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The article explores the significant impact of trochanteric hip fractures on elderly patients' quality of life and highlights their increasing prevalence due to global demographic shifts. It also discusses three critical concepts in managing these fractures: the tip-apex distance for implant placement, the importance of lateral trochanteric wall integrity in choosing fixation methods, and the role of anteromedial cortical support (AMCS) in fracture reduction.

Two new lanthanide mercury materials, [Gd(IA)3(H3O)2Hg3Br6]nCl2n (1) and [La(IA)3(H3O)2Hg3Br6]nCl2n (2) (IA = isonicotinic anion), have been prepared under solvothermal conditions and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. They are isomorphic and characterized by a three-dimensional (3-D) framework structure. The lanthanide ions are bound by eight oxygen atoms to exhibit a square antiprismatic geometry. The solid-state photoluminescence experiment discovers that compound 1 shows a strong emission in the red region. Compound 1 possesses CIE (Commission Internationale de I'Éclairage) chromaticity coordinates of 0.7347 and 0.2653. Its CCT (correlated color temperature) is 6514 K. Compound 2 displays yellow photoluminescence and it has CIE chromaticity coordinates of 0.4411 and 0.5151. The CCT of compound 2 is 3633 K. Solid-state UV/Vis diffuse reflectance spectra revealed that their semiconductor band gaps are 2.16 eV and 2.85 eV, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the efficacy of high-voltage, long-duration pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) for the treatment of acute herpes zoster-related trigeminal neuralgia in a patient with a permanent pacemaker. The study focuses on the use of PRF as a neuroregulatory approach for managing herpes zoster neuralgia and postherpetic neuralgia. The authors present a case study of an 83-year-old female patient with intractable trigeminal neuralgia who underwent high-voltage, long-duration PRF treatment, which resulted in immediate pain relief and sustained pain reduction for six months. The article emphasizes the need for comprehensive preoperative evaluation and careful surgical planning when considering this treatment option for patients with permanent pacemakers. Further research is needed to establish the safety and efficacy of this treatment on a larger scale. [Extracted from the article]

Objective: Rare disease Background: Gaucher disease is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by mutations in the glucocerebrosidase gene, resulting in deficient enzyme activity and accumulation of glucocerebroside in macrophages, which leads to pathological changes in affected organs. The atypical clinical manifestations of Gaucher disease often contribute to delays in diagnosis and treatment. Case Report: We present the case of a 4-month-old female infant admitted to the Department of Pediatrics with progressive hepatosplenomegaly since birth. Concurrently, she had cytomegalovirus infection and sensory neurological hearing loss. Gaucher disease diagnosis was confirmed through whole-exome sequencing and validated by a glucocerebrosidase activity test, revealing the mutation site as c.1448T>C. This report outlines the differential diagnosis process for Gaucher disease in this infant before confirmation, contributing valuable insights for early diagnosis. Conclusions: Our case underscores the challenge of diagnosing Gaucher disease due to its atypical presentation. The coexistence of cytomegalovirus infection complicates the clinical picture, emphasizing the need for careful differential diagnosis. Unfortunately, delayed diagnosis is all too common in rare diseases like Gaucher disease, even when the clinical presentation is seemingly typical. This highlights the need for increased awareness and education within the medical community to facilitate early recognition, which is essential for prompt intervention and improved outcomes. This report contributes valuable clinical and genetic information, aiming to enhance awareness and deepen the understanding of Gaucher disease in infants, particularly those with concurrent infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferns are primitive vascular plants with diverse morphologies and structures. Plant anatomical traits and their linkages can reflect adaptation to the environment; however, these remain are still poorly understood in ferns. The main objective of this study was to explore whether there was structural coordination among and within organs in fern species. We measured 16 hydraulically related anatomical traits of pinnae, petioles, and roots of 24 representative fern species from the tropical and subtropical forest understory and analyzed trait correlation networks. In addition, we examined phylogenetic signals for the anatomical traits and analyzed co-evolutionary relationships. These results indicated that stomatal density and all petiole anatomical traits exhibited significant phylogenetic signals. Evolutionary correlations were observed between the tracheid diameter and wall thickness of the petiole and between the water transport capacity of the petiole and stomatal density. Conversely, anatomical traits of roots (e.g., root diameter) showed no phylogenetic signals and were not significantly correlated with those of the pinnae and petioles, indicating a lack of structural coordination between the below- and above-ground organs. Unlike angiosperms, vein density is unrelated to stomatal density or pinna thickness in ferns. As root diameter decreased, the cortex-to-stele diameter ratio decreased significantly (enhanced water absorption) in angiosperms but remained unchanged in ferns. These differences lead to different responses of ferns to climate change and improve our knowledge of the water adaptation strategies of ferns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vacuole is an important organelle for nitrate storage, and the reuse of vacuolar nitrate under nitrate starvation helps plants adapt to low-nitrate environments. CHLORIDE CHANNEL-b (CLC-b) in the vacuolar membrane is a nitrate transporter; however, its regulation and effects on nitrate efflux have not been established. Here, we evaluated CLC-b expression and its effects on physiological parameters under low nitrate conditions. CLC-b expression increased significantly in the roots of wild-type Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) Col-0 under nitrate starvation. Under low nitrate, clcb mutants showed reductions in chlorophyll content and xylem sap nitrate concentration, shoot/root nitrate ratios, shoot/root total N ratios, and biomass. CLC-b-overexpression yielded opposite phenotypes and increased nitrogen use efficiency. CLC-b mutants showed elevated chlorate tolerance and an increased proportion of vacuolar nitrate relative to the total protoplast nitrate content as compared to the wild type. Yeast 1-hybrid, EMSA, and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) experiments showed that HRS1 HOMOLOG2 (HHO2), the expression of which is downregulated under low nitrate, binds directly to the promoter of CLC-b. clcb/hho2 double mutants and HHO2-overexpressing clcb plants had similar phenotypes under low nitrate to those of clcb single mutants. Thus, CLC-b mediates vacuolar nitrate efflux and is negatively regulated by HHO2, providing a theoretical basis for improving plant adaptability to low nitrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the characteristics of high energy conversion efficiency, high energy density and low operating temperature, the proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) have become one of the green energy sources with broad prospects. The establishment of accurate mathematical model of the PEMFC is the basis of simulation and control strategy. At present, some intelligent algorithms have certain drawbacks, and can hardly find the balanced point between precision and computational time. In this study, a novel parameter identification approach combining the hybrid particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm with differential evolution, i.e. hybrid DEPSO, is proposed to obtain the unknown parameters in the PEMFC mathematical model and solve the problems of premature convergence of PSO and poor global search ability of differential evolution. Six benchmark functions are applied to verify the performance of the algorithm. The results prove that the hybrid DEPSO can evade local optimum preferably while having swifter convergence rate. Two PEMFC stacks are investigated and modeled. In order to evaluate the accuracy of model, the sum of squared errors between the measured voltage and the estimated output voltage are examined. Numerical results show higher accuracy of the hybrid DEPSO-based model comparing with other recently published optimization approaches. Furthermore, the simulation results indicate that the accuracy of the PEMFC model optimized by the hybrid DEPSO algorithm improves 0.19-1.86%, which can provide a new solution the multi-objective optimization problem and promote the practical application of the PEMFC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anxiety is characterized by altered brain networks. Directional information flows among dynamic brain networks concerning neuropathogenesis of anxiety have not yet been investigated. The role of directional influences between networks in gene--environment effects on anxiety remains to be further elucidated. In a large community sample, this resting-state functional MRI study estimated dynamic effective connectivity among large-scale brain networks based on a sliding-window approach and Granger causality analysis, providing dynamic and directional information for signal transmission in networks. We first explored altered effective connectivity among networks related to anxiety in distinct connectivity states. Due to the potential gene--environment effects on brain and anxiety, we further performed mediation and moderated mediation analyses to investigate the role of altered effective connectivity networks in relationships between polygenic risk scores, childhood trauma, and anxiety. State and trait anxiety scores showed correlations with altered effective connectivity among extensive networks in distinct connectivity states (p < .05, uncorrected). Only in a more frequent and strongly connected state, there were significant correlations between altered effective connectivity networks and trait anxiety (PFDR <0.05). Furthermore, mediation and moderated mediation analyses showed that the effective connectivity networks played a mediating role in the effects of childhood trauma and polygenic risk on trait anxiety. State-dependent effective connectivity changes among brain networks were significantly related to trait anxiety, and mediated gene--environment effects on trait anxiety. Our work sheds novel light on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying anxiety, and provides new insights into early objective diagnosis and intervention evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To observe the efficacy and imaging of surgical treatment of thoracolumbar fractures via the paravertebral muscle space approach. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with thoracolumbar fractures receiving surgery in Baoding First Central Hospital from January 2019 to December 2020. According to different surgical approaches, they were divided into paravertebral approach group, posterior median approach group and minimally invasive percutaneous approach group. They received surgery via the paravertebral muscle space approach, posterior median approach and minimally invasive percutaneous approach, respectively. Results: Statistically significant differences were found in surgical duration, intraoperative bleeding volume, intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency, postoperative drainage volume and hospital stay among the three groups. One year after surgery, the VAS, ADL and JOA scores of the paravertebral approach group and the minimally invasive percutaneous approach group had statistically significant differences from the posterior median approach group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: For the surgical treatment of thoracolumbar fractures, the clinical efficacy of the paravertebral muscle space approach is superior to that of the traditional posterior median approach, and the clinical efficacy of the minimally invasive percutaneous approach is similar to that of the posterior median approach. All the three approaches can effectively improve the postoperative function and pain symptoms of patients without increasing the incidence of complications. Compared with the posterior median approach, the surgery via the paravertebral muscle space and minimally invasive percutaneous approaches presents shorter surgical duration, less bleeding and shorter hospital stay, which is more conducive to postoperative recovery of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the effect of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) and Oxygen Nebuliser mask (ONM) on patients recovering from inhalation anesthesia. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 128 patients after inhalation of general anesthesia in the recovery room of the Anesthesiology Department of The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from September 2019 to September 2021. All patients received the same anesthesia induction and analgesia methods, inhalation anesthesia or intravenous-inhalation anesthesia maintenance, recovered spontaneous breathing and removed endotracheal intubation after surgery, then were divided into HFNC group and ONM group for oxygen therapy. HFNC setting mode: flow rate: 20-60 L/minutes, humidification temperature: 370C, the oxygen concentration was adjusted to maintain finger pulse oxygen saturation SPO2>90%; ONM group, the oxygen flow rate was adjusted to maintain finger pulse oxygen saturation SPO2>90%. All patients in the two groups were compared immediately after they entered the recovery room for 0 minutes, 10 minutes, and 20 minutes, including tidal volume, blood gas, Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) score and time from sedation to awakening. Results: The changes in tidal volume, oxygenation index and RASS score over time in the HFNC group were higher than those in the ONM group (p<0.05), and the awakening time in the HFNC group was faster than that in the ONM group (p<0.01), with significant statistical differences. Conclusions: Compared with ONM, HFNC can shorten postoperative recovery time, reduce the incidence of agitation and improve lung function and oxygenation state during recovery from anesthesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the efficacy and side effects of sufentanil and morphine titration for patient-controlled subcutaneous analgesia (PCSA) in severe advanced cancer pain management. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the patients who were treated by two cancer centers with PCSA for severe advanced cancer pain at the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University and Baoding No.1 Hospital between 2018 and 2021. These patients were divided into a sufentanil group and a morphine group. The drug dosage of the two groups was recorded. The pain intensity, sleep quality and adverse event rate (AER) were compared and analyzed between the two groups. Results: PCSA was successful in 95.2% (120/126) of the patients. In all cases, titration was successful within 24 hour, followed by oral administration of sustained-release opioid medications at 208.4 ± 75.1 mg in the sufentanil group and at 207.9± 66.3 mg in the morphine group. There was a significant difference in pain intensity and sleep quality before and after titration (P <0.05). Both groups exhibited a decline in their heart rates during titration. Compared with the baselines before titration, the mean heart rates were significantly reduced in both groups (P <0.05). The sufentanil group had an AER lower than that of the morphine group. Conclusion: Short-term use of sufentanil supports PCSA for patients with severe advanced cancer pain can achieve effective and rapid pain management, it is worth clinical implementation and application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on the mechanism of protein phosphorylation and therapeutic interventions of its related molecular processes are limited by the difficulty in the production of purpose-built phosphoproteins harboring site-specific phosphorylated amino acids or their nonhydrolyzable analogs. Here we address this limitation by customizing the cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) machinery via chassis strain selection and orthogonal translation system (OTS) reconfiguration screening. The suited chassis strains and reconfigured OTS combinations with high orthogonality were consequently picked out for individualized phosphoprotein synthesis. Specifically, we synthesized the sfGFP protein and MEK1 protein with site-specific phosphoserine (O-pSer) or its nonhydrolyzable analog, 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid (C-pSer). This study successfully realized building cell-free systems for site-specific incorporation of phosphonate mimics into the target protein. Our work lays the foundation for developing a highly expansible CFPS platform and the streamlined production of user-defined phosphoproteins, which can facilitate research on the physiological mechanism and potential interference tools toward protein phosphorylation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The multiplex dPCR system newly established here was the first reported quadruple dPCR assay for four common human Plasmodium species, which enables a four-in-one detection. • The analytical sensitivity of multiplex dPCR was as low as 0.557 copies/μL (95% CI 0.521 to 0.607), and it had a sensitivity of 98.0% and a specificity of 100% in clinical samples to make up for the false negative of microscopic examination. • The multiplex dPCR system has great potential in diagnosing mixed-infection and monitoring pharmacotherapy effectiveness. • The multiplex dPCR system presents a promising candidate as an absolute quantitative tool in clinical practice. Blood smear examination through traditional optical microscopy is the gold standard for malaria diagnosis. However, it imposes strict requirements for operational staff and its sensitivity cannot perfectly satisfy the needs of clinical requirements. More sensitive and accurate modern technologies should be applied to this field. Digital PCR (dPCR), as an absolute quantification detection method, can serve as an effective tool to facilitate the diagnosis and classification of different malaria species. We aimed to establish a new multiplex dPCR detection system for four main Plasmodium species: P. vivax , P. falciparum , P. ovale and P. malariae , which can distinguish exact species of malaria by one PCR reaction. A total of 39 patients were identified as malaria-positive by microscopic examination in Huashan Hospital from 2016 to 2021; seventy blood samples from these patients were collected. Additionally, 20 healthy individuals, 20 patients with fever and 6 patients with other types of blood parasites infection were also included in this study. Each blood sample was subjected to examination by both blood smears and dPCR. By optimizing four different fluorescence-labeled probes in one reaction system, dPCR permitted the performance of accurate quantitation and working out the exact number of copies of malaria DNA per microliter in whole blood. Rapid diagnostic tests were also conducted to verify part of the results obtained by dPCR. The dPCR system was able to make rapid diagnosis and quantification of malaria DNA samples. The analytical sensitivity of multiplex dPCR was as low as 0.557 copies/μL (95% CI 0.521 to 0.607), and it had a sensitivity of 98.0% and a specificity of 100% in clinical samples. Additionally, three multiple malaria co-infection samples have been detected by this dPCR system, including one triple malaria infection case. By testing consecutive daily blood samples of Patient 39, dPCR facilitated monitoring the efficacy of drug treatment. It showed that the DNA concentrations of P. falciparum ranged from 5474 copies/μL to 0 copies/μL, which can reflect the efficacy of antimalarials in real time. This study also found that haemocyte samples (plasma removed) rather than whole blood had higher malaria detection capability and an enhanced positive rate. The multiplex dPCR system newly established here made a substantial contribution in detecting malaria infection at low concentrations. It is suitable for mixed-infection diagnosis and multi-sample continuous monitoring, and presents a promising candidate as an absolute quantitative tool in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The impact of socioeconomic status on intergenerational associations of preterm birth (PTB) is poorly understood. Objective: To estimate the socioeconomic status of intergenerational impact of PTB transmission. Study design: This retrospective cohort study included all eligible singleton female infants born in Nebraska from 1995 to 2005 (n = 6631) and followed up from 2009 to 2019. Mothers' first singleton infants born 2009–2019 were linked to the mothers and included in the description and generalized estimating equations. Results: Mothers born PTB were 37% more likely to have a PTB infant after controlling for maternal and grandmother's prenatal care adequacy, maternal residential poverty, pre-pregnancy diabetes, hypertension, C-section, and infants' gender. In poor neighborhoods, the adjusted preterm odds ratio of former born preterm mothers (compared with mother not born PTB) was 1.56 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02, 2.38). Moreover, moving from a poor neighborhood to a relatively well-off neighborhood was a protective factor for PTB with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.47 (95% CI: 0.23, 0.95). Conclusions: Mothers born preterm were at increased risk of having PTB infants, especially in poor areas. Maternal upward social mobility was a protective factor for PTB recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CrCoNi-based medium- and high-entropy alloys display outstanding damage tolerance, especially at cryogenic temperatures. In this study, we examined the fracture toughness values of the equiatomic CrCoNi and CrMnFeCoNi alloys at 20 kelvin (K). We found exceptionally high crack-initiation fracture toughnesses of 262 and 459 megapascal-meters½ (MPam½) for CrMnFeCoNi and CrCoNi, respectively; CrCoNi displayed a crack-growth toughness exceeding 540 MPam½ after 2.25 millimeters of stable cracking. Crack-tip deformation structures at 20 K are quite distinct from those at higher temperatures. They involve nucleation and restricted growth of stacking faults, fine nanotwins, and transformed epsilon martensite, with coherent interfaces that can promote both arrest and transmission of dislocations to generate strength and ductility. We believe that these alloys develop fracture resistance through a progressive synergy of deformation mechanisms, dislocation glide, stacking-fault formation, nanotwinning, and phase transformation, which act in concert to prolong strain hardening that simultaneously elevates strength and ductility, leading to exceptional toughness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By combining the advantages of doping to change the electronic structure of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), transition metal phosphides, and MXene, we proposed the idea of designing and preparing a new type of composite material, P-doped MoS2/Ni2P/Ti3C2Tx heterostructures (denoted as P@MNTC), to serve as the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalyst of electrochemical water splitting. The as-prepared P@MNTC heterostructures show a significant HER activity with an overpotential of 120 mV at 10 mA cm–2 in alkaline electrolyte, with decreasing 105 and 125 mV compared with those of MoS2 and MXene, respectively. The density functional theory indicates that the P doping and synergy effect of Ti3C2Tx can enhance the activation of MoS2 and thus promote dissociation and absorption of H2O during HER process. This strategy provides a promising way to develop high-efficiency MoS2- and Ti3C2Tx-based composite catalysts for alkaline HER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of C5V chemotherapy combined with transcatheter subcutaneous radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of children with advanced (stage III/IV) hepatoblastoma. Methods: Eighty children with advanced (Stage III/IV) hepatoblastoma were admitted in Hebei Children’s Hospital from May 2019 to September 2021 randomly divided into two groups: control group and experimental group, with 40 cases in each group. Children in the control group received C5V chemotherapy, while those in the experimental group received C5V chemotherapy combined with transcatheter subcutaneous radiofrequency ablation. After treatment, the treatment effect, adverse drug reactions, AFP, ALT, AST, HBG and other indicators of the two groups were compared and analyzed. And the difference in survival rate and recurrence rate between the two groups was compared and analyzed. Results: The total efficacy of the experimental group was 67.5%, which was significantly better than 45% of the control group (p=0.04). The incidence of adverse drug reactions in the experimental group was 50%, while that in the control group was 35% (p=0.15). After treatment, AFP, ALT and AST in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group, while the HBG was slightly higher than that of the control group (p=0.03). Moreover, the overall survival rate of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group, and the recurrence rate was significantly lower than that of the control group. Conclusion: C5V chemotherapy combined with transcathetal subcutaneous radio fascial ablation is a safe and effective regimen for children with advanced (stage III/IV) hepatoblastoma, boasting definite efficacy and no increase in adverse reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we developed a novel colorimetric strategy for the visible rapid detection of the influenza virus based on the unique optical properties of gold nanorods. Specifically, lipoic acid-modified Oseltamivir (OS), which is a strong neuraminidase inhibitor and used as the first-line drug in the treatment of influenza, was synthesized and further attached to the surface of gold nanorods (OS-LA-GNRs). The absorption band and density of OS-LA-GNRs were changed with the decreasing distance between the nanoparticles induced by the target-specific aggregation via strong neuraminidase–OS binding. All of these could be visible with the naked eyes and measured by UV-visible spectrophotometry. The results showed that our system had a comparable limit of detection (LOD) to the commercial colloidal gold stripes, making it feasible for wide diagnostic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various spirooxindole‐benzo[d]oxazoles and dihydrobenzofurans were prepared in good to excellent yields by [3+2] cycloaddition and selective rearrangement of N‐vinyl oxindole nitrones and arynes under transition metal‐free conditions. Experimental results showed that the substituent on the nitrone N‐vinyl group controlled the [1,3]‐ or [3,3]‐rearrangement of their cycloadduct owing to its steric effect. The present method features broad substrate scope, good functional group tolerance, controllable [1,3]‐ or [3,3]‐rearrangement, and diverse oxindole scaffolds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study constructed fingerprints and analyzed adsorption rules of volatile compounds (VOCs) in egg powder (EP) under different production processes, including egg white powder (EWP), egg yolk powder (EYP) and whole egg powder (WEP) by HS-GC-IMS. The 29 VOCs identified were primarily ketones and aldehydes. Characteristic VOCs responsible for flavor differences were clarified by difference comparison, clustering and PCA analysis. Additionally, variations in lipid and protein were the primary causes of the VOCs differences in EP through microscopy imaging, infrared and fluorescence spectroscopy. EWP's stretched structure favored fishy-smelling VOCs adsorption but limited total aldehyde binding due to strong hydrophobic interaction. EYP's higher β-sheet ratio and fewer hydrogen bond sites weakened its alcohol VOCs binding capacity. The abundance of ketone VOCs in EP was linked to their low steric hindrance. Therefore, this study elucidated the flavor differences reasons among EWP, EYP and WEP, laying foundation for EP applications in food industry. [Display omitted] • The fingerprint of compounds in egg powder was constructed. • Characteristic compounds affecting flavor differences in egg powder were clarified. • Protein conformation, hydrophobic and hydrogen bonding affected flavor binding sites. • Microscopic infrared imaging revealed differences in lipid content of egg powder. • The adsorption rules for flavor difference of egg powder were elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat transfer enhancement is by far an important component in the design of numerous industrial applications of Taylor-Couette flow including electric motors and particularly rotating machinery. To optimize the performances of these machines, superior knowledge of the fluid flow is vital to better estimate the heat transfer distribution. This study will specifically consider the effect the slit number and width possess on the distribution of turbulent Taylor- Couette flow and the resulting heat transfer correlation in the annulus of two concentric cylinders under varying conditions. A numerical simulation method is intended for the study using varying slit structure parameters of widths (2.5 ≤ w≤ 7.5) mm and fitted with 6, 9, and 12 number of slits. The slit effect is then investigated under both isotherm and non-isotherm conditions considering the interactions between fluid flow regions in the mainstream area and the annulus. The small-scale vortex that appears in the annulus region improves the heat transfer ability between the fluid in the annulus and the main region as well as the heat transfer performance of the model with a gradual increase in Reynolds number. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) is a rare skin tumor. Hypermethylation in the MSH2 promoter resulting in the downregulation of its protein expression shows a high detection rate in EMPD tumor tissue, which indicates that the methylation of MSH2 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of EMPD. Objective. This study aims to establish a rapid analysis strategy based on the methylation-sensitive high-resolution melting curve (MS-HRM) to detect the methylation level of the MSH2 promoter. Methods. With the use of universal methylated human DNA products, we established the MS-HRM standard curve to quantitatively detect the methylation level of the MSH2 promoter. Then, all 57 EMPD tumor DNA samples were analyzed. Pyrosequencing assay was also carried out to test the accuracy and efficacy of MS-HRM. Besides, a total of 54 human normal and other cancerous tissues were included in this study to test the reliability and versatility of the MS-HRM standard curve. Results. In this study, by using the established MS-HRM, we found that 96.5% (55/57) EMPD tumor samples had varying methylation levels in the MSH2 promoter ranging from 0% to 30%. Then, the methylation data were compared to the results obtained from pyrosequencing, which showed a high correlation between these two techniques by Pearson's correlation (r = 0.9425) and Bland–Altman plots (mean difference = −0.1069) indicating that the methylation levels analyzed by MS-HRM were consistent with DNA pyrosequencing. Furthermore, in 23 normal and 31 other cancerous tissue samples, there were two colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues that tested MSH2 methylation positive (1% and 5%) which confirmed that our established MS-HRM can be widely applied to various types of samples. Conclusion. MS-HRM standard curve can be used for the detection of the methylation level of MSH2 in EMPD tumor samples and other cancerous tissues potentially, which presents a promising candidate as a quantitative assay to analyze MSH2 promoter methylation in routine pathological procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The population structure of Phytophthora capsici among asexual and sexual progenies was analyzed using ISSR. Thirty asexual progenies of one parent and three sexual populations were assayed for genetic diversity using 5 ISSR primers and DNA from 120 offspring of P. capsici was amplified. In total, 71 reproducible ISSR fragments were obtained, of which 100% were polymorphic, revealing high polymorphism among the isolates. Among them, the percentages of polymorphism of sexual and asexual progeny isolates were 100.00 and 77.46%, respectively. Genetic similarity coefficients among all the isolates ranged from 0.54 to 0.73. The sexual offspring population showed much more variability than the asexual offspring population with 76.26% variability attributed to diversity within populations as compared with 23.74% among populations. This research reveals that the sexual progeny population of P. capsici contributes more genetic diversity than that of asexual progeny population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Osteoporotic compression fractures are common among the elderly. It is important to predict the posterior ligamentous complex (PLC) and disc injuries in computed tomography (CT) scans of patients with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contraindications. Objectives: To determine the role of the CT compression ratio (CTCR) in diagnosing PLC and disc injuries and to compare it with the loss of vertebral body height (LOVBH) in osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures. Patients and Methods: A total of 91 consecutive patients with vertebral fractures were included as the study population. The PLC and disc injuries were assessed using MRI, and the following radiological parameters were determined based on CT scans for further MRI examinations: CTCR, LOVBH, local kyphosis (LK), interspinous widening (ISW), vertebral translation (VBT), and posterior structures fractures (PSF). Statistical analysis was performed to identify the diagnostic value of CT features in PLC and disc injuries. Results: The PLC injuries were detected in 9/91 cases, and the number of disc injuries was 47/91. Neither CTCR nor LOVBH was associated with PLC injuries (P > 0.05). However, the CTCR was associated with disc injuries (P < 0.05), with an optimal threshold of 1.755 (sensitivity, 68.1%; specificity, 79.5%), while the LOVBH was not significantly associated with disc injuries. Based on the results, VBT was significantly related to PLC and disc injuries (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The injured vertebral CTCR was associated with disc injuries rather than PLC injuries, suggesting that compression fractures are relatively stable with less PLC injury. Overall, CTCR is a useful indicator reflecting the compression degree of the injured vertebrae; it is also a valid predictor of disc injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultivating macrofungi is an important management measure to develop economy in shady forest areas; however, its effect on soil ecology, especially microbial abundance and structure, remains insufficiently studied. Herein, in a subtropical forestland, soil chemical and enzyme analyses, metagenomic sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR were employed to evaluate the impact of Stropharia rugosoannulata cultivation on soil microbiomes in three niches: soil below fungal beds, soil from furrows, and control forest soil with no influence from mushroom cultivation. Nutrients were accumulated in the soil below fungal beds with a significant increase (p < 0.05) in SOC, total C, total N, available P, and the activities of glucosidase and cellobiosidase. Non-metric multidimensional scaling and PERMANOVA results indicated that the structure of the microbiomes had been significantly (p < 0.05) shaped among the different niches. Soil furrows were microbial hotspots characterized by the higher microbial diversity and richness. Moreover, the increased microbiome abundance (assessed through qPCR) and the high number of significant stimulated functional types (based on MetaCyc genome database) indicated an enhanced functional capacity in furrows. Together, these results provide a comprehensive understanding of the microbial assemblies and the differently influenced soil properties in mushroom cultivation areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The uniquely compartmentalized fruiting body structure of the ectomycorrhizal fungus (EMF) Tricholoma matsutake, is a hotspot of microbial habitation and interaction. However, microbial diversity within this microniche structure of the EMF is rarely investigated. Furthermore, there is limited information concerning microbiomes associated with sporomes belonging to the ubiquitous fungal phylum Basidiomycota, particularly with respect to fungus-EMF interactions. In this study, we conducted high throughput sequencing, using ITS (fungal) and 16S rRNA (bacterial) marker genes to characterize and compare fruiting body microbiomes in the outer (pileipellis and stipitipellis) and inner layers (pileum context, stipe context, and lamellae) of the fruiting body of T. matsutake. Our results show the number of unique bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) among the different compartments ranged from 410 to 499 and was more than double that of the shared/common OTUs (235). Micrococcales, Bacillales, Caulobacter, and Sphingomonas were the primary significant bacterial taxa within the different compartments of the dissected T. matsutake fruiting body. Non-parametric multivariate analysis of variance showed significant compartmental differences for both the bacterial and the fungal community structure within the T. matsutake fruiting body. The metabolic profiling revealed putative metabolisms (of amino acids, carbohydrates, and nucleotides) and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites to be highly enriched in outer layers; in the inner parts, the metabolisms of energy, cofactors, vitamins, and lipids were significantly higher. This study demonstrates for the first time the distinct compartmentalization of microbial communities and potential metabolic function profiles in the fruiting body of an economically important EMF T. matsutake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Torrefaction pretreatment conducted at a low temperature is an important technique for refining the bio-oil and improving the production of some chemicals in the bio-oil (e.g. aromatic hydrocarbons). In this work, the effects of torrefaction temperature and catalysts on the yields of pyrolysis products and components distribution in the bio-oils were analyzed. The weak acid sites shifted to higher temperature as the HZSM-5 was modified by Mg2+ or Al3+. The catalytic pyrolysis from camphorwood was done at pyrolysis of 450 °C and torrefaction temperature of 200 °C. The catalysts remarkably influenced the yields of bio-oil and components distribution. The catalysts increased the production of phenols. The content of phenols in the resulting bio-oil exhibited the following trend: HZSM-5 < MgOmodified HZSM-5 < Al2O3-modified HZSM-5. In addition, the content of 2,6-dimethoxyphenol was the highest among all phenol components (5.58%). The production of aldehydes was remarkably improved by the Al2O3-modified HZSM-5, resulting in a maximum content of 8.21%. Thus the torrefaction temperature and catalysts would refine the bio-oil (such as the acid value decreased) and significantly improve the contents of components (such as D-allose, 2,6-dimethoxy-4-(2-propeny)-phenol, 1,2,4-trimethoxybenzene, and 2,6-dimethoxyphenol). The results provide a theoretical basis for the resource recovery of biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abscisic acid (ABA) can induce rapid stomatal closure in seed plants, but the action of this hormone on the stomata of fern and lycophyte species remains equivocal. Here, ABA-induced stomatal closure, signaling components, guard cell K+ and Ca2+ fluxes, vacuolar and actin cytoskeleton dynamics, and the permeability coefficient of guard cell protoplasts (Pf) were analyzed in species spanning the diversity of vascular land plants including 11 seed plants, 6 ferns, and 1 lycophyte. We found that all 11 seed plants exhibited ABA-induced stomatal closure, but the fern and lycophyte species did not. ABA-induced hydrogen peroxide elevation was observed in all species, but the signaling pathway downstream of nitric oxide production, including ion channel activation, was only observed in seed plants. In the angiosperm faba bean (Vicia faba), ABA application caused large vacuolar compartments to disaggregate, actin filaments to disintegrate into short fragments and Pf to increase. None of these changes was observed in the guard cells of the fern Matteuccia struthiopteris and lycophyte Selaginella moellendorffii treated with ABA, but a hypertonic osmotic solution did induce stomatal closure in fern and the lycophyte. Our results suggest that there is a major difference in the regulation of stomata between the fern and lycophyte plants and the seed plants. Importantly, these findings have uncovered the physiological and biophysical mechanisms that may have been responsible for the evolution of a stomatal response to ABA in the earliest seed plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study focused on the regulation of ovalbumin (OVA) allergenicity using pulsed electric field (PEF) technology and examined the structure-activity link. Following PEF treatment, the ability of OVA to bind to IgE and IgG1 at 6 kHz was inhibited by 30.41 %. According to the microstructure, PEF caused cracks on the OVA surface. Spectral analysis revealed a blue shift in the amide I band and a decrease in α-helix and β-sheet content indicating that the structure of OVA was unfolded. The disulfide bond conformation was transformed and the structure tended to be disordered. The increased fluorescence intensity indicated that tryptophan and tyrosine were exposed which led an increase in hydrophobicity. In addition, the results of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations confirmed that the stability of OVA was reduced after PEF, which was related to the reduction of hydrogen bonding and the sharp fluctuation of aspartic acid. Therefore, PEF treatment induced the exposure of hydrophobic amino acids and the transformation of disulfide bond configuration which in turn masked or destroyed allergenic epitopes, and ultimately inhibited OVA allergenicity. This study provided insightful information for the production of hypoallergenic eggs and promoted the use of PEF techniques in the food field. [Display omitted] • At 6 kHz, the allergenicity of ovalbumin was inhibited by 30.41 %. • Reveal structure-activity relationships by Spectroscopy. • Gromacs was used to analyze the influence of PEF on the structure of ovalbumin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The past decade has witnessed the great success of deep learning in many disciplines, especially in computer vision and image processing. However, deep learning-based video coding remains in its infancy. We review the representative works about using deep learning for image/video coding, an actively developing research area since 2015. We divide the related works into two categories: new coding schemes that are built primarily upon deep networks, and deep network-based coding tools that shall be used within traditional coding schemes. For deep schemes, pixel probability modeling and auto-encoder are the two approaches, that can be viewed as predictive coding and transform coding, respectively. For deep tools, there have been several techniques using deep learning to perform intra-picture prediction, inter-picture prediction, cross-channel prediction, probability distribution prediction, transform, post- or in-loop filtering, down- and up-sampling, as well as encoding optimizations. In the hope of advocating the research of deep learning-based video coding, we present a case study of our developed prototype video codec, Deep Learning Video Coding (DLVC). DLVC features two deep tools that are both based on convolutional neural network (CNN), namely CNNbased in-loop filter and CNN-based block adaptive resolution coding. The source code of DLVC has been released for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the addition of grazing incidence small-angle neutron scattering (GISANS) geometry to a standard pinhole small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) setup. GISANS is a surface-sensitive technique that can be used to investigate thin films. The article describes the addition of XY slits and a sample mount to achieve GISANS measurements on a pinhole SANS spectrometer. The article also explains the basic principles of SANS and GISANS and provides information on sample stages and experimental conditions for GISANS measurements. The article concludes by highlighting the need for further research and analytical methods for analyzing GISANS data. [Extracted from the article]

Tissue damage in diabetes is at least partly due to elevated reactive oxygen species production by the mitochondrial respiratory chain during hyperglycemia. Sustained hyperglycemia results in mitochondrial dysfunction and the abnormal expression of mitochondrial genes, such as NADH: Ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit A13 (NDUFA13). Metformin, an AMP‑activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator, protects cardiomyocytes from oxidative stress by improving mitochondrial function; however, the exact underlying mechanisms are not completely understood. The aim of the present study was to investigated the molecular changes and related regulatory mechanisms in the response of H9C2 cardiomyocytes to metformin under high glucose conditions. H9C2 cells were subjected to CCK‑8 assay to assess cell viability. Reactive oxygen species generation was measured with DCFH‑DA assay. Western blotting was used to analyze the expression levels of NDUFA13, AMPK, p‑AMPK and GAPDH. Reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR was used to evaluate the expression levels of mitochondrial genes and transcription factors. It was observed that metformin protected H9C2 cardiomyocytes by suppressing high glucose (HG)‑induced elevated oxidative stress. In addition, metformin stimulated mitochondrial biogenesis, as indicated by increased expression levels of mitochondrial genes (NDUFA1, NDUFA2, NDUFA13 and manganese superoxide dismutase) and mitochondrial biogenesis‑related transcription factors [peroxisome proliferator‑activated receptor‑gamma coactivator‑1α, nuclear respiratory factor (NRF)‑1, and NRF‑2] in the metformin + HG group compared with the HG group. Moreover, metformin promoted mitochondrial NDUFA13 protein expression via the AMPK signaling pathway, which was abolished by pretreatment with the AMPK inhibitor, Compound C. The results suggested that metformin protected cardiomyocytes against HG‑induced oxidative stress via a mechanism involving AMPK, NDUFA13 and mitochondrial biogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The time difference calculation method, using the pressure peak rise time difference of high-frequency dynamic pressure signals to demonstrate the motion track of continuous rotating detonation wave (CRDW), is presented and verified. With the calculation method, the flowfield of CRDW has been reconstructed precisely. The angle of upstream oblique shock wave is defined for representing the influence of CRDW on the air inflow, which is impacted by the detonation combustion intensity and nozzle choking effect. The increase of combustor pressure makes the angle of upstream oblique shock wave decrease, indicating that the influence of detonation on air inflow strengthens. The angle of downstream oblique shock wave is mainly influenced by the contraction geometry of nozzle in the contraction ratio range of 2-10. The heights of CRDWs scatter around 60±10 mm (C2H4), 40±20 mm (H2, single wave), and 20±10 mm (H2, two waves), respectively. The detonation wave height of single wave is higher than that of two waves in homo-rotating, and the height of ethylene-air CRDW is higher than that of hydrogen-air CRDW. This study will enrich the understanding and analysis method of CRDW flowfield structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innate immune effectors constitute the first line of host defense against pathogens. However, the roles of these effectors are not clearly defined during Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) respiratory infection. In the current study, we established an acute pneumonia model of K. pneumoniae respiratory infection in mice and confirmed that the injury was most severe 48 h post infection. Flow cytometric assay demonstrated that alveolar macrophages were the predominant cells in BALF before infection, and neutrophils were quickly recruited after infection, and this was in consistent with the kinetics of chemokine expression. Further, we depleted neutrophils, macrophages, and complement pathways in vivo and challenged these mice with a sublethal dose of K. pneumonia, the result showed that 80%, 60%, and 40% of mice were died in these groups, respectively, while no deaths occurred in the control group. Besides, innate immune effector depleted mice showed higher bacterial burdens in lungs and blood, companied with more severe lung damage and increased levels of cytokine/chemokine expression. These results demonstrated that the innate immune effectors are critical in the early controlling of K. pneumoniae infection, and neutrophils are the most important. Thus, alternative strategies targeting these innate immune effectors may be effective in controlling of K. pneumoniae respiratory infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bursa of Fabricius plays an essential role in B lymphocyte development, which is controlled not only by proteins but by noncoding RNA. Circular RNA (circRNA) are expressed in diverse tissues in eukaryotes. To acquire a deeper perception of the molecular mechanism of bursal development, RNA sequencing was used to identify the circRNA during varied evolving stages of the chicken bursa of Fabricius. We identified 13,689 circRNA. All these circRNA were originated from 4565 chicken genes. Among them, only 1 circRNA was yielded from those 4131 parental genes, and 2 or more circular isoforms were generated from the remaining genes. There were 27 circRNA found to be differentially expressed between the embryonic day 20 and day 2 developmental stages. The 5 isoforms of immunoglobulin lambda-like polypeptide 1 circRNA were tested to validate the RNA sequencing data, and their targeted genes were also analyzed with quantitative reverse transcription PCR. These data indicate that cirRNA are abundant and essential during bursal development and may play essential roles in the development of bursa of Fabricius. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Expression of CCAT1 and SIRT1 decreased, whereas microRNA-155 was increased in the in vitro model of LPS induced AKI. • CCAT1 restoration and microRNA-155 inhibition exhibited anti-inflammation and pro-survival actions in renal epithelial cells. • SIRT1 knockdown abolished the protective effects of CCAT1 overexpression and microRNA-155 inhibition. • CCAT1 sponged microRNA-155 to regulate the expression of SIRT1. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is characterized by excessive inflammatory response and apoptosis in tubular epithelial cells. Recent studies suggested that long non-coding RNAs colon cancer-associated transcript-1 (CCAT-1) and microRNA-155 (miR-155) might regulate cell death and inflammation. We aimed to explore the role of CCAT-1/miRNA-155 axis in the AKI. LPS was applied to establish in vitro and in vivo models of AKI using HK2 cells and pcDNA-CCAT1 transgenic mice, respectively. Gene overexpression or knockdown were performed through plasmids transfection. Apoptosis were determined by qRT-PCR, western blotting (Fas, FasL, Caspase-3), AnnexinV/PI staining and TUNEL assay. Cytokines were assessed by ELISA. Interaction of CCAT1/miR-155 and miR-155/SIRT1 were detected by dual-luciferase reporter assay. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) was also performed to determine CCAT1/miR-155 interaction. Pathological changes of AKI were evaluated using H&E staining, blood urine nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Cr) detection kits. The degree of renal fibrosis was determined by Masson trichrome stain. LPS administration reduced CCAT1 and SIRT1 expression, but increased miR-155 levels in tubular epithelial cells in vitro. Luciferase assay demonstrated that miR-155 might bind to and regulate CCAT1 and SIRT1. RIP further confirmed the direct interaction of CCAT1 and miR-155. Restoration of CCAT1 attenuated LPS induced inflammation and apoptosis through sequestering miR-155. The anti-inflammation and pro-survival effects of CCAT1 overexpression and miR-155 inhibition were abolished by SIRT1 knockdown, as indicated by the expression of cytokine and apoptotic markers, as well as H&E, BUN and Cr detection. Dysregulated CCAT1/miR-155/SIRT1 pathway regulated disease progression in a murine model of LPS-induced AKI, and NF-κB pathway involved in. CCAT1 restoration sequestered miR-155, leading to upregulation of SIRT1 and alleviated LPS induced renal tubular epithelial cell damage in vitro and in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Epigenetic alterations have been shown to lead to human carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to perform an integrative analysis to develop an epigenetic signature to predict overall survival (OS) of esophageal cancer. Methods: DNA methylation and messenger RNA expression data of esophageal cancer samples were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas database and were incorporated and analyzed using an R package MethylMix. Functional enrichment analysis of the methylation-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was performed. Epigenetic signature and nomogram associated with the OS of esophageal cancer were established by the multivariate Cox model. Results: A total of 71 methylation-related DEGs were identified. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis revealed that these genes were involved in the biological process related to the initiation and progression of esophageal cancer. Two-gene (FAM24B and FAM200A) risk signature for OS was developed by multivariate Cox analysis, of which had high accuracy. The signature is independent of clinicopathological variables and indicated better predictive power than other clinicopathological variables. Moreover, we developed a novel prognostic nomogram based on risk score and 3 clinicopathological factors. Conclusions: Our study indicated possible methylation-related DEGs and established an epigenetic signature, which may provide novel insights for understanding the pathogenesis of esophageal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thymus function depends on the epithelial compartment of the thymic stroma. Cortical thymic epithelial cells (cTECs) regulate T cell lineage commitment and positive selection, while medullary (m) TECs impose central tolerance on the T cell repertoire. During thymus organogenesis, these functionally distinct sub-lineages are thought to arise from a common thymic epithelial progenitor cell (TEPC). However, the mechanisms controlling cTEC and mTEC production from the common TEPC are not understood. Here, we show that emergence of the earliest mTEC lineage-restricted progenitors requires active NOTCH signaling in progenitor TEC and that, once specified, further mTEC development is NOTCH independent. In addition, we demonstrate that persistent NOTCH activity favors maintenance of undifferentiated TEPCs at the expense of cTEC differentiation. Finally, we uncover a cross-regulatory relationship between NOTCH and FOXN1, a master regulator of TEC differentiation. These data establish NOTCH as a potent regulator of TEPC and mTEC fate during fetal thymus development, and are thus of high relevance to strategies aimed at generating/regenerating functional thymic tissue in vitro and in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cloud detection and cloud properties have substantial applications in weather forecast, signal attenuation analysis, and other cloud-related fields. Cloud image segmentation is the fundamental and important step in deriving cloud cover. However, traditional segmentation methods rely on low-level visual features of clouds and often fail to achieve satisfactory performance. Deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) can extract high-level feature information of objects and have achieved remarkable success in many image segmentation fields. On this basis, a novel deep CNN model named SegCloud is proposed and applied for accurate cloud segmentation based on ground-based observation. Architecturally, SegCloud possesses a symmetric encoder–decoder structure. The encoder network combines low-level cloud features to form high-level, low-resolution cloud feature maps, whereas the decoder network restores the obtained high-level cloud feature maps to the same resolution of input images. The Softmax classifier finally achieves pixel-wise classification and outputs segmentation results. SegCloud has powerful cloud discrimination capability and can automatically segment whole-sky images obtained by a ground-based all-sky-view camera. The performance of SegCloud is validated by extensive experiments, which show that SegCloud is effective and accurate for ground-based cloud segmentation and achieves better results than traditional methods do. The accuracy and practicability of SegCloud are further proven by applying it to cloud cover estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By making a distinction between two kinds of histories, this article attempts to chart the fine line between "actions in the past" and "subsequent records" within the multilayered process of humankind's practices. One might call "History B" the efforts by later writers to impose some "continuity" onto history, embodying a kind of discursive power; similarly, one might give the name of "History A" to the indelible historical vestiges left by humans who lived in the past. History A constitutes a kind of "counter-power" that constantly challenges existing historiographic discourses. Focusing on the complex yet paradoxical relationship between these two kinds of histories, this article discusses the achievements and pitfalls of contemporary historiography, particularly Chinese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presented a fundamental investigation on the exit-chipping formation mechanisms involved in rotary ultrasonic drilling (RUD) and conventional drilling (CD) of glass BK7. It was found that the mutual tool-material extrusion initially activated the subsurface crack with the maximum depth (incipient crack) at the margin of the machined surface, and its penetration of the undrilled thickness brought about the emergence of the exit-chipping at Region I. Subsequently, the opposite propagations of two ring-cracks along the circumferential direction of the drilled hole were conducive to the collapse of the machined cylinder, thus leading to the appearance of the exit-chipping at Region II. Ultrasonic superposition significantly decreased the actual undrilled thickness of the machined surface, while slightly increased the exit-chipping width. All the exit-chippings, generated with and without ultrasonic, exhibited the elliptic and symmetrical morphologies accompanied by the corrugated stripes winding the entire chipping surfaces. The quantitative relationship between the instantaneous extrusion pressure and the propagation direction of the incipient crack was proposed, revealing that the propagation angle was inversely proportional to the extrusion pressure. Ultrasonic superimposition augmented the extrusion pressure exerted the machined surface, which reduced the propagation angle of the incipient crack. The elliptic morphology characteristics of the exit-chipping were attributed to the parabolic variation of the additional bending moment with the circumferential spreading of the ring-crack. Ultrasonic superposition increased the propagation angle of the ring-crack, thus deteriorating the exit quality of the drilled hole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cloud detection and cloud properties have significant applications in weather forecast, signal attenuation analysis, and other cloud-related fields. Cloud image segmentation is the fundamental and important step to derive cloud cover. However, traditional segmentation methods rely on low-level visual features of clouds, and often fail to achieve satisfactory performance. Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) are able to extract high-level feature information of object and have become the dominant methods in many image segmentation fields. Inspired by that, a novel deep CNN model named SegCloud is proposed and applied to accurate cloud segmentation based on ground-based observation. Architecturally, SegCloud possesses symmetric encoder-decoder structure. The encoder network combines low-level cloud features to form high-level cloud feature maps with low resolution, and the decoder network restores the obtained high-level cloud feature maps to the same resolution of input images. The softmax classifier finally achieves pixel-wise classification and outputs segmentation results. SegCloud has powerful cloud discrimination ability and can automatically segment the whole sky images obtained by a ground-based all-sky-view camera. Furthermore, a new database, which includes 400 whole sky images and manual-marked labels, is built to train and test the SegCloud model. The performance of SegCloud is validated by extensive experiments, which show that SegCloud is effective and accurate for ground-based cloud segmentation and achieves better results than traditional methods. Moreover, the accuracy and practicability of SegCloud is further proved by applying it to cloud cover estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urinary retention is a medical condition that has existed before the Common Era. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the first written record regarding treatment for urinary retention dates back to 770-476 BC in the HuangDi NeiJing, a written text of condition diagnoses and treatment. The first written record of catheter use in TCM is in Ge Hong's (283-242 BC) Emergency Prescription text. The early TCM catheter is made of a long green onion tip: the tip has a natural taper that facilitates insertion, and cutting the top creates a tube because green onions are hollow. The tube is filled with therapeutic solutions, such as TuGua Melon root juice or salt water, and the tube is blown to stimulate urine flow. Near 1300 AD, Luo TianYi records the use of a catheter system made of a feather stem (which is more study and still hollow) with an inflated processed hog bladder. The feather is connected to the hog bladder then inserted into the urethra. Instead of blowing, the inflated hog bladder is squeezed, ventilating the system. This system is self-retained, and is very similar to the 'modern' balloon-based Foley catheter developed in 1929, but it the TCM version proceeds the Foley by 600 years. This article suggests an acupuncture treatment protocol for urinary retention based in TCM and collective experience from classic and modern TCM experts. According to TCM theory, there are 6 possible differentiation diagnosis of urinary retention: 1, Damp Heat in the bladder; 2, Lung Heat; 3, Liver Qi stagnation; 4, Blood stasis; 5, Spleen Qi Sinking; 6, Kidney Yang deficiency. For each case, diagnostic symptoms are presented. The theoretical treatment principle is also written. following the treatment principle, suggested acupuncture/meridian points are listed for the case with explanation backed in TCM. Research and study regarding TCM and acupuncture as treatment for disease is important both to increase potential alternative solutions for those who are ill and increase understanding and acknowledgement for TCM. Although evidence-based clinical trial studies supporting acupuncture and TCM exist, there is need for more studies to increase accessibility of knowledge supporting acupuncture, and to inform the public of acupuncture as a promising alternative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy levels and wave functions of floppy triatomic rare gas hydrides are calculated using a Pekeris coordinate system and the importance of various triangular configurations is assessed through the calculation of reduced distribution functions and relative weights. The calculations are performed using a symmetry-adapted Lanczos recursion within the discrete variable representation. For the 4He2H- anion, the present results are compared with those obtained from calculations based on other methods, and the accuracy of the present method is discussed. Calculations are also performed for the case of 4He2H and 20Ne2 H, as well as for the mixed 4He 20NeH neutrals. Our results show that no bound states are found fOr 4He2H while only one bound state is found for both the 20Ne2H and 4He 20NeH complexes. Interestingly, a very important and common property of these systems is that there is a significant contribution from linear configurations to their bound states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method is assessed which expands aerosol vertical profiles inferred from nadir-pointing lidars to cross-track locations next to nadir columns. This is achieved via matching of passive radiances at off-nadir locations with their counterparts that are collocated with lidar data. This spectral radiance matching (SRM) method is tested using profiles inferred from CALIPSO lidar observations and collocated MODIS passive imagery for the periods 10–25 April and 14–29 September 2015. CALIPSO profiles are expanded out to 100 km on both sides of the daytime ground-track. Reliability of constructed profiles that are removed from the ground-track by N km are tested by requiring the algorithm to reconstruct profiles using only profiles that are removed from it along-track by more than N km. When sufficient numbers of pixels/columns are available, the SRM method can correctly match ~ 75 % and ~ 68 % of aerosol vertical structure at distances of 30 km and 100 km from the ground-track, respectively. The construction algorithm is applied to the east coast of Asia during spring 2015. Vertical distributions of different aerosol subtypes indicate that the region was dominated by dust and polluted dust transported from the continent. It is shown that aerosol optical depths inferred from ground-based measurements agree with those constructed by the SRM method better than direct observation from CALIPSO, and close to those inferred from MODIS radiances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fractional-pixel motion compensation (MC) improves the efficiency of inter prediction and has been utilized extensively in video coding standards. The traditional methods of fractional-pixel MC usually follow the approach of interpolation, i.e., they adopt different kinds of filters, either fixed or adaptive, to interpolate fractional-pixel values from integer-pixel values in a reference picture. Different from the interpolation approach, in this paper, we formulate the fractional-pixel MC as an inter-picture regression problem, which is to predict the pixel values of the current to-be-coded picture from the integer-pixel values of a reference picture, given a fractional-pixel motion vector that relates the two pictures. We then propose to adopt convolutional neural network (CNN) models to approach the regression problem, inspired by the recent advances of CNN. Accordingly, we propose fractional-pixel reference generation CNN (FRCNN) for both uni-directional and bi-directional MC in video coding. We further investigate how to train FRCNN by using encoded video sequences, and empirically study the effect of different training data and different CNN structures. Moreover, we propose to integrate FRCNN into the high efficiency video coding (HEVC) scheme, and perform a comprehensive set of experiments to evaluate the effectiveness of FRCNN. The experimental results show that our proposed FRCNN achieves on average 3.9%, 2.7%, and 1.3% bits saving compared with HEVC, under low-delay P, low-delay B, and random-access configurations, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]