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An adaptive variable step-size algorithm is proposed in this paper to address the impact of the real-time acoustic feedback and the real-time secondary path identification on the overall noise reduction performance of an active noise control system. An automated adjustment weight factor is introduced in the algorithm to accelerate the convergence of the acoustic feedback path as well as the secondary path identification, and to prevent possible system divergence. It is shown in this study that the proposed algorithm can resolve the trade-off between a fast convergence and a low misalignment of the virtual and the actual control paths typically found in conventional algorithms. An optimized control structure is also proposed in the study by enabling an adaptive gain adjustment based on the output of the auxiliary filter to enhance the practicality of the control system. The effectiveness of the algorithm is tested using two simulated multi-component signals and a broadband noise signal, and the results confirm that the proposed algorithm can achieve a good noise reduction with only a few iterations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate field reconstruction (CFR) refers to the estimation of spatiotemporal climate fields (such as surface temperature) from a collection of pointwise paleoclimate proxy datasets. The climate fields can provide rich information on climate dynamics and provide an out-of-sample validation of climate models. However, most CFR workflows are complex and timeconsuming, as they involve: (i) preprocessing of the proxy records, climate model simulations, and instrumental observations, (ii) application of one or more statistical methods, and (iii) analysis and visualization of the reconstruction results. Historically, this process has lacked transparency and accessibility, limiting reproducibility and experimentation by non-specialists. This article presents an open-source and object-oriented Python package called cfr that aims to make CFR workflows easy to understand and conduct, saving climatologists from technical details and facilitating efficient and reproducible research. It provides user-friendly utilities for common CFR tasks such as proxy and climate data analysis and visualization, proxy system modeling, and modularized workflows for multiple reconstruction methods, enabling methodological intercomparisons within the same framework. The package is supported with an extensive documentation of the application interface (API) and a growing number of tutorial notebooks illustrating its usage. As an example, we present two cfr-driven reconstruction experiments using the PAGES 2k temperature database: applying the last millennium reanalysis (LMR) paleoclimate data assimilation (PDA) framework and the Graphical Expectation-Maximization (GraphEM) algorithm, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is an important factor in ensuring the safe operation of the sensitive electronic equipment on urban rail trains. The pulse width modulation (PWM) encoder of an urban rail train exported from China to Brazil is sometimes affected by electromagnetic interference (EMI), which causes the train to fail to run properly. To solve this problem, the EMC test is performed on the PWM encoder to identify the coupling path and the type of interference source. The EMI coupling model and the vehicle-catenary-rail model are established by using an electromagnetic transients program (EMTP) to analyze the mechanism of interference coupling. It is shown that the unbalanced voltage of the train body caused by the backflow of the grounding current is the root cause of the interference of the PWM encoder. The maximum voltage coupled to the internal port of the PWM encoder is about 1894 V, which is sufficient to burn out the encoder. A measure to suppress the interference by installing thyristor surge suppressors (TSS) P0300SC is proposed, which effectively solves the EMI problem of the PWM encoder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increasing demand for simple and efficient sample delivery technology to match the rapid development of serial crystallography and its wide application in analyzing the structural dynamics of biological macromolecules. Here, a microfluidic rotating-target device is presented, capable of three-degrees-of-freedom motion, including two rotational degrees of freedom and one translational degree of freedom, for sample delivery. Lysozyme crystals were used as a test model with this device to collect serial synchrotron crystallography data and the device was found to be convenient and useful. This device enables in situ diffraction from crystals in a microfluidic channel without the need for crystal harvesting. The circular motion ensures that the delivery speed can be adjusted over a wide range, showing its good compatibility with different light sources. Moreover, the three-degrees-of-freedom motion guarantees the full utilization of crystals. Hence, sample consumption is greatly reduced, and only 0.1 mg of protein is consumed in collecting a complete dataset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) functions to maintain cellular and organismal homeostasis by regulating the expression of target genes, including those encoding heat shock proteins (HSPs). In the present study, the gene encoding HSF1 was cloned from the rice pest Chilo suppressalis, and designated Cshsf1. The deduced protein product, CsHSF1, contained conserved domains typical of the HSF1 family, including a DNA‐binding domain, two hydrophobic heptad repeat domains, and a C‐terminal transactivation domain. Real‐time quantitative PCR showed that Cshsf1 was highly expressed in hemocytes. Expression analysis in different developmental stages of C. suppressalis revealed that Cshsf1 was most highly expressed in male adults. RNAi‐mediated silencing of Cshsf1 expression reduced C. suppressalis survival at high temperatures. To investigate the regulatory interactions between Cshsf1 and Cshsps, the promoters and expression patterns of 18 identified Cshsps in C. suppressalis were analysed; four types of heat shock elements (HSEs) were identified in promoter regions including canonical, tail–tail, head–head, and step/gap. The expression of Cshsp19.0, Cshsp21.7B, Cshsp60, Cshsp70 and Cshsp90 was positively regulated by Cshsf1; however, Cshsp22.8, Cshsp702, Cshsp705 and Cshsp706 gene expression was not altered. This study provides a foundation for future studies of HSF1 in insects during thermal stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An improved pedestrian delay model was proposed for signalized intersections with a two-stage crossing in this paper. This delay model considers the pedestrian physical queuing length when they are waiting on the curbside and the refuge island. It can significantly improve the estimation accuracy of the second-stage delay for pedestrians. The shock wave theory and a triangular-shaped fundamental diagram were used to model pedestrian queue formation and dissipation. The proposed model is presented in a general form for estimating the first-stage delay and second-stage delay classified in 12 different scenarios. The model was compared with the existing two-stage delay model by microscopic simulations with different signal settings and pedestrian volume settings. Results show our modified model is more accurate than the existing model under medium and high pedestrian arrival rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although multiple vital genes with strong effects on the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) ripening process have been identified via the positional cloning of ripening mutants and cloning of ripening-related transcription factors (TFs), recent studies suggest that it is unlikely that we have fully characterized the gene regulatory networks underpinning this process. Here, combining comparative transcriptomics and expression QTLs, we identified 16 candidate genes involved in tomato fruit ripening and validated them through virus-induced gene silencing analysis. To further confirm the accuracy of the approach, one potential ripening regulator, SlWD40 (WD-40 repeats), was chosen for in-depth analysis. Co-expression network analysis indicated that master regulators such as RIN (ripening inhibitor) and NOR (nonripening) as well as vital TFs including FUL1 (FRUITFUL1), SlNAC4 (NAM, ATAF1,2, and CUC2 4), and AP2a (Activating enhancer binding Protein 2 alpha) strongly co-expressed with SlWD40. Furthermore, SlWD40 overexpression and RNAi lines exhibited substantially accelerated and delayed ripening phenotypes compared with the wild type, respectively. Moreover, transcriptome analysis of these transgenics revealed that expression patterns of ethylene biosynthesis genes, phytoene synthase, pectate lyase, and branched chain amino transferase 2, in SlWD40-RNAi lines were similar to those of rin and nor fruits, which further demonstrated that SlWD40 may act as an important ripening regulator in conjunction with RIN and NOR. These results are discussed in the context of current models of ripening and in terms of the use of comparative genomics and transcriptomics as an effective route for isolating causal genes underlying differences in genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a radiation model is proposed to estimate the emission of the pantograph arc. An improved least-square regression analysis method is given for studying the pantograph arc characteristics at various sites on electrified railways and at various train speeds. The radiation model and the improved leastsquare method were both validated using the test data. The impact of arc on the airport instrument landing system (ILS) was investigated using electromagnetic wave propagation theory and the signal-to-noise ratio requirement of the ILS. We deduced the position limit of the articulated neutral section (ANS) and verified it through experiments. This research provides a theoretical foundation and technological methodology for civil aviation and high-speed railway electromagnetic compatibility studies as well as helps for airport site selection and highspeed railway route planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transient current pulse (TCP) caused by the traction network short-circuit fault (TNSF) will produce a high-strength transient electromagnetic field (TEMF). The electromagnetic field will interfere with nearby weak current equipment through the shielded cable. In this paper, a transient circuit model (TCM) for the short-circuit traction network is proposed to calculate the transient current. The short circuit is equivalent to a ring, and the TEMF transient electromagnetic field is calculated based on the magnetic dipole. The current response of the TEMF transient electromagnetic field on the shielded cable is deduced based on the transmission line theory and verified by experiments. The electromagnetic interference (EMI) of a TEMF transient electromagnetic field to the shielded cable terminal load were was studied under various incidence angles, azimuth angles, and polarization angles. The results demonstrate that the greater the incident angle and azimuth angle, the greater the EMI on the terminal load. The horizontal distance between the shielded cable head and the shortcircuit point should be greater than 6 m, and the incident angle should be greater than 45°. This method can provide a theoretical basis for the electromagnetic compatibility research of traction power supply systems and their nearby weak current equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the electromagnetic interference (EMI) of the signal shielded cable in the rail weighbridge, the interference source is analyzed on the basis of the field measurement and investigation, and methods of suppressing the crosstalk voltage of the shielded cable are proposed. First, the capacitive coupling model between the power line and the shielded cable is established, and the coupling model between the shielded layer and the core is developed. Later, the distribution parameters of the multi-conductor transmission line system are extracted by the commercial software ANSYS based on the finite element method. Then the coupling voltages of the shielded layer and the core can be calculated; compared with the measured results, the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed method are verified. Finally, the EMI suppression methods are proposed and its effectiveness is verified. The EMI of the shielded cable is very common in engineering, and this method has a good reference value for solving the similar problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Anemia is prevalent in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and has been linked to impaired outcomes after the procedure. Few studies have evaluated the impact of anemia and new ischemic lesions post TAVR. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 158 patients who received TAVR in our center. Anemia was defined according to the World Health Organization criteria as hemoglobin <12 g/dL in women and <13 g/dL in men. All patients underwent diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) procedure before and within 4-7 days after TAVR. RESULTS: Anemia was present in 85 (53.8%) patients who underwent TAVR, and 126 (79.7%) patients had 718 new DW-MRI positive lesions with a mean of 4.54±5.26 lesions per patient. The incidence of new ischemic lesions was 81.2% in patients with anemia versus 78.1% in patients without anemia (P=0.629). Moreover, anemic patients had bigger total volume/lesions in the anterior cerebral artery/middle cerebral artery (ACA/MCA) and MCA regions compared to the non-anemic patients (31.89±55.78 mm3 vs. 17.08±37.39 mm3, P=0.049; and 54.54±74.72 mm3 vs. 33.75±46.03 mm3, P=0.034). Anemia was independently associated with the volume/lesion in the ACA/MCA (ß=16.796, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 2.001 to 31.591, P=0.026) and in the MCA zone (ß=0.020, 95% CI 0.001 to 0.040, P=0.041). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with pre-procedural anemia may have bigger total volume/lesions in the ACA/MCA and MCA regions compared to the non-anemic patients. Whether the consequences of bigger total volume/lesions impact neurological and cognitive outcomes remains to be investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXene) quantum dots (QDs) are potentially important for versatile applications, including ultra‐narrow photonics. Here, a simple method for controlling the sizes and solution concentrations of Ti2C‐MXene‐QDs are shown, and then their optical properties are systematically investigated and compared. The nonlinear optical characteristics of QDs can be adjusted through the QD size and solution concentration. QDs with smaller sizes of 1–3 nm have stronger absorptivity, larger modulation depth and lower nonsaturable loss, and QDs with higher concentrations have stronger absorptivity and larger modulation depth but higher nonsaturable loss. These QDs are further applied to construct loop‐cavity ultranarrow lasers whose narrowest laser linewidth is 624.5 Hz, highest signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) is 77.63 dB and lowest power fluctuation is 0.4%. A comparison of these indicators indicates that smaller and more homogeneous MXene QD solutions with proper concentrations favor ultra‐narrow photonics. The laser power is also amplified to ≈60 mW by an erbium‐doped fiber amplifier (EDFA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We used U-shaped convolutional neural network (U_Net) multi-constraint image segmentation method to compare the diagnosis and imaging characteristics of tuberculosis and tuberculosis with lung cancer patients with Computed Tomography (CT). Methods: We selected 160 patients with tuberculosis from the severity scoring (SVR) task is provided by Image CLEF Tuberculosis 2019. According to the type of diagnosed disease, they were divided into tuberculosis combined with lung cancer group and others group, all patients were given chest CT scan, and the clinical manifestations, CT characteristics, and initial suspected diagnosis and missed diagnosis of different tumor diameters were observed and compared between the two groups. Results: There were more patients with hemoptysis and hoarseness in pulmonary tuberculosis combined with lung cancer group than in the pulmonary others group (P<0.05), and the other symptoms were not significantly different (P>0.05). Tuberculosis combined with lung cancer group had fewer signs of calcification, streak shadow, speckle shadow, and cavitation than others group; however, tuberculosis combined with lung cancer group had more patients with mass shadow, lobular sign, spines sign, burr sign and vacuole sign than others group. Conclusion: The symptoms of hemoptysis and hoarseness in pulmonary tuberculosis patients need to consider whether the disease has progressed and the possibility of lung cancer lesions. CT imaging of pulmonary tuberculosis patients with lung cancer usually shows mass shadows, lobular signs, spines signs, burr signs, and vacuoles signs. It can be used as the basis for its diagnosis. Simultaneously, the U-Net-based segmentation method can effectively segment the lung parenchymal region, and the algorithm is better than traditional algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An effective regulation of the magnetism and interface of ferromagnetic materials is not only of great scientific significance, but also has an urgent need in modern industry. In this work, by using the first-principles calculations, we demonstrate an effective approach to achieve non-volatile electrical control of ferromagnets, which proves this idea in multiferroic heterostructures of ferromagnetic LaTiO3 and ferroelectric BiFeO3. The results show that the magnetic properties and two-dimensional electron gas concentrations of LaTiO3 films can be controlled by changing the polarization directions of BiFeO3. The destroyed symmetry being introduced by ferroelectric polarization of the system leads to the transfer and reconstruction of the Ti-3d electrons, which is the fundamental reason for the changing of magnetic properties. This multiferroic heterostructures will pave the way for non-volatile electrical control of ferromagnets and have potential applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Casting speed, casting temperature and secondary cooling water flow rate are the main process parameters affecting the DC casting process. These parameters significantly influence the flow and temperature fields during casting, which are crucial for the quality of the ingot and can determine the success or failure of the casting operation. Numerical simulation, with the advantages of low cost, rapid execution, and visualized results, is an important method to study and optimize the DC casting process. In the present work, a simulation model of DC casting 2024 aluminum alloy was established, and the reliability of the model was verified. Then, the influence of casting parameters on flow field and temperature field was studied in detail by numerical simulation method. Results show that with the increase of casting speed, the melt flow becomes faster, the depths of slurry zone and mushy zone increase, and the variation of slurry zone depth is greater than that of mushy zone. With an increase in casting temperature, the melt flow rate increases, the depth of the slurry zone becomes shallower, and the depth of the mushy zone experiences only minor changes. The simulation results further indicate that the increase of the flow rate of the secondary cooling water slightly reduces the depths of both slurry and mushy zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electromagnetic interference (EMI) of the pantograph-catenary arc (PCA) to the main navigation stations will be affected when the speed of the high-speed train is changed. In order to study the influence of the speed change, we measured and analyzed the electric field intensity of the PCA generated at common and neutral section of power supply line at different train speeds. The frequency range in this study is the frequency of the main navigation stations (108 ~ 336 MHz). Both theoretical and experimental results show that PCA radiation increases with the increase of train speed. Besides, we calculated the maximum train speed without interfering the navigation signal. This work is useful for estimating EMI of the PCA at different train speeds and mitigating the interference to the navigation station near the high-speed railway by proposing corresponding speed limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the discovery of α-phase Bi2Te3, Sb2Te3, and Bi2Te3 as 3D topological insulators, many experimental and theoretical studies of A2B3-type chalcogenides have been performed to search for new materials with interesting elastic and electric properties at ambient and extreme conditions. In this study, high-pressure properties of Ga2S3 have been characterized by in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray absorption near edge structure measurements, and Density-functional theory (DFT) calculations. At ∼16.0 GPa, a phase transition of α'-Ga2S3 (Cc and Z=4) is observed experimentally to a new polymorph, which is indentified to be the tetradymite-type or α-Bi2Te3-type crystal structure (R∼3 m and Z=3) by laser-annealing XRD experiments and DFT calculations. The isothermal pressure-volume relationship of Ga2S3 is well described by the second-order Birch-Murnaghan equation of state with K0=59(2) GPa and K0' =4 (fixed) for the α'- Ga2S3, and K0=91(3) GPa, and K0' =4 (fixed) for the tetradymite-type phase. In addition, band gap of α'-Ga2S3 decreases on compression and the tetradymite-type Ga2S3 exhibits metallization based on DFT calculations. The pressure-induced phase transition accompanying by changes of elastic and electrical properties may give some implications to other chalcogenides under high pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There will be the pantograph-catenary arc (PCA) when the pantograph of a high-speed train is separated from the power supply line, and the electromagnetic interference (EMI) caused by the PCA can affect speed sensors of the train. To study the influence of the PCA, firstly, the traction control unit (TCU) speed sensor of the high-speed train is researched. The result shows both overvoltage and electromagnetic radiation (EMR) generated by the PCA can influence the signal of speed sensor. Secondly, the composite model of the train is established. Then, the interference of the PCA on the TCU speed sensor is verified. The results of practical measurements show the PCA causes a maximum overvoltage of 680 V on train body (TB) and increases the magnetic field around TB to a maximum of 58 dBµA/m. This is the reason of sensor malfunction, which is consistent with the theoretical and simulation results. Finally, the methods to reduce the EMI of the PCA are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underwater gas escape is widespread in the marine and industrial fields and the low-velocity gas caused by trace gas escape is difficult to be detected or measured. An underwater low-velocity gas flow measurement method based on passive acoustics with stable volume resolution is proposed in this paper. The elastic wave signal generated by the underwater gas is acquired by a hydrophone and filtered by the wavelet packet filtering method. The flow rate can be cumulatively estimated by the relationship between the bubble and the spectrum characteristics. The volume resolution of the bubble is stable, which is achieved by adjusting the signal frequency resolution. This method is adaptive to the processing of bubbles in different volumes. The stable volume resolution is helpful to reduce the random error for the cumulative continuous bubble volume estimation. Underwater gas leakage experimental platforms were established under laboratory conditions and lake conditions. The results show that the method has high accuracy and stability. For a single bubble and low-velocity flow conditions under laboratory conditions, the minimum error is 0.3% and the maximum error is 3.9% between 5 and 25 ml min−1. For the low-velocity flow under lake conditions, the minimum error is 0.8% and the maximum error is 8% between 10 and 60 ml min−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sample delivery system is one of the key parts of serial crystallography. It is the main limiting factor affecting the application of serial crystallography. At present, although a variety of useful sample delivery systems have been developed for serial crystallography, it still remains the focus of the field to further improve the performance and efficiency of sample delivery. In existing sample delivery technologies, samples are usually delivered in linear motion. Here we show that the samples can also be delivered using circular motion, which is a novel motion mode never tested before. In this paper, we report a microfluidic rotating-target sample delivery device, which is characterized by the circular motion of the samples, and verify the performance of the device at a synchrotron radiation facility. The microfluidic rotating-target sample delivery device consists of two parts: a microfluidic sample plate and a motion control system. Sample delivery is realized by rotating the microfluidic sample plate containing in situ grown crystals. This device offers significant advantages, including a very wide adjustable range of delivery speed, low background noise, and low sample consumption. Using the microfluidic rotating-target device, we carried out in situ serial crystallography experiments with lysozyme and proteinase K as model samples at the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, and performed structural determination based on the serial crystallographic data. The results showed that the designed device is fully compatible with the synchrotron radiation facility, and the structure determination of proteins is successful using the serial crystallographic data obtained with the device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to investigate the influence of structure parameters on giant-magnetoimpedance (GMI) effect measured by non-contact method. Design/methodology/approach: The GMI sensor contains a Co-based internal magnetic core fabricated by laser cutting and an external solenoid. The influences of magnetic permeability of magnetic core and structure parameters on GMI effect were calculated in theoretical model. The output impedance, resistance, reactance and GMI ratio were measured by non-contact method using impedance analyzer. Findings: Enhancing external magnetic field intensity can decrease the magnetic permeability of core, which has vital influences on the magnetic property and the output response of GMI sensor. In addition, increasing the width of magnetic core and the number of solenoid turns can increase the maximum GMI ratio. The maximum GMI ratio is 3,230% with core width of 6 mm and solenoid turns of 200. Originality/value: Comparing with traditional contact-measured GMI sensor, the maximum GMI ratio and the magnetic field sensitivity are improved and the power consumption is decreased in non-contact measured GMI sensor. GMI sensor measured by non-contact method has a wide range of potential applications in ultra-sensitive magnetic field detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial electronic skin and wearable sensor are mainly based on the technology of flexible sensors responding to environmental stimuli. This research develops a new elastomer of starch-polyvinyl alcohol double network with high flexibility and sensing capability. The starch-polyvinyl alcohol elastomer (SPE) enables accurate monitoring of strain, temperature and humidity changes with high precision. The gauge factor of SPE for strain reached 1.67, and the sensitivities to temperature and humidity reached 8.48 × 10 −6 S/cm per Celsius degree and 9.9 × 10 −6 S/cm per RH%, respectively. These characteristics make SPE a promising candidate for artificial electronic skin and wearable sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deciphering protein‐protein interactions (PPIs) is fundamental for understanding signal transduction pathways in plants. The split firefly luciferase (Fluc) complementation (SLC) assay has been widely used for analyzing PPIs. However, concern has risen about the bulky halves of Fluc interfering with the functions of their fusion partners. Nano luciferase (Nluc) is the smallest substitute for Fluc with improved stability and luminescence. Here, we developed a dual‐use system enabling the detection of PPIs through the Nluc‐based SLC and co‐immunoprecipitation assays. This was realized by coexpression of two proteins under investigation in fusion with the HA‐ or FLAG‐tagged Nluc halves, respectively. We validated the robustness of this system by reproducing multiple previously documented PPIs in protoplasts or Agrobacterium‐transformed plants. We next applied this system to evaluate the homodimerization of Arabidopsis CERK1, a coreceptor of fungal elicitor chitin, and its heterodimerization with other homologs in the absence or presence of chitin. Moreover, split fragments of Nluc were fused to two cytosolic ends of Arabidopsis calcium channels CNGC2 and CNGC4 to help sense the allosteric change induced by the bacterial elicitor flg22. Collectively, these results demonstrate the usefulness of the Nluc‐based SLC assay for probing constitutive or inducible PPIs and protein allostery in plant cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal pathogens are major destructive microorganisms for land plants and pose growing challenges to global crop production. Chitin is a vital building block for fungal cell walls and also a broadly effective elicitor of plant immunity. Here we review the rapid progress in understanding chitin perception and signaling in plants and highlight similarities and differences of these processes between arabidopsis and rice. We also outline moonlight functions of CERK1, an indispensable chitin coreceptor conserved across the plant kingdom, which imply potential crosstalk between chitin signaling and symbiotic or biotic/abiotic stress signaling in plants via CERK1. Moreover, we summarize current knowledge about fungal counterstrategies for subverting chitin-triggered plant immunity and propose open questions and future directions in this field. Chitin perception systems in both arabidopsis and rice consist of multiple LysM-containing proteins, which undergo chitin-induced oligomerization to trigger intracellular signaling. An oligomer size-dependent chitin sensing mechanism is conserved across plants and mammals. Receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase VII members are essential players of chitin signaling in both arabidopsis and rice. Both arabidopsis and rice CERK1 proteins play multifaceted functions beyond chitin signaling and may mediate the crosstalk between chitin signaling and symbiotic or other biotic or abiotic stress signaling. Most uncovered fungal countermeasures to subvert chitin-triggered plant immunity involve blocking the generation and perception of chitin oligomers in plant apoplast, whereas fungal cytoplasmic effector-mediated strategies to disrupt chitin signaling inside plant cells remain poorly understood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of cellular elastomer substrates not only reduces its restriction on natural diffusion or convection of biofluids in the realm of stretchable electronics but also enhances the stretchability of the electronic systems. An analytical model of "zigzag" cellular substrates under finite deformation is established and validated in this paper. The deformed shape, nonlinear stress-strain curve, and Poisson's ratio-strain curve of the cellular elastomer substrate calculated using the reported analytical model agree well with those from finite element analysis (FEA). Results show that lower restriction on the natural motion of human skin could be achieved by the proposed zigzag cellular substrates compared with the previously reported hexagonal cellular substrates, manifesting another leap toward mechanically "invisible" wearable, stretchable electronic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Body weight–related traits and feeding behavior traits are important in poultry breeding and production. To investigate the heritability of feeding behavior and their genetic correlation with body weight–related traits in Pekin ducks, 5,594 Pekin ducks were selected. The information about body weight–related traits and feeding behavior from 3 to 6 wk of age were recorded by automatic electronic feeders. The heritability estimates for body weight, residual feed intake, and feeding behavior traits are relatively high (ranging from 0.29 to 0.65).We observed that total feed intake, meal feed intake, body weight at the age of 3 wk, and daily body weight gain had strong positive genetic correlations with body weight at the age of 6 wk. Moreover, body weight at the age of 3 wk also showed a positive genetic correlation with the feed conversion ratio (0.33). Total feeding time, daily feed intake, and feeding rate had significant positive phenotypic correlations with feed efficiency. However, the average interval between meals, the number of daily visits, and the number of meals all had a low genetic or phenotypic relationship with body weight and feed efficiency. In conclusion, our study revealed that body weight, residual feed intake, and feeding behavior traits were all highly heritable traits, and the selection for certain feeding behaviors could improve feed efficiency in Pekin ducks. This study is the first report about genetic parameter estimates about feeding behaviors in ducks based on large datasets and provides solid data for genetic study in ducks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In July 2018, an outbreak of 10 cases of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis infection occurred in Shenzhen, China. Outbreak investigation complemented by whole-genome sequencing traced the source to food ordered online. Our investigation highlights the role of online food delivery platforms as a new mode of foodborne disease transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crystallography has made a notable contribution to our knowledge of structural biology. For traditional crystallography experiments, the growth of crystals with large size and high quality is crucial, and it remains one of the bottlenecks. In recent years, the successful application of serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) provides a new choice when only numerous microcrystals can be obtained. The intense pulsed radiation of X‐ray free‐electron lasers (XFELs) enables the data collection of small‐sized crystals, making the size of crystals no longer a limiting factor. The ultrafast pulses of XFELs can achieve 'diffraction before destruction', which effectively avoids radiation damage and realizes diffraction near physiological temperatures. More recently, the SFX has been expanded to serial crystallography (SX) that can additionally employ synchrotron radiation as the light source. In addition to the traditional ones, these techniques provide complementary opportunities for structural determination. The development of SX experiments strongly relies on the advancement of hardware including the sample delivery system, the X‐ray source, and the X‐ray detector. Here, in this review, we categorize the existing sample delivery systems, summarize their progress, and propose their future prospectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Earth's mantle transition zone (MTZ) is often considered an internal reservoir for water because its major minerals wadsleyite and ringwoodite can store several oceans of structural water. Whether it is a hydrous layer or an empty reservoir is still under debate. Previous studies suggested the MTZ may be saturated with iron metal. Here we show that metallic iron reacts with hydrous wadsleyite under the pressure and temperature conditions of the MTZ to form iron hydride or molecular hydrogen and silicate with less than tens of parts per million (ppm) water, implying that water enrichment is incompatible with iron saturation in theMTZ.With the current estimate of water flux to the MTZ, the iron metal preserved from early Earth could transform a significant fraction of subducted water into reduced hydrogen species, thus limiting the hydration of silicates in the bulk MTZ. Meanwhile, the MTZ would become gradually oxidized and metal depleted. As a result, water-rich region can still exist near modern active slabs where iron metal was consumed by reaction with subducted water. Heterogeneous water distribution resolves the apparent contradiction between the extreme water enrichment indicated by the occurrence of hydrous ringwoodite and ice VII in superdeep diamonds and the relatively low water content in bulk MTZ silicates inferred from electrical conductivity studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of cooling rates on the morphology, sizes and species of primary vanadium-containing phases in Al-10V master alloys were investigated. The results show that the primary vanadium-containing phases with different morphologies and compositions present in Al-10V master alloys at different cooling rates with the pouring temperature of 1,170 °C. When the Al-10V master alloy is solidified in the refractory mold at a cooling rate of 2 °C·s-1, the vanadium-containing phases are mainly plate-like Al10V phases, with the average size of 100.0 µm in the center and 93.2 µm at the edge of the ingot. When the master alloy is solidified in the graphite mold at a cooling rate of 24.3 °C·s-1, the primary vanadium-containing phases are dendritic Al3V phases, with the average length of 297.0 µm for the first dendrite in the center and 275.0 µm at the edge of the ingot. The secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS) is 9.5 µm in the center and 9.3 µm at the edge of the ingot, respectively. When the solidification is carried out in the copper mould at a cooling rate of 45.7 °C·s-1, the primary vanadium-containing phases are also Al3V phases but with smaller size, compared with that prepared at the cooling rate of 24.3 °C·s-1. As a result, the average length is 190.0 µm for the first dendrite in the center and 150.0 µm at the edge of the ingot. The SDAS is 9.8 µm in the center and 4.4 µm at the edge of the ingot, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Chronic viral hepatitis (CVH), a world health problem, is the leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Host immunity plays a critical role in viral clearance, development and progression of the disease. Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells represent an abundant form of innate T cells, which plays an essential role in infectious diseases with releasing cytokine, lysing target cells, and shaping adaptive immunity. Objectives: Although numerous studies showed the immune profiles of MAIT cells in CVH, the results are inconsistent. Thus, we performed a meta-analysis to analyze the immune profiles of MAIT cells in CVH. Evidence Acquisition: PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were searched and 10 studies were included. Data from each study were compared using the standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI). The quality assessment of studies and publication bias were evaluated by Newcastle-Ottawa scale and Begg's and Egger's tests, respectively, and a P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Meta-analysis of the enrolled studies showed that the frequency of MAIT cells was significantly lower in patients with CVH as compared to healthy controls (SMD = -0.90, 95% CI: -1.32 to -0.48, P < 0.0001). In addition, MAIT cells displayed an activated and exhausted phenotype (CD38: SMD = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.38 to 1.13, P < 0.0001; HLA-DR: SMD = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.83, P < 0.00001; PD-1: SMD = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.13 to 1.26, P = 0.02; CTLA-4: SMD = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.40 to 1.54, P = 0.0008) but not impaired function during CVH (IFN- : SMD = 0.04, 95% CI: -0.28 to 0.37, P = 0.79; TNF-γ: SMD = -0.80, 95% CI: -1.77 to 0.16, P = 0.10; Granzyme B: SMD = -0.14, 95% CI: -0.58 to 0.29, P = 0.53; Perforin: SMD = -0.27, 95% CI: -0.87 to 0.33, P = 0.38). Conclusions: In CVH patients, MAIT cells are significantly depleted in the peripheral bloodstream and displayed an activated and exhausted phenotype; however, the reduction of peripheral blood MAIT cells accompanied by activated and exhausted phenotypes may not impair the cytolytic function and cytokine production of these cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to investigate magnetic field anneal in micro-patterned Co-based amorphous ribbon on giant magneto-impedance (GMI) effect enhancement. Design/methodology/approach: The amorphous ribbons were annealed in transverse and longitudinal magnetic field. The influence of different field annealing directions on GMI effect and impedance Z, resistance R and reactance X with a series of line width have been deeply analyzed. Findings: In comparison with GMI sensors microfabricated by unannealed and transversal field annealed ribbons, GMI sensor which was designed and microfabricated by longitudinal field anneal ribbon performs better. The results can be explained by the domain wall motion and domain rotation during annealing process and the geometric structure of Co-based GMI sensor. In addition, shrinking the line width of GMI sensor can promote GMI effect significantly because of the effect of demagnetizing field, and the optimum GMI ratio is 209.7 per cent in longitudinal field annealed GMI sensor with 200 μm line width. Originality/value: In conclusion, annealing in longitudinal magnetic field and decreasing line width can enhance GMI effect in micro-patterned Co-based amorphous ribbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the fabrication of a ridge waveguide in the Tb3+-doped aluminum borosilicate glass by combining the 550-keV proton implantation and the precise diamond blade dicing with a rotating speed of 20,000 rpm. The relative atom displacement of the original structure induced by the proton implantation is simulated by Stopping and Range of Ions in Matter 2013 in the Tb3+-doped aluminum borosilicate glass. The morphology of the ridge waveguide is acquired by scanning electron microscopy. The near-field intensity distribution of the waveguide is recorded by the end-face coupling system, which indicates that the light can be well confined in the ridge waveguide region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate records exhibit scaling behavior with large exponents, resulting in larger fluctuations at longer timescales. It is unclear whether climate models are capable of simulating these fluctuations, which draws into question their ability to simulate such variability in the coming decades and centuries. Using the latest simulations and data syntheses, we find agreement for spectra derived from observations and models on timescales ranging from interannual to multimillennial. Our results confirm the existence of a scaling break between orbital and annual peaks, occurring around millennial periodicities. That both simple and comprehensive ocean-atmosphere models can reproduce these features suggests that long-range persistence is a consequence of the oceanic integration of both gradual and abrupt climate forcings. This result implies that Holocene low-frequency variability is partly a consequence of the climate system's integrated memory of orbital forcing. We conclude that climate models appear to contain the essential physics to correctly simulate the spectral continuum of global-mean temperature; however, regional discrepancies remain unresolved. A critical element of successfully simulating suborbital climate variability involves, we hypothesize, initial conditions of the deep ocean state that are consistent with observations of the recent past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The vetch aphid, Megoura viciae could indeed sequester l -DOPA from Vicia faba in its body. • M. viciae may sequester l -DOPA to help in its melanization process for ecological adaptation. • Internal l -DOPA synthetase of M. viciae is still functional, especially when extra l -DOPA is removed from the diet. Melanism in insects is important for their physical protection, immunoreactions, and sclerotization. The vetch aphid, Megoura viciae (Buckton), has relatively strong tanning in its prothorax, head, antennae, cornicles, and legs. It was hypothesized that M. viciae may sequester the high level of l -DOPA in its host Vicia faba to help in its melanization process for ecological adaptation. To confirm this hypothesis, the amount of l -DOPA in M. viciae was modified and quantified. We first generated a Trifolium repens (clover, low l -DOPA containing) host to cut off the extra l -DOPA intake by M. viciae. The rate-limiting tyrosine hydroxylase gene of M. viciae (MV-TH) was then cloned and analyzed. To further reduce the l -DOPA level in the insect, RNAi was used to downregulate the transcriptional level of MV-TH. Our results confirmed that M. viciae could indeed sequester l -DOPA in its body, and its ample storage of this amino acid could be the reason for the strong tanning of its body. M. viciae reared on T. repens could upregulate its MV-TH to enhance l -DOPA biosynthesis and thus maintain a high level of l -DOPA. The MV-TH repression by RNAi lasted for about 3 days, successfully decreasing the l -DOPA level. Aside from a slight decrease in exuvia tanning, no other obvious change in body appearance was detected in the RNAi-treated insect. Although M. viciae can obtain most of its l -DOPA directly from its original host, its internal l -DOPA synthetase is still functional, especially when extra l -DOPA is removed from the diet. This capability to enhance its shield ensures the ecological adaptation of this insect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing regular hexagonal cellular substrate for stretchable electronics minimizes the disruptions to the natural diffusive or convective flow of bio-fluids. Its anisotropy is insignificant, which is not ideal for mounting on skins that involve directional stretching. This paper proposes an irregular hexagonal cellular substrate with large anisotropy to minimize the constraints on the natural motion of the skin, and establishes an analytic model to study its stress-strain relation under finite stretching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Eckstrom-Adcock iron carbide, nominally Fe7C3, is a potential host of reduced carbon in Earth's mantle and a candidate component of the inner core. Non-stoichiometry in Fe7C3, has been observed previously, but the crystal chemistry basis for its origin and influences on the physical properties were not known. Here we report chemical and structural analyses of synthetic Fe7C3, that was grown through a diffusive reaction between iron and graphite and contained 31 to 35 at% carbon. We found that more carbon-rich Fe7C3, has smaller unit-cell volume, suggesting that excess carbon atoms substituted for iron atoms instead of entering the interstitial sites of closed-packed iron lattice as in FeC[sub x] steel. Carbon may be the lightest alloying element to substitute for iron. The substitution leads to a larger reduction in the unit-cell mass than the volume so that the carbon-rich end-member may be as much as 5% less dense than stoichiometric Fe7C3,. If Fe7C3, solidifies from Earth's iron-rich liquid core, it is expected to have a nearly stoichiometric composition with a compositional expansion coefficient of ~1.0. However, laboratory experiments using carbon-rich synthetic Fe7C3, to model the inner core may overestimate the amount of carbon that is needed to account for the core density deficit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of dividing a collection of physical or abstract objects into multiple classes of similar objects is called clustering. Bat algorithm is a new swarm intelligent optimization algorithm, which is proposed to simulate the foraging behavior of bats and their echolocation ability. The bat algorithm is adopted to solve the data clustering problem and the efficient parameters setting on the bat algorithm is carried out the related research on the pulse rate and pulse loudness. The simulation experiment results show that the reasonable setting parameters can improve the performance of the bat algorithm on the clustering problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cellular senescence-inhibited gene (CSIG) is implicated in important biological processes, including cellular senescence and apoptosis. Our work showed that CSIG is involved in the myristoylation of the serine/threonine protein phosphatase PPM1A. Previous research has shown that myristoylation is necessary for PPM1A to dephosphorylate Smad2 and Smad3. However, the control and the biological significance of the myristoylation remain poorly understood. In this study, we found that CSIG knockdown disturbs PPM1A myristoylation and reduces the dephosphorylation by PPM1A of its substrate Smad2. By regulating PPM1A myristoylation, CSIG is involved in modulating the signaling of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β). Further study of the mechanism indicated that CSIG facilitates the interaction between N-myristoyltransferase 1 (NMT1) and PPM1A. Taking the data together, we found that CSIG is a regulator of PPM1A myristoylation and TGF-β signaling. By promoting the myristoylation of PPM1A, CSIG enhanced the phosphatase activity of PPM1A and further inhibited TGF-β signaling. This work not only extends the biological significance of CSIG but also provides new ideas and a reference for the study of the regulatory mechanism of myristoylation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Senile osteoporosis is mainly caused by reduced osteoblast differentiation and has become the leading cause of fractures in the elderly worldwide. Natural organics are emerging as a potential option for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. This study was designed to study the effect of resveratrol on osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in osteoporosis mice. A mouse model of osteoporosis was established by subcutaneous injection of dexamethasone and treated with resveratrol administered by gavage. In vivo and in vitro, we used western blot to detect protein expression, and evaluated osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs by detecting the expression of osteogenic differentiation related proteins, calcium deposition, ALP activity and osteocalcin content. Resveratrol treatment significantly increased the body weight of mice, the level of serum Ca2+, 25(OH)D and osteocalcin, ration of bone weight, bone volume/total volume, trabecular thickness, trabecular number, trabecular spacing and cortical thickness in osteoporosis mice. In BMSCs of osteoporosis mice, resveratrol treatment significantly increased the expression of Runx2, osterix (OSX) and osteocalcin (OCN) protein, the level of calcium deposition, ALP activity and osteocalcin content. In addition, resveratrol treatment also significantly increased the expression of SIRT1, p-PI3K / PI3K and p-AKT / AKT in BMSCs of osteoporosis mice. In vitro, resveratrol increased the expression of SIRT1, p-PI3K / PI3K and p-AKT / AKT, Runx2, OSX and OCN protein, the level of calcium deposition, ALP activity and osteocalcin content in BMSCs in a concentration-dependent manner, while SIRT1 knockdown significantly reversed the effect of resveratrol. Resveratrol can attenuate osteoporosis by promoting osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, and the mechanism may be related to the regulation of SIRT1/PI3K/AKT pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organizations today can use both crowds and experts to produce knowledge. While prior work compares the accuracy of crowd-produced and expert-produced knowledge, we compare bias in these two models in the context of contested knowledge, which involves subjective, unverifiable, or controversial information. Using data from Encyclopedia Britannica, authored by experts, and Wikipedia, an encyclopedia produced by an online community, we compare the slant and bias of pairs of articles on identical topics of U.S. politics. Our slant measure is less (more) than zero when an article leans toward Democratic (Republican) viewpoints, while bias is the absolute value of the slant. We find that Wikipedia articles are more slanted toward Democratic views than are Britannica articles, as well as more biased. The difference in bias between a pair of articles decreases with more revisions. The bias on a per word basis hardly differs between the sources because Wikipedia articles tend to be longer than Britannica articles. These results highlight the pros and cons of each knowledge production model, help identify the scope of the empirical generalization of prior studies comparing the information quality of the two production models, and offer implications for organizations managing crowd-based knowledge production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A relatively simple design of a terahertz (THz) polarization splitter based on an asymmetric dual-suspended-core fiber is proposed. One core is formed by two intersecting rectangular dielectric strips with dissimilar thickness, whereas the other is a round solid core suspended by crossed dielectric strips with the same thickness. The distance between the cores can be adjusted to ensure a short splitting length and low transmission loss. A THz polarization splitter with a length of 1.27 cm is realized with a low transmission loss of 0.53 and 0.67 dB for the x-and y-polarization modes, respectively. An extinction ratio of about-20 dB and a broad bandwidth of 0.046 THz are demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of cellular substrates for stretchable electronics minimizes not only disruptions to the natural diffusive or convective flow of bio-fluids, but also the constraints on the natural motion of the skin. The existing analytic constitutive models for the equivalent medium of the cellular substrate under finite stretching are only applicable for stretching along the cell walls. This paper aims at establishing an analytic constitutive model for the anisotropic equivalent medium of the cellular substrate under finite stretching along any direction. The model gives the nonlinear stress-strain curves of the cellular substrate that agree very well with the finite element analysis (FEA) without any parameter fitting. For the applied strain <10%, the stress-strain curves are the same for different directions of stretching, but their differences become significant as the applied strain increases, displaying the deformation-induced anisotropy. Comparison of the results for linear and nonlinear elastic cell walls clearly suggests that the nonlinear stress-strain curves of the cellular substrate mainly result from the finite rotation of cell walls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study empirically examines the correlation between the quality of service of airports and that of the dominant airlines at those airports, using the service quality scores of 126 pairs of airports and their dominant airlines from 2013 to 2017. The cause-effect relationship between the service quality of the airports and the airlines was assessed by analysing longitudinal scores of four high-quality airports and their dominant airlines from 2008 to 2017. Results showed that, globally, the service quality of airports and their dominant airlines were highly positively correlated; however, a unidirectional cause-effect relation between airports and their dominant airlines was not identified. These results offer important implications for policy makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symbiotic relationships may provide organisms with key innovations that aid in the establishment of new niches. For example, during oviposition, some species of parasitoid wasps, whose larvae develop inside the bodies of other insects, inject polydnaviruses into their hosts. These symbiotic viruses disrupt host immune responses, allowing the parasitoid's progeny to survive. Here we show that symbiotic polydnaviruses also have a downside to the parasitoid's progeny by initiating a multitrophic chain of interactions that reveals the parasitoid larvae to their enemies. These enemies are hyperparasitoids that use the parasitoid progeny as host for their own offspring. We found that the virus and venom injected by the parasitoid during oviposition, but not the parasitoid progeny itself, affected hyperparasitoid attraction toward plant volatiles induced by feeding of parasitized caterpillars. We identified activity of virus-related genes in the caterpillar salivary gland. Moreover, the virus affected the activity of elicitors of salivary origin that induce plant responses to caterpillar feeding. The changes in caterpillar saliva were critical in inducing plant volatiles that are used by hyperparasitoids to locate parasitized caterpillars. Our results show that symbiotic organismsmay be key drivers of multitrophic ecological interactions. We anticipate that this phenomenon is widespread in nature, because of the abundance of symbiotic microorganisms across trophic levels in ecological communities. Their role should be more prominently integrated in community ecology to understand organization of natural and managed ecosystems, as well as adaptations of individual organisms that are part of these communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Rice (Oryza sativa L.) has two ecotypes, upland and lowland rice, that have been observed to show different tolerance levels under flooding stress. In this study, two rice cultivars, upland (Up221, flooding‐intolerant) and lowland (Low88, flooding‐tolerant), were initially used to study their molecular mechanisms in response to flooding germination. We observed that variations in the OsCBL10 promoter sequences in these two cultivars might contribute to this divergence in flooding tolerance. Further analysis using another eight rice cultivars revealed that the OsCBL10 promoter could be classified as either a flooding‐tolerant type (T‐type) or a flooding‐intolerant type (I‐type). The OsCBL10 T‐type promoter only existed in japonica lowland cultivars, whereas the OsCBL10 I‐type promoter existed in japonica upland, indica upland and indica lowland cultivars. Flooding‐tolerant rice cultivars containing the OsCBL10 T‐type promoter have shown lower Ca2+ flow and higher α‐amylase activities in comparison to those in flooding‐intolerant cultivars. Furthermore, the OsCBL10 overexpression lines were sensitive to both flooding and hypoxic treatments during rice germination with enhanced Ca2+ flow in comparison to wild‐type. Subsequent findings also indicate that OsCBL10 may affect OsCIPK15 protein abundance and its downstream pathways. In summary, our results suggest that the adaptation to flooding stress during rice germination is associated with two different OsCBL10 promoters, which in turn affect OsCBL10 expression in different cultivars and negatively affect OsCIPK15 protein accumulation and its downstream cascade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The doors of China railways high-speed 380BL-type (CRH380BL) electric multiple unit (EMU) at Changchun station in China could not be opened. It was analysed that the traction control unit (TCU) speed sensors were disturbed by the pantograph-catenary arc while lowering the pantograph. To solve this problem, firstly, the electromagnetic interference (EMI) for the second train body (02TB) of CRH380BL EMU where the pantograph-catenary is located at is tested. The results show that the intensity of EMI in space is increased significantly because of the pantograph-catenary arc. The distribution of spectrum of EMI is generally random, but the spectrum is mainly distributed in the range from 5MHz to 10MHz. Based on the test results, the coupling mechanism of EMI for the TCU speed sensor is analyzed in this paper. Then a method of nesting magnetic rings on the shielded cable is proposed for suppression of the interference. It can reduce the EMI about 8dB at the main frequency bandwidth mentioned above with 12 centimeters long Ni-Zn ferrite magnetic rings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pouring position as the input heat source has great influence on the temperature field evolution. In this study, the Flow3D simulation software was applied to investigate the influence of pouring methods (with fixed or moving pouring channel) on AZ91 Mg alloy horizontal centrifugal casting (HCC) process. The simulation results show that the moving pouring channel method can effectively increase the cooling rate and formability of casting pipe. The casting experiment shows that an AZ91 Mg alloy casting pipe with homogeneous microstructure and clear contour was obtained by the moving pouring channel method, and the grain size of the casting pipe is significantly decreased. Meanwhile, serious macro-segregation appeared in the AZ91 casting pipe by the fixed pouring channel HCC process. Compared with the fixed pouring channel, the moving pouring channel can remarkably improve the ultimate tensile strength and elongation of the AZ91 HCC pipe from 142.2 MPa to 201.5 MPa and 6.2% to 6.7%, respectively . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]