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Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an assertive malignancy with partially understood underlying mechanisms, urging further study into its diverse and dynamic tumor microenvironment (TME) to bolster diagnosis, treatment, and prognostic accuracy. Aims: To track the evolutionary route of metastasis, here we perform a yielding scRNA-seq data from 24 primary carcinoma, 7 peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and 7 metastatic carcinoma patients’ sample. Materials and methods: Following high quality control and filtration, a total of 292,298 cells from these tumors were classified into 10 clusters: T cells, B cells, Macrophages/Monocytes, Natural Killer (NK) cells, Plasma cells, plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells, Migratory Dendritic Cells, Mast cells, Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts, and Epithelial cells. Results: By comparing and analyzing the different functional capacities of cellular entities within primary and metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma, coupled with a detailed investigation into the heterogeneity and differential fate trajectories of T cells, B cells, and myeloid cells, as well as assessing the interactions of cell–cell communicative heterogeneity between these carcinogenic states, we established single-cell atlases for primary and metastatic tumors and identified a large number of potential therapeutic targets. Conclusion: This comprehensive analysis significantly advances our understanding of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) metastasis by detailing the evolutionary dynamics and the impact of the tumor microenvironment at a single-cell resolution, thereby laying a crucial foundation for future metastatic tumor research and providing new insights into immune heterogeneity, molecular interactions, and potential therapeutic strategies for NPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the poultry breeding industry has been converted into a large-scale, intensive, and intelligent production mode. The Internet of Things (IoT) is under rapid development, which promotes the development of precision livestock farming. In this study, we developed an intelligent service platform for a facility environment based on the IoT structure, utilizing the capabilities of Platform as a Service (PaaS). The platform consists of four layers, including an information perception layer, network layer, management service layer, and application layer. By using the cloud service model with a distributed network architecture, asynchronous data transmission, and a distributed file system, the platform can centrally manage multiple farm's data. The intelligent service platform includes the following functions: displaying environmental data, water and electricity consumption, data analysis, and managing production data. Over a 500-day trial period in a live poultry house, the platform demonstrated high data integrity (>87%) and resilience against network disruptions and power outages. The data validity of each environmental element exceeded 94%, among which the validity of the temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide concentration exceeded 99%. The overall accuracy of the dataset remained relatively high, providing a robust data foundation for further research. Key features included audio analysis, environmental monitoring, and production data management. The platform's operational status was efficiently communicated via data statistics and email alerts, facilitating timely system recovery. The demonstrated modules included sound recognition, psychrometric charts for visual alerts, and financial analysis tools, offering versatile solutions for integrating PLF models and advanced analytics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) mobilize from bone marrow to peripheral blood in response to stress. The impact of alloresponse-induced stress on HSPCs mobilization in human liver transplantation (LTx) recipients remains under-investigated. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples were longitudinally collected from pre- to post-LTx for one year from 36 recipients with acute rejection (AR), 74 recipients without rejection (NR), and 5 recipients with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). 28 PBMC samples from age-matched healthy donors were collected as healthy control (HC). Multi-color flow cytometry (MCFC) was used to immunophenotype HSPCs and their subpopulations. Donor recipient-distinguishable major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antibodies determined cell origin. Results: Before LTx, patients who developed AR after transplant contained more HSPCs in PBMC samples than HC, while the NR group patients contained fewer HSPCs than HC. After LTx, the HSPC ratio in the AR group sharply decreased and became less than HC within six months, and dropped to a comparable NR level afterward. During the one-year follow-up period, myeloid progenitors (MPs) biased differentiation was observed in all LTx recipients who were under tacrolimus-based immunosuppressive treatment. During both AR and GVHD episodes, the recipient-derived and donor-derived HSPCs mobilized into the recipient's blood-circulation and migrated to the target tissue, respectively. The HSPCs percentage in blood reduced after the disease was cured. Conclusions: A preoperative high HSPC ratio in blood characterizes recipients who developed AR after LTx. Recipients exhibited a decline in blood-circulating HSPCs after transplant, the cells mobilized into the blood and migrated to target tissue during alloresponse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Financing constraints present a significant challenge for enterprises. Given China's push for the integration of digital technology and the real economy, it is crucial to examine the impact of corporate digital transformation on financing. Using data from Chinese A-share listed companies from 2010 to 2019, we construct the digital transformation indicator employing a machine learning approach and find that corporate digital transformation can significantly alleviate financing constraints. The mechanism analysis shows that digital transformation improves corporate financing by reducing information asymmetry and transaction costs on both sides of financing and enhancing corporate performance. Combined with the mechanism analysis, we reveal that digital transformation has a significant effect on the alleviation of financing constraints among firms with private ownership, higher levels of interaction with investors, more developed financial environments and more intermediaries marketed in their locations, higher proportions of highly skilled workers, and better matching of digital technologies used for transformation. We explore micro-level measurement methods of corporate digital transformation, contributes to the literature on the economic consequences of digital transformation, and enriches the research on enterprise responses to financing constraints. The findings have important implications for promoting corporate digital transformation practices and for understanding coping strategies of different firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LEO augmentation systems are attracting worldwide attention. However, their performance in real-world environments has not yet been reported, although several systems have already launched experimental satellites, such as the CENTISPACE™ system developed by Beijing Future Navigation Tech Co., Ltd. By using real observations from two experimental CENTISPACE™ satellites recorded by a regional network, we present the results of LEO-enhanced precise point positioning (PPP) performance. Based on a proposed three-step approach for LEO orbit determination and time synchronization, a framework for LEO augmentation data processing is established and validated. Two stations are selected for LEO augmentation evaluation, and static PPP is performed by combining the LEO augmentation observations with different GNSS systems, including GPS, BDS-3, and Galileo. The static PPP precision shows a few improvements attributed to LEO observations; the positioning errors with one, two, and three GNSS systems are 6.1, 4.6, and 4.6 cm, respectively, while they are reduced to 5.2, 3.9, and 3.8 cm by adding the LEO satellites, respectively, revealing improvements of 13.9, 16.4, and 18.8%, respectively. Moreover, PPP convergence is significantly enhanced. The average convergence times with one, two, and three GNSS systems are 32.7, 17.9, and 14.2 min, respectively, which are reduced to 16.7, 8.9, and 5.7 min, respectively, by adding LEO observations. This indicates that the convergence time is significantly shortened by approximately 53% with the augmentations from only two LEO satellites. Such results show the potential of LEO augmentation, and larger improvements can be expected with more LEO satellites to be deployed in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the relationship between investments in animal breeding and productivity growth on Wisconsin dairy farms using a control function approach. We incorporate farm‐level annual investment in breeding and genetics into the law of motion of productivity as in De Loecker (2013) to test the relationship between these investments and realized productivity. Our unique dataset also allows us to look at the effect of choosing bulls with high milk yield potential on productivity. Our results indicate that breeding investments made 3 years prior are associated with higher productivity of the current cohort. However, the farms with the highest level of productivity reap the lowest benefits from breeding investments, suggesting that there are diminishing returns to investing in genetics. When milk output is not quality adjusted, the contribution of breeding to productivity is undetectable, suggesting that breeding and investments in milk quality are related. We conclude that investments in breeding and genetics significantly contribute to dairy farm productivity, especially in terms of milk quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the collaborative optimization scheduling of multi‐microgrid under the high penetration rate of new energy, this paper considered the energy interaction between micro‐grids in multi‐microgrid and the relationship between new energy consumption and electricity cost, constructed a collaborative scheduling model considering both micro‐grid load and main grid wind and optical energy storage, proposed objective function based on economic cost, and improved Genetic Algorithm (GA). The elite thought and catastrophe thought are used to optimize the selection operation, and the particle swarm optimization algorithm is used to optimize the mutation operation. Furthermore, three scenarios were selected to verify the effectiveness of the proposed model and the improved GA. The results show that the proposed model can ensure the stable operation of the multi‐microgrid system with a high proportion of new energy access and reduce the operation cost. In addition. the improved algorithm solves the problems of easy to fall into local optimum and slow iteration speed, and has better performance in solving the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a reliability evaluation method for distribution network with distributed generations considering feeder fault recovery and network reconfiguration, and mainly addresses issues: 1) insufficient consideration of the characteristics for the components and distributed generations (DGs) of distribution network such as time sequences, randomness and intermittency; 2) changes in the feeder area of the distribution network after the access of DGs; and 3) multi‐dimensional reliability index for distribution network with DGs has not been formed perfectly. Firstly, Markov reliability model for distribution network components/DGs is established in our study. Then, considering the fault recovery and network reconfiguration of the feeder area, island partitioning method of distribution network with DGs is also proposed. Moreover, a reliability evaluation model is presented for distribution network with DGs based on sequential Monte Carlo method. Case study is performed on the improved IEEE RBTS BUS6 F4 feeder system, and the research results indicate the validity and effectiveness of the proposed method. In addition, the system reliability indicators, such as system average interruption frequency index (SAIFI), system average interruption duration index (SAIDI), customer average interruption duration index (CAIDI), and average system availability index (ASAI), are studied and discussed in detail from three dimensions: the access of DGs, the types of DGs, and the capacity of DGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a reliability evaluation method for distribution network with distributed generations considering feeder fault recovery and network reconfiguration, and mainly addresses issues: 1) insufficient consideration of the characteristics for the components and distributed generations (DGs) of distribution network such as time sequences, randomness and intermittency; 2) changes in the feeder area of the distribution network after the access of DGs; and 3) multi‐dimensional reliability index for distribution network with DGs has not been formed perfectly. Firstly, Markov reliability model for distribution network components/DGs is established in our study. Then, considering the fault recovery and network reconfiguration of the feeder area, island partitioning method of distribution network with DGs is also proposed. Moreover, a reliability evaluation model is presented for distribution network with DGs based on sequential Monte Carlo method. Case study is performed on the improved IEEE RBTS BUS6 F4 feeder system, and the research results indicate the validity and effectiveness of the proposed method. In addition, the system reliability indicators, such as system average interruption frequency index (SAIFI), system average interruption duration index (SAIDI), customer average interruption duration index (CAIDI), and average system availability index (ASAI), are studied and discussed in detail from three dimensions: the access of DGs, the types of DGs, and the capacity of DGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current work, the microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of (Ce + Yb) modified in situ TiB2/Al-Si matrix composite were systematically investigated by thermal deformation at strain rates of 0.0005–0.0125 s− 1 and temperatures of 250–450 °C. The enhanced strength and plasticity of the composite have a good correlation with the microstructure evolution under different thermal deformation parameters. The obtained results indicated that under the hot deformation parameters of strain rate of 0.0025 s− 1 and deformation temperature of 250 °C, the defects of micropores can be reduced or even eliminated and improved the density of the composite. The coarse α-Al grains, eutectic Si and Fe-rich phases and undissolved primary (Ce + Yb)-containing intermetallics were significantly refined under high shear stress. At the same time, the distribution of in-situ synthesized submicron TiB2 particles in the Al matrix tends to be more uniform. The substructures such as high density dislocations and low angle grain boundaries were introduced under the thermal deformation of 250 °C/0.0025 s− 1, which provided the necessary conditions for the formation of recrystallized grains that are less likely to overgrow and further promoted the aging precipitation of nano-strengthening precipitates. Finally, the UTS, YS and elongation of the composite reached the maximum values of 385 MPa, 316 MPa and 9.6% respectively, which were 60.4%, 85.9% and 45.5% higher than the as-cast and undeformed composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conformal antenna is a precision device installed on the wing of an aircraft, and its components are distributed on a curved surface. Quality detection is required after assembly. In solving the path planning problem for conformal antenna surface detection, the traditional genetic algorithm faces problems such as slow convergence and easily falling into a local optimal solution. To solve this problem, an improved genetic algorithm combining the historical optimal population (CHOP-IGA) is proposed. First, the algorithm uses the probability-based four-nearest-neighbor method to construct an initial population. Subsequently, the probabilities of the crossover and mutation operators are dynamically adjusted. Next, the algorithm applies the crossover and mutation operators to the population and performs mutation operations on each individual of the historical optimal population. Then, the fitness value is calculated and the next generation of individuals is selected from the parent, offspring, and historical optimal populations according to the elite selection strategy. Finally, the current best fitness is checked to determine whether updating the historical optimal population is necessary. When the termination condition is satisfied, the algorithm outputs the optimal result. Experiments showed that the algorithm satisfactorily solved the path planning problem for conformal antenna surface detection, with a 48.44% improvement in detection efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the effects of combined addition of Ce and Yb on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al6Si/5TiB2 MMC were systematically investigated by using optical microscopy (OM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) configured with energy diffraction spectrum (EDS), electron probe micro-analysis (EPMA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and mechanical tests. The results show that the combined addition of Ce and Yb can simultaneously refine α-Al grains and modify eutectic Si as well as suppress the agglomeration of TiB2 particles to a certain extent. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS), yield strength (YS) and elongation (El) of the composites reached the maximum values of 367.5, 271.3 MPa and 6.1% when the content of Ce and Yb was 0.4 wt.%, which were 14.4, 17.1 and 38.6% higher than that the situation without Ce and Yb addition, respectively. The tensile fracture mode of Al6Si/5TiB2 MMC belongs to a typical mixed brittle–ductile fracture, but when the Ce and Yb were added, it can change part of the brittle fracture into ductile fracture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aimed at the characteristics of multi-source heterogeneity and the rapid generation of data in digital twin workshops, as well as the current situation where communication protocols between equipment within the workshop vary greatly and are difficult to interconnect, a data integration method based on OPC UA is designed. Firstly, combining the process flow and data source characteristics of array antenna assembly, a data collection and transmission scheme based on OPC UA was designed. Secondly, a process information model of array antenna assembly was established to realize data perception and transmission and solve the difficulties of complex data structure, high real-time requirements, and heterogeneous data in digital twin workshop. Finally, the proposed method and model were applied to the performance prediction platform for an array antenna assembly process based on digital twins, achieving perception of process data during the assembly process of array antennas, and achieving performance prediction and visualization for various stages of array antennas based on assembly process data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The processing of the three-dimensional circuit on the surface of conformal antennas is mainly performed via manual processing. At present, there is no automatic intelligent equipment for the processing of a similar small-sized circuit with variable curvature in China. Therefore, a high-precision, automated, full-process manufacturing method for three-dimensional circuits with flexible surfaces on conformal antennas of radar equipment has been proposed to improve processing quality and manufacturing efficiency. The processing relationship between solder paste spraying, resistor mounting, and laser welding in the flexible three-dimensional circuit manufacturing process was analyzed. The structure of the new conformal antenna three-dimensional circuit intelligent manufacturing equipment was determined, and simulation verification of the three-dimensional circuit processing was performed using Vericut. The optimal processing parameters were selected based on solid experiments. This method meets the electronic assembly requirements of radar equipment and fills the domestic gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a large number of flexible elements such as distributed power and flexible load are connected to microgrids, the economic improvement of microgrids has become an important topic through rational energy distribution. In this paper, an economic scheduling model considering the load demand for a microgrid system under the mechanism of a peak–valley tariff is proposed. A mathematical model of the microgrid components is proposed to determine the exchange power between the microgrid and main network. Meanwhile, an improved War Strategy Optimization (WSO) algorithm is proposed to investigate three scenarios: (i) without batteries, (ii) with batteries and (iii) with batteries and demand response. Additionally, demand response optimization is carried out with the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm and the improved WSO is compared with four other algorithms in scenario (iii). The comparison shows that the improved WSO algorithm has a better optimization performance in solving the proposed scheduling model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various testing techniques established the association between precipitates and the mechanical characteristics of IN783 alloy at high temperatures. The results show that the β phase is coarser at the grain boundary and that the Ni5Al3 phase precipitates inside the β phase as service time increases, which destroys the structure of the β phase, weakening the strength of the grain boundary and reducing the ductility of the alloy at high temperatures. Meanwhile, increasing the size of the γ′ phase coarser from 53 to about 74 nm enhances the yield strength of the alloy. Following the recovery heat treatment, the grain boundary β phase is precipitated again with a smaller size and no Ni5Al3, and the size of the γ′ phase is refined to the unused level. The alloy material's high-temperature ductility is restored, which extends the material's service life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve timeliness and accuracy when conducting a performance analysis of a complex product assembly process, we consider the performance analysis of an array antenna assembly process, and investigate the measurability of the assembly process' performance. In this study, a digital twin modeling method is proposed for the assembly performance analysis of an array antenna. This method integrates finite elements, mesh model simplification, and surrogate models. To achieve real-time prediction and rapid visualization of the assembly performance of the assembly process, a mesh simplification algorithm for a finite element mesh model based on edge collapse is proposed and a Gaussian process regression surrogate model for product assembly performance is constructed to complete the construction of a digital twin model for assembly performance analysis. Finally, the proposed method is verified by an example of the assembly performance analysis of a typical array antenna. Results show that the digital twin model proposed achieves a high response speed and fidelity in the analysis of assembly performance and provides a valuable reference to application of digital twin technology in product assembly processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic equipment, including phased array radars, satellites, high-performance computers, etc., has been widely used in military and civilian fields. Its importance and significance are self-evident. Electronic equipment has many small components, various functions, and complex structures, making assembly an essential step in the manufacturing process of electronic equipment. In recent years, the traditional assembly methods have had difficulty meeting the increasingly complex assembly needs of military and civilian electronic equipment. With the rapid development of Industry 4.0, emerging intelligent assembly technology is replacing the original "semi-automatic" assembly technology. Aiming at the assembly requirements of small electronic equipment, we first evaluate the existing problems and technical difficulties. Then, we analyze the intelligent assembly technology of electronic equipment from three aspects: visual positioning, path and trajectory planning, and force–position coordination control technology. Further, we describe and summarize the research status and the application of the technology and discuss possible future research directions in the intelligent assembly technology of small electronic equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop and validate an ideal nomogram and an online calculator for predicting rapid myopia progression risk in children managed with orthokeratology (ortho-k). Data of children undergoing ortho-k treatment at Shanghai Children's Hospitals between January 2018 and April 2021 were retrospectively assessed. Potential predictors were screened using univariable analyses and a bidirectional stepwise procedure based on Akaike's information criterion. The final model was constructed using multivariable logistic regression and validated using an internal validation cohort. A nomogram and an online calculator were used to present the final model. In this retrospective study with 1051 eyes of 560 myopia patients, the training cohort included 735 eyes, and the validation cohort included 316 eyes. Among 11 potential predictors of rapid myopia progression considered, the following four variables identified as independent predictive factors were included in the nomogram: age (odds ratio [OR], 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.61–0.79), baseline spherical equivalent (OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.31–1.79), pupil diameter (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.32–0.97), and horizontal visible iris diameter (OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.33–0.97). The mean concordance statistics for the training and validation cohorts were 0.705 (95% CI 0.664–0.747) and 0.707 (95% CI 0.639–0.774), respectively. The online calculator is publicly available (). This study developed a simple-to-use nomogram and online calculator that predicted rapid myopia progression risk in children treated with ortho-k, who will likely benefit from early intervention and improved surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optimal economic power dispatching of a microgrid is an important part of the new power system optimization, which is of great significance to reduce energy consumption and environmental pollution. The microgrid should not only meet the basic demand of power supply but also improve the economic benefit. Considering the generation cost, the discharge cost, the power purchase cost, the electricity sales revenue, the battery charging and discharging power constraints, and the charging and discharging time constraints, a joint optimization model for a multi-scenario microgrid with wind–photovoltaic-load storage is proposed in our study. Additionally, the corresponding model solving algorithm based on particle swarm optimization is also given. In addition, taking the Wangjiazhai project in Baiyangdian region as a case study, the effectiveness of the proposed model and algorithm is verified. The joint optimization model for a microgrid with wind–photovoltaic-load storage in multiple scenarios is discussed and investigated, and the optimal economic power dispatching schemes in multiple scenarios are also provided. Our research shows that: (1) the battery can play a role in peak shaving and valley filling, which can make microgrids more economical; (2) when the power purchase price is lower than the cost of renewable energy power generation, if the wind turbine and the photovoltaics are allowed to be discarded the microgrid will produce higher economic benefits; and (3) restricting the exchange power between the microgrid and the main power network will lead to a negative impact on the economy for the microgrid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, the effects of combined addition of (Ce + Yb) on the heat treatment microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-6Si-0.6 Mg-0.6Cu-0.2Cr casting alloy were investigated. The results indicated that the α-Al grains, eutectic Si and β-Al5FeSi phases were refined and modified simultaneously by (Ce + Yb), which transformed the coarse plate-like eutectic Si into short rod–like and/or granular shape. Furthermore, the heat treatment process facilitated the spheroidization of eutectic Si and the optimum combined addition of (Ce + Yb) was 0.4 wt%. The 0.4 wt% (Ce + Yb) modified alloy was compared with the unmodified alloy, and it was found that the average grain size and SADS of the α-Al grains were reduced by 62.9 and 60.6%, and the average aspect ratio and area of eutectic Si decreased by 182.0 and 91.3%, respectively. Most importantly, the combined addition of (Ce + Yb) greatly enhanced the tensile properties of the alloy, especially due to the significant improvement of the microstructure, which resulted in a remarkable increase in the ultimate tensile strength (UTS), yield strength (YS) and elongation (El) of the alloy. Finally, the combined addition of (Ce + Yb) transformed the fracture patterns of the modified alloy from brittle fracture to ductile fracture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study enhances the strength and ductility of (Ce + Yb)-modified Al-Si-Mg-Cu-Cr casting alloy by integrating hot deformation and heat treatment. In addition, the synergistic effects of hot deformation and heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical behavior were thoroughly investigated. As-solutionized alloys were subjected to hot deformation examinations at temperatures ranging from 250 to 450 °C and strain rates varying between 0.0005-0.0125 s−1. The results revealed that the flow stress increased as the temperature decreased, and the strain rate increased. The maximum ultimate tensile strength (UTS), yield strength (YS) and elongation (El) of as-solutionized, hot deformed at 250 °C, strain rate of 0.0025 s−1 and aged alloy were 353, 296 MPa and 11.4%, respectively, higher by 79.1, 193.1 and 96.6% than the as-cast alloy. The interactions between Ce- and/or Yb-rich precipitates, the high-density dislocations induced by hot deformation and the creation of substructures such as subgrains are primarily responsible for the increase in strength. Finally, the high strength of the (Ce + Yb)-modified alloy after hot deformation and heat treatment is primarily attributed to the synergistic strengthening of several factors through solid solution strengthening, precipitation strengthening, substructural strengthening and work hardening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, the in situ TiB2 particle-reinforced Al–Si matrix composites with or without (Ce + Yb) were fabricated by mixed salt–metal reaction, and the effect of TiB2 and (Ce + Yb) on microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. The results showed that the combined addition of 0.4 wt% (Ce + Yb) and 3 wt% TiB2 further facilitated the uniform microstructure and modified the eutectic Si of composites. Meanwhile, the combined addition of (Ce + Yb) promoted the nucleation and inhibited the growth of TiB2 particles. The mechanical properties of the composites with 0.4 wt% (Ce + Yb) and 3 wt% TiB2 reached maximum values with ultimate tensile strength, yield strength and elongation of 240.5 MPa, 169.8 MPa and 6.6%, which were 53.8%, 116.1% and 164.0% higher compared to the Al–Si matrix alloy. The fractography observations indicated that the fracture mode of the composites belongs to a typical of mixed brittle–ductile fracture. But the combined addition of (Ce + Yb) is beneficial to improve the plasticity of the composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomineralization‐controlled exo‐/endoskeleton growth contributes to body growth and body size diversity. Molluscan shells undergo ectopic biomineralization to form the exoskeleton and biocalcified "pearl" involved in invading defence. Notably, exo‐/endoskeletons have a common ancestral origin, but their regulation and body growth are largely unknown. This study employed the pearl oyster, Pinctada fucata marntensii, a widely used experimental model for biomineralization in invertebrates, to perform whole‐genome resequencing of 878 individuals from wild and breeding populations. This study characterized the genetic architecture of biomineralization‐controlled growth and ectopic biomineralization. The insulin‐like growth factor (IGF) endocrine signal interacted with ancient single‐copy transcription factors to form the regulatory network. Moreover, the "cross‐phylum" regulation of key long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) in bivalves and mammals indicated the conserved genetic and epigenetic regulation in exo‐/endoskeleton growth. Thyroid hormone signal and apoptosis regulation in pearl oysters affected ectopic biomineralization in pearl oyster. These findings provide insights into the mechanism underlying the evolution and regulation of biomineralization in exo‐/endoskeleton animals and ectopic biomineralization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An active distribution network is an important development trend of the power grid with widespread use of the distributed generation. The reliability of the active distribution network is not negligible due to the uninterruptible power supply. In the paper, the reliability evaluation method of the active distribution network is proposed in detail, based on combining the roulette wheel selection and the sequential Monte Carlo algorithm. The uncertainty of both the distribution generation and the load is taken into consideration based on the power probability distribution and the working state in the presented model. Furthermore, the IEEE-RBTS Bus 6 is used to verify the validity of the proposed method. The result shows that the new energy access improves the availability and the reliability of the active distribution network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thanks to its single-atomic-layer structure, high carrier transport, and low power dissipation, carbon nanotube electronics is a leading candidate towards beyond-silicon technologies. Its low temperature fabrication processes enable three-dimensional (3D) integration with logic and memory (static random access memory (SRAM), magnetic random access memory (MRAM), resistive random access memory (RRAM), etc.) to realize efficient near-memory computing. Importantly, carbon nanotube transistors require good thermal stability up to 400 °C processing temperature to be compatible with back-end-of-line (BEOL) process, which has not been previously addressed. In this work, we developed a robust wafer-scale process to build complementary carbon nanotube transistors with high thermal stability and good uniformity, where AIN was employed as electrostatic doping layer. The gate stack and passivation layer were optimized to realize high-quality interfaces. Specifically, we demonstrate 1-bit carbon nanotube full adders working under 250 °C with rail-to-rail outputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To observe and compare the effects and complications of endoscope-assisted transoral approach and lateral cervical approach in the resection of parapharyngeal space (PSS) tumors. Methods. From January 2013 to September 2021, 69 patients with parapharyngeal space tumors in the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University were divided into the control group (n = 37) and the observation group (n = 32) according to the mode of operation. The tumors in the parapharyngeal space were resected by the lateral cervical approach in the control group, and the tumors in the parapharyngeal space were removed by endoscopy-assisted transoral approach in the observation group. The general clinical data and operation conditions of the two groups, including operative blood loss, operation time, drainage volume and drainage time, hospital stay, perioperative pain degree, and tumor resection rate were collected and analyzed statistically. The patients were followed up for 6 months, and the complications of the two groups were recorded. Results. Compared with the control group, the operation time in the observation group was significantly shorter, and the amount of intraoperative bleeding in the observation group was significantly less than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The postoperative drainage was less and the hospital stay in the observation group was shorter than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in tumor resection rate between the two groups. The visual analog scale (VAS) score on the 1st and 3rd day after operation in the observation group was lower than that in the control group. After treatment, some patients in the two groups had complications such as nerve injury, dysphagia, difficulty in mouth opening, massive hemorrhage, and parotid fistula. The total incidence of complications in the observation group was lower than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusions. The effect of the endoscope-assisted transoral approach is similar to that of the lateral cervical approach in the resection of tumors in parapharyngeal space, but the endoscope-assisted transoral approach has shorter operation time, less intraoperative bleeding, and less postoperative drainage. The indwelling time and hospital stay of the drainage device were shorter than those of the patients with transcervical approach, and the perioperative stress response of patients with endoscope-assisted transoral approach is mild, which is beneficial to the physical and mental recovery of the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Cortical visual impairment (CVI) is the common cause of pediatric visual impairment in cerebral palsy (CP) while exotropia is the most common strabismus associated with CP. We aim to observe the strabismic surgery outcomes in pediatric patients with CP and CVI.Method: Our medical records were collected from pediatric patients treated in our hospital from May 1, 2017 to Jan 1, 2022. With normal intelligence assessment and diagnosis of exotropia in children with CP and CVI, microsurgeries were performed under intravenous combined inhalation anesthesia. The strabismus was examined by the prism test under best vision correction and the contrast sensitivity testing (CST) was measured at five levels of spatial frequencies.Result: A total of 38 exotropia patients with CP and CVI were identified and included for analysis during the study period with age ranged from 5 to 12 years (mean 8.45 years) and mean follow up duration was 8.7 months (6-42 months). After bilateral lateral rectus recession (with/without medial rectus resection or inferior oblique transposition), the exotropia amount of participants were obviously revealed from - 30 ~ - 140 (median, IQR: - 50, 40) prism diopters (PD) preoperatively to 0 ~ - 15 (0, 5) PD postoperatively. Statistically significantly improvements were observed at all levels of spatial frequency on CST postoperatively, especially at high spatial frequency areas (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that the effect of strabismus surgery on exotropia in children with CP and CVI were stable and monocular contrast sensitivity post- operation increased significantly at all spatial frequencies levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural mechanization services (AMS) have emerged as a viable and effective solution for helping farmers gain access to machinery equipment in developing countries. This study investigates the simultaneous decision‐making regarding multiple mechanization services and the causal impacts of the AMS on land productivity among Chinese smallholders. We find that: (i) The ratio of off‐farm wage to AMS price, or the wage‐rent ratio, has a significant positive effect on AMS adoption; the sequential adoption of AMS starts with power‐intensive followed by control‐intensive production tasks, (ii) Switching to AMS in plowing, transplanting, and harvesting increases rice yield by 48.0 kg, 23.7 kg, and 7.9 kg, respectively, and (iii) The AMS of pesticide spraying significantly decreases yield but the negative effect can be mitigated with professional service providers and effective labor monitoring, highlighting potential moral hazards associated with AMS when monitoring is costly. Simulation illustrates that increased AMS adoption can significantly enhance food security in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multi-microgrid is gradually springing up with widespread use of the distributed generation. It is of great meaning to have research on the energy mutual optimization of the multi-microgrid to improve the new energy-consumption capacity. In this paper, a comprehensive economic model of the multi-microgrid is proposed for optimizing the power dispatching, and the source-network-load-storage is taken into account. Different from other studies, the special novelty of this paper is the improved cuckoo search (CS) algorithm which is adopted to optimize the power dispatching of the multi-microgrid. Comparing with the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm, the improved CS algorithm has better performance in solving the proposed model. The optimal power supply strategy is determined by predicting the optimal state of charge of the battery in the model of the multi-microgrid. The model effectiveness of the multi-microgrid is confirmed in the case study of Wangjiazhai area. With this method, the optimal power dispatching is determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil-washing is a potential technology for the disposal of soil contaminated by e-waste; however, the produced soil-washing effluent will contain polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and a large number of surfactants, which are harmful to the environment, so the treatment of PBDEs and the recycling of surfactants are the key to the application of soil-washing technology. In this study, coconut shell granular-activated carbon (GAC) was applied to remove PBDEs from Triton X-100 (TX-100) surfactant which simulates soil-washing effluent. The adsorption results show that, GAC can simultaneously achieve effective removal of 4,4′-dibromodiphenyl ether (BDE-15) and efficient recovery of TX-100. Under optimal conditions, the maximum adsorption capacity of BDE-15 could reach 623.19 μmol/g, and the recovery rate of TX-100 was always higher than 83%. The adsorption process of 4,4′-dibromodiphenyl ether (BDE-15) by GAC could best be described using the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Freundlich isothermal adsorption model. The coexistence ions had almost no effect on the removal of BDE-15 and the recovery rate of TX-100, and the solution pH had little effect on the recovery rate of TX-100; BDE-15 had the best removal effect under the condition of weak acid to weak base, indicating that GAC has good environmental adaptability. After adsorption, GAC could be regenerated with methanol and the adsorption effect of BDE-15 could still reach more than 81%. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation and characterization results showed that, Van der Waals interaction and π–π interaction are dominant between BDE-15 and GAC, and hydrogen bond interactions also exist. The existence of oxygen-containing functional groups is conducive to the adsorption of BDE-15, and the carboxyl group (-COOH) has the strongest promoting effect. The study proved the feasibility of GAC to effectively remove PBDEs and recover surfactants from the soil-washing effluent, and revealed the interaction mechanism between PBDEs and GAC, which can provide reference for the application of soil-washing technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By varying the tempering temperature, the effects of various tempering temperatures on the microstructure and properties of the coating were investigated. The results show that after heat treatment, eutectic carbides of the original coating disappear and spherical granular carbides resurface. The form and size of alloy carbide alter as the tempering temperature changes. The alloy carbide microstructure size is more rounded when the tempering temperature is 500 °C, and the average hardness is 658 HV, which is 4.9% greater than the original coating. The wear loss is least at a tempering temperature of 500 °C. The abrasion loss is 0.46 and 0.76 times that of the original coating when the load is 50 N and 75 N, respectively. The corrosion current density after tempering at 700 °C is the lowest in the electrochemical experiment, but the self-corrosion potential is the largest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2009 land reform in China marks a move toward a more flexible land tenure system in rural areas. This study evaluates the effect of this reform on rental market participation and household welfare in rural China. Using a four‐period nationally representative household‐level panel data during 2010–2016, we find that the 2009 land reform increased rental market participation by 6.6 to 7.0 percentage points on average. The effect varies significantly with village and household characteristics. The welfare impact of rental market participation on rural households depends on the type of participation. Specifically, the households renting in land witness an increase in their aggregated income by 10.7% on average through the expansion of farm production, which is accompanied by an increase in aggregated expenditure by approximately 11.2%. Those leasing out their land lose the portion of income on the farm but the aggregated household income is on average statistically unchanged, possibly due to a higher off‐farm income and the inflow of land rental income. Along with the statistically unchanged aggregated expenditure, the households leasing out land experience no significant welfare changes after the 2009 land reform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The polyamine putrescine (Put) is a ubiquitous small cationic amine. It plays an essential role in controlling the innate immune response. However, little is known about its function in mollusks. In this study, the Put content was observed to increase in the serum of pearl oyster Pinctada fucata martensii after 6 and 24 h of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) increased, and nitric oxide synthase was downregulated in the Put group (i.e., combined treatment with Put and LPS) compared with that in the LPS group (i.e., combined treatment with phosphate-buffered saline and LPS). Furthermore, activities of alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase were inhibited after 6 h of LPS stimulation. The expression levels of the nuclear factor kappa B, IκB kinase, Janus kinase, and signal transducer and activator of transcription proteins genes were all significantly suppressed at 12 and 24 h in the Put group. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis grew better after being incubated with the serum from the Put group than that from the LPS group. Additionally, the Put treatment remarkably inhibited the autophagy of hemocytes mediated by the AMP-activated protein kinase-mammalian target of rapamycin-Beclin-1 pathway. This study demonstrated that Put can effectively inhibit the inflammatory response induced by LPS in pearl oysters. These results provide useful information for further exploration of the immunoregulatory functions of polyamines in bivalves and contribute to the development of immunosuppressive agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of local lauromacrogol injection in the treatment of hypopharyngeal hemangioma. Methods: From Aug 2015 to May 2021, 13 consecutive patients suffering from hypopharyngeal hemangioma underwent local lauromacrogol injection assisted by endoscope in this prospective clinical series. All patients were followed up regularly and the therapeutic effects and complications were observed. Results: A total 13 of patients were enrolled, including 11 men and 2 women, with an average age of 48.5 years (range 25–76 years). The sizes of the hemangioma ranged from 0.5 × 1.0 cm to 3.5 × 3.5 cm. After 1 to 40 months of follow-up, 12 patients were cured and 1 was significantly effective after 1 to 4 (mean 1.8) injections. All patients suffered varying degrees of postoperative pain or foreign body sensation. 3 patients were significantly affected by local swelling of the injection site, 2 of which underwent prophylactic tracheostomy postoperatively and 1 patient returned to the ward with endotracheal intubation postoperatively. No complications such as mucosal ulceration, fever, and allergies occurred. Conclusions: Lauromacrogol injection is a safe and effective method to treat hypopharyngeal hemangioma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The C1q protein, which contains the globular C1q (gC1q) domain, is involved in the innate immune response, and is found abundantly in the shell, and it participates in the shell formation. In this study, a novel gC1q domain-containing gene was identified from Pinctada fucata martensii (P. f. martensii) and designated as PmC1qDC-1. The full-length sequence of PmC1qDC-1 was 902 bp with a 534 bp open reading frame (ORF), encoding a polypeptide of 177 amino acids. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) result showed that PmC1qDC-1 was widely expressed in all tested tissues, including shell formation-associated tissue and immune-related tissue. PmC1qDC-1 expression was significantly high in the blastula and gastrula and especially among the juvenile stage, which is the most important stage of dissoconch shell formation. PmC1qDC-1 expression was located in the outer epithelial cells of mantle pallial and mantle edge and irregular crystal tablets were observed in the nacre upon knockdown of PmC1qDC-1 expression at mantle pallial. Moreover, the recombined protein PmC1qDC-1 increased the rate of calcium carbonate precipitation. Besides, PmC1qDC-1 expression was significantly up-regulated in the mantle pallial at 6 h and was significantly up-regulated in the mantle edge at 12 h and 24 h after shell notching. The expression level of PmC1qDC-1 in mantle edge was significantly up-regulated at 48 h after LPS stimulation and was significantly up-regulated at 12 h, 24 h and 48 h after poly I:C stimulation. Moreover, PmC1qDC-1 expression was significantly up-regulated in hemocytes at 6 h after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and poly I:C challenge. These findings suggest that PmC1qDC-1 plays a crucial role both in the shell formation and the innate immune response in pearl oysters, providing new clues for understanding the shell formation and defense mechanism in mollusk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deceptive reviews on Web are a common phenomenon and how to detect them has a very important impact on products, services, and even business policies. In order to filter out deceptive reviews more accurately, a new model called Sentence Joint Topic Sentiment Model (SJTSM) is presented in this paper, which incorporates the sentence structure of reviews and the sentiment label information of words based on Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) model to extract the review features. The proposed model employs Gibbs algorithm to estimate the maximum likelihood parameters and takes the vector of topic-sentiment distribution as the review features. Then a voting system of multiple-classifier, which takes the extracted review feature vector as its input is designed to realize the classification of deceptive review detection. The comparative experiments on different public datasets with other existing methods based on LDA model show that the new classifying system based on SJTSM model can achieve more satisfying classification results on deceptive review detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, four specimens of hypo‐eutectic Al–7Si–0.35Mg–0.2Ti–xZr (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 wt%) cast alloys were fabricated via a traditional casting method. The effect of different concentrations of Zr on the microstructure and mechanical properties of cast alloys was investigated through metallographic observation, SEM analysis, TEM observations, tensile strength testing, and Vickers hardness test. The results show that the plate‐like shape eutectic Si phase is gradually transformed into fine fibrous eutectic Si phase, and is more evenly distributed as the content of Zr increased. The α‐Al matrix grains are transformed from dendrites to isometric grains, of which the grains sizes became smaller. The results of the tensile test show that with the addition of 0.2% Zr, Al–7Si–0.35Mg–0.2Ti alloys obtain the best tensile properties. The ultimate tensile strength and elongation values are 221 MPa and 11%, the number of which is increased by 14.5 and 71.9% than base alloy, respectively. Additionally, the alloy's yield strength, Vickers hardness, and other comprehensive mechanical properties have also improved significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pearl oysters are found in the marine ecosystem. Due to their frequent exposure to microbial pathogens and environmental perturbations, they have developed a multifaceted innate immune system with differentially expressed immune‐related genes in response to a range of stress via vast coordinated immune reactions, such as immune recognition, signal transduction, synthesis of antimicrobial peptides, encapsulation and phagocytosis of the circulating haemocytes. The species are farmed to produce pearls. With the increasing adoption of aquaculture techniques in pearl production, there is the need to understand their culture environment and their immune response mechanisms. Multi‐omic studies have documented responses to nuclei insertion operation, diseases and various environmental conditions in Pinctada fucata martensii (Dunker, 1880), Pinctada maxima (Jameson, 1901), Pinctada margaritifera and Pteria penguin (Roding, 1798). Among the various stressors, nuclei insertion operation has been identified as a prevailing factor modifying gene expression. Other factors include life stage, air exposure, temperature, salinity, metals and organic contaminants. This manuscript details the response mechanism of these pearl oysters to the various stressors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]