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Purpose: To compare the clinical efficacy of mini-open (air/water medium) endoscopy-assisted anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (MOEA-ACDF) and anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). Methods: This study retrospectively analysed the clinical data of CSM patients who received surgical treatment from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2022. Patients were divided into two groups according to the surgical method: the MOEA-ACDF group and the ACDF group. The preoperative and postoperative imaging results at one week and the last follow-up examination were compared between the two groups. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, visual analogue scale (VAS) score and neck disability index (NDI) score were used to evaluate the clinical outcomes preoperatively, one week postoperatively and at the last follow-up examination. The minimum follow-up duration was 12 months. Results: A total of 131 CSM patients who underwent surgery at our institution were included, including 61 patients in the MOEA-ACDF group and 70 patients in the ACDF group. In the MOEA-ACDF group, the postoperative C2-C7 Cobb angle and HAVB were significantly greater than the preoperative values (P < 0.05). In the ACDF group, the postoperative C2-C7 Cobb angle was also significantly greater than the preoperative value, and the C2-C7 ROM and HAVB significantly decreased (P < 0.05). The postoperative neurological function of the patients in both groups improved, and the postoperative VAS score and NDI score significantly decreased. Compared with ACDF, MOEA-ACDF is associated with a significantly larger postoperative C2-C7 Cobb angle and significantly better C2-C7 ROM and HAVB, as well as better clinical efficacy (P < 0.05). Conclusions: MOEA-ACDF combines endoscopic systems with ACDF technology to treat CSM, but its clinical efficacy is not inferior to that of ACDF in the short- to intermediate-term. It can effectively and safely restore the cervical intervertebral height, physiological curvature, and range of motion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Previous observational studies have revealed a potential link between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), but their causal relationship remains unclear. Thus, this study aimed to examine whether a causal link exists between genetically determined NAFLD and GDM. Methods: Utilizing publicly accessible genome-wide association studies (GWAS), a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted. The GWASs data pertaining to NAFLD and GDM were obtained from the UK Biobank Consortium and FinnGen database in primary analysis, respectively. The random-effects inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was utilized as primary analysis method. Several sensitivity analyses were utilized to verify the robustness of the results. Additionally, we also analyzed the causal effect of potential shared influencing factors on these two conditions. Results: The result of the IVW method showed that there was no significant causal relationship between genetically determined NAFLD and GDM (OR = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.90–1.07, P = 0.691). Similarly, our reverse MR analysis failed to detect a significant causal effect of GDM on NAFLD (OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 0.97–1.36, P = 0.118). Sensitivity analyses further confirmed the robustness of the results. Moreover, we found that genetically determined body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, triglycerides, and television viewing time may be positively correlated with NAFLD and GDM, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I may both be negatively correlated with NAFLD and GDM. Conclusions: The current bidirectional MR study failed to provide sufficient genetic evidence for the causal relationship between NAFLD and GDM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Abdominal pain is a frequent adverse event in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE). However, there remains uncertainty regarding the determinants of post-TACE pain. Objectives: We aimed to create and verify a prediction model for postoperative pain in patients with HCC after TACE treatment. Methods: This prospective study included all patients with HCC undergoing TACE in our hospital. According to the time of treatment, the dataset was divided into two cohorts (development and validation) in a3:2 ratio. After TACE, the participants used a visual analog scale to quantify their pain level at rest over a 24-hour period. The age, gender, tumor location, tumor size and number, medication administration route, and presence of portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) were recorded in all patients. Results: In total, 137 (mean age: 60.3 ± 10.1 years; 78.1% male) and 91 (mean age: 61.1 ± 10.5 years; 73.6% male) patients were included in the development and validation cohorts, respectively. Furthermore, 46.0% and 39.6% of the patients experienced acute moderate to severe pain after TACE in the development and validation cohorts, respectively. The tumor location, the drug delivery method, and the presence of PVTT were independently associated with post-TACE pain, all of which were combined to develop a prediction model based on a logistic equation. The discrimination of this risk score was satisfactory in both the development (area under the curve (AUC): 0.693,95% confidence interval (CI): 0.609 to 0.769, P < 0.001) and validation (AUC: 0.652,95% CI: 0.544 to 0.748, P = 0.002) cohorts. There was no significant difference between the two cohorts (difference: 0.042,95% CI: -0.081 to 0.164, P= 0.506). The risk score had good specificity for predicting post-TACE pain in both the development (83.8% (95% CI: 73.4% to 91.3%)) and validation (76.4% (95% CI: 63.0% to 86.8%)) cohorts. Conclusions: The presence of PVTT, the tumor location, and the drug administration method were risk factors for post-TACE dis- comfort. A prediction model based on these risk factors was useful for identifying patients who were vulnerable to post-TACE pain. However, further studies are required to validate these findings and optimize the model's performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GeTe and (Bi,Sb)2Te3 are two representative thermoelectric (TE) materials showing maximum performance at middle and low temperature, respectively. In order to achieve higher performance over the whole temperature range, their segmented one‐leg TE modules are designed and fabricated by one‐step spark plasma sintering (SPS). To search for contact and connect layers, the diffusion behavior of Fe, Ni, Cu, and Ti metal layers in GeTe is studied systematically. The results show that Ti with a similar linear expansivity (10.80 × 10−6 K−1) to GeTe, has low contact resistance (3 µΩ cm2) and thin diffusion layer (0.4 µm), and thus is an effective metallization layer for GeTe. The geometric structure of the GeTe/(Bi,Sb)2Te3 segmented one‐leg TE module and the ratio of GeTe to (Bi,Sb)2Te3 are determined by finite element simulation method. When the GeTe height ratio is 0.66, its theoretical maximum conversion efficiency (ηmax) can reach 15.9% without considering the thermal radiation and thermal/electrical contact resistance. The fabricated GeTe/(Bi,Sb)2Te3 segmented one‐leg TE module showed a ηmax up to 9.5% with a power density ≈ 7.45 mW mm−2, which are relatively high but lower than theoretical predictions, indicating that developing segmented TE modules is an effective approach to enhance TE conversion efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a remarkable role in modulating post-ischemic neuroinflammation. However, the characteristics of Tregs in diabetic ischemic stroke remain unknown. Transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was conducted on leptin receptor-mutated db/db mice and db/+ mice. The number, cytokine production, and signaling features of Tregs in peripheral blood and ipsilateral hemispheres were evaluated by flow cytometry. Treg plasticity was assessed by the adoptive transfer of splenic Tregs into mice. The effect of ipsilateral macrophages/microglia on Treg plasticity was determined by in vitro co-culture analysis. db/db mice had more infiltrating Tregs in their ipsilateral hemispheres than db/+ mice. Infiltrating Tregs in db/db mice expressed higher transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), interleukin-10 (IL-10), forkhead box P3 (Foxp3), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and T-box expressed in T cells (T-bet) in comparison to infiltrating Tregs in db/+ mice, suggesting promoted generation of T helper 1 (Th1)-like Tregs in the brains of db/db mice after stroke. The post-ischemic brain microenvironment of db/db mice significantly up-regulated IFN-γ, TNF-α, T-bet, IL-10, and TGF-β in infiltrating Tregs. Moreover, ipsilateral macrophages/microglia remarkably enhanced the expression of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and T-bet but not IL-10 and TGF-β in Tregs. db/db macrophages/microglia were more potent in up-regulating IFN-γ, TNF-α, and T-bet than db/+ macrophages/microglia. Interleukin-12 (IL-12) blockage partially abolished the modulatory effect of macrophages/microglia on Tregs. The generation of Th1-like Tregs was promoted in the brains of type 2 diabetic mice after stroke. Our study reveals significant Treg plasticity in diabetic stroke. Abbreviations: Foxp3: forkhead box P3; IFN-γ: interferon-γ; IL-10: interleukin-10; IL-12: interleukin-12; MCAO: middle cerebral artery occlusion; PBS: phosphate-buffered saline; STAT1: Signal transducer and activator of transcription 1; STAT5: Signal transducer and activator of transcription 1; T-bet: T-box expressed in T cells; TGF-β: transforming growth factor-β; Th1: T helper 1; TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor-α; Tregs: regulatory T cells. Foxp3: forkhead box P3; IFN-γ: interferon-γ; IL-10: interleukin-10; IL-12: interleukin-12; MCAO: middle cerebral artery occlusion; PBS: phosphate-buffered saline; STAT1: Signal transducer and activator of transcription 1; STAT5: Signal transducer and activator of transcription 1; T-bet: T-box expressed in T cells; TGF-β: transforming growth factor-β; Th1: T helper 1; TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor-α; Tregs: regulatory T cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weather is an essential component of natural resources that affects agricultural production and plays a decisive role in deciding the type of agricultural production, planting structure, crop quality, etc. In field agriculture, medium- and long-term predictions of temperature and humidity are vital for guiding agricultural activities and improving crop yield and quality. However, existing intelligent models still have difficulties dealing with big weather data in predicting applications, such as striking a balance between prediction accuracy and learning efficiency. Therefore, a multi-head attention encoder-decoder neural network optimized via Bayesian inference strategy (BMAE-Net) is proposed herein to predict weather time series changes accurately. Firstly, we incorporate Bayesian inference into the gated recurrent unit to construct a Bayesian-gated recurrent units (Bayesian-GRU) module. Then, a multi-head attention mechanism is introduced to design the network structure of each Bayesian layer, improving the prediction applicability to time-length changes. Subsequently, an encoder-decoder framework with Bayesian hyperparameter optimization is designed to infer intrinsic relationships among big time-series data for high prediction accuracy. For example, the R-evaluation metrics for temperature prediction in the three locations are 0.9, 0.804, and 0.892, respectively, while the RMSE is reduced to 2.899, 3.011, and 1.476, as seen in Case 1 of the temperature data. Extensive experiments subsequently demonstrated that the proposed BMAE-Net has overperformed on three location weather datasets, which provides an effective solution for prediction applications in the smart agriculture system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its dual gas- and liquid-like properties, supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) is considered an excellent solvent for dissolving precursors and penetrating nanoscale pores. After subsequent calcination, uniformly dispersed metal or metal oxide nanoparticles or nanowires can be obtained. Organometallic salts are commonly used precursors in this method because they usually have high solubility in scCO2. Therefore, solubility data are essential for the controllable synthesis of such nanocomposites. This work establishes a facile and accessible method for measuring the solubility of organic solids in scCO2. The solubilities of copper acetylacetonate and cobalt acetylacetonate were obtained at temperatures of 313–333 K and pressures of 11–24 MPa. And the solubilities were within 2.3 × 10−2 to 14.1 × 10−2 g/L for Cu(acac)2 and 6.9 × 10−2 to 13.4 × 10−2 g/L for Co(acac)2. The experimental data were fitted to the semi-empirical model with the AARD values of 4.58% and 2.14% for Cu(acac)2 and Co(acac)2, respectively, and the obtained equations could be used to predict solubility of the same systems in the experimental range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: The cuticular wax layer on leaf surfaces limits non‐stomatal water loss to the atmosphere and protects against pathogen invasion. Although many genes associated with wax biosynthesis and wax transport in plants have been identified, their regulatory mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we show that the MYB transcription factor OsMYB60 positively regulates cuticular wax biosynthesis and this helps rice (Oryza sativa) plants tolerate drought stress. Compared with the wild type (japonica cultivar 'Dongjin'), osmyb60 null mutants (osmyb60‐1 and osmyb60‐2) exhibited increased drought sensitivity, with more chlorophyll leaching and higher rates of water loss. Quantitative reverse‐transcription PCR showed that the loss of function of OsMYB60 led to downregulation of wax biosynthesis genes, leading to reduced amounts of total wax components on leaf surfaces under normal conditions. Yeast one‐hybrid, luciferase transient transcriptional activity, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed that OsMYB60 directly binds to the promoter of OsCER1 (a key gene involved in very‐long‐chain alkane biosynthesis) and upregulates its expression. Taken together, these results demonstrate that OsMYB60 enhances rice resilience to drought stress by promoting cuticular wax biosynthesis on leaf surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Few multicity studies have evaluated the association between cold spells and mortality risk and burden. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to estimate the association between cold spells and cause-specific mortality and to evaluate the mortality burden in China. METHODS: We conducted a time-series analysis with a nationally representative Disease Surveillance Points System database during the cool seasons spanning from 2013 to 2015 in 272 Chinese cities. We used 12 cold-spell definitions and overdispersed generalized additive models with distributed lag models to estimate the city-specific cumulative association of cold spells over lags of 0–28 d. We controlled for the nonlinear and lagged effects of cold temperature over 0–28 d to evaluate the added effect estimates of cold spell. We also quantified the nationwide mortality burden and pooled the estimated association at national and different climatic levels with meta-regression models. RESULTS: For the cold-spell definition of daily mean temperatures of ≤5th percentile of city-specific daily mean temperature and duration of ≥4 consecutive d, the relative risks (i.e., risk ratios) associated with cold spells were 1.39 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15, 1.69] for non-accidental mortality, 1.66 (95% CI: 1.20, 2.31) for coronary heart disease mortality, 1.49 (95% CI: 1.12, 1.97) for stroke mortality, and 1.26 (95% CI: 0.85, 1.87) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease mortality. Cold spells showed a maximal lagged association of 28 d with the risks peaked at 10-15 d. A statistically significant attributable fraction (AF) of non-accidental mortality [2.10% (95% CI: 0.94%, 3.04%)] was estimated. The risks were higher in the temperate continental and the temperate monsoon zones than in the subtropical monsoon zone. The elderly population was especially vulnerable to cold spells. DISCUSSION: Our study provides evidence for the significant relative risks of non-accidental, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality associated with cold spells. The findings on vulnerable populations and differential risks in different climatic zones may help establish region-specific forecasting systems against the hazardous impact of cold spells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the impact of current solution treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the Co-28Cr-6Mo-0.22C alloy investment castings. The findings reveal that the current solution treatment significantly promotes the dissolution of carbides at a lower temperature. The optimal conditions for solution treatment are determined as a solution temperature of 1,125 °C and a holding time of 5.0 min. Under these parameters, the size and volume fraction of precipitated phases in the investment castings are measured as 6.2 µm and 1.1vol.%. The yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, and total elongation of the Co-28Cr-6Mo-0.22C investment castings are 535 MPa, 760 MPa, and 12.6%, respectively. These values exceed those obtained with the conventional solution treatment at 1,200 °C for 4.0 h. The findings suggest a phase transformation of M23C6s+C following the current solution treatment at 1,125 °C for 5.0 min. In comparison, the traditional solution treatment at 1,200 °C for 4.0 h leads to the formation of M23C6 and M6C carbides. It is noteworthy that the non-thermal effect of the current during the solution treatment modifies the free energy of both the matrix and precipitation phase. This modification lowers the phase transition temperature of the M23C6s+C reaction, thereby facilitating the dissolution of carbides. As a result, the current solution treatment approach achieves carbide dissolution at a lower temperature and within a significantly shorter time when compared to the traditional solution treatment methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive stress may have a negative impact on students' performance and learning ability. The aim of this study is to assess the magnitude and associated factors of perceived stress and its consequences among undergraduate students at Salale University, Ethiopia. A self-administered cross-sectional study has been conducted among 421 students of Salale University from April 1st to May 30th, 2018. Multiple linear regressions and Spearman's rank correlation were applied. The overall response rate is 95.49 %. The mean perceived stress score (PSS-14) was 29.97 (standard deviation =7.48). Spearman correlation test has shown that perceived stress is significantly but negatively correlated with grade point average [rs = -0.25 (-0.334 – -0.153)] and year of studies [rs = -0.13 (-0.232 – -0.032)]. Increased perceived stress indices are significantly associated with female gender (P < 0.001), grade point average (P < 0.01), academic stressors (P < 0.01), and psychosocial stressors (P < 0.01). Mean of PSS-14 was high among health science students (31.42 ± 9.37) than agricultural (30.78 ± 7.69) and business students (28.04 ± 5.43), however, there were no statistically significant differences. These findings are sufficient to allow a large-scale study to further help better understanding the stress-vulnerability factors of undergraduate students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, four bipolar deep-blue emitting materials of 2-(4-(9 H -carbazol-9-yl)phenyl)-1-(4-methylphenyl)-1 H -phenanthro[9,10- d ]imidazole (MePPIM-Cz), 2-(4-(9 H -carbazol-9-yl)phenyl)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-1 H -phenanthro [9,10- d ]imidazole (ClPPIM-Cz), 2-(4-(9 H -carbazol-9-yl)phenyl)-1-(4- tert -butyl phenyl)-1 H -phenanthro[9,10- d ]imidazole (BuPPIM-Cz) and 2-(4-(9 H -carbazol-9-yl) phenyl)-1-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-1 H -phenanthro[9,10- d ]imidazole (TFMPPIM-Cz) based on phenanthroimidazole and carbazole group have been designed and synthesized by introducing different electron active substitutions into the N1 position of phenanthroimidazole. The thermal, photophysical, electrochemical and computational properties of four compounds were investigated. All compounds exhibited the deep blue emission and good thermal stability with glass transition temperature (Tg) in range of 126°C–137 °C. Single carrier devices were also fabricated and demonstrated that the four compounds have bipolar transporting properties. The non-doped organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) based on MePPIM-Cz , ClPPIM-Cz , BuPPIM-Cz and TFMPPIM-Cz showed deep blue emission with the Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates of (0.16, 0.07), (0.16, 0.06), (0.16, 0.05) and (0.16, 0.10) and the maximum external quantum efficiencies (EQEmax) of 2.67%, 2.24%, 1.81% and 1.09%, respectively. The CIE coordinates of MePPIM-Cz , ClPPIM-Cz and BuPPIM-Cz is extremely close to the National Television System Committee (NTSC) standard blue CIE of (0.14, 0.08), which is very significant for high color purity full-color display. • Four deep blue fluorescent emitters based phenanthroimidazole and carbazole group were designed and synthesized. • All four compounds exhibited good thermal stability and bipolar charge transport properties. • The OLEDs achieved the EQEs of ∼2%, with deep blue emission close to NTSC standard blue CIE of (0.14, 0.08). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we analyze a resonant coupled wireless power transmission system with a negative impedance converter (NIC). The expressions for the output power of this system are obtained. The constraints of system parameter selection are determined according to the practical limitations of the NIC. The energy efficiency ratio (EER) is introduced to represent the relationship between the increase in system output power and the additional loss caused by the introduction of the NIC. The influence of the NIC on the EER was tested by changing the negative resistance. The experimental results show that the NIC reduces the loop impedance, increases the loop current, and improves the output power of the system. In addition, setting the appropriate parameters of the NIC can effectively increase the EER of resonant coupled radio power transmission by more than 4%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymorphisms of T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing molecule 3 (TIM-3) were reported to be associated with cancer risk and patients' survival. This study aims to investigate the correlation of TIM-3 polymorphisms with susceptibility to epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and patients' outcomes. A total of 700 EOC patients and 710 healthy controls from North China were included. The polymorphisms (rs10053538, rs10515746 and rs1036199) were genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction/ligase detection reaction (PCR-LDR) method. Survival data were available for 339 patients after cytoreductive surgery. The expression level of TIM-3 was detected by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The prognostic value of TIM3 in EOC patients was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier plotter database. The results showed that none of the TIM3 polymorphisms were associated with the risk of developing EOC. Patients with the rs10053538 CA + AA genotype had worse PFS and OS than those with the CC genotype (HR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.05–2.09, P = 0.024 and HR = 1.57, 95%CI = 1.09–2.26, P = 0.017, respectively). The RT-qPCR results showed that the expression levels of TIM-3 mRNA in EOC tissues with the rs10053538CA + AA genotypes were significantly higher than those with the CC genotype (P = 0.006). Analysis using the Kaplan-Meier plotter database showed that high expression of TIM-3 mRNA was significantly associated with shorter PFS and OS in EOC patients (HR = 1.57, 95%CI = 1.29–1.91, P < 0.001 and HR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.06–1.63, P = 0.013, respectively). TIM-3 polymorphisms were not associated with risk of developing EOC. Both rs10053538 and the expression level of TIM-3 mRNA may be associated with its clinical outcome in EOC patients. • TIM-3 polymorphisms were not associated with risk of developing EOC. • rs10053538 polymorphisms may affect the outcome in EOC patients. • The rs10053538 CA + AA genotypes may upregulate the expression of TIM-3 in EOC tissues. • Overexpression of TIM-3 mRNA was associated with poor clinical outcomes in EOC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a spherical rotor gyroscope based on the near-field acoustic levitation (NFAL) principle, which utilizes high-frequency vibration to levitate objects at a short distance near the driving surface. The ultrasonic suspended gyroscope consists of a piezoelectrically excited stator and a spherical rotor. The stator was excited to generate ultrasonic vibration under the action of the inverse piezoelectric effect, provide non-contact support for the spherical rotor, and drive it to rotate with the traveling wave vibration. When the spherical rotor obtained sufficient angular momentum, the driving voltages were changed to induce the standing wave vibration and thus provide a stable levitation force field for the rotor. At this stage, the rotor was only subjected to the effects of gravity and levitation force and the spherical rotor rotated at a high speed to obtain gyroscopic inertia. Herein, the finite element model of the stator was established for dynamic analysis, and an acoustic–structure coupling model was established to analyze the non-contact supporting force of the gyroscope. The prototype was manufactured, and the stator was tested for vibration, and test platforms for levitation height, rotation speed, and gyroscopic inertia of the non-contact ultrasonic levitated spherical rotor gyroscope were built. The stator vibration performance was consistent with the simulation analysis result. The levitation height could be as high as tens of microns at the operating frequency. The rotation speed could reach 5600 r/min, and the gyroscopic inertia was verified. Therefore, the feasibility of NFAL for a levitated gyroscope was verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies and the leading cause of cancer-associated death among women. Anterior gradient 3 (AGR3) is a cancer-associated gene and is similar to its homologous oncogene AGR2. However, whether AGR3 participates in breast cancer progression remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the function of AGR3 in ER-positive breast cancer. In the present study, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR was used to detect AGR3 mRNA expression in breast cancer tissues and cell lines; linear correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlation between AGR3 and estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) expression in breast cancer via GEO dataset analysis; western blotting was used to assess the levels of AGR3, ER and GAPDH; small interfering (si)RNA transfection was used to knock down AGR3 and ESR1 expression; and finally the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay was used to evaluate cell viability. In the present study, AGR3 expression was markedly increased in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer tissues and cell lines compared with that in ER-negative breast cancer. AGR3 expression was upregulated in estrogen-treated T47D cells, whereas 4-hydroxytamoxifen, an inhibitor of estrogen-ER activity in breast cancer cells, downregulated AGR3 expression in T47D cells. Functional assays demonstrated that knockdown of AGR3 using siRNAs inhibited T47D cell proliferation compared with that of the negative control group. Additionally, AGR3 expression was decreased after knocking down ESR1. The present results suggested that AGR3 may serve an important role in estrogen-mediated cell proliferation in breast cancer and that AGR3 knockdown may be a potential therapeutic strategy for ER-positive breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anti-T-lymphocyte globulin (ATG) is frequently used in the induction regimen of renal transplantation, but its dose has not been standardized. In the present study, the efficacy of different ATG-Fresenius (ATG-F) doses was assessed in recipients of renal transplantation. A total of 131 adult recipients of renal transplantation who received ATG-F induction between August 2015 and July 2018 were included. The incidence of biopsy-confirmed acute rejection, graft function, as well as graft and patient survival within 12 months post-transplant, was assessed, and adverse events, including hematologic and infection-associated side effects, were compared between patients receiving a cumulative ATG-F dose of <7 or ≥7 mg/kg. The incidence of biopsy-confirmed acute rejection was similar between patients receiving cumulative doses of <7 and ≥7 mg/kg (7.5 vs. 4.7%, P=0.766). The incidence of infection within 12 months was lower in the ATG-F <7 mg/kg group compared with that in the ≥7 mg/kg group (26.9 vs. 50.0%, P=0.006), but the incidence of pneumonia did not differ between the ATG-F <7 and ≥7 mg/kg groups (10.4 vs. 20.3%, P=0.117). The incidence of urinary infection was higher in the ≥7 mg/kg group than in the <7 mg/kg group (20.4 vs. 7.46%, P=0.033), while the extent and duration of anemia and lymphopenia was similar between groups. There was no difference in graft function, delayed graft function, as well as overall and graft survival between the groups. In conclusion, a moderate reduction in the cumulative ATG-F dose was not associated with an increased risk of acute rejection, while the risk of infection was reduced. Optimization of the ATG-F dose for induction may facilitate the reduction of the risk of infection without compromising the induction efficacy in renal transplant recipients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reservoir evaluation of tight sandstone involves the determination of reservoir properties from samples and logs. In the calculation of water saturation, Archie formula is an important fundamental and connection between log evaluation and petrophysics. Highly accurate parameters of Archie formula are the key to the log evaluation of gas-bearing tight sandstone. At present, there are two methods of the rock-electric experiment to measure parameters of Archie formula: water increment (imbibition) and water decrement (centrifugation). In this paper the experimental measurement of a group of tight sandstone has been designed and the results of the two experimental ways are quite different. In the experiment, the distribution of brine is a main factor affecting the electrical properties of rocks. Fluid distribution model during imbibition and drainage is used to explain the results of rock electrical experiments, and the results are verified by nuclear magnetic resonance measurement. In the end, the Pickett chart method of actual data is used to compute the ranges of the saturation exponent n approximately, then to verify the correctness of the theoretical analysis. The results demonstrate that the centrifugal method is more applicable. In the log evaluation of tight sandstone, the appropriate choice of the method which can get accurate rock electrical parameters is important. Reliable evaluation will provide support for future development of gas-bearing tight sandstone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By analyzing the contact mechanism between the stator and rotor, this study demonstrates that the prepressure on the rotor is not a constant value because of the structural stiffness of the preload structure. In addition, this study explains the driving mechanism of the traveling wave ultrasonic motor under unsteady prepressure and deduces a dynamic model considering the structural stiffness of the preload structure. Furthermore, the relationship between the speed characteristics of the motor and the structural stiffness of the preload structure is obtained through model simulation. The simulation results are found to be in good agreement with the experimental results, which demonstrates the correctness of the dynamic model. Moreover, the output characteristics of the motor can be improved by designing an appropriate structural stiffness of the preload structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Targeting replication stress response is currently emerging as new therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment, based on monotherapy and combination approaches. As a key sensor in response to DNA damage, ataxia telangiectasia and rad3-related (ATR) kinase has become a potential therapeutic target as tumor cells are to rely heavily on ATR for survival. The tumor suppressor phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) plays a crucial role in maintaining chromosome integrity. Although ATR inhibition was recently confirmed to show a synergistic inhibitory effect in PTEN-deficient triple-negative breast cancer cells, the molecular mechanism needs to be further elucidated. Additionally, whether the PTEN-deficient breast cancer cells are more preferentially sensitized than PTEN-wild type breast cancer cells to cisplatin plus ATR inhibitor remains unanswered. We demonstrate PTEN dysfunction promotes the killing effect of ATR blockade through the use of RNA interference for PTEN and a highly selective ATR inhibitor VE-821, and certify that VE-821 (1.0 μmol/L) aggravates cytotoxicity of cisplatin on breast cancer cells, especially PTEN-null MDA-MB-468 cells which show more chemoresistance than PTEN-expressing MDA-MB-231 cells. The co-treatment with VE-821 and cisplatin significantly reduced cell viability and proliferative capacity compared with cisplatin mono-treatment (P < 0.05). The increased cytotoxic activity is tied to the enhanced poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage and consequently cell death due to the decrease in phosphorylation levels of checkpoint kinases 1 and 2 (CHK1/2), the reduction of radiation sensitive 51 (RAD51) foci and the increase in phosphorylation of the histone variant H2AX (γ-H2AX) foci (P < 0.05) as well. Together, these findings suggest combination therapy of ATR inhibitor and cisplatin may offer a potential therapeutic strategy for breast tumors. • ATR inhibition significantly enhances cytotoxicity effect of cisplatin on PTEN-deficient breast cancer cells. • ATR inhibition reinforces the accumulation of cisplatin-induced DNA damage. • ATR inhibition potentiates cisplatin-induced genotoxic stress by disturbing HR-mediated DNA repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 60 weaned piglets (28-day old; [Landrace ×Yorkshire]×Duroc) were used to evaluate the efficacy of Bacillusbased probiotic on performance, digestibility, blood profiles, and fecal microbiota in weaned pigs. The piglets were randomly allotted to three treatments with 4 pens per treatment and 5 pigs per pen. Dietary treatments consisted of: CON, basal diet; BS, basal diet + 0.1% of Bacillus subtilis RX7; BM, basal diet + 0.1% of Bacillus methylotrophicus C14. The average daily feed intake (ADFI) was reduced (P=0.01) in BS and BM treatments compared with CON. The apparent total tract digestibility of energy was increased (P<0.05) in BS and BM compared with CON on day 14. The supplementation of probiotics led to increase (P<0.05) in fecal lactic acid bacteria counts on day 42. In conclusion, probiotic supplementation reduced feed intake, increased energy digestibility and lactic acid bacteria counts and numerically reduced Salmonella counts in weaned pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of expanded diets on growth performance, meat quality, and carcass characteristics in finishing pigs. A total of 80 finishing pigs [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc] were randomly allotted to two dietary treatments: 1) unexpanded corn-soybean meal diets; 2) expanded corn-soybean meal diets. Each treatment consisted of ten replicate pens with four pigs (2 gilts and 2 barrows) per pen. There were no differences in daily feed intake and daily gain throughout the experiment (P>0.05). However, expanded diets decreased feed conversion ratio compared with unexpanded diets (P<0.05). Expanded diets had no effect on carcass characteristics and meat quality with the exception of increased sensory evaluation (color) of meat compared with unexpanded diets (P<0.05). In conclusion, expanded diets can improve feed conversion ratio but have no effect on daily gain and daily feed intake and sensory evaluation of meat color, can be improved when pigs fed expanded diets [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • An analytical hysteretic model for reinforcing bars including buckling is proposed. • Model control parameters are identified using the genetic algorithm. • Prediction equations of control parameters are established by regression analysis. • The proposed model is implemented in OpenSees. • Nonlinear analyses of both isolated reinforcing bars and RC columns are performed. Abstract This paper proposes an analytical hysteretic model for reinforcing bars considering the effects of inelastic buckling and low-cycle fatigue. A strain-dependent post-yield stiffness ratio formula is introduced into the traditional Bouc-Wen model to make it possess the asymmetrical characteristic, so that the compressive stress softening effect generally exhibited by buckling bars can be reasonably described. Meanwhile, the low-cycle fatigue degradation is also contained in the model. Based on the collected experimental hysteresis loops of reinforcing bars, the model control parameters are identified using the genetic algorithm. The corresponding prediction equations of control parameters in terms of physical parameters of the reinforcing bar, such as the slenderness ratio, yield strength and ultimate strength-to-yield strength ratio, are then established by regression analysis. Furthermore, the proposed model is implemented in OpenSees, an open-source computational platform. The effectiveness of the proposed model is verified by performing the comparison with the experimental results of both isolated reinforcing bars and reinforced concrete columns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel semi-supervised segmentation framework based on a spot-divergence supervoxelization of multi-sensor fusion data is proposed for autonomous forest machine (AFMs) applications in complex environments. Given the multi-sensor measuring system, our framework addresses three successive steps: firstly, the relationship of multi-sensor coordinates is jointly calibrated to form higher-dimensional fusion data. Then, spot-divergence supervoxels representing the size-change property are given to produce feature vectors covering comprehensive information of multi-sensors at a time. Finally, the Gaussian density peak clustering is proposed to segment supervoxels into sematic objects in the semi-supervised way, which non-requires parameters preset in manual. It is demonstrated that the proposed framework achieves a balancing act both for supervoxel generation and sematic segmentation. Comparative experiments show that the well performance of segmenting various objects in terms of segmentation accuracy (F-score up to 95.6%) and operation time, which would improve intelligent capability of AFMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reduce the computational cost and storage requirement of global generalized minimal error(GLGMERR) method, in this paper, we propose a truncated version of GLGMERR method, which is termed as incomplete global generalized minimal error method. The proposed approach uses only a few rather than all of the prior computed matrices in recurrences to generate the next matrix. Moreover a quasi-minimum error solution is obtained as well. Finally, we present the numerical results by comparing with the traditional global GMERR method in CPU time and storage requirements to show the effectiveness and advantages of our method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on high-throughput sequencing technology, the detection of gene fusions is no longer a big challenge but estimating the oncogenic potential of fusion genes remains challenging. Recent studies successfully applied machine learning methods and gene structural and functional features of fusion mutation to predict their oncogenic potentials. However, the transcription characterizations features of fusion genes have not yet been studied. In this study, based on the clonal evolution theory, we hypothesized that a fusion gene is more likely to be an oncogenic genomic alteration, if the neoplastic cells harboring this fusion mutation have larger clonal size than other neoplastic cells in a tumor. We proposed a novel method, called iFCR (internal Fusion Clone Ratio), given an estimation of oncogenic potential for fusion mutations. We have evaluated the iFCR method in three public cancer transcriptome sequencing datasets; the results demonstrated that the fusion mutations occurring in tumor samples have higher internal fusion clone ratio than normal samples. And the most frequent prostate cancer fusion mutation, TMPRSS2-ERG, appears to have a remarkably higher iFCR value in all three independent patients. The preliminary results suggest that the internal fusion clone ratio might potentially advantage current fusion mutation oncogenic potential prediction methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To report preoperative planning using 3D printing to plan thumb reconstructions with second toe transplant. Methods: Between December 2013 and October 2015, the thumbs of five patients with grade 3 thumb defects were reconstructed using a wrap-around flap and second toe transplant aided by 3D printing technology. CT scans of hands and feet were analyzed using Boholo surgical simulator software (www.boholo.com). This allowed for the creation of a mirror image of the healthy thumb using the uninjured thumb. Using 3D images of the reconstructed thumb, a model of the big toe and the second toe was created to understand the dimensions of the donor site. This model was also used to repair the donor site defect by designing appropriate iliac bone and superficial circumflex iliac artery flaps. The polylactic acid model of the donor toes and reconstructed thumb was produced using 3D printing. Surgically, the wraparound flap of the first dorsal metatarsal artery and vein combined with the joint and bone of the second toe was based upon the model donor site. Sensation was reconstructed by anastomosing the dorsal nerve of the foot and the plantar digital nerve of the great toe. Patients commenced exercises 2 weeks after surgery. Results: All reconstructed thumbs survived, although partial flap necrosis occurred in one case. This was managed with regular dressing changes. Patients were followed up for 3-15 months. The lengths of the reconstructed thumbs are 34-49 mm. The widths of the thumb nail beds are 16-19 mm, and the thickness of the digital pulp is 16-20 mm. The thumb opposition function was 0-1.5 cm; the extension angle was 5° -20° (mean, 16°), and the angle of flexion was 38° -55° (mean, 47°). Two-point discrimination was 9-11 mm (mean, 9.6 mm). The reconstructed thumbs had good appearance, function and sensation. Based on the criteria set forth by the Standard on Approval of Reconstructed Thumb and Finger Functional Assessment of the Chinese Medical Association, the results were considered excellent for four cases and good for one case. The success rate was 100%. Conclusions: When planning a wrap-around flap and second toe transplant to reconstruct a thumb, both the donor and recipient sites can be modeled using 3D printing. This can shorten the operative time by supplying digital and accurate schematics for the operation. It can also optimize the function and appearance of the reconstructed thumb while minimizing damage to the donor site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the leading journals in building energy studies, Energy and Buildings has witnessed the great efforts in the research community and professional society in advancing the state-of-the-art of HVAC systems since its founding. In this paper, a critical review on the development of advanced, energy-efficient HVAC systems in the past 30 years is presented. Specifically, attention is paid on stratified ventilation, heat recovery ventilation, thermal storage, indirect evaporate cooling technology, and the independent control of temperature and humidity design which involves radiant cooling system and solid/liquid desiccant system. The review covers, but is not limited to, mechanism investigation, numerical model development, experimental verification/calibration, and equipment development. Areas that have not yet been studied in-depth were exposed. The limits and future application potentials of each technology were also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The size-dependent elasticity of a series of nickel cantilever microbeams was investigated experimentally for the first time. The experimental results revealed that the dimensionless natural frequencies of the cantilever microbeams increase to about 2.1 times with the beam thickness decreasing from 15 to 2.1 µm. Furthermore, based on the strain gradient elasticity theory (SGT) and by using the differential quadrature method (DQM) and the least square method (LSM), the experimental results were interpreted and the material length scale parameters in the scale of micron in elastic range were obtained. This investigation will be useful and helpful for the theoretical and numerical simulation of micro-structures and important for the design of the MEMS/NEMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, single-atom catalysts (SAC) have emerged as a new frontier in the field of heterogeneous catalysis owing to their unique properties and minimized metal dosage. Herein, the Pd-ZIF-8 single-atom catalyst was successfully fabricated using ZIF-8 as support, and Pd(hfac) 2 as the precursor using the supercritical CO 2 deposition method. Aberration-corrected high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (AC-HAADF-STEM) images confirmed the formation of uniformly dispersed Pd atoms. Supercritical CO 2 has the advantage of zero-surface tension and high diffusibility, it can carry the molecules of Pd precursor into the micropores of ZIF-8. The dissolution and diffusion of precursor were observed by a visual view cell and the mechanism of the preparation was analyzed. Finally, semi-hydrogenation of phenylacetylene to styrene was performed to evaluate the catalytic activity of the prepared Pd-ZIF-8 catalyst. The conversion rate of 80.7% and selectivity of 92.2% were obtained at 70 °C and 4 h in the semi-hydrogenation of phenylacetylene. [Display omitted] • Pd-ZIF-8 SAC was prepared by supercritical CO 2 deposition for the first time. • A new path for preparing single-atom catalysts using pure ZIF-8 support was opened. • No high-temperature treatment, acids, or corrosive solvents were required during the process. • AC-HAADF-STEM directly confirmed the uniform dispersion of Pd atoms. • Phenylacetylene was hydrogenated with the conversion of 80.7% and the selectivity of styrene was 92.2%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is to restore the intestinal environment of a diseased individual by using of intestinal microbiota from a healthy donor. In recent years, FMT has been developed into a useful treatment method for various chronic gastrointestinal disease. There are already some works attempt to explain the mechanism of this treatment for gastrointestinal diseases in adult patients. However, much less effort has been focused on pediatric gastrointestinal disorders. In this work, we have invited 3 young children with chronic immune-mediated gastrointestinal disorders treated by FMT surgery, and systematically investigated their temporal changes of fecal microbiota after transplantation by 16s rDNA sequencing technology. According to our observations, the fecal microbiota composition of these patients appears obviously interindividual variability and the fecal transplantation significantly increased the species richness in these young patients. The species abundance of Pasteurellaceae was remarkably increased during the FMT treatment in all three patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The non-symmetric algebraic Riccati equation arising in transport theory can be rewritten as a vector equation and the minimal positive solution of the non-symmetric algebraic Riccati equation can be obtained by solving the vector equation. In this paper, based on the Newton-Shamanskii method, we propose a new iterative method called modified Newton-Shamanskii method for solving the vector equation. Some convergence results are presented. The convergence analy- sis shows that sequence of vectors generated by the modified Newton-Shamanskii method is monotonically increasing and converges to the minimal positive solu- tion of the vector equation. Finally, numerical experiments are presented to illustrate the performance of the modified Newton-Shamanskii method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The non-symmetric algebraic Riccati equation arising in transport theory can be rewritten as a vector equation and the minimal positive solution of the non-symmetric algebraic Riccati equation can be obtained by solving the vector equation. In this paper, based on the Newton-Shamanskii method, we propose a new iterative method called modified Newton-Shamanskii method for solving the vector equation. Some convergence results are presented. The convergence analysis shows that sequence of vectors generated by the modified Newton-Shamanskii method is monotonically increasing and converges to the minimal positive solution of the vector equation. Finally, numerical experiments are presented to illustrate the performance of the modified Newton-Shamanskii method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green building design is presently among the hottest research topics in the world. Maintaining a comfortable indoor environment with minimum energy consumption is a challenging task that attracts the attention of experts around the world. With the recent advances in building performance simulation tools, it is now possible to predict and assess building performance at the design stage. Simulation-based optimization of building design is a potential application that connects building performance simulation with optimization algorithms. In this paper, numerous studies on the optimization of building envelope design were assembled and reviewed. Popular optimization algorithms were compared and discussed. Targeted objectives were collected and summarized. Based on the statistical results, the limitations in this research area were identified, and some potential breakthroughs were suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microRNA156 (miR156)-modulated SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE (SPL) is involved in diverse biological processes that include growth, development and metabolism. Here, we report that the Arabidopsis miR156 and SPL3 as regulators play important roles in phosphate (Pi) deficiency response. MiR156 was induced during Pi starvation whereas SPL3 expression was repressed. Phenotypes of reduced rhizosphere acidification and decreased anthocyanin accumulation were observed in 35S:MIM156 (via target mimicry) transgenic plants under Pi deficiency. The content and uptake of Pi in 35S:MIM156 Arabidopsis plants were increased compared with wild-type (Col-0 ecotype) plants. 35S:rSPL3 seedlings showed similar anthocyanin accumulation and Pi content phenotypes to those of 35S:MIM156 plants. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and an electrophoretic mobility shift assay indicated that the SPL3 protein directly bound to GTAC motifs in the PLDZ2, Pht1;5 and miR399f promoters. The expression of several Pi starvation-induced genes was increased in 35S:MIM156 and 35S:rSPL3 plants, including high-affinity Pi transporters, Mt4/TPS1-like genes and phosphatases. Collectively, our results suggest that the miR156-SPL3-Pht1;5 (-PLDZ2 and - miR399f) pathways constitute a component of the Pi deficiency-induced regulatory mechanism of Arabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve a more comfortable indoor environment while still retaining low energy consumption level is an exciting challenge for designers and owners of buildings. In this paper, a silica-aerogel filled super-insulating glazing system was proposed. A numerical study was conducted to analyze the energy performance and visual performance of the proposed glazing system. Two popular building simulation programs namely EnergyPlus and Radiance were applied in the numerical study. In the study of the energy performance, three control strategies (space temperature control, operative temperature control and PMV control) were applied to simulate the occupant’s control behavior toward the air-conditioning system in reality. The result indicated that compared with conventional single clear glazing, the silica aerogel glazing could retain a 4% longer thermally comfort period, while the energy consumption of HVAC system was reduced by 4–7%. The performance of the silica aerogel glazing was almost equal to that of the state-of-art low-e glazing. It is also concluded that as the occupant’s request on thermal comfort got stricter, the performance of the silica aerogel glazing would became better. In the visual comfort point of view, it can be concluded that the glare effect and near-window bright zone could be reduced significantly while indoor illumination level still met the requirement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgrounds and aims MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to be involved in degenerative disorders including Parkinson’s disease (PD). α-synuclein expression is strong associated with the pathogenesis of PD. In the present study, we investigated whether the regulation of α-synuclein expression by miR-214 is the potential mechanism underlying the neuroprotective effect of Resveratrol. Methods The PD mouse model was established with the injection of MPTP (1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine) and the human neuroblastoma cell line, SH-SY5Y, was administrated with MPP+. Results The midbrain of PD mice and MPP+ treated SH-SY5Y cells had the lower expression levels of miR-214 and higher mRNA and protein expression of α-synuclein, which were reversed by Resveratrol administration. MiR-214 mimic down-regulated expression of α-synuclein and its 3′-UTR activity, while the levels were up-regulated by miR-214 inhibitor. In addition, the cell viability, elevated by Resveratrol, was also decreased by miR-214 inhibitor or overexpressed α-synuclein. In vivo , miR-214 inhibitor down-regulated TH+ cells of ipsilateral and up-regulated α-synuclein expression compared with the group treated with Resveratrol. Conclusion The loss of miR-214 in PD resulted in the increase of α-synuclein expression, which was the potential mechanism underlying the neuroprotective effects of Resveratrol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore the anti-hepatoma effect of Gan-Ai-Xiao Decoction (GAXD), a folk remedy. Methods: High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to identify the major chemical components of GAXD ethanol extract (EE). The cytotoxic effect of GAXD EE against HepG2 cells was measured by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. Flow cytometry and Western blot were used to study the effect of GAXD EE on apoptosis and apoptotic proteins (Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3) in HepG2 cells. Xenograft assay was used to evaluate the anti-hepatoma effect of GAXD EE in vivo. Results: Four components were identified in GAXD EE by HPLC. The results of MTT and flow cytometry assays indicated that GAXD EE significantly reduced HepG2 cells viability (p < 0.05) and induced its apoptosis. The results of Western blot assay suggested that GAXD EE down-regulated the expression of anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl-2) and up-regulated the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins (Bax and caspase-3) in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, the results of xenograft assay showed that GAXD EE significantly inhibited the growth of HepG2 cells-induced tumor (p < 0.05) without any effect on the body weight of nude mice. Conclusion: GAXD has anti-hepatoma activity, and the mechanism is associated with apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The title reaction proceeds with acetylenic triflones and isocyanides under mild conditions using copper as a catalyst. This transformation provides an efficient access to (E)-N-alkyl trifluoromethyl alkynyl ketoimines, which are useful building blocks for the synthesis of CF3-containing N-heterocycles, propargylamines, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar radiation through glazing area is one major source of the space cooling load in subtropical cooling-dominant climates. Application of energy-efficient glazing system can significantly reduce the energy consumption of air-conditioning systems in summer, thus has become a hot research topic. In this paper, a super-insulating glazing system was studied, which was formed by two layers of conventional single clear glass panes and a layer of silica aerogel filled in between. Several glazing samples were prepared. The thermal and optical parameters were measured. An annual HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system energy analysis was also conducted based on the space cooling load simulation. The result indicated that in humid subtropical climates like Hong Kong, the application of silica aerogel glazing system can reduce the annual space cooling load by around 4% in a typical commercial building. With respect to the envelope heat gain, the reduction could be around 60%. It was also found that the silica aerogel glazing system performed better if the internal heat source in a building took a small proportion in the total space cooling load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs) constitute a superfamily of NAD(P)+-dependent enzymes that catalyze the irreversible oxidation of a wide range of reactive aldehydes to their corresponding nontoxic carboxylic acids. ALDHs have been studied in many organisms from bacteria to mammals; however, no systematic analyses incorporating genome organization, gene structure, expression profiles, and cis-acting elements have been conducted in the model tree species Populus trichocarpa thus far. In this study, a comprehensive analysis of the Populus ALDH gene superfamily was performed. A total of 26 Populus ALDH genes were found to be distributed across 12 chromosomes. Genomic organization analysis indicated that purifying selection may have played a pivotal role in the retention and maintenance of PtALDH gene families. The exon-intron organizations of PtALDHs were highly conserved within the same family, suggesting that the members of the same family also may have conserved functionalities. Microarray data and qRT-PCR analysis indicated that most PtALDHs had distinct tissue-specific expression patterns. The specificity of cis-acting elements in the promoter regions of the PtALDHs and the divergence of expression patterns between nine paralogous PtALDH gene pairs suggested that gene duplications may have freed the duplicate genes from the functional constraints. The expression levels of some ALDHs were up- or down-regulated by various abiotic stresses, implying that the products of these genes may be involved in the adaptation of Populus to abiotic stresses. Overall, the data obtained from our investigation contribute to a better understanding of the complexity of the Populus ALDH gene superfamily and provide insights into the function and evolution of ALDH gene families in vascular plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the new lower bound for the minimum eigenvalue of the Hadamard product of an M-matrix and its inverse. The new lower bound improves the results of Li et al.[Y. T. Li, F. B. Chen, D. F. Wang, New lower bounds on eigenvalue of the Hadamard product of an M-matrix and its inverse, Lin. Alg. Appl. 430(2009)1423-1431.] and generalizes some corresponding results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feature selection is an important research topic in bioinformatics, to date a large number of methods have been developed. Recently several pathway based feature selection protocols, such as the condition-responsive genes method, have been proposed for better classification performance. However, these conventional pathway based methods may lead to the selection of relevant but redundant genes in a given pathway while missing the other useful genes. Also these methods were limited to binary classification, while in many clinical problems a multiclass protocol is preferred such as the classification of sarcomas. Here, we propose a new pathway based feature selection method named R edundancy R emovable P athway based feature selection method (RRP) for the binary and multiclass classification problems. Three classifiers were implemented to compare the performance and gene functions of gene-based, conventional pathway based, and our RRP method. The validation results suggest that the RRP method is a feasible and robust feature selection method for multi-class prediction problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conducting energy-efficient designs on building window can be a solution to relieving the pressure caused by growing building energy consumption. In this paper, a series of simulation studies were carried out to evaluate the performance of several popular energy-efficient window designs in cooling-dominant climates. Both thermal and daylighting performance were considered during the analysis. Results indicate that among all designs studied, low-e glazing achieves a best performance, while double-layer glazing performs the worst. Energy-efficient designs on the east and west orientations are the most cost-effective in cooling-dominant climates. As latitude rises, the performance of window designs on the south orientation is getting better. It is also discovered that only in area very close to equator performance of north facing window designs is satisfactory. Furthermore, as the reflectivity of blind louver decreases, both thermal and daylighting performances drop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The non-symmetric algebraic Riccati equation arising in transport theory can be rewritten as a vector equation and the minimal positive solution of the non-symmetric algebraic Riccati equation can be obtained by solving the vector equation. In this paper, a remark on the parameter of the relaxed Newton-like method is given, and the range of the parameter is discussed. In fact, the range of the parameter can be lager, i.e., the modulus of the parameter λ can be more than 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environment and development are major issues of general concern. After much suffering from the harm of environmental pollution, human beings began to pay attention to environmental protection and started to carry out pollutant prediction research. A large number of air pollutant predictions have tried to predict pollutants by revealing their evolution patterns, emphasizing the fitting analysis of time series but ignoring the spatial transmission effect of adjacent areas, leading to low prediction accuracy. To solve this problem, we propose a time series prediction network with the self-optimization ability of a spatio-temporal graph neural network (BGGRU) to mine the changing pattern of the time series and the spatial propagation effect. The proposed network includes spatial and temporal modules. The spatial module uses a graph sampling and aggregation network (GraphSAGE) in order to extract the spatial information of the data. The temporal module uses a Bayesian graph gated recurrent unit (BGraphGRU), which applies a graph network to the gated recurrent unit (GRU) so as to fit the data's temporal information. In addition, this study used Bayesian optimization to solve the problem of the model's inaccuracy caused by inappropriate hyperparameters of the model. The high accuracy of the proposed method was verified by the actual PM2.5 data of Beijing, China, which provided an effective method for predicting the PM2.5 concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Middle-East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) causes severe acute pneumonia and renal failure. The MERS-CoV papain-like protease (PLpro) is a potential target for the development of antiviral drugs. To facilitate these efforts, we determined the three-dimensional structure of the enzyme by X-ray crystallography. The molecule consists of a ubiquitin-like domain and a catalytic core domain. The catalytic domain displays an extended right-hand fold with a zinc ribbon and embraces a solvent-exposed substrate-binding region. The overall structure of the MERS-CoV PLpro is similar to that of the corresponding SARS-CoV enzyme, but the architecture of the oxyanion hole and of the S3 as well as the S5 specificity sites differ from the latter. These differences are the likely reason for reduced in vitro peptide hydrolysis and deubiquitinating activities of the MERS-CoV PLpro, compared to the homologous enzyme from the SARS coronavirus. Introduction of a side-chain capable of oxyanion stabilization through the Leu106Trp mutation greatly enhances the in vitro catalytic activity of the MERS-CoV PLpro. The unique features observed in the crystal structure of the MERS-CoV PLpro should allow the design of antivirals that would not interfere with host ubiquitin-specific proteases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the fact that large scale vortices play the substantial role of momentum transport in turbulent flows, large eddy simulation (LES) is considered as a better simulation model. However, the sub-grid scale (SGS) models reported so far have not ascertained under what flow conditions the LES can lapse into the direct numerical simulation. To overcome this discrepancy, this paper develops a swirling strength based the SGS model to properly model the turbulence intermittency, with the primary characteristics that when the local swirling strength is zero, the local sub-grid viscosity will be vanished. In this paper, the model is used to investigate the flow characteristics of zero-incident incompressible turbulent flows around a single square cylinder (SC) at a low Reynolds number range Re ∈ [10, 10]. The flow characteristics investigated include the Reynolds number dependence of lift and drag coefficients, the distributions of time-spanwise averaged variables such as the sub-grid viscosity and the logarithm of Kolmogorov micro-scale to the base of 10 at Re = 2 500 and 10, the contours of spanwise and streamwise vorticity components at t = 170. It is revealed that the peak value of sub-grid viscosity ratio and its root mean square (RMS) values grow with the Reynolds number. The dissipation rate of turbulent kinetic energy is larger near the SC solid walls. The instantaneous factor of swirling strength intermittency (FSI) exhibits some laminated structure involved with vortex shedding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In 2013, Bai and Zhang (2013) constructed modulus-based synchronous multisplitting methods by an equivalent reformulation of the linear complementarity problems into a system of fixed-point equations and studied their convergence. In this paper, we generalize Bai and Zhang’s methods and study modulus-based synchronous multisplitting multi-parameters methods for linear complementarity problems. Furthermore, the convergence results of our new method in this paper are weaker than those of Bai and Zhang’s when the system matrix is an -matrix. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Based on the methods presented by Song and Yuan (1994), we construct relaxed matrix parallel multisplitting chaotic generalized USAOR-style methods by introducing more relaxed parameters and analyze the convergence of our methods when coefficient matrices are H-matrices or irreducible diagonally dominant matrices. The parameters can be adjusted suitably so that the convergence property of methods can be substantially improved. Furthermore, we further study some applied convergence results of methods to be convenient for carrying out numerical experiments. Finally, we give some numerical examples, which show that our convergence results are applied and easily carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]