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An operational synoptic-scale sea ice forecasting system for the Southern Ocean, namely the Southern Ocean Ice Prediction System (SOIPS), has been developed to support ship navigation in the Antarctic sea ice zone. Practical application of the SOIPS forecasts had been implemented for the 38th Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition for the first time. The SOIPS is configured on an Antarctic regional sea ice–ocean–ice shelf coupled model and an ensemble-based localized error subspace transform Kalman filter data assimilation model. Daily near-real-time satellite sea ice concentration observations are assimilated into the SOIPS to update sea ice concentration and thickness in the 12 ensemble members of the model state. By evaluating the SOIPS performance in forecasting sea ice metrics in a complete melt–freeze cycle from 1 October 2021 to 30 September 2022, this study shows that the SOIPS can provide reliable Antarctic sea ice forecasts. In comparison with non-assimilated EUMETSAT Ocean and Sea Ice Satellite Application Facility (OSI SAF) data, annual mean root mean square errors in the sea ice concentration forecasts at a lead time of up to 168 h are lower than 0.19, and the integrated ice edge errors in the sea ice forecasts in most freezing months at lead times of 24 and 72 h maintain around 0.5×106 km 2 and below 1.0×106 km 2 , respectively. With respect to the scarce Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) observations, the mean absolute errors in the sea ice thickness forecasts at a lead time of 24 h are lower than 0.3 m, which is in the range of the ICESat-2 uncertainties. Specifically, the SOIPS has the ability to forecast sea ice drift, in both magnitude and direction. The derived sea ice convergence rate forecasts have great potential for supporting ship navigation on a fine local scale. The comparison between the persistence forecasts and the SOIPS forecasts with and without data assimilation further shows that both model physics and the data assimilation scheme play important roles in producing reliable sea ice forecasts in the Southern Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The equipment cabins of high‐speed trains encountered alternating pressure loads during operation. A fatigue evaluation methodology based on sub‐zone aerodynamic loading was proposed. Theoretical model was given between pressure load at each zone and the accompanying six structural stress components. Stress recovery matrix was formulated by finite element analysis (FEA) in sub‐zone loading cases to relate the stress to the measured pressure loads. Vehicle test gathered the pressure time‐history data of cabin sub‐zones at the head car in different ambient conditions, from which the two‐dimensional stress spectrum was derived by rain‐flow counting. The fatigue damage of welds was then assessed utilizing the Miner's and Corten Dolan's rules, yielding maximum equivalent damages of 0.72 and 0.23, respectively. The structural fatigue damage under high environmental wind conditions was 1–3 times greater than in calm weather. Nonetheless, the fatigue damage incurred by the metal matrix was significantly lower, demonstrating a substantial safety margin. Highlights: Proposed a sub‐zone aerodynamic load‐stress conversion model.Welds exhibit higher aerodynamic fatigue damage than metal matrix.Strong winds heighten fatigue damage in the equipment cabin of high‐speed trains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The key role of thrombospondin 1 (THBS1) in the pathogenesis of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is unclear. Here, we present a transcriptome approach to evaluate THBS1 as a potential biomarker in ACLF disease pathogenesis. Methods: Biobanked peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 330 subjects with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related etiologies, including HBV-ACLF, liver cirrhosis (LC), and chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and normal controls (NC) randomly selected from the Chinese Group on the Study of Severe Hepatitis B (COSSH) prospective multicenter cohort underwent transcriptome analyses (ACLF = 20; LC = 10; CHB = 10; NC = 15); the findings were externally validated in participants from COSSH cohort, an ACLF rat model and hepatocyte-specific THBS1 knockout mice. Results: THBS1 was the top significantly differentially expressed gene in the PBMC transcriptome, with the most significant upregulation in ACLF, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (ACLF = 110; LC = 60; CHB = 60; NC = 45) was used to verify that THBS1 expression corresponded to ACLF disease severity outcome, including inflammation and hepatocellular apoptosis. THBS1 showed good predictive ability for ACLF short-term mortality, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.8438 and 0.7778 at 28 and 90 days, respectively. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay validation of the plasma THBS1 using an expanded COSSH cohort subjects (ACLF = 198; LC = 50; CHB = 50; NC = 50) showed significant correlation between THBS1 with ALT and γ-GT (P = 0.01), and offered a similarly good prognostication predictive ability (AUROC = 0.7445 and 0.7175) at 28 and 90 days, respectively. ACLF patients with high-risk short-term mortality were identified based on plasma THBS1 optimal cut-off value (< 28 µg/ml). External validation in ACLF rat serum and livers confirmed the functional association between THBS1, the immune response and hepatocellular apoptosis. Hepatocyte-specific THBS1 knockout improved mouse survival, significantly repressed major inflammatory cytokines, enhanced the expression of several anti-inflammatory mediators and impeded hepatocellular apoptosis. Conclusions: THBS1 might be an ACLF disease development-related biomarker, promoting inflammatory responses and hepatocellular apoptosis, that could provide clinicians with a new molecular target for improving diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An operational synoptic-scale sea ice forecasting system for the Southern Ocean, namely Southern Ocean Ice Prediction System (SOIPS), has been developed to support ship navigation in the Antarctic sea ice zone. Practical application of the SOIPS forecasts had been implemented for the 38th Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition for the first time. The SOIPS is configured on an Antarctic regional sea-ice‒ocean‒ice-shelf coupled model and an ensemble-based Localized Error Subspace Transform Kalman Filter data assimilation model. Daily near-real-time satellite sea ice concentration observations are assimilated into the SOIPS to update sea ice concentration and thickness in the 12 ensemble members of model state. By evaluating the SOIPS performance on forecasting sea ice metrics in a complete melt-freeze cycle from October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022, this study shows that the SOIPS can provide reliable Antarctic sea ice forecasts. In comparison with the OSISAF data, annual mean root mean square errors of the sea ice concentration forecasts at leading time of up to 168-hour are lower than 0.19, and the integrated ice-edge errors of sea ice forecasts in most freezing months at leading times of 24-hour and 72-hour maintain around 0.5 × 106 km2 and below 1.0 × 106 km2, respectively. With respect to the scarce ICESat-2 observations, the mean absolute errors of the sea ice thickness forecasts at leading time of 24-hour are lower than 0.3 m, which is in range of the ICESat-2 uncertainties. Specifically, the SOIPS has a promised capacity in forecasting sea ice drift, both in magnitude and direction. The derived sea ice convergence rate forecasts have a high potential in supporting ship navigation on local fine scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the traditional active noise control method, a phased-array secondary sound source was designed to replace the traditional sound source. Adopting a 4 × 4 array distributed design, we still maintain a single-in single-out system. Simulations show that the phased-array secondary sound source better controls noise reduction in a certain area of space, with better noise reduction effect, larger static area, and less impact on other non-control areas. A verification experiment was performed in a semi-anechoic chamber, with noise reduction conducted in different directions. The noise reduction effect of the phased-array secondary sound source was >10 dB higher than that of the traditional secondary sound source, with less influence on other points. The phased-array secondary sound source can be combined with tracking equipment to achieve a better follow-up noise reduction effect in space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sepsis is defined as a systemic inflammatory response to microbial infections with multiple organ dysfunction. This study analysed untargeted metabolomics combined with proteomics of serum from patients with sepsis to reveal the underlying pathological mechanisms involved in sepsis. Methods: A total of 63 patients with sepsis and 43 normal controls were enrolled from a prospective multicentre cohort. The biological functions of the metabolome were assessed by coexpression network analysis. A molecular network based on metabolomics and proteomics data was constructed to investigate the key molecules. Results: Untargeted metabolomics analysis revealed widespread dysregulation of amino acid metabolism, which regulates inflammation and immunity, in patients with sepsis. Seventy-three differentially expressed metabolites (|log2 fold change| > 1.5, adjusted P value < 0.05 and variable importance in the projection (VIP) > 1.5) that could predict sepsis were identified. External validation of the hub metabolites was consistent with the derivation results (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC): 0.81–0.96/0.62–1.00). The pentose phosphate pathway was found to be related to sepsis-associated encephalopathy. Phenylalanine metabolism was associated with sepsis-associated acute kidney injury. The key molecular alterations of the multiomics network in sepsis compared to normal controls implicate acute inflammatory response, platelet degranulation, myeloid cell activation involved in immune response and phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, and arginine biosynthesis. Conclusions: Integrated analysis of untargeted metabolomics and proteomics revealed characteristic metabolite and protein alterations in sepsis, which were mainly involved in inflammation-related pathways and amino acid metabolism. This study depicted the pathological characteristics and pathways involved in sepsis and potential therapeutic targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A category of metamaterials consisting of chiral cytosolic elements assembled periodically, in which the introduction of a rotatable annular structure gives metamaterials the ability to deform in compression–shear, has been a focus of research in recent years. In this paper, a compression–shear coupling model is developed to predict the compressive deformation behaviour of chiral metamaterials. This behaviour will be analysed by coupling the rotation of the annular node and the bending characteristics of ligament beam, which are obtained as a function of the length of ligament beam and the angle of rotation at the end of the beam. The shape function of the ligament beam under large deformation is obtained based on the elliptic integral theory; the function characterises the potential relationship between key parameters such as displacement and rotation angle at any point on the ligament beam. By simulating the deformation of cells under uniaxial compression, the reasonableness of the large deformation model of the ligament beam is verified. On this basis, a chiral cell-compression mechanical model considering the ductile deformation of the annular node is established. The compression–shear deformation of two-dimensional planar chiral metamaterials and three-dimensional cylindrical-shell chiral metamaterials was predicted; the offset displacements and torsion angles agreed with the experimental and finite element simulation results with an error of less than 10%. The developed compression–shear coupling model provides a theoretical basis for the design of chiral metamaterials, which meet the need for the precise control of shapes and properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sepsis is defined as a systemic inflammatory response to microbial infections with multiple organ dysfunction. This study analysed untargeted metabolomics combined with proteomics of serum from patients with sepsis to reveal the underlying pathological mechanisms involved in sepsis.Methods: A total of 63 patients with sepsis and 43 normal controls were enrolled from a prospective multicentre cohort. The biological functions of the metabolome were assessed by coexpression network analysis. A molecular network based on metabolomics and proteomics data was constructed to investigate the key molecules.Results: Untargeted metabolomics analysis revealed widespread dysregulation of amino acid metabolism, which regulates inflammation and immunity, in patients with sepsis. Seventy-three differentially expressed metabolites (|log2 fold change| > 1.5, adjusted P value < 0.05 and variable importance in the projection (VIP) > 1.5) that could predict sepsis were identified. External validation of the hub metabolites was consistent with the derivation results (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC): 0.81-0.96/0.62-1.00). The pentose phosphate pathway was found to be related to sepsis-associated encephalopathy. Phenylalanine metabolism was associated with sepsis-associated acute kidney injury. The key molecular alterations of the multiomics network in sepsis compared to normal controls implicate acute inflammatory response, platelet degranulation, myeloid cell activation involved in immune response and phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, and arginine biosynthesis.Conclusions: Integrated analysis of untargeted metabolomics and proteomics revealed characteristic metabolite and protein alterations in sepsis, which were mainly involved in inflammation-related pathways and amino acid metabolism. This study depicted the pathological characteristics and pathways involved in sepsis and potential therapeutic targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research was aimed at analyzing the value of the optimized eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) algorithm-based ultrasound cardiogram images in the diagnosis of pregnant hypertension patients. A total of 145 pregnant women (85 cases suffered from hypertension disease during pregnancy and 60 other normal women were healthy) were selected as the reference to the comparison and analysis of ultrasound cardiac function parameter, common carotid artery parameter, and the coupling relationship between hearts and cervical vessels of pregnant hypertension patients. The results demonstrated ultrasound cardiac function parameter of pregnant hypertension patients as follows. The maximum volume of the left atrium (LAVmax) was 35.65 mm, left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) was 31.07 mm, and left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) was 88.73 mm. All the above indexes were obviously higher than those of the normal control group (P < 0.05). Besides, intima-media thickness (IMT) of common carotid artery (465.84 μm), pulse wave velocity (PWV) (8.09 m/s), pressure of turning point 1 from isovolumic contraction phase to ejection phase (PT1) (126.5 mmHg), arterial enhancement pressure (AP) (6.14 mmHg), and arterial pressure enhancement index (8.58%) were all significantly higher than those of the normal control group (P < 0.05). In addition, the correlation between the coupling (E / A) of hearts and carotid artery of pregnant hypertension patients and PWV was not obvious (r = − 0.08432 , P > 0.05). The results of the research indicated that intima-media inside carotid artery of pregnant hypertension patients thickened obviously, and it became less elastic compared with that of normal healthy pregnant women. What is more, cardiac morphological changes were manifested mainly as the enlargement of the left atrial chamber and the thickening of the interventricular septum. Volume load and blood flow velocity both increased, and left ventricular diastolic function was damaged. XGBoost algorithm-based ultrasound cardiogram images could improve the diagnostic effects of hypertension during pregnancy effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Optimal sagittal alignment of the femoral prosthesis is critical to the success of total knee arthroplasty (TKA). While robotic-assisted TKA can improve alignment accuracy, the efficacy of default femoral alignment versus individualized alignment remains under scrutiny. This study aimed to compare the differences in prosthetic alignment, anatomical restoration, and clinical outcomes between individualized femoral sagittal alignment and default sagittal alignment in robotic-assisted TKA. Methods: In a prospective randomised controlled trial, 113 patients (120 knees) underwent robotic-assisted TKA were divided into two groups: 61 with individualized femoral flexion (individualized alignment group) and 59 with default 3–5° flexion (default alignment group). The individualized alignment was based on the distal femoral sagittal anteverted angle (DFSAA), defined as the angle between the mechanical and distal anatomical axes of the femur. The radiographic and clinical outcomes were compared. Results: Despite similar postoperative femoral flexion angles between groups (P = 0.748), the individualized alignment group exhibited significantly lower incidences of femoral prosthesis extension and higher rates of optimal 0–3° prosthesis flexion (9.8% vs. 27.1%, P = 0.014,78.7% vs. 55.9%, p = 0.008, respectively). The individualized alignment group also demonstrated more favourable changes in sagittal anatomy, with higher maintenance of postoperative anterior femoral offset within 1 mm (54.1% vs. 33.9%, P = 0.026) and posterior condylar offset within 1 mm and 2 mm (44.3% vs. 25.4%, p = 0.031,73.8% vs. 50.8%, p = 0.010, respectively). Although slight improvement in the Hospital for Special Surgery Knee Score (HSS) at three months was observed (P = 0.045), it did not reach a minimal clinically important difference. Conclusion: Individualized tailoring of femoral sagittal alignment in robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (TKA) enhances prosthetic alignment and anatomical restoration, suggesting potential improvements in postoperative outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aim to determine the impact of an artificial liver support system (ALSS) treatment before liver transplantation (LT), and identify the prognostic factors and evaluate the predictive values of the current commonly used ACLF prognostic models for short-term prognosis after LT. Data from 166 patients who underwent LT with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) were retrospectively collected from January 2011 to December 2018 from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine. Patients were divided into two groups depending on whether they received ALSS treatment pre-LT. In the observation group, liver function tests and prognostic scores were significantly lower after ALSS treatment, and the waiting time for a donor liver was significantly longer than that of the control group. Both intraoperative blood loss and period of postoperative ICU care were significantly lower; however, there were no significant differences between groups in terms of total postoperative hospital stays. Postoperative 4-week and 12-week survival rates in the observation group were significantly higher than those of the control group. Similar trends were also observed at 48 and 96 weeks, however, without significant difference. Multivariate Cox regression analysis of the risk factors related to prognosis showed that preoperative ALSS treatment, neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio, and intraoperative blood loss were independent predicting factors for 4-week survival rate after transplantation. ALSS treatment combined with LT in patients with HBV-related ACLF improved short-term survival. ALSS treatment pre-LT is an independent protective factor affecting the 4-week survival rate after LT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arctic regional coupled sea-ice–ocean–atmosphere model (ArcIOAM) has been developed to provide reliable Arctic sea ice prediction on seasonal timescales. The description and implementation of ArcIOAM and its preliminary results for the year of 2012 are presented in this paper. In the ArcIOAM configuration, the Community Coupler 2 (C-Coupler2) is used to couple the Arctic sea-ice–oceanic configuration of the MITgcm (Massachusetts Institute of Technology general circulation model) with the Arctic atmospheric configuration of the Polar WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting) model. A scalability test is performed to investigate the parallelization of the coupled model. As the first step toward reliable Arctic seasonal sea ice prediction, ArcIOAM, implemented with two-way coupling strategy along with one-way coupling strategy, is evaluated with respect to available observational data and reanalysis products for the year of 2012. A stand-alone MITgcm run with prescribed atmospheric forcing is performed for reference. From the comparison, all the experiments simulate reasonable evolution of sea ice and ocean states in the Arctic region over a 1-year simulation period. The two-way coupling has better performance in terms of sea ice extent, concentration, thickness and sea surface temperature (SST), especially in summer. This result indicates that sea-ice–ocean–atmosphere interaction plays a crucial role in controlling Arctic summertime sea ice distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Creating lightweight and impact-resistant box structures has been an enduring pursuit among researchers. A new energy-absorbing structure consisting of a bionic gradient lattice-enhanced thin-walled tube is presented in this article. The gradient lattice and thin-walled tube were prepared using selective laser melting (SLM) and wire-cutting techniques, respectively. To analyze the effects of gradient pattern, mass ratio, diameter range and impact speed on structural crashworthiness, low-speed impact at 4 m/s and finite element simulation experiments were conducted. The study demonstrates that the design of inward radial gradient lattice-reinforced thin-walled tubes can effectively enhance structure's energy-absorption efficiency and provide a more stable mode of deformation. It also shows a 17.44% specific energy-absorption advantage over the uniformly lattice-reinforced thin-walled tubes, with no significant overall gain in peak crushing force. A complex scale evaluation method was used to determine the optimum structure and the structure type with the best crashworthiness was found to be a gradient lattice-filled tube with a thickness of 0.9 mm and a slope index of 10. The gradient lattice-reinforced thin-walled tube suggested in this investigation offers guidance for designing a more efficient thin-walled energy-absorption structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hollow cylindrical nanohydroxyapatite/polyamide 66 strut (n-HA/PA66) has been used clinically for anterior cervical reconstruction. However, rates of occurrence of a "radiolucent gap" between the dense strut and adjacent endplates were reported. The aim of this in vivo study was to evaluate the viability and advantages of the novel porous n-HA/PA66 strut. The goat C3/4 partial discectomy and fusion model was built, and two groups of n-HA/PA66 struts were implanted into C3/4: group 1, porous n-HA/PA66 strut; and group 2, hollow cylindrical n-HA/PA66 strut filled with autogenous cancellous bone. CT evaluation was performed to assess the fusion status after 12 and 24 weeks. The cervical spines were harvested. Histomorphological analysis was performed to determine new bone formation. Biomechanical testing was performed to determine range of motion (ROM). CT confirmed the disappearance of the boundary of the porous strut and host bone, while the radiolucent gap remained clearly discernible in the dense strut group. The mean CT fusion scores of the porous group were significantly higher. Histologic evaluation showed that the porous struts promoted better osteointegration. Calcein fluorochrome labelling indicated faster bone ingrowth in the porous struts. Biomechanical tests revealed that the porous struts had significantly reduced micromotion. The porous n-HA/PA66 strut could offer interesting potential for cervical reconstruction after corpectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objects in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) images are generally small due to the high-photography altitude. Although many efforts have been made in object detection, how to accurately and quickly detect small objects is still one of the remaining open challenges. In this paper, we propose a feature fusion and scaling-based single shot detector (FS-SSD) for small object detection in the UAV images. The FS-SSD is an enhancement based on FSSD, a variety of the original single shot multibox detector (SSD). We add an extra scaling branch of the deconvolution module with an average pooling operation to form a feature pyramid. The original feature fusion branch is adjusted to be better suited to the small object detection task. The two feature pyramids generated by the deconvolution module and feature fusion module are utilized to make predictions together. In addition to the deep features learned by the FS-SSD, to further improve the detection accuracy, spatial context analysis is proposed to incorporate the object spatial relationships into object redetection. The interclass and intraclass distances between different object instances are computed as a spatial context, which proves effective for multiclass small object detection. Six experiments are conducted on the PASCAL VOC dataset and the two UAV image datasets. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can achieve a comparable detection speed but an accuracy superior to those of the six state-of-the-art methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding decoction of a traditional nourishing Chinese herbal medicine formula on rates of plasma phenylalanine and tyrosine turnover and whole body protein synthesis in sheep. Ruminal fermentation characteristics and blood metabolites were also determined. Six sheep were subjected to either mixed hay (MH‐diet, as control) or MH‐diet supplemented with 2% of Chinese herbal medicine (mixture of Astragalus root, Angelica root, and Atractylodes rhizome; CHM‐diet) in a crossover design for each of 3‐week period. The isotope dilution of [2H5]phenylalanine and [2H2]tyrosine was performed as a primed‐continuous infusion to measure plasma phenylalanine and tyrosine kinetics. Concentrations of total volatile fatty acid, acetate, and propionate in the rumen tended to be higher (p < 0.10), and the pH value was lower (p = 0.04) for the CHM‐diet than the MH‐diet. Turnover rates of plasma phenylalanine and tyrosine tended to be higher (p < 0.10) for the CHM‐diet than the MH‐diet. Furthermore, whole body protein synthesis was greater (p = 0.04) for the CHM‐diet compared with the MH‐diet. The Chinese herbal medicine improved rumen fermentation and enhanced protein metabolism in sheep. Hence, it is suggested that the decoction of Chinese herbal medicine formula could be considered as a potential feed additive for ruminant production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to investigate the role of leptin in the growth of breast cancer. In the present study, expression of leptin in tumor tissues and adjacent tissues was detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Serum leptin in patients with breast cancer and normal healthy controls was detected by ELISA. Different concentrations of leptin were used to treat breast cancer cells, and cell proliferation was detected by cell proliferation assay. Interactions between leptin and Wnt/β-catenin were evaluated by western blotting. It was demonstrated that expression of leptin mRNA was significantly higher in tumor tissues than in adjacent tissues in 43 out of 48 patients. Serum level of leptin was significantly higher in patients with breast cancer than in normal controls. Leptin promoted the proliferation of breast cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. Leptin significantly increased the expression level of β-catenin in breast cancer cells. Treatment with Wnt inhibitor reduced the enhancing effects of leptin on proliferation of breast cancer cells. The results of the present study therefore indicate that leptin may promote the growth of breast cancer by upregulating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

miR-34 was reported to be involved in multiple tumors occurrence and development. The aim of the present study was to explore the impact of miR-34 on osteosarcoma and related mechanisms. Tumor tissues and non-tumor tissues of 34 patients with osteosarcoma were collected. qRT-PCR detection revealed that miR-34 was significantly down-regulated in tumor tissues (P<0.05). hFOB 1.19 and MG-63 cells were cultured. qRT-PCR detection showed that miR-34 was also significantly down-regulated in MG-63 cells (P<0.05). After transfection by miR-34 mimics, MG-63 cells proliferation in nude mice was significantly impaired (P<0.05), and percentage of apoptosis as well as caspase-3 positive cells proportion of osteosarcoma tissue in nude mice was markly increased (P<0.05). Western blot and immunofluorescence results also demonstrated that TGIF2 relative expression and TGIF2 positive cells proportion were both dramatically decreased (P<0.05). By luciferase reporter assay, we found that TGIF2 was the target gene of miR-34. After transfected by TGIF2 overexpression vector or co-transfected by miR-34 mimics and TGIF2 overexpression vector, we observed that, compared with blank group, tumor volume was significantly increased and apoptotic cells as well as caspase-3 positive cells proportion was obviously decreased in TGIF2 group (P<0.05), while no significant difference was found in these indicators between blank group and TGIF2 + mimics group. We concluded that miR-34 inhibited growth and promoted apoptosis of osteosarcoma in nude mice through targetting regulated TGIF2 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A compact solid-state UV flame sensing system is developed and tested. We have addressed two approaches for obtaining additional six orders of long-wavelength rejection power on top of that of the built-in UV sensor based on a wide-bandgap II–VI Schottky-barrier structure. An op-amp-based amplification circuit with an average gain of 16 600 is used for signal amplification. It is demonstrated that the developed sensing system could detect a standard butane-air flame with excellent solar-blind characteristics, potentially capable for monitoring industrial boilers. Several feasible approaches were discussed for further improvement in the performance of the developed sensing system targeting its general usage in fire-safety applications. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Sea surface temperature (SST) data from the Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service are assimilated into a pan-Arctic ice-ocean coupled model using the ensemble-based local singular evolutive interpolated Kalman (LSEIK) filter. This study found that the SST deviation between model hindcasts and independent SST observations is reduced by the assimilation. Compared with model results without data assimilation, the deviation between the model hindcasts and independent SST observations has decreased by up to 0.2°C at the end of summer. The strongest SST improvements are located in the Greenland Sea, the Beaufort Sea, and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. The SST assimilation also changes the sea ice concentration (SIC). Improvements of the ice concentrations are found in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, the Beaufort Sea, and the central Arctic basin, while negative effects occur in the west area of the eastern Siberian Sea and the Laptev Sea. Also, sea ice thickness (SIT) benefits from ensemble SST assimilation. A comparison with upward-looking sonar observations reveals that hindcasts of SIT are improved in the Beaufort Sea by assimilating reliable SST observations into light ice areas. This study illustrates the advantages of assimilating SST observations into an ice-ocean coupled model system and suggests that SST assimilation can improve SIT hindcasts regionally during the melting season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Second-generation biofuels and bio-based products derived from lignocellulosic biomass are likely to replace current fuels derived from simple sugars and starch because of greater yield potential and less competition with food production. Besides the high aboveground biomass production, these bioenergy grasses also exhibit extensive root systems. The decomposition of root biomass greatly influences nutrient cycling and microbial activity and subsequent accumulation of carbon (C) in the soil. The objective of this research was thus to characterize root morphological and chemical differences in six perennial grass species in order to better understand root decomposition and belowground C cycling of these bioenergy cropping systems. Giant reed ( Arundo donax), elephantgrass ( Pennisetum purpureum), energycane ( Saccharum spp.), sugarcane ( Saccharum spp.), sweetcane ( Saccharum arundinaceum), and giant miscanthus ( Miscanthus × giganteus) were established in Fall 2008 in research plots near Gainesville, Florida. Root decomposition rates were measured in situ from root decomposition bags over 12 months along with initial and final root tissue composition. Root potential decomposition rate constant ( K) was higher in elephantgrass (3.64 g kg−1 day−1) and sweetcane (2.77 g kg−1 day−1) than in sugarcane (1.62 g kg−1 day−1) and energycane (1.48 g kg−1 day−1). Notably, K was positively related to initial root tissue total C (Total C), total fiber glucose ( TFG), total fiber xylose ( TFX), and total fiber carbohydrate ( TFC) concentrations, but negatively related to total fiber arabinose ( TFA) and lignin ( TL) concentrations and specific root volume ( SRV). Among the six species, elephantgrass exhibited root traits most favorable for fast decomposition: high TFG, high TFX, high TFC, high specific root length ( SRL), and a low SRV, whereas giant reed, sugarcane, and energycane exhibited slow decomposition rates and the corresponding root traits. Thus, despite similar aboveground biomass yields in many cases, these species are likely to differentially affect soil C accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combinational sphere element method is introduced to simulate the mechanical behavior of cemented particulate composite. A pair of particles and the cement matrix in middle are extracted from the composite, and they constitute a combinational sphere element (CSE). The stiffness of a CSE on axial direction, tangential direction and bending direction can be derived based on the mechanical model and assumptions. The stress distribution function in matrix can also be gained when the CSE supports load on each direction. The element stiffness matrix of CSE is obtained through the direct method. The CSE can be described by an equivalent rigid beam-spring model according to the element stiffness matrix, so the composite can be described by an equivalent rigid beam-spring lattice. Finally, an example is taken out to show the application of this new method. Stress distribution function, stiffness on three directions and macro effective elastic constants of composite can be obtained. The results agree well with the simulation results of the representative volume element. According to the damage criterion set reasonably, the damage evolution of the models with defects can be simulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Vector deformation, adjustable over a wide area under uniaxial loads, was controlled by the chiral cells' geometric parameters. The chiral cells' deformations were summed as vector additions. • Structures with various coupling deformation properties were designed, such as compression to dislocation and compression to bending. • A variable-geometry wing was designed. • Based on a genetic algorithm, an active design method was used to encode target deformations into the structures. Chiral cell structures have the potential to transform the robot design field because of the structures' ability to adopt various deformations under uniaxial load, such as twisting and a negative Poisson's ratio. The rationale that underpins this potential is asymmetric deformation that is similar to shearing; such a deformation has vector characteristics. In this paper, several cellular structures were designed that deformed the cell structure in many ways under uniaxial load, in accordance with the deformation vector addition principle of chiral cells (such as compression–dislocation, compression–bending coupling deformation, and variable wings with forward and backward sweep functions)—which were verified by finite-element analyses and experiments. With a given objective deformation, a genetic algorithm was introduced to encode structures with various chiral cells, and the feasibility of the method was verified through several examples. The research herein shows that structures with various deformation demands can be designed through reasonable assembly of chiral cells, which has potential applications to the field of variant structures design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Galectin-3 has a relatively high level of expression in triple-negative breast cancers and is a potential marker for this disease. However, the clinical and prognostic implications of galectin-3 expression in breast cancer remain unclear. We examined mastectomy specimens from 1086 breast cancer cases and matching, adjacent non-cancerous tissues using immunohistochemistry. Overall, triple-negative breast cancers expressed galectin-3 more strongly than did other breast cancers types (63.59% vs 21.36%, P = 0.001). Galectin-3 expression was not found to be an independent prognostic factor for breast cancer by Cox regression analysis, but was associated with chemotherapeutic resistance. Apoptosis was only weakly induced by arsenic trioxide (ATO) treatment in galectin-3-positive breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7), although ATO treatment up-regulated galectin-3 expression. Knockdown of galectin-3 in MDA-MB-231 cells sensitized them to killing by ATO. These findings support a possible role for galectin-3 as a marker for triple-negative breast cancer progression and as a therapeutic target in combination with ATO treatment, although the mechanisms that underlie this synergy require further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular endothelial growth factor C ( VEGF-C) is a crucial regulator of the development of lymphatic vessels and is involved in the lymph node metastasis of cancer. The levels of VEGF-C expression and lymphatic vessel density ( LVD) in 128 gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma ( GEJA) tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry and analysed for their association with clinicopathological features and disease-free survival. We found that 75.0% of tumour samples displayed strong immunoreactivity to VEGF-C. The levels of VEGF-C expression in the tumour tissues were associated with the stages of the clinical tumours and the lymph node metastasis status, but not with the age, gender and the size and type of tumours in the cohort. Similarly, LVD, as evaluated by anti-D2-40 staining, was also associated with the clinical stages of GEJA. The values of LVD were positively correlated with the levels of VEGF-C expression in these samples ( r = 0.3760, P = 0.0001). High levels of VEGF-C expression and high values of LVD were associated with shorter periods of disease-free survival ( DFS) in patients with GEJA ( P < 0.001). In addition, GEJA at N1 and N2 stages, at T4 stage, chemotherapy after surgery, high levels of VEGF-C expression and lower marginal resection were independent factors for the prognosis of DFS in patients with GEJA. Our data indicate that VEGF-C may promote the lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis of GEJA and that VEGF-C may be a valuable biomarker for the diagnosis of lymphatic metastasis and a prognostic factor of the survival of patients with GEJA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We present results of a major survey of Chinese opinion leaders conducted from March to April 2009, supported by EU–UK–China near zero emissions coal (NZEC) initiative. Respondents were drawn from 27 provinces and regions using an online survey with follow-up face-to-face interviews. A total of 131 experts and decision-makers from 68 key institutions were consulted through online survey. This survey is the first to focus on demonstration projects in particular and is the most geographically diverse. We aim to understand perceptions of applying CCS technologies in the first large-scale CCS demonstration project in China. Though enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and enhanced coal bed methane recovery (ECBM) may not be long-term solutions for CO2 storage, they were viewed as the most attractive storage technologies for the first CCS demonstration project. With regard to CO2 capture technology, on the whole, post-combustion (which would be most applicable to the vast majority of existing power plants which are pulverised-coal) received slightly higher support than pre-combustion. More surprising, respondents from both the power and oil industries favoured pre-combustion. There was no consensus regarding the appropriate scale for the first demonstration. A large number of respondents were concerned about the energy penalty associated with CCS and its impact on the long-term sustainability of coal supply in China, although such concerns were much reduced compared with surveys in 2006 and 2008. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Manganese cobalt oxides with different Co/Mn ratios have been prepared by co-precipitation methods, and their catalytic performance on methane combustion were evaluated from 250°C to 400°C at a space velocity of 36,000h−1. A significant improvement of activity was observed over Co5Mn1 catalysts with a Co/Mn molar ratio of 5:1, and the catalytic activity reached 90% of methane conversion at 320°C. Oxygen mobility – reflected by the appearance of O2 − – was probably a key factor that influenced the oxidation rate of methane below 320°C. The doping of manganese into the spinel structure of cobalt oxide increased crystal defections, which probably caused the increase of the amount of octahedrally coordinated divalent cobalt cations that are responsible for catalytic activity. The hydroxyl groups observed on the manganese-doped catalysts would also explain the promotional effects. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The vortex-induced vibration of various aspect ratio (AR = 0.75 , 1.0 , 1.25 and 1.5) ellipse cylinders with convective heat transfer is investigated at Re = 150 and m ∗ = 10 for 3 ≤ U r ≤ 12 , where U r = U / (f n D) and f n is the natural frequency of cylinder in still air. The amplitude and frequency response of displacement, force and the Nusselt number are presented and discussed, the vorticity, temperature contours and wake patterns are studied to understand the effect of AR and U r on the 1DOF vibration characteristics and the heat transfer of the isothermal cylinder. The results show that the classical Karman shedding (2S) is observed at relative low displacement and the C(2S) occurs when the cylinder undergoes high-amplitude oscillations for the AR considered, and the P+S wake mode which is composed with a single vortex and one pair of counter-rotating vortices during the transition from the initial branch to the VIV lock-in regime. There are multiple frequencies related to the response of Nusselt number, with the 2 S t N u dominating. And the maximum value of N u A is 11.07, 11.7, 12.1 and 12.35 for AR = 0.75 , 1.0 , 1.25 and 1.5 respectively, which are increased by 7%, 8.7%, 11% and 13.5%, respectively, compared with the corresponding stationary cylinders, indicting an enhanced heat transfer of VIV cylinder. As increasing of the AR to 1.5, an early exit of the VIV lock-in regime and into the desynchronized regime happens due to the strong 2 S t n in the lift frequency response when. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Al-SBA-15 was prepared by one-step hydrothermal synthesis method, and was characterized by X-ray diffraction, N2-adsorption, transmission electron microscope and Fourier infrared spectra of chemisorbed pyridine (Py-IR). The results showed that Al-SBA-15 had well-ordered hexagonal mesopores. As compared with Si-SBA-15, Al-SBA-15 had thicker pore wall, higher surface area, and stronger Lewis acidity. Due to the stronger Lewis acidity, Mn/Al-SBA-15 catalyst prepared by impregnation showed better activity than Mn/Si-SBA-15 in the selective catalytic reduction of NO by NH3. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The creation of a market for steel produced by less carbon-intensive production processes, here called 'green steel', has been identified as a means of supporting the introduction of breakthrough emission reduction technologies into steel production. However, numerous details remain under-explored, including exactly what 'green' entails in the context of steelmaking, the likely competitiveness of green steel products in domestic and international markets, and potential policy mechanisms to support their successful market penetration. This paper addresses this gap through qualitative research with international sustainability experts and commercial managers from leading steel trade associations, research institutes and steelmakers. We find that there is a need to establish a common understanding of what 'greenness' means in the steelmaking context, and to resolve various carbon accounting and assurance issues, which otherwise have the potential to lead to perverse outcomes and opportunities for greenwashing. We identify a set of potential demand-side and supply-side policy mechanisms to support green steel production, and highlight a need for a combination of policies to ensure successful market development and avoid unintended consequences for competition at three different levels: 1) between products manufactured through a primary vs secondary steelmaking route, 2) between 'green' and traditional, 'brown' steel, and 3) with other substitutable materials. The study further shows that the automotive industry is a likely candidate for green steel demand, where a market could be supported by price premiums paid by willing consumers, such as those of high-end luxury and heavy-duty vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phenazine-1-carboxylic acid intermediate was synthesized from the reaction of aniline and 2-bromo-3-nitro-benzoic acid. It was then esterified and reacted with hydrazine hydrate to afford phenazine-1-carboxylic hydrazine. Finally, 10 new hydrazone compounds 3a–3j were obtained by the condensation reaction of phenazine-1-carboxylic acid hydrazide and the respective aldehyde-containing compound. The structures were characterized by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, MS and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The antitumor activity of the target compounds in vitro (HeLa and A549) was determined by thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide. The results showed that compound (E)-N′-(2-hydroxy-4-(2-(piperidine-1-yl) ethoxy) benzyl) phenazine-1-carbonyl hydrazide 3d exhibited good cytotoxic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cemented particulate composite is a kind of composite material with high strength, high energy absorption, and multifunctional characteristics, which is widely used in engineering practice. The calculation of the mechanical properties of granular composites based on theoretical methods has always been a topic of discussion. A micromechanical model with a three-dimensional rigid beam-spring network (3D-RBSN) is proposed here. The stiffness matrix of the model was calculated theoretically. The model was applied to the analysis of the mechanical properties of composites material with glass beads and epoxy resin. The results indicate that the 3D-RBSN model can effectively predict the mechanical properties of composite materials, such as Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio. Furthermore, the damage evolution process of cemented particulate composite with initial defects was analyzed based on the 3D-RBSN model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The dysregulation of TGF‐β signaling is a crucial pathophysiological process in tumorigenesis and progression. LncRNAs have diverse biological functions and are significant participants in the regulation of tumor signaling pathways. However, the clinical value of lncRNAs related to TGF‐β signaling in glioma is currently unclear. Methods: Data on glioma's RNA‐seq transcriptome, somatic mutation, DNA methylation data, and clinicopathological information were derived from the CGGA and TCGA databases. A prognostic lncRNA signature was constructed by Cox and LASSO regression analyses. TIMER2.0 database was utilized to deduce immune infiltration characteristics. "ELMER v.2" was used to reconstruct TF‐methylation‐gene regulatory network. Immunotherapy and chemotherapy response predictions were implemented by the TIDE algorithm and GDSC database, respectively. In vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to verify the results and clarify the regulatory mechanism of lncRNA. Results: In glioma, a TGF‐β signaling‐related 15‐lncRNA signature was constructed, including AC010173.1, HOXA‐AS2, AC074286.1, AL592424.1, DRAIC, HOXC13‐AS, AC007938.1, AC010729.1, AC013472.3, AC093895.1, AC131097.4, AL606970.4, HOXC‐AS1, AGAP2‐AS1, and AC002456.1. This signature proved to be a reliable prognostic tool, with high risk indicating an unfavorable prognosis and being linked to malignant clinicopathological and genomic mutation traits. Risk levels were associated with different immune infiltration landscapes, where high risk was indicative of high levels of macrophage infiltration. In addition, high risk also suggested better immunotherapy and chemotherapy response. cg05987823 was an important methylation site in glioma progression, and AP‐1 transcription factor family participated in the regulation of signature lncRNA expression. AGAP2‐AS1 knockdown in in vitro and in vivo experiments inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of glioma cells, as well as the growth of glioma, by downregulating the expression levels of NF‐κB and ERK 1/2 in the TGF‐β signaling pathway. Conclusions: A prognostic lncRNA signature of TGF‐β signaling was established in glioma, which can be used for prognostic judgment, immune infiltration status inference, and immunotherapy response prediction. AGAP2‐AS1 plays an important role in glioma progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perennial bioenergy grasses can potentially replace fossil fuels and offset atmospheric CO 2 through soil C sequestration. However, limited information relevant to the impacts of bioenergy cropping on ecosystem services, especially above- and below-ground productivity and soil C sequestration is available for subtropical environments (e.g., southeastern USA). The objective of this study was to evaluate the impacts of perennial bioenergy cropping on C cycling and accumulation in the soil following four years of production in North Florida. Treatments consisted of six perennial grass species: giant reed, elephantgrass, energycane, sugarcane, sweetcane, and giant miscanthus. Elephantgrass, energycane, sweetcane, and sugarcane produced great shoot biomass (31–41 Mg ha−1) when harvested once per year. Giant reed's shoot biomass responded favorably to two harvests per year (27–43 Mg ha−1), whereas giant miscanthus did not perform well in any of the years (9–21 Mg ha−1). Additionally, giant reed, sweetcane, and giant miscanthus produced greater root biomass (9–11 Mg ha−1) compared with the other three species (2.5–3.2 Mg ha−1). Among the six grasses, sweetcane, energycane, and elephantgrass resulted in increases in soil C stocks (~15 Mg ha−1) relative to the initial level. Conversely, giant reed and giant miscanthus had no increase in soil C stock. Results suggested that interspecies differences observed in biomass yield among the six perennial bioenergy grasses could therefore affect soil C accumulation. High biomass yielding species such as sweetcane, energycane, and elephantgrass can effectively increase soil C within a few years following establishment in a subtropical environment. • Giant reed, sweetcane, sugarcane, energycane, and elephantgrass were able to produce high shoot biomass in North Florida. • Giant miscanthus could not produce comparable shoot biomass with other species in the subtropical environment. • Sweetcane, energycane, and elephantgrass exhibited significant increases in soil C stock over four growing seasons. • Sweetcane, energycane, and elephantgrass are able to provide multiple ecosystem services rapidly following establishment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A modified energy method is developed to study the properties of single-walled nanotubes. • The energy of a system is expressed by the force field functions of the molecular mechanics. • The temperature-dependent elastic property and strain energy of nanotubes are obtained. • The effect of tube diameter and inversion energy on the constants of nanotubes is significant. • The temperature has a greater effect on the tensile deformation of zigzag carbon nanotubes. A modified energy method is developed to investigate the elastic properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes. The energy of a system is expressed by the force field functions of the molecular mechanics. Under the assumption of a small deformation and the principle of minimum potential energy, the system function is established. In addition to consider the change of bond stretch and bond angle, the inversion energy is also proposed in this study. Based on the established model, the closed-form expressions of temperature-dependent Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio and strain energy of armchair and zigzag carbon nanotubes are obtained. The results show that the effect of tube diameter and inversion energy on the elastic constants of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is significant when the tube diameter is small. Under different thermal expansion coefficients, the Young's modulus of carbon nanotubes varies nonlinearly with the temperature, whereas the Poisson's ratio is insensitive to the temperature. It is also found that the temperature has a greater effect on the tensile deformation of zigzag CNTs, which provides a more accurate theoretical foundation for the tensile fracture of CNTs in a thermal environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have undergone total knee arthroplasty are at increased risk of requiring a blood transfusion. This study is designed to compare the effects of preemptive antifibrinolysis of single-dose and repeat-dose tranexamic acid (TXA) in in RA patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA).Methods/design: The study will be a double-blind randomized controlled trial with two parallel groups of RA patients. Group A will be given 100 ml normal saline twice daily starting from 3 days before the operation, Group B will be given TXA 1.5 g twice daily starting from 3 days before the operation. All patients will be given TXA 1.5 g 30 min before the operation. The primary outcomes will be evaluated with total blood loss and hidden blood loss. Other outcome measurements such as, fibrinolysis parameters, inflammatory factors, visual analogue scale for post-operative pain, analgesia usage, coagulation parameters, transfusion, the length of stay (LOS), total hospitalization costs, the incidence of thromboembolic events and other complications will be recorded and compared. Recruitment is scheduled to begin on 1 August 2020, and the study will continue until 31 May 2021.Discussion: In current literature there is a lack of evidence with regard to the efficacy of TXA in RA patients. The findings of this study, whether positive or negative, will contribute to the formulation of further recommendations on the use of TXA in RA patients undergoing TKA.Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2000029720 . Registered 14 February 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species, Uncifera motuoensis (Orchidaceae: Epidedroideae: Aeridinae) from Xizang Autonomous Region, China is described and illustrated with detailed photos and scientific illustration. Detailed morphological comparisons indicate that U. motouensis is similar to U. obtusifolia, but differs in having entire mid-lobe of lip, narrower leaf blade and wider pollinarium stipe. For the identification, a key to the known seven species of Uncifera is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nicorandil effects on platelet activation and myocardial antioxidant function in patients with unstable angina were studied. A total of 157 patients with unstable angina in the First People's Hospital of Foshan were selected and divided into experimental and control group. Patients in experimental group were treated with conventional drugs and nicorandil (15 min/day), t.i.d., for 21 days as one course of treatment, while those in control group were treated with conventional drugs. After treatment, serum indexes were detected and compared between the two groups of patients. Compared with that in control group, the platelet function of patients in the experimental group was significantly improved, and there was a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). Serum anti-oxidation factors in both groups were increased after treatment, and they were increased more significantly in experimental group (P<0.05). Serum inflammatory factors, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and matrix metalloproteinase-9, also declined significantly in the experimental group. Nicorandil reduces inflammatory response and promotes stability of myocardial function in the treatment of unstable angina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pacific sector of the Arctic Ocean (PA, hereafter) is a region sensitive to climate change. Given the alarming changes in sea ice cover during recent years, knowledge of sea ice loss with respect to ice advection and melting processes has become critical. With satellite-derived products from the National Snow and Ice Center (NSIDC), a 38-year record (1979–2016) of the loss in sea ice area in summer within the Pacific-Arctic (PA) sector due to the two processes is obtained. The average sea ice outflow from the PA to the Atlantic-Arctic (AA) Ocean during the summer season (June–September) reaches 0.173×106 km 2 , which corresponds to approximately 34 % of the mean annual export (October to September). Over the investigated period, a positive trend of 0.004×106 km 2 yr -1 is also observed for the outflow field in summer. The mean estimate of sea ice retreat within the PA associated with summer melting is 1.66×106 km 2 , with a positive trend of 0.053×106 km 2 yr -1. As a result, the increasing trends of ice retreat caused by outflow and melting together contribute to a stronger decrease in sea ice coverage within the PA (0.057×106 km 2 yr -1) in summer. In percentage terms, the melting process accounts for 90.4 % of the sea ice retreat in the PA in summer, whereas the remaining 9.6 % is explained by the outflow process, on average. Moreover, our analysis suggests that the connections are relatively strong (R=0.63), moderate (R=-0.46), and weak (R=-0.24) between retreat of sea ice and the winds associated with the dipole anomaly (DA), North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), and Arctic Oscillation (AO), respectively. The DA participates by impacting both the advection (R=0.74) and melting (R=0.55) processes, whereas the NAO affects the melting process (R=-0.46). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify the prevalence of obesity, sarcopenia, sarcopenic obesity in end-stage knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients and analyze influences of obesity and sarcopenia in the progression of KOA. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among end-stage KOA patients who consecutively admitted to Orthopedic Department for TKA. We suppose that the level of decreased physical activities would be influenced by unilateral or bilateral KOA. Patient information, albumin, hemoglobin, pace, step frequency, number of comorbid conditions were collected. Bioelectrical impedance analyzer was used to analyze body composition. Obesity, sarcopenia, sarcopenic obesity rate were analyzed with accepted diagnosis criteria. Correlations between body mass index (BMI) or age and fat mass (FM), appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) were analyzed. Results: 138 patients (male 30, female 108) in southwest of China including 67 patients with unilateral KOA and 71 patients with bilateral KOA were analyzed. No statistic difference was found in mean albumin, prealbumin and hematocrystallin, body composition values and number of comorbid conditions. We found that BMI was positively correlated with FM (Male: R2 = 0.7177, p < 0.0001, Female: R2 = 0.8898, p < 0.0001), ASM (Male: R2 = 0.2640, p = 0.0037, Female: R2 = 0.2102, p < 0.0001), FM index (FMI) (Male: R2 = 0.6778, p < 0.0001, Female: R2 = 0.8801, p < 0.0001), and ASM index (ASMI) (Male: R2 = 0.3600, p = 0.0005, Female: R2 = 0.4208, p < 0.0001) in end-stage KOA patients. However, age was not obviously correlated with FM or FMI (Male: FM, R2 = 0.006911, p = 0.3924; FMI, R2 = 0.7554, p = 0.0009196; Female: FM, R2 = 0.001548, p = 0.8412; FMI, R2 = 0.002776, p = 0.7822). And slightly negatively correlated with ASM (Male: R2 = 0.05613, p = 0.0136, Female: R2 = 0.01327, p = 0.5433) and ASMI (Male: R2 = 0.02982, p = 0.3615; Female: R2 = 0.03696, p = 0.0462). The prevalence of obesity, sarcopenia and obesity sarcopenia differs according to different diagnosis criteria. No difference in the occurrence rate of obesity was found between bilateral KOA and unilateral KOA patients, and occurrence rates of sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity were statistically higher in bilateral KOA than that in unilateral KOA patients. Conclusions: Obesity, sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity are highly prevalent in end-stage KOA patients, sarcopenic obesity are more prevalent in bilateral KOA patients than that in unilateral KOA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to global warming, the Arctic sea ice extent (SIE) is rapidly decreasing each year. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) climate model projections, the summer Arctic will be nearly sea-ice-free in the 2050s of the 21st century, which will have a great impact on global climate change. As a result, accurate predictions of Arctic sea ice are of significant interest. In most current studies, the majority of deep-learning-based SIE prediction models focus on one-step prediction, and they not only have short lead times but also limited prediction skill. Moreover, these models often lack interpretability. In this study, we construct the Ice temporal fusion transformer (IceTFT) model, which mainly consists of the variable selection network (VSN), the long short-term memory (LSTM) encoder, and a multi-headed attention mechanism. We select 11 predictors for the IceTFT model, including SIE, atmospheric variables, and oceanic variables, according to the physical mechanisms affecting sea ice development. The IceTFT model can provide 12-month SIE directly, according to the inputs of the last 12 months. We evaluate the IceTFT model from the hindcasting experiments for 2019–2021 and prediction for 2022. For the hindcasting of 2019–2021, the average monthly prediction errors are less than 0.21 ×106 km 2 , and the September prediction errors are less than 0.1 ×106 km 2 , which is superior to the models from Sea Ice Outlook (SIO). For the prediction of September 2022, we submitted the prediction to the SIO in June 2022, and IceTFT still has higher prediction skill. Furthermore, the VSN in IceTFT can automatically adjust the weights of predictors and filter spuriously correlated variables. Based on this, we analyze the sensitivity of the selected predictors for the prediction of SIE. This confirms that the IceTFT model has a physical interpretability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the advantages of thin-walled tubes and lattice structures in energy absorption and improved crashworthiness, a hybrid structure of lattice-reinforced thin-walled tubes with different cross-sectional cell numbers and gradient densities was constructed, and a high crashworthiness absorber with adjustable energy absorption was proposed. The experimental and finite element characterization of the impact resistance of uniform density and gradient density hybrid tubes with different lattice arrangements to withstand axial compression was carried out to investigate the interaction mechanism between the lattice packing and the metal shell, and the energy absorption of the hybrid structure was increased by 43.40% relative to the sum of its individual components. The effect of transverse cell number configuration and gradient configuration on the impact resistance of the hybrid structure was investigated, and the results showed that the hybrid structure showed higher energy absorption than the empty tube, and the best specific energy absorption was increased by 83.02%; the transverse cell number configuration had a greater effect on the specific energy absorption of the hybrid structure with uniform density, and the maximum specific energy absorption of the hybrid structure with different configurations was increased by 48.21%. The gradient density configuration had a significant effect on the peak crushing force of the gradient structure. In addition, the effects of wall thickness, density and gradient configuration on energy absorption were quantitatively analyzed. This study provides a new idea to optimize the impact resistance of lattice-structure-filled thin-walled square tube hybrid structures under compressive loading through a combination of experiments and numerical simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analysis of the slipstream development around the high-speed trains in tunnels would provide references for assessing the transient gust loads on trackside workers and trackside furniture in tunnels. This paper focuses on the computational analysis of the slipstream caused by high-speed trains passing through double-track tunnels with a cross-sectional area of 100 m2. Three-dimensional unsteady compressible Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations and a realizable k-ε turbulence model were used to describe the airflow characteristics around a high-speed train in the tunnel. The moving boundary problem was treated using the sliding mesh technology. Three cases were simulated in this paper, including two tunnel lengths and two different configurations of the train. The train speed in these three cases was 250 km/h. The accuracy of the numerical method was validated by the experimental data from full-scale tests, and reasonable consistency was obtained. The results show that the flow field around the high-speed trains can be divided into three distinct regions: the region in front of the train nose, the annular region and the wake region. The slipstream development along the two sides of train is not in balance and offsets to the narrow side in the double-track tunnels. Due to the piston effect, the slipstream has a larger peak value in the tunnel than in open air. The tunnel length, train length and length ratio affect the slipstream velocities; in particular, the velocities increase with longer trains. Moreover, the propagation of pressure waves also induces the slipstream fluctuations: substantial velocity fluctuations mainly occur in front of the train, and weaken with the decrease in amplitude of the pressure wave. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aerodynamic characteristics of a high-speed train in an atmospheric boundary layer are investigated in a wind tunnel. In addition, different atmospheric boundary layer simulations are performed by changing the turbulence intensity generated by a collection of spires in a wind tunnel. Turbulent flow information, measured with the Cobra probe, is used to describe the atmospheric boundary layer. Furthermore, the effect of velocity on the atmospheric boundary layer is also studied. Both the train’s unsteady aerodynamic force and surface pressure are measured at a Reynolds number of 7.5 × 10 5 , and their mean and standard deviation are used to describe and explain the effect of turbulence and observed trends with varying turbulence intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor in response to an article in the previous issue of the journal on carbon emission policy of the Chinese government is presented.

Long-term intensive use of mineral fertilizers in double rice-cropping systems has led to soil acidification and soil degradation. Manure fertilization was suggested as an alternative strategy to mitigate soil degradation. However, the effects of long-term mineral and manure fertilization on rice grain yield, yield stability, soil organic carbon (SOC) content, soil total nitrogen (TN) content, and the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Based on a long-term experiment established in 1981 in southern China, we compared four treatments: no fertilizer application (Control); application of nitrogen–phosphorus–potassium (NPK); NPK plus green manure in early rice (M1); and M1 plus farmyard manure in late rice and rice straw return in winter (M2). Our results showed that 37 years of NPK, M1, and M2 significantly increased rice grain yield by 54%, 46%, and 72%, and yield stability by 22%, 17%, and 9%, respectively. M1 and M2 significantly increased SOC content by 39% and 23% compared to Control, respectively, whereas there was no difference between Control and NPK. Regarding soil TN content, it was significantly increased by 8%, 46%, and 20% by NPK, M1, and M2, respectively. In addition, M2 significantly increased bacterial OTU richness by 68%, Chao1 index by 79%, and altered the bacterial community composition. Changes in soil nutrient availability and bacterial Simpson index were positively correlated with the changes in grain yield, while shifts in bacterial community were closely related to yield stability. This study provides pioneer comprehensive assessments of the simultaneous responses of grain yield, yield stability, SOC and TN content, nutrient availability, and bacterial community composition to long-term mineral and manure fertilization in a double rice-cropping system. Altogether, this study spanning nearly four decades provides new perspectives for developing sustainable yet intensive rice cultivation to meet growing global demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The pathophysiology of hepatitis B-related liver cirrhosis (HBV-LC) remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the disease mechanisms using topological analysis of the miRNA/mRNA network. Methods: Paired miRNA/mRNA sequencing was performed with thirty-three peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples (LC, n = 9; chronic hepatitis B, n = 12; normal controls, n = 12) collected from a prospective cohort to identify the miRNA/mRNA network. Topological features and functional implications of the network were analyzed to capture pathophysiologically important miRNAs/mRNAs, whose expression patterns were confirmed in the validation group (LC, n = 15; chronic hepatitis B, n = 15; normal controls, n = 10), and functional potentials initiating fibrogenesis were demonstrated in vitro. Results: The miRNA/mRNA network contained 3121 interactions between 158 differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs and 442 DE-mRNAs. The topological analysis identified a core module containing 99 miRNA/mRNA interactions and two hub nodes (miR-20a-5p/miR-340-5p), which connected to 75 DE-mRNAs. The expression pattern along the disease progression of the core module was found associated with a continuous increase in wound healing, inflammation, and leukocyte migration but an inflection of immune response and lipid metabolic regulation, consistent with the pathophysiology of HBV-LC. MiR-20a-5p/miR-340-5p were found involved in macrophage polarization and hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation in vitro (THP-1, LX-2 cell lines), and their expression levels were confirmed in the validation group independently. Conclusion: Topological analysis of the miRNA/mRNA network in HBV-LC revealed the association between fibrosis and miR-20a-5p/miR-340-5p involving initiating activations of macrophage and HSC. Further validations should be performed to confirm the HSC/macrophage activations and the interactions between miR-20a-5p/miR-340-5p and their potential targets, which may help to develop non-invasive prognostic markers or intervention targets for HBV-LC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Establishing an intuitive link between driving factors of household energy consumption activities and inequalities is important for the understanding of household heterogeneity in energy consumption behaviours. This paper proposes a novel typology framework based on machine learning approaches and data from 3637 Chinese households in 2014 from 85 cities. Activity-based energy consumption was measured, highlighting inequalities across activities, regions and household types. The results showed significant energy consumption disparities between urban/rural and north/south households, especially in cooking, space heating and vehicle activities. By identifying driving factors of energy consumption, a new household typology classified samples into 6 (all), 6 (urban) and 7 (rural) types. Within these types, households with similar demographic structures, lifestyles and energy consumption habits were clustered. Demographic structure, region, and primary energy demand were used as the basis for the typology. The findings demonstrated how household lifestyle differences explained the cause and underlying driving factors of urban-rural energy consumption inequalities and provided suggestions for city-by-city and type-by-type measurements to support effective low-carbon transformation in cities. • Activity-based household energy consumption (HEC) is measured and calibrated. • Household energy consumption inequalities exist in urban/rural and the north/south groups. • A four-step machine-learning approach well classifies households into reasonable clusters. • Activity-based variables are driving factors for HECs in a LASSO model. • Inequality is narrowed in household clusters and type-by-type policies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]