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Abstract Water inrush from underlying aquifers under the synergistic action of complex faults and mining activities seriously threatens the mining of coal seams in North China. The failure characteristics of the coal seam floor under complex fault conditions are the keys to understanding the water inrush mechanism during mining. To investigate floor failure characteristics and water inrush mechanisms influenced by complex fault structures, theoretical analysis and numerical simulation were carried out. An improved theoretical model is first proposed, including complex fault structures such as horst, graben, and step fault structures. The calculation formula for waterproof coal pillars under complex fault conditions is established based on the improved theoretical model. The failure and displacement characteristics of the coal floor under complex faults are analyzed via numerical simulation. Compared with those under normal mining conditions, the theoretical and numerical simulation results reveal the following: (1) Under the horst structure, the floor failure characteristics show an increase in the compression failure area on both sides, and shear failure occurs on the large-dip fault side. The simulation results reveal that the failure width on the large-dip fault side increases by 25%, indicating a failure trend toward the large-dip fault side. The width of waterproof coal pillars needs to be increased by 20% to ensure mining safety. (2) Under the graben structure, the floor failure characteristics show an increase in the compression failure area on both sides, and shear failure occurs on the small-dip fault side. The simulation results reveal that the failure width on the small-dip fault side increases by 25%, indicating a failure trend toward the small-dip fault side. The width of waterproof coal pillars needs to be increased by 40% to ensure mining safety. (3) Under the step fault structure, the floor failure characteristics show compression failure on both sides, increasing the floor compression failure area on the large-dip fault side. The simulation results show that the failure width on the small-dip fault side increases by 15%, the large-dip fault side increases by 50%, and the floor failure depth increases by 20%. The width of waterproof coal pillars needs to be increased by 50% to ensure mining safety.

Abstract Clastic rock aquifer of the coal seam roof often constitutes the direct water-filling aquifer of the coal seam and its water-richness is closely related to the risk of roof water inrush. Therefore, the evaluation of the water-richness of clastic rock aquifer is the basic work of coal seam roof water disaster prevention. This article took the 4th coal seam in Huafeng mine field as an example. It combined the empirical formula method and generalized regression neural network (GRNN) to calculate the development height of water-conducting fracture zone, determined the vertical spatial range of water-richness evaluation. Depth of the sandstone floor, brittle rock ratio, lithological structure index, fault strength index, and fault intersections and endpoints density were selected as the main controlling factors. A combination weighting method based on the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), rough set theory (RS), and minimum deviation method (MD) was proposed to determine the weight of the main controlling factors. Introduced the theory of unascertained measures and confidence recognition criteria to construct an evaluation model for the water-richness of clastic rock aquifers, the study area was divided into three zones: relatively weak water-richness zones, medium water-richness zones, and relatively strong water-richness zones. By comparing with the water inrush points and the water inflow of workfaces, the evaluation model's water yield zoning was consistent with the actual situation, and the prediction effect was good. This provided a new idea for the evaluation of the water-richness of the clastic rock aquifer on the roof of the mining coal seam.

Probiotics are a group of active microorganisms that form colonies within the body and alter the composition of the flora in a specific area to provide benefits to the host. In this study, a total of 96 Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire weaned piglets with an initial body weight (BW) of 8.56 ± 0.53 kg were employed in a randomized complete block design for a 28-day experiment. Pigs were randomly divided into two treatment groups: the control group (CON) and the complex probiotic group (CON + 0.2% probiotics), respectively. The study found that through the 28-day experiment, the average daily gain (ADG) of the complex probiotic group was significantly higher than that of the CON (p

BackgroundTraumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious hazard to human health. Evidence has accumulated that pyroptosis plays an important role in brain trauma. The aim of this study is to screen potential key molecules between TBI and pyroptosis, and further explore their relationships with disease severity and cytokines.MethodsTo acquire differentially expressed genes (DEGs) before and after brain injury, the GSE89866 dataset was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Meanwhile, pyroptosis-related genes were obtained from the GeneCards database, and the intersected genes were identified as differentially expressed pyroptosis-related genes (DEPGs). Moreover, the hub genes were screened via four algorithms (namely Maximum Clique Centrality, Edge Percolated Component, BottleNeck and EcCentricity) in Cytoscape software. Blood levels of Nrf2 were measured by ELISA using a commercially available kit. Finally, we further investigated the correlation between Nrf2 levels and medical indicators in TBI such as clinical characteristics, inflammatory cytokines, and severity.ResultsAltogether, we found 1,795 DEGs in GSE89866 and 98 pyroptosis-related genes in the GeneCards database. Subsequently, four hub genes were obtained, and NFE2L2 was adopted for further clinical study. By using Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman correlation test, we found that the serum Nrf2 levels in severe TBI patients were negatively correlated with GCS scores. On the contrary, there was a positive correlation between serum Nrf2 levels and pupil parameters, Helsinki CT scores, IL-1 β and IL-18.ConclusionsIn summary, bioinformatic analyses showed NFE2L2 plays a significant role in the pathology of TBI. The clinical research indicated the increase in serum Nrf2 levels was closely related to the severity of trauma and cytokines. We speculate that serum Nrf2 may serve as a promising biochemical marker for the assessment of TBI in clinical practice.

Hydrological simulation in karst areas is of great importance and challenge. It is a practical way to enhance the performance of existing hydrological models in karst areas by coupling karst modules that represent hydrological processes in these areas. The near-surface critical zone structure affects runoff generation in karst areas significantly and its complex hydrological processes could be simplified with threshold behaviors. This study proposed a three-thresholds-based karst runoff generation module (3T-KRGM), which used three reservoirs to represent water storage in the soil zone, soil–epikarst interface, and epikarst zone. The 3T-KRGM is coupled with the Xinanjiang (XAJ) model to extend the applicability of the model to karst areas. Both the improved XAJ model and the original XAJ model were used in the Shibantang watershed, which is a typical karst watershed located in southwest China. The results indicate that the performance of daily discharge simulations was obviously improved by introducing the 3T-KRGM. In addition, both the parameter sensitivity analysis and baseflow simulation demonstrate that the 3T-KRGM is rational in structure. The 3T-KRGM could also be easily coupled into other hydrological models, thus benefiting the hydrological simulation in karst areas. HIGHLIGHTS We proposed a three-thresholds-based karst runoff generation module to improve model performance in karst areas.; The theoretical basis of the module is a modification of a three-thresholds mechanism revealed by hillslope experiments.; We coupled the module into the Xinanjiang model to extend its applicability in karst areas.; The advantages of the module for hydrological simulation were verified from various aspects.;

Abstract Axial flux permanent magnet synchronous motors (AFPMSMs) have been widely used in wind-power generation, electric vehicles, aircraft, and other renewable-energy applications owing to their high power density, operating efficiency, and integrability. To facilitate comprehensive research on AFPMSM, this article reviews the developments in the research on the design and control optimization of AFPMSMs. First, the basic topologies of AFPMSMs are introduced and classified. Second, the key points of the design optimization of core and coreless AFPMSMs are summarized from the aspects of parameter design, structure design, and material optimization. Third, because efficiency improvement is an issue that needs to be addressed when AFPMSMs are applied to electric or other vehicles, the development status of efficiency-optimization control strategies is reviewed. Moreover, control strategies proposed to suppress torque ripple caused by the small inductance of disc coreless permanent magnet synchronous motors (DCPMSMs) are summarized. An overview of the rotor-synchronization control strategies for disc contra-rotating permanent magnet synchronous motors (CRPMSMs) is presented. Finally, the current difficulties and development trends revealed in this review are discussed.

Predicting gas and water distribution is an essential step in developing gas reservoirs. This study aims to study the characteristic distribution law of gas and water during waterflooding, which are important in wettability alteration to enhance gas reservoir recovery. Herein, we report a novel method that uses molecular dynamics (MD) associated with a microscopic waterflooding experiment to obtain the characteristic distribution law of gas and water in porous media. We show that this approach may better understand the relationship between gas and water in porous media than conventional technologies. The waterfront in the hydrophilic channel is 13.3 Å more advanced than that in the neutral channel, indicating that the water displacement efficiency in hydrophilic channels exceeds that in neutral channels. Meanwhile, the water flows mainly along the walls of the pores and reduces the diameter of the permeate channel in hydrophilic porous media. While in neutral porous media, the above phenomenon is significantly weakened, and the waterflooding front is relatively consistent. Most importantly, the experimental and simulation results are consistent, and a quantitative evaluation of the gas–water distribution in porous media is given. Additionally, technologically, wettability directly affects the distribution characteristics of fluids in porous media, and changing the wettability characteristics of reservoir rocks is beneficial to delaying the waterflooding front. This approach provides an essential theoretical basis for developing water-driven gas reservoirs.

Heterosis refers to the phenomenon where hybrids exhibit superior performance compared to the parental phenotypes and has been widely utilized in crossbreeding programs for animals and crops, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain enigmatic. A better understanding of the gene expression patterns in post-hatch chickens is very important for exploring the genetic basis underlying economically important traits in the crossbreeding of chickens. In this study, breast muscle and liver tissues (n = 36) from full-sib F1 birds and their parental pure lines were selected to identify gene expression patterns and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at 28 days of age by strand-specific RNA sequencing (ssRNA-seq). This study indicates that additivity is the predominant gene expression pattern in the F1 chicken post-hatch breast muscle (80.6% genes with additivity) and liver (94.2% genes with additivity). In breast muscle, Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed that a total of 11 biological process (BP) terms closely associated with growth and development were annotated in the identified DEG sets and non-additive gene sets, including STAT5A, TGFB2, FGF1, IGF2, DMA, FGF16, FGF12, STAC3, GSK3A, and GRB2. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) annotation presented that a total of six growth- and development-related pathways were identified, involving key genes such as SLC27A4, GLUL, TGFB2, COX17, and GSK3A, including the PPAR signaling pathway, TGF-beta signaling pathway, and mTOR signaling pathway. Our results may provide a theoretical basis for crossbreeding in domestic animals.

Surfactant controlling the wettability of reservoir rocks is one of the important ways to enhance oil recovery in low-permeability tight reservoirs. A large number of scholars have developed a series of excellent wettability control reagents through macro physical simulation experiments, but macro experiments are difficult to analyze the micro mechanism of liquid/liquid and liquid/solid interface action of reagents controlling rock wettability. In this paper, the wetting behavior of water molecules on silica surfaces modified with different hydroxylation, methylation and hydrophobic chain length was studied by molecular dynamics simulation, and the quantitative relationship between different modification degrees and wetting angle was established. The results show that the original wetting angle of silica is 58.5°, and the surface wettability can be changed from hydrophilic to hydrophobic through surface modification, with a wetting angle of 27.25°∼115.78°. With the increase of the coverage of hydrophobic methyl or hydrophilic hydroxyl modified groups, the wetting angle increases or decreases respectively. The quantitative relationship between modification degree and wetting angle was established by simulated data. With the increasing of the chain length of methyl group, the distance between water molecule and silica surface increases and the interaction decreases, which can improve the regulation effect of methyl group hydrophobicity. This paper provides a reference basis for the synthesis of rock wettability control reagent and the quantitative characterization of modification degree.

The prevalence and transmission of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) in enterococci being as probiotics has been neglected in the scientific literature. The application of enterococci in feed, food and health products may cause VRE transmission through the food chain. This study evaluated phenotypic resistance of Enterococcus species to 20 antibiotics along a pork production chain from feed to food. It also assessed the genetic diversity of Enterococcus faecium isolates. A total of 510 samples (feed, n = 70; swine manure, n = 400; swine carcasses, n = 20, and retail pork, n = 20) were collected in Beijing, China. A total of 328 enterococci isolates with 275 E. faecium and 53 Enterococcus faecalis were identified using 16 S rRNA. Antimicrobial susceptibility to all enterococci isolates was conducted using the K–B method for 20 antibiotics from 9 categories. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was conducted on the E. faecium isolates to survey the dissemination of enterococci in the pig industry. The results showed that only 26 enterococci isolates were sensitive to the 20 antibiotics, while half of the isolates (164/328) had acquired multi-drug resistance. The resistant rate to furazolidone was 68.60%, followed by 42.99% to tetracycline. One vancomycin-resistant E. faecium isolates were isolated from feed origin and 2 from manure origin, with minimum inhibitory concentrations to vancomycin of 1,024, 64, and 64 μg/mL, respectively. The MLST outcomes showed that the 275 E. faecium isolates belonged to 11 sequence types (ST) including ST40, ST60, ST94, ST160, ST178, ST296, ST361, ST695, ST726, ST812 and ST1014. The ST of the feed-sourced VRE was ST1014, while the 2 manure-sourced VRE was ST69. ST1014 evolved from ST78, which was the dominant clonal complex in most cities of China, leading to the spreading of VRE. These findings revealed the potential safety hazards of commercial probiotic enterococci in China and showed that there is a risk of the VRE horizontally transferring from feed to food.

One hundred and twenty-eight boars and gilts of the Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire variety with an initial body weight (BW) of 52.49 ± 0.48 kg were used in a randomized complete block design for a 63-day experiment. The four treatment groups were: control diet (CON), CON + 0.2% soybean oligosaccharides (SBOS), CON + 0.4% SBOS, and CON + 0.8% SBOS. The results showed that the average daily weight gain (ADG) was significantly higher in the 0.8% SBOS group than in the CON group on days 0–63 (p < 0.05). Compared with the CON group, adding 0.8% SBOS to the diet significantly increased the carcass weight, dressing percentage, and carcass lean percentage, but decreased the average backfat depth of growing–finishing pigs (p < 0.05). Adding different concentrations (0.2%, 0.4%, and 0.8%) of SBOS to the diet can significantly increase the concentrations of acetate, propionate, and butyrate in feces (p < 0.05). The activities of malic enzyme and fatty acid synthase in the 0.8% group were significantly lower than those in the 0.2% and CON groups (p < 0.05). In summary, 0.8% SBOS supplementation to growing–finishing pigs’ diets can reduce lipid deposition and increase ADG.

Abstract The model predictive current control (MPCC) technique has been an effective alternative for motor drive applications requiring fast dynamic response. However, the conventional MPCC suffers from high switching losses due to high switching frequency of the inverter. This study proposes a low average switching frequency MPCC method based on boundary‐constrained quadratically extrapolated current trajectory for a permanent magnet synchronous motor drive. First, a quadratic function‐based current prediction model is constructed to obtain the current trajectory in the long‐term future. Second, the boundary constraint is designed to obtain the prediction horizon which is changing in real‐time in order to ensure the validity of the predicted current trajectory. Finally, the cost function established according to the value of the prediction horizon is used to reduce the average switching frequency. In comparison with the conventional MPCC method, the proposed method can significantly reduce the switching frequency of the inverter. In the meantime, fast dynamic response and high steady‐state performance of the conventional MPCC method are preserved. Both simulation and experimental results of the proposed method and the conventional MPCC method are presented to verify the feasibility and advantages of the proposed method.

In ovo feeding of vitamin C (VC) has positive effects on the growth performance, immune and antioxidant function in poultry, which indicates that increasing VC content in eggs may be of benefit. This study was to investigate the effects of dietary VC supplementation on VC synthesis and transportation and egg deposition. In Exp. 1, in order to select a suitable animal model, VC content was detected in different eggs from different layer species. Vitamin C content was lower in ISA Brown breeder eggs and Hy-Line Brown layer eggs (P

Abstract Background Many researches about in ovo feeding (IOF) of vitamin C (VC) are gradually carried out to explore physiological development in chicken, but little studies focus on VC synthesis capacity of the embryo itself, the selection of injection site and the effectiveness of IOF of VC. This study aims to explore the above problems. Results Kidney and yolk sac were the main organs for VC synthesis and L-gulonolactone oxidase (GLO) expression was lower during pre-hatch development than that during post-hatch development. Sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter 1 (SVCT1) expression was increased continuously in yolk sac from embryonic age 19 (E19) to post-hatch day 1 (D1) and in intestine (duodenum, jejunum and ileum) from E17 to D1. Plasma VC content was higher at D1 than that at D21 and D42. IOF of VC significantly reduced GLO expression in liver, kidney and yolk sac as well as SVCT1 expression in duodenum, jejunum and ileum, but increased the VC content in plasma, brain, kidney and liver. In addition, IOF of VC obviously reduced the embryonic morality and increased the hatchability under heat stress. Conclusions This study suggested that IOF of VC at E11 in yolk was effective for embryonic VC supplementation. These findings provide a theoretical reference about the method of embryonic VC supplementation and effective methodology on embryonic VC nutrition in broiler chickens.

ABSTRACT: Attaining the optimal feed conversion ratio is the unaltered goal for poultry breeding, meat yield is one of the vital reference indexes for that. Folic acid is involved in protein metabolism by acting as a transmitter of one carbon unit, and the detail mechanism for the high-dose folic acid on growth of broiler skeletal muscle is still unclarified. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect and regulatory mechanism of folic acid on deposition and metabolism of protein in broiler breast muscle. A total of 196 one-day-old AA broilers were randomly assigned to 2 treatment groups. The chicks were fed corn-soybean diet with folic acid levels of 1.3 mg/kg (CON) or 13 mg/kg (FA), respectively. The results showed that high dose of folic acid significantly increased the body weight gain, average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and feed conversion ratio of broilers during 1 to 42 d. Compared with control group, folic acid statistically augmented the breast muscle ratio of broilers at 42 d, abdominal fat percentage was also decreased in FA group. Folic acid significantly increased the gene expression of folate receptor (FR) in duodenum and jejunum at 21 d, and its relative expression in jejunum of broilers at 42 d. Furthermore, relative expression of myogenin in broiler breast muscle was upregulated in folic acid group. Folic acid supplementation significantly enhanced the protein expression of phosphorylated serine/threonine kinase (AKT) and ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) in the breast muscle of broilers at 21 d and 42 d. In conclusion, the results proved that high-dose folic acid activated the AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway and increased the activity of phosphorylation of S6K1, thereby regulating the protein deposition in breast muscle. Meanwhile, the gene expression of the myogenic determinant factor was upregulated by folic acid and then promoted the growth of breast muscle. Consequently, the growth performance, meat production and feeding efficiency were improved of broilers by adding folic acid at 13 mg/kg.

Flooding has been causing severe consequences worldwide, including loss of human life and damage to property. Flood risk mapping, as a nonstructural measure, is efficient for flood protection and disaster alleviation. This study aims at completing the flood risk mapping of the region located at the middle reaches of the Yarkant River Oasis in western China, which has a dry climate and suffers from mixed flooding consisting of glacial outburst floods (GLOFs) and many other floods. In view of the complexity of flooding in the area, the study adopts two typical types of scenarios, namely overflow scenarios and dike-break scenarios, to complete the flood risk mapping. The MIKE FLOOD 1D/2D coupled model is used for two-dimensional flood flow simulation to compute the inundation depths and duration for flood risk assessment. The spatial overlay analysis was then used to combine the modeling results and land use/land cover layers with socioeconomic data to generate flood risk maps and damage losses under different scenarios. It is noted that evaporation and infiltration losses in the study area are not negligible because of the long flood process, the low precipitation, and dry surface/subsurface conditions. Due to the insufficient evaporation and infiltration data, a new method of synthesis loss rate is proposed to compute the evaporation/infiltration loss rate. Based on the water balance principle, the upstream and downstream flow data is utilized to calculate the water attenuation, which is then used to estimate the evaporation/infiltration loss rate. The proposed method can solve the problem of calculating evaporation/infiltration loss rates during the flooding process in such data-scarce areas. The flood risk mapping results indicate that the flood risk is high along the Yarkant River and that floods can cause severe inundation losses.

In order to improve the cruising range of electric bus, this paper studies the deadbeat current prediction vector control system of axial flux permanent magnet synchronous motor (AFPMSM) for electric bus based on the optimal torque distribution method. Firstly, the mathematical model of the three stators-double rotors AFPMSM is established. Secondly, in order to improve the high efficiency range, the efficiency optimal torque distribution method is proposed based on the average torque distribution method and the back propagation (BP) neural network is used to find the optimal torque distribution method. Then a current control strategy based on deadbeat current prediction control is proposed to improve the torque tracking characteristics. Finally, a drive control system is developed for the proposed control strategy, and experimental research and vehicle testing are carried out. The experimental results show that the BP neural network-based torque distribution method designed in this paper increases the high efficiency range of the drive system and improves the cruising range of the electric bus. The drive system using a current controller based on deadbeat current prediction control exhibits good dynamic and steady state performance.

L-theanine, a natural nonprotein amino acid with a high biological activity, is reported to exert anti-stress properties. An experiment with a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary L-theanine on growth performance and immune function in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged broilers. A total of 432 one-day-old male yellow-feathered broilers were randomly assigned to 3 dietary treatments (control, antibiotic and L-theanine diets) with 2 subgroups of each (6 replicate cages; 12 birds/cage). Birds from each subgroup of the 3 dietary treatments were intra-abdominally injected with the same amount of LPS or saline at 24, 25, 26 d of age. Both dietary L-theanine and antibiotic improved (P

Magnolol rich in Magnolia officinalis is a bioactive polyphenolic compound. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of magnolol additive (MA) on growth performance, expression levels of antioxidant-related genes, and intestinal mucosal morphology of Linwu ducks aged from 49 to 70 days, comparing with that of an antibiotic additive (colistin sulfate [CS]). A total of 275, 49-day-old ducks were assigned to 5 groups with 5 cages of 11 ducks each and fed diets supplemented with 0, 100, 200 and 300 mg of MA/kg and 300 mg of CS/kg for 3 weeks, respectively. The results showed that the average daily body weight gain (ADG) was increased significantly in MA-fed groups (200 and 300 mg/kg), compared with the basal diet (BD) group (P

The spatial-wavenumber filter method can extract the specific mode of the Lamb wave, thereby distinguishing the incident wave and the damage reflection wave. This method has been widely studied for damage imaging. However, the diameter of piezoelectric transducer (PZT) sensor limits the spatial sampling wavenumber of the linear PZT sensor array, which limits the application of this method because of the Nyquist–Shannon sampling theorem. Therefore, the wavenumber filtering range of spatial-wavenumber filter should be less than half of the spatial sampling wavenumber. In this paper, a frequency aliasing based spatial-wavenumber filter for online damage monitoring is proposed. In this method, the wavenumber filtering range is extended to the spatial sampling wavenumber, and two wavenumber results will be calculated as for the frequency aliasing. Subsequently, the wavenumber of the received Lamb wave signal can be obtained according to the average arrival time difference between the two adjacent sensors in the linear PZT sensor array. Finally, the damage is localized using the spatial-wavenumber filter and cruciform PZT sensor array. This method was validated on an epoxy laminate plate. The maximum damage localization errors are less than 2 cm. It is indicated that this method can extend the spatial-wavenumber filtering range to the spatial sampling wavenumber and the application of spatial-wavenumber filter-based online damage monitoring.

To improve the safety and economy of aircraft pallet use, an aircraft pallet damage monitoring method based on damage subarea identification and probability-based diagnostic imaging is proposed. In the proposed method, first, the large aircraft pallet monitoring area is divided into rectangular subareas, and a piezoelectric transducer sensor is pasted on each vertex of the rectangular subarea that is used to excitation and sensing the Lamb wave. Second, the damage subarea is identified according to the diagonal damage indexes. Third, the damage position in the damage subarea is calculated using the probability-based diagnostic imaging method and coordinate probability weighted algorithm. Finally, the aircraft pallet damage can be localized based on the damage subarea position. Frequency selection and damage simulation study results show that the Lamb wave is sensitive to aircraft pallet damage whose centre frequency ranges from 50 kHz to 150 kHz, and the damage index of a steel ball is less than that of all real aircraft pallet damage from 95 kHz to 125 kHz. The verification results show that the proposed method can locate aircraft pallet damage with an error of less than 2 cm.

In this paper, a wavenumber−searching method based on time-domain compensation is proposed to obtain the wavenumber of the Lamb wave array received signal. In the proposed method, the time-domain sampling signal of the linear piezoelectric transducer (PZT) sensor array is converted into a spatial sampling signal using the searching wavenumber. The two−dimensional time-spatial-domain Lamb wave received signal of the linear PZT sensor array is then converted into a one-dimensional synthesized spatial sampling signal. Further, the sum of squared errors between the synthesized spatial sampling signal and its Morlet wavelet fitting signal is calculated at each searching wavenumber. Finally, the wavenumber of the Lamb wave array received signal is obtained as the searching wavenumber corresponding to the minimum error. This method was validated on a 2024-T3 aluminum alloy. The validation results showed that the proposed method can successfully obtain the wavenumber of the Lamb wave array received signal, whose spatial sampling rate does not satisfy the Nyquist sampling theorem; the wavenumber error does not exceed 2.2 rad/m. Damage localization based on the proposed method was also validated on a carbon fiber composite laminate plate, and the maximum damage localization error was no more than 2.11 cm.

In order to provide a complete solution for designing and analyzing the axial flux permanent magnet synchronous motor (AFPMSM) for electric vehicles, this paper covers the electromagnetic design and multi-physics analysis technology of AFPMSM in depth. Firstly, an electromagnetic evaluation method based on an analytical algorithm for efficient evaluation of AFPMSM was studied. The simulation results were compared with the 3D electromagnetic field simulation results to verify the correctness of the analytical algorithm. Secondly, the stator core was used to open the auxiliary slot to optimize the torque ripple of the AFPMSM, which reduced the torque ripple peak-to-peak value by 2%. From the perspective of ensuring the reliability, safety, and driving comfort of the traction motor in-vehicle working conditions, multi-physics analysis software was used to analyze and check the vibration and noise characteristics and temperature rise of several key operating conditions of the automotive AFPMSM. The analysis results showed that the motor designed in this paper can operate reliably.

Correct developmental timing is essential for plant fitness and reproductive success. Two important transitions in shoot development-the juvenile-to-adult vegetative transition and the vegetative-to-reproductive transition-are mediated by a group of genes targeted by miR156, SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN (SBP) genes. To determine the developmental functions of these genes in Arabidopsis thaliana, we characterized their expression patterns, and their gain-of-function and loss-of-function phenotypes. Our results reveal that SBP-LIKE (SPL) genes in Arabidopsis can be divided into three functionally distinct groups: 1) SPL2, SPL9, SPL10, SPL11, SPL13 and SPL15 contribute to both the juvenile-to-adult vegetative transition and the vegetative-to-reproductive transition, with SPL9, SP13 and SPL15 being more important for these processes than SPL2, SPL10 and SPL11; 2) SPL3, SPL4 and SPL5 do not play a major role in vegetative phase change or floral induction, but promote the floral meristem identity transition; 3) SPL6 does not have a major function in shoot morphogenesis, but may be important for certain physiological processes. We also found that miR156-regulated SPL genes repress adventitious root development, providing an explanation for the observation that the capacity for adventitious root production declines as the shoot ages. miR156 is expressed at very high levels in young seedlings, and declines in abundance as the shoot develops. It completely blocks the expression of its SPL targets in the first two leaves of the rosette, and represses these genes to different degrees at later stages of development, primarily by promoting their translational repression. These results provide a framework for future studies of this multifunctional family of transcription factors, and offer new insights into the role of miR156 in Arabidopsis development.

Aiming at the function and technical requirements of high-power photovoltaic cell simulation, high-performance programmable logic power supply and dc motor simulation, a high frequency isolation hybrid topology and control strategy based on current-source/voltage-source converter was studied and proposed. Firstly, according to the performance requirements of photovoltaic cell analog power supply, the control strategy requirements of the high-precision wide-range hybrid topology were proposed. Secondly, the working principle of the new hybrid topology was analyzed. At the same time, the equivalent model of the new hybrid topology was simplified and established, and the overall control strategy of the hybrid topology based on current compensation and sliding mode variable structure was proposed. Finally, simulation and experimental research on the hybrid topology was carried out, and the experimental test of photovoltaic cell simulation was completed. The simulation and experimental results show that the hybrid topology and control strategy proposed in this paper has the characteristics of wide-range output regulation, fast dynamic response, high efficiency and high power factor, and can be used for high performance photovoltaic cell simulation, programmable logic power supply and DC motor simulation.

In this paper, a sliding mode vector control system based on collaborative optimization of an axial flux permanent magnet synchronous motor (AFPMSM) for an electric vehicle is proposed. In order to increase the high efficiency range of electric vehicles and improve the cruising range, a collaborative optimization control strategy is firstly proposed. Due to the use of a dual stator-single rotor AFPMSM, the multi-motor efficiency optimization map and torque cooperative control are used to realize the working mode conversion of single stator and double stator, and the torque ripple caused by the working mode conversion is improved by fuzzy control. In order to improve the torque tracking capability, speed limiting characteristics, and operating characteristics, a speed limit and current vector control strategy based on a sliding mode controller is proposed and studied. The dynamic performance of electric vehicles is improved by a sliding mode vector control. Finally, a drive control system was developed for the proposed control strategy, and the complete vehicle test was carried out. The collaborative optimization control experiment and torque tracking and speed limiting experiments verify the correctness and effectiveness of the proposed control strategy. The acceleration performance and endurance experiments show that the proposed control strategy can effectively improve the cruising range and the acceleration performance of electric vehicles.

Increasing evidence suggests that endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) and neuroinflammation are involved in the complex pathological process of traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, the pathological mechanisms of their interactions in TBI remain incompletely elucidated. Therefore, investigating and ameliorating neuroinflammation and ER stress post-TBI may represent effective strategies for treating secondary brain injury. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) has been reported as a potential neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory agent in neurological diseases. This study utilized a mouse TBI model to investigate the pathological mechanisms and crosstalk of ER stress, neuroinflammation, and microglial cell morphology in TBI, as well as the mechanisms and potential of AS-IV in improving TBI. The research revealed that post-TBI, inflammatory factors IL-6, IL-1b, and TNF-a increased, microglial cells were activated, and the specific inhibitor of PERK phosphorylation, GSK2656157, intervened to alleviate neuroinflammation and inhibit microglial cell activation. Post-TBI, levels of ER stress-related proteins (p-PERK, p-eIF2a, ATF4, ATF6, and p-IRE1a) increased. Following AS-IV treatment, neurological dysfunction in TBI mice improved. Levels of p-PERK, p-eIF2a, and ATF4 decreased, along with reductions in inflammatory factors IL-6, IL-1b, and TNF-a. Changes in microglial/macrophage M1/M2 polarization were observed. Additionally, the PERK activator CCT020312 intervention eliminated the impact of AS-IV on post-TBI inflammation and ER stress-related proteins p-PERK, p-eIF2a, and ATF4. These results indicate that AS-IV alleviates neuroinflammation and brain damage post-TBI through the PERK pathway, offering new directions and theoretical insights for TBI treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teopod1 (Tp1), Teopod2 (Tp2), and Early phase change (Epc) have profound effects on the timing of vegetative phase change in maize. Gain-of-function mutations in Tp1 and Tp2 delay all known phase-specific vegetative traits, whereas loss-of-function mutations in Epc accelerate vegetative phase change and cause shoot abortion in some genetic backgrounds. Here, we show that Tp1 and Tp2 likely represent cis-acting mutations that cause the overexpression of Zma-miR156j and Zma-miR156h, respectively. Epc is the maize ortholog of HASTY, an Arabidopsis gene that stabilizes miRNAs and promotes their intercellular movement. Consistent with its pleiotropic phenotype and epistatic interaction with Tp1 and Tp2, epc reduces the levels of miR156 and several other miRNAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUPPRESSOR OF PHYB-4#5 DOMINANT (sob5-D) was previously identified as a suppressor of the phyB-4 long-hypocotyl phenotype in Arabidopsis thaliana. Overexpression of SOB5 conferred dwarf phenotypes similar to those observed in plants containing elevated levels of cytokinin (CK) nucleotides and nucleosides. Two SOB-FIVE-LIKE (SOFL) proteins, AtSOFL1 and AtSOFL2, which are more similar at the protein level to each other than they are to SOB5, conferred similar phenotypes to the sob5-D mutant when overexpressed. We used protein sequences of founding SOFL gene family members to perform database searches and identified a total of 289 SOFL homologs in genomes of 89 angiosperm species. Phylogenetic analysis results implied that the SOFL gene family emerged during the expansion of angiosperms and later evolved into four distinct clades. Among the newly identified gene family members are four previously unreported Arabidopsis SOFLs. Multiple sequence alignment of the 289 SOFL protein sequences revealed two highly conserved domains; SOFL-A and SOFL-B. We used overexpression and site-directed mutagenesis studies to demonstrate that SOFL domains are necessary for SOB5 and AtSOFL1's overexpression phenotypes. Examination of the subcellular localization patterns of founding Arabidopsis thaliana SOFLs suggested they may be localized in the cytoplasm and/or the nucleus. Overall, we report that SOFLs are a plant-specific gene family characterized by two conserved domains that are important for function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A collective asymmetric total synthesis of lundurines A-C using l-pyroglutamic acid derived from the chiral pool is described. The key steps include a tandem reductive amination/lactamization sequence to introduce the pyrrolidinone ring, a palladium-catalyzed intramolecular direct C-H vinylation of indole to construct the crucial polyhydroazocine ring, and a Lewis acid promoted formal [3 + 2] cycloaddition/N2 extrusion process to install the polysubstituted cyclopropyl ring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The predominant alkaloids in lotus leaves are aporphine alkaloids. These are the most important active components and have many pharmacological properties, but little is known about their biosynthesis. We used digital gene expression (DGE) technology to identify differentially-expressed genes (DEGs) between two lotus cultivars with different alkaloid contents at four leaf development stages. We also predicted potential genes involved in aporphine alkaloid biosynthesis by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Approximately 335 billion nucleotides were generated; and 94% of which were aligned against the reference genome. Of 22 thousand expressed genes, 19,000 were differentially expressed between the two cultivars at the four stages. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed that catalytic activity and oxidoreductase activity were enriched significantly in most pairwise comparisons. In Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis, dozens of DEGs were assigned to the categories of biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis, and flavonoid biosynthesis. The genes encoding norcoclaurine synthase (NCS), norcoclaurine 6-O-methyltransferase (6OMT), coclaurine N-methyltransferase (CNMT), N-methylcoclaurine 3'-hydroxylase (NMCH), and 3'-hydroxy-N-methylcoclaurine 4'-O-methyltransferase (4'OMT) in the common pathways of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis and the ones encoding corytuberine synthase (CTS) in aporphine alkaloid biosynthetic pathway, which have been characterized in other plants, were identified in lotus. These genes had positive effects on alkaloid content, albeit with phenotypic lag. The WGCNA of DEGs revealed that one network module was associated with the dynamic change of alkaloid content. Eleven genes encoding proteins with methyltransferase, oxidoreductase and CYP450 activities were identified. These were surmised to be genes involved in aporphine alkaloid biosynthesis. This transcriptomic database provides new directions for future studies on clarifying the aporphine alkaloid pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]