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Background: β-catenin, acting as the core effector of canonical Wnt signaling pathway, plays a pivotal role in controlling lineage commitment and the formation of definitive endoderm (DE) during early embryonic development. Despite extensive studies using various animal and cell models, the β-catenin-centered regulatory mechanisms underlying DE formation remain incompletely understood, partly due to the rapid and complex cell fate transitions during early differentiation. Results: In this study, we generated new CTNNB1-/- human ES cells (hESCs) using CRISPR-based insertional gene disruption approach and systematically rescued the DE defect in these cells by introducing various truncated or mutant forms of β-catenin. Our analysis showed that a truncated β-catenin lacking both N- and C-terminal domains (ΔN148C) could robustly rescue the DE formation, whereas hyperactive β-catenin mutants with S33Y mutation or N-terminal deletion (ΔN90) had limited ability to induce DE lineage. Notably, the ΔN148C mutant exhibited significant nuclear translocation that was positively correlated with successful DE rescue. Transcriptomic analysis further uncovered that two weak β-catenin mutants lacking the C-terminal transactivation domain (CTD) activated primitive streak (PS) genes, whereas the hyperactive β-catenin mutants activated mesoderm genes. Conclusion: Our study uncovered an unconventional regulatory function of β-catenin through weak transactivation, indicating that the levels of β-catenin activity determine the lineage bifurcation from mesendoderm into endoderm and mesoderm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to ensure the efficiency of power user's requirements processing, an automatic classification method for demand test of power users based on parallel naive Bayesian algorithm is proposed. Polynomial naive Bayes is selected to build Hadoop cluster, and the feature words of power user's requirements are selected through chi square test. The weight of each feature item is calculated by word frequency-inverse text frequency index method, and the weight sum of each category is calculated. The weight sum is input into naive Bayes algorithm to output the text classification results of power user's requirements. At the same time, The naive Bayes classification algorithm is parallelized and encapsulated to reduce the cost of data movement and exchange in the classification process, and improve the operation efficiency of demand text classification of power user. The experimental results show that this method can accurately extract the feature words of power user's requirements, effectively realize the automatic classification of power user's requirements text, and have a more accurate classification effect. The average fitness value of the proposed method tends to be stable after more than 20 training times, and the number of network convergence steps is 7. When the ratio of energy function is about 0.4 and 0.6, the average IU value is the highest. When the required number of texts ranges from 500 to 1500, the delay time of text classification is 0.02 s, and the peak signal-to-noise ratio is more than 33, among which the highest peak signal-to-noise ratio is 42.52, and the normalization coefficient is 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Only a few systematic tack force studies have been conducted on poultices although they are widely used in therapeutic fields. In this study, we evaluated the factors influencing the tack force of poultices using the design of experiments (DoE) approach. The effects of detachment speed, pressuring time, pressuring force, coating thickness, carbomer content, and active pharmaceutical integrant (API) content on adhesion performance were evaluated using 46 response surface designs, after which the maximum value of the stress curve (σmax) was recorded. The results revealed that all factors except pressuring time significantly affected the response (at the 5% level), and two-factor interactions were identified using the DoE approach to evaluate carbomer content, pressuring force, coating thickness, and API content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photovoltaic-battery water pumping systems (PVBWPSs) can provide fresh water and irrigation in off-grid areas. Previous research has focused on direct current (DC) voltage versus frequency to control the speed of a pump. However, the use of photovoltaic (PV) modules with batteries to create a high-performance hybrid system with fixed and variable frequencies of supply power remains challenging, particularly in an off-grid water pumping system with limited power and water supplies. Based on a conventional frequency conversion mode and power balance, this work addresses fixed and variable frequencies under changing solar irradiance conditions for a PV system and a PV system combined with a battery (PVB) mode to improve energy utilisation. According to DC power balance and centrifugal pump theories, a mathematical model of the power supply frequency in the PVBWPS is presented, as well as the loss of load probability (LLP) and pumping coefficient (C p), through which the performance metrics are obtained. The formulated models are validated through the experimental PVBWPS, which includes 2.19 kWp PV modules, a 9.6 kWh battery bank, and a 0.75 kW centrifugal pump. The experimental results show that the root mean square error (RMSE) and maximum relevant error (RE) of the frequency are 0.14 Hz and 0.74 %, respectively. Consequently, the output performances are revealed via software simulation. The calculated results indicate that the maximum pumping volume for fixed-power-frequency operation is 48 Hz, which is 27.56 m3 on a sunny day and 17.63 m3 on a cloudy day. On a rainy day, the maximum pumping volume is 3.27 m3 at 41 Hz. Similarly, the C p values reach maxima of 2.51 m3/kWh and 2.11 m3/kWh at 48 Hz in both sunny weather and cloudy weather, respectively, while on rainy days, the C p peaks at 0.77 m3/kWh at 41 Hz. Moreover, every 1 Hz increase in the fixed frequency mode leads to a rise in the LLP, while the minimum change is at 46–48 Hz for cloudy and rainy days. Furthermore, the simulations revealed that for variable frequency control, the volume of water pumped in the PVB mode reached 40.19 m3, 29.36 m3, and 15.11 m3, which are increased by 4.91 %, 21.83 % and 103.09 % compared with the variable frequency PV mode, and 45.83 %, 66.53 % and 362.08 % higher than in PV fixed frequency mode, respectively. Compared with the PV mode, the system weighted efficiency of the variable-frequency PVB mode is increased by 2.06 %, 4.98 %, and 8.36 % under three weather conditions. This work provides critical theoretical guidelines for the design and operation of high-performance PVBWPs. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ni-P-PTFE gradient coatings were prepared by electroplating and electroless plating. • Gradient coatings can effectively improve the adhesion strength of the coating. • Gradient coatings have little effect on mechanical properties and wettability. • When the concentration is (25 + 50) mL/L, the gradient coatings show the best comprehensive performances. Ni-P-PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) coatings were prepared on stainless steel surfaces to enhance their anti-fouling performance. However, the coatings face the challenge of low adhesion strength due to the complex deposition conditions. To address this issue, gradient Ni-P-PTFE coatings with varying concentrations of PTFE emulsion were fabricated on stainless steels, and non-gradient Ni-P-PTFE coatings were also synthesized for comparison purposes. The surface morphology, cross-sectional morphology, and element distribution in the vertical direction were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy-Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). X-ray Diffraction (XRD) was employed to examine the microstructure of the coatings. Nanoindentation was conducted to evaluate hardness and elastic modulus, while a friction and wear tester was used to measure the coefficient of friction. A coating adhesion scratch tester was utilized for testing the adhesion strength, whereas a contact angle tester determined wetting property characteristics. The results demonstrate that an increase in PTFE emulsion content leads to a reduction in the hardness and elastic modulus of Ni-P-PTFE coatings while gradually enhancing their hydrophobicity. The overall performance of gradient coatings surpasses that of non-gradient coatings. Notably, when the PTFE concentration reaches (25 + 50) mL/L, the gradient coatings exhibit uniform particle distribution, superior friction and wear resistance, and the bonding strength is enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Matrix Gla (γ-carboxyglutamate) protein (MGP) is considered a strong inhibitor of ectopic calcification, and it has been associated with OA severity, although not conclusively. We utilized male Dunkin-Hartley (DH) guinea pigs to investigate the expression of MGP throughout aging and disease pathogenesis in a spontaneous model.Method: Twenty-five male DH guinea pigs were obtained and nurtured to several timepoints, and then randomly and equally divided by age into five subgroups (1-, 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-months, with the 1-month group as the reference group). DH guinea pigs in each group were euthanized at the designated month-age and the left or right medial tibial plateaus cartilages were randomly excised. OA severity was described by modified Mankin Score (MMS) at microscopy (Safranin O/Fast Green stain). Proteomic evaluation using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) was performed to validate the age-related changes in the MGP profiles, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) methods were applied for semi-quantitative determination of MGP expression in articular cartilage.Results: The histopathologic findings validated the increasing severity of cartilage degeneration with age in the DH guinea pigs. The MMS showed significant, stepwise (every adjacent comparison P < 0.05) disease progression with month-age. The iTRAQ indicated that MGP levels increased significantly with advancing age (P < 0.05), as supported by the IHC result (P < 0.05).Conclusion: Increased expression of MGP in male DH guinea pigs was present throughout aging and disease progression and may be link to increased OA severity. Further studies are needed to investigate and confirm the association between MGP levels and OA severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe distinctive pharmacological characteristics of Chinese medicinal herbs are rendering them increasingly popular as functional foods. However, fresh herbs are prone to mold and decay. Currently, drying processing is primarily employed to extend the storage time and effectively preserve the bioactive constituents of these herbs. After examining of the recent literatures on drying Chinese medicinal herbs, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of various drying technologies, including shade drying, hot air drying, solar drying, heat pump drying, microwave drying, far-infrared drying, vacuum drying, vacuum freeze drying, radio frequency drying, high voltage electric field drying and some combined techniques. While, an extensive illustration for each drying method principles, advantages/disadvantages, potential improvements and deep investigation of its energetic performance and the influence on the main active components in the drying process, such as polysaccharides, polyphenols, flavonoids, saponins, volatile oils, were summarized. The results showed that the combined drying technology not only had high efficiency and low energy consumption, but also preserved the bioactive medicinal components and sensory quality at the best. This paper provides a theoretical foundation and vast technical support for enhancing the value of Chinese medicinal herbs utilization and drying industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Posterior cervical expansive open-door laminoplasty (LAMP) is a mature surgical procedure for the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), but there are few studies on the changes in cervical sagittal balance. This study aimed to analyze the imaging and clinical data of patients who underwent LAMP and to explore the effect of this procedure on the cervical sagittal balance. Methods: This was a retrospective study of the patients who underwent LAMP between 01/2014 and 12/2017. The C0–C2 Cobb angle, sagittal vertical angle (SVA), C2–C7 Cobb angle, and T1-slope were measured. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, neck disability index (NDI), and visual analog scale (VAS) were used. Results: There were 69 males and 39 females. The mean age was 61.3 ± 5.3 years. The C0–C2 Cobb angle increased from 11.3 ± 5.5° to 26.8 ± 4.8° (P = 0.186). The C2–C7 Cobb angle decreased from 13.9 ± 8.6° to 10.65 ± 10.7° P = 0.016). SVA increased from 21.0 ± 5.8 mm to 25.4 ± 11.5 mm (P = 0.001). The preoperative average JOA score was 11.1 ± 2.2 points, and the postoperative score was 14.0 ± 2.1 points, with an average improvement rate of JOA of 46.5 ± 3.8%. The NDI score decreased from preoperative 15.6 ± 5.4 points to 11.3 ± 7.9 points, and the VAS score was decreased from 4.6 ± 1.8 points to 3.3 ± 1.6 points (all P < 0.05). Conclusion: LAMP improved the neurological function and quality of life of patients with CSM. The cervical vertebrae show a tendency of tilting forward, suggesting that overextension of the upper cervical vertebra might be used to maintain the center of gravity of the skull and horizontal vision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Space Plasma Environment Research Facility (SPERF) is a new ground-based experimental device for fundamental research studies on space plasma currently under construction at Harbin Institute of Technology in China. Scientific objectives of the SPERF include studying the asymmetric reconnection dynamics relevant to the interaction between the interplanetary and magnetospheric plasmas, reproducing the inner magnetosphere to simulate the processes of trapping, acceleration, and transport of energetic charged particles restrained in a dipole magnetic field configuration, and revealing the physical mechanism of the dipolarization front in the magnetotail. The device comprises a vacuum chamber, 11 coils consisting of 18 groups of sub-coils that are independently programmablely energized, and the plasma source system to provide the magnetic field and the plasma required by the physical experiments. Thus, each of these 18 groups of sub-coils requires a separate pulsed power supply; furthermore, the 18 pulsed power supplies constitute the pulsed power supply system of the SPERF of which the total storage energy is up to 18.3 MJ, and the technical challenges have to be overcome. The power supply energizing a dipole field coil (labeled OJC coil) wired by the copper wire to provide a dipole magnetic field is the most energetic power supply (labeled OJC power supply) with a 2.42 MJ, 16.8 mF capacitor bank charged to 20 kV. The OJC power supply delivers a current with a peak of 18 kA for a rise time of ∼26.69 ms, and the duration of the current is not less than 95% of the peak over 10 ms to the OJC coil. Meanwhile, the most challenging power supply is the power supply labeled poloidal field power supply with a 5.04 mF capacitor bank charged to 20 kV, which provides the excitation current for the load coil set with the current not less than 360 kA at the typical time of 0.11 ms to produce the sufficient growth of the magnetic field that the experiments need. In this paper, the overall design of the pulsed power supply system, the design concept of the modularization, and the principle selection basis of the key components are presented. The technical details of each power supply will be demonstrated in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to generate a current pulse with tens of milliseconds flattop time on an inductive load for pulse magnetic window technology research, a prototype of pulsed power supply is fabricated and tested. It is composed of several pulse forming units with capacitor banks and a thyristor switch and can generate a flattop current pulse by triggering sequentially the thyristor valve of pulse forming units at certain time or adjust a current waveform by altering triggering time of units. The results show that the prototype with four pulse forming units can generate a current pulse with 5 ms flattop time and 35 kA peak current, and its energy transfer efficiency is significantly higher than that of conventional circuits such as parallel capacitor banks or pulse forming networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Quality of strawberry was improved by solar energy adjusting temperature and light. • Strawberry grew better when the PV modules occupied 25.9% roof of greenhouse. • The suitable light range for strawberry under the shade of PV module was obtained. • Solar combined air source heat pump provides suitable heating for strawberry. Strawberry production is greatly affected by environmental factors, especially temperature and light. A solar greenhouse with opaque photovoltaic (OPV) modules and a solar combined air source heat pump system was built for strawberry production. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of differences in both temperature and light factors caused by OPV modules and solar heating on strawberry growth and quality in a constructed greenhouse. The 'Jingzangxiang' strawberry was selected and planted in the greenhouse. The indoor temperature with the heating system was 5.3–7.3 °C higher than the ambient temperature at the coldest period in the city of Kunming. At noon, the chlorophyll content of the shaded strawberry plants was 1.3 times higher than that of the unshaded plants in sunny weather, and the average shaded photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) was 230 μmol·m−2·s−1 in the greenhouse, where 25.9% of the roof was covered with OPV modules. Under this shading treatment, the optimum light range of PAR for the 'Jingzangxiang' strawberry was 387–437 μmol·m−2·s−1, and the optimum temperature range during the daytime was 20.5–27.4 °C. The largest single strawberry fruit weighed 33.9 g, and the soluble solids content of the shaded strawberry fruit was 16.4%, which was higher than that of the unshaded strawberry samples. Furthermore, the yield of the shaded samples was 1.2 times that of the unshaded samples. In summary, strawberry plants shaded by OPV modules were superior to unshaded strawberry plants in terms of growth, quality and yield. This research provides experimental support and information on the optimal temperature and light ranges for the growth of the 'Jingzangxiang' strawberry in solar greenhouse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion was a new technique that leads to improved visualization, improved safety and less trauma than does the traditional procedure. The purpose of this study was to introduce the technique of percutaneous endoscopic posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PE-PLIF) and determine its efficacy. 35 patients with an average age of 52.3±13.7 years were treated with single-segment PE-PLIF. The perioperative parameters and the radiographic parameters were measured. The visual analog scale (VAS) score for low back pain, VAS score for leg pain and Oswestry disability index (ODI) score were used to assess the levels of pain and function. The mean estimated volume of blood loss was 68.6±32.3 ml, operative time was 179.6±31.0 minutes. PE-PLIF significantly reduced the VAS score for low back pain, VAS score for leg pain and ODI score, and improved the posterior disc height, lumbar lordosis angle and segmental lordosis angle (p < 0.05). The rate of satisfaction was 94.3%. One patient suffered a dural tear. There was one case of contralateral radiculopathy that was relieved after conservative treatment. This research suggests that PE-PLIF is a minimally invasive, safe, and effective treatment for degenerative lumbar diseases requiring interbody fusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C22H26Br2MnN5O4, monoclinic, P21/n (no. 14), a = 8.0106(4) Å, b = 14.5925(7) Å, c = 21.0425(11) Å, β = 100.330(2)°, V = 2419.9(2) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0372, wRref(F2) = 0.0766, T = 296.15 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Well-connected neural network in three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds is essential to replicate the neural connections in vivo. The large spacing size in scaffolds enabling cellular entrance through the pores and sufficient neurites across large spacings addresses a "catch-22" problem. Here, this study presents a conductive, interconnected and free-standing 3D hybrid graphene (3D-HG) scaffold with excellent biocompatibility and precise structural controllability. The unique design of two-dimensional graphene film in 3D-HG facilitated the differentiated neural progenitor cells (NPCs) to bridge the spacings between skeletons and promoted the formation of neural networks. Furthermore, skeleton sizes in 3D graphene scaffold have significant impact on the differentiation behaviors of NPCs. This strategy would favor the simulation of neural tissues and expand the use of graphene in neural tissue engineering, providing a powerful tool to explore the physical effects on cell behaviors. A conductive , penetrable, integrated 3D hybrid graphene with excellent biocompatibility and admirable structural controllability facilitated neural progenitor cells (NPCs) to bridge the large spacings and promoted the NPCs differentiation into neural network. Size effects in 3D graphene scaffold have evident impact on the differentiation behaviors of NPCs. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose This paper aims to investigate how form error of journal affects oil film characteristics, which are composed of several parameters including the maximum film pressure, film moment, frictional coefficient and carrying-load capacity.Design/methodology/approach A new generalized equation based on the small displacement torsor theory is derived, as well as its capability of representing types of form error on the journal, using four specified parameters in a three-dimensional (3D) state. Based on the new generalized equation of form errors, the Reynolds equation is represented and solved numerically using the Swift–Stieber boundary condition.Findings The results show that the form errors of journal have significant influence on all oil film characteristics. However, the film moment remains nearly unchanged as film characteristics, especially eccentricity ratio, become large. All film characteristics investigated vary periodically as the form error. More importantly, it is found that the film pressure distribution transforms to an asymmetric shape along the axial direction of the bearing, no longer a symmetric shape in the case of two-dimensional (2D) form errors. It is necessary to substitute the 3D form error model, which takes the variations of the film characteristics in axial direction into account, for the 2D model in the designing stage of journal bearings.Originality/value First, the effect of the form error of the journal on the performance of hydrodynamic journal bearings is studied in the view of the film characteristics systematically. Secondly, the new generalized equation of form error, derived by SDT theory, is capable of representing any types of form error on the journal, not only representing one type of form error merely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) technology is widely used for coating of light metals and their alloys because of the excellent coating properties it provides and its non-line-of-sight treatment which allows forming coatings on substrates with complex geometry. However, non-uniform coating thickness and surface properties may be an issue at different locations on substrates with complex shapes. In order to understand the effect of substrate geometry on PEO coating formation and uniformity, AM50 magnesium alloy specimens with drill holes of various diameter to length ratios were coated. PEO coatings were applied on these substrates in an alkaline electrolyte at constant voltage. Phase composition, coating morphology, thickness and elements distribution were studied at different locations of the drill holes. Complementary, a 3D model describing the processing is built to simulate and to predict the effect of substrate geometry on the anodic current distribution and coating formation using finite element analyses. The model can provide useful information for predicting coating growth and uniformity towards optimized PEO process design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The static ice refrigeration air conditioning system (SIRACS) driven by household distributed photovoltaic energy system (HDPES) was proposed and the energy conversion as well as the transmission performance were investigated by combining the theoretical calculation with experimental test. Results revealed that the system could be operated stably and continuously during three typical weather conditions (sunny, cloudy and light rainy) with an average photoelectric conversion efficiency of 11.76% and an average ice production of 52.56 kg. This system could continuously and stably serve user for 4 h during night. The models were verified to be reasonable and the simulated results were reliable. Meanwhile, the system average energy efficiency η was 7.65%. The performance analysis results showed that the ice making efficiency of the refrigerator was 50.19%, which was mainly responsible for the low energy efficiency. Therefore, to improve the refrigeration performance some optimization strategies were recommended and proposed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnesium has been suggested as a potential biodegradable metal for the usage as orthopaedic implants. However, high degradation rate in physiological environment remains the biggest challenge, impeding wide clinical application of magnesium-based biomaterials. In order to reduce its degradation rate and improve the biocompatibility, micro-arc oxidation coating doped with HA particles (MAO-HA) was applied as the inner coating, and polydopamine (PDA) film was synthesized by dopamine self-polymerization as the outer coating. The microstructure evolution of the coating was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), X-ray diffraction analyses (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results showed that PDA film had covered the entire surface of MAO-HA coating and the pore size of MAO-HA coating decreased. The root mean square (RMS) roughness of PDA/MAO-HA coatings was approximately 106.46 nm, which was closer to the optimum surface roughness for cellular attachment as compared with MAO-HA coatings. Contact angle measurement indicated that the surface wettability had been transformed from hydrophobic to hydrophilic due to the introduction of PDA. The PDA/MAO-HA coatings exhibited better corrosion resistance in vitro, with the self-corrosion potential increasing by 150 mV and the corrosion current density decreasing from 2.09 × 10−5 A/cm 2 to 1.46 × 10−6 A/cm 2. In hydrogen evolution tests, the corrosion rates of the samples coated with PDA/MAO-HA and MAO-HA were 4.40 and 5.95 mm/y, respectively. MTS assay test and cell-surface interactions experiment demonstrated that PDA/MAO-HA coatings exhibited good cellular compatibility and could promote the adhesion and proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Energy assessment of greenhouse is presented based on plant growth requirements. • Mean net photosynthetic rate increases and then drops with coverage area raised. • Daily cooling load reduces by 0.45–1.02 kWh when coverage ratio increases by 10%. • Photovoltaic generation rises by 1.7–3.19 kWh/d when coverage ratio rises 10%. • Coefficient of performance increases and then decrease with coverage areas rising. Photovoltaic (PV) greenhouses are widely used to regulate internal irradiance and air temperature to create optimal climatic conditions for plant growth. Therefore, comprehensive multidomain energy models of PV greenhouses are more likely needed to improve the system performance. However, few studies investigate optical-electrical-thermal characteristics and PV greenhouse evaluation indicators based on crop growth requirements. The aim of this work is to develop coupled optical-electrical-thermal models to assess the energy performance of the PV greenhouse with different PV roof coverage ratios during the summer months. In addition, the models of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and net photosynthetic rate (P N) are presented based on the irradiance and temperature of the PV greenhouse to evaluate the dynamic response of crops to interior climate conditions. The models are validated with experiments on the PV greenhouse in Kunming, with a total area of 26.25 m2. The electricity supply and demand systems include PV modules (3.285 kWp), a battery bank (24 kWh), an air–water heat pump (AWHP), and spray combined with fan cooling. Two cooling scenarios are analysed and compared by varying the PV module coverage ratio. Scenario 1 (S.1) is AWHP cooling, and scenario 2 (S.2) is spray combined with fan cooling. The optimum interior temperature and PAR of the PV greenhouse are 22 °C and 300 μmol·m−2·s−1, respectively. The simulations indicate that if the proportion of the PV layout on the greenhouse roof is greater than 20%, the year-round PAR inside the greenhouse will be below the threshold value of 550 μmol·m−2·s−1 at which the strawberry P N is saturated. For every 10% increase in PV roof coverage, the interior air temperature decreases by 0.02–0.56 °C corresponding to a daily cooling load reduction of 0.45–1.02 kWh/d, while the PV generation increases by 1.7–3.19 kWh/d and the maximum electricity consumption of S.1 and S.2 drops by 0.66 kWh/d and 0.52 kWh/d, respectively. Moreover, the high self-consumption-sufficiency balance (SCSB) values show that the PV and battery sizes are 2.22–2.78 kWp (40–50% coverage) and 15.72–15.75 kWh for S.1, and those in S.2 are 1.11–1.67 kWp (10–30% coverage) and 0.66–3.22 kWh. The coefficient of performance (COP) of the system reaches a maximum of 0.45–1.12 at 40% coverage in S.1 and 1.88–3.01 at 10–30% coverage in S.2. When the PV module coverage is 40% in S.1, the levelized costs of electricity (LCOE) and levelized costs of cooling (LCOC) are the lowest at 0.0760USD/kWh el and 0.0693USD/kWh c. Similarly, the lowest LCOE and LCOC of S.2 are 0.0306USD/kWh el and 0.0210USD/kWh c, as the PV module coverage is 30%. The study will be beneficial for applying photovoltaic modules, battery banks, and cooling technologies in the greenhouse, especially considering the dynamic crop response to internal climates and the energy performance assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) process is employed to coat AM50 magnesium alloy in an alkaline phosphate solution applying constant voltage. Effects of treatment time on the morphology, composition and thickness of the resulting coatings are investigated by XRD and SEM respectively. Based on the analysis of the experimental results, a mathematical model is developed to simulate PEO coating growth including porosity and coating thickness. It is assumed that the current density of electrical discharges generated at the bottom of the pores remains constant and the coating growth is determined by Faraday’s law. This model describes a 2D transient finite element approach including necessary physical system parameters in mathematically coupled conditions. It demonstrates how the coating thickness is affected by current density, phase composition and porosity. The model reproduces the PEO process reasonably well and simulation results are in good agreement with experimental results, especially for predicted coating thicknesses. Although the model has a drawback in describing the oxygen release and hydroxyl ion concentration due to an empirical kinetic description, it may still be a useful tool in explaining and predicting PEO coating growth on magnesium alloy under constant DC voltage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and cervical arthroplasty for patients with cervical spondylosis.Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were used to search for relevant articles published prior to April 2016 to identify studies comparing ACDF and cervical arthroplasty involving patients with cervical spondylosis. Relative risks (RR) and mean differences (MD) were used to measure the efficacy and safety of ACDF and cervical arthroplasty using the random effects model.Results: The meta-analysis of 17 studies involved 3122 patients diagnosed with cervical spondylosis. Patients undergoing ACDF showed lower overall success rate (RR 0.84; 95 % CI 0.77-0.92; P < 0.001), higher VAS score (MD 0.36; 95 % CI 0.08-0.64; P = 0.011), and shorter mean surgical duration (MD -1.62; 95 % CI -2.80 to -0.44; P = 0.007) when compared with cervical arthroplasty. However, the association between ACDF therapy and the risk of mean blood loss (MD -0.16; 95 % CI -0.34 to 0.02; P = 0.082), mean hospitalization (MD 0.02; 95 % CI -0.31 to 0.36; P = 0.901), patient satisfaction (RR 0.96; 95 % CI 0.92-1.00; P = 0.066), neck disability index (MD 0.20; 95 % CI -0.05 to 0.44; P = 0.113), reoperation (RR 1.25; 95 % CI 0.64-2.41; P = 0.514), or complication (RR 1.17; 95 % CI 0.90-1.52; P = 0.242) was not statistically significant.Conclusions: Patients undergoing ACDF therapy tended to exhibit lower overall success rate, higher VAS score, and decreased mean surgical duration when compared with patients treated with cervical arthroplasty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the effects of two different sulfurization processes on the CZTS films were investigated, and the results indicated that a rapid high-temperature crystallization process after sulfurization was beneficial for CZTS thin films to obtain a compact and flat surface with large grains. However, a common sulfurization without rapid high-temperature crystallization process would easily lead to undesirable properties of films, such as rough surface with pin holes, which degenerate the performance of devices. Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 (CZTS) solar cell based on a rapid high-temperature process after sulfurization achieved a high open circuit voltage of 722 mV and the best efficiency 3.32% was obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• All the questions and suggestions from the referees have been answered point-to-point. Supramolecular materials resulting from crystalline structure programmed by heterochiral assemblies are currently attracting increasing attention. Herein, we reported a self-assembly based on racemic trinuclear-copper Schiff base complex [Cu 3 Cl -salpn 2 Cl 2 (H 2 O)] (1). Structural analysis shows that the vanish of the molecular symmetry is closely related to the asymmetric intermolecular interactions on both sides of the wings of butterfly shaped compound, that is, strong π···π interactions on one side and weak C H···π interactions on the other side. To gain insight into the observation, the gas-phase structural optimization and single-point energy calculation for 1 were performed at the DFT level, which result revealed that in the absence of intermolecular interactions the optimized structure exhibited an ideal symmetric structure, suggesting the asymmetric intermolecular interactions was the main factor for the formation of the heterochiral enantiomers. In addition, the magnetic behaviors of the reported trinuclear-copper complex were also investigated. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of electrode distance between anode and cathode during plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) process on the coating formation was investigated by combining experiments and simulation. Firstly a model was built to simulate the effect of electrode distance on the anodic current distribution using finite element analyses. Complementary, PEO coatings were fabricated on AM50 magnesium alloy in an alkaline electrolyte with different electrode distances applying constant voltage. Phase composition, coating morphology and thickness were studied for both the front and back sides of the PEO coating depending on the electrode distance. For paralleled plate-like electrodes, based on coating uniformity, an optimum electrode distance of 60–80 mm was identified under the chosen experimental conditions. Via correlation of simulation and experimental results, the influence of electrode distance on coating formation is explored. It is demonstrated that under constant voltage mode, PEO coating formation is affected by electrode distance on both front and back sides of magnesium substrates. This effect is ascribed to the influence of electrode distance on the current distribution in the bath and to the related average current density on the surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The industrial x-ray diode with high impedance configuration is usually adopted to generate repetitive x-ray, but its performance would be worsened due to lower electric field on the cathode of diode when a voltage of several hundreds of kV is applied. To improve its performance, a novel metal-ceramic cathode is proposed in this paper. Key factors (width, relative permittivity of ceramic, and so on) affecting electric field distribution on triple points are analyzed by electrostatic field calculation program, so as to optimize the design of this novel cathode. Experiments are done to study the characteristics including emission current of cathode, diode voltage duration, diode mean dynamic impedance, and diode impedance drop velocity within diode power duration. The results show that metal-ceramic cathode could improve diode performance by enhancing emission current and stabling impedance; the impedance drop velocity of diode with spoke-shaped metal-ceramic cathode was reduced to −5 Ω ns−1 within diode power duration, comparing to −15 Ω ns−1 with metal foil cathode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Design: A report of two cases with complex cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and review of the literature.Objective: To describe two unique patients with complex CSM due to simultaneous anomalies as anteroposterior compressions of the spinal cord in both upper and lower cervical spine, caused by hypertrophic transverse ligament of atlas (TLA), dysplasia of the posterior arch of atlas, disc herniation, hypertrophic ligamentum flavum and osteophytes.Methods: We present such two cases with clinical, imageological presentations, and describe the surgical procedure, to which both patients responded favorably.Results: The neurological functions of both patients gradually improved according to the JOA scores and VAS scores in preoperative clumsiness and gait disturbance during the mean follow-up period lasted for 18 months. The latest plain radiographs and computed tomography (CT) revealed good fusion without instrumental failure and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed good decompression of C1-7 spinal cord of both patients. Both patients are progressively followed-up.Conclusion: Posterior surgical approach as C1-7 laminectomy with fixations or occipital-cervical fusions may obtain better reconstructions of the cervical spine and good neurological recovery for the patients with complex CSM we present. However, the incidence and ethnic predisposition for the patients with complex CSM are still unclear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C19H18Cl2CuN2O2, monoclinic, space group C2/c (no. 15), a = 21.010(3) Å, b = 11.3886(15) Å, c = 7.9578(10) Å, β = 100.725(4)°, V = 1870.8(4) Å3, Z = 4, wR2 = 0.1620, T = 170.0 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Few studies have compared the clinical efficacy of unilateral and bilateral pedicle screw fixation and fusion in treating atlantoaxial fracture-dislocation. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of unilateral and bilateral fixation and fusion for atlantoaxial fracture-dislocation and to explore the feasibility of the unilateral surgical procedure. METHODS: Twenty-eight consecutive patients with atlantoaxial fracture-dislocation were included in the study from June 2013 to May 2018. They were divided into a unilateral fixation group and a bilateral fixation group (14 patients in each group with an average age of 43.6 ± 16.3 years and 51.8 ± 15.4 years, respectively). The unilateral group had a unilateral anatomical variation of the pedicle or vertebral artery, or traumatic pedicle destruction. All patients underwent atlantoaxial unilateral or bilateral pedicle screw fixation and fusion. Intraoperative blood loss and operation time were recorded. The visual analog scale (VAS) and Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scoring systems were used to evaluate pre- and postoperative occipital-neck pain and neurological function. X-ray and computerized tomography (CT) were used to assess atlantoaxial stability, the implants' position, and bone graft fusion. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for 39–71 months postoperatively. Intraoperatively, no spinal cord or vertebral artery injury was observed. At the last follow-up, occipital-neck pain and neurological function in the two groups were significantly improved (P < 0.05). The X-ray films and CT showed satisfactory atlantoaxial stability, implant position, and osseous fusion in all the patients at 6 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Unilateral and bilateral pedicle screw fixation and fusion can restore atlantoaxial stability and improve occipital-neck pain and neurological function in patients with atlantoaxial fracture-dislocation. The unilateral surgical procedure can be a supplementary option for patients with unilateral abnormal atlantoaxial lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stem cell to be a new intervention for treating intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) might benefit humans. Therefore, we collected animal studies to find the effect of this innovative treatment. In July 2014, we searched Medline (from 1950), Embase (from 1980), China Biology Medicine disk (from 1978) for studies on stem cells used for treating experimental ICH in animal models that reported neurobehavioral and structural outcome. We evaluated the quality of these studies and used a weighted mean difference random affects model for the meta-analysis. We have collected 30 studies from 650 publications identified through systematic review describing the effects of 5 different type of stem cells on 12 different neurobehavioral scales with 1101 rodents or monkeys. Although there is lack of uniformity of the evaluation methods, these researches showed consistent improvements both in neurobehavioral function and structural outcomes. Besides, the quality of these studies needs to be raised. In conclusion, stem cells hold extensive potential in treating ICH, which should be further evaluated with more evidence-based, high-quality animal studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Little is known about the effects of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) treatment on acute cerebral inflammation and injuries after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), though they have shown promising therapeutic potentials in ischemic stoke. Methods: An ICH model was established by stereotactic injection of collagenase VII into the left striatum of male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Six hours later, ICH rats were randomly divided into two groups and received intracerebrally 10 μl of PBS with or without 1×106 of iPSCs. Subsequently, neural function of all ICH rats was assessed at days 1, 3, 7, 14, 28 and 42 after ICH. Inflammatory cells, cytokines and neural apoptosis in the rats’ perihematomal regions, and brain water content were determined on day 2 or 3 post ICH. iPSC differentiation was determined on day 28 post ICH. Nissl+ cells and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)+ cells in the perihematoma and the survival rates of rats in two groups were determined on post-ICH day 42. Results: Compared with control animals, iPSCs treatment not only improved neurological function and survival rate, but also resulted in fewer intracephalic infiltrations of neutrophils and microglia, along with decreased interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and increased IL-10 in the perihematomal tissues of ICH rats. Furthermore, brain oedema formation, apoptosis, injured neurons and glial scar formation were decreased in iPSCs-transplanted rats. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that iPSCs transplantation attenuate cerebral inflammatory reactions and neural injuries after ICH, and suggests that multiple mechanisms including inflammation modulation, neuroprotection and functional recovery might be involved simultaneously in the therapeutic benefit of iPSC treatment against hemorrhagic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate, efficient, and reliable measurements of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules are essential for the evaluation and diagnosis of the actual operating status of PV plants. However, current online measurements and extraction models are limited because they do not account for power losses caused by inhomogeneous thermal performance of photovoltaic modules. Accordingly, this paper develops a coupled thermo–electrical loss model to access the power generation, energy losses, and degradation rate of photovoltaic modules with inhomogeneous temperature under actual operating conditions. The experiments indicate that the temperature coefficient of power dissipation and efficiency for solar cells with uneven temperature distribution PV modules are within −0.68W/oC to −0.83 W/°C and −0.46%/oC to −5.81%/oC, respectively. Additionally, the relative error values for the maximum power range from −2.54% to 4.09%, demonstrating the feasibility of the proposed model for predicting the power output behavior of operating PV modules with inhomogeneous temperature distributions. Furthermore, the daily performances of the modules indicate heat and electricity losses ranging from 0.245 kWh to 0.337 kWh, while the ratios of electrical energy dissipation to daily losses vary from 36% to 50%. To ensure the reliability of measuring degradation rates, the solar irradiance thresholds of PV module performance tests are nearly 632W/m2, 781W/m2, 875W/m2, and 875W/m2, respectively. Finally, for the long-term performance valuation, the levelized costs of electricity increase by approximately 0.011 CNY/kWh for every 5% reduction in annual power generation, and the PBP is extended by 4.81yr, 4.22yr, 3.62yr, and 7.10yr, respectively. [Display omitted] • The thermo–electrical model is developed to access power losses of a PV module. • The temperature coefficient of efficiency is within −0.46%/oC to −5.81%/oC. • The relative error of maximum power for the modules ranges from −2.54% to 4.09%. • The ratios of electrical energy dissipation to daily losses vary from 36% to 50%. • Levelized costs of electricity increase by 0.011 CNY/kWh for every 5% reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A compact, low-jitter, and high repetitive rate all-solid-state flash x-ray generator making use of photo conductive semiconductor switches was developed recently for the diagnostic purpose of some hydrokinetical experiments. The generator consisted of twelve stages of Blumlein pulse forming networks, and an industrial cold cathode diode was used to generate intense x-ray radiations with photon energy up to 220 keV. Test experiments showed that the generator could produce > 1 kA electron beam currents and x-ray pulses with ~40 ns duration under 100 Hz repetitive rates at least (limited by the triggering laser on hand), also found was that the delay time of the cathode explosive emission is crucial to the energy transfer efficiency of the whole system. In addition, factors affecting the diode impedance, how the switching synchronization and diode impedance determining the allowable operation voltage were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] It’s effective to fabricate a bio-composite coating on Mg alloy by this method. [•] Most HA got involved in the coating and turned into TCP during the MAO process. [•] HA and the sintering-caused phases changed the cross-section into dense structure. [•] The bioactivity and corrosion resistance of the coating were improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used the photoexcited TiO2films to initiate the copolymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophenewith pyrrole, aiming to develop an organic/inorganic heterojunction.Specular reflection infrared spectroscopy analysis was used to monitorthe process of polymerization and indicated that the copolymers directlygrew on the TiO2substrate. Dissecting the copolymers withultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy revealed the evolution of thevalence-band electronic structures. Moreover, the resulting copolymer/TiO2heterojunctions were investigated using electrochemical impedenceand X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The Al/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene-co-pyrrole)/TiO2/ITO heterojunction device thatwas prepared from the hybrid film exhibited a conspicuous rectification.The heterojunction device was also explored with respect to the conductionmodels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C14H10BrClN2O2, orthorhombic, Pca21 (no. 29), a = 32.4137(12) Å, b = 4.6683(2) Å, c = 8.8873(3) Å, V = 1344.80(9) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0239, wRref(F2) = 0.0611, T = 150(2) K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C15H14Br2N2O3, triclinic, P1 (no. 2), a = 7.2748(3) Å, b = 9.0786(4) Å, c = 12.8613(5) Å, α = 99.458(2)°, β = 100.401(2)°, γ = 99.499(2)°, V = 807.35(6) Å3, Z = 2, Rgt(F) = 0.0253, wRref(F2) = 0.0673, T = 150.0 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop an approach to improve the photovoltaic properties of polymer solar cells, by incorporating a function of light upconversion into the solar cell. We synthesize hydrophilic rhombic lanthanide-doped LiYF at the average length of 100 nm and breadth of 40 nm. The synthesized nanoparticles which are capable of converting long-wavelength photons into shorter ones are introduced into the poly(3-hexylthiophene)-TiO heterojunction solar cell. The results of the upconversion fluorescence spectra demonstrate the energy transfer from the upconversion nanoparticles to poly(3-hexylthiophene). It is revealed by using monochromatic illumination that the upconversion nanoparticles enable the devices to utilize the long-wavelength photons which are beyond the absorption of poly(3-hexylthiophene), and thus, the photovoltaic performance is enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative bone and joint disease that can lead to disability and severely affect the quality of life of patients. However, its etiology and pathogenesis remain unclear. It is currently believed that articular cartilage lesions are an important marker of the onset and development of osteoarthritis. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of multifunctional regulatory RNAs that are involved in various physiological functions. There are many differentially expressed lncRNAs between osteoarthritic and normal cartilage tissues that play multiple roles in the pathogenesis of OA. Here, we reviewed lncRNAs that have been reported to play regulatory roles in the pathological changes associated with osteoarthritic cartilage and their potential as biomarkers and a therapeutic target in OA to further elucidate the pathogenesis of OA and provide insights for the diagnosis and treatment of OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The magnetic reconnection process relevant to that at the magnetotail is one of the research contents of the Space Plasma Environment Research Facility, which is under construction at the Harbin Institute of Technology in China. Two magnetic mirror sub-coils placed symmetrically in the vertical direction and connected in series cooperate with a dipole coil to generate a magnetic field environment similar to the Earth's magnetotail. A capacitor-based pulsed power supply (PPS) system with a modular design is developed to excite two magnetic mirror sub-coils to generate a magnetic field with a magnetic flux density of not less than 200 G at the center of the two sub-coils. The PPS should deliver a pulsed current with a peak of more than 8 kA, and the duration of the current not be less than 95% of the peak over 5 ms to two magnetic mirror sub-coils when the charging voltage is not less than 20 kV. In addition, the duration from the peak to 10% of the peak is not more than 130 ms. The detailed design of the PPS is discussed in this paper, and a test method is designed to reduce the risk of damage to the wires and the connection between the wires and the coaxial cables of the PPS when the PPS discharges at a higher charging voltage. Finally, the discharge test of the PPS is carried out to verify the design of the PPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have evaluated the anti-diabetic effect of a α-glucan (MT-α-glucan) from the fruit body of maitake mushrooms (Grifola frondosa) on KK-Ay mice (a kind of genetical type 2 diabetes animal model). The effects of MT-α-glucan (450 or 150 mg kg −1) on diabetic mice were investigated by observing the changes in body weight, the level of fasting plasma glucose, glycosylated serum protein (GSP), hepatic glycogen, serum insulin, triglycerides, cholesterol, free fatty acid, liver superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSHpx), reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Moreover, the binding capacity of insulin receptors on liver crude plasma membranes was assayed and histopathological changes in the pancreas were observed. Treatment with MT-α-glucan significantly decreased the body weight, level of fasting plasma glucose, GSP, serum insulin, triglycerides, cholesterol, free fatty acid and MDA content in livers. Treatment with MT-α-glucan significantly increased the content of hepatic glycogen, GSH and the activity of SOD and GSHpx. Moreover, the insulin binding capacity to liver crude plasma membranes increased and histopathological changes in the pancreas were ameliorated in the treatment group. These data suggest that MT-α-glucan has an anti-diabetic effect on KK-Ay mice, which might be related to its effect on insulin receptors (i.e., increasing insulin sensitivity and ameliorating insulin resistance of peripheral target tissues). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The branching topology of ethylene polar copolymers was for the first time successfully controlled by copolymerization of ethylene with polar olefins using a palladium-bisimine chain-walking catalyst, in which ethylene pressure and comonomer concentration were used to control the competition between isomerization (chain-walking) and monomer insertion processes. Although the overall branching density changes very slightly, the topology of the copolymers becomes more dendritic as the ethylene pressure and comonomer feed concentration are decreasing. This provides a straightforward one-pot synthesis to access a full range of functional copolymers having controllable branching topologies. To demonstrate the utility of this methodology, dendritic functional copolymers having hydroxyl, epoxide, and carbohydrate groups were prepared in a one-pot polymerization as potential functional materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human B cell lymphomas often contain CD4 T cells. Here we show that, in diffuse large B cell lymphomas (DLCL), such T cells are oligoclonal. The CDR3 lengths and nucleotide sequences of oligoclonal TCRBV of CD4 T cells in an original and relapsed lymphoma from one patient were compared. Three BV23 sequences were identical (12/17 and 16/16 clones in primary and relapsed lymphomas, respectively), but were absent in CD4 T cells from another patient’s DLCL. Two of the repetitive BV23 sequences were found in peripheral blood CD4 T cells (5/17 clones); γ-irradiated DLCL from this patient stimulated syngeneic BV23 response in CD4 cells (92% of BV23 had the same CDR3 length). Skew in TCRBV representation was observed in CD4 T cells from all the DLCL. One DLCL, with overrepresentation of BV13S1 in CD4 cells, stimulated the same TCR in CD4 cells from three unrelated individuals. These findings support the conclusion that there is clonal selection of CD4 T cells in DLCL. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To evaluate the early clinical effect of oblique lumbar interbody fusion with lateral screw fixation and percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discectomy (OLIF-PETD) in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation with lumbar instability. Methods: A total of 22 patients with lumbar disc herniation and lumbar instability from August 2017 to August 2019 were enrolled in this retrospective study. The general information, perioperative indicators and complications were recorded. The clinical outcomes and radiological outcomes were evaluated before the operation, seven days after the operation, and at the last follow-up. Vertebral fusion and degree of multifidus muscle injury were evaluated at the last follow-up. Results: In this study, OLIF + PETD showed shorter incision length compared to the MIS-TLIF (P < 0.001). In the two groups, the clinical outcomes and radiological outcomes were significantly improved compared with the preoperative (P < 0.001). At the seven days after the operation and the last follow-up, the VAS of OLIF + PETD group was lower than that of MIS-TLIF group (P < 0.05). OLIF + PETD could give superior outcome in restoring disc height (P < 0.001), but the fusion segment angle of OLIF + PETD group was larger compared to the MIS-TLIF group seven days after the operation and at the last follow-up (P < 0.05). In addition, the fusion rate was not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05), but OLIF + PETD could avoid the multifidus injury (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Compared to MIS-TLIF, OLIF-PETD can achieve satisfactory decompression effects and fusion rates with less multifidus injury and postoperative low back pain, which may be an alternative choice for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation combined with lumbar instability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on Cr 2 O 3 prepared via reactive magnetron sputtering, a direct deposition technique that significantly impacts the microstructure and optoelectronic properties of the films. Reactive sputtering alters grain size, density, and surface morphology, which in turn affects the structural order and stoichiometry. By adjusting the ratio of process gases, particularly the oxygen partial pressure, the stoichiometry of the deposited films was controlled. This is crucial for managing the oxidation state of chromium and the concentration of free electrons. An optimal oxygen partial pressure of 75 % was identified, substantially reducing oxygen interstitial defects in the CrO x materials and enhancing conductivity by nearly two orders of magnitude. Additionally, increasing the oxygen partial pressure helped integrate more oxygen atoms into the lattice, transitioning the electronic structure from a metallic state in CrO 2 to a semiconductive state in CrO 3. This fine-tuning of oxygen doping not only adjusts carrier concentrations but also optimizes the photoelectric properties of the materials, achieving a tailored high band gap of 3.34 eV. This study highlights the potential of reactive magnetron sputtering to customize semiconductor materials through oxygen doping, offering a novel approach to enhance the versatility and application range of chromium oxide materials in advanced technological applications. • Versatile Synthesis: Enhances Cr 2 O 3 film properties via reactive magnetron sputtering. • Stoichiometry Control: Adjusts oxygen pressure to control chromium's oxidation state. • Increased Resistivity: Significantly increases resistivity by optimizing oxygen partial pressure. • Electrical Property Optimization: Tailors electrical properties with precise oxygen doping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amorphous carbon films have recently attracted extensive attention as surface functional films for bipolar plates with excellent conductivity and anti-corrosion properties. In this research, to determine the influence of the amorphous carbon film doped with titanium and nitrogen on the efficiency of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) and clarify the effect of N atoms on Ti doped amorphous carbon, a series of Ti, N co-doped amorphous carbon films are built on 316L stainless steel at different N 2 flow rates. This study provides detailed research about the influence of N atoms content on the microstructure, morphology evolution, corrosion resistance and interfacial contact resistance (ICR) of Ti, N co-doped amorphous carbon films. The results reveal that the N doping of the Ti-doped amorphous carbon film has the potential to enhance the C-sp2 content and refine the grain. The characterization results indicate that introducing N atoms into Ti doped amorphous carbon can reduce the ICR of the film to 2.38 mΩ cm2. The introduction of N atoms can also enhance the anti-corrosive characteristics of the titanium singly doped amorphous carbon film. The Ti, N co-doped film can be used as candidate materials applied to metal bipolar plates. • Ti, N co-doped amorphous carbon with different N contents is prepared. • The appropriate doping of N atoms regulates the surface morphology and structure. • The formation of Ti–N and C–N structure improves sample's corrosion resistance. • Interfacial contact resistance value is reduced with moderately N atoms doped. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A method for predicting the irradiance of PV greenhouse in many cases was proposed. • Four models were discussed at variable time, data size and climatic conditions. • The instantaneous irradiance prediction under 9 weather conditions was provided. • Transformer model had the best prediction effect for dataset at one year of usage. • Pyraformer model had the best prediction effect on winter and summer. Photovoltaic power generation can provide energy for greenhouses and achieve high quality and high yield of crops. In reality, solar irradiance is fluctuating and intermittent. Thus, the key to ensure efficient photovoltaic power use under greenhouse environmental conditions is to provide an accurate prediction of solar irradiance. Yet, currently studies on irradiance prediction in terms of the variable time lengths, multi-parameter and full climate conditions are rather limited. To improve the comprehensive performance of the prediction model, this paper proposes models of irradiance time series prediction such as Pyraformer, Informer, Transformer and TimesNet. Those models were tested based on the synergistic combination of weather conditions (WC), sunshine time accumulation (STA/h), instantaneous total irradiance (ITI/(W/m2)) and irradiance daily accumulation (IDA/(MJ/m2)). The model performance was rigorously evaluated with 9 prediction lengths, 5 training days, 4 seasons and 5 days for 9 weather conditions. The results showed that the Transformer model had the best overall prediction performance for STA, ITI, IDA and WC at different time steps of 10 min to 24 h. All models were suitable for predicting time series within 1 h. However, TimesNet model was not suitable for predicting time series with steps outside 1 h. On the other hand, by using the sun combination dataset, the Transformer model had the best performance at a time step of 10 min. The mean absolute error (MAE), mean-square error (MSE), root mean squared error (RMSE) and coefficient of determination (R2) of ITI were 0.118 W/m2, 0.059 W/m2, 0.243 W/m2 and 93.9 %, respectively. When exploring the minimum dataset, with the increase of data samples, the prediction effect of TimesNet showed an increasing trend. While, Transformer had the best prediction effect for the dataset with one year of use. When exploring seasonality, Pyraformer model had the best prediction effect on winter and summer, and TimesNet had the best prediction effect on autumn and spring. Local prediction of 9 climate conditions showed that the effects of snow and dust storm were not ideal. The research results showed that the characterization factors that were closely linked to irradiance. The prediction scheme proposed in this paper combined the advantages of different time steps, different factor combination datasets, different data volumes and seasonality, which greatly improves the generalization ability of the model. This study can provide a reference for irradiance prediction and more refined management of photovoltaic (PV) greenhouse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The (AlCrTiZrV)N/SiC nanomultilayers films with various SiC thicknesses were prepared. • The SiC can be transformed into crystal structure under the effect of (AlCrTiZrV)N. • The SiC layer can grow coherent epitaxially with (AlCrTiZrV)N crystallites layer. • The strengthening of (AlCrTiZrV)N/SiC films can be explained by coherent-interface. High-entropy alloy nano-multilayers film have been increasingly used in protective coatings due to the excellent performance. Among the many factors that affect the performance of the nano-multilayers film, the thickness of the modulation layer has a significant effect on the performance of the high-entropy alloy nano-multilayers film. In this work, the microstructure and mechanical properties of (AlCrTiZrV)N/SiC nano-multilayers films with different thicknesses of the SiC layers prepared by using reactive magnetron sputtering are studied systematically. The results show that under the influence of the template layer, the amorphous SiC layer undergoes crystallization transformation and grows co-epitaxially with the template layer, resulting in the enhancement in the hardness. The maximum hardness and modulus of elasticity of (AlCrTiZrV)N/SiC nano-multilayers film reach 31.5 GPa and 290.6 GPa when the thickness of SiC is 0.5 nm, which are significantly improved compared to the single layer (AlCrTiZrV)N. As the thickness of the SiC layer further increases, the cubic steady-state structure of the SiC layer returns to the amorphous state and the coherent epitaxial growth of the multilayers film is destroyed, resulting in a decrease in the hardness of the nano-multilayers film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Space Plasma Environment Research Facility uses a coil system with the corresponding pulsed power supply (PPS) system to generate a very flexible magnetosphere-like magnetic configuration. Its purpose is to investigate the 3D asymmetric reconnection and the processes of trapping, acceleration, and transport of energetic charged particles restrained in a dipole magnetic field configuration, as well as the physical mechanism of the dipolarization front in the magnetotail. The control and monitoring function of the PPS system is realized by the integrated control subsystem, which adopts a two-layer network structure of the control layer and device layer and is developed based on the Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System framework. The control layer includes a remote control system that consists of an engineer station and an operator station and the data storage system. Both the engineer station and operator station are developed by Control System Studio. The data storage system is based on the combination of the Hierarchical Data Format 5 database and MySQL database, and the data management software of the data storage system is developed based on LabVIEW. The synchronous trigger device, the safety interlocking device, the local controller of each set of PPS, and the module controller of each discharge module are the device layer. Their hardware is designed and developed based on the Field Programmable Gate Array, and their software is based on the Quartus II platform and programmed with the Verilog Hardware Description Language language. The function of the integrated control subsystem is verified by the discharge test of the PPS system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Extraction of the parameters of the operating photovoltaic modules is proposed. • The models merely require the measured current at the maximum power point. • The largest absolute errors of the current remain below 0.25A. • The largest root mean square error is less than 0.0073A. • The parameters of the modules have similar ranges under standard test conditions. Building-integrated photovoltaic systems are solar photovoltaic modules that are used to replace traditional building construction materials to generate electrical energy. Photovoltaic modules are generally installed on the roofs or facades of buildings and cannot be monitored by conventional methods. This work presents a new online technique for analysing the current-voltage characteristics of photovoltaic modules installed on the facades of building-integrated photovoltaic systems. The proposed method, which is based on the modified double-diode model, can extract six physical parameters of the photovoltaic module that rely on the current and voltage at the short-circuit and open-circuit points and at the maximum power point. Unlike the approaches from existing studies, the method proposed in this paper requires only the current at the maximum power point. By measuring the solar irradiance, wind speed and average temperature of the photovoltaic module, the current and voltage at the short-circuit and open-circuit points can be calculated. To study the accuracy of the proposed models, the absolute error and root mean square error of individual photovoltaic modules are examined. The results indicate that the minimum absolute error of the current appears near the maximum power point. Moreover, the proposed simulation of the current-voltage characteristic curves achieves a lower root mean square error value and exhibits a better ability to represent the current-voltage characteristics of the photovoltaic modules. In addition, methods are used to extract the six parameters of the photovoltaic module, which operates in the building-integrated photovoltaic system. The experimental results show that the prediction of the current-voltage characteristic curves achieves the lowest root mean square error values at the short-circuit and open-circuit points and at the maximum power point. Furthermore, regardless of whether operating in the building-integrated photovoltaic system, the six parameters of the photovoltaic modules with the same initial characteristics extracted via the proposed methods have similar numerical ranges under standard test conditions. Based on these conclusions, the six parameters based on the modified double-diode model are useful and practical for the simulation and evaluation of the current-voltage characteristics of the photovoltaic module in the building-integrated photovoltaic system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the corrosion resistance and interfacial contact resistance (ICR) 316L stainless steel bipolar plates used in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), a series of three-layer amorphous carbon films were prepared by magnetron sputtering. The corrosion resistance and ICR of 316 L stainless steels are greatly improved by the Cr, N doped amorphous carbon and multilayer film structure. Ti and CrN were basement layer and transition layer, and amorphous carbon doping with Cr and N was the top layer. Nitrogen atoms, as the variable atoms, were added into the top layer, focusing on the relation between the N content and the film properties. First principles calculations were used to analyze the bond structure by Cr, N doping into amorphous carbon structure and to determine the reasons for the structural changes in the coating after doping the elements. The results revealed that the films are about 1.05 μm thick and without apparent defects. With increasing nitrogen flow rate, Cr–N bonds and C–N bonds appeared in the coating while promoting the graphitization of amorphous carbon. Compared with that of Cr-doped amorphous carbon coated steel, the corrosion current density of Cr, N co-doped amorphous carbon decreased to 8.1 × 10−9 A/cm2 in the +0.6 V (vs. SCE) potentiostatic polarization test, and as the ICR decreased to 1.3 mΩ cm2, the film exhibited outstanding corrosion resistance and conductivity properties. The Cr, N co-doped amorphous carbon/CrN/Ti composite film formed on 316L stainless steel might be appropriate used in PEMFCs. • Cr, N co-doped amorphous carbon - CrN–Ti composite coatings are prepared. • Cr–N bonds and C–N bonds appear in the coating and influence the property. • Nitrogen addition improves coatings corrosion resistance and ICR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]