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Spiders evolved a distinctive sperm transfer system, with the male copulatory organs located on the tarsus of the pedipalps. In entelegyne spiders, these organs are usually very complex and consist of various sclerites that not only allow the transfer of the sperm themselves but also provide a mechanical interlock between the male and female genitalia. This interlocking can also involve elements that are not part of the copulatory organ such as the retrolateral tibial apophysis (RTA)—a characteristic of the most diverse group of spiders (RTA clade). The RTA is frequently used for primary locking i.e., the first mechanical engagement between male and female genitalia. Despite its functional importance, some diverse spider lineages have lost the RTA, but evolved an apophysis on the femur instead. It can be hypothesized that this femoral apophysis is a functional surrogate of the RTA during primary locking or possibly serves another function, such as self‐bracing, which involves mechanical interaction between male genital structures themselves to stabilize the inserted pedipalp. We tested these hypotheses using ghost spiders of the genus Josa (Anyphaenidae). Our micro‐computed tomography data of cryofixed mating pairs show that the primary locking occurs through elements of the copulatory organ itself and that the femoral apophysis does not contact the female genitalia, but hooks to a projection of the copulatory bulb, representing a newly documented self‐bracing mechanism for entelegyne spiders. Additionally, we show that the femoral self‐bracing apophysis is rather uniform within the genus Josa. This is in contrast to the male genital structures that interact with the female, indicating that the male genital structures of Josa are subject to different selective regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Armatures of the male intromittent copulatory structures have been surmised to increase male fitness by imposing physiological costs on female re-mating. Female kicking could, consequently, be a counterstrategy to avoid wounding or to prevent males from mating. The membranous endophallus of male Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say, 1831) is armed with denticles. Checking if these denticles penetrate the wall of the female genital tract during copulation revealed that only the tip of the median lobe of the aedeagus is intromitted into the female genital opening during copulation. The everted endophallus extends over the full length of the ovipositor, and the spermatophore is placed in the bursa. Identification by means of light microscopy and Micro-CT of the exact relative position of male and female copulatory organs while mated confirmed that the denticles do not cause wounds in the vagina wall. Parts of the inner wall of the bursa copulatrix are covered with inward pointing denticles. Already mated females kick mounting males by vehement movements of their hind legs, thereby preventing mating. In contrast, virgin females usually accept the first male they encounter and terminate copulation by slower movements of their hind legs. The same applied to females who accepted re-mating the second day after the first copulation. Acanthoscelides obtectus females kick males off to prevent rather than to terminate copulation. Copulatory structures as well as behaviour may have different functional roles in different beetle species, even within the Bruchinae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the various kinds of adjustment methods to improve the material properties of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC), equivalent mortar volume (EMV) method is widely considered as economic and effective. This is mainly because that only an extra content of natural aggregates (NAs) is needed to be added in the mixture during fabricating RAC. To objectively evaluate the method, this study conducted a series of discrete element mesoscale simulations to illustrate and compare the mechanical behaviors and failure mechanisms for conventional and EMV methods designed RAC samples under uniaxial loadings. Particularly, the influences of the replacement ratio of RAs, the mixture's water-to-cement ratio and the spatial location of coarse aggregates on the two RACs' strength and deformation characteristics were analyzed. Additionally, generic expressions used for estimating the mechanical properties of conventional and EMV methods cast RAC samples were also tried to be established in the article. It was found by this study that: (a) As the replacement ratio grows, both the conventional RAC's compressive strength and elastic modulus reduce monotonously, however, the tensile strength's variation trend is highly dependent on the relative strength of new-to-old mortar; (b) Regardless of the RAC's water-to-cement ratio, an EMV design method can always improve the elastic modulus of RAC effectively; (c) When the new mortar strength is lower than that of old mortar, adopting an EMV mix-design method notably improves the RAC's tensile and compressive strengths, however, if the old mortar strength is obviously smaller, the EMV method's enhancement to the concrete's strength is limited; (d) Variabilities for compressive and tensile strengths of EMV method designed RAC samples are commonly higher than those of conventional RAC samples; and (e) Uniaxial mechanical property of RAC sample cast either using a conventional or EMV method can both be predicted with a same formulas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of transarterial embolization (TAE) with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles alone and lipiodol–bleomycin emulsion (LBE) plus PVA particles for patients with unresectable large symptomatic focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH). Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent TAE either with PVA particles alone (group A, n = 46) or LBE plus PVA particles (group B, n = 35) for large (≥ 7 cm) symptomatic FNH between January 2002 and February 2019. Propensity score matching (PSM) (1:1) was performed to adjust for potential baseline confounders. Technical success, adverse events (AEs), symptom relief, and changes in the lesion size after TAE were evaluated. Statistical analysis included Wilcoxon rank sum test and χ2 test. Results: After PSM, no significant differences in baseline characteristics were found between the groups (31 in group A and 31 in group B, with a mean age of 31 years). Technical success was achieved in all patients (100%), without major AEs in both groups. Complete resolution of the abdominal symptoms was reported in 77.4% in group A and 100% in group B (p = 0.037) during a mean follow-up period of 72 months; complete resolution (CR) of the FNH rate was significantly higher in group B than in group A (93.6% vs. 67.7%; p = 0.019). Conclusion: Compared with the use PVA particles alone, TAE with LBE plus PVA particles in the treatment of patients with large symptomatic FNH had a significantly higher rates of CR of the FNH and complete relief of the symptoms. Key Points: • Transarterial embolization (TAE) with lipiodol-bleomycin emulsion (LBE) plus PVA particles for the large symptomatic FNH yielded better results than with PVA particles alone, in terms of complete resolution of FNH lesions (93.6% vs 67.7%) and complete relief of the abdominal symptoms (100% vs 77.4%) during a mean follow-up period of 72 months (38–170 months). • No major complications were recorded in both groups, and no significant difference in the incidence of postembolization syndrome were observed between the two groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual selection has been shown to drive speciation. In dwarf spiders (erigonines), males possess diverse, sexually selected prosomal structures with nuptial-gift-producing glands. The genus Oedothorax is suitable for investigating the evolution of these features due to high structural variation. We have re-delimited this genus based on a phylogenetic analysis. Ten species are Oedothorax s.s. ; five are transferred back to their original generic placement; 25 remain unplaced as ' Oedothorax '. Four junior synonymies are proposed: Callitrichia simplex to Ca. holmi comb. nov.; Gongylidioides kougianensis to G. insulanus comb. nov.; Ummeliata ziaowutai to U. esyunini comb. nov.; Oe. kathmandu to Mitrager unicolor comb. nov. Oedothorax seminolus is a junior synonym of Soulgas corticarius and the transfer of Oe. alascensis to Halorates is confirmed. The replacement name Ca. hirsuta is proposed for Ca. pilosa. The male of Callitrichia longiducta comb. nov. and the female of ' Oedothorax ' nazareti are newly described. Thirty-eight Oedothorax species are transferred to other genera. Callitrichia spinosa is transferred to Holmelgonia. Three genera are erected: Cornitibia , Emertongone and Jilinus. Ophrynia and Toschia are synonymized with Callitrichia. Character optimization suggests multiple origins of different prosomal modification types. Convergent evolution in these traits suggests that sexual selection has played an important role in erigonine diversification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sexual selection has been considered to promote diversification and speciation. Sexually dimorphic species have been used to explore the supposed effect, however, with mixed results. In dwarf spiders (Erigoninae), many species are sexually dimorphic—males possess marked prosomal modifications. These male traits vary from moderate elevations to bizarre shapes in various prosomal regions. Previous studies established that male dwarf spiders produce substances in these prosomal modifications that are taken up by the females. These substances can act as nuptial gifts, which increase the mating probability of males and the oviposition rate in females. Therefore, these dimorphic traits have evolved in the context of sexual selection. Here, we explore the evolutionary lability of this gustatory trait complex with the aim of assessing the role of this trait complex in species divergence by investigating (1) if erigonine modified prosomata are inherently linked to nuptial-gift-producing glands, (2) if the evolution of the glands evolution preceded that of the modified prosomal shapes, and by assessing (3) the occurrence of convergent/divergent evolution and cryptic differentiation. Results: We reconstructed the position and extent of the glandular tissue along with the muscular anatomy in the anterior part of the prosoma of 76 erigonine spiders and three outgroup species using X-ray micro-computed tomography. In all but one case, modified prosomata are associated with gustatory glands. We incorporated the location of glands and muscles into an existing matrix of somatic and genitalic morphological traits of these taxa and reanalyzed their phylogenetic relationship. Our analysis supports that the possession of glandular equipment is the ancestral state and that the manifold modifications of the prosomal shape have evolved convergently multiple times. We found differences in gland position between species with both modified and unmodified prosomata, and reported on seven cases of gland loss. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the occurrence of gustatory glands in sexually monomorphic ancestors has set the stage for the evolution of diverse dimorphic external modifications in dwarf spiders. Differences among congeners suggest that the gland position is highly susceptible to evolutionary changes. The multiple incidences might reflect costs of glandular tissue maintenance and nuptial feeding. Our results indicate divergent evolutionary patterns of gustatory-courtship-related traits, and thus a likely facilitating effect of sexual selection on speciation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most Taiwan law scholars claimed that the Constitutional Court paved the way for Taiwan's democratization and constitutional reforms. These legal studies consider the J.Y. Interpretation No. 261 as the most critical decision in Taiwan's democratic transition as this decision provided the constitutional foundations for the retirement of the first-term national representatives and led to subsequent constitutional reforms. In this paper, we challenge this dominant view. We reexamine the political role of the Constitutional Court during the processes of Taiwanese democratization by citing J.Y. Interpretation No. 261 as a hard case. We argue that the Constitutional Court made little contribution to Taiwan's democratization. This paper shows that the role of Taiwan's Constitutional Court in the process of democratization has been far more complicated and far less promising than is commonly thought. We also argue that J.Y. Interpretation No. 261 provides at least three political functions for the dominant party: first, it solved a political dilemma for the political elites; second, it helped the political elites to remove the political outliners. Third, it legitimated the ruling party's political agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the role of baicalein in phenotypic transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells induced by high glucose. Methods: Rat vascular smooth muscle cell experiments were divided into control group, baicalein group, high glucose group, high glucose plus baicalein group, real time quantitative PCR were used for mRNA analysis of -SMA, SM22- and OPN, Western blot were used for protein analysis of 毩-SMA, SM22-毩 and OPN. Results: Comparing the high glucose group and the high glucose plus baicalein group, the level of 毩-SMA mRNA in high glucose group was 0.419 ± 0.090, the level of 毩-SMA mRNA in high glucose plus baicalein group was 0.699 ± 0.079, the latter was 66.8% higher than the former. The level of 毩-SMA protein in high glucose group was 0.213 ± 0.034, the level of 毩-SMA protein in high glucose plus baicalein group was 0.393 ± 0.062, the latter was 84.5% higher than the former. Baicalein could significantly inhibit the down-regulation of 毩-SMA gene expression induced by high glucose (P <0.05). Comparing the high glucose group and the high glucose plus baicalein group, the level of SM22- mRNA in high glucose group was 0.369 ± 0.063, the level of SM22-毩 mRNA in high glucose plus baicalein group was 0.583 ± 0.049, the latter was 58.0% higher than the former. The level of SM22-毩 protein in high glucose group was 0.343 ± 0.047, the level of SM22- protein in high glucose plus baicalein group was 0.486 ± 0.051, the latter was 41.7% higher than the former. Baicalein could significantly inhibit the down-regulation of SM22-毩 gene expression induced by high glucose (P <0.05). Comparing the high glucose group and the high glucose plus baicalein group, the level of OPN mRNA in high glucose group was 2.023 ± 0.281, the level of OPN mRNA in high glucose plus baicalein group was 1.511 ± 0.091, the latter was 25.3% lower than the former. The level of OPN protein in high glucose group was 1.063 ± 0.132, the level of OPN protein in high glucose plus baicalein group was 0.761 ± 0.089, the latter was 28.4% lower than the former. Baicalein could significantly inhibit the up-regulation of OPN gene expression induced by high glucose (P <0.05). Conclusion: Baicalein can significantly inhibit the high glucose-induced phenotypic transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells from contractile phenotype to synthetic phenotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dwarf spiders are of special interest due to their sexually dimorphic prosomal structures in males. Glandular secretions within these structures serve as nuptial gifts, and thus sexual selection may have contributed to their high species richness. However, species diversity of dwarf spiders in East Asia is yet understudied. Here, we review the erigonine genus Shaanxinus Tanasevitch, 2006, and describe 13 new species from Taiwan: S. magniclypeus sp. n. (♂♀), S. shihchoensis sp. n. (♂♀), S. shoukaensis sp. n. (♂♀), S. hirticephalus sp. n. (♂♀), S. mingchihensis sp. n. (♂♀), S. makauyensis sp. n. (♂♀), S. lixiangae sp. n. (♂♀), S. curviductus sp. n. (♂♀), S. tsou sp. n. (♂♀), S. hehuanensis sp. n. (♂♀), S. seediq sp. n. (♂♀), S. meifengensis sp. n. (♂♀), and S. atayal sp. n. (♂♀). In addition, one new species from Vietnam, S. tamdaoensis sp. n. (♂), is described from museum material. We reconstructed the dimension of glandular tissues associated with male prosoma modifications in Shaanxinus, as well as the detailed palpal structure by micro-computer tomography. Placement within Shaanxinus and intrageneric relationships were inferred by means of a cladistic analysis based on morphological characters. Sequences of COI, 16S, and 28S genetic markers corroborated the monophyly of some species, as well as male-female matching. Poly-/paraphyly of morphologically delimitated species in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) trees led to the discovery of two seemingly identical species, for which diagnostic morphological features could then be further identified. We discuss incomplete lineage sorting and introgression as possible causes of mtDNA poly-/paraphyly in morphologically indistinguishable specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a new dc-side active filter for wind generators that combines 12-pulse polygon auto-transformer rectifier with dc-side current injection method and dual-buck full-bridge inverter having not the "shoot-through" problem in conventional bridge-type inverters, and therefore this system with the character low harmonic distortion and high reliability. The proposed dc-side active filter is realized by using dual-buck full bridge converter, which directly injects compensation current at dc-side of two six-pulse diode bridges rectifiers. Compared with the conventional three-phase active power filter at ac-side, the system with the dc-side active filter draws nearly sinusoidal current by shaping the diode bridges output current to be triangular without using the instantaneous reactive power compensation technology, only using simple hysteretic current control, even though under load variation and unbalanced voltage disturbances, and while an acceptable linear approximation to the accurate waveform of injection current is recommended. The performance of the system was simulated using MATLAB/Simulink, and the possibility of the dc-side active filter eliminating current harmonics was confirmed in steady and transient states. The simulation results indicate, the system has a total harmonic distortion of current reduced closely to 1%, and a high power factor on the wind generator side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The objective of this study is to evaluate a novel simplified technique of thoracoscopic repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) in infants. Methods A retrospective review of the new simplified technique in 12 CDH patients admitted between March 2013 and March 2015 was performed. A needle with nonabsorbable 2–0 sutures threaded in the lumen was used to approximate edges of the hernia defect. Results A total of 12 infants with CDH underwent the repair successfully using this new technique. There were 7 boys and 5 girls with a median age of 104.7 days (range, 1 days–17 months). The mean operative time was 65 minutes (range, 35–125 minutes). No conversion or synthetic patch was required. The patients were followed up for 6 to 30 months (mean, 17.5 ± 8.5 months). There was no mortality and no recurrence. Conclusion The new modified technique of thoracoscopic diaphragmatic hernia repair reduces the difficulty of intracorporal suturing under tension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background This study aims to explore the morbidity and risk factors of delayed gastric emptying ( DGE) following pancreaticoduodenectomy. Methods Between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2013, data from 196 consecutive patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy in the Chinese PLA General Hospital were recorded retrospectively. A total of 17 factors were examined with univariate analysis, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to estimate relative risks. Results DGE occurred in 71 patients (36.2%). The incidence rates of grade A, grade B and grade C DGE were 22.4% (44/196), 6.1% (12/196) and 7.7% (15/196), respectively. There were three post-operative deaths for the entire series, with an overall mortality rate of 1.5%. Braun enteroenterostomy, clinically relevant post-operative pancreatic fistula ( CR- POPF) and intra-abdominal collection correlated with DGE rates significantly in univariate analysis, whereas CR- POPF and intra-abdominal collection were independent risk factors in multivariate logistic regression analysis. Body mass index ≥25 kg/m2, CR- POPF and intra-abdominal collection correlated with clinically relevant DGE rates significantly and were independent risk factors in univariate analysis and multivariate regression. Conclusion Only post-operative complications instead of operative methods were associated with DGE. Early diagnosis and timely treatment for pancreatic fistula and intra-abdominal collection were helpful to decrease morbidity and promote recovery of DGE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of a new segmental hepatectomy (SH) approach using intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) guided infusion of a reversible thermosensitive gel into the portal vein branch in pigs; Materials and Methods: Poloxamer 407 aqueous solution (20%, W/V) was mixed with indocyanine green (P407-ICG) in this study to make it green, and it remained liquid at room temperature and turned into a firm gel upon reaching body temperature. In experiment I, six pigs were used to detect the outcome of infusing the mixture into the biliary tract, liver parenchyma, and hepatic vein for a safety study. In experiment II, another 12 pigs were randomly segmented into two groups [SH group and partial hepatectomy (PH) group] to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of the new approach using IOUS-guided infusion of the mixture into the portal branch; Results: No thermosensitive gel-induced abnormal changes were observed in the safety study. In the SH group, IOUS-guided infusion of the P407-ICG solution was effective in occluding the portal blood temporarily and demarcating the target liver segment to achieve precise SH. The blood loss in the SH group was significantly less than that of the PH group; Conclusions: SH assisted by IOUS-guided infusion of the reversible thermosensitive gel into the feeding portal vein branches is feasible, safe, simple, and effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triangular grid reinforced by carbon fiber/epoxy (CF/EP) was designed and manufactured. The sandwich structure was prepared by gluing the core and composite skins. The mechanical properties of the sandwich structure were investigated by the finite element analysis (FEA) and three-point bending methods. The calculated bending stiffness and core shear stress were compared to the characteristics of a honeycomb sandwich structure. The results indicated that the triangular core ultimately failed under a bending load of 11000 N; the principal stress concentration was located at the loading region; and the cracks occurred on the interface top skin and triangular core. In addition, the ultimate stress bearing of the sandwich structure was 8828 N. The experimental results showed that the carbon fiber reinforced triangular grid was much stiffer and stronger than the honeycomb structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previously known as a first-response protein upon viral infection and other stress signals, double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR, also termed EIF2AK2) has been found to be differentially expressed in multiple types of tumor, including hepatocellular carcinoma, suggesting that PKR may be involved in tumor initiation and development. However, whether and how PKR promotes or suppresses the development of hepatocellular carcinoma remains controversial. In the present study, PKR expression was investigated using qPCR and western blot analysis, which revealed that PKR expression was upregulated in liver tumor tissues, when compared to that of adjacent normal tissues, which were obtained from four primary liver cancer patients. Furthermore, in vitro cellular assays revealed that PKR exerts a key role in maintaining the proliferation and migration of HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Mouse models with xenograft transplantations also confirmed a tumorigenic role of PKR in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, a transcription factor, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), was revealed to mediate the tumor-promoting function of PKR in HepG2 cells, as shown by in vitro cellular proliferation and migration assays. In conclusion, the results suggested a tumorigenic role of PKR in liver cancer and a detailed mechanism involving an oncogenic transcription factor, STAT3, is described. Therefore, PKR may present a potential novel therapeutic target for the treatment of liver cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the constant development of China's economy, rural financial management information gradually plays a major role in China's economic development. This paper mainly studied related management information of accounting information system and main characteristics of rural management. On the basis of analysis, it came up with pertinent recommendations, including improving software for financial information-ization, improving the quality of rural financial personnel, strengthening government support for rural financial management informationization , and enhancing popularization of accounting computerized software. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study explored the effects of intensive insulin therapy (IIT) combined with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) anticoagulant therapy on severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). A total of 134 patients with SAP that received treatment between June 2008 and June 2012 were divided randomly into groups A (control; n=33), B (IIT; n=33), C (LMWH; n=34) and D (IIT + LMWH; n=34). Group A were treated routinely. Group B received continuous pumped insulin, as well as the routine treatment, to maintain the blood sugar level between 4.4 and 6.1 mmol/l. Group C received a subcutaneous injection of LMWH every 12 h in addition to the routine treatment. Group D received IIT + LMWH and the routine treatment. The white blood cell count, hemodiastase, serum albumin, arterial partial pressure of oxygen and prothrombin time were recorded prior to treatment and 1, 3, 5, 7 and 14 days after the initiation of treatment. The intestinal function recovery time, incidence rate of multiple organ failure (MOF), length of hospitalization and fatality rates were observed. IIT + LMWH noticeably increased the white blood cell count, hemodiastase level, serum albumin level and the arterial partial pressure of oxygen in the patients with SAP (P<0.05). It markedly shortened the intestinal recovery time and the length of stay and reduced the incidence rate of MOF, the surgery rate and the fatality rate (P<0.05). It did not aggravate the hemorrhagic tendency of SAP (P>0.05). IIT + LMWH had a noticeably improved clinical curative effect on SAP compared with that of the other treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In teleosts such as Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.), segmentation and subsequent mineralisation of the notochord during embryonic stages are essential for normal vertebrae formation. However, the molecular mechanisms leading to segmentation and mineralisation of the notochord are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to identify genes/pathways acting in gradients over time and along the anterior-posterior axis during notochord segmentation and immediately prior to mineralisation of the vertebral bodies in Atlantic salmon. Results Notochord samples were collected from unsegmented, pre-segmented and segmented developmental stages. In each stage, the cellular core of the notochord was cut into three pieces along the longitudinal axis (anterior, mid, posterior). RNA was sequenced (22 million pair-end 100 bp/ library) and mapped to the salmon genome. 66569 transcripts were predicted and 55775 were annotated. In order to identify possible gradients leading to segmentation of the notochord, all 71 notochord-expressed hox genes were investigated, most of them displaying a typical anterior-posterior expression pattern along the notochord axis. The clustering of hox genes revealed a pattern that could be related to notochord segmentation. We further investigated how mineralisation is initiated in the notochord, and several factors related to chondrogenic lineage were identified (sox9, sox5, sox6, tgfb3, ihhb and col2a1), suggesting a cartilage-like character of the notochord. KEGG analysis of differentially expressed genes between stages revealed down-regulation of pathways associated with ECM, cell division, metabolism and development at onset of notochord segmentation. This implies that inhibitory signals produce segmentation of the notochord. One such potential inhibitory signal was identified, col11a2, which was detected in segments of non-mineralising notochord. Conclusions An incomplete salmon genome was successfully used to analyse RNA-seq data from the cellular core of the Atlantic salmon notochord. In transcriptome we found; hox gene patterns possibly linked to segmentation; down-regulation of pathways in the notochord at onset of segmentation; segmented expression of col11a2 in non-mineralised segments of the notochord; and a chondroblast-like footprint in the notochord. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tiger beetle larvae excavate and live in underground burrows, whose openings they sometimes plug with soil. This study documents the burrow plugging behavior of the tiger beetle, Cosmodela batesi (Fleutiaux), in the field. We also tested the function of burrow plugs in the laboratory. In the field, C. batesi more frequently made a plug when it rained. Most larvae made plugs inside their burrows (rather than at the soil surface), and the use of an endoscope was necessary to detect these sub-surface plugs. In the laboratory, flooding was simulated by artificially introducing water into specially-made arenas. Water filled the entire burrow when there was no plug, whereas plugged burrows maintained air chambers inside. When a plug was broken with a wire, burrows filled up with water. The burrowing and plugging behavior described in this study is likely an important adaptation of C. batesi to its habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fe–ferrite composite nanotubes were successfully prepared by thermal hydrogen reduction of α-FeOOH nanowires. The nanotubes have diameters of about 100 nm and lengths of tens of micrometres. The formation mechanism of Fe–ferrite composite nanotubes is discussed, and the non-equilibrium diffusion between hydrogen and oxygen was found to be responsible for the formation of the hollow interior structure. Because of the high shape anisotropy of the 1-D shape, the coercivity of composite nanotubes was higher than that of reported granular Fe–ferrite composite nanoparticles. Since the eddy current is effectively suppressed by the thin wall characteristic of nanotubes, the composite nanotubes exhibit higher permeability than that of the reported ferromagnetic metal nanowires. Due to the better impedance matching and higher dissipation efficiency, a superior microwave absorption performance was obtained in Fe–ferrite composite nanotubes, in which the maximum reflection loss is −18 dB and the effective absorption band (<−10 dB) covers the entire frequency band of 12.5–17.5 GHz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3D model retrieval plays an important role in product design reuse. We present a local scale-based model retrieval methodology for 3D mechanical parts library. On the grounds that most of the mechanical parts have visible main planes, we firstly propose a novel approach, i.e., the plane comparison-based pose normalization. This approach was employed complementally with principal component analysis (PCA for short) on the normals of the model's face to perform rotation invariance. After pose normalization, the model is scaled locally along a certain axis so that the size of its local features can be adjusted reasonably. In this way, the feature vectors of the scaled model can represent all the local features. The feature vectors of the deformed model are extracted by the real spherical harmonics. Finally, the feature vectors and the scale factors are used in an experiment for similarity comparison. Experimental results showed that the proposed method outperformed five other methods on the National Design Repository dataset and our own complex mechanical parts dataset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study regarding the solution quality and computational efficiency in satellite module layout design problem (SMLDP), a single objective optimization problem. The study used a cooperative co-evolutionary scatter search (CCSS), a meta-heuristic approach, and divide-conquer-coordination strategy in decomposing SMLDP. Results showed that CCSS application to SMLDP can achieve satisfying quality solutions and computational efficiency.

The design reuse of products is vital for mass customization. In small- and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises (SMMEs), employing design reuse is a challenging issue because of the limited level and scale of these enterprises. Previous studies have not considered this issue and have attempted to rebuild a complete novel system. In this study, we propose a design reuse approach based on an engineering semantic web (ESW) and implement a design reuse system. This system does not rebuild the current parts library in SMMEs. In our approach, we construct an ESW and a mapping relation to introduce engineering semantic information into the existing parts library. In addition, we employ ant colony optimization (ACO) for the retrieval of design information. A design reuse prototype system is implemented for solving the problem of design reuse in SMMEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the Ne-like Cr x-ray laser at 28.6nm by using a modified 1D lagrangian hydrodynamic code MED103 coupled with an atomic physics data package and a 2D ray tracing code as a post-processor. The laser pumping configuration includes two prepulses and one main pulse. The first prepulse normally irradiates the target, while the second prepulse and the main pulse irradiate the target at grazing-incident angles. We predict that saturation can be achieved for the Ne-like Cr x-ray lasers with a total pumping energy of 125mJ. Good beam qualities with no deflecting angle and a small divergence angle of 5mrad are observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many years, studies of electoral clientelism regarded clients as the captive votes of patrons. In recent years, this conventional wisdom has come under challenge, as scholars have come to recognize the widespread noncompliance of clients. This article uses the case of the 1993 Taiwan election to offer the first ever systematic data on noncompliance. Documents from the ruling Kuomintang (Nationalist Party) campaign office in one Taiwanese district, combined with district electoral results, demonstrate considerable leakage in this instance of clientelistic mobilization: at least 45 percent of voters who sold their votes to the Kuomintang did not, in fact, vote for the Kuomintang's candidate. This article argues that clientelistic mobilization faced at least four serious obstacles, including (1) broker scarcity, (2) factionalism, (3) embezzlement, and (4) financial limitations. These obstacles prevented the Kuomintang from making full use of its broker organizations, even as it devoted extensive economic and political resources and personnel to the election. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Having first defined the helical angle as the angle between the cutting edge and the axis of rotation of the cutter, this paper then presents design models for producing the cutting edge and groove of a ball-end cutter with concave-arc generator. The relative feed speeds of the grinding wheel in the radial and axial directions during NC machining of the cutter are derived based upon a given speed of rotation. The feed speed of the grinding wheel in the radial direction is modified according to the cross section of the groove that passes through the center of the cutter sphere. The paper presents a method for manufacturing a concave-arc ball-end (CABE) cutter using a 2-axis NC machine. The models that are used to calculate the actual obtained groove and the computer simulation method are also included. To further enhance the accuracy of the mathematical models, a compensatory machining process that eliminates residual profile on the revolving surface is presented. This paper provides a valuable reference for the design and machining of this cutter type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rapid and efficient synthesis of substituted phthalates via microwave-promoted Beller's reaction of aldehydes, amides, and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate is described. This one-pot, multicomponent reaction was performed under acetic anhydride–free and solvent-free conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents models for defining the minimum circumscribed cylinder (MCC) of the cutter shank, the minimum circumscribed circular-arc-type revolving surface (MCCRS) and the minimum circumscribed corner arc revolving surface (MCCARS) with a spiral groove. A systematic modeling procedure is presented for the assessment of the contour quality of the circular-arc end milling (CAEM) cutters with a cylindrical shank. The axis of the MCC of the cylindrical shank of a revolving cutter with a circular-arc generator curve and a corner radius is taken as the datum line. The profile tolerances and errors are estimated. The presented models are all illustrated and verified by example. This approach can be generalized to a cutter with more than two circular arcs in its shape profile. The paper provides a valuable reference for the evaluation of the actual contour quality of this type of revolving cutter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a case of papillary carcinoma of the duodenum combined with right renal carcinoma. A 58-year-old man underwent a physical examination that revealed intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile duct dilatation on B ultrasound. Intrahepatic bile duct dilatation could be seen on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but the head of the pancreas and distal bile duct showed no tumor signals, which led to a diagnosis of periampullary carcinoma and right renal carcinoma. Considering the trauma of pancreaticoduodenectomy combined with renal resection operation is greater, we carried out the laparoscopic right renal radical resection first, and then a pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed. However, postoperative intra-abdominal infections and bleeding occurred; our patient improved after vascular interventional microcoil embolization for the treatment of hemostasis. The second operation for celiac necrotic tissue elimination, jejunal fistulization and peritoneal lavage and drainage was performed 14 days latter. Our patient improved gradually and was discharged on the 58th postoperative day. There has been no tumor recurrence after a follow-up of 26 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ion-implantation layers are fabricated by multiple nitrogen ion-implantations (3 times for sample A and 4 times for sample B) into a p-type 4H-SiC epitaxial layer. The implantation depth profiles are calculated by using the Monte Carlo simulator TRIM. The fabrication process and the I-V and C-V characteristics of the lateral Ti/4H-SiC Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) fabricated on these multiple box-like ion-implantation layers are presented in detail. Measurements of the reverse I-V characteristics demonstrate a low reverse current, which is good enough for many SiC-based devices such as SiC metal-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MESFETs), and SiC static induction transistors (SITs). The parameters of the diodes are extracted from the forward I-V and C-V characteristics. The values of ideality factor n of SBDs for samples A and B are 3.0 and 3.5 respectively, and the values of series resistance Rs are 11.9 and 1.0 kO respectively. The values of barrier height phB of Ti/4H-SiC are 0.95 and 0.72 eV obtained by the I-V method and 1.14 and 0.93 eV obtained by the C-V method for samples A and B respectively. The activation rates for the implanted nitrogen ions of samples A and B are 2% and 4% respectively extracted from C-V testing results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ohmic contacts of 4H-SiC are fabricated on nitrogen ion implanted layers made by performing box-like-profile implantation three and four times. Implantation parameters such as the standard deviation s and the projection range Rp are calculated by the Monte Carlo simulator TRIM. Ni/Cr ohmic contacts on Si-face 4H-SiC implantation layers are measured by transfer length methods (TLMs). The results show that the values of sheet resistance Rsh are 30 kO/# and 4.9 kO/D and the values of specific contact resistance rc of ohmic contacts are 7.1 x 10[?]4 O * cm2 and 9.5 x 10[?]5 O * cm2 for the implanted layers with implantation performed three and four times respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emission lines of B, C, O and Fe in tokamak plasma are reported. The spectra are compared with those calculated by the CHIANTI code, which is based on the collisional-radiative models with a large amount of accurate atomic data. General agreement is obtained between the results of experiment and computation. Most of the lines in the spectra are identified, and the relative number density ratios of B, C, O and Fe are determined. It is found that the processes of line formation in our experiment are similar to those in the stellar coronae. The line-averaged electron density of the tokamak plasma is measured by the HCN laser, indicating a good agreement with the theoretical prediction by the density-dependent line ratio of Fe XXI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]