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Since the solidification structure of metals cast by conventional mold casting often has porosity defect, the combination of low voltage pulsed magnetic field and thermally controlled solidification was used to solve this defect. The combination method is called magnetic‐thermal coordinated control solidification. Pulsed magnetic field stirring can refine equiaxed grains, and the thermally controlled solidification method can eliminate the concentrated shrinkage cavity and reduce the dispersed shrinkage porosity. Thus, a superalloy K4169 with fine equiaxed grains, low content of dispersed shrinkage porosity and without concentrated shrinkage cavity defect is fabricated by magnetic‐thermal coordinated control solidification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some spinel chromium oxides with the chemical formula ACr2O4 exhibit magnetic-induced multiferroicity due to the special spiral spin order. However, because of the relatively low temperature of the ordered spiral phase, this kind of multiferroicity generally displays a limited coexistence of magnetic and ferroelectric orders in a narrow temperature range. The Jahn–Teller (JT) effect, serving as a crucial link between charge and orbit degrees of freedom, can facilitate efficient modulation of multiferroic properties. In this work, Ni1−xCuxCr2O4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2) series are synthesized by occupying the same Wyckoff site with two kinds of JT ions. The microstructure and JT distortion can be distinctly influenced by varying the doping level of Cu2+ ions. Particularly, Ni0.85Cu0.15Cr2O4 (x = 0.15) presents the pronounced JT distortion, accompanied by observation of dielectric anomaly at ∼78 K, resulting from spin–orbit coupling. This implies that the JT effect can significantly promote the contribution of spin–orbit coupling in magnetoelectric correlation. Moreover, the magnetodielectric effect induced by intrinsic magnetoelectric coupling is confirmed in Ni0.85Cu0.15Cr2O4 over a wide temperature range of 10–200 K, which is much higher than the Néel temperature of ∼85 K. It indicates that spin–orbit coupling based on the JT effect could overcome the constraint of magnetic order to achieve effective control on electric polarization performance under an applied magnetic field, thereby showing broad application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper has prepared a new type of MoSe2/SnSe2/SnSe@C heterostructure nanocomposites by one-step hydrothermal method and systematically studied by XRD, SEM, and XPS. Furthermore, the tribological behavior of MoSe2/SnSe2/SnSe and MoSe2/SnSe2/SnSe@C heterojunction in pure oil was extensively examined in a ball-on-disk tribometer. The effects of applied load and rotational speed were also investigated. Compared with MoSe2/SnSe2/SnSe nanocomposites, MoSe2/SnSe2/SnSe@C achieved better friction properties. Especially, when the mass ratio of MoSe2/SnSe2/SnSe@C in the base oil is 1.5 wt%, the friction coefficient reaches the minimum value of 0.1. The results show that the introduction of carbon material can significantly improve the wear reduction and anti-wear properties of the matrix in lubricating oil. Additionally, the construction and excellent tribological properties of MoSe2/SnSe2/SnSe@C heterojunction would be beneficial for the design of novel nano-additives with 2D/3D structure for enhancing friction reduction and anti-wear, which also would expand their actual applications in the industry and agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both capecitabine and radiotherapy have been widely used for patients with breast cancer. Although concurrent capecitabine and radiotherapy showed favorable efficacy and tolerable toxicities in patients with gastrointestinal carcinoma, there is still a paucity of real-world evidence on the safety of the concurrent treatment in breast cancer. The aim of this study is to investigate the toxicity of concurrent radiotherapy with capecitabine in breast cancer patients. Patients pathologically diagnosed as breast cancer, aged 18-70 years old, received concurrent radiotherapy and capecitabine between January 2017 and December 2020, radiation target volume involved chest wall or whole breast with and without lymph node regions, with complete medical record were selected and analyzed. Patients' characteristics, tumor information, treatment details including irradiation dosimetric index, systemic regimens doses were assembled. Both acute and chronic adverse events (AEs) were evaluated by a senior radiation oncologist, a senior medical oncologist and a radiologist, according to National Cancer Institute common terminology criteria for adverse events, version 5.0. Totally, fifty-three patients were analyzed. Baseline characteristics are shown in Table I. Four of them received concurrent chemoradiotherapy after local recurrence. Hypofractionation radiation, with total dose of 43.5Gy-49.5Gy, 2.9Gy per fraction, were delivered to 36 patients and the remaining patients received conventional fractionation radiotherapy, with dose of 50-62.5 Gy, 1.8-2Gy per fraction. Thirty-nine patients (73.6%) were treated with concurrent capecitabine at a dose of 1000mg/m2 bid d1-14/q3w, and the remaining 14 patients (26.4%) were treated with a low-dose maintenance therapy at 500mg tid. The median follow-up time was 26.5 months. The most common side effects were dermatitis (N = 45) and leukopenia (N = 33) at any grade. Followed by radiation esophagitis (N = 17), fatigue (N = 16) and hand-foot syndrome (N = 15). The most common G3 side effects were radiation induced dermatitis (N = 11) and hand-foot syndrome (N = 4). All of them were cured after intervention. All of the patients finished the whole course of radiotherapy. None but 1 patient discontinued concurrent medication because of gastrointestinal reaction. No grade 4-5 AE was observed. In general, concurrent radiotherapy and capecitabine in breast cancer were safe with acceptable and controllable toxicities. Dermatitis should be paid more attention in clinical works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a case report of a prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of fetal hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) with left ventricular enlargement. HLHS is a congenital cardiac malformation characterized by severe hypoplasia of the left ventricle and left ventricular outflow tract. The pregnant woman in this case was 30 years old and underwent ultrasound screening at 22 weeks of gestation, which revealed aortic valve atresia, aortic stenosis with regurgitation, mitral valve atresia, and a markedly enlarged left ventricle, indicating HLHS. The pregnancy was terminated, and genetic testing revealed heterozygous variants in the NOTCH1 gene. The article concludes that the underlying pathology in this case favored aortic valvulopathy type 1, resulting in HLHS. The NOTCH1 variant was de novo, and although the risk of recurrence is low, prenatal diagnosis of this variant is recommended in future pregnancies. [Extracted from the article]

Background: High-speed strain field measurement based on digital image correlation (DIC) is limited by high equipment cost and large transmission bandwidth requirements for high-speed cameras. Emerging event-based cameras offer microsecond time resolution and low power consumption, generate events by asynchronously detecting illumination intensity changes at each pixel, have potential for applications in high-speed strain field measurements as a low-cost solution. Objective: Using an event camera to directly capture a deformation process has some limitations, including motion blur, unclear images, and uneven gray scale quantization. This paper proposes a new method to avoid the above limitations. Methods: A strobe light is used to assist image reconstruction for event cameras. Event cameras can generate events using a strobe light to illuminate the object with white speckle on black background, to obtain a speckle image at a specific moment, and then use DIC to obtain the displacement and strain fields. Results: Validation experiments were performed, capturing 2D displacement and strain fields at 1000 frames per second with 1280 × 800 pixel resolution, and DIC matching error = 0.4 pixels. Conclusions: This paper introduces a novel using strobe lighting to assist image reconstruction for event cameras. This technique presents a cost-effective alternative for high-speed deformation measurements, bypassing the constraints of directly capturing the deformation process with an event camera. The proposed method exhibits remarkable adaptability to the motion speed of the object being measured, while maintaining high temporal resolution and low data redundancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To use pre-treatment magnetic resonance imaging-based radiomics data with clinical data to predict radiation-induced temporal lobe injury (RTLI) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients with stage T4/N0–3/M0 within 5 years after radiotherapy. This study retrospectively examined 98 patients (198 temporal lobes) with stage T4/N0–3/M0 NPC. Participants were enrolled into a training cohort or a validation cohort in a ratio of 7:3. Radiomics features were extracted from pre-treatment magnetic resonance imaging that were T1-and T2-weighted. Spearman rank correlation, the t -test and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm were used to select significant radiomics features; machine-learning models were used to generate radiomics signatures (Rad-Scores). Rad-Scores and clinical factors were integrated into a nomogram for prediction of RTLI. Nomogram discrimination was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic analysis and clinical benefits were evaluated using decision curve analysis. Participants were enrolled into a training cohort (n = 139) or a validation cohort (n = 59). In total, 3568 radiomics features were initially extracted from T1-and T2-weighted images. Age, D max , D 1cc and 16 stable radiomics features (six from T1-weighted and 10 from T2-weighted images) were identified as independent predictive factors. A greater Rad-Score was associated with a greater risk of RTLI. The nomogram showed good discrimination, with a C-index of 0.85 (95% confidence interval 0.79–0.92) in the training cohort and 0.82 (95% confidence interval 0.71–0.92) in the validation cohort. We developed models for the prediction of RTLI in patients with stage T4/N0–3/M0 NPC using pre-treatment radiomics data and clinical data. Nomograms from these pre-treatment data improved the prediction of RTLI. These results may allow the selection of patients for earlier clinical interventions. • Interdisciplinary study that used pre-treatment MRI-based radiomics data for RTLI prediction in NPC patients. • Only included patients with stage T4/N0-3/M0 NPC, making the study more targeted. • Provide reliable risk stratification of RTLI by using non-invasive radiomics and clinical data. • Radiomics information was extracted from the routine MRI examinations without increasing healthcare costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, titled "EP09.83: Clinical value of the two-dimensional speckle tracking technique for evaluating cardiac size remodelling in small-for-gestational age fetuses," explores the use of two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) to analyze fetal cardiac size and quantify cardiac size remodeling in small-for-gestational age (SGA) fetuses. The study collected data from 453 low-risk and 210 SGA fetuses and found that SGA fetuses with normal umbilical arteries (UA) had larger four-chamber view and right ventricular (RV) width and area compared to low-risk fetuses. The study also found that 1/3 of SGA fetuses showed abnormal enlargement of the RV width, particularly in the mid segment, earlier than the UA. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses a case report of a rare congenital disorder called congenital disorders of glycosylation type Id (CDG-Id). CDG-Id is characterized by a deficiency in alpha-1,3-mannosyltransferase caused by a variant in the ALG3 gene. The article describes a pregnant woman who had a previous pregnancy with fetal malformations and genetic testing revealed the ALG3 gene variant. Subsequent pregnancies also showed fetal malformations consistent with CDG-Id. The article emphasizes the importance of prenatal ultrasound and genetic testing in identifying CDG-Id and providing valuable information for clinical management. [Extracted from the article]

Due to an increasing demand of developing III-nitride optoelectronics on silicon substrates, it is necessary to compare the growth and optical properties of III-nitride optoelectronics such as InGaN based light emitting diodes (LEDs) on silicon substrates and widely used sapphire substrates. GaN-on-silicon suffers from tensile strain, while GaN-on-sapphire exhibits compressive strain. This paper presents a comparative study of InGaN/GaN multiple quantum wells (MQWs) grown on a silicon substrate and a sapphire substrate under identical conditions. It has been found that GaN strain status has a significant influence on the growth and the optical properties of InGaN/GaN MQWs. Photoluminescence measurements indicate the InGaN/GaN MQWs grown on a silicon substrate exhibit significantly longer wavelength emission than those on a sapphire substrate. Detailed x-ray diffraction measurements including reciprocal space mapping measurements confirm that both indium content and growth rate in the InGaN MQWs on the silicon substrate are enhanced due to the tensile strain of the GaN underneath compared with those on the sapphire substrate. This work also presents an investigation on strain evolution during the InGaN MQWs growth on the two different kinds of substrates. A qualitative study based on in-situ curvature measurements indicates that a strain change on the silicon substrate is much more sensitive to a growth temperature change than that on the sapphire substrate. It is worth highlighting that the results provide useful guidance for optimising growth conditions for III-nitrides optoelectronics on silicon substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mining activity reduces the strength and stability of coal and can lead to frequent coal/rock instability disasters. To address this problem, the soft coal body of the 66207 working face of the Xinzhuangzi coal mine was selected as the study area and the shear strength and coal repose angle were investigated under different water content conditions. The results show that coal cohesion and repose angle initially increase with increasing water content and then decrease, with critical water contents of 20.847% and 17.659%, respectively. The internal friction angle shows negligible change over the range of investigated water contents. Ensuring an appropriate amount of water can thus strengthen a coal body and improve its stability. Upon increasing the moisture content from 0.966% to 20.847%, cohesion increases by 1020.741%, and the repose angle increases by 44.204% when the moisture content increases from dry conditions to 17.659%. From a mechanical perspective, the shape of the liquid bridge between soft coal particles is sensitive to water content. The results provide an experimental basis for the safe and efficient mining of soft coal seams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grinding is usually adopted as the final step in the workpiece machining to improve the surface quality. The wrapping deformation of sheet parts caused by grinding directly affects the surface accuracy and the performance of the parts. In this paper, the grinding experiments were designed and conducted under different conditions. Combined with theoretical analysis, the finite element model was established to reveal the mechanism of wrapping deformation. A new evaluation method of wrapping deformation in grinding was proposed, and the prediction model of the wrapping deformation and temperature in the grinding zone were established and verified. Finally, the grinding parameters were optimized through genetic algorithm with small error. The optimized grinding parameters were vs = 28 m/s, ap = 5 μm, vw = 3 m/min. This method can provide guidance for the grinding process of sheet parts, which is beneficial for improving efficiency and precision in grinding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One common approach to computing the magnetic field produced by a filamentary current-carrying coil is to approximate the coil as a series of straight segments. The Biot–Savart field from each straight segment is analytically known. However, if the endpoints of the straight segments are chosen to lie on the coil, then the accuracy of the Biot–Savart computation is generally only the second order in the number of endpoints. We propose a simple modification: shift each end point of the coil in the outward normal direction by an amount proportional to the local curvature. With this modification, the Biot–Savart accuracy increases to the fourth order and the numerical error is dramatically reduced for a given number of discretization points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent progress in 3D tokamak modeling is now leveraged to create a conceptual design of new external 3D field coils for the DIII-D tokamak. In this work generalized perturbed equilibrium code is used to determine optimally efficient spectrum for driving total, core, and edge neoclassical toroidal viscosity torque. These fundamental modes of 3D control are shown to have consistent outboard structures across a wide variety of plasma scenarios and machines. Given these target spectra, the currents and 3D geometry of multiple coils can be optimized to increase efficient drive for the physics of interest without undesired secondary effects. Here, this nonlinear optimization is demonstrated using the flexible optimized coils using space-curves code. The optimized coils are individually distorted in space, creating toroidal 'arrays' containing a variety of shapes that often wrap around a significant poloidal extent of the machine. Importantly, efficient coupling can be maintained even when enforcing large distances between coils and the plasma during the geometric optimization of coil designs. The physics-driven optimization presented here thus provides a practical path to utilizing coils built on the exterior of the vacuum chamber in future reactors to obtain the powerful 3D field benefits demonstrated on current machines with close, internal coils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: It is well known that many Chinese goose breeds differ substantially in economic performance, but the genetic changes involved are still poorly understood. This study sequenced 35 individuals from four goose breeds namely Shitou, Zhedong White, Taihu, and Zi with an average sequencing depth of 10× for each individual. Among these populations, SNPs were identified, which clustered the individuals into four distinct genetic groups in accordance with the four breeds. Genomic comparisons among the four goose breeds revealed many candidate genes, as well as pathways that may be associated with meat yield in Shitou geese and laying traits in Zi geese. These findings will enable a better understanding of the artificial selection history of Chinese local geese and provide a valuable resource for future research on the breeding of geese for the economic traits of meat and egg production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effect of homogenization annealing on the existence form of zirconium in Al‐0.2wt.%Zr alloy and effect of various existence form of zirconium on the recrystallization behavior of Al‐0.2wt.%Zr cold‐rolled (total deformation is 92.8 %) sheet are studied. The results show that large numbers of nearly spherical Al3Zr (L12) nanoparticles precipitated from aluminum matrix after homogenizing at 475 °C for 24 h. Moreover, due to the precipitation of Al3Zr particles, the hardness and electrical conductivity of the as‐cast Al‐0.2wt.%Zr alloy is increased from 25.1±0.5 HV 3 and 54.0±0.2 %IACS to 28.6±0.7 HV 3 and 56.2±0.1 %IACS, respectively. Hence, zirconium exists as solid solution state in the as‐cast Al‐0.2wt.%Zr alloy and metastable Al3Zr phase in the homogenized alloy. Moreover, the recrystallization temperature of the pure aluminum without addition of zirconium is 300 °C, while the recrystallization temperature of the Al‐0.2wt.%Zr alloy without and with homogenization is about 350 °C and 400 °C, respectively. Obviously, the solid solution state of zirconium has certain effect on retarding the recrystallization of aluminum alloy, while the nanometer Al3Zr particles can inhibit the recrystallization of aluminum alloy effectively and increase the recrystallization temperature remarkably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The magnetostructural transformations of Mn1+xNi1-xGe and Mn1-xNi1+xGe alloys have been investigated. Both substitution Ni for Mn and substitution Mn for Ni reduce the stability of the orthorhombic phase in MnNiGe alloy remarkably. This result is considered to be closely related to the modification on the spiral antiferromagnetic state. The magnetostructural transformations from paramagnetic hexagonal phase to ferromagnetic-like orthorhombic phase are realized in Mn1+xNi1-xGe alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of stellarators that use permanent magnet arrays to shape their confining magnetic fields has been a topic of recent interest, but the requirements for how such magnets must be shaped, manufactured, and assembled remain to be determined. To address these open questions, we have performed a study of geometric concepts for magnet arrays with the aid of the newly developed Magpie code. A proposed experiment similar to the National Compact Stellarator Experiment (NCSX) is used as a test case. Two classes of magnet geometry are explored: curved bricks that conform to a regular grid in cylindrical coordinates, and hexahedra that conform to the toroidal plasma geometry. In addition, we test constraints on the magnet polarization. While magnet configurations constrained to be polarized normally to a toroidal surface around the plasma are unable to meet the required magnetic field parameters when subject to physical limitations on the strength of present-day magnets, configurations with unconstrained polarizations are shown to satisfy the physics requirements for a targeted plasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Ammonia is a toxic gas and an air pollutant of great concern. The effects of ammonia-induced damage in ducks are rarely reported. 2. A total of 176 laying ducks were randomly allocated to one of two groups with four replicates and were exposed to ammonia at 5 ± 5 ppm (low ammonia, LA) or 75 ± 5 ppm (high ammonia, HA), respectively, for 30 days. 3. The results showed that atmospheric ammonia exposure significantly decreased body weight and laying performance (P < 0.05). It significantly changed serum biochemical indices by increasing alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase (P < 0.05), and decreasing superoxide dismutase activity (P < 0.05). Haematoxylin and eosin staining of hepatocytes revealed severe fatty degeneration. Results of RNA-seq analyses revealed that eight genes were significantly up-regulated in the HA group, which were involved in catalytic activity, single-organism metabolic processes, oxidation-reduction processes, and carbohydrate metabolic processes. 4. These results indicated that atmospheric ammonia exposure reduced production performance, affected serum biochemical indices, and led to severe fatty degeneration in the liver of laying ducks. Differentially expressed genes in liver indicated that there were effects of ammonia exposure on the metabolism and detoxification capabilities in ducks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of mineral salts on the production of exopolysaccharides, including β-glucan and pullulan, by Aureobasidium pullulans CCTCC M 2012259 were investigated. Zinc sulfate at certain concentrations decreased dry biomass but favored to the biosynthesis of both exopolysaccharides. When 100 mg/L zinc sulfate was added to the fermentation medium, production of β-glucan and pullulan increased by 141.7 and 10.2%, respectively, when compared with that noted in the control without zinc sulfate addition. To reveal the physiological mechanism underlying improved β-glucan and pullulan production, key enzymes activities, energy metabolism substances, intracellular uridine diphosphate glucose (UDPG) levels, and gene expression were determined. The results indicated that zinc sulfate up-regulated the transcriptional levels of pgm1, ugp, fks, and kre6 genes, increased activities of key enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of UDPG, β-glucan and pullulan, enhanced intracellular UDPG content, and improved energy supply, all of which contributed to the increment in β-glucan and pullulan production. The present study not only provides a feasible approach to improve the production of exopolysaccharides but also contributes to better understanding of the physiological characteristics of A. pullulans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Almost fully dense nickel‐titanium carbide composite coatings with varied titanium carbide content were deposited on 45 carbon steel by laser cladding. High content of titanium carbide particles up to 50 wt.% with bimodal microstructure could be homogeneously distributed in the nickel based matrix. Due to the presence of the harder nickel‐titanium carbide composite coating on the 45 carbon steel, the surface hardness and wear properties were significantly improved. The Vickers hardness (HV 3) increased from about 260 HV 3 for the 45 carbon steel to 300 HV 3 – 360 HV 3 for nickel based composite coating containing 30 wt.% titanium carbide and 550 HV 3 – 680 HV 3 for nickel based composite coating containing 50 wt.% titanium carbide composite coating, respectively. The coefficient of friction and volume wear rate was reduced down to 0.41×10−6 mm3 N−1 m−1 and 9.3×10−6 mm3 N−1 ⋅ m−1 when a nickel based composite coating containing 50 wt.% titanium carbide was coated on the 45 carbon steel, respectively. The enhanced wear performance of the composite coating was due to presence of harder nickel‐titanium carbide composite coating and formation of varied soft and lubricant metal oxides consisting of mainly titanium oxides and minor iron and nickel oxides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

So far available experimental data on the magnetic ground state and transport behaviors of CaCrO3 are conflicting, suggesting that the electronic structure may be fragile against intrinsic or external perturbations. In this work we perform full-scale first principles calculations on the magnetic ground state and electronic structure of CaCrO3. It is revealed that the electronic structure and spin order are sensitive to the on-site Coulomb interaction and lattice distortion. The magnetic ground state is of the marginal stability, close to the boundary between various antiferromagnetically ordered phases. A crossing over the magnetic boundaries and associated metal-insulator transitions can be allowed by even weak lattice distortion (compressive strain) on the ab plane. The numerical results suggest that the on-site Coulomb interaction and lattice distortion represent two major ingredients of physics to determine the magnetic ground state, thus reasonably interpreting the scattered experimental data on the spin order and transport behaviors for CaCrO3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We utilized low-frequency noise measurements to probe electron capture and emission from the traps in AlGaN/GaN heterostructure field-effect transistors as a function of drain bias. The excess noise-spectra due to generation-recombination effect shifted higher in frequency with the elevated temperature from room temperature up to 446 K. These temperature dependent noise measurements were carried out for four different drain-bias values from 4 up to 16 V with 4 V increments. The shift of the excess-noise in frequency was also seen with increasing drain bias. The characteristic recharging times for the trapped electrons varied within the range of 26 μs - 32 ms for the highest and lowest values of the drain voltage and temperature used in the experiment, respectively. The activation energies of the traps corresponding to the four different voltage values were extracted using temperature dependence by Arrhenius analysis. The trap energy at zero drain-bias was obtained as 0.71 eV by the extrapolation technique. This result suggests that the LFN is a very sensitive diagnostic tool to characterize trap states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As-doped ZnO films were grown by the radio frequency magnetron sputtering method. As the substrate temperature during growth was raised above ∼400 °C, the films changed from n type to p type. Hole concentration and mobility of ∼6×1017 cm-3 and ∼6 cm2 V-1 s-1 were achieved. The ZnO films were studied by secondary ion mass spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), low temperature photoluminescence (PL), and positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS). The results were consistent with the AsZn–2VZn shallow acceptor model proposed by Limpijumnong et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 155504 (2004)]. The results of the XPS, PL, PAS, and thermal studies lead us to suggest a comprehensive picture of the As-related shallow acceptor formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the first-principle calculations, we investigate in detail the structure instability resulting from softening of the polar zone-center phonon mode [ferroelectric (FE) instability] and nonpolar zone-boundary mode [antiferrodistortive (AFD) instability] in cubic BaZrO3 (BZO) under hydrostatic pressure P from -20 to 90 GPa. The hydrostatic pressure enhances the AFD instability, while it suppresses and then enhances the FE instability. A sequence of FE→cubic→AFD→AFD/FE phase transitions with increasing P is predicted. A careful examination of the pressure dependence of full phonon dispersions and interatomic force constants in real space reveals the microscopic key interactions in driving the transitions. With increasing pressure P, the drastically evolving short-range forces suppress the FE instability induced by the long-range dipole-dipole forces under low pressure, and enhance both the AFD and FE instability under high pressure. We investigate the dielectric properties of cubic BZO under hydrostatic pressure. The dielectric constant as a function of pressure shows a minimum contributed from the TO1 mode with the lowest frequency. We argue that this pressure dependence of the dielectric constant mainly originates from fluctuations of the SR forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low temperature dielectric and ferroelectric properties of SrTiO3, with constant averaged A-site ionic size but different A-site disorder degrees induced by A-site cation size mismatching through the codoping of Ca and Ba, are investigated. Upon the increasing A-site disorder degree, the dielectric property shows different behaviors from individually Ca- or Ba-doped SrTiO3 where the averaged A-site ionic size varies linearly with the doping. The transition from the quantum paraelectric state to relaxorlike ferroelectric state and eventually to normal ferroelectric state upon the increasing A-site disorder degree is revealed. The physics underlying these phenomena is discussed based on the A-site size mismatch effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mathematical algorithm is presented for the computation of optimum doping profiles that maximize the breakdown voltage and on-state current in insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBT). The algorithm is based on the evaluation of doping sensitivity functions, which are defined as the functional derivatives of the breakdown voltage and on-state current with respect to doping concentration. These functions are computed using an adjoint method and are used in combination with a gradient-based technique to search the optimization space of possible doping configurations efficiently. The mathematical algorithm is implemented numerically to optimize semiconductor devices that are simulated using finite element models and, then, applied to punch-through IGBTs with planar structure. In order to optimize the breakdown voltage it is shown that it is optimum to decrease the doping concentration in the drift region, particularly near the p-type junction on the emitter side and introduce p-type layers with low doping concentration in the drift region. In the case of the on-state current it is optimum to increase the n-type concentration the drift region, near the emitter junction. Depending on the initial structure and criteria imposed during the optimization, it is possible to increase the breakdown voltage by at least 5-10% and decrease the on-state voltage by at least 200 mV. The algorithm presented in this article can be easily extended to the optimization of three-dimensional doping profiles and to the optimization of other power devices, such that power p-n junctions and power metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect-transistors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An innovative design procedure for the feedback control of quasi non-integrable Hamiltonian systems to target a specified stationary probability density function (SPDF) is proposed based on the averaged Fokker–Planck–Kolmogorov equation. The control force is split into a conservative part and a dissipative part. The conservative part is designed to make the controlled system and the target SPDF having the same Hamiltonian structure. The dissipative part is then determined to make the target SPDF to be the stationary solution of the controlled system. Then, a Lyapunov function method is adopted for proving that the transient solution of the controlled system approaches to the target SPDF as time t → ∞. The simulation result for an example shows the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incompressible flow simulations are employed to investigate the internal fluid dynamics of a sweeping jet fluidic oscillator with a focus on the mechanisms and scaling laws that underpin the jet oscillation. Simple phenomenological models that connect the jet deflection to the feedback flow are developed. Several geometric variations are considered to explore the characteristic scales and phase relationships associated with the jet oscillation and to assess the proposed phenomenological model. Examination of the internal fluid dynamics of the oscillator indicates that the sweeping jet mechanism is related to the evolution of the separation bubble in the mixing chamber. A detailed analysis suggests that the distance from the initial jet attachment point to the outlet junction is the most appropriate length scale associated with the oscillation frequency, and the results show that the jet oscillation frequency is inversely proportional to this length scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to investigate the seismic performance of fiber-reinforced polymer-reinforced concrete-filled thin-walled steel tube (CFTST). Twelve specimens with different fiber-reinforced polymer types (glass fiber-reinforced polymer and carbon fiber-reinforced polymer) and reinforcing modes were tested under constant axially compressive load and cyclic lateral load. The failure mode and lateral load versus displacement relationship for each specimen were recorded during testing. The strength, ductility, and energy dissipation capacity were analyzed accordingly. Further, a stress–strain relationship and a restoring force model of the fiber-reinforced polymer confining steel tube with local buckling were proposed. A hysteretic model for the fiber-reinforced polymer-reinforced CFTST was developed subsequently. The results indicate that the seismic performance of fiber-reinforced polymer-reinforced CFTST can be effectively improved by optimizing the fiber-reinforced polymer type and corresponding reinforcing scheme. Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer and glass fiber-reinforced polymer are suitable materials for the confinement and bending reinforcement of the column, respectively. The modeling results show the energy imported into the column is mainly dissipated by the thin-walled steel tube. The energy dissipation proportion of the steel tube, concrete core, and longitudinal fiber-reinforced polymer are >80%, 10%–20%, and <8%, respectively. The energy dissipation value of the steel tube can be improved more than 40% after effectively restraining the local buckling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, three groups of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) samples were remelted by CO2 laser with different laser energy densities (1, 5 and 10 J/mm2) to seal the surface of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) coatings. Microscopic observations showed that the cracks size and the remelted depth in YSZ coatings increased. A ~ 50-μm-thick dense layer was formed on the surface of YSZ coating in samples with 1 J/mm2 energy density. Microindentation tests showed that the Vickers hardness of YSZ coatings increases with the increase in laser energy density. After isothermal oxidation at 1200 °C for 200 h, thinner thermally growth oxides were found in laser remelted YSZ samples under energy density of 1 J/mm2 (6.32 ± 0.28 μm). Cyclic oxidation results showed that the weight gain per unit area of low energy density laser remelted TBCs was smaller than that of the high energy density laser remelted and as-sprayed TBCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was to determine whether the expression of genes involved in intestinal water and ion transport would be affected by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) K88 both in vitro and in vivo. First, 36 male piglets (4 d old) were randomly allotted to either the control or the ETEC K88 group. Each group had 6 replicates with 3 piglets per replicate. All piglets were fed with the same diets for 17 d. On d 15, piglets in the ETEC K88 group were challenged with ETEC K88 (serotype O149:K91:K88ac) at 1 × 108 cfu per pig, whereas those in the control group received the same volume of sterile PBS. After being challenged with ETEC K88 for 72 h (d 18), 1 piglet from each replicate was selected for slaughter to collect samples from the jejunum, ileum, and colon. The mRNA expression and protein abundance of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in the ileum and colon were increased compared with that in the control group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the mRNA expression of Na-K-Cl cotransporter 1 (NKCC1) in the ileum and colon was increased by ETEC K88 challenge (P < 0.05), whereas in the jejunum, both its mRNA and protein expression were increased by ETEC K88 treatment (P < 0.05). Additionally, an established porcine intestinal epithelial cell line (IPEC-J2) was used to investigate the effect and possible mechanism of ETEC K88 on expression of water channel aquaporins (AQP) and ion transporters. Cells (1.17 × 106 per well) were grown in 6-well plates and treated with ETEC K88 at a multiplicity of infection of 50:1 for 3 h. The mRNA expression of AQP3, AQP11, and Na+/H+ exchanger 3 (NHE3) in IPEC-J2 cells was reduced after ETEC K88 treatment (P < 0.05). Further analyses using western blotting also demonstrated that ETEC K88 decreased the protein expression of AQP3, AQP9, and AQP11 in IPEC-J2 cells (P < 0.05). Moreover, the phosphorylation levels of protein kinase A (PKA) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-response element binding protein (CREB) were decreased by ETEC K88 challenge (P < 0.05). The results indicate that ETEC K88 challenge induced differential expression of intestinal ion transporters and AQP in young piglets, probably by regulation of the cAMP-PKA signaling pathway. This study might provide new insights about the importance of fluid homeostasis in control of ETEC-induced diarrhea in young piglets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the optimal developmental time to perform sex reversal in Ussuri catfish Tachysurus ussuriensis, to develop monosex breeding in aquaculture. Systematic observations of gonadal sex differentiation of P. ussiriensis were conducted. The genital ridge formed at 9 days post fertilization (dpf) and germ cells begin to proliferate at 17 dpf. The ovarian cavity began forming on 21 dpf and completed by 25 dpf while presumptive testis remained quiescent. The primary oocytes were at the chromatin nucleolus stage by 30 dpf, the peri-nucleolus stage by 44 dpf and the cortical alveoli stage by 64 dpf. The germinal vesicle migrated towards the animal pole (polarization) at 120 dpf. In presumptive testis, germ cells entered into mitosis and blood vessels appeared in the proximal gonad on 30 dpf. The efferent duct anlage appeared on 36 dpf and formation of seminal lobules with spermatogonia and lobules interstitium occurred at 120 dpf. Therefore, gonadal sex differentiation occurred earlier in females than in males, with the histological differentiation preceding cytologic differentiation in T. ussuriensis. This indicates that undifferentiated gonads directly differentiate into ovary or testis between 17 and 21 dpf and artificial induction of sexual reversal by oral steroid administration must be conducted before 17 dpf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Dysfunctions in metacognition have been reported in individuals with anxiety disorders. Although recent studies have examined metacognition in other disorders, how dysfunctional metacognition compares across disorders is not clear. This review aimed to ascertain the importance of dysfunctional metacognition in various psychopathologies, and to identify similarities and differences in metacognitive profiles across disorders. Methods Forty-seven studies were selected from 586 articles published between 1990 and August 2015, including a total sample of 3772 patients and 3376 healthy individuals. Studies that measured metacognition using the Meta-Cognitions Questionnaire (MCQ) and its variants were included. We conducted five meta-analyses including 49 to 55 effect sizes, comparing psychiatric patients to healthy individuals on respective metacognitive dimensions of the MCQ. Results We found elevated metacognitive dysfunctions in patients, as a group, on all MCQ dimensions. Group effects were large and robust for the two negative beliefs (i.e., beliefs about the uncontrollability and danger of thoughts, and beliefs about the need to control thoughts), and moderate and unstable for the positive beliefs. Patients showed decreased cognitive confidence and heightened cognitive self-consciousness on moderate to large levels. Moderator analyses revealed that negative beliefs about uncontrollability and danger of thoughts were most prevalent in generalized anxiety disorder, whereas heightened cognitive self-consciousness was more characteristic in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and eating disorders manifested more similar metacognitive profiles than other disorders. Conclusions Our findings supported dysfunctional metacognition as common processes across psychopathologies, with certain dimensions being more prevalent in particular disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical composition and, therefore, potential nutritive value of corn distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) is constantly evolving as the ethanol industry innovates processing techniques. We determined standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of AA (Exp. 1) and DE (Exp. 2) contents in high-protein (HP; >40% on a DM basis) DDGS samples. Two HP DDGS (HP-A and HP-B) samples and 1 conventional DDGS (CON) sample were selected for this study. Three semipurified corn starch-based diets (minimum 18% CP, as-fed basis) were formulated with DDGS as the sole source of AA. A fourth, N-free diet was prepared to estimate basal ileal endogenous AA losses. The corn starch:sucrose:oil ratio was kept constant across diets to allow calculation of DE content in DDGS by the difference method. In Exp. 1, 8 ileal-cannulated barrows (23.9 kg initial BW) were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design (n = 8). Pigs were fed at 2.8 × maintenance energy requirement. In each period, pigs were adjusted to diets for 5 d followed by a 2 d of 8 h each grab continuous ileal digesta collection. In Exp. 2, 9 barrows (24.9 kg BW) were assigned to the 4 diets in a repeated 9 × 4 Youden square design to give 9 replicates per diet. In each period, pigs were adjusted to diets for 7 d followed by 5 d of fecal grab sample collection. The analyzed CP was 30.1, 42.3, and 43.1% (on a DM basis) in the CON, HP-A, and HP-B samples, respectively; the corresponding values for GE were 5,067, 5,425, and 5,407 kcal/kg DM, respectively. The concentrations of fat and NDF were comparable among the DDGS samples. Except for Arg and Val, the SID values for indispensable AA were not different (P > 0.05) among the 3 DDGS samples. However, HP samples had higher (P < 0.05) SID values for indispensable AA and CP compared with the CON sample. The SID of Lys content was 4.9, 6.1, and 7.4 g/kg DM for the CON, HP-A, and HP-B, respectively; the corresponding values for Met and Thr were 4.6, 6.8, and 7.4 g/kg DM, respectively, and 6.8, 9.5, and 10.7 g/kg DM, respectively. The DE content in HP samples was greater (P < 0.01) than in the CON (3,614, 4,494, and 4,555 kcal/kg DM for the CON, HP-A, and HP-B, respectively). In conclusion, HP DDGS had higher SID content of AA and DE compared with the CON. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optical, elastic anisotropic and thermodynamic properties of TiN in the NaCl (B1) structure are analyzed in detail in the temperature range from 0 to 2000 K and the pressure range from 0 to 20 GPa. From the calculated dielectric constants, a first order isostructural phase transition between 29 and 30 GPa is found for TiN. The absorption spectra exhibit high values ranging from the far infrared region to the ultra-violet one. The anisotropy value of Young's modulus of TiN is smaller than that of c-BN at 0 GPa and the anisotropy of TiN clearly increases with an increase of pressure. The effects of pressure and temperature on the bulk modulus, Grüneisen parameter, Gibbs free energy, and Debye temperature are significant. The Grüneisen parameter of TiN is much larger than that of c-BN. At temperatures below 1000 K, TiN's heat capacity is much larger than that of c-BN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. The aim of this study was to describe the role of Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 1 (NOD1) receptor signalling in chicken. 2. Tissue-specific expression analysis ofNOD1, receptor-interacting serine-threonine kinase 2 (RIPK2), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase 11 (MAPK11orp38) by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) revealed their wide distribution in various organs and tissues. 3.Salmonella pulloruminfection activatedNOD1receptor signallingin vivoandin vitro, resulting in significant induction of downstream signalling moleculesRIPK2,NF-κB/p65,MAPK11/p38and the effector moleculesIL-1bandIL-8. 4. Activation ofNOD1by its agonist bacterial γ-D-glutamyl-meso-diaminopimelic acid (iE-DAP) in HD11 cells induced the adapter molecularRIPK2and activated theNF-κB/p65andMAPK11/p38pathways, resulting in an increase inIL-8but notIL-1β. Additionally, inhibition ofNOD1usingNOD1-shRNA resulted in downregulation ofRIPK2,MAPK11andIL-8, whileNF-κB/p65andIL-1βwere unaltered. 5. These results highlight the important role ofNOD1receptors in eliciting the innate immune response following pathogenic invasion in chicken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 34 novel polymorphic polynucleotide repeat microsatellites were developed for Sarcocheilichthys sinensis through transcriptome sequencing. Results of polymorphism characterization in a test population showed that the number of alleles of these loci ranged from 2 to 12, averaging 5.2 alleles per locus. Observed and expected heterozygosity varied from 0.0333 to 0.9667 and from 0.0333 to 0.8825, respectively. Twenty-seven loci were proven to be highly informative because the values of their polymorphism information contents were greater than 0.5. These novel polymorphic microsatellite markers would be useful tools for further population and conservation genetic studies of S. sinensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the safety assessment of antiliquefaction performance of an embankment of a reservoir, which is an important infrastructure located in Shanghai, China. The performance-based design (PBD) philosophy is introduced for the assessment. In the accompanying paper, the experimental safety assessment using dynamic centrifuge model tests is presented. In this paper, an effective stress-based, fully coupled, hybrid, finite element-finite differences (FE-FD) numerical method is adopted for the numerical safety assessment. The numerical scheme is verified and validated using the dynamic centrifuge model tests reported in the accompanying paper and then applied to assess the safety of the whole embankment subjected to precautionary earthquake. The liquefiable soils are described by a well-calibrated cyclic elastoplastic constitutive model, while a Ramberg-Osgood model is adapted for the other soils. All the parameters used in the simulation are determined based on field data and element tests. The hydrodynamic pressure is also considered in the safety assessment. The seismic performances of the constructed embankment during and after an earthquake are predicted. The safety of antiliquefaction performance of the reservoir embankment is assessed based on the PBD concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earthquake-induced liquefaction is a major threat to the safety of earth embankments. This paper presents an experiment-based safety assessment of antiliquefaction performance of a constructed reservoir embankment. This reservoir is a major project constructed in the middle of a tidal estuary in 2007 and supplies nearly half of the raw water for the Shanghai, China. The embankment was directly constructed on liquefiable foundation without reinforcement. Hence, it is essential to evaluate present antiliquefaction performance of this constructed embankment. The concept of performance-based design was introduced to the safety assessment. Dynamic centrifuge model tests are successfully applied to predict the seismic performances of the embankment. In order to reflect the real situation of the embankment, the materials and structures involved in the embankment were well replicated according to a scale rule. Moreover, the seismic wave used in model tests was determined according to the report of seismic safety of the site. Finally, the safety of antiliquefaction performance of the embankment was evaluated and discussed in light of the performance-based design concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we report a novel chiral smectic through self-assembling two-dimensional graphene oxide nanosheets and one-dimensional cellulose nanorods. As shown by a phase diagram, the formation of the chiral smectic strictly depends on the ratio of nanosheets to nanorods as well as the concentration of the composite colloid. It would open up a new way for the development of mesoscopic materials with tunable physical properties, such as optical metamaterials with application in optical modulation and mechanochromic sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visible upconversion photons have been quantified precisely in Ho/Yb and Er/Yb doped waveguide-adaptive aluminum germanate (NMAG) glasses, and effective red and green upconversion emissions generated from Ho and Er were illustrated in contrast. The emission photon numbers are identified as a positive correlation with the laser power densities, and stronger dominance of red emission in the Ho/Yb doped NMAG glasses and more effectiveness of photon generation in Er/Yb doped case were proved. When the power density is 1227 W/cm, the absolute quantum yields for red and green (660 and 548 nm) upconversion fluorescences are derived to be 2.41 × 10 and 0.17 × 10 in Ho/Yb doped NMAG glasses, and the ones (665 and 548 nm) in Er/Yb doped NMAG glasses are 4.26 × 10 and 1.44 × 10. The macroscopic quantization of red and green upconversion emissions in Ho/Yb and Er/Yb doped waveguide-adaptive NMAG glasses provides the original referenced data for developing upconversion waveguide-typed irradiation light sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the question of whether vitamin D exerts an effect on the pathogenic process of infertility has become the centre of attention. There are some controversial conclusions on this issue. Based on previous studies, we sought to explore the difference of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 levels between infertile patients and fertile men, and to find the influence on semen quality. The analysis of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 level showed no significant difference between infertile patients and fertile men. However, the levels of serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in oligospermia ( P < 0.05), asthenospermia ( P < 0.01), oligoasthenospermia ( P < 0.05) and azoospermia ( P < 0.01) patients were significantly lower than those in fertile men. Moreover, serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 level was positively correlated with progressive motility and total sperm number in infertile patients. In addition, a positive correlation between serum prolactin and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 was observed in fertile men. Our results indicated that lower vitamin D could be a risk factor for poor semen quality in infertile men. The 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, as the biologically active form of vitamin D, may be more significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influenza A virus ( IAV) infection induces a strong immune response and regulates the expression of many host proteins. The collagen triple helix repeat containing 1 ( CTHRC1) protein is a secreted protein that exhibits increased expression during the viral infection process. However, the regulatory function of IAV on CTHRC1 expression is obscure. In this study, we investigated the effect of IAV on CTHRC1 expression and its regulatory mechanism. A total of 106 serum specimens from healthy people and 80 serum specimens from patients infected with IAV were collected. The CTHRC1 levels in the sera from the IVA patients and healthy individuals were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA), and the differences were statistically analysed. A549 cells were infected with the IAV or del NS1 virus. Additionally, A549 cells were cotransfected with a eukaryotic non-structural NS1 protein gene expression plasmid and the CTHRC1 gene promoter reporter plasmid ( pCTHRC1-Luc), and, the luciferase activities were assessed. The CTHRC1 mRNA and protein expression were detected using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction ( RT- PCR) and Western blotting, respectively. The serum CTHRC1 level was significantly higher in the IAV patients than in the healthy individuals. IAV upregulated the CTHRC1 mRNA and protein expression. The non-structural NS1 protein specifically activated CTHRC1 gene promoter activity and upregulated CTHRC1 mRNA and protein expression. The activation function had a dose-dependent effect, indicating that influenza virus upregulated CTHRC1 expression through its NS1 protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]