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Brain-teleoperation robot control ensures that human beings interact with telepresence mobile systems through the brain neural signals. In this study, a hierarchical robust predictive control framework consisting of a two-loop control scheme is developed to simultaneously enhance the safety, navigation, and robustness performance of electroencephalography (EEG)-based robotic systems and minimize the loss of control by the end-user. The outer loop is a model-based predictive controller to guarantee the optimal velocity evolution under various constraints. The inner loop is the integral sliding mode controller constructed by a novel integral sliding manifold and enables the velocity tracking properties under uncertainty compensation. Human-in-the-loop driving experiments are performed under different disturbances, and the results show that the proposed system offers advantages of safety, enhanced navigation performance, and stronger robustness over those conventional direct control of EEG-based robots. Therefore, brain-robot teleoperation is improved in terms of robust motion control and velocity modulation, providing insights into similar brain-controlled dynamic systems.

Since the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics was the first Winter Olympics in history held in continental winter monsoon climate conditions across complex terrain areas, there is a deficiency of relevant research, operational techniques, and experience. This made providing meteorological services for this event particularly challenging. The China Meteorological Administration (CMA) Earth System Modeling and Prediction Centre, achieved breakthroughs in research on short- and medium-term deterministic and ensemble numerical predictions. Several key technologies crucial for precise winter weather services during the Winter Olympics were developed. A comprehensive framework, known as the Operational System for High-Precision Weather Forecasting for the Winter Olympics, was established. Some of these advancements represent the highest level of capabilities currently available in China. The meteorological service provided to the Beijing 2022 Games also exceeded previous Winter Olympic Games in both variety and quality. This included achievements such as the “100-meter level, minute level” downscaled spatiotemporal resolution and forecasts spanning 1 to 15 days. Around 30 new technologies and over 60 kinds of products that align with the requirements of the Winter Olympics Organizing Committee were developed, and many of these techniques have since been integrated into the CMA’s operational national forecasting systems.

Data glove-based dynamic gestures contain rich human motion intentions, which are reliant on the hand–body information that comes from multiindividual sensors attached. However, present gesture recognition with such wearable sensor devices tends to depend heavily on handcrafted features and ignore the critical channel and interfeature information. To address this problem, a novel convolutional-transformer-based recognition architecture termed the spatial–temporal feature-attention transformer network (STFTnet) is proposed in this study. Specifically, the acquired data from multiple sensors of the data glove are sequentially processed with a spatial–temporal sensor features embedding branch, a transformer encoder block, and the final gesture classifier. A multisensor feature attention (MFA) block and an improved depth-separable convolution block of the first branch are developed to effectively extract low-level spatial and local temporal features, while the multihead self-attention-based transformer block further concentrates on capturing the global context information. The gesture classifier is used to achieve the final classification successfully. To evaluate the efficacy of the proposed approach, extensive experiments are conducted on two publicly available datasets of pelvic closed reduction action dataset and the UC2017 Hand Gesture (HG) Dataset, and one self-built gesture control command dataset. Compared to the other state-of-the-art deep learning (DL)-based algorithms, an average accuracy of 95.75%, 100%, 99.72% and recognition time of 10.71, 11.92, and 11.24 ms has been achieved. These results indicate that the proposed network effectively enhances the recognition performance of the dynamic gesture of data gloves, while fulfilling requirements of the further real-time application.

Development of effective methods for analyzing hypochlorite is of great significance due to the crucial role of hypochlorite in live organisms, as an endogenously produced reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the human immune system. In this paper, a novel fluorescent probe based on 6-methylthiocoumarinyl formate was designed and synthesized in one step for detection of hypochlorite in MeCN/PBS (8:2, v/v, pH 7.4) medium. The probe showed high specificity for hypochlorite over other competitive ROS analytes, extreme large Stokes shift of 265 nm, rapid response to hypochlorite within 20 s, low detection limit of 1.57 μM, and a wide applicable range of pH 3–10. The sensing mechanism was demonstrated to be based on oxidation of methyl phenyl sulfide to sulfoxide by hypochlorite. The probe may have extensive application for selective and convenient detection of hypochlorite due to its multiple advantages.

A fluorescent probe (probe C) based on coumarin-thiourea conjugate was developed for selective detection of Hg2+. Addition of Hg2+to probe C induced obvious enhancement of the fluorescence intensity. Probe C exhibited good selectivity toward Hg2+and good anti-interference performance over other common competitive metal ions including Na+, K+, Ag+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Mn2+, Mg2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Ca2+and Al3+. The detection limit of probe C for Hg2+was calculated to be 0.44 nM. It was capable of detecting Hg2+ion in a wide pH range of 1.0–10.0.

Data glove is one of the devices that can express human intention via detecting hand motion with high precision. In recent years, flourished applications have been driven by data gloves from human–machine interaction (HMI) to biomedical sciences. To understand the latest research status and grasp the development direction, this study provides a systematic overview of the state-of-the-art for data gloves. Specifically, we take the research topics of hardware design, algorithms for gesture recognition, and the application areas as the entry point. The detailed elaboration of key algorithms techniques, from data processing to classification, for hand gesture (HG) recognition is made and quantitative analysis of the recent research achievements is summarized. We found that hand motion detection with data gloves is mostly employed for gesture recognition, and the majority of studies are focused on the performance validation of gesture recognition, in particular for static gestures. A systematic illustration of the current research challenges as well as the future directions of related data gloves are finally discussed.

Cellular senescence is a key mechanism of age-related vascular endothelial dysfunction. Interleukin-17A (IL-17A) is an inflammatory cytokine produced by Th17 cells (a subgroup of helper T cells), which is a key factor in the development of atherosclerosis. However, the effect of IL-17A on the senescence of vascular endothelial cells is still unclear. In this study, we aimed to explore the role of IL-17A on endothelial cell senescence and its signaling pathways associated with senescence. The proportion of Th17 cells in the spleen and the expression levels of IL-17A, IL-6, and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in mice of different ages were increased with aging. In vitro experiments showed that proliferation was inhibited, senescent β-galactosidase and senescence-associated proteins (p16, p19, p21, and p53) of mouse aortic endothelial cells (MAECs) were increased with IL-17A treatment. Blocking the NF-κB pathway with ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (PDTC) successfully inhibited IL-17A-induced expression of senescence-associated proteins. In conclusion, our data reveal a previously unsuspected link between IL-17A and endothelial cell senescence, which was mediated by the NF-κB /p53/Rb pathway.

Cellular senescence is a key mechanism of age-related vascular endothelial dysfunction. Interleukin-17A (IL-17A) is an inflammatory cytokine produced by Th17 cells (a subgroup of helper T cells), which is a key factor in the development of atherosclerosis. However, the effect of IL-17A on the senescence of vascular endothelial cells is still unclear. In this study, we aimed to explore the role of IL-17A on endothelial cell senescence and its signaling pathways associated with senescence. The proportion of Th17 cells in the spleen and the expression levels of IL-17A, IL-6, and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in mice of different ages were increased with aging. In vitro experiments showed that proliferation was inhibited, senescent β-galactosidase and senescence-associated proteins (p16, p19, p21, and p53) of mouse aortic endothelial cells (MAECs) were increased with IL-17A treatment. Blocking the NF-κB pathway with ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (PDTC) successfully inhibited IL-17A-induced expression of senescence-associated proteins. In conclusion, our data reveal a previously unsuspected link between IL-17A and endothelial cell senescence, which was mediated by the NF-κB /p53/Rb pathway.

ABSTRACTMALAT1 is associated with dendritic cells (DCs) maturation in Atherosclerosis (AS). This article aims to demystify the role of MALAT1 in AS. We separated immature DCs (iDCs) from healthy volunteers or ApoE-/- mice. And iDCs were treated with oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) to induce DCs maturation. We found that ox-LDL promoted the levels of DCs maturation markers including CD83, CD86, IL-12 and IL-6. MALAT1 and NFIA were down-regulated, whereas miR-155-5p was up-regulated in the ox-LDL-treated iDCs. Furthermore, DCs maturation was notably suppressed by MALAT1 overexpression, NFIA overexpression or miR-155-5p knockdown. Moreover, MALAT1 functioned as a competing endogenous RNA to repress miR-155-5p, which controlled its down-stream target, NFIA. In addition, MALAT1 overexpression inhibited ox-LDL-stimulated DCs maturation by regulating miR-155-5p/NFIA axis. In AS mice, MALAT1 overexpression attenuated ox-LDL-stimulated DCs maturation and reduced atherosclerotic plaque area. In summary, our study demonstrates that MALAT1 overexpression attenuates AS by inhibiting ox-LDL-stimulated DCs maturation via miR-155-5p/NFIA axis. Thus, MALAT1/miR-155-5p/NFIA axis can potentially be used in the treatment of AS.

PTEN is a dual-specificity phosphatase that is frequently mutated in human cancer, and its deficiency in cancer has been associated with therapy resistance and poor survival. Although the intrinsic tumour-suppressor function of PTEN has been well established, evidence of its role in the tumour immune microenvironment is lacking. Here, we show that chemotherapy-induced antitumour immune responses and tumour suppression rely on myeloid-cell PTEN, which is essential for chemotherapy-induced activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and antitumour immunity. PTEN directly interacts with and dephosphorylates NLRP3 to enable NLRP3–ASC interaction, inflammasome assembly and activation. Importantly, supplementation of IL-1β restores chemotherapy sensitivity in mouse myeloid cells with a PTEN deficiency. Clinically, chemotherapy-induced IL-1β production and antitumour immunity in patients with cancer is correlated with PTEN expression in myeloid cells, but not tumour cells. Our results demonstrate that myeloid PTEN can determine chemotherapy responsiveness by promoting NLRP3-dependent antitumour immunity and suggest that myeloid PTEN might be a potential biomarker to predict chemotherapy responses.

To represent model uncertainties more comprehensively, a stochastically perturbed parameterization (SPP) scheme consisting of temporally and spatially varying perturbations of 18 parameters in the microphysics, convection, boundary layer, and surface layer parameterization schemes, as well as the stochastically perturbed parameterization tendencies (SPPT) scheme, and the stochastic kinetic energy backscatter (SKEB) scheme, is applied in the Global and Regional Assimilation and Prediction Enhanced System—Regional Ensemble Prediction System (GRAPES-REPS) to evaluate and compare the general performance of various combinations of multiple stochastic physics schemes. Six experiments are performed for a summer month (1–30 June 2015) over China and multiple verification metrics are used. The results show that: (1) All stochastic experiments outperform the control (CTL) experiment, and all combinations of stochastic parameterization schemes perform better than the single SPP scheme, indicating that stochastic methods can effectively improve the forecast skill, and combinations of multiple stochastic parameterization schemes can better represent model uncertainties; (2) The combination of all three stochastic physics schemes (SPP, SPPT, and SKEB) outperforms any other combination of two schemes in precipitation forecasting and surface and upper-air verification to better represent the model uncertainties and improve the forecast skill; (3) Combining SKEB with SPP and/or SPPT results in a notable increase in the spread and reduction in outliers for the upper-air wind speed. SKEB directly perturbs the wind field and therefore its addition will greatly impact the upper-air wind-speed fields, and it contributes most to the improvement in spread and outliers for wind; (4) The introduction of SPP has a positive added value, and does not lead to large changes in the evolution of the kinetic energy (KE) spectrum at any wavelength; (5) The introduction of SPPT and SKEB would cause a 5%–10% and 30%–80% change in the KE of mesoscale systems, and all three stochastic schemes (SPP, SPPT, and SKEB) mainly affect the KE of mesoscale systems. This study indicates the potential of combining multiple stochastic physics schemes and lays a foundation for the future development and design of regional and global ensembles.

A spiropyran-based probe was developed. It serves as a fluorescence turn-on probe for selective detection of Ce3+in both ethanol and aqueous (water/ethanol, 1:9 or 9:1, v/v) media. Ce3+can induce photochromism of the probe though the probe exhibits negligible photochromic property by itself. The probe is sensitive to Ce3+and the detection limit reaches 1.7 μmol/L. It exhibits a high selectivity for Ce3+ion over other common metal cations including Li+, Na+, Ag+, Sr2+, Ni2+, Co2+, Hg2+, Zn2+, Cr3+, Al3+, Fe3+and Bi3+and lanthanide ions Nd3+, Yb3+and La3+. The probe may be used for quantitative determination of the concentration of Ce3+ion in a range of 1–10 μmol/L and for application to environmental water samples. Sensing mechanism of the probe towards Ce3+ion is proposed.

In virtue of mode tunability and inherent optical feedback, the lasing of semiconductor optical cavity has become the research focus of optoelectronic devices integrated on chip and optical systems to explore the strong light–matter coupling. In this work, the lasing behavior of a single ZnO nanowire is investigated under pressure with a diamond anvil cell (DAC). The stimulated emission blueshifts faster than the spontaneous emission with pressure increasing, which is confirmed by the color difference between the middle and the ends of ZnO nanowire. The pressure-dependent lasing performance of ZnO nanowire is evaluated by the characteristic pressure, 17.88 GPa, extracted from an exponential dependence of lasing threshold on the pressure. The lasing behavior of ZnO nanowire owns low reversibility under a moderate pressure while no pressure-induced phase transition happens. All these results provide us a perspective to optimize the lasing performance of optoelectronic devices and explore the strong light–matter coupling within semiconductor optical cavities.

The correlation between the crystal structure and the optoelectrical property of methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) is investigated by measuring the optical absorption and the photoluminescence spectra of a microsized single-crystal MAPbI3plate (MSCMP) up to 20.43 GPa with confocal μ-spectroscopy. The pressure-induced phase transitions of an MSCMP are identified by the absorption edges of the absorption spectrum and the fluorescence peaks of the PL spectrum. A tetragonal–cubic phase transition is confirmed under a pressure within the range of 0.23 to 0.46 GPa. The optical property of the cubic phase is dominated by the competition between Pb–I bond contraction and PbI6octahedron tilt up to 2.72 GPa. Furthermore, the MAPbI3plate experiences an isostructural cubic phase transition with a unique optical behavior below 3.90 GPa. Little amount of nonradiative high-pressure phase presents a radiative emission mixed with a radiative low-pressure phase, which originates from the diffusion and recombination of excitons within the mixed-phase state. Finally, the reversibility is evaluated by comparing the absorption and PL spectra while the samples are compressed before and after 4.17 and 20.43 GPa, respectively. These results help us to understand the pressure-induced phase transition and the electron–hole recombination mechanism of MAPbI3under high pressure in detail. It provides us a new perspective to engineer and optimize the optoelectrical devices of high performance based on organic–inorganic hybrid metal halide perovskite.

Statement of RetractionWe, the Editors and Publisher of the journal Cell Cycle, have retracted the following article:Hongqi Li, Xiang Zhu, Liqun Hu, Qing Li, Jian Ma, and Ji Yan. Loss of exosomal MALAT1 from ox-LDL-treated vascular endothelial cells induces maturation of dendritic cells in atherosclerosis development. Cell Cycle. 2019;18(18):2225-2267. doi: 10.1080/15384101.2019.1642068.Since publication, significant concerns have been raised about the integrity of the data and reported results in the article. When approached for an explanation, the authors did not provide their original data or any necessary supporting information. As verifying the validity of published work is core to the integrity of the scholarly record, we are therefore retracting the article. The corresponding author listed in this publication has been informed.We have been informed in our decision-making by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retractions.The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as ‘Retracted.’

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has been widely accepted as the treatment for early-stage esophageal epithelial neoplasms. However, stricture is a common complication after large-circumference ESD. This retrospective study is conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intralesional steroid injection plus oral steroid administration in preventing esophageal stricture. 70 patients with a mucosal defect extending over more than two-thirds of the circumference after esophageal ESD for epithelial neoplasms were enrolled in this study. Those who received intralesional triamcinolone injection combined with oral prednisolone administration were assigned to the treatment group, while those who were treated without any prophylaxis of esophageal stricture were assigned to the control group. The primary observation result was the frequency of stricture. The secondary observation results were the number of endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) sessions and rate of complications. Compared with the control group, the frequency of stricture (14.7% 5/34 patients vs. 51.5% 19/36 patients) and number of EBD sessions (mean 0.2 vs. 3.3) were significantly lower in the treatment group. One patient suffered from perforation in the treatment group and recovered with conservative treatment. None steroid-related complications were found during a long-term follow-up. Intralesional steroid injection plus oral steroid administration is safe and effective in preventing stricture following esophageal ESD for esophageal epithelial neoplasms with a mucosal defect extending no less than two-thirds of the circumference in a long-term follow-up.

The physicochemical properties of surface hydroxyls have significant effects on the performance of HCHO oxidation catalysts. Herein, we report a method for modulating the properties of surface hydroxyls by changing the morphology of akaganéite (β-FeOOH) in Pt/FeOOH catalysts, and found that the Pt particles supported on long-rod β-FeOOH (Pt/FeOOH-LR) enclosed mainly by (010) and (001) planes exhibited better activity than those supported on short-rod or particle β-FeOOH (enclosed mainly by (001) and (100) planes). HCHO could be completely eliminated with an inlet concentration of 50 ppm at ambient temperature at a GHSV of 24 000 mL g−1h−1over Pt/FeOOH-LR. The use of long-rod β-FeOOH support improved the concentration of surface hydroxyls and enhanced the reducibility of Pt particles. The mechanism study by in situDRIFTS and HCHO-TPSR indicated that the surface hydroxyls in Pt/FeOOH-LR could facilitate strong HCHO adsorption and are more active towards the surface formate oxidation. This strategy of modulating the properties of surface hydroxyls by shape engineering can be applied to develop novel catalysts for the hydroxyl-involved reactions.

Aim of this paper is to retrospectively evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of specialized Body Cobalt based system (BCBS) treatment in the senior patients group (.65 years) with Stage III non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). A total of 49 patients (41 males and 8 females) with Stage III NSCLC according to UICC TNM classification (6thedition) were treated using OUR-QGD™ BCBS which was designed and manufactured in China. Post treatment evaluation with follow-up information was collected from April 2001 to December 2006 in our department. Median age of enrolled patients was 71 years old (65-85). Among those patients, 36 patients were pathologically identified with squamous cell carcinoma, and the other 13 patients were confirmed as adenocarcinoma. All patients were immobilized by vacuum based immobilization mold and then performed slow CT scan without any respiration gating devices. The daily radiation prescription dose was defined at 50% isodose line covering primary lesions and metastatic lymph nodes with doses from 2.5 to 6 Gy in 5 fractions per week according to the tumor stage and internally approved treatment protocols by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Median daily dose and total delivery dose of 50% isodose line were 4 Gy and 41 Gy, respectively. In this study group, total of 3 patients received neoadjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Tumor response evaluated 12 weeks after radiation has demonstrated 13 complete responses (26.5%), 21 partial responses (42.9%). The overall survival (OS) rate of 1-year, 2-year and 3-year was 63.3%, 40.8% and 20.4%, respectively. The median and mean survival time was 22 and 24 months. All 49 patients tolerated the treatment well and have completed the planned therapy regiment. Body Cobalt based system treatment of those over 65 years old patients with Stage III NSCLC had reasonable and superior curative effect as well as local control, and at the same time without severe radiation side effects.

Progress in study on coumarin-derived fluorescent chemosensors for metal ions was reviewed. Structures, synthetic methods, and recognition mechanism of coumarin-based probes were introduced and fluorescent recognition behavior of the probes toward various metal ions (Hg2, Cu2, Zn2, Fe3, Mg2, Pb2, Ag, Ni2, alkali metal ions, Ca2, Cr3, Ba2, Cd2, Al3, As3, Co2, and Au3) was outlined. Development trends in coumarin-derived fluorescent chemosensors were proposed.

Abstract: Corresponding to optical Fresnel diffraction, we show that the exponential quadratic operator exp{−i[αP 2+ βQ 2+γ(PQ+QP)]/2} is actually a generalized single-mode Fresnel operator (GFO) in compact form, where [Q,P]=iħ. We also demonstrate that exp{iα[(Q 1+Q 2)2+(P 1−P 2)2]+iβ[(Q 1−Q 2)2+(P 1+P 2)2]+iγ(Q 1 P 2+Q 2 P 1)} is a two-mode GFO. Their disentangling formula and normal ordering form are derived with the use of technique of integration within an ordered product (IWOP) of operators and the coherent state representation. The squeezed states generated by these two GFOs are obtained.

The paper aimed at identifying the impacts of factors on carbon emissions from road freight transport and predicting its future tendency. Carbon emissions from road freight transport were estimated through the method provided by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The impacts of factors of road freight transport were summarized, and contributions of the factors were calculated based on the complete decomposition approach. A Partial Least Squares Regression model and a Multiple Linear Regression model were established to predict carbon emissions from road freight transport in China.

Low gas-saturation reservoirs are gas bearing intervals whose gas saturation is less than 47%. They are common in the Quaternary of the Sanhu area in the Qaidam Basin. Due to the complex genesis mechanisms and special geological characteristics, the logging curves of low gas-saturation reservoirs are characterized by ambiguity and diversity, namely without significant log response characteristics. Therefore, it is particularly difficult to identify the low gas-saturation reservoirs in the study area. In addition, the traditional methods such as using the relations among lithology, electrical property, physical property and gas bearing property, as well as their threshold values, can not effectively identify low gassaturation reservoirs. To solve this problem, we adopt the decision tree, support vector machine and rough set methods to establish a predictive model of low gas-saturation reservoirs, which is capable of classifying a mass of multi-dimensional and fuzzy data. According to the transparency of learning processes and the understandability of learning results, the predictive model was also revised by absorbing the actual reservoir characteristics. Practical applications indicate that the predictive model is effective in identifying low gas-saturation reservoirs in the study area.

The rapid changing near source, multi-stream depositional environment of conglomerate reservoirs leads to severe heterogeneity, complex lithology and physical properties, and large changes of oil layer resistivity. Quantitative evaluation of water-flooded layers has become an important but difficult focus for secondary development of oilfields. In this paper, based on the analysis of current problems in quantitative evaluation of water-flooded layers, the Kexia Group conglomerate reservoir of the Sixth District in the Karamay Oilfield was studied. Eight types of conglomerate reservoir lithology were identified effectively by a data mining method combined with the data from sealed coring wells, and then a multi-parameter model for quantitative evaluation of the water-flooded layers of the main oil-bearing lithology was developed. Water production rate, oil saturation and oil productivity index were selected as the characteristic parameters for quantitative evaluation of water-flooded layers of conglomerate reservoirs. Finally, quantitative evaluation criteria and identification rules for water-flooded layers of main oil-bearing lithology formed by integration of the three characteristic parameters of water-flooded layer and undisturbed formation resistivity. This method has been used in evaluation of the water-flooded layers of a conglomerate reservoir in the Karamay Oilfield and achieved good results, improving the interpretation accuracy and compliance rate. It will provide technical support for avoiding perforation of high water-bearing layers and for adjustment of developmental programs.

Abstract: In recent years, microchannel heat exchangers have begun to be used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems. This paper introduces a microchannel condenser for domestic refrigerators with a theoretical model to evaluate its performance. The model was used to obtain the optimal design parameters for different numbers of tubes and tube lengths. The results show that the needed tube height of the downward section decreases with the number of tubes and the tube diameter. Compared with the original condenser, the present optimal design parameters can reduce the total metal mass by 48.6% for the two wall two side design and by 26% for the two wall one side design. Thus, the present condenser is much better than the condensers usually used in actual domestic refrigerators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is becoming more common for crude oil or gas pipelines to share their rights-of-way with high-voltage alternating current (AC) power lines. Safety is a major concern for operators, and the integrity of AC mitigation facilities is crucial in reducing risks to the safety of personnel and the continued operation of the pipelines with effective cathodic protection. This article presents a case study involving this situation that had significant challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-resistivity oil layers are often missed in logging interpretation because of their resistivity close to or below the resistivity of nearby water layers. Typical low-resistivity oil layers have been found in the past few years in the Putaohua reservoir of the Puao Oilfield in the south of the Daqing placanticline by detailed exploration. Based on a study of micro-geological causes of low-resistivity oil layers, the macro-geological controlling factors were analyzed through comprehensive research of regional depositional background, geological structure, and oil-water relations combined with core, water testing, well logging, and scanning electron microscopy data. The results showed that the formation and distribution of Putaohua low-resistivity oil layers in the Puao Oilfield were controlled by depositional environment, sedimentary facies, diagenesis, motive power of hydrocarbon accumulation, and acidity and alkalinity of reservoir liquid. The low-resistivity oil layers caused by high bound-water saturation were controlled by deposition and diagenesis, those caused by high free-water saturation were controlled by structural amplitude and motive power of hydrocarbon accumulation. Those caused by formation water with high salinity were controlled by the ancient saline water depositional environment and faulted structure and those caused by additional conductivity of shale were controlled by paleoclimate and acidity and alkalinity of reservoir liquid. Consideration of both micro-geological causes and macro-geological controlling factors is important in identifying low-resistivity oil layers.

With the help of the modified geometrical factor theory, the Marquardt method was used to calculate the true electrical parameters of the formation from array induction logs. The inversion results derived from the assumed model and some practical cases show that the rebuilt formation profile determined by 2-ft resolution array induction logs is reasonable when the formation thickness is greater than 1 m, which thus indicates that the inversion method is reliable and can provide quantitative information for the discrimination of oil/gas or water zone.

AbstractThis paper reports fossil plants of Archaeamphora longicerviagen. et sp. nov. Li from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation, northeastern China. The plants are herbaceous and similar to modern sarraceniaceans in having spirally arranged developed/underdeveloped pitchers and phyllodia-like leaves that have parallel major veins and reticulate meshes, distinctive honey-spoon-like structures and porous glands. The intimately associated seeds are reticulate-tuberculate and winged, resembling sarraceniacean seeds. The unique pitcher and characteristic seed suggest a relationship to Sarraceniaceae. The relationship to Angiosperms is also supported with fossil molecule oleanane found from Archaeamphora, using GC-MS. Archaeamphorademonstrates the earliest carnivorous plant and the only fossil record of pitcher plants. Also, as the third genus of the oldest Angiosperms, the existence of such a derived taxon suggests that flowering plants should have originated much earlier.

AbstractHere we report a complex food web and special fluid properties in pitchers of Nepenthes mirabilisin Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China. It attracts ants and flying insects with floral and exrafloral nectaries, color of pitcher and flower, and possibly flower odor. Its slippery rim and collar trap preys, but some wasps can hold legs on the outside of the rim. Its preys include arthropods in four classes (with nine orders in insect class), plus very few snails and lizards. Fresh fluid sinks, kills, and digests preys (including lizards) quickly, but allows flogs to live in; while old fluid allows mosquitoes to hatch in it. Fluid reaches its maximum amount at pitcher opening. Then, the pH decreases gradually from 6 to 1.9, as the color changes slowly from colorless to yellow, and finally both pH and color reverse as pitchers dying. Proteinase nepenthesins could be resulted in these special conditions through long evolutionary adaptation.

It has been difficult to purify calpastatin without using a step involving heating to 90-100 °C. Preparations of calpastatin obtained after heating often contain several polypeptides that have been ascribed to proteolytic degradation. Because calpastatin is highly susceptible to proteolytic degradation and several different calpastatin isoforms can be produced by using different start sites of transcription/translation and/or alternative splicing from the single calpastatin gene, it is not clear whether the different polypeptides observed in purified calpastatin preparations are proteolytic fragments or calpastatin isoforms. It would be useful, therefore, to have a method for purifying calpastatin that does not involve heating. At low ionic strength, calpastatin from skeletal muscle extracts binds quantitatively to an immunoaffinity column made by coupling a monoclonal antibody (MAb) to the C-terminal end of calpastatin (epitope between amino acids 707 and 786) to agarose; the bound calpastatin can be eluted at pH 2.5. The C-terminal end of the calpastatin polypeptide was used because the known isoforms of calpastatin all contain domain IV. The eluted calpastatin, which retains all its calpain inhibitory activity, consists largely of a 125 kDa polypeptide (70%), and several smaller polypeptides that are labeled with a MAb to calpastatin. Expressed calpastatin constructs representing the full-length XL-IV calpastatin and domains L-IV, II-IV, III-IV, and IV also bind to the immunoaffinity column and can be purified. The immunoaffinity column is especially useful for purifying calpastatin from small tissue samples in a single step.

Molecular orbital calculations revealed that the introduction of a silyl group onto the 2-position of 1,3-dithiole caused significant decrease of the ionization potential and that 2-silyl-1,3-dithioles served as a pseudo p-electron system. The silyl group could also be utilized as a bridge for linking p-electron systems to achieve artificial stacking. These concepts led us to the design and synthesis of silyl-substituted 1,3-benzodithioles as candidates for new electron donors. The oxidation potential of monosilyl-substituted 1,3-benzodithiole was found to be significantly less positive than that of the parent 1,3-benzodithiole. The introduction of the second silyl group caused further decrease of the oxidation potential. Compounds composed of two 1,3-benzodithiole units linked by a silyl group were also synthesized. These showed comparable oxidation potentials to those of the corresponding monomeric compounds. The effect of stannyl-substitution onto the 2-position of 1,3-dithiole was found to be larger than that of silyl-substitution. The effects of silyl- and stannyl-substitution for related systems such as thioanisole and 1,3-dithiane were also studied.

A new crowned azobenzene derivative, 4-[(aza-15-crown-5)-13-yl]-4′-methoxyazobenzene (APCM), was synthesized and incorporated into a β-cyclodextrin derivative, heptakis(6-undecylamino-6-deoxy)-β-cyclodextrin (ACD). The crowned azobenzene showed a large red shift of the maximum UV-vis absorption wavelength upon 254 or 365 nm irradiation. The results from UV-vis and ESR spectral analyses revealed that the photochromic mechanism for the crowned azobenzene was a photoinduced intramolecular charge-transfer (CT) process. APCM/ACD formed a stable Langmuir monolayer at the air–water interface. A multilayer Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) film was constructed from APCM/ACD monolayers, which showed a nonlinear polarisability (β) of 4 × 10−29esu after one month of storage.

Infrared and Raman spectra have been recorded at room temperature for the following four cyclohexasilanes: dodecamethylcyclohexasilane, (SiMe2)6(I); all-trans-hexabenzylcyclohexasilane, [Si(H)CH2Ph]6(II); all-trans-hexaphenylcyclohexasilane, [Si(H)Ph]6(III); and dodecaphenylcyclohexasilane, (SiPh2)6(IV). Vibrational assignments have been proposed on the basis of the local symmetries of the silicon ring skeletons (D3d) and the substituent groups (Me, C3v; Ph and CH2Ph, C2v). The four polysilane oligomers can be readily distinguished from one another by their vibrational spectra. For example, characteristic νSiHand δSiHRaman bands of II and III were observed in the 2150–2075 and 790–600 cm−1regions, respectively, where the vibrations of III were higher in energy than were those of II. All four oligomers exhibited distinct differences in the νSiC, νSiS, and δSiCregions located below 800 cm−1. Finally, from the observed vibrational band shifts, it appears that the σ-φ hyperconjugation between the Ph groups and Si atoms in the > SiR1R2fragments decreases in the order: IV (R1= R2= Ph) > III (R1= H, R2= Ph) > II (R1= H, R2= CH2Ph).

Dibenzylthio-dihexadecylthio-tetrathiafulvalene is a new material for constructing a conducting Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) film. A 1:1 molar mixture with arachidic acid forms a conducting LB film of Y-type. The conductivities of this mixed LB film were calculated from experimental results before and after iodine oxidation. The highest conductivity was obtained after iodine doping and reached 0.23 S cm−1. UV spectral analysis suggests that the system interacts with iodine and gives rise to a new conducting phase after iodine doping of the LB film. Results from X-ray diffraction demonstrate that the as-deposited film has an ordered lamellar structure with a thickness per layer of 2.63 nm.

Photoacoustic (PA), attenuated total reflection (ATR), and transmission IR spectra of the solid organoiron(II) complexes, CpFe(CO)2I and [CpFe(CO)2R]BF4(Cp = η5-C5H5; R= C2H4, CH2CMe2, 3-Me-thiophene), have been recorded at room temperature in the near-, mid-, and far-IR regions. Vibrational assignments are proposed for most of the observed bands including those in the binary overtone and combination regions. The relative intensities of the peaks in the different spectral regions indicate that PAS is the most sensitive in the near-IR region, affording good information on binary vCOand vCHovertones and combinations, while ATR spectroscopy leads to the most intense peaks in the far-IR region.

Solid-state mid- and near-IR photoacoustic (PA) spectra have been measured at room temperature for the group 6B metal(0) mixed carbonyl-t-butylisocyanide complexes M(CO)6-n(CNtBu)n(M= Cr, Mo, W; n= 1-3). Vibrational assignments are proposed for many of the observed bands. The PA spectra in the near-IR region (4600-3600 cm−1), where the binary v(CN) and v(CO) overtones and combinations absorb, are useful spectral fingerprints for these organometallic complexes.

Mid- and near-IR photoacoustic (PA) spectra have been measured at room temperature for two series of crystalline manganese(I) carbonyl halides: Mn(CO)5Xand [Mn(CO)4X]2(X= Cl, Br, I). Vibrational assignments are proposed for many of the observed bands. The PA spectra in the near-IR region (4200-3800 cm−1), where the binvary v(CO) overtones and combinations absorb, are useful spectral fingerprints for these organomanganese(I) complexes.

The coordinated operation of intercity linehaul that relies on high-speed trains and urban transportation modes is important and necessary to maintain the service level of passenger transportation. To improve the performance of the high-speed railway station operation, this paper introduces the feeder-vehicle routing and high-speed-train assignment problem with time windows (FVRTAP-TW). The FVRTAP-TW objective is to minimize the average of passengers' delaying time at the high-speed railway station through optimizing feeder-vehicle routes and passengers' assignments to high-speed trains. The FVRTAP-TW has the characters of time windows, assignment decisions on the connection between urban transport and intercity linehaul, and heterogeneous fleets. We define the FVRTAP-TW and develop a mathematical model. An adaptive large neighborhood search (ALNS) algorithm is proposed. Computational experiments are conducted to test the model and the ALNS algorithm. Computational results indicate that it is practicable and necessary to improve the service level of the high-speed railway station and the passenger experiences by considering the interaction of urban-transport routes and the schedule high-speed trains.

The article offers information on cathodic protection (CP) improvements made on the storage tank at the Sudan Marine Terminal. Topics include impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP), the recommendation for a polymer anode ICCP system, and the installation of a new rectifier with a 415 V input. It also discusses the high-purity zinc reference electrodes, the true potential of the CP, and the tank on/off potential survey.

Isoflavonoids containing a perfluoroalkylsulfonyloxy group were synthesized by perfluoroalkylsulfonylation of hydroxyisoflavones. The reaction showed high regioselectivity. Inhibitory effects of the synthesized isoflavones against proliferation of HL-60 and BEL-7402 cells were tested in vitro. Two isoflavones displayed strong inhibitory effect on HL- 60 cells.