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Aim Saline contrast-enhanced electrical impedance tomography (EIT) has been used to identify the respiratory failure etiologies through assessment of regional lung perfusion at the bedside. In this study, we introduce a novel approach to detect right-to-left intracardiac shunt based on the center of heart (CoH) parameter determined from the early phase of impedance–time curve after saline bolus injection. Methods and result The timepoints when the saline bolus enter the heart (T0) and the lung regions (T1) are identified at first. A moving time window from T0 to T1 is then generated with steps of 0.5 s and the slope of the impedance–time curve in each pixel within the window calculated. CoH is calculated as the geometric center of pixel slope values in the right-to-left image direction. To illustrate how this method works in practice, we calculated the CoH values at T0 to T1 in 10 control hypoxic patients with no right-to-left shunt. In addition, we examined two critically ill patients with right-to-left intracardiac shunt. One was postcardiac surgery patient who had a residual atrial septal defect by color doppler of transesophageal echocardiograph. The other patient had a congenital heart disease of ventricular septal defect by color doppler of trans-thoracic echocardiography. A large difference in CoH between T0 to T1 was observed in the two patients with intracardiac shunt than in the control patients (11.06 ± 3.17% vs. 1.99 ± 1.43%, P  = 0.030). Conclusion Saline bolus EIT for lung perfusion might be used as ventriculography to identify the right-to-left intracardiac shunt at the bedside. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aegilops tauschii Coss., an invasive weed, has a detrimental impact on the winter wheat cultivation areas of China. Understanding how drought influences competitive ability of A. tauschii can help identify traits related to its invasiveness and guide management. Slight, moderate, and severe soil drought stress conditions were established using potted weighing and water control methods. Concurrently, the de Wit replacement experiment was conducted to assess changes in morphological structure, biomass allocation, and physiological characteristics under varying intensities of soil drought stress. Based on observations of alterations in plant height, total leaf area, and total biomass, two-factor variance analysis revealed that soil drought inhibited the growth and development of both A. tauschii and Triticum aestivum L. ('Xinmai 32'). Furthermore, one-factor variance analysis revealed that A. tauschii and wheat responded to soil drought stress by increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and proline content. However, as drought severity escalated, chlorophyll content in A. tauschii and wheat declined significantly, while relative electrical conductivity (REC) and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) content increased markedly. The results of the fuzzy membership function indicated that A. tauschii exhibited greater drought tolerance compared to the tested wheat variety. Lastly, considering adjustments in the corrected index of relative competition intensity (CRCI), it was observed that soil drought amplified the competitive inhibition of A. tauschii on wheat. In short, A. tauschii was more tolerant of the soil drought stress than wheat through the favorable adjustment of morphology, biomass allocation pattern and physiological features, and soil drought intensified its competitive inhibition on wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the jitter noise resulting from single-pulse phase and shape variations is important for the detection of gravitational waves using pulsar timing arrays. We present measurements of the jitter noise and single-pulse variability of 12 millisecond pulsars that are part of the International Pulsar Timing Array sample using the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope. We find that the levels of jitter noise can vary dramatically among pulsars. A moderate correlation with a correlation coefficient of 0.57 between jitter noise and pulse width is detected. To mitigate jitter noise, we perform matrix template matching using all four Stokes parameters. Our results reveal a reduction in jitter noise ranging from 6.7% to 39.6%. By performing longitude-resolved fluctuation spectrum analysis, we identify periodic intensity modulations in 10 pulsars. In PSR J0030+0451, we detect single pulses with energies more than 10 times the average pulse energy, suggesting the presence of giant pulses. We also observe a periodic mode-changing phenomenon in PSR J0030+0451. We examine the achievable timing precision by selecting a subset of pulses with a specific range of peak intensity, but no significant improvement in timing precision is achievable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY QUESTION Does 8 weeks of daily low-dose hCG administration affect androgen or inhibin B levels in serum and/or follicular fluid (FF) during the subsequent IVF/ICSI cycle in women with low ovarian reserve? SUMMARY ANSWER Androgen levels in serum and FF, and inhibin B levels in serum, decreased following 8 weeks of hCG administration. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Recently, we showed that 8 weeks of low-dose hCG priming, in between two IVF/ICSI treatments in women with poor ovarian responder (anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) <6.29 pmol/l), resulted in more follicles of 2–5 mm and less of 6–10-mm diameter at the start of stimulation and more retrieved oocytes at oocyte retrieval. The duration of stimulation and total FSH consumption was increased in the IVF/ICSI cycle after priming. Hypothetically, hCG priming stimulates intraovarian androgen synthesis causing upregulation of FSH receptors (FSHR) on granulosa cells. It was therefore unexpected that antral follicles were smaller and the stimulation time longer after hCG priming. This might indicate a different mechanism of action than previously suggested. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Blood samples were drawn on stimulation day 1, stimulation days 5–6, trigger day, day of oocyte retrieval, and oocyte retrieval + 5 days in the IVF/ICSI cycles before and after hCG priming (the control and study cycles, respectively). FF was collected from the first aspirated follicle on both sides during oocyte retrieval in both cycles. The study was conducted as a prospective, paired, non-blinded, single-center study conducted between January 2021 and July 2021 at a tertiary care center. The 20 participants underwent two identical IVF/ICSI treatments: a control cycle including elective freezing of all blastocysts and a study cycle with fresh blastocyst transfer. The control and study cycles were separated by 8 weeks (two menstrual cycles) of hCG priming by daily injections of 260 IU recombinant hCG. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Women aged 18–40 years with cycle lengths of 23–35 days and AMH <6.29 pmol/l were included. Control and study IVF/ICSI cycles were performed in a fixed GnRH-antagonist protocol. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Inhibin B was lower on stimulation day 1 after hCG priming (P  = 0.05). Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) was significantly lower on stimulation day 1 (P  = 0.03), and DHEAS and androstenedione were significantly lower on stimulation days 5–6 after priming (P  = 0.02 and P  = 0.02) The testosterone level in FF was significantly lower in the study cycle (P  = 0.008), while the concentrations of inhibin B and androstenedione in the FF did not differ between the study and control cycles. A lower serum inhibin B in the study cycle corresponds with the antral follicles being significantly smaller after priming, and this probably led to a longer stimulation time in the study cycle. This contradicts the theory that hCG priming increases the intraovarian androgen level, which in turn causes more FSHR on developing (antral up to preovulatory) follicles. However, based on this study, we cannot rule out that an increased intra-follicular androgen level was present at initiation of the ovarian stimulation, without elevating the androgen level in serum and that an increased androgen level may have rescued some small antral follicles that would have otherwise undergone atresia by the end of the previous menstrual cycle. We retrieved significantly more oocytes in the Study cycle, and the production of estradiol per follicle ≥10-mm diameter on trigger day was comparable in the study and control cycles, suggesting that the rescued follicles were competent in terms of producing oocytes and steroid hormones. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The sample size was small, and the study was not randomized. Our study design did not allow for the measurement and comparison of androgen levels or FSHR expression in small antral follicles before and immediately after the hCG-priming period. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS The results make us question the mechanism of action behind hCG priming prior to IVF. It is important to design a study with the puncture of small antral follicles before and immediately after priming to investigate the proposed hypothesis. Improved cycle outcomes, i.e. more retrieved oocytes, must be confirmed in a larger, preferably randomized study. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This study was funded by an unrestricted grant from Gedeon Richter awarded to the institution. A.P. reports personal consulting fees from PregLem SA, Novo Nordisk A/S, Ferring Pharmaceuticals A/S, Gedeon Richter Nordics AB, Cryos International, and Merck A/S outside the submitted work and payment or honoraria for lectures from Gedeon Richter Nordics AB, Ferring Pharmaceuticals A/S, Merck A/S, and Theramex and Organon & Co and payment for participation in an advisory board for Preglem. Grants to the institution have been provided by Gedeon Richter Nordics AB, Ferring Pharmaceuticals A/S, and Merck A/S, and equipment and travel support has been given to the institution by Gedeon Richter Nordics AB. The remaining authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04643925. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY QUESTION Does 8 weeks of continuous low-dose hCG administration increase the proportion of antral follicles that reach the preovulatory state during ovarian stimulation (OS) in women with low ovarian reserve? SUMMARY ANSWER The proportion of antral follicles (2–10 mm) that reached the preovulatory state did not increase. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY The administration of androgens prior to OS might upregulate FSH receptor (FSHR) expression on granulosa cells, making follicles more responsive to exogenous FSH stimulation during OS. LH and hCG stimulate the local follicular androgen synthesis in theca cells and may be used as an endogenous androgen priming method. Exogenous priming by testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) have been shown to increase the number of retrieved oocytes and live birth rate but the studies are small, and their use is associated with side effects. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION A prospective, paired, non-blinded single-center study including 20 women serving as their own controls conducted between January 2021 and July 2021 at The University Hospital Copenhagen Rigshospitalet, Denmark. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Participants underwent two identical consecutive IVF/ICSI treatments, a Control cycle and a Study cycle, separated by ∼8 weeks (two menstrual cycles) of daily injections of 260 IU recombinant hCG (rhCG). A freeze-all strategy was applied in the Control cycle. Both IVF/ICSI cycles were performed in a fixed GnRH antagonist protocol using a daily dose of 300 IU recombinant FSH (rFSH) and GnRH antagonist 0.25 mg from stimulation days 5–6. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Follicular output rate, defined as the number of follicles >16 mm on hCG trigger day divided by the antral follicle count (2–10 mm) at baseline, did not increase after 8 weeks of hCG priming (P  = 0.8). The mean number of oocytes retrieved was significantly higher after the hCG priming being 4.7 (2.8) vs 3.2 (1.7) in the Study and Control cycle, respectively (P  = 0.01). The duration of stimulation was longer in the Study versus the Control cycle (P  = 0.05), despite the use of identical hCG trigger criterion and similar diameters of the three biggest follicles on hCG trigger day in the two cycles (P  = 0.9). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The sample size was small, and the number of oocytes retrieved was not the primary endpoint. Larger studies are needed to confirm this finding. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Long-term, low-dose rhCG administration may increase the number of oocytes retrieved during IVF/ICSI in women with low ovarian reserve, but more research is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This study was funded by an unrestricted grant from Gedeon Richter. A.P. reports personal consulting fees from PregLem SA, Novo Nordisk A/S, Ferring Pharmaceuticals A/S, Gedeon Richter Nordics AB, Cryos International, and Merck A/S outside the submitted work and payment or honoraria for lectures from Gedeon Richter Nordics AB, Ferring Pharmaceuticals A/S, Merck A/S, and Theramex and Organon & Co. Grants to the institution have been provided by Gedeon Richter Nordics AB, Ferring Pharmaceuticals A/S, and Merck A/S and receipt of equipment by the institution from Gedeon Richter Nordics AB is reported. The remaining authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04643925. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferrovalley materials possess spontaneous valley splitting and anomalous valley Hall effect (AVHE) characteristics, making this an ideal platform for valleytronic information devices. The efficient regulation of valley splitting and the anomalous Hall current is critical for the realization of information coding. In this work, to realize the regulation of valley properties, Janus VSe2/VSeX (X = S, Te) heterojunctions are investigated using first-principles calculations. Spontaneous valley splitting and the AVHE can be achieved in VSe2/VSeX. In addition, the asymmetrical structure, different stacking configurations of heterojunctions, and the intrinsic polarity of the Janus VSeX monolayer can regulate the band alignments, i.e. type-Ⅰ, -Ⅱ, and -Ⅲ band alignments can be realized, and they are accompanied with the switch between semiconductor and metal phases. Moreover, the structure-controlled valley states and AVHE are obtained. When altering the Janus VSeS and VSeTe, the K and K ′ valleys possess contrary characteristics: opposite spin signs and valley splitting occurred. Accordingly, we design a low-power-consumption switch to achieve multistate storage without external field regulation. The results can provide an alternative avenue for spintronics and valleytronics devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing High-efficient and facile ways to fabricate catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) has been a hot spot of current researches. This work provides a one-step electrochemical method to synthesize NiMoCu nanomushroom HER catalyst based on capping agents effect, it gives a valuable insight into morphology, structure and chemical component modification of catalyst material with electrodeposition technique. The as-prepared NiMoCu nanomushroom catalyst possesses excellent HER in alkaline solution with low overpotential of 45 and 147 mV to achieve the current density of 10 and 100 mA cm–2. This material maintained good stability after 1000 times cyclic voltammetry test and 12-hours working period, proved its considerable capability in HER catalytic application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Most children receive emergency care in general emergency departments (EDs). Pediatric resuscitations require specific equipment and weight‐based dosing that may be less familiar to general ED healthcare professionals. In situ simulation (ISS) improves teamwork and problem solving, and it may identify latent safety threats. This innovative program brought academic faculty to participating hospitals and taught simulation principles in a small‐group environment. This format removed many of the barriers to implementing simulations for general EDs and was intended to teach principles for utilizing simulation to meet unique departmental needs. Methods: Using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) framework, ED teams at eight hospitals participated in a train‐the‐trainer program from 2016 to 2020 intended to help them implement their own ISSs. Training covered benefits of ISS, use of simulation for identifying latent safety threats, debriefing principles, and potential safety risks of ISS. Faculty also provided on‐site mentoring during the implementation phase. We identified factors and barriers that contributed to the successful adoption of an ISS program. Results: Most hospitals continued their ISS program after the study ended. Several themes emerged as pearls and pitfalls to implementing a train‐the‐trainer program. Successful teams had strong nursing and physician leadership participation, and team members had positive working relationships with early positive feedback which encouraged future ISS implementation. Barriers to simulation included high staff turnover of nurses and physicians as well as social distancing protocols related to infection control. Conclusions: Academic EDs can partner with general EDs to implement a train‐the‐trainer simulation program. We describe facilitators and barriers to implementing a train‐the‐trainer ISS program in general EDs to improve emergency care for high‐risk, low‐frequency events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pores are the most fatal defects in single crystal superalloys, which severely deteriorates the mechanical properties. Yttrium (Y) has been applied in commercial superalloys, but its effect on the morphology change of casting pores is not clear. This work focuses on the effect of Y on the evolution of pores formed after directional solidification in a second-generation superalloy. SEM, TEM and XRT were used to characterize the pores, and Thermo-Calc was used to calculate the surface tension change during the solidification process. Results show that, besides the formation of two types of conventional shrinkage pores during solidification, new types of pores, i.e. , Type III and Type IV, due to the addition of Y element to 0.5 wt% in superalloy, were also observed. The formation of Type III pore could be ascribed to the surface tension drop in the liquid phase, which enhances the wettability at the solid/liquid interface, and promotes the mobility of liquid phase, due to the incorporation of Y element. The formation of Type IV pore is due to the simultaneous formation and growth of M 23 C 6 and Ni 3 Al in the Ni 5 Y phase, triggering the formation of closed zone with a small but irregular shape at the multi-phase interface. • The effect of Y on the evolution of pores during directional solidification of superalloy were investigated. • Two types of new pores, i.e. , Type III and Type IV pore, were found; • The formation of Type III pore was ascribed to the surface tension drop in the liquid phase due to the Y addition; • The formation of Type IV pore is due to the increase of multi-phase interface with simultaneous growth of M23C6 and Ni3Al. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical composition of exhaled breath was examined for volatile organic compound (VOC) indicators of sexual arousal in human beings. Participants (12-male, 12-female) were shown a randomized series of three emotion-inducing 10-min film clips interspersed with 3-min neutral film clips. The films caused different arousals: sports film (positive-nonsexual); horror film (negative-nonsexual); and erotic (sexual) that were monitored with physiological measurements including genital response and temperature. Simultaneously the breath was monitored for VOC and CO2. While some breath compounds (methanol and acetone) changed uniformly irrespective of the film order, several compounds did show significant arousal associated changes. For both genders CO2 and isoprene decreased in the sex clip. Some male individuals showed particularly strong increases of indole, phenol and cresol coincident with sexual arousal that decreased rapidly afterwards. These VOCs are degradation products of tyrosine and tryptophan, precursors for dopamine, noradrenalin, and serotonin, and therefore represent potential breath markers of sexual arousal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The penetration of Internet of things (IoT) in the production control of modern manufacturing workshop has prompted advanced intelligent and information-based manufacturing techniques. However, the relevant studies fail to collect and process the various manufacturing parameters in real time, and rarely consider the coordination between manufacturing workshop and machines. This paper explores the digital production control of manufacturing workshop based on the IoT. Firstly, block diagrams were drawn for IoT-based digital workshop production control and software design of digital production control system, and a multi-objective optimization model was established for IoT-based digital workshop production control, aiming to optimize delivery time, machine load, and machine utilization rate. Next, the order sequencing method was detailed for digital workshop production control. Finally, machine competency and collaborative efficiency were introduced as optimization objectives, and an IoT-based strategy was designed for collaborative allocation of sub-tasks for workshop production. Our method was proved effective through experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon nanocrystals have been generated by laser induced phase separation in SiOx films. A continuous wave laser emitting at 405 nm is focused to a 6 µm diameter spot on 530 nm thick SiOx films deposited on fused silica substrates. Irradiation of lines is accomplished by focus scanning. The samples are investigated by atomic force microscopy, TEM, Raman spectroscopy, and photoluminescence measurements. At a laser power of 35 mW corresponding to an irradiance of about 1.2 × 105W/cm2, the formation of Si-nanocrystals in the film without any deterioration of the surface is observed. At higher laser power, the central irradiated region is oxidized to SiO2 and exhibits some porous character, while the surface remains optically smooth, and nanocrystals are observed beside and beneath this oxidized region. Amorphous Si-nanoclusters are formed at lower laser power and around the lines written at high power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disassembly activities take place in various recovery operations including remanufacturing, recycling, and disposal. Product disassembly is an effective way to recycle waste products, and it is a necessary condition to make the product life cycle complete. According to the characteristics of the product disassembly line, based on minimizing the number of workstations and balancing the idle time in the station, the harmful index, the demand index, and the number of direction changes are proposed as new optimization objectives. So based on the analysis of the traditional genetic algorithm into the precocious phenomenon, this paper constructed the multi-objective relationship of the disassembly line balance problem. The disassembly line balance problem belongs to the NP-hard problem, and the intelligent optimization algorithm shows excellent performance in solving this problem. Considering the characteristics of the traditional method solving the multi-objective disassembly line balance problem that the solution result was single and could not meet many objectives of balance, a multi-objective improved genetic algorithm was proposed to solve the model. The algorithm speeds up the convergence speed of the algorithm. Based on the example of the basic disassembly task, by comparing with the existing single objective heuristic algorithm, the multiobjective improved genetic algorithm was verified to be effective and feasible, and it was applied to the actual disassembly example to obtain the balance optimization scheme. Two case studies are given: a disassembly process of the automobile engine and a disassembly of the computer components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A strain NQ1, which showed efficient asymmetric reduction of 3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl) acetophenone (BTAP) to enantiopure (S)‐[3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]ethanol ((S)‐BTPE), which is the key intermediate for the synthesis of a receptor antagonist and antidepressant, was isolated from a soil sample. Based on its morphological and internal transcribed spacer sequence, the strain NQ1 was identified to be Rhodotorula mucilaginosa NQ1. Some key reaction parameters involved in the bioreduction catalyzed by whole cells of R. mucilaginosa NQ1 were subsequently optimized, and the optimized conditions for the synthesis of (S)‐BTPE were determined to be as follows: 5·0 ml phosphate buffer (200 mmol l−1, pH 7·0), 80 mmol l−1 of BTAP, 250 g (wet weight) l−1 of resting cell, 35 g l−1 of glucose and a reaction for 18 h at 30°C and 180 rev min−1. The strain NQ1 exhibited a best yield of 99% and an excellent enantiomeric excess of 99% for the preparation of (S)‐BTPE under the above optimal conditions, and could also asymmetrically reduce a variety of bulky prochiral carbonyl compounds to their corresponding optical hydroxyl compound with excellent enantioselectivity. These results indicated that R. mucilaginosa NQ1 had a good capacity to reduce BTAP to its corresponding (S)‐BTPE, and might be a new potential biocatalyst for the production of valuable chiral hydroxyl compounds in industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the metal hydrides, Th4H15 is the first reported superconductor with a relatively high Tc ≈ 8 K at ambient pressure. Here we report on the synthesis and characterization of a low-Tc superconducting modification of Th4H15, which is obtained via hydrogenating Th metal at 5 GPa and 800 °C by using the ammonia borane as the hydrogen source. Measurements of resistivity, magnetic susceptibility, and specific heat confirm that the obtained Th4H15 sample shows a bulk superconducting transition at Tc ≈ 6 K, which is about 2 K lower than that reported previously. Various characteristic superconducting parameters have been extracted for this compound and unusual lattice dynamics were evidenced from the specific-heat analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ageing is related to physical, psychological and social conditions. The aim of this study was to develop a scale that comprehensively assesses these three dimensions to reflect the ageing state of the human body. The study design of this study is a cross-sectional study. The items for the preliminary scale were selected from relevant high-quality literature. The preliminary scale was developed by experts through two rounds of the Delphi method. The analytic hierarchy process was used to determine the weights of the items. Cronbach's α, the test-retest reliability, the content validity index and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) were used to evaluate the validity and reliability of the scale. This study developed the Physiological-Psychological-Social Three-dimensional Human Ageing Scale (PPSHAS), which includes 3 dimensions, 10 components and 51 items. The Cronbach's α of the PPSHAS was 0.930, and the test-retest reliability coefficient was 0.856 (P < 0.001). The scale-level content validity index/universal agreement was 0.82, and the scale-level content validity index/average was 0.98. The EFA yielded 10 components; the total variance explained by these components was 57.491%. This PPSHAS is an easy-to-use instrument for assessing the ageing process among elderly people and has adequate validity and reliability. • A scale for assessing ageing with physical, psychological and social dimensions was developed. • The scale was developed using the Delphi method and analytic hierarchy process. • Reliability and validity of the scale is acceptable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have conducted a detailed study of single-pulse emission from PSR J1722−3207, which was observed at 1369 MHz using the Parkes 64 m radio telescope. PSR J1722−3207 has an asymmetric two-component mean pulse profile. We find that the brighter leading component exhibits a periodic phase-stationary nondrift amplitude modulation while the trailing component remains unchanged. As a result of this, this pulsar switches between a strong state and a weak emission state periodically. Spectral analysis of the fluctuations showed that the modulation period is very short (∼2.0 s or 20 P), where P is the rotation period of the pulsar. The polarization properties of the strong and weak states were investigated. The swings in the position angle of the two states are similar, suggesting that their basic emission geometry is the same. At present, it is difficult to explain the periodic mode-changing phenomenon observed in this pulsar with existing subpulse drifting models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A centrosymmetric dinuclear copper(II) complex [Cu2(La)2] (1) and two mononuclear copper(II) complexes [Cu(Lb)2] (2) and [Cu(Lc)2] (3), where La, Lb, and Lc are deprotonated anionic forms of 2-((cyclopropylimino)methyl)-4,6-difluorophenol (HLa), 2-((cyclohexylimino)methyl)-4,6-difluorophenol (HLb) and 2,4-difluoro-6-((2-hydroxyethylimino)methyl)phenol (HLc), respectively, are prepared and characterized by elemental analyses, IR and UV-Vis spectra, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The Cu atoms in complex 1 are in a square pyramidal coordination, while those in complexes 2 and 3 are in a square planar coordination. The complexes exhibit interesting antibacterial activities against P. aeruginosa, S. typhi, and S. aureus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Question: Is there an association between progesterone (P4) levels on the day of hCG or GnRH trigger and on the day of oocyte retrieval in IVF/ICSI cycles?Summary Answer: A significant positive correlation between P4 levels on the day of trigger and the day of oocyte retrieval is seen; HCG trigger induces a steeper P4 increase than GnRHa trigger.What Is Known Already: FSH induces LH receptor (LHR) expression on granulosa cells, and LHR produces progesterone when exposed to LH-like activity. FSH per se also to some extent induces P4 secretion. Late follicular phase progesterone rise has been associated with reduced reproductive outcomes.Study Design, Size, Duration: This study is based on data from a previously published RCT conducted from 2009 to 2011.Participants/materials, Setting, Methods: A total of 384 participants were enrolled; 199 received 5000 IU hCG and 185 received buserelin 0.5 mg for triggering ovulation. P4 was measured on the day of ovulation induction and on the day of oocyte retrieval. FSH consumption and number of retrieved follicles were recorded.Main Results and the Role Of Chance: A significant linear relationship between P4 on the day of ovulation induction and oocyte retrieval was seen in the hCG trigger group (P < 0.00001) as well as in the GnRHa trigger group (P < 0.00001). The P4 ratio (the increase in P4 between ovulation induction and oocyte retrieval) was significantly higher in the group of patients with <5 follicles compared to those with 5-15 and >15 follicles (P < 0.0001). The FSH consumption per follicle was significantly higher in the group of patients with <5 follicles compared to those with 5-15 and >15 follicles (P < 0.0001).Limitations, Reasons For Caution: Although the study demonstrates a significant correlation between P4 levels before and after ovulation trigger, it does not demonstrate a causal relation to the number of LHRs present on granulosa cells.Wider Implications Of the Findings: The findings of this study support the proposed hypothesis that follicles exposed to high levels of FSH during ovarian stimulation will respond with an inappropriately high LHR expression. This in turn causes a high P4 output in response to the trigger. This study further expands our understanding of the underlying mechanisms affecting reproductive outcomes in relation to ovarian stimulation.Study Funding/competing Interest(s): The authors received no specific funding for this work and disclose no conflicts of interest.Trial Registration Number: N/A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrathin amorphous carbon (a-C) films are extensively used as protective overcoats of magnetic recording media. Increasing demands for even higher storage densities have necessitated the development of new storage technologies, such as heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR), which uses laser-assisted heating to record data on high-stability media that can store single bits in extremely small areas (∼1 Tbit/in.2). Because HAMR relies on locally changing the coercivity of the magnetic medium by raising the temperature above the Curie temperature for data to be stored by the magnetic write field, it raises a concern about the structural stability of the ultrathin a-C film. In this study, rapid thermal annealing (RTA) experiments were performed to examine the thermal stability of ultrathin hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H) films deposited by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. Structural changes in the a-C:H films caused by RTA were investigated by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, x-ray reflectivity, and conductive atomic force microscopy. The results show that the films exhibit thermal stability up to a maximum temperature in the range of 400-450 °C. Heating above this critical temperature leads to hydrogen depletion and sp2 clustering. The critical temperature determined by the results of this study represents an upper bound of the temperature rise due to laser heating in HAMR hard-disk drives and the Curie temperature of magnetic materials used in HAMR hard disks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Al and Al 2 O 3 film react with strong acid or alkaline solution, bring the extensive corrosion. To decrease the corrosion, Al is first pretreated with a small amount of HCl, NaOH, NaAlO 2 and a mixture of NaAlO 2 +Al(OH) 3 in this work. Al pretreatment allows for the rapid removal of oxide film, shortens the induction time and ensures the initial Al–H 2 O reaction rate. Typically, immersion of the pretreated Al by a mixture of NaAlO 2 +Al(OH) 3 into water, generates hydrogen rapidly without an induction time, and the average H 2 generation rate reaches 5.5 mL min−1. As the Al–H 2 O reaction proceeds, the potential changes, which is similar to hydrogen evolution of pretreated Al in water. Hydrogen generated rapidly with the consecutive addition of Al, and the initial hydrogen generation rate reaches ~37 mL min−1. Therefore, Al pretreatment by a mixed alkaline solution is an effective method to accelerate hydrogen generation for the first cycle. Rapid and consecutive hydrogen generation by the Al–H 2 O reaction could provide on-demand and high-purity hydrogen, meet some equipment requirements and promote the competition in renewable-energy sources. Image 1 • Al pretreatment can accelerate oxide-film removal and favors the subsequent Al–H 2 O reaction. • Al Pretreated by a mixture of NaAlO 2 +Al(OH) 3 generates hydrogen rapidly without an induction time. • Hydrogen generated rapidly with the consecutive addition of Al. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To realize a three-dimensional (3D) visual display and evaluate the internal defects of a ceramic hollow plate membrane, a method for creating a 3D reconstruction of the internal defects based on an ultrasound imaging technique applying triangular matrix–synthetic aperture focusing is proposed. First, a phased array detector is used to scan the surface of the ceramic membrane, and ultrasound imaging is achieved based on the triangular matrix–synthetic aperture focusing technology. The acquired B-scan images are pre-processed and a 3D reconstruction is achieved based on the contours of the internal defects. Finally, a 3D visualization of the internal defects of a hollow plate ceramic membrane is realized. The use of a triangular matrix focusing method can improve the detection efficiency because the amount of data acquired and the number of calculations are reduced by nearly half. In addition, the synthetic aperture focusing method can ensure a high imaging resolution, which leads to an improved recognition accuracy of the defect size. As a result, the error of the diameter measurements of the inner hole defects ranges between 2% and 3%, and the error of the diameter and length measurements of the crack line defects ranges between 2% and 4%. Experimental results with real datasets are presented to demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of our method as compared with traditional methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore caries development in children from 5 to 12 years of age, and to study whether enamel caries and dentine caries at 5 years of age could predict caries prevalence at 12 years of age, controlled for child characteristics. Methods: The study included 3282 children examined at 5 and 12 years of age. Data were collected by clinical examination and questionnaire. Enamel and dentine caries were registered at surface level. Data were tested by t-test and analysed by bi- and multivariate logistic regression. The study was ethically approved. Results: In 5-year-olds, 15% of the children had dentine caries experience and 21% had enamel caries. In 12-year-olds, 32% had dentine caries experience and 47% had enamel caries. Children with dentine caries experience at 5 years of age had at 12 years of age developed more surfaces with enamel caries (mean 2.8, SD 4.2) and dentine caries experience (mean 1.8, SD 2.5) than other children (p <.05). Dentine caries experience at 12 years of age was associated with having only enamel caries (OR 1.6, CI 1.2–2.0) and dentine caries experience (OR 3.2, CI 2.6–3.9) at 5 years of age. Family status and parental education were related to caries development. Conclusion: Children with caries in primary teeth continued to be caries risk children during the mixed dentition period. In addition to dentine caries experience, enamel caries in primary teeth was a predictor for caries development in young permanent teeth and may be used to improve the caries risk assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility of using deep‐learning algorithms to classify as normal or abnormal sonographic images of the fetal brain obtained in standard axial planes. Methods: We included in the study images retrieved from a large hospital database from 10 251 normal and 2529 abnormal pregnancies. Abnormal cases were confirmed by neonatal ultrasound, follow‐up examination or autopsy. After a series of pretraining data processing steps, 15 372 normal and 14 047 abnormal fetal brain images in standard axial planes were obtained. These were divided into training and test datasets (at case level rather than image level), at a ratio of approximately 8:2. The training data were used to train the algorithms for three purposes: performance of image segmentation along the fetal skull, classification of the image as normal or abnormal and localization of the lesion. The accuracy was then tested on the test datasets, with performance of segmentation being assessed using precision, recall and Dice's coefficient (DICE), calculated to measure the extent of overlap between human‐labeled and machine‐segmented regions. We assessed classification accuracy by calculating the sensitivity and specificity for abnormal images. Additionally, for 2491 abnormal images, we determined how well each lesion had been localized by overlaying heat maps created by an algorithm on the segmented ultrasound images; an expert judged these in terms of how satisfactory was the lesion localization by the algorithm, classifying this as having been done precisely, closely or irrelevantly. Results: Segmentation precision, recall and DICE were 97.9%, 90.9% and 94.1%, respectively. For classification, the overall accuracy was 96.3%. The sensitivity and specificity for identification of abnormal images were 96.9% and 95.9%, respectively, and the area under the receiver‐operating‐characteristics curve was 0.989 (95% CI, 0.986–0.991). The algorithms located lesions precisely in 61.6% (1535/2491) of the abnormal images, closely in 24.6% (614/2491) and irrelevantly in 13.7% (342/2491). Conclusions: Deep‐learning algorithms can be trained for segmentation and classification of normal and abnormal fetal brain ultrasound images in standard axial planes and can provide heat maps for lesion localization. This study lays the foundation for further research on the differential diagnosis of fetal intracranial abnormalities. Copyright © 2020 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The polyethylene terephthalate hydrolase (PETase) has been proved to have a high activity to degrade polyethylene terephthalate (PET), but few studies have been carried on its secretion in Bacillus subtilis. In this study, the coding gene of PETase, which was isolated from the Ideonella sakaiensis, was synthesized and expressed in B. subtilis. Then, we evaluated the ability of five Bacillus signal peptides to enhance PETase secretion by B. subtilis. The results indicated that the SPamy‐induced secretion of PETase was the highest, and its activity against p‐Nitrophenyl palmitate was about fourfold that of the natural signal peptide SPPETase. The weak promoter P43 provided sufficient time for translation and folding of PETase, resulting in increased extracellular expression. Use of P43 and SPamy in combination yielded the greatest bis‐(2‐hydroxyethyl) terephthalate degradation and PET‐film etching activity due to maximized secretion of PETase by B. subtilis. Our findings will facilitate biodegradation of PET plastic. Significance and Impact of the Study: High‐level expression of polyethylene terephthalate hydrolase (PETase) facilitates biodegradation of PET. In this study, the expression elements, signal peptide and promoter, in the secretory expression system, were optimizing for maximizing secreted expression of PETase in Bacillus subtilis. The constructed strains yielded the greatest bis‐(2‐hydroxyethyl) terephthalate degradation and PET‐film etching activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to understand the mechanism of fixed-point rub-impact in aero-engine, a dual-rotor system with inter-shaft bearing able to describe the mechanical vibration caused by unbalance and fixed-point rub-impact is developed in this paper. Firstly, a finite element (FE) model of the dual-rotor based on Timoshenko beam element and disk element is proposed, in which the effects of gyroscopic moments, rotary inertias, bending and shear deformations are taken into account. A rub-impact model is developed to derive the rubbing force between the rotor and fixed limiter, in which the softening characteristics of coating painted in casing is fully taken into account. Moreover, the Coulomb model is applied to describe the frictional behaviors. Secondly, the governing equations to describe the motion of the dual-rotor system with rub-impact are solved numerically by the Runge-Kutta method, and the dynamic characteristics are investigated by 3D water-fall plots and frequency spectrum. Combined harmonic frequency, whirling frequency and rotational frequency components of dual rotors are observed. Finally, the experiments of fixed-point rub-impact are performed on a dual-rotor test bench. Good agreement between the theoretical and experimental results shows the accuracy of the dual-rotor FE model and rub-impact model. The results indicate that (1) first backward whirling and forward whirling are excited under the influence of unbalance force; (2) several combination frequency components and second backward whirling and forward whirling frequency components are presented under fixed-point rubbing condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early leaf senescence in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the limiting factors for developing high yield potential. In this study, a stably inherited, early leaf-senescence mutant LF2099 was initially identified in an M2 population of the common wheat accession H261 after ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis. Early leaf senescence was observed in the LF2099 mutant during the three-leaf-stage, and then the etiolated area of the wheat leaf increased gradually from the bottom to the top throughout development. Compared with H261, the chlorophyll (Chl a, Chl b) and carotenoid contents and photosynthetic capacity of the mutant were significantly decreased. All of its yield-related traits except for spike length were also significantly reduced. Dissolved cytoplasm, abnormal chloroplast structure, dissolved chloroplast membrane, abnormal thylakoid development, and more plastoglobules were observed in the senescent leaf region of the mutant by transmission electronic microscope. Genetic analysis indicated that the early leaf-senescence phenotype is controlled by an incomplete-dominance nuclear gene, here designated Els2. Using single nucleotide polymorphisms and bulked segregant analysis, the els2 gene was anchored in a region on chromosome 2BL between simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers gpw4043 and wmc149. Six new polymorphic SSR markers were developed from the Chinese Spring 2BL shotgun survey sequence contigs. By means of comparative genomics analyses, the collinearity genomic regions of the els2 locus on wheat 2BL were identified in Brachypodium distachyon chromosome 5, rice (Oryza sativa) chromosome 4 and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) chromosome 6. Five intron polymorphism (IP) markers were further developed from this collinearity genomic region. Ultimately, Els2 was mapped in a genetic interval of 0.95 cM flanked by IP markers 2BIP09 and 2BIP14. The co-segregating IP markers 2BIP12 and 2BIP17 provide a starting point for the fine mapping and map-based cloning of Els2. Early leaf senescence is one of the limiting factors for developing high yield potential in wheat. We report the first case of early leaf senescence in wheat controlled by a single incomplete-dominant gene. This novel early leaf-senescence mutant was characterised through phenotypic evaluation, physiological and biochemical analyses, and preliminary mapping to provide a foundation for fine mapping and map-based cloning of the mutant gene Els2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The polycrystalline 0.75BiFeO 3 −0.25BaTiO 3 , 0.75Bi 0.95 Ca 0.05 FeO 3 −0.25BaTiO 3 and 0.75BiFeO 3 −0.25Ba 0.95 Ca 0.05 TiO 3 ceramics are successfully prepared by solid state reaction method. The latter two substituted ceramics are corresponding to aliovalent (acceptor-type substitution) and isovalent substitution mechanism, respectively. The state of chemical homogeneity is closely related to the substitution mechanism in this solid solution system. The SEM morphologies of these latter two doped well-polished and etched ceramics indicate that the grains in the 0.75BiFeO 3 −0.25Ba 0.95 Ca 0.05 TiO 3 ceramics get uniformly etched compared to the 0.75Bi 0.95 Ca 0.05 FeO 3 −0.25BaTiO 3 ceramics due to the presence of chemical homogeneity. It has been observed that the aliovalent substitution results in chemical heterogeneity, which has a significant effect on the ferroelectric and ferromagnetic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bulk-quantity Si nanosphere chains have been fabricated. This is accomplished via the spheroidization of Si nanowires of semi-infinite lengths. The process has been extensively investigated by transmission electron microscopy. The nanosphere chains consisted of equally spaced Si crystalline nanospheres connected by Si-oxide bars. The transition from Si nanowires to Si nanosphere chains was determined by the annealing temperature, ambient pressure, initial Si nanowire diameters, and the oxide state of the outer layers of Si nanowires. The relationships between the geometry (size and spacing) of Si nanospheres, the initial state (diameter and oxide state) of Si nanowires, and the experimental conditions are discussed. © 2001 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed a terahertz (THz) nonlinear spectrometer at low temperatures (1.5–300 K) and under high magnetic fields (up to 10 T) by combining the laser-driven table-top intense THz source with a superconducting magnet. The strong-field THz pump pulse was generated from LiNbO3 crystal using the tilted-pulse-front technique and tightly focused into the center of the magnet by an off-axis parabolic mirror and a THz lens. The electric fields at the focus can achieve 500 kV/cm with a monocycle waveform and 30 kV/cm with a multicycle waveform at 0.5 THz. The sample was mounted on a low-temperature motorized rotation stage, which enables performing the polarization dependent measurements of the third harmonic generation (THG) intensity without rotating the incident THz pulses. The magnetic field direction can be rotated using a mechanical rotator, allowing for a convenient switch between Faraday and Voigt geometry. We demonstrate the excellent performance of our instrument by conducting THG measurements in the two-band superconductor MgB2 as a function of temperature, sample azimuth angle, as well as in-plane and out-of-plane magnetic fields. The successful combination of the strong field THz source with magnetic fields enables us to study a variety of materials with magnetic-field-dependent properties of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PSR J1048 |$-$| 5832 (B1046 |$-$| 58) is a Vela-like pulsar that has exhibited multiple glitch events. In this study, we analyse the timing data spanning nearly 16 yr, acquired from both the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and the Parkes 64 m radio telescope. As a result, a total of five glitches are detected within this data set. Among them, a previously unknown small glitch is newly found at MJD 56985(9) (November 24, 2014), making it the smallest glitch recorded from this source so far. The increments of the spin frequency and its first derivative are |$\Delta \nu \approx 2.2(3) \times 10^ {-8}$|  Hz, and |$\Delta \dot{\nu } \approx 3(2) \times 10^ {-15}$|  s |$^{-2}$|⁠ , respectively. Significant changes in the integrated normalized mean pulse profile are detected following three of the five glitch events, notably in the radio band. Although no evidence of a correlation is found between the spin-down rate and profile evolution, the jump phenomenon of |$W_{55}$| (pulse width at the 55% peak amplitude) after the glitch in the narrow mode suggests that the glitch may influence the profile change. We discuss the influence of glitches on the pulsar's emission properties in terms of platelet motion by a crustquake and also put constraints on the equation of state from the moment of inertia and response time-scales of involved superfluid layers inside the neutron star. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correlated colour temperature tunable, four-component, LED system suitable for illuminating traditional Chinese paintings painted with inorganic pigments (iop-TCPs) has been designed. This light source can meet the requirements for protective illumination and colour quality in museum illumination. The damage to iop-TCPs caused by the individual 450 nm, 510 nm, 583 nm and 650 nm monochromatic LEDs used to construct the LED system were obtained through a long-term illumination experiment. Then, we calculated the damage resulting from the corresponding four-component white LEDs with various spectral power distributions, the intensities of which were iterated by a brute force algorithm. The constructed spectral power distributions were evaluated by the damage and colour quality formulae. The results showed that the better colour quality spectral power distributions with higher correlated colour temperatures cause less damage to iop-TCPs. The lowest damage spectral power distributions, satisfying colour quality requirements with correlated colour temperatures ranging from 2700 K to 4000 K, were obtained by calculating the corresponding parameters of the formed spectral power distributions and further selection. This paper not only provides a colour temperature tunable, four-component, white LED system suitable for illuminating iop-TCPs but also sets out a methodology that can be used to identify white LEDs suitable for other cultural relics based on damage limitation and visual requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The yellow–green leaf mutant can be exploited in photosynthesis and plant development research. A Triticum aestivum mutant with the chlorina phenotype, here called B23, was produced by treatment with the chemical mutagen sodium azide. This B23 mutant showed significantly lower chlorophyll content than wild-type Saannong33, and its chloroplast structure was abnormal. All its yield-related traits, except for the number of spikes per plant, were also significantly decreased. Genetic analysis confirmed that the mutant phenotype was controlled by a recessive gene, here designated cn -A1. Using bulked segregant analysis and the wheat 660K single nucleotide polymorphism array, the cn -A1 gene was mapped to chromosome 7AL, and 11 polymorphic markers were developed. Further analysis showed that cn -A1 was located in a 1.1-cM genetic region flanked by Kompetitive allele specific PCR (KASP) markers 660K-7A12 and 660K-7A20, which corresponded to a physical interval of 3.48 Mb in T. aestivum cv. Chinese Spring chromosome 7AL containing 47 predicted genes with high confidence. These results are expected to accelerate the process of cloning the cn -A1 gene and facilitate understanding of the mechanisms underlying chlorophyll metabolism and chloroplast development in wheat. The chlorina mutant can be exploited in photosynthesis and plant development research, but none of the chlorina mutant genes have been cloned in wheat. In the present study, the chlorina mutant gene Cn -A1 in wheat was mapped and a probable candidate gene was identified. These results are expected to accelerate the process of cloning the cn -A1 gene and facilitate understanding of the mechanisms underlying chlorophyll metabolism and chloroplast development in wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY Aims/Objectives: To investigate the underlying molecular mechanism of the patient's ABO typing discrepancy. Background: ABO typing discrepancy was frequently seen in patients due to different causes. In this study, ABO typing discrepancy was found in a 24‐year‐old man with arthralgia, whose forward ABO grouping was O and reverse ABO grouping was AB. Primary immunodeficiency disease was speculated in this patient, especially X‐linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA). Methods: Immunoglobulins of all isotypes were detected using a specific protein analyser. Lymphocyte subgroups were analysed by flow cytometry. All 19 exons and boundaries of BTK gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and all PCR products were sequenced by a DNA analyser. BTK protein in the leukocytes and platelets was detected by Western blot. Results: No B lymphocytes could be detected in the peripheral blood of the patient. A novel BTK gene variation, c.817G>T, in the exon 9 of BTK gene was discovered. No BTK protein expression could be detected in the leukocytes and platelets of the patient. Conclusions: XLA could be occasionally discovered by ABO typing discrepancy in some cases because of the deficiency of reciprocal IgM anti‐A and/or anti‐B antibodies in the serum of the patient. Humoral immunodeficiency is one of the causes of ABO typing discrepancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A ternary nanocomposite Fe 2 O 3 @C/SnO 2 is synthesized via a two-step hydrothermal method with further annealing. The crystallinity, micromorphology, and electrochemical performance of Fe 2 O 3 @C/SnO 2 nanocomposite are systematically characterized. Galvanostatic charge/discharge measurement demonstrates that Fe 2 O 3 @C/SnO 2 exhibits good rate discharge capacity. It shows a reversible capacity of 540 mAh g−1 after 1000 cycles operated at a current density of 1000 mA g−1, with higher Coulombic efficiency. The excellent electrochemical properties of Fe 2 O 3 @C/SnO 2 maybe are related to the hybrid structure, in which the carbon layer encloses the needle Fe 2 O 3 , meanwhile, the SnO 2 nanoparticles disperse into carbon layer. The carbon layer effectively refines the pulverization of SnO 2 nanoparticles and avoids the aggregation. The carbon layer loaded SnO 2 encircles Fe 2 O 3 , which effectively accommodates the internal stress of volume expansion of Fe 2 O 3. The results demonstrate that such the nanocomposite developed here has great potential for application in high-energy lithium-ion batteries. • Fe 2 O 3 @C/SnO 2 composite is composed of Fe 2 O 3 @C and C/SnO 2 hybrid structures. • The discharge specific capacity shows a sustained increase after 150 cycles, even after 1000 cycles. • The discharge capacity reaches 540 mAh g−1 after 1000 cycles at 1000 mA g−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We developed a framework to find the relationships among yield, quality and revenue. • We defined the optimum quality concept for food production. • We applied the framework to a case study of French Fries potato production in China. • The revenue gap (43%) was partly related to the yield gap (26%), and to quality aspects (dry matter concentration). • Enhancing yield was associated with improved quality and revenue. The concept of yield gap is well-known to benchmark yields of crops. However, quality is another major aspect that influences farm revenues and drives management. Increasing yield may not be economically viable if this is at the expense of degrading quality such that revenue is negatively influenced. This study aimed to answer the question whether yield and quality could be maximized at the same time. A framework was developed to assess crop performance based on yield, quality, and revenue. The framework includes seven steps from identifying the important quality traits to quantifying quality gaps and yield gaps and their influence on revenue. The framework enriches the yield gap notion by adding quality aspects. The concept of optimum quality (Qp) was introduced as the quality value (range) of a particular quality trait that is most desired for a specific market. The framework was applied to a case study concerning potato production for a French Fries factory in China. Three quality traits of potato were assessed (i.e., dry matter percentage, tuber size classes, and number of tubers in 10 kg). No trade-off between yield and quality was found for the tested quality traits. The results indicated that there was large scope to improve quality for some of the quality traits. The relative revenue gap (Eg-f) was large (43%), and was attributed to both the relative yield gap (Yg-f, 26%), and quality aspects (i.e., low dry matter percentage and high small tuber weight percentage). Enhancing yield towards its current maximum level (55 ton fresh matter ha−1) was associated with improvement in quality and revenue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The polycrystalline Bi 1- x Sm x Fe 0.97 Sc 0.03 O 3 (x = 0.08, 0.12) ceramics have been synthesized using a modified solid-state reaction method. The Bi 0.92 Sm 0.08 Fe 0.97 Sc 0.03 O 3 ceramic possesses single polar rhombohedral R 3 c phase, while a polar rhombohedral R 3 c and an anti-polar orthorhombic Pbam phases coexist in the Bi 0.88 Sm 0.12 Fe 0.97 Sc 0.03 O 3 ceramic. The density and the grain uniformity of all the doped ceramics get improved. Further, the addition of Sm and Sc has resulted in significant improvement in ferroelectric characteristics. In addition to this, it also releases the latent magnetization by suppressing the spiral spin structure. The well-defined polarization along the field direction is confirmed by the saturated hysteresis phase loops from 180° domains by piezoresponse force microscopy. The anti-polar Pbam phase experiences a visually electric field induced phase transition to polar R 3 c phase in the Bi 0.88 Sm 0.12 Fe 0.97 Sc 0.03 O 3 ceramic. • The BSFSO8 and BSFSO12 ceramics show improved multiferroic properties. • The polarization along field direction is evidenced by loops from 180° domain. • The Pbam phase experiences a field induced phase transition in BSFSO12 ceramic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Beijing–Arizona Sky Survey (BASS) is an imaging survey that uses the 2.3-m Bok telescope at Kitt Peak. In order to realize the astrometric potential of the Bok telescope and improve the astrometry of BASS, a distortion solution for the Bok telescope is needed. In the past, we used a single lookup table to correct all the positional errors. However, this method cannot be applied to the reduction of observations from the Bok telescope, which is equipped with four CCD chips. We thus developed a method that is quite different from our previous one, using two third-order polynomials to fit the lookup table. By using the polynomial geometric distortion (GD) correction, the astrometry of BASS is greatly improved. Moreover, an additional lookup-table correction is found to be more effective to obtain the final GD. The results show that the positional measurement precision of the appropriate bright stars is estimated at about 20 mas or even better in each direction. In addition, the relative positions of the chips are measured. The change of the inter-chip gaps in the horizontal or vertical is no more than 5 pixels between 2016 and 2017, and the change of the roll angle is no more than 0 |${^{\circ}_{.}}$| 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The interface structural model of α-Al 2 O 3 /Ti 2 O 3 composite coating was established and verified. • The diffusion speed of hydrogen is limited by the highest potential barriers in the α-Al 2 O 3 /Ti 2 O 3 interface region. • The mechanism of hydrogen diffusion inside the α-Al 2 O 3 /Ti 2 O 3 interface was revealed. α-Al 2 O 3 has attracted extensive interests in coating materials of tritium permeation barriers due to its low hydrogen permeability, and more and more attention has been paid on composite materials based on α-Al 2 O 3. The composite tritium permeation barrier Al 2 O 3 /TiC obtained by laser-assisted combustion synthesis has the advantages of high melting point, compact structure and good tritium blocking effect. However, the mechanism of hydrogen diffusion inside the interface still remains unclear. In this study, the interface structure of α-Al 2 O 3 /Ti 2 O 3 and the hydrogen adsorption and diffusion behavior in composite coating have been investigated through the first-principles method based on density functional theory. The interface model of α-Al 2 O 3 /Ti 2 O 3 is coherent in morphology, and the interface energy is −1.124 J/m2, which shows good stability. The calculation result shows that there exist hydrogen potential traps in the interface region of α-Al 2 O 3 /Ti 2 O 3 , and the highest potential barriers of the hydrogen diffusion process appear in the α-Al 2 O 3 /Ti 2 O 3 interface, which are 3.392 eV and 4.05 eV, respectively. Therefore, the α-Al 2 O 3 /Ti 2 O 3 interface is effective at suppressing hydrogen permeation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background We aimed to observe the effect of hypotensive brain death on the donor liver and understand its pathophysiological mechanism in improved pig model. Methods The model was induced using the modified intracranial water sac inflation method in 16 Bama miniature pigs. Effects of hypotensive brain death on liver function and tissue morphology were evaluated via changes in liver function enzyme index, liver tissue alkaline phosphatase levels, hourly bile flow, and liver tissue pathology. Its pathophysiological mechanism was examined on the basis of changes in portal vein blood flow, hepatic artery blood flow, portal venous endotoxin level, and liver tissue cytokine levels. Results After model establishment, portal vein blood flow, hepatic arterial blood flow, hourly bile flow, and alkaline phosphatase content in hepatic tissue significantly decreased, and serum aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase levels significantly increased. Hematoxylin-eosin staining of liver tissue showed that after model establishment, hepatic tissue injury was gradually aggravated and hepatic cells were irreversibly damaged at 7 hours. Portal vein endotoxin levels significantly increased after brain death. Tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 1, and endothelin 1 levels in liver tissues significantly increased at 3, 6, and 12 hours after brain death (P <.05), and hypoxia-inducible factor 1–α and nitric oxide levels significantly decreased (P <.05). Conclusions Hepatic injury was progressively aggravated under hypotensive brain death. The mechanism of donor liver injury under hypotensive brain death may involve low liver perfusion, release of intestinal endotoxin and inflammatory factors (eg, tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 1), decreased hypoxia-inducible factor 1–α, and endothelin 1 and nitric oxide imbalance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method to suppress tearing mode and accelerate magnetic island rotation has been explored. To verify this method on the J-TEXT tokamak, a current-pulse power supply is designed to drive the resonant magnetic perturbation coils with a frequency range from 1 to 5 kHz and amplitude of 3 kA, which can create 0.75 G of magnetic perturbation. The current-pulse power supply topology is modified by H-bridge inverter, which can create a bipolar pulsed current. A set of boost capacitors with an isolation diode is added on dc bus just before the inverter. During the current changing time, the boost capacitors can store the energy of inductive load to steepen the current falling edge and create high voltage to accelerate the current rising speed. This modified topology has a rapid current changing edge and the wide range of operating frequency. A small power prototype is built to verify the topology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The static and dynamical properties of excitons in a lattice with a random distribution of polarizable atoms are studied using Green’s function techniques. Exciton transport is related to the configurationally averaged particle–hole Green’s function which is calculated using the ladder diagram approximation. Degenerate four wave mixing (D4WM) using resonant pump beams and an off resonant probe is shown to provide a direct probe for exciton transport. A disorder induced extra resonance is predicted whose width is proportional to the exciton diffusion coefficient. Numerical calculations are presented for the diffusion coefficient and the D4WM signal as the excitation energy is tuned across the exciton band. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quasi-linear superelasticity in Ni–Mn-Ga-Co shape memory alloy displays a complete recoverable strain of ∼3% at 473 K for the cubic phase in precursor state. The in-situ neutron diffraction experiments provide the direct evidence on the stress-induced transition from the precursor state to martensite via the continuous variation of lattice parameter and peak width under uniaxial stress field. The anomalous broadening in peak width suggests that the external stress field may trigger very high heterogeneity in lattice distortion for the initial precursor state having randomly-distributed domains with short-range strain ordering prior to the martensitic transformation. The origin of the quasi-linear superelasticity at high temperature is considered as the ruggedness of the local energy landscape. The present investigations provide new insight into the understanding of superelasticity in shape memory alloys. • The quasi-linear superelasticity of Ni–Mn-Ga-Co displays a recoverable strain of ∼3% at 473 K. • The in-situ neutron diffraction provide the direct evidence on the transition from the precursor state to martensite. • The origin of the quasi-linear superelasticity at 473 K is considered as the ruggedness of the local energy landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, 2020. doi:10.1093/qjmed/hcaa271Due to an experimental error, the author has requested that this version of the article be retracted.By C Zhang; N Wang; T Meng; Z Dan and D SongReported by Author; Author; Author; Author; AuthorAddress correspondence to S. Dianwen, Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 650 Xinsongjiang Road, Shanghai 201620, China [Extracted from the article]