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Large resistive sensor arrays (RSAs) show great potential in tactile perception. However, the large number of sensors can result in great hardware overhead and bring difficulties for acquiring and processing mass data timely in transient measurement applications. This paper implements a field programmable gate array (FPGA)-based data processing system for a large RSA of 96 × 96, which shows good power consumption and high-speed wireless data update. For crosstalk-free measure, the zero potential method is improved with bus switches, leading to fewer operational amplifiers required and less negative power consumption. A real-time embedded data processing system is realized by FPGA for excellent parallel processing ability. A high-speed wireless transfer scheme with automatic regulated transfer size is proposed and realized by a wireless fidelity module, which allows timely data analysis at the remote end. Moreover, fault identification of RSAs fabricated by micro-electromechanical system technology is achieved. Tests carried out on a 32 × 32 RSA show that the total power consumption is 2209 mW, including 1261 mW of processors and 948 mW of readout circuits, corresponding to 2.15 mW/pixel. The total negative power consumption of 549 mW has been reduced by 50% compared with the zero potential method. The scanning speed is 400 fps, and the wireless transfer speed is up to 120 fps when the transceiver and receiver are 5 m apart. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the prognostic value of serial coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) derived plaque information, fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR), and perivascular fat-attenuation index (FAI) on major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients with suspected coronary artery disease. A total of 252 patients who underwent serial CCTA between January 2018 and December 2021 and were followed until June 2022. MACE were recorded. The analysis indexes included percent diameter stenosis (%DS), lesion length, plaque volume, CT-FFR, and FAI, with an emphasis on their changes between the baseline and follow-up CCTAs. Multivariate regression analysis were employed to identify independent risk factors for MACE. After a median follow-up of 48-month, MACE occurred in 32 patients (12.7%). Patients with MACE displayed more severe stenosis, longer lesions, and larger plaque volumes in both baseline and follow-up CCTAs compared with no-MACE patients (all P<0.05). Patients with MACE displayed more severe stenosis, longer lesion, and larger plaque volume in both baseline and follow-up CCTAs compared with no-MACE patients. In addition, MACE patients also showed lower CT-FFR and higher △CT-FFR. Although FAI was significantly higher in MACE patients at baseline CCTA, FAI was notably increased in MACE patients, and decreased in the no-MACE patients (all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that ΔFAI, %DS, and plaque volume were independent predictors of MACE, with ΔFAI being the most significant (OR: 16.725, P<0.000). A multivariable model showed a significantly improved C-index of 0.903 (95% confidence interval: 0.836–0.970) for MACE prediction, when compared with single index alone. Serial CCTA-derived ΔFAI, %DS, and plaque volume are crucial independent predictors of MACE in patients with suspected coronary artery disease, highlighting the importance of CCTA in patient risk stratification and prognostic assessment. • ΔFAI, %DS, and plaque volume from Serial CCTA predict MACE in suspected CAD. • The combination of FAI and plaque parameters enhance MACE prediction. • CCTA shows and tracks changes in coronary plaques and perivascular fat attenuation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stress measurement for thin films is crucial in a variety of fields such as in semiconductor manufacturing, the optoelectronics industry, and biomedical science, among others. However, most measurement methods require surface treatment of the thin film. Objective: A label-free measurement method for plane stress states in optical isotropic thin films based on spectroscopic ellipsometry analysis is proposed and verified in this paper. Methods: The proposed method is based on the modulation of the stress-optic effect on reflected spectroscopic ellipsometry. A theoretical model is established to describe the relation between all components of the plane-stress state and the classic ellipsometric parameters (Ψ, Δ). An algorithm is developed to determine all components of a plane-stress state by fitting the model to the experiment data. Results: In the verification experiment, we determined the plane stress state of a Cu film coated on a PI (polyimide) substrate. The results show a reasonable agreement between the experimental measurements from spectroscopic ellipsometry and the theoretical analysis based on the applied loading. Conclusion: The results prove that our method can effectively measure the plane stress state of optical isotropic thin films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The SAXSMAT beamline P62 (Small-Angle X-ray Scattering beamline for Materials Research) is a new beamline at the high-energy storage ring PETRA III at DESY. This beamline is dedicated to combined small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) techniques for both soft and hard condensed matter systems. It works mainly in transmission geometry. The beamline covers an energy range from 3.5 keV to 35.0 keV, which fulfills the requirements of the user community to perform anomalous scattering experiments. Mirrors are used to reduce the intensity of higher harmonics. Furthermore, the mirrors and 2D compound refracting lenses can focus the beam down to a few micrometres at the sample position. This option with the high photon flux enables also SAXS/WAXS tensor tomography experiments to be performed at this new beamline in a relatively short time. The first SAXS/ WAXS pattern was collected in August 2021, while the first user experiment was carried out two months later. Since January 2022 the beamline has been in regular user operation mode. In this paper the beamline optics and the SAXS/ WAXS instrument are described and two examples are briefly shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study extensively investigated the effects of trace amounts of gaseous nitric oxide (NO) on the growth and quality of four common crops: pak choi (Brassica chinensis L.), radish (Raphanus sativus L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and ryegrass (Secale cereal L.), which represent leafy vegetable crops, root vegetable crops, cereal crops, and herbage crops, respectively. Treatment with 200 nL/L gaseous NO increased the edible part of the yield by 67, 63, 33, and 18% for pak choi, radish, wheat and ryegrass, respectively. Furthermore, both nutritional qualities (indicated by the amount of nitrates, soluble sugars, and soluble protein) and antioxidant qualities (indicated by total phenolic content, flavonoids, and DPPH scavenging activity) in those crops were improved by access to gaseous NO. These results may provide a valuable scientific reference for agricultural production and suggest ways in which increased atmospheric NO will affect natural ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) source with planar and cylindrical coils is one of the effective methods to generate large-area uniform plasma. The effects of the current ratio and phase difference between the planar and cylindrical coil on the plasma characteristics in the dual antenna ICP source are investigated using a two-dimensional (2D) fluid model. When the planar and cylindrical coil sources are in phase, and their currents are 10 A, the inductive electric field is strengthened in the region between planar and cylindrical coils (i.e., r = 0.18–0.21 m, and z = 0.11–0.13 m) due to the superposition of the electric fields in the same direction from the two coils, which strongly heats the electrons in the large radius area of the reactor. As a result, edge-high profiles of ionization rate, plasma density, and ion flux are obtained. As the planar coil's current increases, the magnitude of the electron density becomes higher, the profiles of the electron density and ion current flux shift from edge-high to center-high due to the enhanced electron heating in the center region, and the best uniform plasma is obtained at 25 A. When both the planar and cylindrical coil currents are maintained at 10 A with the phase shift rising from 45° to 180°, the electric fields from the two antennas act in the opposite direction during the time interval from 1/4 RF period to one RF period, respectively. Moreover, the total inductive electric field becomes weak in the region jointly adjacent to these coils, dominating the plasma generation at the reactor center region. Accordingly, the best uniform plasma is obtained for the case of 135°. In summary, the plasma's nonuniform distribution can be smoothed by adjusting the power ratio and phase difference between planar and cylindrical coils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of different antifreeze protectants on the preservation of Hu sheep semen at 4 °C. The semen was diluted with Tris extender at room temperature, supplemented with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) (0, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4% and 0.5%), glycerol (1.5%, 3.0%, 4.5% and 6.0%), glycol (2.50%, 5.00%, 7.50% and 10.00%), skimmed milk powder (SMP) (0.50%, 1.50%, 2.50% and 3.00%), soy lecithin (SL, 0.15%, 0.30%, 0.45% and 0.60%) and five optimal concentrations of antifreeze protectants (0.4% DMSO, 4.5% glycerol, 7.5% glycol, 1.5% SMP and 0.15% SL), and stored at 4 °C refrigerator. Spermatozoa motility parameters (spermatozoa viability, spermatozoa progressive motility, straight line velocity (VSL), curvilinear velocity (VCL) and average path velocity (VAP)) were evaluated during the preservation of semen. The addition of antifreeze protectants, especially the 0.4% DMSO, 4.5% glycerol, 7.50% glycol, 1.50% SMP and 0.15% SL exerted the best effects on spermatozoa viability and progressive motility compared to the spermatozoa without antifreeze protectants (control group). In the experiment of antifreeze protective agents with the optimal concentration, the spermatozoa viability and progressive motility of 1.5% SMP were significantly higher than those of other antifreeze groups during storage. In conclusion, the addition of 1.5% SMP to semen spermatozoa preserved at 4 °C refrigerator can most effectively enhance the semen preservation quality compared to the other optimal concentration of antifreeze protectant groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the correlation between capsule endoscopy (CE) classification of primary intestinal lymphangiectasia (PIL) and computed tomography (CT) lymphangiography (CTL). A total of 52 patients with diagnosed PIL were enrolled. All patients were examined using CTL and small intestinal CE before surgery. CE assessments included the morphology, scope, colour, and size of lesions. CTL assessments included intestinal wall, lymphatic vessel dilatation, lymph fluid reflux, and lymphatic fistula. Patients were divided into three groups according to type diagnosed by CE, and the CTL characteristics were analysed among the groups. CE showed 15 patients with type I, 27 with II, and 10 with type III. Intestinal wall thickening was observed in 15 type I, 21 type II, and seven type III. Pericardial effusion was observed in only three type I patients; the difference among types was statistically significant (p= 0.02). Abnormal contrast agent distribution in the intestinal wall and mesentery was observed in 15 type II patients, and the difference was significantly greater than that of types I and III (p= 0.02). Abnormal contrast agent distribution in the abdominal cavity was observed in 12 type II, and the difference was statistically significant (p= 0.03). The CE PIL classification reflects the extent and scope of intestinal mucosa lesions; CTL more systematically demonstrates abnormal lymphatic vessels or reflux, and its manifestations of PIL are related to the CE classification. The combination of CTL with CE is useful for accurately evaluating PIL, and provides guidance for preoperative assessment and treatment management of PIL patients. • Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia is a rare intestine lymphatic system disorder. • This disorder is often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. • CTL could evaluate the abnormal dilatation and distribution of lymphatic vessels. • CE could reflect intestinal lymphatic dilatation. • CTL and CE have high value in diagnosis of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the mechanism underlying the effect of baicalein on the growth of transplanted esophageal cancer in NOG mice and its effect on the expression of PAK4. For that purpose, we developed a new model of transplanted esophageal cancer (human esophageal cancer OE19 cells (107 cells/ml) were inoculated to NOG mice). Three experimental groups with transplanted esophageal cancer cells received baicalein in different doses (1, 1.5, and 2 mg/kg). In 32 days, the tumors were resected, and the expression of PAK4 and the level of activated PAK4 were assayed by reverse transcription PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The results showed a dose-depending anti-tumor effect of baicalein on the transplanted esophageal cancer in NOG mice: this effect of baicalein (determined by the size and weight of the tumor) increased with increasing the dose of the substance. Furthermore, the anti-tumor effect of baicalein was also confirmed by reduction of PAK4 expression. Thus, baicalein can inhibit tumor growth by inhibiting activation of PAK4. Therefore, our results showed that baicalein could inhibit the growth of esophageal cancer cells by inhibiting the activity of PAK4, which can be an important mechanism of its antitumor effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The management of nuclear wastes has long been a problem that hinders the sustainable and clean utilization of nuclear energy since the advent of nuclear power. These nuclear wastes include minor actinides (MAs: 237Np, 241Am, 243Am, 244Cm and 245Cm) and long-lived fission products (LLFPs: 79Se, 93Zr, 99Tc, 107Pd, 129I and 135Cs), and yet are hard to be handled. In this work, we propose a scheme that can transmute almost all the MAs and LLFPs with a lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR). In this scheme, the MAs and the LLFPs are loaded to the fuel assembly and the blanket assembly for transmutation, respectively. In order to study the effect of MAs loading on the operation of the core, the neutron flux distribution, spectra, and the keff are further compared with and without MAs loading. Then the LLFPs composition is optimized and the support ratio is obtained to be 1.22 for 237Np, 1.63 for 241Am, 1.27 for 243Am, 1.32 for 79Se, 1.53 for 99Tc, 1.02 for 107Pd, and 1.12 for 129I, respectively, indicating that a self-sustained transmutation can be achieved. Accordingly, the transmutation rate of these nuclides was 13.07%/y for 237Np, 15.18%/y for 241Am, 13.34%/y for 243Am, 0.58%/y for 79Se, 0.92%/y for 99Tc, 1.17%/y for 107Pd, 0.56%/y for 129I. Our results show that a lead-cooled fast reactor can be potentially used to manage nuclear wastes with high levels of long-lived radioactivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug-induced hemolytic anemia (DIHA) is a rare complication of drug therapy and usually underdiagnosed. Cefoperazone/sulbactam is a compound prepared from the third generation of cephalosporin and β-lactamase inhibitor. There are limited data of DIHA induced from cefoperazone/sulbactam. A 93-year-old female patient, who had an operation on the biliary tract 3 months ago, was admitted to our hospital with an abdominal infection. After cefoperazone/sulbactam was given as anti-infection treatment, the patient developed hemolytic anemia on the third day. Cefoperazone/sulbactam was discontinued and replaced with meropenem. Subsequently the level of red blood cells, hemoglobin, and hematocrit returned to normal. Clinicians should pay attention to monitoring the possible adverse reactions during the use of cefoperazone/sulbactam and should be aware of the occurrence of DIHA, so as to give timely treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work demonstrates the growth of three-dimensional (3D) ZnO-framed La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (LSMO)-ZnO heteroepitaxial thin films in a vertically aligned nanocomposite (VAN) form on SrTiO3 (STO) substrates. Such 3D framed structures are formed by interlayering pure ZnO layers in LSMO-ZnO VAN thin films to thus achieve a ZnO-framed nanocomposite structure. Tailoring the thickness of the ZnO interlayer enables fine-tuning of the overall strain state of the two phases and thus leads to the tuning of the physical properties, such as the metal-insulator transition temperature, and magnetotransport properties. The optimum thickness of the ZnO interlayer is determined to be ∼2 nm to obtain a maximum magnetoresistance of 31% by a combined strain tuning and magnetoresistance tunneling effect. This work demonstrates effective strain tuning using the 3D framed design and provides a comprehensive perspective on the strain- and property-tuning using 3D nanocomposite frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between maternal alcohol consumption and postpartum depression (PPD) is still controversial. The objective of the present study was to assess the association between maternal alcohol consumption and the risk of developing PPD by means of a meta-analysis of cohort studies. This was a meta-analysis. PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, China Biology Medicine disc, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Weipu, and Wanfang databases were searched up to February 4, 2021, to identify relevant studies that evaluated the association between maternal alcohol consumption and PPD. Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan software and Stata software. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to explore the potential heterogeneity source, and Begg's funnel plots and Begg's linear regression test were conducted to assess the potential publication bias. A total of 12 studies involving 50,377 participants were identified in our study. Overall, pregnant women who were exposed to alcohol were at a significantly greater risk of developing PPD compared with those who did not consume alcohol (odds ratio = 1.21; 95% confidence interval: 1.04–1.41; P = 0.020). Maternal alcohol consumption is significantly associated with the risk of developing PPD. These results emphasize the necessity of enhancing health awareness, improving the public health policies and regulations concerning alcohol use, and strengthening the prevention and intervention of maternal alcohol consumption to promote maternal mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to determine the mechanical properties of polyaniline/polyvinyl alcohol composite gels used in strain sensors, both microstructure and macroscopic mechanics experiments are conducted on the specimen. Firstly, the preparation process for this material will be explained. Then, the microstructure of this material showing the wrinkles and small holes caused by water loss is discussed. Based on the static tension test, the final equivalent elastic coefficient and relaxation time are obtained. Then, the fatigue parameters like the asymptotic temperature increment, asymptotic dissipation, and energy tolerance to failure are determined by the thermal-graphic technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expression of programmed cell death-1 (PD-1/CD279) on T cells and the ligand of PD-1, programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) (CD274/B7-H1) on tumor cells or other immune cells, such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells, are important mechanisms to induce malignant immunosuppression. PD-1/PD-L1 expression on B-cell subsets, as well as their signaling and inhibitory functions in solid tumors will be discussed in this review with the focus on how B cells expressing PD-1/PD-L1 play immunosuppressive roles in tumor progression, aiming to figure out the potential for development of diagnostic tools and new therapies involving this unique group of cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The improvement of time resolution is commonly concerned in ultrasonic testing, while the reference signal significantly influences the decoupling and interpretation of multiple overlapped signals. In this paper, the frequency-domain sparse blind deconvolution (FSBD) method is proposed to enhance the time resolution of ultrasonic signals without using any reference signal. The matching pursuit (MP) algorithm is introduced to remove noise for signal reconstruction. On this basis, homomorphic transformation is applied to the de-noised signal, and the l1 and l2 norm constraints based on sparsity are combined to construct a frequency-domain objective function for improving time resolution. The multilayer specimens and small defect were quantitatively detected using the FSBD method by experiments. The results demonstrate that the to-be-measured object with a size of half-wavelength can be identified by decoupling the multiple overlapped signals. Finally, the FSBD method is compared with minimum entropy deconvolution and homomorphic deconvolution. The relationship between the number of scattered/reflected echoes K and the regularization parameter μ is discussed to solve reasonably the regularization problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the plasma lipid profiles in women with normal pregnancies and those with mild or severe intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). Our goal was to reveal lipidome-wide alterations in ICP and delve into the pathogenesis of ICP from a lipid metabolism perspective.Design: Cross-sectional study, including women with normal pregnancies, women with mild ICP and women with severe ICP.Setting: Gansu Provincial Hospital.Population: Women with ICP were recruited from October 2019 to March 2020 in Gansu, China.Methods: Untargeted lipidomics was used to analyse differentially expressed plasma lipids in controls, in women with mild ICP and in women with severe ICP (n = 30 per group). For lipidomics, liquid chromatography and Q-Exactive Plus Orbitrap mass spectrometry were performed.Main Outcome Measures: Differentially expressed lipids.Results: Thirty-three lipids were differentially expressed in the severe and mild ICP groups, compared with the control group, and 20 of those were sphingolipids (ceramide, six species; sphingomyelin, 14 species). All differentially expressed sphingolipids in women with mild ICP were also differentially expressed in women with severe ICP; the fold change and significance of the differential expression were positively correlated with disease severity.Conclusions: We systematically characterized the lipidome-wide alterations in mild and severe ICP groups. The results indicated a link between ICP and disordered sphingolipid homeostasis.Tweetable Abstract: Abnormal sphingolipid metabolism is involved in the pathogenesis of ICP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Successful sequestration of CO2 into coalbeds relies on sufficient capacity and rates of uptake. Storage volumes are controlled by CO2 adsorption which in turn is affected in a complex manner by the evolving wettability of the sorption surface. However, mechanisms and interrelations between CO2 adsorption and coal wettability remain poorly constrained – especially under recreated in situ reservoir conditions where measurements are difficult. We circumvent this difficulty by combining direct measurements of adsorbed water and inferred wettability through Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy with mechanisms recovered from molecular dynamic (MD) simulations. The MD simulations confirm that CO2 gas molecules adsorb to the coal pore surface, partially displace the adsorbed water, and transform the coal surface into a heterogeneous surface comprising solid interspersed with gas pockets. We then use the Cassie‐Baxter equation as a basis to characterize the wettability of this heterogeneous H2O‐solid‐CO2 surface to clarify the relationship between CO2 adsorption and coal wettability – using measurements of adsorbed H2O, alone. This enables the first direct evaluation of coal wettability at in situ pressures of CO2. Constrained observations suggest that water wettability weakens significantly with increasing CO2 pressure. Under low CO2 pressure, changes in wettability are contributed directly by CO2 adsorption and increases in CO2 density ‐ when CO2 adsorption reaches saturation at high gas pressure, then changes are determined primarily by changes in CO2 density. We document a robust method and results for the accurate prediction of CO2 storage capacity in coalbeds and concomitant enhanced methane recovery. Plain Language Summary: Wettability is defined as the tendency of one fluid to spread on a solid surface in the presence of other immiscible fluids. In the process of CO2 sequestration into the coalbed, CO2 migrates across the water‐coal interface, adsorbs to the coal surface and also interacts with the water in the reservoir. The wettability highly affects CO2 adsorption and flow, and in turn, CO2 adsorption changes coal wettability significantly. However, how CO2 affects wettability alteration remains unclear. Contact angle measurement is the main method for wettability evaluation, which is usually completed in an equilibrium state for coals. Thus, the effect of CO2 adsorption is generally not considered quantitatively, limiting studies of CO2 adsorption affecting coal wettability. Here, molecular dynamic simulation and nuclear magnetic resonance experiments were performed to investigate water‐CO2 interactions on coal surfaces. Mechanisms and relationships between CO2 adsorption and coal wettability conclude that CO2 adsorbs to the coal surface and converts some water‐occupied sites to CO2‐occupied sites, which makes the coal surface a mixed surface comprised of solid and CO2 gas pockets. The wettability of the mixed surface varies with the proportion of CO2 gas pockets on the surface, which is determined by adsorption capacity. Key Points: CO2 adsorbs to the coal surface forcing water molecules to gather to oxygen functional group with some adsorbed water escaping from the substrateCO2 adsorption converts some water‐occupied sites to CO2‐occupied sites changing coal to a mixed surface comprising solid and gas pocketsAn in‐situ coal wettability model clarifies mechanisms and relationships between CO2 adsorption and coal wettability [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disposal of long-lived fission products (LLFPs) produced in reactors has been paid a lot attention for sustainable and clean nuclear energy. Although a few transmutation means have been proposed to address this issue, there are still scientific and/or engineering challenges to achieve efficient transmutation of LLFPs. In this study, we propose a novel concept of advanced nuclear energy system (ANES) for transmuting LLFPs efficiently without isotopic separation. The ANES comprises intense photoneutron source (PNS) and subcritical reactor, which consist of lead–bismuth (Pb-Bi) layer, beryllium (Be) layer, and fuel, LLFPs and shield assemblies. The PNS is produced by bombarding radioactive cesium and iodine target with a laser-Compton scattering (LCS) γ-ray beam. We investigate the effect of the ANES system layout on transmutation efficiency by Monte Carlo simulations. It is found that a proper combination of the Pb-Bi layer and the Be layer can increase the utilization efficiency of the PNS by a factor of ~ 10, which helps to decrease by almost the same factor the LCS γ-beam intensity required for driving the ANES. Supposing that the ANES operates over 20 years at a normal thermal power of 500 MWt, five LLFPs including 99Tc, 129I, 107Pd, 137Cs and 79Se could be transmuted by more than 30%. Their effective half-lives thus decrease drastically from ~ 106 to less than 102 years. It is suggested that this successful implementation of the ANES paves the avenue towards practical transmutation of LLFPs without isotopic separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/introduction Knee joint osteoarthritis is a chronic disease that affects the health in aging population. Aim We explore a minimally invasive surgery combining the use of ultrasonic drug penetration to treat early stage of knee joint osteoarthritis. Design In total, 75 patients were participated in acupotomy therapy and ultrasonic drug penetration to treat joint osteoarthritis. Methods The WOMAC (the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index) scores were used to assess the performance. Results There was a significant difference in the WOMAC score between the two groups of patients (P  < 0.05). The total performance rate was about 86.4% and 50% in experiment and control groups. Conclusion The combination of acupotomy therapy and ultrasonic drug penetration has demonstrated to be effective and promising to treat knee joint osteoarthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In machine vision systems, the objectives to be detected, such as circuit boards, may be composed of many different materials and shapes, which can lead to highlights, shadows and error information in captured images under traditional uniform illumination. A lighting system that generates tailored irradiance in different regions in machine vision is needed. This paper proposes a design method for an LED lens and obtains special total-internal-reflection (TIR) lenses that generate tailored illumination, which can adapt to the reflectance and shape of a target. Differential-algebraic equations (DAEs) based on the conservation of flux are established to ensure the uniform illumination on the targets, nonlinear equations based on the edge-ray principle are employed to generate the spots with tailored shapes and the numerical solutions can be fitted into the proposed lenses. Six different tailored faculae are generated to verify the proposed method. The results show that the uniformity of tailored facula can exceed 87%, and the light efficiency can exceed 85%. In particular, the contrast of the irradiance among different regions can be adjusted by the boundary conditions; thus, the proposed method can satisfy the complex demand for machine vision and be applied to improve vision detection systems in production lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of phase change memory (PCM) device non-idealities on the deep neural network (DNN) inference accuracy is systematically investigated. Based on the experimental PCM data, statistical models of device non-idealities were extracted and incorporated into our PyTorch-based simulation framework for evaluations on the CIFAR-10 dataset. Our specific results include: 1) nonlinear ${I}$ – ${V}$ could incur a significant accuracy degradation, but it can be eliminated depending on how the input activations are encoded (e.g., no degradation with pulse-encoding schemes); 2) resistance variation and read noise induce a relatively mild accuracy degradation (< 1% with experimentally fit model), which can be further mitigated through variation-aware training (VAT); 3) maximizing accuracy over a given operating temperature range is attained through a “temperature-specific weight remapping” method developed in this work, accuracy variance of < 3% is demonstrated over a temperature range of ${T} \pm 15 ^{\circ }\text{C}$ ; and 4) resistance drift leads to a significant accuracy degradation over time and is the most challenging non-ideality to address by algorithmic means alone (drift coefficient < 0.015 is needed to achieve < 3% degradation in ten years). A “weight transfusion” (WT) method has been proposed to effectively recover the inference accuracy by incrementally activating additional pre-trained neurons over time. The main overhead is the additional area to store pre-trained weights beforehand, which is likely affordable given the high density of MLC PCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Figuring out the states and laws of urban traffic is of important theoretical and practical significance for ensuring fast logistics and delivery of new retails and optimizing the entire logistics network. However, few studies have analyzed the urban traffic states for new retail logistics or the path optimization of logistics and delivery in city clusters. To fill in such research gap, this paper aims to explore a path optimization model and its solution algorithm for the logistics and delivery of new retails in city clusters. At first, the paper analyzes the urban traffic states for new retain logistics and delivery in city clusters from three aspects: the distribution laws of delivery centers and logistics facilities, the traffic accessibility of logistics and delivery, and the comprehensive evaluation of road conditions. Then, the paper constructs a path optimization model for new retain logistics and delivery in city clusters, and gives the corresponding constraints and the model solution algorithm. At last, this paper uses experiment to verify the rationality and effectiveness of the constructed model and the proposed algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we demonstrated the self-powered solar-blind photodetector based on a polyaniline/α-Ga2O3 hybrid heterojunction. The resultant device exhibited distinct self-power characteristics with a peak photoresponsivity (R) of 8.2 mA/W, a UVC (UV light of wavelength range at 200–280 nm)/UVA (UV light of wavelength range at 320–400 nm) rejection ratio (R220 nm/R400 nm) of 2.97 × 104, and a response decay time (τdec) of 176 μs at zero bias. With an elevated bias to 5 V, the dark current remained in an ultralow level of 0.21 pA, while the rejection ratio and τdec were improved to be 7.13 × 104 and 153 μs, respectively, together with the corresponding external quantum efficiency of 38.4% and a detectivity of 6.63 × 1013 Jones. Thanks to the dual functions of bandpass transmission in the deep-ultraviolet spectral region and the hole spreading transport of the polyaniline layer, the responsivity to the visible light is suppressed with the negligible internal photoemission effect, thus leading to the improved rejection ratio. Furthermore, weak interface interactions in such polyaniline/α-Ga2O3 organic–inorganic hybrid systems avoid the introduction of interfacial trapping centers by lattice mismatch and the stabilization of negatively charged anions (O2−) by (−NH2)-+species in polyaniline deactivate oxygen vacancies at the α-Ga2O3 surface, both of which lead to the negligible persistent photoconductivity effect. As a result, in the aid of the interfacial built-in field, the constructed hybrid heterojunction exhibited a self-powered detecting characteristic and a fast response speed. These findings verify the feasibility of delivering high performance photodetectors by implementing the inorganic/organic hybrid bipolar device design to overcome the difficulty in p-type Ga2O3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the effect of aging on pulmonary vessels based on computed tomography (CT) quantification and analyse the correlation between quantitative pulmonary vascular volume and pulmonary function during aging. A total of 330 healthy adult volunteers, including 161 men (53 aged 20–39 years, 61 aged 40–59 years, and 47 aged ≥60 years) and 169 women (53 aged 20–39 years, 63 aged 40–59 years, and 53 aged ≥60 years) were recruited in this study. AVIEW software was used to quantitatively measure pulmonary vascular volume, including pulmonary total blood vessel volume (TBV) and small blood vessel volume with a cross-sectional area of <5 mm2 (BV5). Pulmonary vascular volume parameters were standardised using the ratio of vascular volume to the body surface area (BSA; TBV/BSA and BV5/BSA). Subsequently, the effect of aging on the pulmonary vessels was analysed. The pulmonary vascular volume parameters TBV/BSA and BV5/BSA of the whole lung, right lung, and left lung decreased significantly with increasing age (p< 0.05). Additionally, TBV/BSA and BV5/BSA of the whole lung were higher in men than in women. The declining trend of pulmonary vascular volume was consistent in men and women and increased with age. The pulmonary vascular volume parameters, TBV/BSA and BV5/BSA, decreased with age and were weakly positively correlated with pulmonary function. • Aging affects the pulmonary vascular structure. • With the increase in age, the pulmonary vascular volume decreased significantly. • The declining trend of the pulmonary vascular volume was consistent in both sexes. • The pulmonary vascular volume was weakly correlated with pulmonary function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To determine whether and how cinobufagin regulates hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell proliferation and radioresistance. Materials and Methods: Radiosensitive (HepG2-NC) and radioresistant (HepG2-SR) HCC cells were treated with cinobufagin, X-ray ionizing radiation (IR) or a combination of cinobufagin and IR at different doses. Cell counting was performed using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Key ferroptosis marker levels were determined using the indicated methods. RNA immunoprecipitation using an anti-m6A antibody followed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to determine the m6A levels in SLC7A11 mRNA. Results: Cinobufagin inhibited the proliferation of HepG2-NC and HepG2-SR cells. Exposure to X-rays decreased the HepG2-NC cell count in a time- and dose-dependent manner, but did not affect HepG2-SR cells. A low dose of cinobufagin did not change the cell count without IR exposure, but re-sensitized HepG2-SR cells to IR. The combination of low-dose cinobufagin and IR increased ferroptosis and decreased SLC7A11 expression levels. Mechanistically, the combination of a low dose of cinobufagin and IR decreased m6A levels in the 3' UTR of SLC7A11 in a METTL3-dependent manner. Conclusion: A low dose of cinobufagin exerted synergistic effects with IR and re-sensitized radioresistant HCC cells to IR via a METTL3/m6A-dependent pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine whether net water uptake (NWU) based on automated software evaluation could predict futile recanalisation in patients with acute anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion (LVO). Patients with acute anterior circulation LVO undergoing mechanical thrombectomy in Jinling Hospital were evaluated retrospectively. NWU and other baseline data were evaluated by performing univariate and multivariate analyses. The primary endpoint was 90-day modified Rankin scale score ≥3. A nomogram to predict poor clinical outcomes was developed based on multivariate logistic regression analysis. Overall, 135 patients who underwent thrombectomy with a TICI grade ≥2b were enrolled. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the following factors were identified as independent predictors of futile recanalisation: age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.055, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.004–1.110, p= 0.035), female (OR: 0.289, 95 % CI: 0.098–0.850, p= 0.024), hypertension (OR: 3.182, 95 % CI: 1.160–8.728, p= 0.025), high blood glucose level (OR: 1.36, 95 % CI: 1.087–1.701, p= 0.007), admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (OR: 1.082, 95 % CI: 1.003–1.168, p= 0.043), and NWU (OR: 1.312, 95 % CI: 1.038–1.659, p= 0.023). NWU based on Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography (CT) Score (ASPECTS) could be used to predict the occurrence of futile recanalisation in patients with acute anterior circulation LVO ischaemic stroke. • Net water uptake could independently predict futile recanalization. • Nomogram visualizes the relationship between variables and clinical outcomes. • Our approach offers reduced imaging time, and is a simplified procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: γδT cells play an important role in the mucosa inflammation and immunity-associated disorders. Our previous study reported that γδ T cells producing IL-17 were involved in the pathogenesis of post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS). However, their subset characteristic profile in this kind of disease remains unclear. Thus the current study's aim is to investigate the functionally predominant subset and its role in PI-IBS.Methods: The total T cells were collected from the peripheral blood of patients with PI-IBS. The peripheral proportion of Vδ1 and Vδ2 subset was detected by FACS after stained with anti δ1-PE and anti δ2-APC. The local colonic proportion of this two subsets were measured under laser confocal fluorescence microscope. Vδ1 γδ T cells were enriched from the total peripheral T cells by minoantibody-immuno-microbeads (MACS) method and cultured, functionally evaluated by CCK-8 assay (proliferation), CD69/CD62L molecules expression assay (activation) and ELISA (IL-17 production) respectively.Results: 1. Vδ1 γδ T cells significantly increased while Vδ2 γδ T cells remained unchanged in both the peripheral blood and local colonic tissue from PI-IBS patients (p < 0.05). 2. When cultured in vitro, the Vδ1 γδ T cells remarkably proliferated, activated and produced IL-17 (p < 0.05).Conclusions: Our results suggest that Vδ1 γδ T cells was the predominant γδ T cells subset in both peripheral and intestinal tissue, and was the major IL-17 producing γδ T cells in PI-IBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on high resolution analysis of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) to detect and assess defects in sub-surface layers. We employ a focussed ion beam scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM) to sputter and image successive cross sections (slice and view technique) in order to produce a 3D reconstruction of the oxide aperture region. High resolution images and measurements of the multilayers and oxide apertures of VCSEL devices were obtained. The process took ∼2.5 h and produced over 270 slice SEM images for a device volume of approximately 13.2 × 16.0 × 13.8 μm3, with a voxel size of 50 nm. On-wafer, single mode VCSEL devices with high and low output powers were analysed to compare their oxide apertures and distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) layer structures. It was found that the low output power VCSEL had DBR layer defects and a 41.8% reduction of effective oxide aperture area, explaining the lower power obtained. The results provide evidence that oxide aperture area and structural defects are major factors that affect the optical output power of VCSEL devices. Outcomes in this work show FIB-SEM slice and view is a valuable method for 3D reconstruction of VCSEL devices, which enables top view, cross-sectional view and angled view of the whole device region as well as designated structures such as oxide aperture or structural defects in various layers. This work demonstrates a promising technique with high resolution (50 nm) 3D imaging for analysis of complex semiconductor devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Particle-based delivery systems have emerged as a powerful platform in controlled drug release. In the present study, we developed a new inverse opal hydrogel microcarrier system composed of gold nanorods (AuNRs) for near-infrared light (NIR) activated drug delivery. AuNRs with a desired aspect ratio were prepared by a seed-mediated growth method. The inverse opal hydrogel microcarriers composited with AuNRs were synthesized by negatively replicating silica colloidal crystal beads (SCCBs). The NIR-thermo response of the microcarriers was due to the NIR photothermal heating effect of AuNRs and the thermo responsive volume transition of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAM) hydrogel. It was found that the NIR-controlled reversible shrinking response of the microcarriers was ideal for the controllable drug release with real-time self-reporting color indication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ELAV/Hu family is a conserved multigene family of pan‐neuronal RNA‐binding protein involved in post‐transcriptional regulation in metazoans. In Drosophila, three members of this family, ELAV, RBP9 and FNE, are involved in neuronal differentiation, gene expression regulation and so on. This family is less well characterized in Bombyx mori. Two orthologs BmELAV‐like‐1 (BmEL‐1) and BmELAV‐like‐2 (BmEL‐2) share 55%–71% and 47%–62% identity with that of in Drosophila and humans, respectively. Bmel‐1 is ubiquitously expressed while Bmel‐2 is expressed in the head and ovaries specifically. Proteins encoded by both genes are localized in nuclear and cytoplasm. The weight of body, cocoon, pupae and cocoon shell are differently affected in Bmel‐1−/−2− mutants created using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Mutations of both genes increase the expression of four silk protein genes, Fib‐L, Fib‐H, P25 and Ser‐1. In addition, the oviposition ability of Bmel‐2− females is decreased. This study not only provides valuable insights into the functional roles of Bmelav‐like genes in the growth, cocoon characters and regulation of silk protein genes expression, but also provides useful information for silkworm variety breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geometric, electronic, and magnetic structures of a manganese phthalocyanine (MnPc) molecule on an antiferromagnetic IrMn(100) surface are studied by density functional theory calculations. Two kinds of orientation of the adsorbed MnPc molecule are predicted to coexist due to molecular self-assembly on the surface--a top-site geometry with the Mn-N bonds aligned along the (100} direction, and a hollow-site orientation in which the Mn -N bonds are parallel to the (110} direction. The MnPc molecule is antiferromagnetically coupled to the substrate at the top site with a slight reduction in the magnetic moment of the Mn atom of the MnPc molecule (Mnmol). In contrast, the magnetic moment of the Mnmol is enhanced to 4.28 μB at the hollow site, a value larger than that in the free MnPc molecule (3.51 μB). Molecular distortion induced by adsorption is revealed to be responsible for the enhancement of the magnetic moment. Furthermore, the spin polarization of the Mnmol atom at around the Fermi level is found to change from negative to positive through an elongation of the Mn-N bonds of the MnPc. We propose that a reversible switch of the low/high magnetic moment and negative/positive spin polarization might be realized through some mechanical engineering methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geometric and spin-resolved electronic structure of a graphene-adsorbed Ni(111) surface has been investigated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations without and with a semiempirical long-range dispersion correction (DFT-D). DFT calculations with generalized gradient approximation (GGA) functional cannot predict well about the adsorption properties of graphene to the Ni(111) surface. While DFT-D calculations with the same GGA functional give reasonable values of the adsorption energy and layer distance from graphene to the substrate. The geometry of top_fcc is the most energetically favorable in all geometries. Strong hybridization of graphene with the ferromagnetic Ni substrate induces significant shift partially in graphene π states towards the Fermi level yielding spin polarization. The spin polarization is positive at the shallow levels of modified π states and slightly negative at the deeper levels of fundamental π states, which is indicated by the calculated spin density distributions and plane-averaged density of states at the vacuum side. The opposite spin polarization is consistent with our experimental result of spin asymmetry obtained by spin-polarized metastable-atom de-excitation spectroscopy measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. We study the relative helicity of active region (AR) NOAA 12673 during a ten-hour time interval centered around a preceding X2.2 flare (SOL2017-09-06T08:57) and also including an eruptive X9.3 flare that occurred three hours later (SOL2017-09-06T11:53). In particular, we aim for a reliable estimate of the normalized self-helicity of the current-carrying magnetic field, the so-called helicity ratio, |HJ|/|H𝒱|, a promising candidate to quantity the eruptive potential of solar ARs. Methods. Using Solar Dynamics Observatory Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager vector magnetic field data as an input, we employ nonlinear force-free (NLFF) coronal magnetic field models using an optimization approach. The corresponding relative helicity, and related quantities, are computed using a finite-volume method. From multiple time series of NLFF models based on different choices of free model parameters, we are able to assess the spread of |HJ|/|H𝒱|, and to estimate its uncertainty. Results. In comparison to earlier works, which identified the non-solenoidal contribution to the total magnetic energy, Ediv/E, as selection criterion regarding the required solenoidal quality of magnetic field models for subsequent relative helicity analysis, we propose to use in addition the non-solenoidal contribution to the free magnetic energy, |Emix|/EJ, s. As a recipe for a reliable estimate of the relative magnetic helicity (and related quantities), we recommend to employ multiple NLFF models based on different combinations of free model parameters, to retain only those that exhibit smallest values of both Ediv/E and |Emix|/EJ, s at a certain time instant, to subsequently compute mean estimates, and to use the spread of the individually contributing values as an indication for the uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elastic scattering of electrons in a plasma is studied for its pivotal role in relating transport properties to plasma composition. A unified effective potential model is developed to describe the interactions between electrons and atoms/ions in plasma. It not only contains the static Coulomb, polarization, and exchange interaction but also considers plasma environment effects with a Muffin-tin model based on the Roothaan–Hartree–Fock atomic wave functions. For electron–electron and electron–ion interactions, the dynamical screening effect is also considered by a velocity-dependent screening length. The validity of the potential model is demonstrated in the specific case of argon plasma. The calculated differential, total, and momentum transfer cross sections, as well as the electrical conductivities at varying plasma densities and temperatures, are compared to available experimental data and other calculations. These comparisons indicate that the proposed potential has correct low density limit behavior and works well for plasma in a wide range of densities and temperatures, including warm dense matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a simple 24-filament structure Nb3Al superconducting wire has been firstly prepared by using the jelly-roll Nb/Al composite wire, the reel-to-reel rapid heating and quenching (RHQ), and phase transformation heat treatment. In order to obtain the Nb3Al long wire with good superconducting properties, various heating current (HC) and wire moving speed (WMS) were used to produce high-quality Nb(Al)ss supersaturated solid solution during RHQ process; thereafter, the Nb(Al)ss wire was put into the Cu tube and drawn for preparing the Cu-cladded Nb3Al wire. The results suggest that for the Nb3Al wire with the HC 262 A and WMS of 300 mm/s, its onset Tc and layer Jc at 4.2 K and 12 T measured by the transport way reach 17.7 K and 1.58 × 105 A/cm2, respectively. The magnetization measurement (M-H) of Nb3Al wires indicate that the diameter reduction of Nb(Al)ss solid solution wires after RHQ will significantly improve their grain connectivity and thus Jc properties at the optimal heat treatment conditions. The work suggests the simple-structured Nb3Al superconducting wire is promising to the practical high-field magnet application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

G213.0−0.6 is a faint extended source situated in the anticentre region of the Galactic plane. It has been classified as a shell-type supernova remnant (SNR) based on its shell-like morphology, steep radio continuum spectrum, and high ratio of [S  ii ]/Hα. With new optical emission line data of Hα, [S  ii ], and [N  ii ] recently observed by the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope, the ratios of [S  ii ]/Hα and [N  ii ]/Hα are re-assessed. The lower values than those previously reported put G213.0−0.6 around the borderline of SNR-H  ii region classification. We decompose the steep-spectrum synchrotron and the flat-spectrum thermal free-free emission in the area of G213.0−0.6 with multi-frequency radio continuum data. G213.0−0.6 is found to show a flat spectrum, in conflict with the properties of a shell-type SNR. Such a result is further confirmed by TT-plots made between the 863-MHz, 1.4-GHz, and 4.8-GHz data. Combining the evidence extracted in both optical and radio continuum, we argue that G213.0−0.6 is possibly not an SNR, but an H  ii region instead. The V LSR pertaining to the Hα filaments places G213.0−0.6 approximately 1.9 kpc away in the Perseus Arm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To examine the synergistic effect of calycosin combined with polymyxin B against various mcr‐1‐positive bacterial strains. Methods and Results: In this study, we found a potential inhibitor of MCR‐1, calycosin, that could significantly restore the antibacterial activity of polymyxin B. The synergistic effect of calycosin combined with polymyxin B against various mcr‐1‐positive bacterial strains was confirmed by checkerboard minimum inhibitory concentration assays, time‐kill curve assays and disk diffusion assays. The fractional inhibitory concentration indexes ranged from 0·15 ± 0·03 to 0·28 ± 0·05, and the zones of inhibition increased from 13·33 ± 0·47 to 17·67 ± 0·47 mm with the combined therapy of calycosin and polymyxin B. In addition, the combined therapy significantly reduced the number of bacteria in the medium. However, at the concentrations required for the synergistic effect with polymyxin B, calycosin alone showed no effect on bacterial growth or MCR‐1 production. Calycosin treatment exhibited no cytotoxicity to HeLa cells or A549 cells at calycosin concentrations below 32 µg ml−1. Conclusions: Therefore, our results suggested that calycosin could be used as a potential MCR‐1 inhibitor to restore the bactericidal effect of polymyxin B without affecting bacterial viability or existing cytotoxicity. Significance and Impact of the Study: The synergistic effect of calycosin combined with polymyxin B against various mcr‐1‐positive bacterial strains paves the way for future pharmaceutical applications of calycosin in fighting mcr‐1‐positive bacterial infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Replacing starch with sugar could maintain dietary energy density with reduced risks of rumen acidosis and milk fat depression, but the underlying mechanism is not well understood, and the effects of sugar feeding might vary among sugars. Aims: Objectives of the present study were to evaluate the effects of replacing corn starch in a diet containing 40 : 60 forage-to-concentrate ratio (control) with 3%, 6% and 9% of sucrose, fructose and lactose on in vitro rumen fermentation, fatty acid (FA) composition and populations of bacteria involved in the production of trans -11 and trans -10 FA. Methods: A 3 × 3 + 1 (control) factorial experimental design was used, and the pH, concentrations of volatile fatty acids (VFA) and ammonia-N, profiles of FA and the relative abundance of four trans -11-producing bacteria and two trans -10 FA-producing bacteria were measured after a 6-h incubation. Key results: Replacing dietary corn starch with sucrose, fructose and lactose neither altered the concentration of total VFA after 6-h fermentation, nor decreased the pH, except for substitution with 9% sucrose. Increased butyrate proportions and decreased branched-chain VFA proportions were the common effects in sugar treatments, but the proportions of acetate and propionate varied among sugars. Lactose inclusion in the diet led to a higher pH, greater acetate and butyrate concentrations, and lower propionate concentrations than did sucrose inclusion. Sugar substitution decreased the concentrations of C18:1 trans -4 and most C18:2 isomers, but did not influence the major isomers related to trans -11 and trans -10 biohydrogenation pathways. Abundance of the four measured trans -11 FA-producing bacteria was increased by sugars, with sucrose showing a greater influence than did fructose and lactose. As to trans -10 FA-producing bacteria, only Megasphaera elsdenii populations were decreased by 3% and 6% fructose inclusion compared with the control. Dose-effect varied among sugars and the parameters measured, with sucrose having the most obvious dose effect among the three sugars; however, fructose affected mainly fermentation parameters, while lactose affected mainly C18 FA profiles. Conclusions: Replacing corn starch in a high-concentrate diet with up to 9% of sucrose, fructose and lactose differentially affected rumen fermentation and rumen FA metabolism, by influencing the abundance of rumen bacteria involved in rumen FA biohydrogenation. Implications: Lactose may be more efficient in increasing milk fat than are sucrose and fructose, and dose effect should be considered in the utilisation of sucrose. Substitution of starch with sugar could maintain dietary energy density with reduced negative effects induced by a high-starch diet. The present study investigated underlying mechanisms by comparing the effects of sucrose, fructose and lactose on rumen fermentation, fatty acid metabolism and related bacterial populations. Our results confirmed and extended the earlier results, and provided helpful clues for a better use of sugars in the diet of dairy animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lateral bearing performance of a defective pile-supported wharf located on a slope was investigated through centrifuge modeling, and a numerical model was employed to back-analyze the centrifuge test data. The pile foundation system was composed of double-plumb, single-plumb, and batter piles, and the defects were located at the front row of the double-plumb piles. The failure mode, bearing lateral load, bent displacement, and pile bending moments were examined. The results show that overturning with slight torsion occurred in the bent under the lateral load. The piles clearly deformed around defects and were separated from the soil on the landside. The lateral bent displacement increased rapidly after a threshold lateral load value was reached. The bending moments were generally positive (i.e., the side facing the water was in tension) in the upper parts and negative in the lower parts of the double-plumb piles. The bending moments of the double-plumb pile heads increased with the lateral load, whereas the bending moments directly underneath the slope surface exhibited decreasing-constant tendencies with increasing lateral load. The bending moment of the single-plumb pile was generally positive above the slope surface and in compression below the slope surface, and decreasing-constant tendencies were observed with increasing lateral load just below the slope surface. The bending moment of the forward batter pile was negative and decreased with the lateral load around the slope surface and in the middle of the soil. The bending moment of the backward batter pile was generally positive above the slope surface, negative below the slope surface, and remained almost constant around the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An easy-to-implement method based on mode-converted waves was proposed for quantitatively detecting shallow subsurface defects using the ultrasonic time-of-flight diffraction (TOFD) technique. First, an isotropic model with a shallow subsurface defect was established to analyze the ray path of the mode-converted wave in TOFD B-scan image. The mode-converted wave with the shortest travel time and highest amplitude was identified to calculate the flaw depth via Snell's law. Subsequently, the quantitative expression of flaw depth was corrected by introducing the travel time of mode-converted wave, improving the measurement accuracy of the flaw height. Simulated results showed that the depth of the dead zone in carbon steel was reduced from 5.5 to 2.4 mm. The measurement error of shallow subsurface cracks was no more than 0.02 mm when the crack height was greater than or equal to 0.7 mm. Finally, three shallow subsurface defects were experimentally detected with the mode-converted waves in B-scan image. The quantitative errors of the measured heights were within 8.5% of the actual values, verifying the validity of the proposed method. This method is appropriate for the quantitative detection of shallow subsurface defects in thick-walled components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently the distributive equations involving various classes of aggregation operators have aroused widespread attention because of their importance in the theoretic and applied communities of fuzzy set theory. 2-uninorms and semi-t- operators are two special classes of aggregation operators and have been proved to be useful in many areas such as fuzzy decision making, approximate reasoning and so on. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to investigate the left (right) distributivity of semi-t-operators over 2-uninorms. We consider five subclasses of 2-uninorms and characterize the corresponding left (right) distributive equations of semi-t-operators over 2-uninorms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To provide an evaluation of medical expenditures induced by depression and depressive symptoms among rural elderly in China. The panel dataset used for this study is taken from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) data for the years 2012 and 2016. We examined the case of rural elderly who were 60 years old or older at the time of the 2012 survey and 64 years old or older at the time of the 2016 survey and then created a panel dataset that includes 2938 rural elderly for both years to estimate the influence of depressive symptoms/depression on medical cost. Both two part model and four part model were used to estimate the influence of depressive symptoms and depression on medical expenditure. Then a counter-factual method was used to calculate the cost of depressive symptoms and depression among rural elderly in China. Mental health status has significant effects on individual medical expenses, and they aggregately contribute to 47.26% of total personal expected medical expenditures. Specifically, the rural group, the female group, the widowed group, and the poorly educated group have higher medical expenditures because of depressive status than the other groups. Mental health status significantly increased both the chance of undergoing medical care and the degree of medical expenditure among rural elderly in China. This situation is more serious in some vulnerable groups. Therefore, the Chinese government needs to reform its mental health of rural elderly and insurance institutions to eliminate the policy-caused barriers to mental health resources, especially for vulnerable groups. • The first study to focus on the continued effect of depression on medical costs. • We use a nationally representative panel dataset and counter-factual method. • Depression increased both the chance of undergoing medical care and expenditure. • The medical spending caused by depression was part of a non-uniform distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The optimal analgesia regimen after laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery is unclear. The aim of the study was to characterize the beneficial effects of continuous transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks initiated before operation on outcomes following laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery. Methods: Patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer were divided randomly into three groups: combined general–TAP anaesthesia (TAP group), combined general–thoracic epidural anaesthesia (TEA group) and standard general anaesthesia (GA group). The primary endpoint was duration of hospital stay. Secondary endpoints included gastrointestinal motility, pain scores and plasma levels of cytokines. Results: In total, 180 patients were randomized and 165 completed the trial. The intention‐to‐treat analysis showed that duration of hospital stay was significantly longer in the TEA group than in the TAP and GA groups (median 4·1 (95 per cent c.i. 3·8 to 4·3) versus 3·1 (3·0 to 3·3) and versus 3·3 (3·2 to 3·6) days respectively; both P < 0·001). Time to first flatus was earlier in the TAP group (P < 0·001). Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores during coughing were lower in the TAP and TEA groups than the GA group (P < 0·001). Raised plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor C, interleukin 6, adrenaline and cortisol were attenuated significantly by continuous TAP block. Conclusion: Continuous TAP analgesia not only improved gastrointestinal motility but also shortened duration of hospital stay. A decreased opioid requirement and attenuating surgical stress response may be potential mechanisms. Registration number: ChiCTR‐TRC‐1800015535 (http://www.chictr.org.cn). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Columnar apple is a valuable resource for genetic improvement of cultivated apples due to its special tree architecture. Strigolactones (SLs) are a novel class of plant hormones controlling shoot branching. The content of SLs is higher in columnar apple than in standard apples. In this study, the members of major gene families involved in SLs biosynthesis and signaling were identified from apple genomic sequences and their expression profiles were characterized in columnar and standard apples using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reactions. In comparison with standard apple, the higher expressions of MORE AXILLARY GROWTH genes MdMAX3-1 and MdMAX4-4 were detected in both buds and shoots of columnar apple but the expression of DWARF gene MdD53-4 showed a lower expression in columnar apple. Overexpression of Columnar gene MdCo31 in tobacco increased SLs content and weakened the inhibition of SLs signal transduction by increasing expression of MAX3 and down-regulating the transcription of D53. Thus MdCo31 could be a strong candidate gene for the control of columnar habit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and the underlying molecular mechanisms on the migration of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). Methodology: The expression of VEGFA in inflammatory pulp tissue and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐stimulated dental pulp cells was examined by immunofluorescence staining and qRT‐PCR. The migration of hDPSCs was detected using transwell migration and wound healing assays. The activation of FAK, PI3K, Akt and p38 signalling was evaluated by Western blot analysis. Silence RNA (siRNA) technology was utilized to knockdown the expression of VEGFR1 (Flt‐1) and VEGFR2 (Flk‐1/KDR). PF573228 (inhibitor of FAK), LY294002 (inhibitor of PI3K), SB203580 (inhibitor of p38) and SU5416 (inhibitor of VEGFR2) were employed to investigate the effect of VEGFA on the migratory mechanism of hDPSCs. Data were analysed statistically using the Student's t‐test or one‐way ANOVA. Results: The expression levels of VEGFA in inflammatory pulp tissue in vivo and LPS‐stimulated dental pulp cells in vitro were significantly greater than those in the control groups (P < 0.05). Vascular endothelial growth factor A promoted the migration of hDPSCs in a concentration‐dependent manner. Several signalling pathways, including FAK, PI3K, Akt and p38, were activated by VEGFA in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner in hDPSCs. The VEGFA‐induced migration of hDPSCs was significantly inhibited with drug inhibitors such as PF573228, LY294002, SB203580 or SU5416 (P < 0.05). These signalling pathways activated by VEGFA stimulation were significantly suppressed by pre‐treatment with inhibitor of VEGFR2 (SU5416) or transfection with siRNA of VRGFR2 (P < 0.05) but not VEGFR1 siRNA. Conclusions: Vascular endothelial growth factor A/VEGFR2 axis promoted the migration of hDPSCs via the FAK/PI3K/Akt and p38 MAPK signalling pathways. These findings reveal a novel molecular mechanism for cell migration of hDPSCs, which may contribute to the remodelling of pulp tissue and dentine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristics and distribution of clay minerals and their effects on reservoir quality in the Huagang sandstones in the Xihu Sag, East China Sea Basin were studied by using X-ray diffraction, casting thin-sections, scanning electron microscopy, electron microprobe analysis, fluid inclusion analysis, constant-rate mercury injection and nuclear magnetic resonance. Clay minerals consist of kaolinite, chlorite, illite and illite–smectite mixed layer (I/S); kaolinite forms from dissolved feldspars, chlorite occurs as clay coatings that are transformed from clay precursors owing to the flocculation of suspended detrital clays or the crystallisation of pore fluids, and illite forms from the illitisation of detrital smectite, authigenic kaolinite and K-feldspars. Clay distribution is controlled by sedimentary environments, burial history and lithologies. Typical reservoirs in the western sub-sag are thin and developed in braided river facies at relatively shallow burial depths with clays dominated by kaolinite. However, typical reservoirs in the central inversion tectonic zone are thicker and developed in a braided delta front facies at deeper burial depths with clays mainly consisting of chlorite, illite and I/S. High-quality reservoirs are characterised by coarse granularity, high quartz content and low clay content with widespread development of chlorite coatings that inhibit quartz cements at low temperatures. At higher temperatures, the high-quality reservoirs develop more pores providing growth space for quartz cements and result in the coexistence of chlorite coatings and quartz cements. The high-quality reservoirs are controlled by their lithological characteristics rather than chlorite coatings. Illite and I/S clays create severe damage to reservoirs by reducing the size and connectivity of pore-throats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adsorptions of Xe atoms on the Pd(111) and Cu(111) surfaces are investigated by first-principles calculations. The van der Waals interactions are considered in the optimization of the geometric structure. The equilibrium distance from the Xe atom to the topmost surface layer and the rumpling of the substrate are closer to the experimental data than by conventional calculations without including van der Waals interactions. The existence of the induced states, which are partially filled by electron back donation, is predicted by the calculated local density of states. The mechanism of the sublevel splitting of the 5p3/2 states is discussed. The differential electron densities are used to analyze the electron redistribution by the adsorption of Xe atoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the photoluminescence (PL) behavior of the porous silicon nanowire (PSiNW) arrays synthesized via metal-assisted electroless etching method on the n-Si (100) substrate. Two PL bands with different origins dependent on the post-chemical treatments were detected. The red emission band, the peak position of which is insensitive to temperature and excitation source, is considered to originate from the excitons localized at the interface between the Si nanostructure and the oxide layer. An anomalous blue shift of the near-infrared PL band was observed when the temperature increased from 80 to 290 K. The maximum intensity appears around 160 K and the emission energy is strongly dependent on the excitation energy and power. The triplet-singlet state transition is introduced to explain the PL behavior for this emission band. The absorption spectra are also induced to confirm the PL origins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]