their development after transplanting.docx

Selecting suitable light conditions according to the plant growth characteristics is one of the important approaches to cultivating high-quality vegetable seedlings. To determine the more favorable LED light conditions for producing high-quality tomato and cucumber seedlings in plant factories with artificial light (PFALS), the growth characteristics of tomato and cucumber seedlings under seven LED light environments (CK, B, UV-A, FR, B+UV-A, UV-A+FR, and B+FR) and the development of these seedlings after transplanting into a plastic greenhouse were investigated. The results showed that the seedling height and hypocotyl length increased in treatments with far-red light supplementation (FR, UV-A+FR, and B+FR), but decreased in the B treatment, in both varieties. The seedling index of tomato seedlings increased in the B+UV-A treatment, while that of cucumber seedlings increased in the FR treatment. After transplanting into a plastic greenhouse, tomato plants that radiated with UV-A had greater flower numbers on the 15th day after transplanting. In cucumber plants of the FR treatment, the flowering time was significantly delayed, and the female flower exhibited at a lower node position. By using a comprehensive scoring analysis of all detected indicators, light environments with UV-A and FR were more beneficial for improving the overall quality of tomato and cucumber seedlings, respectively.</p

Experiential Avoidance Mediates the Association between Emotion Regulation Abilities and Loneliness

<div><p>Experiential avoidance (EA) involves the unwillingness to remain in contact with aversive experiences such as painful feelings, thoughts, and emotions. EA is often associated with the development and maintenance of emotional problems. Since loneliness is characterized by negative emotions such as sadness and pessimism, which is often linked to emotional problems, this study aims to test the mediating effects of EA on the relationship between emotion regulation abilities (ERA) and loneliness in a sample of Chinese adults. Five hundred undergraduates completed questionnaires measuring EA (Acceptance and Action Questionnaire; AAQ-Ⅱ), ERA (Failure-relate action orientation; Action Control Scale, ACS-90) and loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale). Structural equation modeling showed that EA fully-mediated the relationship between ERA and loneliness. The findings suggest EA is a key mechanism in explaining why people with high ERA are prone to feeling lower levels of loneliness. In particular, these findings have important implications for designing effective psychological interventions for loneliness.</p></div

Correlations, means, and standard deviations for study variables.

<p>Correlations, means, and standard deviations for study variables.</p

Direct and indirect effects and 95% confidence intervals for the mediation model.

<p>Direct and indirect effects and 95% confidence intervals for the mediation model.</p

Final structural model (n = 500, standardized path coefficients).

<p><i>Note</i>: <i>ERA</i> = emotion regulation abilities; <i>EA</i> = experiential avoidance; <i>L</i> = loneliness (<i>L1–L4</i> four parcels of loneliness). *<i>p</i><0.05; **<i>p</i><0.01.</p

The SPIRIT schedule of enrollment, interventions, and assessment.

The SPIRIT schedule of enrollment, interventions, and assessment.</p

Allocation of acupoints and non-acupoints.

BackgroundInsomnia has emerged as a major public health issue jeopardizing human wellbeing. Furthermore, insomnia and angina arise concomitantly and exert reciprocal effects. Multiple studies suggest that perimenopausal females are more prone to experiencing both angina and insomnia, consequently substantially compromising their quality of life.Credible evidence suggests that acupuncture exerts a beneficial impact in alleviating insomnia. Nevertheless, the exhaustive investigation into the potential of acupuncture for mitigating insomnia co-occurring with stable angina in perimenopausal females remains a realm yet to be traversed in the realm of randomized controlled trials. Hence, the primary intent of this research protocol was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety profile of acupuncture when administered to perimenopausal subjects grappling with concomitant conditions of stable angina and insomnia.MethodsThis study entails a single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. A total of 110 patients exhibiting insomnia concomitant with stable angina in the perimenopausal period will be enlisted and randomized to either acupuncture or sham acupuncture. Participants in both arms will undergo 30-minute sessions thrice weekly over a 12-week intervention period, with a 12-week maximum follow-up. The primary outcome measure is the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI). Secondary outcomes encompass the Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire (SF-36), Dosage of sleeping pills, SAP-associated evaluations, including C-reactive protein (CRP), lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), cardiac fatty acid-binding protein levels (C-FABP), and the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ). Additionally, the study includes assessments using the Hamilton Depression Inventory (HAMD) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7). Primary and secondary outcomes will be evaluated at baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks (upon completion of the intervention), and at an additional 12-week follow-up. Any adverse events will be rigorously classified and characterized with respect to time of onset and abatement, therapeutic interventions implemented, impact on the primary morbidity, and regression.DiscussionThe current study is poised to furnish pivotal clinical data on the utility of acupuncture for stable angina with concomitant insomnia in perimenopausal women, with the findings to be propagated through academic conferences and peer-reviewed publications.Clinical trial registrationThai Clinical Trials Registry: TCTR20221121001. Registered 19 November 2022.</div